Sironia

Sironia, officially the Third Kingdom of Sironia, is a Kingdom in southern Alteniquia on the Sea of Carvay. It is bordered by Cobbleworks to the Southwest, Adavia and Lirgal to the Southeast, Carn to the East and to its north the Sea of Slaves, where it shares a maritime border with Fuscinivir and Sanctum. It is considered the last bastion of the ancient Sagaviri Empire's culture, religion, and language and has long been seen as the direct successor to the Empire and the only nation that could restore it, should the opportunity arise.

Ancient History
Asara's Conversion In ancient times, the Holy Peninsula, where Azethvir now stands, and the rest of modern Sironia were populated by the Shironlirak people which means "People of the Land," in Sagaviri. Theses tribes agreed to keep to their own affairs, not wanting anything more or less than a couple exchanges of resources. However, amongst these tribes was an expansionistic people who called themselves the "Asara." The Asara were famous for their brutality and cruelty towards any foreigner.

The First Prophet, Temion was a stranger to all of the Shironliraks. The Shironliraks warned Temion of the brutality and merciless actions, depsite all warning of all the tribes he had journeyed to, he did not heed their warnings for he knew that "The darkness shall be sundered and destroyed in the presence o' light of the Uncreated One."

Temion ventured upon the Asaran land and soon was halted by a warrior. The warrior threatened Temion with zeal and strength, while Temion replied in a soft, but prominent voice in the Asaran tongue, "Take me to the one who leads your people." The warrior, stunned and confused to see a foreigner speaking their tongue, agreed to Temion's request and took him to the village where the chieftan resided in an old fort.

The Chieftan, utterly puzzled upon the sight of a foreigner in the halls without chains, demanded in his booming voice to the warrior the reason he was letting a foreigner within the halls. The Warrior explained as Temion patiently waited.

The Chieftain was now curious upon Temion's purpose.

Once the warrior explained his decision, Temion spoke forwards, and greeted the Chieftain with a challenge, "I will build a shrine of my God next to one of yours, both will be set alight by a flint, and be the shrine of the true god have the fire in its shrine burn in splendor whilst the shrine of the false god will have its fire wilt before our eyes."

The challenge was accepted.

As the day progressed, Temion had spent much time crafting a stylized image of a lit fire on a flat wooden surfrace, and built a small container to house the fat that would burn. The Asaran priests, in all of their smugness, decided that they wished to sabotage Temion; the wood they had provided him was wet and soaked with water from the sea.

Temion saw this but paid no attention to it. He simply put the wood in his container and sat down to meditate. The priests started to prepare and attempt to light their fire, the fuel was easy to light but despite repeated attempts the fuel never seemed to catch fire, the sparks hit the wood but soon faded. After letting their attempts continue for a small while longer Temion said "Oh great creator! Show thy power and strength, show the truth of your message and the holiness of your fire so that these people may be enlightened. Let it be so!"

With these words a roaring and crackling fire was lit in front of the shrine to the creator. The fire was unlike anything ever seen, for it was not simply a fire, rather it was a small fraction of the uncreated light that is the creator. The people of the tribe, not being able to comprehend what they were seeing, simply fell to their knees in reverence of the great creator.

After this, Temion was named their King and he did much work to reform the tribe away from their bloodthirsty ways. Many of the Asara became missionaries who spread the faith of Sakrelism to the other Sironian tribes, so much so in fact that the word "Asara" in Sironian now means "missionary". Temion and his successors worked hard for unification of the various tribes into one Kingdom of Sakrelith - what would eventually become the Sagaviri Empire.

The Sagaviri Empire
After all the original Sironian tribes had been united under the banner of Sakrelith, peace was achieved for some time. However, this peace was fragile as multiple other fledgling Kingdoms had been expanding within the area - Pontus in the Savannah, Rotharon / Moncheir in the east, Myrmark in the Swamps, and Hraam in the Athazolant region, among numerous others. As the Sakrelist Kingdom prospered, it had built a new capital - Ankor - in the geographical centre of Aldovir - roughly halfway between the cities of Asalath and Arkal today. This resulted in increased tensions with the neighbouring states of Myrmark and Pontus.

