Capital: Fortress of Athos-Sorel
Population: 1,664,000 (92% Amador, 4% Thaldain, 2% Vaas, 2% other)
Demi-humans: 35,000 (45% dwarves, 30% elves, 25% halflings)
Humanoids: some (mostly goblins)
Government: Monarchy (currently ruled by the Escalon Dynasty)
Current Leader: King Ulric II
Coat of Arms: a black lion rampart on a bright yellow field
Exports: horses, wool, silver, weapons, grain
Located in the North, Ammarind is the largest Amador nation on Corwyn.
Borders
Ammarind’s eastern borders are the shores of the Athlan Myr and the Amador River and its western borders are the shores of Dragon Sound.
The kingdom’s northern borders with Marundi are the Ironrock Mountains, and the Borderwood. Its southern border with Alveron is the great Amari River.
Politics
Politically, Ammarind is a monarchy, with local rule sub-divided into 17 Duchies and 83 Baronies, all of whom are ruled by powerful Vassal Lords, un-waveringly loyal to the throne.
The current ruler of Ammarind is King Ulric Escalon II, who is the eleventh ruler of the relatively short, but distinguished Escalon Dynasty.
Ulric rules the kingdom from the Brass Throne, located in the great hall of the mountain-top fortress of Athos-Sorel.
Prominent Ammarindi noble families include: House Arstan, House Brevoy, House Escalon, House Everly, House Fornoy, House Grenhill, House Krandon, House Montague, House Morland, House Nhoray, House Thorescu, and House Venhagen.
Military
Two things have always defined the Kingdom of Ammarind; strength and mobility. The nation is famous for its cavalry; the most feared and well-respected mounted soldiers in all of Corwyn.
It is a nation of great fortresses and fortified cities, because its eastern and northern borders have always been the invasion routes chosen by the Dark Lord of the East.
For its protection, Ammarind has a large standing army of 5,000 cavalry and 7,000 infantry. But in times of war, the Kingdom can muster well over 60,000 troops, due to large noble contingents.
Climate
Most of the realm is made up rolling hills, sharp valleys, and grassy, high, windswept plains. Because of of its northern location, the weather here is usually cold and the chilly winds off the mountains cause an ever-present dampness that most outsiders find distressing. Amador folk like to say the harsh climate is what makes them so hardy.
Life & Society
The people of Ammarind are fierce and pound, they make their living primarily as herders of animals, miners of iron and silver, and masters of horse.
Their skills in the art and weapons of war are legendary as well. Ammarindi merchants in the trade of weapons and armor are quite prosperous.
Ethnically, the vast majority of the population of Ammarind is of Rynnish, but of the Amador ethnic group descent.
The Amador love and mastery of horses is unequaled anywhere on the continent. The phrase, ‘As wise as an Amador horse trader,’ is taken as true by most folk.
Geography
Alvernian Hills: Small hilly region which stretch east from the banks of the Amador River running south of Archerwood.
Amar Gap: Narrow strip of land between the eastern edge of the Steaming Marsh and the western edge of the Falls of Herthmar.
Borderwood: Small forest which serves as part of the boundary between Ammarind and Marundi.
Falls of Herthmar: Largest waterfall on Corwyn, located southeast of the city of Amara.
High-Moon Hills: small, isolated mountain range.
Ironrock Mountains: Mountain range which serves as part of the boundary between Ammarind and Marundi.
Silent Swamp: Large marshland in northwestern Ammarind.
Sleeping Wood: Large woodland region in southeastern Ammarind
Winterwood: Large forested region nestled in the southern foothills of the Ironrock Mountains.
Important Sites
Amara: Largest city of the kingdom of Ammarind, and the former capital of the lost kingdom of Amar. The city is located on the western shores of the Athlan Myr.
Atharavon: Second-largest city in Ammarind, located west of the Falls of Herthmar.
Atharos Keep: Small military outpost located near the city of Durfast.
Athos-Sorel: The royal citadel of Ammarind, located on a large mountain overlooking the Amari Plains.
Cold Mountain Keep: military outpost located in the eastern foothills the Ironrock Mountains, atop a great outcropping of rock called 'Cold Mountain.'
Coldhaven: Large seaport located, on the eastern shores of Dragon Sound.
Durfast: Third largest city in the kingdom, located on the western shore of the Athlan Myr.
Erôn-Amarth: Ancient fortress located in southern region of kingdom
Northhold: Ancient fortress located within the city of Atharavon.
Harkalad: "the Hallowed Fields;" site of the largest battle in Corwyn's history, which took place during the War of the Cataclysm.
Norgard Keep: Located on the eastern border, this military outposts guards against incursions from the Shadow Mountains, the Warlock Mountains, and the Pale.
Local History
The modern-day Kingdom of Ammarind has a long and complex history; much of it steeped in blood and tradition. The nation has ancient roots, with origins dating back to the distant years of the Third Age.
The Kingdom of Amar
Long ago, this entire region was home to the Kingdom of Amar, which was one of the first human nations founded in the West. Amar's territory included the Northlands, the Pale, and the mountain valleys east of the Chokar Mountains.
Amar was founded by King Edric Garigan; the first holder of Gloomchaser; one of the seven Elanthir swords, which was given to him by the Council of Sorcerë as a reward for his courage and leadership.
In the year 15/4, Edric assumed the Brass Throne and ordered construction of the great mountain fortress of Athos-Sorel. For these great achievements, the Amari people consider King Edric almost a deity. His descendants; the venerable Garigan Dynasty, ruled Amar for many centuries.
