Iaramnae (pronounced eye-ah-ROM-nay) is the last of the proper diadochi states, still under the control of a military protectorate. While they style themselves as the last legitimate successors of Eurykrates' Grand Empire of Hellea, in reality they are little more than warlords shaking down merchants and travelers who pass through their lands.
Geography, flora, and fauna
One of the easternmost of the Hellean states, Iaramnae sits on the coast of the Sea of Ersas between Kyamita, Magnia, Metrya, and Halakros. Iaramnae has a typical climate for northern Hellea, with warm and dry summers and cool winters. Much of the region is covered by plains, though farmland has replaced much of the natural ecology. Forests in the southern hills provide a refuge for much of the larger and more dangerous wildlife that continues to live in Iaramnae.
Fed by the Twin Lakes, much of the Peiros River runs through Iaramnae. The Selys and Hasa are two other major rivers within Iaramnae, the former in the center of the nation and the latter forming part of the southern border with Halakros.
Located in southern Iaramnae, near the city of Pactya, 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 Y4593*, 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 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 Metrya 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.