Although the history is ancient and many details unclear, surviving records indicate that a secret alliance was created between Pontus and Myrmark, and when Sakrelist missionaries began to cause trouble in the Polytheistic Pontus and Animalist Myrmark, they expelled all missionaries and those of Sironian ancestry. Sagaviri diplomats responded with forced execution / conversion of settlers from Myrmark living in the western part of Ankor, which had been part of Myrmark up until the founding of Ankor. This prompted Myrmark to declare war on Sagavir and invade with a large army from its populous eastern provinces, swiftly capturing territory until it was at the gates of the Capital.

The Sagaviri government scrambled its forces together, but many soldiers were still returning from the Atarian - Fuscinian War, in which they had successfully prevented the destruction of the Sakrelist Kingdom of Ataria. The war ground to a halt as Myrmark's forces failed to either breach the walls of Ankor or cross the Asalarash River. Even the returning Sagaviri armies could not help as the front was deadlocked - it was only once Atarian troops arrived to return the favour of Sagavir's help in the previous war that their troops were able to cross the river and rout the army of Myrmark.

However, in the planning of the operation, the generals had overlooked one small detail - they would also briefly cross the Asour'therak Stream in order to cross the river at a ford. This mistake resulted in the Sagaviri-Atarian army crossing into the lands of Pontus, which the local watchtower immediately reported back to the Pontusian capital of Kalasirol. Although the operation successfully provoked a sudden retreat from the armies of Myrmark, the Pontifex of Pontus was irate.

Following this, the Pontifex demanded Sagavir surrender Fort Castell, the mountain fortress that defended its western borders, to Pontus in exchange for not declaring war. Sagavir refused to reply, and Pontus swiftly joined Myrmark, capturing the Fort with its elite Legionnaires and opening a new front. Sagaviri Anra, Rithaur I, quickly mustered trainee forces from the small settlement of Asour'therak and nearby villages in the swamps. The famed Legionnaires of Pontus failed to push deeper into the swamp, completely outside their regular savannah operating theatre, and were soon destroyed in small guerilla battles. Sagaviri ships soon landed near Kalasirol, almost completely razing the city undefended by the bogged down Legionnaires.

Seeing the Kingdom of Pontus fall to the enemy, Myrmark was demoralized, and soon the combined Sagaviri and Atarian forces attacked their lands from the east and north. After subjugating Pontus and relegating Myrmark to the innermost swamps, Sagavir continued its expansion unrivalled into the east, destroying tribes and petty states alike. Archon Aurshak II crowned himself the Emperor of Sagavir after fighting off an incursion of eastern Pyriac nomads. Later emperors brought much prosperity - Ythar I destroyed a Myrmarkese revolt and Veron IV conquered the south of the subcontinent, preventing a Hraamese incursion.

The fall
Over time, the developments and innovations within Sagavir that had once been championed by the Guilds of Lapidovir slowed down and halted. Society became full of religious superstition and governments became increasingly corrupt. The Guilds resorted to increasingly Capitalist business models and effectively had full control over the industrial heartland of Sagavir. Although multiple plagues and rebellions had broken out previously, the Empire had still recovered, and many expected the same to happen when Geshemi refugees migrated into Sagaviri lands. Thousands came upon the western shores and while most continued northeast into mainland Alteniquia, many stayed. The zealous Sakrelist populace began to resent these newcomers, as the Geshemi began to clamour for their own rights in response to brutal military crackdowns, race riots and discrimination. Food suddenly became scarce due to the massive population influx, wheat plague ravaging east Sagavir as well as terrible winters at the time which led the Geshemi to take up arms against the Sagaviri authorities multiple times. It was around this time that the old Reylleans first began exploring the eastern Sagaviri coastline after leaving the land known to the Sagaviri as "north of Akratia and south of Serafini" and destroying Imperial outposts on Tálor. Before long, plundering of the eastern cities of Sagavir would begin, followed by the Reyllean migration. The Grand Navy of Sagavir was quickly mustered, but was denied exit from the Kepler Bay by the Guardians of Kaithrat, who began demanding punitive taxes as they asserted their own sovereignty. This degraded the already faltering control of the dysfunctional Sagaviri government, and as its forces were already engaged in combat with the Geshemi, Reylleans, and later Hraam, the navy simply disbanded and sent its marines to fight.

