Second High Kingdom of Daelyria

Daelyria (Meaning: Kingdom of Embers in Daelyrian, Kingdom of Fire in old Daelyrian), officially the High Kingdom of Daelyria is a nation located on north Nieden, comprising most of the Helmian subcontinent. Its de-jurro capital is Daelyria, located on a remote island in the Sea of Petals. Due to its distance from the mainland, Frostarch or Illerya are often cited as the de-facto capitals of Daelyria. It borders Ryzani-Credia to the south, Alamayn to the east and The Three Thrones to the west, specifically through Lennox by sea and Hälge by land. It is composed of several different religous and ethnic groups, though the majority of the population identify as culturally Daelyrian, with almost 50% identifying as Draconists at last Daelyrian census (48%).

The High Kingdom of Daelyria is the successor to many Helmian nations, but is the direct successor to the Helmian Dominate and Helmian Federation, though takes its root to the First Daelyrian Kingdom and the Sterling Crownlands. The Daelyrian culture group is estimated to be around 800 years old, and have inhabited the region of Helmia and Nieden for several centuries, the first Kingdom marking the begining of the Daelyrian Calendar, currently in year 79 AD (After Daelyria(as of 18:03:2022)). There are several Daelyrian sub-cultures, such as the Halondians (mixed), Midlanders, Illeryans, Synderians and Braavosi.

Before Daelyrian settlement, the Noxists and Baykonians were the majority on the continet, with the Baykonians arriving only a few years before the Daelyrians founded Illerya. Since then, other cultural groups have found their place on the continent, such as the Domians, the mixed Daelyrian-Domian culture of Halondians, the Kastollians, the Astorians, Kyydrosilians, and even some Audaladians. The three major surviving ethnic and culture groups are the Daelyians, Halondians and Kastollians, with some Domians still remaining in the far north. The other groups are almost extinct either by genocide (Noxists and Baykonians), migration (Astorians, Baykonians and Kyydrosilians), and some of disease, such as many key Domian members dying of the Redgrin plague of 77 AD following the battle of Illerya.

Etymology
Main article: Daelryian (language)

The word Daelyria (Deilyriah, Delyria) comes from the old Daelyrian word for Fire (Dael) and the word for Kingdom (Yria), meaning Kingdom of Fire. As the Daelyrian language evolved, the word Dael came to mean embers instead of fire, so Daelyria would mean Kingdom of Embers. This is fitting, as in Draconism, a common metaphor for truth is "to see the coals not the flames", or the embers bearing the truth of a fire.

Geography
Daelyria is a kingdom encompassing most of the Helmian subcontinent, and therefore has a varied geography.

Geographic features
Helmia is a very geographically diverse region. It consists mostly of temperate plains and forests, though there are many mountainous regions. The southern tip of the continet and the border of Daelyria are the Bjebza wetlands at Gdanyc, which cuts Helmia off from the rest of Nieden. In the south east there are many mountains forming the Domkuz mountains. Flanked by mountains in the north-west and south-east, as well as swamps in the south, the Kastollian plain stretches far before reaching the spruce forests of Duskyon and dark-oak forests and swamps of Illeryon. The mountains of the midlands stand in the middle of the country, hosting many castles, giving away to hilly Halond to its north. North of Illeryon you find the Bernese mountains, who lead all the way up the western coast of the continent. The rest of the north is mostly taiga with some mountains on its eastern and western shores.

Administrative regions
The High Kingdom of Daelyria is divided into several administrative provinces, known as Archonates, each ruled by an Archon. Each Archonate is further divded into Lordships, each usually holding one city.

Crownlands
The Crownlands, also known as Caeraeneryon, is the smallest Daelyrian Archonate. It consists of the de-jurro capital of Daelyria as well as the city of Islerion. It consists mostly of ocean, and is sparsely settled. It is a royal possession of High King Maekar the 1st Blackfyre of Daelyria.

Archon: Maekar Blackfyre the 1st

Capital: Daelyria

Major exports: Literature, culture

Ruling family: Blackfyre

Notable battles: none

Kastollia
Kastollia is the largest province in the High Kingdom of Daelyria. It is ruled over by Archon Pete Leeuwenmoed. It was the home of the Mithran King Jayhawk Blackfyre, considered by many (especcially Kastollians and Halondians) as the greatest King that Helmia ever had. It is home to the cities of Azuirs, Ville, Orientem, Meteora, Shatoy and Val Deur.

