Eponllyn

The Free Cities of Eponllyn
Overview
Island	East Continent
Capital	Westmoor
Largest City	Unknown
Government	Monarchy
Duchies	5
Regions	1
Population	19,910
Gold	11619
Food	5203
Nobles	21
Council
King	Guldor D'Espana
Commander	Arxex Pandorium
Chief of Justice	Guldor D'Espana
Chief of Commerce	Samuel II Bathgate
Regions
Region Lord Bruck Samuel II

Eponllyn is a medium sized Monarchy in the south of East Continent.

Government

The King/Queen is the ruler of Eponllyn, responsible for the connections of Eponllyn to the outside world and overseeing the running of the realm. The Chief Justice is the judge of Eponllyn, responsible for the laws and order of Eponllyn as well as arranging conduct with other realms during wartime. The High Constable is the general of Eponllyn, responsible for the armies and strategies of Eponllyn during wartime. The Treasurer is the banker of Eponllyn, responsible for the food situation of the realm, making sure regions are properly fed and for selling our surplus to other realms.

Military

There is currently one army; the Royal Charge of Eponllyn, sponsored by the Queen and marshalled by Arthur Windblack.

Lands

Eponllyn is clustered at the southern tip of the East Continent. The weather is therefore balmy but sometimes ferocious storms are blown onto the coasts. Eponllyn has always held Semall as its capital and also holds the city of Itorunt. The twin cities of the south are predominantly constructed of dark grey-purple granite stone. Surrounding the cities are the 'seas of grass,' the great southern plains and meadows that provide plenty of food for the realm. The good pasture land is helping Eponllyn's horse breeding programs.

History

The kingdom of Eponllyn was formed December, 7, 1011 when Duchess Siana Deytheur, Duchess of Semall, seceded her duchy from Ibladesh. The secession occurred during the closing stages of Ibladesh's war against Perdan and Caligus. Her enemies were adamant that Ibladesh and her Church would be completely destroyed so after long talks Eponllyn was formed right after Itorunt seceeded to form Armonia. Eponllyn was originally allowed only Semall and to then take over Al Arab which had been driven rogue by Perdan. The lands were completely scorched and most peasants left dead or fled but with perseverance the people of Eponllyn coaxed the lands back to health.

Wars of Eponllyn

1. "War of southern Queens". Summer of 1012. The infiltrator Valko D`Este, seemingly bored of working to restore Eponllyn's lands was tempted by the bounty on the head of Dread Phantom, the former King of Armonia. Eponllyn's judge immediately banned the miscreant but it was not enough for Queen Autrey who would not recognise the ban and also insisted that Eponllyn sign an alliance with Armonia. (There had been previous instances of tension between the two realms and the two Queens. A Trader of Armonia was found trading on the black market within Eponllyn and when they were both part of Ibladesh, Autrey had spoken vigourouly against Siana's contemplation of secession.) Armonia declared war 2 minutes before sunset and immediately invaded Ejarr Puutl, catching Eponllyn unawares. They were able to take over the region and hold it. As the war ended, they kept the region but gave up any claim they had on Ibladesh City and the mountains of Ar Raqqah(which were still rogue after the war with Perdan.) Ended with signing peace treaty. Eponllyn got the city of Ibladesh.

2. "Allies against Perdan". Early 1013 (?). There had been rumours from further north on the continent for a little while. Westmoor was keen to spread their religion, the Church of Hummanity and joined forces with Armonia because Autrey wanted to gain favour with Perdan by proving to have renounced the Church of Ibladesh. Perdan had also declared war on Nivemus for some contrived reasons about the Kronogos of Nivemu not treating his peasants very well.There was some following for CoH in Eponllyn, most notably the Duke of Al Arab, Lance Hagakure. Under increasing pressure, Eponllyn decided not to adopt CoH as its state religion and not to join Perdan's alliance against Nivemus and Sirion which was not taken very well.

The Duke of Al Arab was found to have been plotting with Perdan and Westmoor to secede and create a new realm in Al Arab and Ibladesh but when this was found out, the Duke changed his allegiance to Armonia. Caligus leant their support to Eponlllyn, pledging their support in a war if the city wasn't returned. Perdan denounced their part in the plan, placing the blame on Lance and Armonia. The Duke then changed his allegiance to Caligus but King Dobromir made the journey to give it back to Eponllyn. Armonia had sent their armies to Nivemus but scared of Eponllyn attacking their lands while their army was away, Queen Autrey refused to provide military support again, further harming the relationship between Armonia and Perdan (though Eponllyn wasn't planning to make such a dishonourable move). However, Atanamir and Autrey's relationship completely deteriorated very quickly and Autrey switched sides, revealing all to Eponllyn (including Perdan's original promotion of Lance's secession) and suggesting an alliance against Perdan. Caligus wasn't happy with Perdan's meddling and so decided to join the alliance.