The power of Ankor truly diminished once local aristocrats declared ownership of their Eglisars, the Guilds declared their own Corporate Government within a now Geshemi-influenced Lapidovir, and Hraam launched an invasion. Chaos had invaded all aspects of Sagaviri life, with a series of incompetent Emperors barely being able to control their own lords and armies. Emperor Rithaur III, considered by some the last hope of the Empire, was assassinated by the Keshbethorak of Ankor, with his cousin Ereksh II being named as a puppet leader. This spelled disaster for Sagavir, and before long all central authority dissolved completely, with the last Prophet-Descendant of Ankor fleeing to Azethvir.

Aftermath and the reign of Rithaur IV.
After the Loss of Ankor and the Corporate Union's declaration of independence, the most popoulous Sagaviri city remaining was Azethvir. There, a new Sagaviri nation was formed with the ideal of restoring the old empire and saving Sagavir. Rithaur IV became the first Archon of the new nation. At the start of his reign, Sironia contained only the Holy Peninsula and Asour'therak. He immediately began to expand the Kingdom using the relatively large population of Azethvir. The old lands of Pontus were in a dire situation, as a massive plague decimated the local population and Reyllean raiders ran rampant. As more refugees began to pile into Kalasirol, Pontus became increasingly unstable, and the population chose to join Sironia when the last Pontifex was found drowned. Nearby Jeghosi tribes readily accepted Sironian rule, but the Niedene settlement of Maqberg was only integrated after multiple diplomatic missions. The first years saw extensive border conflicts with the Reylleans, as they were still carving out their own territories from Sagavir, and a booming population.

Reylleans would occasionally attack Sakrelist pilgrims and converts in their provinces which greatly damaged the relations of two nations. Soon the state of Myrmark decided to join Sironia and an alliance was created with Uldarash.

Eglisars
Sironia is divided into five eglisars which are ruled over by a cleric. Each eglisar has a unique history but all are connected through the Sakrelist faith and loyalty to the Archon.

Government
The government is headed by an elected "Anra" (Archon/King) who is the supreme head of the nation (and the Sanctum) together with the "Keshbethorak" (Council of the Lords) and the Dirashbethorak (The Holy Synod). The council of Lords does not have much political power, instead it exists as a body to propose legislation and advise the Archon.

The council is allowed to veto the Archon in certain cases to prevent abuses of power. However, this power mostly rests with the Holy Synod. The Holy Synod is the judicial and electoral branch of the government. It consists of all Clerics in Sironia. The Holy Synod deals with certain matters of the faith in Sironia like electing new clerics, discussing legislation, can veto the Archon, and serves to elect him/her.

The synod also deals with matters of faith between the jurisdictions of different clerics to allow for cooperation.

The Priests and and the Clerics above them are in charge of more than just spiritual matters. They keep track of deaths, births, when a house is sold and bought, when someone moves out and in etc. They make sure that all can read on a rudimentary level and serve as judges as it is believed that the priests and clerics give fairer and better judgement through the lens of the uncreated one. The Anra is a member of the Holy Synod and does get a vote, but their vote does not overrule any other vote.

The Keshras are chosen by the Anra to rule over a certain province. The Keshra are in charge of administrating the province (Verhal), enforcing laws, generating economic activity and other such matters. To become a Keshra it is not enough to simply enough to be born into a good family. There is a complex system of tests that allows one to become a candidate. These tests are taken in the capital of the Kingdom.

