The Onalean Kingdom
A Society Trapped in a Snow Globe, the Onalean Kingdom is a nation forever trapped in time, a look into the past of all mankind, where the Will of Feudal Lords and Monarchs are still heard, where Temples command their own levies and collect their own tithes, where the average man knows not the words on a page and the simple life and obedience to you lord is the best that most have to look forward to.
During the Slow decline and collapse of the Thet Empire, the Onalean would solidify into a series of communities centered around what became known as Détient, or Holds, with these Wooden Hill Forts serving as safe places for the people from Thet Raids into the lands of the Onaleam, with each Hold traditionally ruled by a Seigneur and Surveillant, the Seigneur would often act as the Ruler of the Détient, while the Surveillant would oversee the Villages and Communities under the Protection of the Détient.
Outside the Détient, the Onalean would be organized around a series of religions, often dedicated to a localized God or Goddess, often depending upon the lifestyle of the People, with a town upon an important Trade River dedicating themselves to a God of Fortune, while one located in a fertile farming region may worship a Goddess of Fertility. Such Religious affairs often brought conflict between the Onalean Détients, with a thousand rivalries forming between competing Religious Groups.
When the Thet Empire finally fell, the Onalean remained divided, the Détients would clash in constant battle, some would grow strong enough and consolidate into the Comté or Duché, ruled by Comptes or Ducs. These new realms would overtime continue to wage war upon each other, waxing and waning over the years, though the very course of Onalean history would forever be changed with the Arrival of Solène.
The Young Babe, who's very survival seemed unnatural to the people of Ardisis, was hailed as a miracle, with the people of nearby towns coming to see the child and even the Comté of Ardisis wishing to see the Baby, with many proclaiming the miracle as a sign that the girl and Ardisis was favored by a mighty God, and this Girl was their gift unto the World. However, as quickly as the girl came to them, she was taken in the dead of night by someone , and for 18 years the babe was missing, her disappearance mourned by the people of Ardisis, with the Town and Détient falling into disrepair and near ruin, with only the elderly and Ill Comté Bartholomieu de Ardisis, and a small group of servants still residing in the Détient, with the town nearly fully abandoned save the Women Orbella, who originally found the young Baby.
Upon the 18th Anniversary of the Great Storm that rocked Ardisis, a young woman, accompanied only by a Golden Furred Dog, a Hazel Colored Horse and a Half Blind Mercenary named Albert, wandered into Ardisis, it is said when she met the Women Orbella, Orbella would break into tears and fall to her knees, for when she looked into the Young Girl's Eyes, she found the same vibrant Gold of the Young Babe she had found in the temple 18 years prior. Soon After the Young Girl would meet with the Comté Bartholomieu, and it is said that with but a single touch of her hand upon his forehead, she cured him of the Illness that plagued him for near on 20 years, granting him new life and vigor.
Following his miraculous recovery, it is said the young Women, who bore the name Solène, would walk all the land of Onalean, with nothing but her Dog, Horse and Adoptive Father as company. She would perform miraculous feats of healing, brought joy and new life to all who asked, and would in feats of great trial, refute the many temples and gods of the Onalean with but words and simple action. She would, after nearly a decade and a half of travel, come to the Grand City and Hold of Ducs Erec de Dartiny, who would, unlike the many in the past, refuse to allow her entry into his city, instead demanding her stand trial for insulting his God. She would pass every trial laid before her: Walking over burning coals without scarring her feet, avoiding any temptation in the midst of debauchery and even not drowning when in a fit of rage, the Ducs ordered her chained and water boarded until she no longer breathed.
Eventually, the pressure on the Ducs by his temple, and his growing rage and contempt for the Women, would lead him to ordering her execution, accusing her of witchcraft, he would have her bound to a stake, along with her Dog, Horse and Adoptive Father, and have them all burned alive. It is said that all four never made a noise while burning, not even the animals struggled when the flames consumed them.
