Thryn

 The Empire of Thryn

History In ages past, the great kingdom of Raytha spread far and wide across the world we know as Ardus. Under the banner of the great human king Salmir Dirlain, the humans explored most of Aravin, until they met the dwarfs of the north and the elves of the south. In the years that followed, new and unclaimed territory became scarce, yet Ratha’s never ending hunger for new lands did all but seize. In their search, the brave Raythians eventually turned to the great unknown; the ocean.

During this second age of new exploration, perhaps one of the most succefull colonies was found on the island of Thryn, to the south of the continent Gardann. Here, some of Raytha’s greatest noble families settled, taking full advantage of their strategic location; the human colony furthest away from Raytha, far away from the watchful eyes of their king.

However, being this far from their homeland, the inhabitants could not depend on their king to reinforce his rules, and as such, the colony, that had slowly started to spread across the vast mass of land, created its own laws. Only those of the highest nobility were found fit to lead this land.

When great calamities in Raytha threatened to spread to Thryn, the council that lead the colony decided it would be wise to set themselves apart; they separated themselves from the kingdom of Raytha, and pronounced themselves independent. With the forces of Ratha spread thin, fighting in a vicious civil war, the newly formed Empire of Thryn found no one to oppose their wish of independence.

Generations have passed since, and Thryn has developed into a strong, yet isolated nation, believing that the only way to survive peacefully in this world is to separate themselves from the other human nations in Ardus. Indeed, trade is scarce, and the only nation Thryn interacts with on a regular bases is the Wilder Elf nation Elynnis; Thryn has a constant need for lumber, and the Wilder Elves have proven reluctant to let the chopping and burning humans into their sacred forests.

The structure of the land. There are many cities in Thryn, most of them either near a harbour or mine. Thryn’s capital stands at the location where the first colony was found, and was called Thryn until the independence of the nation; after this, it was named Thrynalon, often referred to by its inhabitants as ‘The Just City’. The capital houses the seven leading families, who have governed the empire since its creation.

Thryn has a long history in fishery and mining, and is especially known for its oddly shaped gemstones, the one item it exports to the rest of the world, be it only rarely. Thryn also prides itself for its blacksmiths, claiming they craft the best weaponry in Ardus, although such claims are laughed at by many men, dwarfs, elven and human alike.

One things Thryn lacks is wood, and although timber can be found on the island, it lacks the major forests that can be found on the mainland. This has lead to expeditions into the lands of the Wilder Elves, who have not taken the devastation of their lands lightly. Nearly half of Thryn’s military force can be found in or near Elynnis at any given time. The struggle for lumber has made the material highly valuable.

Culture Thryn has a rich culture, taking great pride in its past. Honour and respect play an important role, and all noble houses know their role, and there is a subtle ranking system that decides which house stands above which house. The position of a noble house is determined by many things, such as military force and wealth. Since the position of the family’s house depends on the amount of power that house has within the borders of Thryn, every family is always trying to rise in power, and assassination attempts on other houses are not unheard of.

Customs and Religion There is no single religion in Thryn, and its inhabitants are free to worship any gods they like, although it is not unknown for the Seven Families to order the execution of organisations that pose a threat to the purity of the nation.

Leaders and Figureheads The Seven Families<span style="color:rgb(50,61,79);font-family:'LucidaGrande','TrebuchetMS',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:18.1875px;"> – The seven most powerful noble families in Thryn. These are the leaders of the Empire; <span style="color:rgb(50,61,79);font-family:'LucidaGrande','TrebuchetMS',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:18.1875px;">House Shoki - First Family of Thryn <span style="color:rgb(50,61,79);font-family:'LucidaGrande','TrebuchetMS',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:18.1875px;">House Jimmu - Second Family of Thryn <span style="color:rgb(50,61,79);font-family:'LucidaGrande','TrebuchetMS',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:18.1875px;">House Shekin - Third Family of Thryn <span style="color:rgb(50,61,79);font-family:'LucidaGrande','TrebuchetMS',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:18.1875px;">House Taira - Fourth Family of Thryn <span style="color:rgb(50,61,79);font-family:'LucidaGrande','TrebuchetMS',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:18.1875px;">House Sotoku - Fifth Family of Thryn <span style="color:rgb(50,61,79);font-family:'LucidaGrande','TrebuchetMS',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:18.1875px;">House Takezo - Sixth Family of Thryn <span style="color:rgb(50,61,79);font-family:'LucidaGrande','TrebuchetMS',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:18.1875px;">House Mekku - Seventh Family of Thryn

Lord General Bruda Shekin <span style="color:rgb(50,61,79);font-family:'LucidaGrande','TrebuchetMS',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:18.1875px;">– Lord General of Thryn’s military force, highest military official in Thryn, member of the Shekin family, the second most powerful family in Thryn.