Vargus Archive

Orelia

Overview

Once the Orelian Empire, this kingdom controlled most of Vargus for nearly three hundred years until its collapse. A theocracy, it is ruled by Exalt Isadora, the highest ranked individual in the church.

The kingdom tends to value morality above all else, though their idea of what is moral is often seen as archaic by other kingdoms. Some say that Orelia wishes to restore its former power, but there is no real evidence of this other than their attempts to spread the word of the goodness of the goddess of light.

The Orelian Empire

Until its collapse around two hundred years ago, the Orelian Empire controlled most of the continent. No one can say exactly how they rose to power, but the Empire lasted for about three hundred years and fell in less than half a decade.

Near the end of its rule, the Orelian Empire planned to invade Nelesh, the neutral kingdom holding much of the continent's wealth in its underground vaults. General Argax, a devil who had recently usurped the Neleshi throne from a tyrant king, learned of this plan and issued a threat to the Empire: if they tried to invade Nelesh, the Empire's wealth would disappear. The Empire did not believe Argax's claims and attempted to cross Nelesh's border anyway.

Argax made good on his threat and drained the Empire's funds to zero through means still debated by historians. With no money to sustain their empire, it became very easy for the other kingdoms to push Orelia out of their lands. Orelia has not tried to gain any power since.

Culture

As a theocracy, the Orelian people have much reverence for the gods, especially the goddess of light, who originally created the kingdom. Clerics and others in the church are highly regarded in the community and are looked to for moral and spiritual guidance. It is law for Orelian clerics to have small, geometric tattoos on their faces as a symbol of their status, a tradition older than the founding of the Empire.

Orelia tends to value morality greatly, though these ideas of morality are considered outdated by foreigners usually. Such ideas include never using vulgar language, always dressing modestly, refraining from alcohol consumption, and upholding chastity. Exalt Isadora recognizes the faults in the general mindset and is desperately trying to reform her kingdom so that people focus less on strict ideas of morality and more on how they can be good to others.

Exalt Isadora's ideals are embraced by many of the common folk and the lower ranked among the clergy. However, she has received pushback from much of the nobility and higher ranked clergy who cling to tradition for personal power or unwillingness to change. While there are no signs of violent revolution, there is some tension within the kingdom due to conflicting beliefs.