The support of these temples and the sheer magnitude of chaos would lead to the rise of a new order within the lands of Onalean, born in the rejuvenated city of Ardisis, the Holy Inquisition of Solène would be born of a brotherhood of like minded warriors, priests, preachers and religious outcasts. Together they declared themselves enemies to all the false gods of the lands, enemies to all the lords that denied the light of Solène, and protectors of the new temple. Like a tidal wave the inquisition grew without restraint and spread across all 4 corners of the lands of the Onalean, they sacked the holds of those who denied Solène and welcomed those who accepted her into the fold, soon they became more then simply the dominant power in Onalean, they became the only true power.
The Holy Inquisition would after decades of fighting and conflict come to the city of Dartiny, the place their goddess was murdered by the Ducs, and put it to the sword. The Grand Temple dedicated to their god was razed to the ground, his priests were put to the stake to die as she had, and the very Hold of the Ducs was put to siege, the vast army of zealots intent on killing the man, now old and grayed for his heresy, however they never got the chance.
There remain two theories on what happened that night, the most popular and one endorsed by the Holy Temple of the Goddess Who Walked the World, is that Ducs Erec de Dartiny, atop the battlements of his Hold looking out at the siege camp in the ruins of hsi city, was granted a divine vision from Solène, who admonished him for his crimes against her, but promised his family mercy if he were to give her followers justice, and so in an attempt to make amends and save his family, Erec de Dartiny threw himself from the walls of his hold onto the ground below, with the next day his Son Beumont de Dartiny opening the gates and surrendering to the Holy Inquisition.
The Second theory, far less common and only spoken by those scholars when the Inquisition and priests are not near, is that Erec de Dartiny was intent on fighting till the last, not wishing to bow down to these heretics and their false goddess that he had killed, only for his own Son Beumont to push him from the walls and surrender the hold to keep his life and title of Ducs by embracing the reign of Solène.
No matter the truth of Erec de Dartiny's death, he was dead and his son Beumont had accepted Solène as not just his goddess, but the only divine being in existence, and all others as false and those who followed them heretics. For his new found Zealotry, and the fact his hold was the greatest left after the destruction of so many others, the Inquisition would invite him, along with the last of the lands nobles, religious leaders and others to Ardisis to decide the fate of the newly united realm of Onalean.
The solution proposed by the Inquisition, and accepted by the gathered lords when the Inquisition's grandmaster made it clear there was no option, was to unify all of Onalean under one banner, one nation from which unity could be maintained under the Goddess and her divine Temple. However when the Grandmaster then proposed the shape this Nation would take, with the Inquisition in control of the affairs of state, he was met with far more pushback then expected and began a bitter debate in the Conclave.
The Nobles of Onalean were not about to roll over and accept the Inquisition's rule, while most argued about ancient rights and duties, it was the arguments of the most devout that prevented the inquisition takeover, they argued that the Inquisition was formed to drive the non believers out and destroy the idols of the false gods, both goals had been achieved and the inquisition should instead dissolve as they had done their duty. While Grandmaster Villeneuve was offended by the idea that the inquisition had to be disbanded, the man was nothing short of a well disciplined and zealous worshiper of Solène, and the argument of true believers that his duty was done seemed to resonate.
In this moment, another made their voice heard, the Women Orbella, who had by now grown old and gray, but was invited for being one of the only people in attendance to have met Solène before her many miracles and being the leader of the Temple dedicated to her in Ardisis, argued that the Inquisition still had a place, to protect the faithful from those who would mislead them and bring back the old gods, but they could not do so if they occupied themselves with matters of state, and instead it was the duty of the lords of the Realm to govern. This argument was further reinforced when priests and preachers from several temples in attendance argued in favor of downsizing the inquisition and turning them into the militant arm of the New Temple, and after much back and forth and several weeks of debate, Grandmaster Villeneuve would relent and agree to downsize the inquisition and join it with the New Temple.
