Odentia

Odentia, officially the Seven Kingdoms of Odentia (Sept Royaumes d'Odentia, is a constitutional absolute monarchy located on the southern shores of the Elysian region of Vesperia bordering the Mer Dorée to the south, Acronia and Lyonine to the west, and Saizy to the east. The nation consists of seven semi-autonomous kingdoms, each ruled by a hereditary  in conjunction with a local elected legislature. The federal seat of Odèneville is located in the smallest such kingdom, Val-d'Odène. Most of the country consists of the Étendue Glaciale  of the Elysian Mountains, capped by the Sommet Impossible in Grand Murgris. Nearer to the ocean, however, the climate is warm and sunny; here, the nation’s largest cities, like the Barré-Karrigan metropolitan area and the resort town of Madesclaire lie. Approximately half of the nation’s three-million-strong population live in these coastal areas.

Six of the country's seven constituent kingdoms date to the early 10th century C.E., when they formed out of several villages and fiefdoms formerly united under the banner of the early Lyonine Empire before successfully gaining their independence. The loosely-related and unofficially allied kingdoms underwent two distinct periods of formal federation. In 1566, during the War of Friends, Auguste I carved a seventh kingdom, Val-d'Odène, out of land surrounding the his estate in Lacblanc. During the Third Schopenhauen War, Auguste's grandson, Victor I, successfully seized the Schopenhauen capital of Karrigan, besieged the nearby Murgrivois garrison of Barré, and launched a swift campaign to unify the other four kingdoms under the Odentian banner. The Seven Kingdoms formally united as Odentia on 21 August 1884.

Since then, Odentia has pursued little foreign policy and maintains an official status of, though it has established cordial relations with many Western nations. For this reason, the Odentian envoys and the forces frequently participate in humanitarian missions, and Odentian diplomats often serve as a between states with sour relations. Odentia has previously by greatly expanding the size of its military, peaking at roughly 300,000 soldiers during the Second Atlassian Great War.

In peacetime, however, the Odentian military is small. Though the nation does maintain a standing army, air force, and navy, its sovereignty is also protected by Acronia. In keeping with Odentia's established neutrality, the Odentian military does not participate in combat missions outside of the country's borders. Officially, it is tasked with the defense of Odentia and the enforcement of its laws.

Odentia is known as a distinguished cultural center. For at least three distinct periods of time, known as the Odentian renaissances, Odentia (specifically, Madesclaire) was considered the, home to numerous prestigious , art studios, and. Odentia’s economy is built primarily upon. The country's and naturescapes draw millions of tourists yearly; cruise ships moor in Madesclaire year-round. Renaissance-era architecture sites, museums and historical landmarks are popular destinations for tourists. It is estimated that tourist income accounts for a third to a quarter of Odentian government revenue; a further tenth stems from the Château des Madesclaire casino and resort. Odentia also boasts very low income taxes and a mandatory charity system in lieu of. This status as a makes the country popular with large corporations and retirees, especially the wealthy.

Etymology
The name Odentia was adopted from Auguste Victor Blanchard Odéne de la Forteresse d'Odéneville, a former Murgrivois knight of low birth that was awarded an estate overlooking Lac Blanc de la Montagne for service during the War of the Mountains in 1548. During the subsequent War of Friends, Odéne carved the Kingdom of Odentia from the lands surrounding the Forteresse d'Odéneville and proclaimed himself Auguste I.

The origin of the name Odéne itself is a matter of some debate. It is believed by some that the name is a of the Zerinite deity, and that Auguste I was in fact an immigrant or of Zerinite descent. Genomics testing on members of the modern royal family, specifically Victor III, have provided some corroboration for this theory.

Early history
The first permanent human settlements in what is now Odentia are believed to have been small, loosely hierarchical settlements founded roughly 10,000 years ago, based on  found in the soil near Lac Dauphine. The loose and fertile would have made settlement in the region attractive and stable. of small and snow camels also date to the same time period. , however, are believed to have existed in Odentia for at least 140,000 years.