Archon: Pete Leeuwenmoed

Capital: Meteora

Major exports: Wheat

Ruling family: Leeuwenmoed

Notable battles: Battle of Illerya-Meteora, Battle of Meteora-Bern_No'ottorus

Duskyon
For main article, see Duskyon

Duskyon is third largest province in the High Kingdom of Daelyria. It is ruled over by Archon Alpha Kaerfels. It is the home to several cultural institutions such as the Wyrmpit, several Draconist churches, the University of Frostarch (under construction), and is home to many famous Daelyrians such as Dusk Synderys, Alpha Kaerfels, Spoken Kaerfels and Tonic Mahale. It is home to the cities of Frostarch, Vhagaria, Vederya, Milet and the Wyrmpit.

Archon: Alpha Kaerfels

Major export: Lore, builds, Gaelkrys, Hvaekar wine

Ruling family: Kaerfels

Notable battles: Battle of Adwa-Frostarch

Halond (greater Halond)
For main articel, see Halond

Halond is the fourth biggest province in the High Kingdom of Daelyria. It is ruled over by Archon Avitus Obseken. It is the home of several historically relevant sites, and is the origin of the Halondian and Domian cultures. It is also the root of three of rebellions or secessionist movements throughout Helmian history, notably the First Halondian Rebellion, Second Halondian Rebellion (also known as the Varandoyan secessionist movement), and third Halondian Rebellion, which brought down the Helmian Federation. It is home to the cities of Markaialon, Halond and Elesgate.

Archon: Avitus Obseken

Major exports: rebellious attitudes, honey

Ruling family: Obseken

Notable battles: none, but several skirmishes

Illeryon
For main article, see Illeryon

Illeryon is the second smallest Archonate in the High Kingdom of Daelyria. It is ruled over by Archon and High Prince Beastfrog Nymeros. It is the place where the Daelryian peoples originally set foot on Helmia, in its capital city of Illerya. It is very historically significant, with settlements dating back to the Noxist Kingdoms and the first Daelyrian settlement of Helmia. It borders Kyydrosil to the north-west, Cliffton to the north, Halond to the east and Duskyon to the south. It is home to the cities of Eryphia, Illerya and Hightide.

Archon: Beastfrog Nymeros

Major exports: Wheat, agricultural products, culture

Ruling family: Nymeros

Notable battles: Battle of Illerya-Meteora, Battle of Bern_No'torrus

Cliffton
Cliffton is a northern province of the High Kingdom of Daelyria. It is ruled over by Archon and Chancellor Miksa Silverhand, previously Broyo Silverhand. It is an ancient place, tracing its roots back to the paleonoxist migrations. It shares a small border with Kyydrosil in the west, as well as bordering Halond, Illeryon and Astor. It is further divided into estates where farms are built, a unique style within Daelyria. These estates are claimed by citizens from the local adminsstration, in return the estate owner must plant a specific crop upon the administration's request and hand over part of the harvest for some money. Cliffton's estates include the Fireborn Estate and the Frostlight Estate. It is home to the cities of Klerksdorp, Silverhill and Andoria.

Archon: Broyo Fireborn Silverhand

Major exports: Wheat, armour, fish

Ruling family: Silverhand

Notable battles: None

Astor
Astor is the northernmost province of Daelyria, with its northern face hitting the worldborder. It is ruled by Tarkhan Leeuwemoed, who succeeded Steele Domussanad as Archon of the province. It is very ancient, with the ruins of Sovdal being located here (currently Aldrien). It also hosted the Arch Duchy of Astoria in the past, an Audalad nation which was integrated into the mostly Daelyrian High Kingdom of Arcovel. It is home to the cities of Arbitor, Aldrien and New Zerith.

Archon: Tarkhan Leeuwemoed,

Major exports: alcohol

Ruling family: Leeuwemoed

Notable battles: None

Government and Politics
The Second High Kingdom of Daelyria is a constitutional monarchy (sometimes referred to as a semi-constitutional aristocratic monarchy by people within the country), divided into seven administrative regions called Archonates, each ruled by an Archon. It is a hereditary monarchy led by a High King. The King's most competent child is chosen to be the next High King.

Monarch
The monarch is the head of the Daelyrian state and has a final say in every issue. His power is upheld by the constitution, but is also limited by it. He/she has the power to pardon any criminal and avoid any law.