Following the Inquisition Debate, the next question was who would lead the new United Onalean nation, and this debate came down to two men vying to be named King. Beumont de Dartiny, the new Ducs of Dartiny and Bartholomieu de Ardisis, the elderly and blind Comté of Ardisis. It should be noted that Comté Bartholomieu was not personally vying for the post, instead he was put forth by both Grandmaster Villeneuve and Orbella, while many of the Comtés and Ducs of Onalean backed Beumont.
The Debate would be thrown back and forth, Grandmaster Villeneuve argued that Beumont was unworthy of the title of King for being the son of the man who murdered Solène, while Beumont argued Bartholomieu was without legitimate Issue and his death would create a succession crisis within a decade of him taking the throne. Orbella would counter that Comté Bartholomieu was the man first ever graced with a blessing by Solène, and that he still had a living brother with sons of his own to inherit after him, which Beumont countered with the meaning that he being the first blessed by a miracle was inconsequential since his line would die with him and the miracle would have no bearing on the future royals.
The Debate at several points threatened to flare into conflict, if not for Comté Bartholomieu himself finally choosing to speak at the Conclave, seeing as the man had not spoken during any of the discussions and debates since it started, his words carried a great weight for all in attendance. The Comté first stated in full
Thus was Born the Onalean Kingdom.
The Régime des Seigneurs is a council consisting of all landed nobility of the Kingdom, with either the ruling Lord or a chosen representative sitting in on the Council. The Régime des Seigneurs serves in the role of a Legislature for the Kingdom, and a counterbalance to the Powers of the King. The Régime des Seigneurs holds meetings in the Salle du Seigneur, Lord's Hall, a Sizeable Open Aired Meeting Hall located near the center of Dartiny, officially the Salle du Seigneur is Open aired and allows non nobles, specifically members of the Temple and Inquisition to observe the proceedings, however recent laws implemented have moved to limit how much the Temple can observe Noble Meetings.
The Official Powers of the Régime des Seigneurs allow them to overturn royal decrees, govern the realm when the ruling monarch is underage or unable to govern, implement legislation with royal assent and approve royal commands in relation to punishment of nobles, declaration of war and imprisonment. Such powers are often considered unfair by royalists in the Kingdom, giving disproportionate power over the King to the Régime des Seigneurs, however this is often countered by the fact the King can, if politically savvy enough, play the nobles off each other and get their will done in the Diet.
The King meanwhile serves as the Executive of state, responsible for fostering foreign relations, maintaining the peace between the King, Diet and Temple, enforcing the Laws and Decrees of the Crown, is the formal Commander of the Royal Army, and a myriad of other duties and responsibilities that clash with the Régime des Seigneurs.
Among the many duties and restrictions of the King, is in relation to the personal relationship with the Régime des Seigneurs, the King is barred from ever entering the Salle du Seigneur, as to maintain the institutions independence from the King, in the same vein, sitting members of the Régime des Seigneurs are forbidden from entering the Royal Palace, instead often meeting the King in the adjacent Visitors House. The King instead may send a representative to sit the council, serving as the Ducs of Dartiny's representative, being the only other noble title held by the King, typically the representative is either the King's anointed heir, or someone else from the royal family if the heir is either not of age or disinterested in serving on the Diet.
The Duché of Thiveia is administered from the Mountain Détient of Pitruy, an old Détient nestled beneath the mountain of the same name, the Duché is the most powerful and influential of the Feudal Realms within the Onalean Kingdom, with the Ducs and his lesser vassals constituting 1/3rd of the Nobles in the Régime des Seigneurs, granting the Ducs a great amount of sway and influence over the Diet, with the noble families of Thiveia often trying to gain the Ducs favor using their vote in the Diet or more direct means in their own territory.
