Novaria
As the heart of the empire, Novaria is a tapestry of marble cities and gilded splendor that stretches across sunlit rivers and hills.
The Queendom of Novaria is an absolute monarchy led by the living High Queen of the province. A queen was chosen by the leaders of the Atmari people instead of a king, because the Atmari people believe that men have caused nothing but grief and destruction since the First Age. The High Queen deals with all political matters of the realm and most social matters. If there is a king, he is primarily a delegate and sometimes a commander if need be.
The Queendom has a reputation of great music and art. Music festivals are held several times annually, most celebrating certain moments of the seasons such as the end of summer or a solstice.
The villages and towns in the nation range in sizes from a few buildings and one or two farms in a village to sprawling towns and harbors with tall houses and with marketplaces. Many towns and villages surround and are in the Patchwork Fields, a beautiful and colorful agricultural expanse of land.
City of Noetica
Noetica City is divided into several major districts, with inhabitants sorted in various walled “rings” based on economic and social class. These range from Garnet District, a place of ghettos inhabited by refugees and the poor, to the Gold District, home of the Queendom’s ruling classes and the rich. Travel throughout the city is provided by several bridges and large stone streets with raised side walkways. The Upper is a particularly exclusive area of the city; it is restricted to citizens with the personal invitation of a citizen of the Gold District, the government, and the Queen herself.
At 120 meters tall, Noetica City’s Glancing Wall is the city’s first, and thickest, line of defense. This makes it the largest man-made structure in all Patalia. The wall encircles the entire city and only has two gates, one on the northern side near the agricultural Patchwork Fields and one on the southern side with a gate splitting the Melody River which flows through the city. It is considered indestructible and is commonly incorporated on maps as a terrain feature. In fact, it has only been breached one time: by a joint effort by the Envassi and The Abyss during the War of Horrors. City law mandates that soldiers and sentries be placed on the wall at all times, with many of them living in built-in homes inside the wall.
The Garnet District is home to the poor classes of Noetica City’s society and the majority of its population. It is surrounded by the Glancing Wall. In the time of the War of Horrors, these consisted of newcomers to the city, including its multitude of refugees. Most of the Lower residents work with their hands as artisans, laborers, and craftsmen, while the rest are merchants and food vendors. Due to the impoverished state of the citizens of the Garnet District, as well as the influx of refugees, the crime rate is significantly higher. Due to limited space the wall has allowed for expanding the city, buildings are generally small because the majority of populace needs to be crammed into the space available, of which are rooved with red tiles. While parts of it were modernized after the War of Horrors, mainly transportation and communication, the Lower’s populace has remained impoverished. However, the city has never let those living in the Lower reach unacceptable conditions. It is impossible to travel from the Lower into the Upper without a valid passport or documentation from the Gold District since the assassination of Queen Resilia II.
The Pearl District is surrounded by the Guardant Wall and contains the city’s middle-class populace. Inside this ring are a vast assortment of shops and restaurants as well as the financial district and Town Hall, one of the oldest buildings in the Pearl District. Etudex University, a great repository of knowledge and a key landmark of the city, is also located in this area. The buildings of this ring are larger than those of the Garnet District and have orange roof tiles. It is generally wealthier and has a more peaceful atmosphere than the Garnet District, and there are many flowers and trees. Citizens of the Pearl District are free to enter the Garnet and Gold Districts without needing permission.
The most affluent of the three rings, the Gold District contains the city’s upper-class population, as well as housing for military and government officials of the entire Queendom. It is surrounded by the Gallant Wall The most important citizens of the city reside here, protected against criminal activity by the presence of the Noetica Guard. Palace Aria is located in the center of the Gold District within its own walls with Melody River running through the very center. The buildings of the Gold District are generally huge walled compounds, much like small versions of Palace Aria itself, and the roofs are done with yellow tiles to symbolize the richness of the buildings and its owners. Citizens of the Gold District are free to go wherever they please within Noetica City.
Royal house Fýrstrüm
The joining of the families Fyrio and Tempestus allowed for the strongest family dynasty the realm had ever seen. Aria Fyrio and Stratus Tempestus renamed themselves and founded a new family, now known as the House of Fýrstrüm in the year 1595 DA (The Dawning Age of Mortals).
1st High Queen
Aria took the throne at age 25, establishing the first Imperial Year of the Crown (IYC), but was not fully recognized across the continent as the official empress until twenty years after her coronation. She died in her sleep at the age of 54.
2nd High Queen
Beginning of invasions from surrounding provinces – Cantiella, daughter of Aria, took the throne at age 18, died of a fatal axe wound during battle at age 49.
3rd High Queen
Struggled with more invasions – Lyrika, sister of Cantiella took the throne at age 42, died of poison at age 55.
4th High Queen
Ended the invading forces, facilitated the Prosperous Age – Estarielle took the throne at age 30, died of a hunting incident at age 58.
5th High Queen
Began the expansion of the Queendom – Fyrienne took the throne at age 40, died of old age at age 65.
6th High Queen
Struggled with expansionism and indigenous peoples— Serana took the throne at age 19, died in childbirth at age 35.
7th High Queen
Adopted indigenous peoples into Novarian society – Arilia took the throne at age 27, died of lightning strike at age 50.
8th High Queen
Battled the plague and took extreme cautions – Elena took the throne at age 14, died of the plague at age 26.
9th High Queen
Worsening of plague – Lucia took the throne at age 12, died of plague at age 12.
10th High Queen
Introduction of magic, the older cousin of the previous High Queen stepped in to rule until the previous predecessor was of age; decided to change that rule after she ascended – Asteria took the throne at age 21, died in childbirth at age 31.
11th High Queen
Long prosperity under magic – Resilia took the throne at age 18, died of old age at age 56.
12th High Queen
Due to an overuse of magic, the High Queen became mad and used magic to prolong her life – Kellivere, “Kellivere the Mystic” took the throne at age 20, died after all magic was stripped from her at age 109.
13th High Queen
Eradication of magic in the province of Novaria; facilitated the First Mage Purge – Hiethur took the throne at age 24, died of carriage accident at age 68.
14th High Queen
Oversaw and attempted to cease the Novarian Civil War caused by internal distrust – Erthur took the throne at age 15, died of a fatal sword injury in battle at age 43.
15th High Queen
Tensions between provinces remained after the Civil War. Religious beliefs affected ideas of the legitimacy of the political status of rulers – Lilith took the throne at age 17, died of an arrow through the heart from an assassin at age 26, beginning the War of Horrors.
16th High Queen
Katerina Resilia, better known as Resilia II took the throne at age 12 and oversaw the War of Horrors. This bloody war included all nations and provinces and lasted over thirty years. The prophet sorcerer known as The False Light was defeated during this time. During the reconstruction, post war, the High Queen began the Second Mage Purge – died of mysterious causes at age 56.
17th High Queen
Nelliana, “Nell,” took the throne at age 18. As the current High Queen, the monarch appears to be an empress of the people, thus far.