The person who is tested goes through a series of different assignments that are later graded. They are then assigned to an administrative position such as keeping track of all paperwork that priests and clerics send in or ruling over a small town or a fort. If they are nominated in some way, then the Archon will look through the options of nominees and pick one to fill a position of Keshra.

Religion
The Kingdom has Sakrelism as it's offical state religion, but people are allowed to practice their own faith in private. However, conversions from Sakrelism to another religion is forbidden.

Culture
The majority of the Kingdom is Sagaviri in ethnicity, however "Sironian" is a very lose term. The nomadic "Erelisher" people are too considered Sironians, yet their traditions and lifestyles vary widely from urban residents that might live in Azethvir or Asalath. This is both due to their nomadic lifestyle but also due to many other factors. the Kingdom has decided to embrace this diversity rather than reject it, instead the faith in Sakrelith as the creator as a binding force is emphasized.

Sironians speak various dialects of the Sironvir-Sagaviri language, last extant language of the Greater Sagaviri languages, with its own unique alphabet.

Orders
A big part of Sironian society are the orders of the prophets. Each prophet embodies a different set of ideals that allow them to become patrons to various positions in society. Farmers and doctors are part of different orders, but both orders have Asala, the mother as their patron prophet.

Each order is supposed to be equal in standing. In practice people often see certain orders as higher than other ones however.

Generally speaking, one will be born into an order, but one does not need to stay if they do not wish to. It can often be difficult to leave though as you have to find someone from a different order to train and teach you to do whatever their order's job is. This can often be fairly hard in practice but changing one's order isn't unheard of and does happen. The orders have mostly been forgotten in the modern Sironia except in azethvir.

Tattoos
A common part of the Sironian culture are tattoos. These tattoos mark different important life events. Becoming adult, getting married, having children, participating in war, becoming a priest, cleric, monk, working as something for 5, 10,15,20 etc years and more.

These tattoos differ depending on the event, but they are made to generally intertwine in wavy shapes that blend together. One's position in society and participation in the event also changes the tattoo. A simple infantryman will have a different tattoo than a commander or general. And for all these groups the tattoo will differ depending on whether the battle was won or lost.

Folklore
Sironian people have many stories and songs of historical events altought most of them aren't historically accurate. Following is one of those songs about Ataron:

There once was a boy named Attar,

Just a little boy!

He went searching in a forest,

He went searching for a new home.

He took the stick and went inside

Ohh he took an oath

There once was a boy named Attar

His people needed home

So he went into a forest

The night was dark and cold

Ohhh the little boy

Found a deer and followed its steps

Ohhh the little boy

Found a wolf in the forest

His body stood like petrified

But he wasnt to die

He raised his stick and went for the hit

Ohh brave boy he was

The wolf retreated deeper

And Attar wanted it no more

So Attar little boy

Followed the wolf into the forest

There once was a boy named Attar

He searched for a new hope

Followed a wolf into the forest

Not knowing better oooh

A blue light surrounded him there

It told him the stories of his ancestors

Oooh he was of blood thats older than night

He was of greatest kind

There once was a boy named Attar

The spirts took his hand

He walked into the fire

A new heavenly man

No more war and no more death

It was his oath to bring back faith

He walked into the fire

He walked into uncreated ones grace

Oh theres no more Attar

Ataron stands before you

Oh hes now a man

The peace fills his heart

Another one of folk stories about sheep people:

__

The Lirgak Lathiresh are supposed sheep men who live beneath the earth in winding tunnels and underground cities. Males are known as Lirgak Lathira and females are known as Lirgak Lathire and multiple are known as Lirgak Lathiresh. They are half the size of a typical human and bear the appearance of a humanoid sheep, with red eeys like that of a goat and spiraling horns regardless of whether they are male or female. Their skin is pitch black but is hidden by dense wool which the Lirgak Lathiresh uses to stay warm in the freezing temperatures of their tunnels and cities.

