Camaria
Despite a long history as a peaceful agricultural nation, Camaria was one of the last subject territories to become independent from the Great Empire, after a bloody internal civil war that resulted in the destruction of much of its nobility. Camaria has since become a chaotic nation, known for its corrupt nobility more interested in personal gain than ruling effectively. Many of the coastal merchants have recently turned to piracy to supplement their incomes, paying off local nobility to provide them safe haven when not at sea. It is rumored that worship of Taltos, the Deepdweller, is on the rise in the region and the Church of Betshaba has been debating a Crusade to cleanse the coast of his adherents.
| Camaria |
| The Kingdom of Camaria |
 |
| Geographic Info |
| Continent: Aurea |
| Location: Southern Aurea, along the Aebasan Sea |
| Government |
| Government Type: Imperial Monarchy (King, Earl, Count, Baron, Knight, Mayor) |
| Ruler: King Tavarus of House Gadoras (No 9) |
| Arms: Sanguine, double axes in saltire argent. |
| Coinage: 1 Denarius (1 sp) = 10 Siliquae (cp); 1 Double Denarius (1 ep) = 2 Denarii; 1 Aureus (1 gp) = 25 Denarii, 1 Solidus (1 pp) = 4 Aurei |
| Capital: Zandora (pop 43,550) |
| Alliances: Imperial dependency |
| Hostilities: None |
| Society |
| Population: 2,456,500 (98% human, 2% other) |
| Languages: Zetian |
| Important Persons: Royal Chancellor and Ambassador to the Emperor, the Earl of Ruitia, the Earl of the Waldenses |
| Religious Info |
| Pantheon: Imperial |
| Patron: None |
History
Camaria is a picturesque land nestled in between the Gadoran Wood, the feet of the Antasian Mountains and the Dregel River. Its known history began when the nation, then under the domination of the Ganesians, allied with the Zetian rulership to overthrow the Ganesian yoke that both suffered under. Camaria and Zeth fought as allies in the Ganesian War, and remained such after the Ganesians were defeated. The war, however, was costly to the Camarians, and they became more and more dependent upon economic support from Zeth. But it wasn't until 203 BI that Camaria first met with serious difficulty. A small, fairly insignificant outpost on the southern edge of the Kingdom was attacked by unknown forces. Investigation revealed that the red-haired barbarians of the northwestern marches had unified under an Archmage known as Veseverus and founded the Kingdom of Medellis. The Camarians, in turn, attacked a Medellan township near the outpost and war was quickly declared on both sides. The Medellans, fresh from the internal strife that had unified them, proved too great a foe for the Camarians, and the latter group petitioned Zeth for assistance. The Zetian Senate agreed, but only on the condition that certain legal reforms were made in Camaria, including a tax to support the war. The Camarians readily agreed to the bargain, but failed to realize that he now owed Marcus Publius Zetar, the Senator from House Zetar, as patron.
With Zetian support, the Camarians began to push back the Medellan onslaught, but it was a group of adventurers, the Band of the Red Sword, who snuck into the Iron Tower and defeated Veseverus himself. Without the Archmage to mastermind their efforts, the Medellans quickly surrendered to Zetian forces. The Medellan royal palace in Cratari was dismantled to construct a Temple of Galea, goddess of Victory, and the people subjugated by the Zetians. Medellis became a colony of Zeth, and the Camarian King, Sergias II, discovered that he was under the patronage of Marcus Publius Zetar. The Senator informed the King that he would remain on his throne, his line unbroken, but that he and his descendants owed taxes to House Zetar. When the Edict of Empire was announced by Octavius, also of House Zetar, in Template:IC Year, Camaria was listed among those nations who were recognized as part of the Empire.
Since that time, Camaria has become a fairly peaceful, easygoing society. There is still some distrust between the King of Camaria and the people of Medalla (what was once Medellis), but no real conflict has occurred between those two people in over five centuries. The Crown has remained steadfastly loyal to House Zetar, even moreso than to the Empire itself, which has saved the King from being replaced by a Prefect. Despite this loyalty, or perhaps because of it, others of the Great Houses have been attempted to manipulate the Camarian Royal family into disfavor with House Zetar, in the hopes of placing one of their own on the throne as Prefect. Fortunately, these plots have failed, and it has almost become something of a game for the Camarian Royal Court and his Chamberlain (appointed by House Zetar) to discover what plot has most recently been formulated to remove them.
Recent events in Camaria have proved surprisingly calm in a chaotic time. When Emperor Lucius “the Heretic” of House Zetar rose to power in 1252 IC, King Tavaras initially supported House Zetar and Lucius, even when the Emperor moved the Imperial capital to the Sapphire City in Lun Dorak and was revealed to be the Dorakian Mage-King, Lucasa. When Lucasa fell to disease and the control of his Magisters quickly crumbled, it was revealed that King Tavaras had been working with subversive elements within House Zetar to limit the Heretic’s control over the Empire. King Tavaras immediately recognized Marcus Droserius Zetar, Prefect of Ganesia, as Emperor. Unfortunately, House Zetar’s claim to dominion was challenged by four other of the Great Houses and the Empire immediately fell into the Fourth Succession War.
Despite the current state of political events in the Empire, little has changed in Camaria. Those mages who joined the Heretic were executed and all other mages were required to register themselves with the government, as was common after the fall of Lun Dorak, but few other changes have occurred within this historically stable kingdom. The nation quickly rebuilt its navy after the First Fleet, which included many Camarian vessels, was destroyed or confiscated by Koramia. The pirates of Tamerynd have a bit more free reign than they had enjoyed in the past along the Camarian coast, but their raids are by no means beyond control. Much of the Camarian military might, both land and sea-based has been pledged to House Zetar in the war effort, but other than the lizard men of Sashenta Swamp, they were involved in little overt warfare before the Succession War. King Tavaras has proved himself to be a loyal and stable ruler and many believe that his support will result in victory for House Zetar, regardless of which member of the House eventually gains control over the crumbling Empire.
Economy
Agriculture is an extremely significant part of the Camarian economy, though Medalia has recently surpassed them in respect to agricultural exports. The staple of Camarian economy, however, is trade. All overland trade heading to Zeth from the southern reaches of the Empire comes through Camaria, and the King uses trade tariffs as a political lever with the other provinces and kingdoms of the Empire. Aescalapea has attempted to subvert this power by providing cheap, water-borne transportation of goods to Zeth over the Aurean Sea, but much of the Empire is removed from that nation by the Antasian Mountains. Thus, it is unlikely that Aescalapea will ever supplant Camaria's stranglehold on the trade routes, though they have succeeded in greatly reducing Camarian influence in their own nation, as well as Milosia and Cordosia.
Religion
Camarians worship the same range of deities as most Imperials, but Podalirius, god of vegetation, has always been a powerful force in the nation. Worship of Adrasteia, goddess of rivers, is strong along the Dregel River, and they are the main force for a better relationship between Camaria and Medalla. Though worship of the Dagonian deities is proscribed, local authorities often ignore the worship of Bellona, goddess of wealth, because they believe that she has favored the nation with its location in the Empire. Followers of Pavor, god of travel, have been active in their attempt to stamp out the worshippers of Bellona, but Pavor does not yet have the popularity with local governments it needs to accomplish this goal. The worship of Abaris, now associated with Dorakian rule, is on the wane, but is by no means proscribed (though they are under increased scrutiny by secular officials).
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| This is a thumbnail description and is scheduled for expansion at a later date. |
| This article is part of the Player's Guide to Aurea | |
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Introduction · Economics and Trade · Legends and History · Religion · Regions and Realms | |
| Regions and Realms on Aurea | |
