Kingdom of Salicia

Salicia is a kingdom located on the north coast of a peninsula on the Continent of Osnines. Historically defined by its strategic coastal proximity and its role as a terminal for the Great West Road, the kingdom has recently lost its independence. In 774 AM, following the sudden death of the Old King of Salicia, the nation was annexed by the Kingdom of Cottalem in a military operation orchestrated by the renegade hero Rojden.

The kingdom is bordered to the west and south by Cottalem and to the east and north-east by Spuetan. The urban hierarchy is led by the capital, the Citadel, and the second city of Aintzira. The major port of Beretha faces north towards the sea and serves as a vital maritime gateway.

Other notable geographical features include Lake Abrazos and the River Lixada. The kingdom is linked to the wider continent via the Great West Road, which strikes east towards Aintzira and Crucivia, and west towards Dacidade. Smaller settlements along these routes include Pontepedra, Muino, and Ladeira.

Prior to 774 AM, Salicia was a sovereign monarchy ruled by a line that had usurped the throne three generations earlier. The government was recently destabilised by the sudden death of the King, who left no clear male heir; his two sons had predeceased him, and his only daughter was married to a Skyssian.

The Earl of Beretha, representing the older royal line, maintained a separate power base in the north. Following the invasion, the kingdom was integrated into a wider power bloc under the Cottalemnese crown, a transition facilitated by the use of geasa to ensure the loyalty of the surviving nobility.

The Salician monarchy has historically been a site of contestation between rival noble houses. The current crisis was precipitated by the sudden death of the aged King in 774 AM, an event orchestrated by the renegade Rojden to facilitate a Cottalemnese takeover.

The primary claimants during the crisis included:

• Princess Marjorie, The King’s Daughter: Married to a Skyssian, she was viewed by the Board of Trade as a stabilising candidate but was forced to flee following an attack on her household.
• Duke Xaime: A major noble whose personal guards were subverted by Rojden, leading to his “unfortunate accident” during a confrontation with the Earl of Beretha’s forces.
• The Earl of Beretha: A descendant of a previously usurped royal line who claims legitimacy through ancient divine blood. He pre-emptively seized control of Beretha to resist the invasion.

The invasion was a masterclass in strategic misdirection. Cottalemnese heavy cavalry swept into the capital and secured the Citadel at dawn, ahead of the light infantry. A puppet coronation was rapidly performed to provide a veneer of legitimacy, while a naval blockade was established

The invasion was a highly organised manoeuvre. Cottalemnese heavy cavalry entered the Citadel at dawn to secure the capital, while infantry columns were despatched to neutralise Beretha. Rojden had planned to capture the King's daughter and the Earl alive to present an appearance of domestic dynastic resolution rather than foreign conquest. While the capital fell quickly, the Earl pre-emptively raised his militia to defend Beretha. The conflict concluded with the coronation of the Cottalemnese monarch in the Citadel, which was attended and recognised by Princess Marjorie.

• The Old King of Salicia: (Deceased) The monarch whose death triggered the succession crisis.
• The Earl of Beretha: A descendant of the gods and the older royal house who governed Beretha.
• The Princess of Salicia: The King's surviving heir who swore allegiance to the new crown.
• Duke Xaime: A high-ranking noble whose guard was utilised by Rojden during the coup.
• Rojden: The Skyssian renegade and strategic advisor who managed the invasion.
• Adan: An agent of the Duke's outer guard who provided intelligence during the conflict.
• Llucas: A sergeant in the outer guard who executed Rojden's standing instructions.
• Nephew of the King: A potential candidate for the throne prior to the invasion.

• The Citadel: The kingdom's capital and site of the Cottalemnese coronation.
• Aintzira: The second largest urban centre in Salicia.
• Beretha: A major estuary port city and the western terminus of the trans-isthmus trade.
• Cottalem: The neighbouring power that currently occupies Salician territory.
• Spuetan: A kingdom bordering Salicia to the east.
• Lake Abrazos: A large lake located within the kingdom's borders.
• River Lixada: A major waterway characterising the Salician landscape.
• Pontepedra: A town situated on the Great West Road.
• Muino: A settlement located between the capital and the coast.
• Ladeira: A town situated in the southern reaches of the kingdom.

• Great West Road: The primary land artery facilitating international trade through the kingdom.
• Board of Trade: The Skyssian semi-governmental authority monitoring the Salician conflict.
• Geas: Magical compulsions utilised by the occupying forces to maintain political control.
• Department of Resolutions: The specialised Skyssian unit tasked with resolving the Salician crisis.