Essodan is a sovereign coastal kingdom on the Viridian Sea that emerged from Tamiriyan imperial control one hundred and twelve years ago. Defined by maritime trade, rich agricultural lands, and layered noble politics, Essodan balances the recent unity as one kingdom and a long history of local rivalries. The nation is divided into eight Duchies, along but not identical to historical boundaries: the Duchy of Assetallis, the Long Valley (Zoryn), Duchy of North Shore, the Ravna Valley, the Ravna Highlands, Duchy of the Fields, Duchy of Alluran, and the Duchy of Imrick.
With the death of Queen Dramisz in the summer of 112EA, nobles are gathering in Assetallis for the election of a new monarch.
Essodan lies between two fertile river valleys: the Ravna and the Heartless. Interior highlands and the forested regions in the east give way to rocky peaks on the southeastern frontier. Much of Essodan is lightly wooded except what has been cleared for farming, though the Alluran in the north and the Forest of Eronhar in the southeast are more densely covered.
Temperate with strong coastal winds. Winters are mild near the sea and harsher inland; summers are humid along the coast and dry in the interior.
The majority population speaks Tamiriyan Common, a descendant of the imperial tongue. Most humans are of Viridian descent, the stock of people who tend to have brownish hair colors, hazel to brown eyes, and medium builds.
Essodan is a monarchy supported by a web of noble houses, guilds, and supported by church influence. Power is decentralized in practice, with duchies exercising broad autonomy so long as taxes and fealty are maintained.
Trade, shipping, wine, agriculture, and coinage drive Essodan’s economy.
Essodan was once a provincial territory of the Tamiriyan Empire. The empire’s fragmentation allowed Essodan’s nobles to assert independence, leading to the formal break in 1 EA.