Iaramnae

Iaramnae
Capital	Teichos
Ruler	-
Government	Military triarchy
Demonym	Iaramnaean
Adjective	Iaramnaean
Languages	Hellean, Common
Religions	Hero-gods; Hellean pantheon; Koroibos

Iaramnae (pronounced eye-ah-ROM-nay) is the last of the Hellean nations to still claim legitimacy as one of the diadochi states, the successors to Eurykrates' Grand Empire of Hellea. The triarchs of Iaramnae, its leading generals, have for centuries viewed the lands of the other nations of Hellea as rightfully theirs, seeking to expand their domain in the name of reforging the Empire. Today Iaramnae is locked in a struggle with the Halakran League for control over the peninsula, a fight that has stretched both.

Geography, flora, and fauna

One of the easternmost of the Hellean states, Iaramnae sits on the coast of the Sea of Ersas, where it has a long border with its nemeses in the Halakran League. Iaramnae has a typical climate for Hellea, with warm and dry summers and cool winters. Much of the region is covered by plains, with many farmlands along the rivers and near the coast. Forests in the southern and western hills provide refuge for the larger and more dangerous wildlife that continues to live in Iaramnae.

The major rivers in Iaramnae are the Harpina and Ornea, both of which begin in the hilly landscape near the Thunderlands before flowing to the nearest seas.

A significant amount of Iaramnae's territory lies off the Hellean mainland on the islands of the Sea of Ersas. The largest of these, Syrolis, is the site of the three most populated cities within the nation.

Located in southern Iaramnae, near the city of Hasa, the Silent Watch is a meadow containing almost four hundred statues of soldiers permanently petrified by the gaze of a medusa. The site of an ancient battle, the statues have remained fixed in place for many centuries, slowly eroding in the wind and rain.

History

When the Grand Empire of Hellea fractured in Y6592^*, the former territories of the empire were divided between the 26 generals of Eurykrates' army. The resulting successor states, also known as diadochi, squabbled and fought amongst themselves as each attempted to reassert control. In the millennia since, nearly all of these diadochi have collapsed, supplanted by the various monarchies and republics that make up the patchwork of Hellea today. Iaramnae remains the only diadochi state that has been continually under a mostly unbroken chain of military control, with the Iaramnaean leaders drawing their legitimacy from their claim to be the only true successors of the Grand Empire.

The flag of Iaramnae is the same design used by the Grand Empire of Hellea.

Demographics

The inhabitants of Iarammnae are predominantly human. Half-elves, elves, undine, sylph, goblins, ratfolk, and tieflings account for much of the rest of the population.

Culture

See Hellea for more information on culture, geography, and history that is common to the nations of the peninsula.

Religion

Aside from the Hellean hero-gods, the people of Iaramnae also follow the gods of the Hellean pantheon. Worship of Melanthus, Khalkeus, and Psais are popular among the common people. The Mithraian/Lycian saint Koroibos also has many devotees in Iaramnae, both within the military and the rest of society.

Military

Conscription is not mandatory within Iaramnae but it is culturally strongly encouraged. It is not uncommon for soldiers to maintain a second profession at the same time, even to the point of returning home for extended periods during the spring and fall to help with farm work.

Magic

Iaramnaean practitioners of magic are disproportionately magi, preferring to meld their magic with their combat skills. A small group of Iaramnaean magi have recently perfected the art of applying their spellstrike through siege weapons, though fortunately for everyone else they have yet to find a chance to demonstrate these skills in practice.

Government

The strategoi, or generals, hold almost all the power within Iaramnae. Even the courts and matters of urban and rural administration are at least nominally under military control, though in practice there tends to be a large amount of delegation to loyal civilian figures.

Iaramnaean armies and military leaders are usually loyal not to the state but rather to their particular strategoi and chain of command. Strategoi go to great length to appease those under their control, usually with special legal status, grants of land, or something similar. Strategoi usually have a particular region of Iaramnae that they consider to be part of their domain, and sometimes come into conflict with each other over the exact boundaries.

Central leadership of Iaramnae rests with the Triumvirate, a group of three senior military commanders. Each Triumvir, or member of the Triumvirate, holds equal power, and in principle all three must come to a consensus to take any action. In reality, individual Triumvirs frequently act unilaterally without consulting their peers. This is an inherently unstable situation, and Triumvirs are assassinated or otherwise deposed with alarming frequency - when necessary, a new member of the Triumvirate can be appointed by existing Triumvirs.

Economy

Iaramnae does not export a large amount of goods, aside from basic natural materials.

Merchant traffic along the Peiros River, carrying finished goods from the Machaian League to the coast of the Sea of Ersas, has proven very profitable for the Iaramnaean military as well. It is not at all uncommon for strategoi that control the lands around the river to levy high tolls on passing merchants, to the degree that some choose to use more difficult and longer land routes that avoid Iaramnae entirely. Some merchant vessels carry goods to use as bribes as well, as sometimes it can be cheaper to pay off the soldiers than to submit to the tolls.

Relations

Iaramnae is something of a pariah among its neighbors. In addition to posing a major nuisance to trade through its territory, the strategoi periodically launch attacks at their neighbors. Magnia in particular has suffered the majority of this as it has trouble defending its southern border. Iaramnae generally faces little consequences for this behavior, a factor that has emboldened the strategoi further.