The Lirgak Lathiresh are known to occasionally come above ground in order to carouse and raise hell. In most cases they avoid humans and other sentient races, oftentimes visiting or making stone circles above ground. They have also been known to invade mineshafts and mines of sentient races.

The Lirgak Lathiresh have been known differently across Sironia. In the western cities and towns and villages they are known to be more violent and hostile towards people, some even going as far to kill either in defense or in grim hunts. In the East and especially around Azethvir their legend remains one of mischief should you become afflicted by one.

The Lirgak Lathiresh are known across the Kingdom to be thieves of alcohol, potions, tools and food. Oftentimes when things consistently go missing it is the work of a Lirgak Lathiresh that one has inadvertently attracted to their home. Other signs include freshly planted cornflowers or sheep whose faces and/or have been tattooed with strange markings and symbols. It is said that the Lirgak Lathiresh worship cornflower and sheep as holy, thus it is easy to incur the wrath of Lirgak Lathiresh by mistreating local cornflowers and sheep.

The Lirgak Lathiresh is said to fear many things, among them are lilacs, large bodies of water, dogs, birds such as parrots and fire (though not lava, which the Lirgak Lathiresh are thought to be indifferent towards).

The Lirgak Lathiresh are thought to be magic creatures whose abilities include but aren’t limited to invisibility, shapeshifting, walking soundlessly, possession of the body and the ability to spread disease.

The origin of the Lirgak Lathiresh varies from settlement to settlement. Some believe that they are what happens when careless hunters kill a lamb's mother and leave the animal to die in the wilderness, where the darkness can easily corrupt it and give it sentience. Other thoughts are that they are the spirits of lost children, or were born from the bones of those were died unfairly and were not able to rest easily.

There are many supposed methods to dealing with a Lirgak Lathiresh. Some methods proposed are those of appeasing and befriending a Lirgak Lathira/e by leaving it a sizable offering of alcohol, food, tools or potions. It is believed that if the Lirgak Lathira/e accepts the offering that it will protect the home and family residing there from then on, taking only what it needs to survive and allowing itself to be seen by pets and children.

Other methods involve slaying the Lirgak Lathira/e using fire or water or bladed weapons. More often than not this results in the death of the man/woman trying to get rid of the Lirgak Lathira/e and is thus not recommended for those dealing with one. Instead, another method is proposed where one can lure away a Lirgak Lathira/e with cornflowers, burning the tunnel behind it and thus confusing the Lirgak Lathira/e enough to not be able to find its way back. There is also prayers and ceremonies performed by Sakrelist Clerics that have seen some success in banishing Lirgak Lathira/e.

One notable fact about the Lirgak Lathira/e is that they hate hot sand, such as what can be found in the desert. They are also known to be fond of the blind and will go out of their way to assist the blind when they are in need, such as if they are lost in the forest or are neglected by their relatives, such as by bringing them food or taking them to somewhere they would be safe.

Territory and Towns
NOTE: This section of the wiki is mostly out-of-date and may soon be replaced entirely by the Geography section.

The Kingdom is located south of Carvay and occupies all of the Holy Peninsula, with the capital of Azethvir located on the southern portion of the peninsula on the western coast.

Azethvir
Azethvir (known as Noukazethvir during the Second Kingdom) is the largest city and capital city of the Kingdom. It hosts a spectacular array of different buildings, such as the Sanctum of the Judge, which is a Holy Site of the Sakrelist Religion, the Palace of the Dawn, the largest building in Azethvir and home to the archon, and the (not yet built) tomb of the Prophet Temion.

Many buildings are under contruction, such as the Royal Sironian Bank, as well as many other small houses

Asourtherak
Asourtherak is a fledgling town located in the far west of The Kingdom of Sironia. It is the second most popolous town in Sironia after Azethvir and hosts many defensive complexes, including Fort Castell and massive walls.

Athr Thereshak (Idiot's Raft)
Athr Thereshak is a raft located central in the Sironian Bay, close to Asourtherak. Currently abandoned, there is work to restore it by the people of Asour'therak.

