Erdath is a triangular kingdom lying on the western edge of Varaenthia. It borders the Tharros Ocean to the west and the Sea of Mists to the southeast. Its northern and eastern flanks are shielded by the formidable Spine of Varaenthia mountains. Other than by sea, entry into the kingdom is limited to two routes: through the Free City of Averis, where the borders of Erdath, Valmorra, and Thessa meet, and across the River Veyr at Kaelen’s Crossing to the east.
The realm is ruled by King Arven IV of House Darius, a human monarch who claims direct descent from Prince Darius, the last heir to the Imperial Line before The Fall of the Empire 178 years ago. The royal house’s legitimacy is widely acknowledged across Varaenthia, its banner bearing the Golden Sunburst on a Field of Azure, a relic of the old imperial standard.
The kingdom is governed through the Council of Seven, composed of the lords of the seven Thaneholds of Erdath. Each lord oversees their Thanehold directly or through a steward and sends a representative to the council, which meets in the royal capital of Eredar.
The Seven Thaneholds of Erdath
Eredar
Capital of Erdath; located at the mouth of the River Ered.
Ruling Lord: High Lord Maeron Darius (Human) – eldest cousin to King Arven IV and Lord Protector of the Capital.
Seat: Resides permanently in Eredar, presiding over the royal bureaucracy and the Council’s proceedings.
Representative: Lady Tessa Vorn (Half-Elf), Chancellor of Records, who acts as his intermediary when the High Lord attends to royal duties abroad.
Eredar serves as the political and cultural heart of the kingdom, home to the royal court, the Grand Hall of the Seven, and the Citadel of the Sun.
Kaelen’s Crossing
Fortified river city on the eastern border; site of Kaelen Marwyn’s last stand.
Ruling Lady: Lady Riona Vael (Human) – a veteran commander and great-niece of the late hero Kaelen Marwyn.
Seat: Resides within her Thanehold at Kaelen’s Crossing, overseeing both the garrison and the trade guilds.
Representative: Ser Torvin Karr (Dwarf), her long-serving marshal and envoy to the Council.
Kaelen’s Crossing guards the only reliable bridge across the River Veyr, serving as Erdath’s foremost military bastion against its eastern frontier.
Ithamar
Western port city on the Tharros Ocean.
Ruling Lord: Lord Fenric Oloren (Half-Elf) – celebrated for his skill in sea trade and diplomacy.
Seat: Resides in the capital, maintaining close ties to the king and overseeing maritime policy.
Representative: Captain Asha Velloran (Human), Harbourmistress of Ithamar and commander of the royal merchant fleet.
Ithamar’s shipyards and merchant guilds are vital to Erdath’s economy, linking it to distant ports beyond the Tharros Ocean.
Marenthorpe
Market hub where the Hallowbrook and Ered rivers meet.
Ruling Lady: Lady Selara Wyneth (Halfling) – a shrewd merchant and matriarch of one of the oldest trading families in Erdath.
Seat: Governs directly from Marenthorpe, rarely leaving the region.
Representative: Master Roric Hale (Human), her steward and former caravan master.
Marenthorpe stands as the commercial heart of inland trade, famed for its grain markets, cattle fairs, and the Great Hall of Coin.
Aldervale
Wooded hills and orchards in the central valleys.
Ruling Lord: Lord Coren Briarshield (Wood Elf) – a reclusive yet respected protector of the Vale’s forests and spirits.
Seat: Remains within his Thanehold, maintaining the balance between logging, agriculture, and druidic traditions.
Representative: Mistress Elara Thorn (Half-Elf), member of the Circle of Alder and advisor on land and lore.
Aldervale is known for its orchards, fine ciders, and its quiet harmony with nature.
Highcrest
Mountain city near the source of the River Veyr.
Ruling Lord: Lady Maeryn Torvale (Dwarf) – a pragmatic, iron-willed noblewoman overseeing the mines of the northern ridges.
Seat: Resides in Highcrest itself, rarely visiting the capital due to the perilous mountain passes.
Representative: Archivist Pelan Dure (Gnome), scholar of trade routes and mineral rights.
Highcrest is famed for its mineral wealth, steep cliffs, and the roaring winds that batter its fortress towers.
Dunvarn
Volcanic mining settlement within the southern Spine of Varaenthia.
Ruling Lord: Lord Thorek Embermantle (Mountain Dwarf) – master smith and head of the Embermantle Clan.
Seat: Resides within the volcanic halls of Dunvarn, where magma forges burn day and night.
Representative: Lady Sera Embermantle (Dwarf), his daughter and envoy to the Council in Eredar.
The settlement of Dunvarn glows faintly at night from the vents beneath its stone streets. Its forges produce much of Erdath’s finest metalwork, armour, and weaponry.
Summary
Erdath endures as a stable, well-ordered realm despite its closeness to the Ruined Lands beyond the River Veyr. Power balances between the Crown and the Thaneholds through the Council of Seven, whose members reflect the diverse peoples and regions of the kingdom. Through trade, faith, and vigilance, Erdath remains one of the principal successor states of the fallen Empire of Varaenthia.