High Princes
The High Princes serve as the balancing power to the monarch. At all times, there at least three, though the number is supposed to be kept low. The High Princes may at any time vote to block the King's Will or even remove him from the throne, though they need a 2/3rds majority to do so. The High Princes command a lot of authority in other areas as well, working almost as Kings in their own right. He sits on the High Council.

Master of War
The Master of War is the leader of the Daelyrian military and army. He elects the commanders and Praetors of the different legions and divisons on the military. He manages the army's finaces (sometimes with the help of quartermasters), trainings, recruitment, planning, deployment and organisation. He ensures the safety of the nation in times of war and strife. He sits on the High Council.

Master of Lands
The Master of Lands is responsible for the planning and construction of infrastructure in Daelyria. He is also requried to keep a track of all land claims, cities, towns, squatters and other such tasks in the nation. He sits on the High Council.

Lord treasurer
The Lord Treasurer keeps a check of the Crown's finances and the economy of the Kingdom. They are responsible for collecting tribute from the Archons and using it to fund the military, construction projects, events and other expenses of the Crown and Council.

High Council
The High Council is a collection of Masters and other officials in the High Kingdom of Daelyria who act as the legislative and partly executive branch of the government. They make many of the laws in Daelyria as well as executing them. Full list of members in the High Council: Monarch, High Princes, Masters, Royal Advisors. Current list of members:

Senate
The Senate, sometimes referred to as the Low Council, is a democratically elected legislative body of the government comprised of senators. The senate is led by a Chancellor to represent the will of the people on the High Council. They vote on issues and laws proposed by the population. Has not yet been elected.

Royal Court
The Royal Court consists of the Archons and Lords of Daelyria. Whenever the King sends his laws forth, the Royal Court makes his will be done in the provinces. It is also the place where the Lords discuss amongst themselves on politics, issues and where notices for tribute are put up. Every single Lord and Archon of the Kingdom is entitled and obligated to be on the Royal Court.

Guilds
The guilds of Daelyria constitute a large part of the Daelyrian economy as well as its executive branch. Things like the infrastructure guild, scholars guild, spicers guild and other do a lot of planning and labor when it comes to jobs in the kingdom, such as roads, wiki articles, gear grinding and so on.

Military
The military is the most executive branch of all; it removes threats from within and without the Kingdom. The Daelyrian army removes squatters, rebels, and does a lot of grinding for the kingdom, as well as being a major employer.

Nobility
The High Kingdom of Daelyria have a very vast aristocracy containing more then 15 houses, some are considered extinct lineages. These houses are:

The Great Houses

 * House Blackfyre
 * House Synderys
 * House Nymeros
 * House Mahale
 * House Kaerfels
 * House Silverhand
 * House Leeuwenmoed
 * House Obseken

Other Houses:

 * House Apisamus
 * House Petraryn
 * House Hystrix
 * House Demus (Extinct)
 * House Hyterus (Extinct)
 * House Maas (Extinct)
 * House Nyykedar (Extinct)
 * House Naryshkin (Extinct)
 * House Pavaris (Extinct)
 * House Domussanad (Extinct)

Fashion
WIP

Culinary culture
Daelyria has a rich culinary culture. Daelyria might be best known for its potato and other tubers, called "potat" in Midlands slang. This reliance on potatoes might have come from the poor soil in large parts of the Kingdom. The esteemed dish Gaelkrys is made from potatoes and chicken boiled slowly in various kinds of alcohol, often red wines, especially Hvaekar wine. This style is native to Duskyon, more specifically the Midlands.

In the south, especially Kastollia, there is a much broader baking tradition, with Kastollian bread baked in stone ovens made of the local wheat being highly praised, with a wide variety from course, brown bread to a lighter bread often eaten by upper class citizens of the entire country and beyond. It is typical to eat this bread with sides of spiced hams and sausages, as well as imported cheese from further north.

In addition to this, the Helmian subcontinent and Daelyria in particular has a strong tradition with alcohol. Scholars theorize that this developed for a few main purposes, mainly: conservation, celebration and availability. The Daelyrian lands are filled with many substances that easily yield alcohol, such as the apples and fruits of Illeryon, honey from Duskyon and Halond, and milk from the Helmepion and Bernese mountains. These were often conserved in barrels and stewed, leading to alcoholisation. The Noxists also used alcohol in religious celebrations, as it often gave them deeper sleep. The Daelyrians expanded on this tradition, and products such as mead, Hvaekar wine, beer, vodka and many other beverages can be found within the borders of Daelyria.

