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Symbol:
The
Silver Stars.
A
tiny nation wedged between the Mountains of Mist,
Amadicia, Altara, and Garen’s Wall, Ghealdan has never
enjoyed the prosperity of other nations. Its often rocky
soil is not good for farming, and the mines of the southern
mountains have never produced as well as those of
more northerly regions. Fortunately, the craftsmen of Ghealdan
are well known for the quality of their work, which
brings traders and gold coins to the kingdom.
Following
the War of the Hundred Years, numerous attempts
were made to restore Dhowlan, with the longest having
an apparent success that lasted only twenty years and
collapsed upon the death of the woman who led it. In
FY 1109 Lord Kirin Almeyda, Lady Valera Prosnarin, Lord
Cynric Talvaen, and Lady Iona Ashmar founded Ghealdan
in the same region. This union of four strong Houses,
and the balance of power between the King (Kirin)
and the Crown High Council (the three other lords
and ladies initially, though other Houses were later added),
lent the country a stability that allowed its success. Although
royal succession is usually hereditary, the Crown
High Council can choose a successor if there is no heir
or if they feel that the throne would be in better hands
with someone else. |
For
the most part, Kirin’s successors have changed little, continuing
to rule their quiet little kingdom from the Jheda
Palace and doing their best to stave off possible invasion from
Amadicia, with which Ghealdan has fought several
decidedly minor wars. Things changed for King Johanin
in 998 NE, when the Prophet of the Dragon Reborn came
to Ghealdan. The Prophet almost instantly attracted swarms
of followers, and King Johanin ordered him
to leave the kingdom and his people to disperse. A few
days later, Johanin had the misfortune to die in a hunting
accident. His successor, Queen Elizelle, committed suicide
after her armies also failed to drive away the Prophet.
The queen that followed, Teresia, abdicated after mere
ten days to marry a commoner (thereby relinquishing all
right to the throne under Ghealdan law). With
no more heirs of Johanin’s body available, the rule passed
to a distaff relative of his house, Queen Alliandre Maritha
Kigarin.
Queen
Alliandre is no fool. She realized that the High Crown Council, deeply
concerned about antagonizing the Prophet, had eliminated her
predecessors. Preferring to remain alive and on the throne, she has
welcomed the
Prophet and allowed him to remain in the kingdom. This has caused much
unrest and could lead toan attack by the Whitecloaks at any time, but so
far Alliandre has
retained as much control as she can. |
