Karrnath
In a nation of storms and long winters, the grim and stoic Karrns are accustomed to enduring hardship without complaint. One of the Five Nations of Khorvaire, Karrnath is a nation ruled by King Kaius III that is proud of its martial heritage and is the oldest of the Five Nations. It was founded by Karrn the Conqueror over two thousand years ago. The nation is particularly noted for its widespread use of undead troopers during the Last War and the harsh rule of its monarchs.
Lying in the northeast of Khorvaire, the nation of Karrnath stretches from Scions Sound in the west to the Ironroot Mountains in the east, and from Karrn Bay in the north to its tenuous border with the Talenta Plains to the south. It is a nation of equal parts open fields and dense forests with House Orien traderoads and lightning rail tracks providing ample travel considerations.
Structure
King Kaius ir'Wynarn III rules absolutely, with a harsh system of wartime laws which have not yet been lifted. He is advised by his aunt and former regent, Moranna, and a court drawn from the country's robust middle class and many knightly orders, but ultimately Kaius holds more direct power than most of the other monarchs.
Culture
First and foremost, Karrnath is known for its military tradition. Strength, strategy, and discipline are the core values of Karrnath. Karrnath's soldiers might be the finest in Khorvaire, but they lack the magical support of Aundair or Thrane, which evened the odds during the Last War. Nonetheless, Karrns are proud of their martial history, and most are convinced that they would have eventually won the Last War.
Every Karrnathi citizen is obliged to give military service lasting at least two years. While many turn this service into a life-long career, others are quick to fulfill their duty and begin their actual lives.
Karrnath suffered a series of severe food shortages and plagues early in the Last War. As a result, the king embraced the Blood of Vol as the national religion. The priests of this faith bolstered Karrnath's forces with undead. The current king, Kaius ir'Wynarn III, broke ties with the Blood of Vol and has stopped creating new undead, but Karrnath still has a significant number of skeletons and zombies in service. Many Karrns still believe in the Blood of Vol and approve of the use of undead, but just as many feel that this practice disgraces Karrnath's proud military history and that the necromancers might have been responsible for the famines and plagues.
Public Agenda
King Kaius III was one of the architects of the Treaty of Thronehold and remains committed to peace. However, many of the nation's warlords believe that Karrnath would have won the Last War and that Kaius denied the Karrnathi people their rightful destiny. Should these warlords gain sufficient support, they could push for a military coup.
A second destabilizing factor is the tension between the followers of the Blood of Vol and the Karrnathi traditionalists. Vol's Seekers assert that the Blood of Vol saved Karrnath and point to the power of its undead troops. The traditionalists claim that the dark magic of the Seekers caused famines and plagues, crippling Karrnath and forcing it to rely on the undead. The Blood of Vol could back an uprising in Karrnath, or those who wish to drive out the Seekers could trigger a civil war.
History
King Kaius I was one of those opposed to handing the crown to Mishann of Cyre. This was the spark that ignited the Last War and Karrnath suffered some of the heaviest casualties of the war. However, three generations later it was Kaius III who ascended to power over Karrnath in 991 YK and who was the biggest proponent of peace. It was he who established that peace talks should commence in Thronehold and though the destruction of Cyre in the Day of Mourning in 994 YK is often seen as being the primary reason to end of the conflict, there is no doubt that it was through King Kaius III's establishing of an environment where compromise could be reached that the peace talks actually began.
Founding Date
1500 AM (settlement), 894 YK (independance)
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Demonym
Karrnathi
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Major Exports
Ale, dairy, glass, livestock, lumber, martial training, paper, textiles, undead
Official State Religion
Location
Neighboring Nations
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