The Comté of Darland, Hatfordia and Lorquil are unique among the nobles of the Onalean, despite their relative low status compared to the King and Ducs of Thiveia, they have maintained control of their own territory over the centuries despite efforts of the King to centralize their demesne under the Crown, this stems from two factors. The first is these regions support for and of the Temple, with the ruling Comté of centuries past being the first to convert to worship of Solène and being early supporters of both the Inquisition and the Temple, converting voluntarily without the threat of force or violence. This won them allies in the Inquisition and Early Temple, which supported their bid to avoid direct oversight from the crown and instead winning themselves rule. The Second Factor that has continued to maintain their independence from the Crown is geography, the Morris River divides the Crownlands of Onalean and the vassal states, with the eastern territories heavily forested and lacking major cities or complex infrastructure, instead spread about dozen of fortified towns centered around their Détient, this has born a very rough culture of self sufficiency and independence, with the crown being openly defied by the Eastern Comté, sometimes violently when the King tries to tie them closer to the Crown.
Ardisis is the single most unique region in all Onalean, where the rest of the realm is administered by landed nobility or a bureaucracy under the Crown, Ardisis is administered directly by the Temple, with the Maiden of Solène and Conclave of Light heading the temple and the day to day administration of Ardisis, with the Grand Temple of Ardisis serving as the center for the Faith and great pilgrimage site for all thsoe wishing to visit the place the Goddess who walked the World first came to the World. Located entirely upon the peninsula of Ardisis, the Religious territory is the smallest in the whole of Onalean, but still incredibly sizeable, with Ardisis being one of the Largest cities in all Onalean, second only to the city of Dartiny.
Despite being under the crown, and theoretically serving as the final counterbalance to the power of the Nobles in the most dire of circumstances, the rules and laws of the Kingdom have given the nobility a large amount of influence in the ranks of the Military, with only members of the nobility permitted to serve as officers in the Army, though in recent years the Crown has taken to ennobling promising men in the military to give them command, and tie their military status to loyalty to the Crown above their own power as landed nobility.
Onalean History
Early Onalean
It is believed the Onalean first settled in their modern Homeland during the ancient Migration period from the Great Eastern Steepe, with archeological evidence and folk lore dating the migration into the region during the conquest of the ancient Thet under the legendary First Khay Ryder, with the Onalean believed to have once lived in the lands of the Nuzun before the Thet spread across the Steppe.During the Slow decline and collapse of the Thet Empire, the Onalean would solidify into a series of communities centered around what became known as Détient, or Holds, with these Wooden Hill Forts serving as safe places for the people from Thet Raids into the lands of the Onaleam, with each Hold traditionally ruled by a Seigneur and Surveillant, the Seigneur would often act as the Ruler of the Détient, while the Surveillant would oversee the Villages and Communities under the Protection of the Détient.
Outside the Détient, the Onalean would be organized around a series of religions, often dedicated to a localized God or Goddess, often depending upon the lifestyle of the People, with a town upon an important Trade River dedicating themselves to a God of Fortune, while one located in a fertile farming region may worship a Goddess of Fertility. Such Religious affairs often brought conflict between the Onalean Détients, with a thousand rivalries forming between competing Religious Groups.
When the Thet Empire finally fell, the Onalean remained divided, the Détients would clash in constant battle, some would grow strong enough and consolidate into the Comté or Duché, ruled by Comptes or Ducs. These new realms would overtime continue to wage war upon each other, waxing and waning over the years, though the very course of Onalean history would forever be changed with the Arrival of Solène.
The Goddess Who Walked The World
In the Year 128BIC or 32BS(Before Sacrifice), the Small Village of Ardisis would beset by a Great Storm, it would tear trees from the ground, strikes of lightning would strike the thatch roofs of the town, and the Temple dedicated to their unnamed Sea God would be consumed by a tidal wave, swallowing the temple whole, taking with it the Temple Priest and the faithful who sought shelter. When the Storm passed, the town and Détient of Ardisis would be left in ruins, the few scattered survivors left hollow and without hope, and it was here that a miracle was discovered. Within the Half-lost ruins of the Temple, a cry was heard by a woman looking for the remains of her husband, and she found under a fallen tapestry a newly born baby, completely dry and with Golden Eyes.The Young Babe, who's very survival seemed unnatural to the people of Ardisis, was hailed as a miracle, with the people of nearby towns coming to see the child and even the Comté of Ardisis wishing to see the Baby, with many proclaiming the miracle as a sign that the girl and Ardisis was favored by a mighty God, and this Girl was their gift unto the World. However, as quickly as the girl came to them, she was taken in the dead of night by someone , and for 18 years the babe was missing, her disappearance mourned by the people of Ardisis, with the Town and Détient falling into disrepair and near ruin, with only the elderly and Ill Comté Bartholomieu de Ardisis, and a small group of servants still residing in the Détient, with the town nearly fully abandoned save the Women Orbella, who originally found the young Baby.