In the end it was Perdan who first declared war on Caligus and then Armonia and Eponllyn followed. At first Eponllyn and Armonia enjoyed free reign. The plan was to take over Ar Mosul but Armonia wouldn't keep their army still and instead pushed further into Perdan's lands, unfortunately allowing Perdan's army to get behind them and completely wipe them out. After that Eponllyn was always on the back foot and once again found the lands north east of the Great Lake the target of Perdan's destruction. With Armonia taking week to refit and bringing less strength then promised Perdan drove all the lands up to Semall rogue. The final blow came when Armonia attacked Perdan in Zamor without informing Eponllyn they were moving, suiciding their whole army.

Then the Duke of Isadril seceded from Caligus and King Dobromir disappeared, throwing Caligus into panic. Caligus and Armonia quickly withdrew from the war leaving Eponllyn with little choice but to accept whatever terms Perdan came up with. Perdan claimed both of Eponllyn's northern cities, Al Arab and Ibladesh. Armonia was forced to give Ejarr Puutl back to Eponllyn and Oc Lu Pesh to Perdan and Caligus gave Moyale to Perdan. Perdan also forced their foreign policy onto Eponllyn, preventing alliances with former allies for 6 months, nor less than peace with Perdan's allies.

Later Perdan formed a new realm, Perleone, from these lands.

3. "Payback". Autumn of 1013. Eponllyn, allied with their new neighbor Fallangard, declared war on Armonia, Eponllyn's former ally which abandoned her in previous war. Armonia focused mainly on the Eponllyn front and most of the battles were in Ejarr Puutl, though Eponllyn did occasionally raid into Itor Boss or Priotness. While Eponllyn focused on fighting Armonia's army and destroying military infrastructure, Fallangard plundered the northern regions of Armonia into the ground. Armonia quickly gave up. Eponllyn offered the lord of Armonia the chance to join her and keep their positions. Itor Boss and Priotness took up this offer but the Duke of Xavax switched to Perleone, followed by the remaining regions of the Itorunt duchy.

Perleone announced they would keep the regions, cutting Eponllyn off from the rest of the continent and declaring that Eponllyn could not pass through their lands. Fallengard (allied with Perdan) were quickly distracted by joining Perdan in a war against Caligus with Atanamir giving the reason that the new King of Caligus was unfriendly and not answering his letters quickly enough.

Perleone was afraid that Eponllyn would attack them and jeopardise their war against Caligus so they offered to force the Itorunt duchy out of their realm, recreating Armonia so Eponllyn could have 'fun' fighting them again. Eponllyn was appalled by the idea and when the Duke of Itorunt was told of Perleone's plan for them, he decided to join Eponllyn of his own free will to prevent needless bloodshed.

Perleone had problems looking after their new regions as they preferred to keep sending their armies against Caligus. Starvation and monsters took their toll and Betholm revolted. Eponllyn then took custody of the region.

Fishermen's tales

Eponllyn culture is largely influenced by the old pagan religions of the fisherman of Itorunt. The symbol of the fish horse is of the mythical creature called a Hippocamp which can be as large as a real horse or as small as a star fish. Legend has it if you happen to catch one in your net you must throw it back into the sea immediately and will be blessed with a year of good fortune. If you take it home it is said that a storm will destroy your house and boat.

Enutpen the immortal lord of the sea occasionally has to fend off Magnus the great serpent from swimming into the Ibladesh bay. It is said that Enutpen struck the volcano at Chaos temple so that he could close the land around the lake and prevent Magnus from claiming the lake. Although he can no longer enter that way he still patrols the coast attempting to gain access to the river but Enutpen is always there to stop him. This explains all manner of bad weather that afflicts the south including storms, hurricanes and tidal waves depending on the ferocity of the battle.

All nobles and peasants alike have great respect for the sea regardless of what religion they follow. Clerics of other religions are sometimes aghast to arrive in Eponllyn and find that their church services have taken on some local sea worship culture. Thankfully the right of sacrifice by drowning has mostly died out since Itorunt was destroyed. The Ibladesh priests were much less tolerant of pagan tradition than their predecessors however with the birth of Eponllyn the old sea traditions have re-emerged with more value in a time where nobles of the south are questioning the old gods who let the empire of Ibladesh crumble into ruins.