The Kingdom of Rodan

History:

The Kingdom of Rodan’s history is well tied to the Empire and often has become synonymous to the Empire they founded,

Founded by Empress Rodrin I, the Kingdom of Rodan started out like most of the other small petty human tribes claiming to be empires. However, her brilliant and shrewd leadership combined with Rodan’s naturally important strategic location proved to allow them to grow into a major powerhouse in the region.  They soon made themself known and many smaller kingdoms around them submitted to them be it by force and by words.

It was not until the reign of Emperor Ostriden that the Kingdom of Rodan expanded. Their power made it so that few dared to stand in their way and that none succeeded, most chose diplomatic paths and submitted to Rodan rule.  The key factor of this approach was the Emperor Ostriden never despoiled or humiliated those and eventually Imperial rule that surrendered, instead choosing to treat them as equals and helping them build infrastructure and giving them large amounts of sovereignty. This thus created the Empire. The Kingdoms of Mulan and Illuskan did put up resistance, they too had to capitulate and fall under Imperial rule.The exception was the Kingdom of Gerina which refused and after almost a hundred years of constant warfare was completely annihilated by Imperial forces. While Ostriden would not live to see Rodan and the Empire prosper, within two hundred years of its formation, the Empire had included a few small dwarf realms and all the human Kingdoms near them. 

Three hundred years after the Empire’s founding, an expedition across the ____ ocean sailed. It was the third time in the Empire’s history such an expedition was attempted. Both returned empty handed, yet on the third time, the fleet found the Kingdom of Naskrim. Unlike the other kingdoms, Naskrim was too far to feasibly launch great military campaigns. Fortunately, Naskrim had long forged a deep dislike against their neighbours of Shurin and as such allying themselves with the Empire was very enticing. This finally brought Naskrim into the Empire’s fould. 

Meanwhile, a pact was formed with the far more reclusive Mountain Dwarfs and some of the other hill dwarf. For ten years both sides haggled, the Imperial diplomats treading extremely carefully but eventually a deal know as the pact of stone and steel was formed, sealing the alliance between Dwarfs and Humans. 

During the First Great Alliance war, the kingdom came under attacks from demonic forces but held strong in the face of the onslaught. Rodan further expanded in the betrayal of Padrin in which the Kingdom of Podrin attempted to leave the Empire, Rodan led the attack and the Kingdom collapsed under the Imperial force. Rodan took most of the kingdom's lands, making them into the largest kingdom in all of Allurian. 

When the Elf’s rose, they quite quickly joined the Empire, willingly joining the Empire. Many Elf settled inside Rodan, integrating themselves with the Imperial population. Many settled in the coastal cities or in small villages while a few disappeared into what the Rodanin had called the dark forest in which no human ever emerged.  While the Elfs were initially well received, many in Rodan soon began to call for certain restrictions on the Elf who many feared could threaten the position Rodanin’s had over Rodan. 

During the Dragon Wars, Rodan’s eastern border came under devastating attacks by Dragons. Fortunately for Rodan, many of its major cities were on its western borders. Nevertheless the kingdom suffered as its armies took heavy losses as part of the Imperial army and had most of its population centres on the east devastated by Dragon attacks. 

When news struck that the Elf’s had went and began allying and befriending dragons, Rodan acted harshly, removing Elf from any government position. When the Dwarfs demanded the Elf’s be expelled from the Empire, Rodan voted in favour and struck against the Elfs. Rodan were the first to enact the policy of removing all pure-blooded Elfs from their lands. 

Rodan further expanded by folding the destroyed kingdom of Caldehind into their lands during the Fall of Caldlehind and drove back the undead hordes.