Upon the 18th Anniversary of the Great Storm that rocked Ardisis, a young woman, accompanied only by a Golden Furred Dog, a Hazel Colored Horse and a Half Blind Mercenary named Albert, wandered into Ardisis, it is said when she met the Women Orbella, Orbella would break into tears and fall to her knees, for when she looked into the Young Girl's Eyes, she found the same vibrant Gold of the Young Babe she had found in the temple 18 years prior. Soon After the Young Girl would meet with the Comté Bartholomieu, and it is said that with but a single touch of her hand upon his forehead, she cured him of the Illness that plagued him for near on 20 years, granting him new life and vigor.
Following his miraculous recovery, it is said the young Women, who bore the name Solène, would walk all the land of Onalean, with nothing but her Dog, Horse and Adoptive Father as company. She would perform miraculous feats of healing, brought joy and new life to all who asked, and would in feats of great trial, refute the many temples and gods of the Onalean with but words and simple action. She would, after nearly a decade and a half of travel, come to the Grand City and Hold of Ducs Erec de Dartiny, who would, unlike the many in the past, refuse to allow her entry into his city, instead demanding her stand trial for insulting his God. She would pass every trial laid before her: Walking over burning coals without scarring her feet, avoiding any temptation in the midst of debauchery and even not drowning when in a fit of rage, the Ducs ordered her chained and water boarded until she no longer breathed.
Eventually, the pressure on the Ducs by his temple, and his growing rage and contempt for the Women, would lead him to ordering her execution, accusing her of witchcraft, he would have her bound to a stake, along with her Dog, Horse and Adoptive Father, and have them all burned alive. It is said that all four never made a noise while burning, not even the animals struggled when the flames consumed them.
The Age of Unraveling
The Death of Solène would strike a match across the realms of Onalean, like a wildfire religious fervor would consume the people, temples dedicated to the hundreds of gods of Onalean were stormed and sacked, their false gods blamed for the murder of Solène by the rabid fanatics who now praised her in the place of their old patrons. No where was safe for those who did not repent, the only temples to survive were those dedicated to goddesses of fertility, motherhood, charity and other such roles, for their priests instead threw open the doors and poured the wealth of their temples into the crowds, proclaiming their goddess one and the same as Solène, a goddess who walked the world to do good work, and struck down by worshippers of false gods.The support of these temples and the sheer magnitude of chaos would lead to the rise of a new order within the lands of Onalean, born in the rejuvenated city of Ardisis, the Holy Inquisition of Solène would be born of a brotherhood of like minded warriors, priests, preachers and religious outcasts. Together they declared themselves enemies to all the false gods of the lands, enemies to all the lords that denied the light of Solène, and protectors of the new temple. Like a tidal wave the inquisition grew without restraint and spread across all 4 corners of the lands of the Onalean, they sacked the holds of those who denied Solène and welcomed those who accepted her into the fold, soon they became more then simply the dominant power in Onalean, they became the only true power.
The Holy Inquisition would after decades of fighting and conflict come to the city of Dartiny, the place their goddess was murdered by the Ducs, and put it to the sword. The Grand Temple dedicated to their god was razed to the ground, his priests were put to the stake to die as she had, and the very Hold of the Ducs was put to siege, the vast army of zealots intent on killing the man, now old and grayed for his heresy, however they never got the chance.
