Kingdom of Lantria

The Kingdom of Lantria, also known as Lantria, is a feudal monarchy found primarily on the Lantian island chain, but has colonial holdings on the Western Continent and other islands. Lantria is a current and founding member of the United Mortal Confederation.

Country Information

 * Allegiance: United Mortal Confederation
 * Population: 4,344,000

Government
The Kingdom of Lantria is a feudal monarchy led by a hereditary monarch called the Diamond King. After the fall of the Empire of Lantria, the governing role has been passed on to a prominent noble called the Custodian. The Custodian is chosen by the Diamond King upon their coronation. New Custodians can be chosen should the current Custodian be not fit to govern the Kingdom. Instead of governing, the Diamond King and the rest of the royal family commit their lives as part of the Circle of the Spire to honor the Growing Pact. The Lantian government is based in the bay city of Amberra on the large island of Lantis. The fiefs and colonies of Lantria are controlled by land owning dukes, all of whom pay allegiance to the Diamond King.

History
The people of Lantria, the Lantians, do not have any historical evidence for their origin. It is believed that the Menetari and the Lantians share a similar ancestry, though it is not clear when a divergence occurred. The Lantians began as a seafaring people on the Lantian island chain, mastering the art of sailing and seamanship. Their seafaring nature meant that they were largely nomadic, creating temporary settlements along the Lantian coasts. The first group of Lantians to create permanent settlements were a group that traveled inland on the large island of Lantis. There the group of Lantians stumbled upon the Warm Grove as well as the great divine tree that would eventually be called the Spire. These Lantians became attuned with the Spire, creating a deep connection with the natural forces of the Warm Grove. They would eventually form the Circle of the Spire, the largest druidic sect in all the Three Realms. The Circle was highly territorial, driving any other Lantian tribes from the island. This disruption in their nomadic lifestyle caused many Lantians to unite in an effort to reclaim Lantis from the Circle of the Spire. For a time they did not succeed despite their numerical advantage. The Circle were using their newly learned druidic powers to control the forests of Lantis against their enemies. It was then that one tribe of Lantians, seeking new coasts to travel, stumbled upon the Kurx Islands in the southern Disputed Sea. They observed the seemingly endless war between the orcs and goblins of the Kurx Islands. The Lantians watched the Kurx inhabitants, learning of the ways of brutal, destructive warfare. The tribe would return to the Lantian islands and use their newfound knowledge to finally overwhelm the Circle. The Circle would retreat into the Warm Grove, using their power to create an impassable wall of thick brushes and branches. The united Lantian tribes, fearing the Circle's control over the forest of the island, began to systematically cut down the forest, leaving only the walled Warm Grove. The Circle remained in their grove, not making any contact with outsiders for thousands of years.

With a large excess of raw materials from the harvested forest, the Lantians created a great fleet of warships as well as the foundations for the great city of Amberra along the Diamond Bay. The powerful Lantian fleet ravaged every coast on the Disputed Sea, conquering and subjugating any people that would did not submit to their rule. The Lantian tribes chose a singular leader to unite them and crowned an emperor upon Diamond Bay, formally creating the Empire of Lantria. In the next hundred years, the Empire of Lantria would assimilate the entire Lantian Island chain under their rule, as well as found colonies along the coasts of the Western Continent and the Northlands. Only the orc clans of the Kurx Islands and the River Empire of the Menetar River posed any threat to the Lantians. The River Empire in particular worried the Lantians because they could even rival the Lantian fleets at sea. As such the Lantians bargained with the Menetari humans of the Menetar River; they promised freedom from the River Empire. The two combined human forces launched a coordinated amphibious assault on the entire Menetar River. It became clear however that the Menetari were suffering heavier losses, and as soon as the River Empire had been dealt with, the Empire of Lantria claimed dominion over the entire Menetar Valley. Unchallenged by the infighting Menetari, the Lantians continued a long reign over the valley, building several fortresses along the Menetar River. The most notable of these fortresses was built at the base of Mount Menetar, and would eventually become the city of Menetar.

