Illumination and Cimmeria
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| Motto: | The Land of Ice and Fire |
| Feudal Status: | County |
| Capital: | Wolfraven |
| Largest Cities: | Port Illumination, Azshara |
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| Local Leadership Title: | Count of Illumination and Cimmeria |
| Local Government: | Feudal |
| Current leader: | Eki Verion |
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| Local language: | Common Tongue, Cimmerian, Hyperborean |
| Local Religion: | Holy Church of the Divine Icebear |
Illumination and Cimmeria, also known as the County of Illumination and Cimmeria, is a Royal Precinct of the Elwynnese Union. It is situated in the Northern Reaches. It consists of the Cimmerian Isles and of Illumination on the Elwynnese mainland.
Contents
Constituent Lands
Cimmeria
Cimmeria is a group of islands in the strait between Hyperborea and Elwynn Proper. The archipelago forms the Circuit of Cimmeria of the Princely Precinct of the Elwynnese Union which is known as the County of Illumination and Cimmeria. The islands are, from west to east, Icefire, Snowhawk, Wolfraven, Thunderrock, and Cromswind. Each island also corresponds to one bailiwick with the same name as its island.
Illumination
The Lands of Illumination are a more pleasant place to live, and are home to the largest part of the population of the County. From green pastures in the West, forests in the East to the tundras of the North, Illumination has a diverse geography and climate. Most of the cultural identity of Illumination is shaped by the Elfinshi. Being the place of origin of the House of Verion, the county has an important place in Elwynn.
History
The County of Illumination was one of the counties of Elwynn (Froyalan). It was founded as the County of Port Illumination by the decree of Baron Richard Lyon as a home for Halluci immigrants who had left Kildare for various reasons. They planted the first forest since the days of Ardashir, Phoenix Forest, designed to give the Elfinshi a safe haven in Elwynn. The first count of Illumination was Ozarka Monto.
Cimmeria, on the other hand was less of an ideal place to live, and remained largely barren during the high point of the Elfinshi civilisation, although the islands were said to have been settled by explorers from the Isle of Volsung in Hyperborea, which lays not far to the north of the archipelago. The Cimmerian islands during that time had to cope with immigration from Hyperborea. The unique culture of the islands can be traced to this period. The love of nature and beauty of the Hyperboreans mixed with the stern and militaristic inclination of the Cimmerians. Scholars believe that this is the origin of the Barbaric culture.
Most of the information on the early days of Cimmeria comes from Unaimed Arrow, where it was cast in an unsympathetic light as a frozen swampland full of unfriendly people. It has also been mentioned that the island has a large Hyperborean minority population, although this theme has never been developed.
The Battle of Wolfraven, in which forces loyal to Kaiser Los II sunk the Yardistani battleship Inevitably Destructive In All Circumstances also took place in the island's capital. The Khan of Vijayanagara has used Cimmeria to test weapons, to little lasting damaging effect.
The Cimmerian islands during that time had to cope with immigration from Hyperborea. The unique culture of the islands can be traced to this period. The love of nature and beauty of the Hyperboreans mixed with the stern and militaristic inclination of the Cimmerians. Scholars believe that this is the origin of the Barbaric culture.
Being a forgotten county with a tendency for superstition and isolation, it wasn't much of a surprise when an extremist and violent cult, known as the Holy Church of the Divine Icebear, gained prominence in the barbaric regions of the North. Although the power of the Holy Church grew slowly over the first decades, in the early 17th century, the ideology of the Church expanded rapidly. The Church began to take over the government of Cimmeria and proclaimed independence as the Theocracy of Elwynn. This eventually lead to the Icebear Rebellion, during which the Imperial Government quickly ended the aspirations of the Church.
After the rebellion, the Prince of Elwynn named Jacob Darylion-Verion, a member of the prominent Elfinshi noble House of Verion as Count of Cimmeria. Jacob created a new system for the Elwynnese subdivisions, with Cimmeria and Illumination being part of the Lands of Kiladôr. The rule of the Verions was a time of stability for the County. Under Jacob's son, Alix Verion, the county of Illumination and Cimmeria saw a return to the ancient Barbaric culture and traditions, that had a great appeal to the young Count.
Following the exile of the Verion family in 1635, the Storish woman Geirbjörg Gefialdrsdottir was named Countess. The ancient symbols of Illumination and Cimmeria were quickly changed, but with that, the cultural hegemony and ancient traditions of the county declined. Albeit protests from the former Prince of Elwynn, and the descendants of the Verion counts, the King of Elwynn continued to support the cultural revolution that had taken part in the County. The inevitable result was the stagnation of the public administration and a severe decline in the prosperity and vibrancy of the civil society. The reign of Geirbjörg was marked by emigrations in silent protest at the Storrish regime.
After the Auspicious Occasion the Cimmerians rose up against their oppressors and proved more efficient than most in ridding their islands of the vestiges of foreign occupation. Once the blood had been cleaned from the pavements in Wolfraven and Port Illumination an invitation was sent to the court of Layla Verion, Ethnarch of Crowsilver, to invite the ancient house to resume its rule. To them she sent her daughter Eki, and a vast retinue of Crowsilver brigands, to rule as countess and effect a reformation of the County, returning it to the pure path of the Divine Icebear.
Places of Interest
- Barbarian's Grove
- Minas Aullarion
- Phoenix Forest
- Tower of Visions
Demographics
The County of Illumination and Cimmeria has a total population of 12,108,008 people.
| People of Elwynn | Population Size | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Absentians | 797 | 0.01% |
| Amokolians | 138,530 | 1.14% |
| Babkhi | 2,419,035 | 19.98% |
| Boreals | 201,522 | 1.66% |
| Cimmerians | 1,593,086 | 13.16% |
| Elfinshi | 788,352 | 6.51% |
| Elw | 4,803,240 | 39.67% |
| Farewellish | 136,524 | 1.13% |
| Froyalanish | 101,290 | 0.84% |
| Norse | 413,382 | 3.41% |
| Tapferites | 165,502 | 1.37% |
| Haraldian Wintergleamish | 23,360 | 0.19% |
| Other Elwynnese or Shirerithian | 145,354 | 1.20% |
| Resident aliens | 178,034 | 1.47% |
Garrison
- The Precinct's main security force is the Yeomanry of the County of Illumination and Cimmeria known locally the Divine Icebear's Yeomen of the Guard.
- The Countess herself is defended by several Banners of the Crowsilver Levy, dispatched with her by her mother, the Ethnarch of Crowsilver.