There remain two theories on what happened that night, the most popular and one endorsed by the Holy Temple of the Goddess Who Walked the World, is that Ducs Erec de Dartiny, atop the battlements of his Hold looking out at the siege camp in the ruins of hsi city, was granted a divine vision from Solène, who admonished him for his crimes against her, but promised his family mercy if he were to give her followers justice, and so in an attempt to make amends and save his family, Erec de Dartiny threw himself from the walls of his hold onto the ground below, with the next day his Son Beumont de Dartiny opening the gates and surrendering to the Holy Inquisition.
The Second theory, far less common and only spoken by those scholars when the Inquisition and priests are not near, is that Erec de Dartiny was intent on fighting till the last, not wishing to bow down to these heretics and their false goddess that he had killed, only for his own Son Beumont to push him from the walls and surrender the hold to keep his life and title of Ducs by embracing the reign of Solène.
No matter the truth of Erec de Dartiny's death, he was dead and his son Beumont had accepted Solène as not just his goddess, but the only divine being in existence, and all others as false and those who followed them heretics. For his new found Zealotry, and the fact his hold was the greatest left after the destruction of so many others, the Inquisition would invite him, along with the last of the lands nobles, religious leaders and others to Ardisis to decide the fate of the newly united realm of Onalean.
The Conclave of Ardisis
Gathering in the city of Ardisis, this conclave would discuss matters political and religious, the intricacies of the former far more important for the history of the Kingdom than the ladder, thus the ladder will be saved for other records. Among the gathering was what remained of all the Noble Families of the Holds left standing, along with the Inquisition's leadership to decide the fate of Onalean.The solution proposed by the Inquisition, and accepted by the gathered lords when the Inquisition's grandmaster made it clear there was no option, was to unify all of Onalean under one banner, one nation from which unity could be maintained under the Goddess and her divine Temple. However when the Grandmaster then proposed the shape this Nation would take, with the Inquisition in control of the affairs of state, he was met with far more pushback then expected and began a bitter debate in the Conclave.
The Nobles of Onalean were not about to roll over and accept the Inquisition's rule, while most argued about ancient rights and duties, it was the arguments of the most devout that prevented the inquisition takeover, they argued that the Inquisition was formed to drive the non believers out and destroy the idols of the false gods, both goals had been achieved and the inquisition should instead dissolve as they had done their duty. While Grandmaster Villeneuve was offended by the idea that the inquisition had to be disbanded, the man was nothing short of a well disciplined and zealous worshiper of Solène, and the argument of true believers that his duty was done seemed to resonate.
In this moment, another made their voice heard, the Women Orbella, who had by now grown old and gray, but was invited for being one of the only people in attendance to have met Solène before her many miracles and being the leader of the Temple dedicated to her in Ardisis, argued that the Inquisition still had a place, to protect the faithful from those who would mislead them and bring back the old gods, but they could not do so if they occupied themselves with matters of state, and instead it was the duty of the lords of the Realm to govern. This argument was further reinforced when priests and preachers from several temples in attendance argued in favor of downsizing the inquisition and turning them into the militant arm of the New Temple, and after much back and forth and several weeks of debate, Grandmaster Villeneuve would relent and agree to downsize the inquisition and join it with the New Temple.
Following the Inquisition Debate, the next question was who would lead the new United Onalean nation, and this debate came down to two men vying to be named King. Beumont de Dartiny, the new Ducs of Dartiny and Bartholomieu de Ardisis, the elderly and blind Comté of Ardisis. It should be noted that Comté Bartholomieu was not personally vying for the post, instead he was put forth by both Grandmaster Villeneuve and Orbella, while many of the Comtés and Ducs of Onalean backed Beumont.
The Debate would be thrown back and forth, Grandmaster Villeneuve argued that Beumont was unworthy of the title of King for being the son of the man who murdered Solène, while Beumont argued Bartholomieu was without legitimate Issue and his death would create a succession crisis within a decade of him taking the throne. Orbella would counter that Comté Bartholomieu was the man first ever graced with a blessing by Solène, and that he still had a living brother with sons of his own to inherit after him, which Beumont countered with the meaning that he being the first blessed by a miracle was inconsequential since his line would die with him and the miracle would have no bearing on the future royals.
