The Alderworth Kingdom

The Alderworth Kingdom is one of Iskandria’s most powerful and established countries, tracing its origins back a thousand years to the Unification Wars of 2310 SE. It was then that Varkonos Silvercrest, a figure of legendary leadership and benevolence, united the disparate warring tribes, ushering in a golden age of prosperity and peace for the region. Yet, as generations passed, the Silvercrest dynasty began a slow, insidious descent into decadence. Enticed by the allure of forgotten wealth and the dark arcane secrets rumored to stir beneath their very capital, Veldonia, the royal family grew increasingly isolated, their lavish court a stark contrast to the growing hardships faced by their populace. The current monarch, King Jeoff Silvercrest, has not only continued but exacerbated this trend of excess and oppression.

Geographically, the Alderworth Kingdom occupies most of the landmass known as Thalwyn, sitting between The Drowning Deep to the north and the Bloodwake Sea to the south. It has a temperate climate, with vast forest and mountain ranges occupying most of its territory. It has a very strategic position, sitting in the middle of several global trade routes, which is its main source of wealth.

Alderworthian society is a rigid hierarchy, with the Silvercrest monarchy at its apex, surrounded by a court rife with intrigue and debauchery. Beneath them, the Great Houses, ancient noble families, cling to their ancestral lands and privileges, often mirroring the Crown’s corruption, their thirst for new, macabre forms of entertainment often leading to widespread unrest among the common folk. Veldonia serves as the kingdom’s administrative and spiritual heart, yet it stands in stark economic rivalry with Karonia, the Ebony Harbor, a city situated in the southwest of the country that thrives on maritime trade and a darker commerce. The commoners, from the stoic farmers of the central plains to the hardened fisherfolk of the coast, bear the brunt of heavy taxation and oppressive measures, their loyalty to the Crown eroding with each passing year.

The kingdom’s defenses, though formidable, are a complex mix of disparate loyalties. The Royal Hunters of the Silvercrest Court, silent blades operating from the wilderness of Ravenscroft, serve as the Crown’s elite trackers and enforcers, yet they adhere to their own grim codes, sometimes defying royal decree. In stark contrast stands the Order of the Bronze Shields, based in the formidable Cindervault fortress, a brotherhood of pragmatic warriors who pledge fealty not to the king, but to the fragile notion of humanity’s survival, often clashing with the nobility's self-serving ambitions. The Royal Army is forever loyal to the Silvercrest family, though, and their strength in numbers is what holds the country together. This internal discord, coupled with the ever-present threat of monstrous incursions from the wildlands and the subtle manipulations of shadowy organizations like the Conclave of Silken Whispers operating within Veldonia’s slums, leaves the kingdom vulnerable.

The future of the Alderworth Kingdom is considered by most scholars to be a precarious one, teetering on the brink of profound change. The widespread discontent, the unchecked corruption, and the lingering, insidious influence of Ker Nethalas beneath their feet, all point towards an inevitable reckoning. Rulers from other nations often view the Silvercrest’s decadence as a clear sign of the dynasty’s impending demise, a cautionary tale of how not to rule their own kingdoms. Only time will tell if a new age will dawn, or if the kingdom will finally succumb to the shadows it has cultivated for so long.