Murgrivois and Schopenhauen cultural identity
Most of Odentia's ethnic groups, with the notable exception of the Schopenhauen, are considered part of the Murgrivois culture, inhabiting mountain valleys and plateaus. The natural separation provided by the Elysian Mountains prevented frequent contact with the neighboring Dauphinois peoples; as a result, the various Murgrivois diaspora developed strong affinities and rivalries with one another. However, merchants from modern-day Volgaria, Tenburg and Chazicaria still frequently traveled to the harbor city Karrigan to trade. These traders seldom ventured to the harsh mountain regions that the Murgrivois inhabited, instead preferring to remain in the Karrigan glacial valley. Their continued presence greatly influenced the culture in the Schopenhauen populations of the low-lying regions surrounding Karrigan.

The same unforgiving conditions that kept merchants from the mountains also greatly influenced Murgrivois culture. Arable land suitable for large-scale habitation was at a premium; at the high altitudes of the Étendue Glaciale, large cities grew around these sparse areas. Their relative remoteness from one another fostered a sense of isolationism and armed skirmishes between them in response to perceived slights were not uncommon. These high-altitude cities consequently developed large arsenals and somewhat warlike, honorific cultures; though outsiders were generally accepted, they were looked on with distrust.

In contrast, Schopenhauer and Madesclaire developed relatively open cultures. By about 100 CE, it was not uncommon for new ships bearing new merchants to be seen arriving in these cities. They were welcomed by local businesses, whom the foreigners relied upon for lodging and supplies. Madesclaire was especially friendly to newcomers; its warm, inviting climate and natural harbor made it an ideal destination for merchants and tourists alike. One bakery there, today known as La Boulangerie de Madesclaire, received so much patronage that it has remained in continuous operation at the same address since its founding. It is the oldest continuously operating business in Atlas.

The pre-kingdoms
By approximately 250 CE, the various tribes had begun to coalesce into six distinct loose alliances, today recognized as the ancestors of the modern seven kingdoms. By far, the most influential of these was the -speaking coalition centered around the city of Karrigan and dominated by the Schopenhauer family. In contrast, the Montagne clan was comparatively weak in number. The alliance consisted of just two large cities, Grand Murgris and Mistrale. However, the formidable landscape in which these cities were situated and their warlike culture deterred encroachment by the kingdoms around them.

This period marked a time of great prosperity in the Odentian region; the greater centralization of powers streamlined government while the relatively porosity of borders promoted trade.

However, as territorial and cultural borders began to solidify, animosity between the kingdoms began to grow. The first recorded armed conflict between what would later become the Seven Kingdoms was a naval battle between Schopenhauer and Madesclaire over shipping rights. This battle, which came to be known as the Battle of the Sentinel Bight, marked the start of a cold war between the two prosperous kingdoms. As a result, trade began to slow, and the fortunes of Odentia as a whole began a slow downturn.

Eventually, with the help of the Elysie, Madesclairien interdictors began to choke Schopenhauer. In response, the Schopenhauen enlisted the help of the Murgrivois, who invaded Elysie and, against the wishes of the Schopenhauen, razed the Elysian capital, Riviére d’Or, with massive civilian casualties. Abhorred by the willingness of the Murgrivois to make war, the Schopenhauen brokered a peace treaty with the Madesclairien.

First War of the Murgrivois
Shunned by the most influential Odentian kingdoms, the Murgrivois grew weak without their trade. Forced to turn elsewhere for vital resources, in 376 C.E., the Murgrivois invaded Elysée, seeking its fertile plains and hills. The Murgrivois, skilled in combat, made short work of the unprepared Élyséen defenders, and encroached upon Riviere d’Or within a month. Unexpectedly, a Madesclairien trade delegation was in the city at the time. The whole delegation, including Sir Francis Bartholdi, son-in-law of Madesclairien king Antoine were killed when the Murgrivois took the city.

Enraged, the Madesclaire immediately declared war on the Murgrivois. Although the Murgrivois were able to defend their Élyséen holdings for two years, a miracle victory by Hugo Labarthe’s Chevaliers Océaniques at the Battle of les Collines du Ciel allowed the Madesclairiens to proceed behind the Murgrivois front lines, shattering the Murgrivois defense structure and forcing a total retreat.

Even with the Murgrivois on the retreat, they continued to deliver fierce resistance, achieving several key but pyrrhic victories at the Battle of Olivier’s Landing and the Battle of Blitheau Homestead. Despite the success, the Madesclairiens continued to push into Murgrivois territory, finally forcing them back into their own territory by July of 380 C.E.