Over time however, the Empire of Lantria would become prideful, disregarding the other peoples of Mortium and not considering them as threats to their rule. Their delusion would be horribly shattered when the King of the Mountain successfully reclaimed the Menetar Valley for the Menetari people. Caught off guard and desperate to restore order, the Empire of Lantria focused all their military might on quelling the Menetari rebellion; the Menetari War of Independence had begun. This war however was the least of their worries, as it seemed it caused a cascade of events that would lead to the downfall of the Empire. As Lantria was occupied with the Menetari, the thought-to-be dormant Crimsontip Volcano in the Lantian Isles unexpectedly erupted, throwing large balls of flaming rock and lava at neighboring islands. The mostly-wooden city of Amberra was struck by several chunks of burning rock, and caught aflame. Most of the great city burned and many thousands of Lantians perished in the event known as the Crimson Wave. In addition, many Lantian colonies declared their own independence, notably Tellemetra and the other cities along the Plains of Quint. Without the raw materials provided by their colonies to replenish their fleets, the Lantians had no choice but to retreat from the Menetar peninsula. The last Diamond Emperor personally oversaw the Lantian evacuation efforts at the Battle of Ironhide, but ultimately lost his life in the battle. Leaderless and with a shattered fleet, the Empire of Lantria fell apart. Several Lantian dukes separated from the empire, crowning themselves emperors. The Lantian islands and the empire's remaining colonies were fought over by the many claimants to the Diamond Keep.

Great War
When the Arcanist Guild of Menetar opened the gates to the other planes, the Lantian people could not find time to be concerned. The claimants continued their bickering with each other. When the Great War arrived on Lantian shores, they found themselves completely unprepared. Even the Lantian's naval mastery seemed obsolete, with winged celestials and abyssals striking from the skies. The seafaring Lantians became landlocked, as any ship they built would eventually be destroyed by the invaders. It was then that the Circle of the Spire returned to the world, lowering the bramble wall around the Warm Grove. The druids of the Spire met with the remnants of the royal family in Amberra, and offered them a pact - the Spire would provide Lantria with the necessary ships and magic to combat the extraplanar threat. But in return, the royal family would personally dedicate themselves to the protection of the Warm Grove, joining the Circle of the Spire. Seeing no other choice, they agreed to the Growing Pact.

The Circle used a powerful ritual to mold warships from the Warm Grove's large trees, constructing a fleet of warships in only a few days. In addition, they used their powerful elemental magic to combat the Lantians' airborne enemies, evening the field and allowing the Lantians to regain control of the seas around the Lantian isles. The rebelling claimant dukes were reabsorbed into the new Lantria, and the Kingdom of Lantria was born. The new Kingdom would join the alliance established by Menetar, the United Dominion, and the cities of the Plains of Quint. With this alliance, Lantria helped successfully end the Great War, and were present for the signing of the Tellemetra Accords and the founding of the United Mortal Confederation.

Current Era
In the thousand years following the Great War, the Circle of the Spire has reintegrated completely with Lantian society. The druids of the Circle are renowned and well-respected among the Lantian people. In addition, Lantians have also adopted a newfound respect for nature, making efforts to replant the harvested forests on Lantis and other Lantian islands. The Circle of the Spire now produces warships using their druidic magic for the Guardianship's Shimmering Fleet. Every Diamond King and member of the royal family has become a member of the Circle, steadily growing the ranks of the Circle of the Spire. Interplanar trade and cultural exchange has also impacted Lantian society. Lantians now willingly teach other races in naval mastery, founding the College of Nautical Sciences in Amberra. The humans of Lantria have also become close friends with the aasimar of Celestia, both peoples sharing a rich naval history and appreciation for nature. Many Lantians and aasimar often host exchange programs, travelling to each others' lands and experiencing each others' cultures.