The War of False Glory
Eventually Dark times came to the Kingdom of Amar, with the reign of King Osric; the eighth monarch of the Garigan Dynasty.
Osric was bitterly jealous of the expansion of the southern Thannish kingdom of Eldara. So, in the year 221/4, he ordered his nephew, Duke Elroth Penrose to lead a great army on an epic quest into the East and conquer those lands.
The eastern lands were populated by scattered Thaldain tribes from two ethnic sub-groups; the Khor-Lann and the Sirilan. Despite their smaller numbers both these tribal groups resisted Osric's forces, and the war dragged on for nearly twelve years.
In their effort to subjugate the local population, Elroth and his soldiers committed many atrocities against the Thalari people. Many towns and villages were burnt and thousands of innocents were put to the sword.
The Thalari were finally defeated by Elroth in the year 222/4, at the epic battle of Vilharen. With the end of this bloody conflict, the Amador firmly controlled the vast Khorlann Steppes, and the most of Eastern Corwyn.
This wanton destruction gave the conflict its name; the “War of False Glory.”
War of Fear and Flame
After his great victory at the Battle of Vilharen, Lord Elroth returned to Amar as a conquering hero. His twelve-year campaign had enlarged the Kingdom of Amar, and brought many riches to the coffers of King Osric.
Over the next few years, Elroth’s ambition grew, and he began to covet the Brass Throne for himself. In the year 227/4, Elroth made a bold attempt to overthrow King Osric, resulting in another bloody conflict that came to be know as the “War of Fear and Flame.”
This Amari civil war was devastating, and left much of Amar and its newly conquered eastern territories in ruins.
By the end of the conflict, Osric and his loyalists defeated Elroth at the battle of Moritz. King Osric then exiled Elroth and his supporters into the east. That same year, Elroth crowned himself the first King of the eastern territories. He named his new Kingdom; “Adar.”
After the War of Fear and Flame, the Kingdoms of Amar and Adar became constant enemies and for centuries, there were many conflicts and countless skirmishes fought between the two nations.
The Cataclysm
Like most Kingdoms in the West, Amar joined the Ravinian Empire in the early years of the Fifth Age. When Sorimmar invaded the West during the War of the Cataclysm, King Cedric Karston II answered the call. Sadly, he was slain in the year 621/5, during the Siege of Arynäe and his Dynasty came to an end.
After the Cataclysm, Amar came to be ruled by King Vhäerik of the Kilräen Dynasty.
The Formation of Ammarind
Following the disastrous events of the Cataclysm, Amar continued to rebuild itself under the rule of the Kilräen Dynasty. But in the year 404/6, the outbreak of hostilities in the neighboring Kingdom of Erindar were to have a profound effect upon the nation.
That year, Erindar was plunged into a civil war called the Halberon Uprising, when Lord Heremmer Halberon rebelled against the rule of King Eduard Orsini.
In the year 408/6, in a deft a political maneuver, King Eduard arranged with Queen Astrid Kilräen of Amar for an alliance thru marriage. Eduard's niece, Lady Antonia Orsini; who was first cousin to his own son, Estris, was then married to the Crown-Prince; Rodrik II.
Eduard believed this blood alliance would assist him in quelling the growing rebellion within his own kingdom, but the Amari never openly declared for him and ultimately their assistance was not enough to change the outcome.
In the year, 420/6, Rodrik Kilräen II became King of Amar.
The War of Crows
Brutal conflict lasting from 670-674/6 between the Fourth Alliance and Sorimmar’s forces. The war was costly and Sorimmar was defeated at the Battle of Krell, but not destroyed. He simply withdrew behind the Saugreth-Muir and began to rebuild his strength. Many royal dynasties were ended in the great battle of Krell, and the West was dangerously weakened.
During the war, Sorimmar’s allies attempted to wrest control of the Sea of Orel, but were defeated at the great naval Battle of Morathad. King Anrik Kilräen II of Ammarind was slain in the Battle of Krell and his dynasty ended. At this point, the kingdom came to be ruled by king Osric Selwyn, and his family from 674-952/6,
The War of the Forgotten King
Conflict fought between the western kingdoms of Erindar and Ammarind over trade rights and borders. The war lasted from 947-952/6, and there was no clear victor, even though both Alveron and Elyria were dragged into the conflict. Both kingdoms remained hostile for many centuries after the war ended. Ammarindi King Haldric Selwyn was killed in a skirmish in the last months of this war, and his dynasty ended. King Haldric was succeeded King Khedric Escalon. Since the end of that disastrous conflict, Ammarind has been ruled by the Escalon Dynasty from 952/6 until the present time.
Recent Events
After the War of the Forgotten King, peace returned to Ammarind for several centuries, other than occasional border skirmishes with Marundi and occasional orc raids from the East. Between the years 1167-1169/6, there was a recent war fought between the realms of Ammarind and Marundi. Called the Border War; this conflict was begun by King Cerland; known as the ‘Mad-king of Marundi.’ During this conflict, Athos-Sorel was besieged for six months by the Marundian army. The war ended disastrously for Marundi and it was forced to cede part of its southern territory to Ammarind.
Relations between the two nations have been sour ever since, with dozens of border skirmishes fought over the last 75 years. Additionally, Old grievances with the Vaas people of Erindar have not been forgotten, but simmer under the surface. Despite all this, Ammarind remains a lawful nation and loyal member of the White Alliance.