However, once there, the Madesclairienne found scant progress. The mountainous and impassable wall of the Murgrivois lands made combat almost untenable against a determined foe well-versed in the alpine terrain. The Madesclairien advance finally stalled on a valley not far from the Murgrivois city of Pradier. Labarthe, by then a general, wrote that “the mountains to which [the Murgrivois] scamper, hide, and attack surround us. We do not know from which direction they will come next. They use each precipice as a great gray wall, pushing us ten steps back for each step forward we take.”

With their advance virtually halted, the Madesclairien instead placed Pradier and the remainder of the Murgrivois territory under siege. Even with support from Schopenhauen mercenaries, Murgrivois raiding parties continued to slip through the besieging forces under cover of night, raiding the attackers' camps and trading covertly with local peoples to supply the besieged areas. The Murgrivois, well-entrenched in the terrain and improving their defenses nightly, easily repulsed repeated attacks over a period of years from the Madesclairien troops.

By this time, repeated raids and a prolonged siege had devastated the landscape surrounding Pradier. The forests were nearly bare and the ground could no longer support agriculture. As a result, both armies grew weaker, and disease spread. Compounded with an uncharacteristically fierce winter, for which the Madesclairien, used to temperate climates, were severely ill-equipped to weather, both sides were eager for a peace.

In 387 C.E., the Murgrivois and the Madesclairien, supported by the Élyséen, settled a peace deal brokered in large part by the more peaceable Lacblanc. The Treaté d’Aix-les-Acronie largely established ‘’’’. At Madesclairien insistence, the Murgrivois agreed to loosen trade restrictions with both Madesclaire and Elysée. Privately, the Murgrivois diplomat Albert, expressed a newfound respect for the Madesclairien, writing that he “could never have expected that those lapdogs knew war.”

Background
Since the Razing of Riviére d’Or, Schopenhauer had quietly been amassing armies in the event of war with the Murgrivois. At the same time, the First War of the Murgris had severely impacted economies in the region. Pradier was effectively the gateway to the Grand Murgris. With the city under siege and the routes leading to it plagued by unscrupulous Murgrivois raiding parties, trade virtually ceased between Schopenhauer and the Grand Murgris. The war had also taken its toll on the Madesclairiens as well. Increasing amounts of money devoted to the war effort weakened the local economy.

Suddenly put out of work by the Treaté d’Aix-les-Acronie, privateers hired by the Murgrivois turned to piracy, plundering trade routes between Barré and the rest of the world. The unstable situation in the Grand Murgris had effectively plunged all of Odentia into economic chaos. The once-bustling Barré harbor soon saw just a few ships per week, and civil unrest brought by the economic downturn put pressure on local leaders.

Sensing the weakness of both the Murgrivois and the Madesclairienne in the wake of war, bureaucrat Antony Scalin, born and raised in the Grand Murgris, urged Schopenhauen king Peter the Warrior to attack both at the same time. Attacking while the enemy were weak, he reasoned, would allow the Schopenhauen to regain economic power by forcing open trade before the effects of a long-term recession set in.

La Fantastique March de Peter
Facing ever-greater pressure as revenue continued to drop, Peter ordered his generals to war in March of 391 C.E., hoping to sweep through Lacblanc to the Grand Murgris while an invasion force made for Madesclaire’s northern coast. They met no resistance at the border, and the eastern half of the country fell quickly, with many city governments acquiescing after just days of combat. The western regions put up more organized resistance, though the Lacblancien had never prepared for war and the defenses crumbled quickly. Within the month, all of Lacblanc had been conquered, with practically no Schopenhauen casualties. Scalin, rejoicing, told Peter that his “fantastic march rewarded us tenfold”.

Pacification of the Murgrivois
The Murgrivois, still largely reeling from their previous wars, neglected to send a border force to deliver organized resistance to the Schopenhauen formations. Instead, they elected to send skirmishing parties by night to harass and slow the Schopenhauen advance, hoping to steer the encroaching Schopenhauen into a tactically unfavorable position near Pradier from which the Murgrivois could repeat their actions from the previous siege.

The Murgrivois, at first, appeared to be successful; the Schopenhauen war machine slowly turned south into the river valley below Pradier while Murgrivois soldiers began entrenching themselves in the slopes and summits above.

However, unbeknownst to the Murgrivois, an element of the Schopenhauen had detached in Lacblanc and was now making its way through the Étendue Glaciale.