Ashinthael
| Kingdom of Ashinthael | |||
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| Motto: "From the ashes we rise again" | |||
| Anthem: | |||
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| Map versions | |||
| Capital | Marble Palace | ||
| Largest city | Slograde | ||
| Official language(s) | Common tongue | ||
| Official religion(s) | Soloralism | ||
| Demonym | Ashinthaler | ||
| - Adjective | Ashinthaler | ||
| Government | Absolute monarchy | ||
| - King | Irian I | ||
| - Chamberlain | Council of Elders | ||
| - Legislature | Teirwald | ||
| Establishment | |||
| Area | |||
| Population | 4,521,000 | ||
| Active population | 1 | ||
| Currency | Thalmark | ||
| Calendar | |||
| Time zone(s) | |||
| Mains electricity | |||
| Driving side | right | ||
| Track gauge | |||
| National website | |||
| National forum | |||
| National animal | Dragon | ||
| National food | Roast Pig | ||
| National drink | |||
| National tree | Wasteland Oak | ||
| Abbreviation | ASH | ||
Ashinthael, officially the Kingdom of Ashinthael, is a country located in north-central Apollonia. It occupies much of the Teir'Dal Wasteland, which lies to the north of the Transprinitican District.
Etymology
Ashinthael derives its name from Ashintully, the Menelmacari name for the kingdom which arose out of the Teir'Dal Wasteland. The name Ashintully itself is a loan-word from ancient Dagoran and means "lands of ash", referring to the desolation (hence wasteland) laid by the early dragons that once ran rampant throughout the area.
Geography
The kingdom occupies much of the Teir'Dal Wasteland in an east-west tract in north-central Apollonia. It is bordered in the south by Hurmu, in the east by Lac Glacei, and in the west by Meckelnburgh. The topography is mountainous and the series of peaks are known as the Dagoran Spine.
History
Part I: Rise of the Riders
Eons ago, past centuries lost to time, there thrived the great Elven Empire, Menelmacar, which spread across the face of Micras, defeating all opposition that came before it. In these ancient times the world held more magic than science; strange creatures and stranger civilizations thrived in places where men dared not tread. Denizens of the dark abyss led armies of demons across the southern latitudes, while tiger-riders scouted the hills of the central continents, and ancient octopi people studied arcane texts in their frozen strongholds. It was a time of wonder, where anything was to be expected. Man was hunted, and his future dominance of the planet was far but assured. Humanity lived in fear; fear of the dark and the things that flitted and gibbered in the night. Thus it was that the humans turned to the elves for protection.
The first human kingdom to join the elves was Elpidos, on the continent of Tapfer. Although isolated and able to defend itself, King William had become smitten with an elvish princess. The marriage combined two powerful empires and made the elves the most powerful nation on the planet. A few nations resisted further overtures to accept “protection” from Menelmacar, among them the fledgling Empire of Shireroth, but the elves were easily persuaded to direct their attention to the petty kingdoms in lands unclaimed by any civilized power. It was then that the elves landed armies on the shores of Apollonia and began the liberation of Freenesia.
To this freed land the masses of humanity spread. Proliferating like never before, they clashed with the various non-human tribes that occupied the continent, wiping out race after race in a bid to be the dominant power. What happened instead was a wholesale massacre; for while some evil races were eliminated, many other neutral races were likewise destroyed, without discrimination. As the humans and their elven allies pushed the frontiers of the empire further inland, providing a constant supply route and defending such a vast expanse became more and more difficult. By the time the northern boundaries reached the hamlet of York Na, the humans had begun to lose their footing.
It was here, among the high peaks of Central Apollonia, that the small tribe of dragon riders was first encountered. A mountain folk, who had long ago learned to tame and ride the dragons that dwelt in the caves, had formed a symbiotic relationship with their reptilian allies. The elves saw the power that could be wielded by such as they, and sought to bring the dragon riders into their fold. Having long fought against the varying dark powers, the dragon riders were easily convinced. In exchange for the power of their flying armies, Menelmacar supplied the dragon riders not only with necessities heretofore inaccessible to the mountain people, but showered them in treasures and finery. The dragon riders became resplendent in their newfound riches, and soon formed the Kingdom of Ashintully, extending elvish control to the opposite shores of Apollonia.
The dragon riders built the marvelous Marble Palace, with massive blocks of glimmering white stone lifted into place by the magnificent strength of the dragons. The palace towered over the valleys below, and dominated the land for leagues around. From their stronghold castle, the Ash Fort, they spread like never before, becoming richer and more decadent. Riders adorned in outfits of utter intricacy, and dragons decked in plaited gold armor soon became the rule. Ashintully became an empire of narcissists, so proud of its own glory that it refused to recognize any faults within itself. And this blinding pride would ultimately be their downfall.
Part II: Ashes to Ashes
The classical age of Ashintully saw it rise to command a vast swath of territory from the eastern coasts of Apollonia to its western shores. Decadent and pompous, they became arrogant and prone to vanity. The first seeds of malcontent came with the arrival of the mysterious Priest in Yellow.
Menelmacar had long been a Soloralist nation in whose religion it was firmly rooted – or so many thought. But on Yellow Island, east of Tapfer, the priest appeared at the Temple of Radiance and began attracting cultists to his following. Worshipping the dark god Musa, they quickly spread to all corners of the Imperium, including Ashinthael. It wasn’t long before the priest and his acolytes had cozied up to Ashinthaler nobility. Soon after they managed to convince the King that Soloralism was a false religion and that their god, Muza, would reward those who repented with great gifts of psychic power.
While the men of Ashinthael were blind to this perverse faith, the dragons were not. Sensing the vanity of their human cohorts, they began abandoning the area, becoming dark marauders, or fleeing to the strongholds of other dragon lairs. Meanwhile, the Yellowists established a firm foothold in the Dagoran Spine and Tapfer. All the while the rift between Soloralist and Yellowist continued to grow. The High Priest whispered words of deceit in the ears of the King and sowed distrust of Menelmacar. Alarmed by this, the Soloralists rallied and began to take countermeasures against the Cult of Yellow. All it did was aggravate the situation further.
Government and Politics
Culture
Ashinthaler society is built around a strong relationship between people and dragons, the latter of which have become naturalized to the region after several millennia of existence. Dragons survive exclusively in the Teir'Dal Wasteland and the only other known population on Micras is in Ralgon. The relationship between a dragon and its human rider is one that evolved over two-thousand years of co-existence. Thus this symbiotic relationship is heavily ingrained in the society of Ashinthael.
Demographics
The country has a total population of 4,521,000 citizens.
The following was the ethnic breakdown of the country, according to the 1691 census:
- Ashinthalers: 2,905,331
- Menelmacari: 980,472
- Gralans: 333,091
- Crandish: 198,802
- Slobovians: 74,528
- Unidentified: 28,776