The Debate at several points threatened to flare into conflict, if not for Comté Bartholomieu himself finally choosing to speak at the Conclave, seeing as the man had not spoken during any of the discussions and debates since it started, his words carried a great weight for all in attendance. The Comté first stated in full
The Sins of the Father are not the sins of the Son, we can not judge Beumont for the crimes of his father just as you can not judge any of us for the worship of false gods by our fathers. Furthermore the argument that I am without issue is a lie, I have still a living daughter, natural born she may be, she is still my own and would carry on my line when I die, but I do not seek a throne of Crown, so I Propose a compromise. I shall name my daughter legitimate, grant her my name and right of inheritance, and she shall marry you Ducs Beumont, combining our lines and tying the so called first miracle to your house, when I die my lands shall go to the Temple and this business will be done.The Proposition was bold, and left the Conclave silent, but Beumont saw this as his chance, and agreed to Bartholomieu's offer, he would gain a crown, even if he had to marry a girl of dishonorable birth. With the agreement made, Beumont de Dartiny married the newly named Igraine de Ardisis, and would soon after have a golden crown placed upon his head in the burned out ruins of his cities old Temple, the Women Orbella, newly named the First and Last Mother of the Temple, being the one to announce the new King to the gathered crowd.
Thus was Born the Onalean Kingdom.
Onalean Government
The Modern Government of Onalean is a strange blend of Feudalism and modern bureaucratic systems, a combination of modern governments and a system from centuries ago.Power of the Crown and Régime des Seigneurs
The Center point of the Kingdom is that of the Crown and Régime des Seigneurs, or Lords Diet, officially the Crown of Onalean is an institution in of itself, with a large number of responsibilities and duties for the Kingdom vested into the wearer, but they alone are not vested with the powers and duty of the Crown, for the crown is not simply the piece of metal on the head of the king, the crown is also the Régime des Seigneurs, the gathering of Lords from across the Kingdom.The Régime des Seigneurs is a council consisting of all landed nobility of the Kingdom, with either the ruling Lord or a chosen representative sitting in on the Council. The Régime des Seigneurs serves in the role of a Legislature for the Kingdom, and a counterbalance to the Powers of the King. The Régime des Seigneurs holds meetings in the Salle du Seigneur, Lord's Hall, a Sizeable Open Aired Meeting Hall located near the center of Dartiny, officially the Salle du Seigneur is Open aired and allows non nobles, specifically members of the Temple and Inquisition to observe the proceedings, however recent laws implemented have moved to limit how much the Temple can observe Noble Meetings.
The Official Powers of the Régime des Seigneurs allow them to overturn royal decrees, govern the realm when the ruling monarch is underage or unable to govern, implement legislation with royal assent and approve royal commands in relation to punishment of nobles, declaration of war and imprisonment. Such powers are often considered unfair by royalists in the Kingdom, giving disproportionate power over the King to the Régime des Seigneurs, however this is often countered by the fact the King can, if politically savvy enough, play the nobles off each other and get their will done in the Diet.
The King meanwhile serves as the Executive of state, responsible for fostering foreign relations, maintaining the peace between the King, Diet and Temple, enforcing the Laws and Decrees of the Crown, is the formal Commander of the Royal Army, and a myriad of other duties and responsibilities that clash with the Régime des Seigneurs.
Among the many duties and restrictions of the King, is in relation to the personal relationship with the Régime des Seigneurs, the King is barred from ever entering the Salle du Seigneur, as to maintain the institutions independence from the King, in the same vein, sitting members of the Régime des Seigneurs are forbidden from entering the Royal Palace, instead often meeting the King in the adjacent Visitors House. The King instead may send a representative to sit the council, serving as the Ducs of Dartiny's representative, being the only other noble title held by the King, typically the representative is either the King's anointed heir, or someone else from the royal family if the heir is either not of age or disinterested in serving on the Diet.
