09-24-2022, 01:27 PM
Well, it didn't take me two more years to do another realm profile . I've just completed another one:
Some realms are blessed with a wealth of natural resources, and consequently, their citizens enjoy great prosperity (Kemmelreich and Leocadio Kingdom come to mind). However, for there to be rich realms, there must also be poor realms... and sadly, the Czardom of Chernaya Reka falls very much into the latter category.
This small realm is home to 70,000 people - most of whom are elves or humans, although minority populations of dwarfs and trolls also exist. The Elvish population is quite different from those found elsewhere on the continent: Chernaya Reka is the last remaining bastion of the Dark Elves, who used to dominate the entire southern subcontinent, but who were gradually driven out of the rest of their lands. Even here, where they have survived, they struggle to find employment, due to the scarcity of resources and economic opportunities (and even the Black River doesn't come to their rescue: its waters are so muddy and acidic that very little can live there). As a result, a disconcertingly large proportion of its population sees no alternative but to turn to crime - with the aid of the dark magic that the elves continue to practise.
One positive aspect of the realm, however, is that its female citizens enjoy equal rights, and have done so for hundreds of years. To understand why, we have to go back to 314BGE, when Czar Oleg II of Krasnaya Reka passed away. He agreed to divide his realm in two, between his two children: his son would become Oleg III of Krasnaya Reka, while his daughter would become Czarina Maria, of a brand new realm: Chernaya Reka. He deliberately gave Maria the most impoverished and crime-ridden lands - the idea being that Oleg III would soon recapture Chernaya Reka, and the kingdom would be reunited once more. However, this didn't happen: Maria secured Chernaya Reka's independence, and ruled for over 50 years. Needless to say, she is the most revered figure in the realm's history - and, in her honour, Chernaya Reka became the first realm to give equal succession rights to boys and girls (in fact, it has had more female rulers than male ones!)
In common with many other realms, Chernaya Reka is sub-divided into four provinces, as follows:
Few people in Chernaya Reka actually enjoy their existence (the inhabitants of the Bone Coast being particularly poor). However, in spite of its low population and weak economy, nobody ever bothers trying to conquer it - due to the physical strength of the trolls, and the magical power of the dark elves. It's simply too much risk for too little reward.
CHERNAYA REKA
Some realms are blessed with a wealth of natural resources, and consequently, their citizens enjoy great prosperity (Kemmelreich and Leocadio Kingdom come to mind). However, for there to be rich realms, there must also be poor realms... and sadly, the Czardom of Chernaya Reka falls very much into the latter category.
This small realm is home to 70,000 people - most of whom are elves or humans, although minority populations of dwarfs and trolls also exist. The Elvish population is quite different from those found elsewhere on the continent: Chernaya Reka is the last remaining bastion of the Dark Elves, who used to dominate the entire southern subcontinent, but who were gradually driven out of the rest of their lands. Even here, where they have survived, they struggle to find employment, due to the scarcity of resources and economic opportunities (and even the Black River doesn't come to their rescue: its waters are so muddy and acidic that very little can live there). As a result, a disconcertingly large proportion of its population sees no alternative but to turn to crime - with the aid of the dark magic that the elves continue to practise.
One positive aspect of the realm, however, is that its female citizens enjoy equal rights, and have done so for hundreds of years. To understand why, we have to go back to 314BGE, when Czar Oleg II of Krasnaya Reka passed away. He agreed to divide his realm in two, between his two children: his son would become Oleg III of Krasnaya Reka, while his daughter would become Czarina Maria, of a brand new realm: Chernaya Reka. He deliberately gave Maria the most impoverished and crime-ridden lands - the idea being that Oleg III would soon recapture Chernaya Reka, and the kingdom would be reunited once more. However, this didn't happen: Maria secured Chernaya Reka's independence, and ruled for over 50 years. Needless to say, she is the most revered figure in the realm's history - and, in her honour, Chernaya Reka became the first realm to give equal succession rights to boys and girls (in fact, it has had more female rulers than male ones!)
In common with many other realms, Chernaya Reka is sub-divided into four provinces, as follows:
- Kurovsk - The central province of Chernaya Reka, which takes its name from the founding Kurov dynasty. The province is home to 36,000 people, around 13,000 of whom live in the capital of Mariagrad - making it small for a capital city, but nevertheless the largest city in the czardom. Kurovsk is quite heavily covered in coniferous forest, and many of the people here work as loggers, hunters, farmers, or fishermen. These aren't spectacular jobs, by any means - but they allow people to get by.
- Tungsten Mountains - The largest province in Chernaya Reka, but quite sparsely-populated, with only 12,000 people. The eastern two-thirds are evenly split between elves and dwarfs, who work together to mine tungsten and other metals (the dwarfs do all the physical labour, while the elves assist with magic). The western third is dominated by trolls, under the leadership of Chieftain Agradar - and very few non-trolls are brave enough to venture onto his lands!
- Bone Coast - The northernmost province, home to around 14,000 people - most of them humans. It used to be home to thousands of Angelic merfolk - but sadly, these were massacared by Krasnaya Rekan troops in the year 366BGE, and the survivors all fled northwards. The coastal waters are still known as a merfolk graveyard (hence the name 'Bone Coast') - and to this day, merfolk sometimes visit to pay their respects to the fallen.
This province is also notable for the presence of the Academia Marvina. This was founded in the year 65BGE by the dark wizard Marvin - the father of Zarna, and the grandfather of Kyle's mother Jane. Marvin was frustrated by the Academia Magesteria's refusal to teach dark magic - and thus, he and his band of dissidents founded their own rival institution, on a rocky island off the Bone Coast. Many of its students are dark elves - although it is open to all aspiring magi, regardless of race.
- Pine Islands - The southernmost province, home to 8,000 people - almost all of them elves. These people make a living farming pine trees, and fermenting the resin from their cones into an alcoholic beverage, which is widely known as 'pine wine' (although it is, in fact, a spirit). This is sold all across the continent - and thus, the Pine Islands are the only province of Chernaya Reka that is at least somewhat wealthy.
Few people in Chernaya Reka actually enjoy their existence (the inhabitants of the Bone Coast being particularly poor). However, in spite of its low population and weak economy, nobody ever bothers trying to conquer it - due to the physical strength of the trolls, and the magical power of the dark elves. It's simply too much risk for too little reward.
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Moonface (in 'Woman runs 49 red lights in ex's car')' Wrote: If only she had ran another 20 lights.
(Thanks to Nilla for the avatar, and Detective Osprey for the sig!)
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