Art
The Daelyrians have long been famed all over Nieden and Syltör for their art, especially wood carving, murals and tapestries.

The tradition of woodcarving is ancient among the Daelyrian people. Before the colonization of Helmia, the Daelyrians were largely semi-nomadic fishermen and sailors who lived on their boats, with permanent villages and cities being rare. This led to them developing great skill with wood carving, which carried over once they became a sedentary people. This art can be witnessed in the dragon head carvings on the ships. This skill later helped their advanced masonry as well.

Daelyrian tapestries are also highly praised, decorating many keeps and palaces throughout the world with their art. Initially made from the woven wool of Bernese Ram goats that populate much of the central mountains of Helmia, the Daelyrians began to develop tapestries especially of religious scenes, often of dragons. On the small island of Daelyria in the middle of the sea of petals, Daelyrian merchants and priest were known to have travelled far and wide to collects dye from foreign lands, with the dye markets of Daelyria some of the richest in the entire world.

When it comes to art on canvas and paper, the Daelyrians are no novices here either. Portraits of gods and men can be found all through Daelyria, with classical Daelyrian art mostly being drawn straight on, and often also symetrical, though that is more often in portraits. Bright water-colours are often used. The further north in Daelyria you go, the more common profile pictures are, with artists from the region of Cliffton famously drawing at around 3/4ths angle. Daelyrian culture, as in the culture group and not the denomination of the culture of the Kingdom, also dabbles in obscure and figurative art. Indeed, the old Daelyrian logogrqaphic script which was dominant in the period between the emergence of the Daelyrian culture and until the modern script uses symbols for everything, with highly intricate twisting lines and dashes.

Obscure Illeryan, Daelyrian murals, Daelyrian tapestries

Architecture
Above all else, Daelyrians are known for their architecture. Be it the beautiful cities of Frostarch or Markaialon, or huge monuments such as the Tower of Shadows, it is clear that the Daelyrians are accomplished builders.

Primary among Daelyrian build styles is the classical Daelyrian-gothic style, emphasising machicolations on walls, sharp outcrops and slanting roofs, being highly vertical rather than horizontal. Materials reserved for this designs are darker shades such as blackstone, deepslate, but also moving into a more red spectrum, such as netherbrick, red netherbrick, even red sandstone and various kinds of clay. The best example of this is the Tower of Shadows in Illerya.

Science
Daelyria, as a culture and a nation, is credited with several inventions. Due to the Draconist focus on fire and blood, a lot of research has gone into anatomical studies. Daelyrian healers are famed throughout the world for their skill in the medicinal arts. Especcially in the fields of treatment of wounds they excel.

Daelyrians are also usually credited with creating some of the best ships in the entire world, with their dragon-prowed vessels plying trade all over the Sea of Petals and beyond. This is done by having the hull guide the water more efficently, as well as having small pockets of air captured on the surface and cracks of the wood, giving it higher buoyancy when moving forwards. In the field of naval advancement, this is not their only progress. Daelyrian ships also employ wheeled canons in their war ships, something not before seen in their region, and having been developed independently from other nations with similar technologies. Many of their ship building designs share much in common with that of Skjolbrodir, with animal likenesses (typically dragons) carved in wood on their prows, and utilizing both oars and sails to navigate easily and swiftly. Their ship building and manufacturing techniques are also much more advanced than their contemporaries, with ships being assembled in large ship ports in less than a day by advanced machinery. Examples of this can be seen in the ancient city of Crelhavn and Frostarch.

Daelyrians are also expert metal smiths. Due to the amount of hell-mining among the Daelyrians, working of netherite is not unusual. Early Daelyrian scholars learnt from the dwarven holds in modern day Ryzan in their metal work, but has since expanded upon their knowledge. This is where the high competance in advanced machinery also is speculated to come from. Be it from manufactories of different plants or recources or inventive machinery in regard to ship building, metalurgy, book printing and so forth, it is clear that the Daelyrians love their tinkering.

In addition, Daelyria has gave birth to some of the most famous Zoologists and Anthoropolists, leading to extensive documentation of the local Wildlife. The largest philosophical and religious influence in the Kingdom, Draconism, has a large focus on the study of the outside world as a way to document the will of the gods, since they created the world, and so studying the outside world is the same as studying the gods. This, along with high rates of literacy in the nation, has led to high rates of scientific thought and discovery.