During the second Elven wars, Rodan served as the primary staging grounds for offensive campaigns against Atorlian and the Aurian Isles.  Playing host to the combined armies of the Empire. Before the Jewel wars, Cidan, capital of Rodan held host to the dwarven ambassadors who were later assasinated.in Cidan. During the War of the Jewels, Rodan came under ferocious dwarven attacks. Many of its border towns and cities were annihilated. Rodan responded with their staunch discipline. In the battle of the redgrass hill, Rodan forces smash the host of the Mountain Dwarfs, killing King Urden Greyspine of the Dwarfs, turning the war to the Empire’s favour. Rodan would drive the dwarven forces from their lands, exploiting superior manoeuvrability and numbers to defeat and crush the mountain dwarf armies. When the war came to an end, Rodan had been battered but once again, many of its core major cities were unscathed from the attacks. During the Naskrim civil wars, Rodan was the second largest contributor of troops to the Naskrim loyalists, only behind the Shurin. 

Rodan launched full scale invasions of the Eleven forest during the third elven war and it was during this war in which for the first time since the First Great Alliance war did its core cities came under threat. Dominion ships and mages struck their costal cities and their armies raided their cities. While Rodan’s army and defences ensured that the damage they did was mostly superficial, the war was a shock to Rodan who had long had their key cities remain untouched by war. 

The Baldrun wars was especially nasty for Rodan which suffered heavily from Mindflayer attacks. The costal cities were not too badly afflicted one again, thanks to a combination of their beefed up defences and from unexpected aid from the Elfs. However, elsewhere in Rodan, the kingdom suffered heavily from the attacks, especially in the far east of the Kingdom which saw many of the cities which had recovered and seemed to be on the trajectory to be nearly on par with the core coastal cities devastated by attacks. Some were able to withstand the attack but others were utterly obliterated. Rodan’s forces once again served as the primary force during the siege of the Varkis crisis; the Rodan province came under a devastating wave of attack by the undead.  While much was lost, Rodan’s forces assisted by other Imperial forces were able to drive their enemies back. 

Rodan would come under heavy attack during the crisis of the Far realms however, this time, the great cities of Rodan all cam under attack. Even Cidan came under a brutal siege. Rodan’s inherent discipline and organisation helped prevent what would likely have been almost certain collapse. 

Rodan contributed major forces during the Kalinor wars, being one of teh major contributors or troops. During the Fourth Elven wars, Dominion forces hit against Rodan, hitting many of their coastal cities. This time however, of the three great coastal cities Rodrin, Huander and Essern, only Essern managed to hold off the Dominion armies. The other fell to the Dominion and had to be shared with the Dominion following the peace that followed.

Major cities:

Cidan

Cidan is the capital of Rodan and all of the Empire. Cidan is the largest city in all of Allurian and is arguably the first and oldest city in all of humankind. While the capital of Shurin, Beidao can contest that claim, it cannot be doubted that Cidan is what comes to mind when one thinks about great cities.

Cidan houses a population of around one and a half million. Originally built on three hills at the end of the river Nilan, Cidan grew rapidly. Rodan grew from the city into an Empire but the roots of that Empire can all be found in the city.

Despite having grown into the biggest city in all of Allurian, Cidan is very organised. The city had been meticulously planned to ensure that the city would be highly efficient. Aqueducts, some hundreds of years old run under the city, pumping water to public wells. The city is divided into many districts. On top of the three hills lay three major districts, the great tower of Cidan where the great repositories of knowledge of the arcane is stored and where the great wizard college is housed, the hill of piety where temples dedicated to the various gods are placed and Ostriden hill where the great Rodin palace, the ruling seat of the Empire is.

Culture

Rodan is a country with many social structures, norms, clothing, food and many others which has over time been spread throughout the Empire. While Rodan is far from a meritocracy, it does have a certain sense that hard work is rewarded and progressing upwards through the classes is very possible. Rodan also does not really have gender roles, while there are some who hold very patriarchal beliefs, it is not set in stone in any government roles. As such women and men are often treated equally.