Regional Territories
While much of the Realm is directly under the Crown, and its young if not expansive bureaucracy, much of the realm is still governed by their local Lords, with little real oversight from the Crown and instead their local nobility serving as the supreme authority. The Ducs of Thiveia is the strongest and most influential of these lords, holding control of roughly 1/3rd of the Kingdom's total territory under the control of the Ducs, while about half the Kingdom administered by the Kingdom's Bureaucracy and the rest split between the Comté of Darland, Hatfordia and Lorquil and the Lands of Ardisis, which lies under the Direct Administration of the Temple and the Maiden.The Duché of Thiveia is administered from the Mountain Détient of Pitruy, an old Détient nestled beneath the mountain of the same name, the Duché is the most powerful and influential of the Feudal Realms within the Onalean Kingdom, with the Ducs and his lesser vassals constituting 1/3rd of the Nobles in the Régime des Seigneurs, granting the Ducs a great amount of sway and influence over the Diet, with the noble families of Thiveia often trying to gain the Ducs favor using their vote in the Diet or more direct means in their own territory.
The Comté of Darland, Hatfordia and Lorquil are unique among the nobles of the Onalean, despite their relative low status compared to the King and Ducs of Thiveia, they have maintained control of their own territory over the centuries despite efforts of the King to centralize their demesne under the Crown, this stems from two factors. The first is these regions support for and of the Temple, with the ruling Comté of centuries past being the first to convert to worship of Solène and being early supporters of both the Inquisition and the Temple, converting voluntarily without the threat of force or violence. This won them allies in the Inquisition and Early Temple, which supported their bid to avoid direct oversight from the crown and instead winning themselves rule. The Second Factor that has continued to maintain their independence from the Crown is geography, the Morris River divides the Crownlands of Onalean and the vassal states, with the eastern territories heavily forested and lacking major cities or complex infrastructure, instead spread about dozen of fortified towns centered around their Détient, this has born a very rough culture of self sufficiency and independence, with the crown being openly defied by the Eastern Comté, sometimes violently when the King tries to tie them closer to the Crown.
Ardisis is the single most unique region in all Onalean, where the rest of the realm is administered by landed nobility or a bureaucracy under the Crown, Ardisis is administered directly by the Temple, with the Maiden of Solène and Conclave of Light heading the temple and the day to day administration of Ardisis, with the Grand Temple of Ardisis serving as the center for the Faith and great pilgrimage site for all thsoe wishing to visit the place the Goddess who walked the World first came to the World. Located entirely upon the peninsula of Ardisis, the Religious territory is the smallest in the whole of Onalean, but still incredibly sizeable, with Ardisis being one of the Largest cities in all Onalean, second only to the city of Dartiny.
Onalean Military
Royal Army
The Royal Army of Onalean is a small professional force of soldiers answerable only to the King and his appointed generals, raised from among the populace of the Crown territories the Royal Army is a fairly small force, mostly serving as a specialized policing force of crown territory, and enforcing the Crown's will against rebellious nobles.Despite being under the crown, and theoretically serving as the final counterbalance to the power of the Nobles in the most dire of circumstances, the rules and laws of the Kingdom have given the nobility a large amount of influence in the ranks of the Military, with only members of the nobility permitted to serve as officers in the Army, though in recent years the Crown has taken to ennobling promising men in the military to give them command, and tie their military status to loyalty to the Crown above their own power as landed nobility.
Local Levies
Outside the Royal Army, the local nobility are permitted to maintain their own forces separate from the Crown, while most nobles keep a small contingent of guards for their estates, the last independant nobles maintain their own sizable military forces. If one were to pool the forces of the 3 eastern Comté and Ducs of Thiveia, their collective strength is roughly equal to that of the Royal Army, which is often a source of conflict over the centuries, since if the Crown pushes too hard and unites the vassals against them, the kingdom could face open civil war.
Onalean Kingdom
Capital Dartiny Largest City Dartiny Currency Royal Idol Official Language Onalean Demonym OnaleanGovernment Semi-Constitutional Feudal Monarchy Head of State and Government King Matthieu Dartiny III Legislature Régime des Seigneurs
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