RSPS / Rowunrua
The RSPS, or Royal Sironian Postal Service, is located south of the capital of Azethvir, and provides mailing services to the Sironian people, as well as foreign entities. Recently, the buildings were destroyed and became part of the claim of Azethvir and Blachistan.

Rodheros
Rodheros was a small camp of a small scavanger-hunter tribe that roams within the Savana at the far southwest of Sironia. The Tribe has received some autonomy from the Archon in Azethvir, and is ruled by their own appointed leader. Currently being rebuilt by Nigxl.

Ytharash
Ytharash (formerly known as Paladum or Myrmark) is a large town located in a swamp south of the savanna with a strong central castle and small port, it was annexed by the Kingdom of Sironia after its previous rulers died in a plague epidemic along with many of its citizens. Its population did fluctuate; however, it would enter a building boom under Skinny, who would proceed to integrate sironia into Volstronn, quickly starting a civil war between him and the Sironians. During the civil war, Skinny annexed Ytharash, now named Ytharshrek as a joke, into the Horde, before giving the town over to Galadonn, who to this day still holds the territory of Ytharash Eglisar illegally.

Maqberg
Maqberg is a port city located at the westernmost extreme of Sironia in the savannah. After falling into ruin, it was rebuilt after Sironia entered into Aldovir, with major restoration works on its castles and halls by the Cobbleworks Builders. Despite this, it remained inactive for almost two years, finally being repopulated in February 2023 after the appointment of the town's current Keshra, Luther.

Omverlon
Omverlon is a newly established town on the end of the Holy Peninsula, built on top of the ruins of the ancient settlement of Badgersnatch. Founded by Nanek, it is the home of refugees from the Sironian Civil War who lived in Pasouthak, and then returned after the nation restabilised. The town is host to the Omverlon Lighthouse, which guides travelers around the tip of the Holy Peninsula; the Omverlon Tabernacle, the only place of worship in the town; the Omverlon Markets, located in the town center; and Muck Island, an ancient isle that contains an aquarium, commerce district, and Turtle enclosure. The town had a short epidemic of the corruption plague brougth from eldham but it was quickly dealt with using gapples. It housed the Headquarters of the Sironian Nationalist Liberation Front until they were expelled by the town's government on the 25th of October 2021. During the cornflower war, an operation was conducted to bring a wolf named Benton and was met with success. Benton now resides in a house on the outskirts, between azethvir and omverlon.

Kalasirol
Kalasirol is a town currently being rebuilt by Omverlonian settlers led by Sirmeowsalot. In the earliest days of the server, it was the capital of the lost nation of Pontus, which built extensive roads and foundations but never completed their city as they soon fell into ruin. It was declared later to become a Sironian city by Rithaur IV, to built by cobbleworks builders, but this project fell into ruin too. Today, this western district houses a temple and multiple half-finished Roman-style houses. Its underground includes the Kalasirol dungeons which have been deemed too dangerous to enter after a demon was found in them, so it is forbidden to go in. The eastern part of the city was once a Villager fishing settlement but has now been built up into a large Sironian-styled town.

Asalath
Once a great holy town built by pilgrims and visitors to the Sanctum of Prophet Asala and the Saixhreak Inn. Ruined by wars and emigration, only the looted sanctum and destroyed inn were left, left to decay until an expeditionary force could be sent to reclaim it. On February 3rd, 2022, Benalish of Omverlon was tasked with rebuilding it to glory once more, becoming a new Keshra of Sironia. He was initially very successful; the city grew and became renowned globally. However, a diplomatic incident between Sironia and Lunaris sparked the War of Lunari Agression, or Free Castle War, which left the city in ruins despite a pyrrhic Sironian victory. After long months more in ruins, the city was reclaimed once more by Dewayne Johanson, former Keshra of Ytharash. He was tasked with fortifying the town so it could serve as the foremost border defense against Galadonn. Soon, the city prospered once more, and it now has magnificent walls and forts to show for it.