Rodan is a highly structured society. While not an official class based system, there are obvious distinctions between the different tiers of people in Rodan. At the very top sit the nobles of Rodan, men and women who hold these titles are the only ones in Rodan to own land of a certain size or four kilometres, but they are allowed to rent their land out to merchants or farmers. These are the men and women who rule Rodan, They are however allowed a maximum of a small army of not more than two hundred men, to ensure that no noble can threaten the state. 

Below them are the Partitions, the wealthy merchants, professors, generals and those held in extremely high social regard. While they own no land, they hold considerable power and influence and make up a large portion of Rodan’s population.

The next came the commoners, they make up the majority or Rodan’s population, roughly around eighty percent. They are divided into three unofficial sub-categories. The hillers and the fiellers, the squalers. The hillers refer to those who often are well off to live in decent living conditions, and form the backbone of Rodan’s economy. The fiellers are those who work on the farms. Farmers are often seen as the lowest class of job but at least they have jobs and are respected that much for that. Finally the squaters are those who hold no such jobs, they are despised by society for being burdens and are not allowed to join Rodan’s military

Leadership

Rodan is ruled by an Emperor who historically has been the ruler of all of the Empire. Elected by  the Council of Rodan. The Emperor or at times Empress hold near complete authority over all of Rodan. While the ruler of the Empire, the Emperor or Empress of Rodan holds very little power over them by himself but instead relies on the support of the Imperial Senate to make such decisions. It is often a difficult position for Rodan and the wider Empire may have differing goals.

The Council of Rodan is made out of Counsellors, chosen by the Emperor himself from the Rodanin Assembly whose members vote on different state policies. To gain entry to the assembly can be done through many ways.  

Food

Food in Rodan is extremely varied, those in the western coastal cities tend to enjoy more seafood compared to those who live in the eastern region. Garlic, figs, wheat, barley, dried fruits, are all common staples of a Rodanin diet. Common meats include chicken and duck, however, those of higher wealth tend to prefer beef, wild boar and swans. Common fish found in the river are considered commoner’s food. Fish found in the ocean’s are often considered commoner’s food too in the coastal cities though with noticeable exceptions. Shellfish such as oysters and crab on the other hand are regarded more highly and are priced delicacies in the eastern provinces. A meal in Rodan is often served with bread along with meat often seared or fried. Boiling meat is often seen as a peasant way of cooking though an exception is made for seafood. For most, seared meat is often considered the best way to consume meat. 

Wine is a common part of a Rodanin’s life, Rodan produces a large variety of wine and while many might dispute whether it is the finest wine in all of Allurian, it is without a doubt that the quality of Allurian's wine is as wide as the nation. Cheap, low quality wine with minimal alcohol is often handed out to the masses often served hot and lukewarm. While the best can only be afforded by the wealthy.

Military

Rodan’s military is famous throughout the entirety of Allurian. It has an outstanding reputation and is often regarded as the most formidable military force in all of Allurian. Strict military traditions and rules set in stone at the founding of Rodan have allowed it’s military to grow into an incredible fighting force which time and time again has proven to have few equal. Rodan’s military often serve as the backbone of the Empire’s military and for good reason. 

Unlike some of the other kingdoms, Rodan has a full standing professional army which welcomes every citizen bar the lowest born to join. It is an attractive proposition to many man and women.  Thus, Rodan’s military ranks often are never short of men and women willing to fight and die for the Kingdom.

Rodan is also highly unique in the fact they do not rely on one or two components of their army. They do not put overemphasis in a single element of battle, instead choosing for a combined arms approach. It is this highly flexible approach that has made its armies so deadly to face. Rodan often boasts large amounts of extremely deadly artillery, second only to master crafted dwarven pieces. They are famous for their ranks of heavy infantry, each clad in steel armour, marching in perfectly disciplined formation. They are backed up by ranks of heavy cavalry while nowhere as renowned as the knights of Naskirm, are still a formidable force. Along with that comes ranks of archers covering their fellow soldiers with salvos of arrows.