Aregrionno

Aregrionno's history knows several distinct periods.

Settlement

Going as far back as the First Era, the Aregrionnic peninsula was said to be the Garden of the Elves, a land of mountains, hills, wine, and fruit. Men and other races arrived during the Second Era, and settled around the region.

Elven Occupation

Elven legend tells of the harmonious co-existence of Man and Elf; myths told by Man tell of Elven oppression, and how Man was enslaved to work the land. The degree to which these stories are true (and not just propaganda made up in later times to incite Elven hatred) is unknown.

Elves were a prominent presence in the peninsula up until the kerymsept. The degree to which the kerymsept was an effect or a cause of changes in the region is unknown. What is known, is that a rebellion took place (called the Rivolta in folklore).

Imperial Age

Whether the Elves were violently overthrown or simply left to focus their attention elsewhere, the result of the Elves leaving the peninsula was that a new power took its place: the Aregic Empire. Led by a royal bloodline that is only known as Aregion, this empire soon found itself in control of the territories that make up Aregrionno to this day.

The largest city of the land was renamed Unknown, and the various vals were instituted to rule the land effectively.

The exact length of their rule is unknown. It was started near the beginning of the Fourth Era and did not exist during The Year of the Black Star. Most scholars do assume this empire lasted for nearly (if not more than) a thousand years, however. All this time, this empire was led by an emperor simply known as Aregion, but this being a single individual for all this time seems unlikely.

Guild Age

The division of Aregrionno into various guilds made it manageable to rule, but also proved to be the ultimate downfall of the Empire itself, as it allowed the various regions to unite against the ruling body more effectively. In a long conflict known as the Guild War, the various orders of labor united and overthrew their emperor in the late stages of the Fourth Era.

This led to the various guilds finally uniting as a ruling body to govern the land instead of the crown, and The Covenant of the Three.

Aregrionno is divided into 5 main provinces (or val):

Val Aregis

• The capital province. Seat of Ordo Gladio (Order of the Sword) and Ordo Sacculis (Order of the Purse). Its population makes up around 40% of the country's total population. It is represented on the flag by the cinquefoil.

• The prosperous western province. Houses around a quarter of the country's population. It is represented on the flag by the blue region, representing Lake Boli.

• The northern, heavily forested province. The Vastarian Forest covers most of its territory. It is represented by the green region.

• The eastern province of Aregrionno. Covered in mountains, Timbersong Woods and olive groves. Represented by the olive region.

• The southern province, with a long history of conflict with Elleseand. Is represented by the blood-red region.

Aregrionno is a Trade League. Its government is a form of a plutocratic oligarchy, where the state is made up of a myriad of free merchants, corporations, and guilds that have banded together in common commercial interests.

Its values are fanatically egalitarian and very materialistic, placing little value in religion. It tends to be historically pacifistic and is very friendly to other cultures and customs.

Aregrionno is ruled by a complex system of guilds or ordos. These are united in The Covenant of the Three, which acts as the general ruling body.

• Ordo Martello, The Order of the Hammer, the guild of craftspeople.
• Ordo Grano, The Order of the Grain, the guild of farmers.
• Ordo Dolabri, The Order of the Pickaxe, the guild of miners.
• Ordo Securis, The Order of the Axe, the guild of woodsmen.
• Ordo Viribus, The Order of Strength, the guild of general physical labor.

• Ordo Equus, The Order of the Horse, the guild of transports and caravans.

• Ordo Oculi, The Order of the Eye, the intelligence apparatus of Aregiond.
• Ordo Inquisitoris, The Order of Inquisitors, responsible for policing and controlling magic use.

Roughly half of the Aregiond population consist of humans. Halflings and Dwarves make up a shared 40%, having prominent roles in the Ordo Trutia (Order of Scales) and Ordo Lavoro (Order of Labor), respectively. The other 10% is filled by half-elves and half-orcs.

• Eloquence and social expertise
• Subtlety and indirectness of action
• Excellence in one’s profession or trade