Queendom of Avianis

The Queendom of Avianis also known, especially by non-humans as The Human Queendom of Emertia, is a Sovereign State located in an island chain off the south eastern coast of Emertia. Though only containing a fraction of Emertia's population, it contains the largest concentration of any race. Though a small island, much of the land on and sea surrounding the islands are considerably plentiful and can easily support all of its inhabitants.

Besides being the only stable human country in Emertia, it also one of the few human countries to have cut itself off from the Theocratic power of the Skeddic Nations to the north and remains a completely independant nation. Instead, most Avianists worship a smaller pantheon based off of the Skeddic Worship known as Heaven's fist, which worships 4 minor dieties as Major ones and forsakes all the others. However, as of the Inquisition of Queen-Commander Reynolds-Eirika I and the subsaquent disbanding of the Zealous order that protected the Temple, religious fervor has gone down and is not a major point. Nevertheless, those blessed with divine power are still respected heavily.

Etymology
The name of Avianis comes directly from the founder herself, Avianis-Avius. Although it is said that she herself wanted to use the name "The Human Queendom of Emertia" her followers petitioned her to use her own name and she reluctantly agreed. Avianis itself comes from a newer version of Human naming based out of Emertia, close to, ironically her family name of Avius. While Avius means, "Water Brought", Avianis would be a derivitive meaning, "Woman from the water", taking Avi which is an old Skeddic word for water, and Anisa, which closely translates to woman or possibly maiden.

Prefounding
The lands that Avianis was founded on, were really not known of very much, and as it was, was settled by no sentient creatures. Even the Elves had missed it when sailing to Emertia. During the 300 year rebellion though, it became a place where human refugees of Southern Naeri fled to, as the only way to escape would be to take to the sea. This accounts for the reason why, when Avianis-Avius landed on the islands, she was able to build up a community fast, as it would be hard with only the remnants of the army she had.

Avius Era
After the Kingdom of Emertia was destroyed in 748 AOE, the last living princess, Princess-General Avius-Avianis, fled to the island chain to the south east of emertia. Determined to make a new Human government and learn from her father's mistakes, she created a small human community, which would eventually be named Avius City. Through careful thought and guidence from the military and community leaders she created a new government. And in little over a year of the fall of Emertia, the Queendom of Avianis was founded. The Queen-Commander would have authority over the land and the armies, while the Two Circles would take care of civil duties. During the reign of Queen-Commander Avius-Avianis, Avius City flourished. Many humans flocked from Emertia to live in the protection of the Queendom and soon more towns and villages rose up around Avius City. For years she reigned over the land fairly and justly. However it was said that she often missed the thrill of battle and that later in her life she would even take secret excusrions into the wastes in Emertia with only her Consort and that they would hunt the dangerous creatures that inhabited it.

Before the turn of the 9th Century, the Skeddic Nations finally intervened. Though the Queendom of Avianis had gone on without the Skeddic Theocracy knowing about them for over 55 years, they finally found out and sent a large expeditionary force to intimidate and force the Queendom to pay tribute to them, as all Humans under the Skeddic Theocracy should. However, Avius-Avianis refused and despite her age of 78, led a force to defend their lands. The two forces met around a small fishing town called Eos, and after a stern declaration of independence from Avius-Avianis the two forces collided. In the end, the forces of Avianis won and sent the Skeddic forces retreating across the sea. However it was not without a large sacrifice. Both Avius-Avianis and her Consort, Caustus-Eckard were lost that day. Both of their bodies were carried home and entombed in the massive castle that was only recently finished. Soon after, her daughter, Avius-Aieka took command of the throne. Her last bold declaration also started a chain of events that would make the Skeddic Theocracy continually sending a wave of troops once in a while, making the military of Avianis on edge. The Avius line ended abruptly however with Avius-Eos, where none of her children was seen to have the ability of a military commander and were therefore seen as unworthy. On 862 AOE, Eraius-Sixta was crowned Queen-Commander and ended the Avius Line of Queens.

Rise of Heaven's Fist
During the end of Eraius-Sixta's reign and the subsequent reign of Ezria-Karius in 889 AOE, the ongoing battles with the Skeddic Nations were beginning to take a toll on Avianis. That, alongside the recent rise of demonic power, brought on the need for worship and spiritual guidance. However, Karius realized that the worship of the Major Gods of the Skeddic Beliefs would only lead to the Skeddic Theocracy using their spiritual power to convince many that they had to step down against the armies of the Skeddic Nations, or worse, rebel against their queen. So instead, she created a religion, based off a small group of Minor gods and elevated them to Major gods, creating the Heaven's Fist. It's beginning was a little shaky, but considering it was only a variant of the Skeddic Beliefs, the population successfully converted to this new religion. That, along with the formation of the Zealots of Misptane based off the teachings of the Order Zelotrae in Skedda, Karius was able to gain religious fervor from her followers and soon the avianists were once again unified. With this unified strength, the Avianist army was able to build up to an even stronger level and the Skeddic Nations had no choice but to launch a full scale campaign against Avianis. For many years, both sides geared for war and finally the Skeddic nations attacked in 923 AOE. However with amazing coastal defenses, built after the first battle at Eos and a skilled navy personally raised, trained, and commanded by the recently crowned Seafaring Queen-Commander Ezria-Avianis II herself, the Skeddic fleet size was diminished before they even landed and they were forced to retreat. Utterly destroyed and dishonored, the Skedda Theocracy decided that it had to look inwardly at it's military and overlooked Avianis for the time being.

The Ezria line of Queens were now utterly revered for their spiritual and military might, so much that in 986 AOE Queen-Commander Ezria-Dalia proclaimed that a new flag would be instituted. Using the Rays that her ancestor Ezria-Karius supposedly had shining from her body, a cross that Dalia herself favored on her banner, as well as the Diamond symbol that had been used by Avius-Avianis on her war banner. In her reign, she instituted the creation of many statues in the castle, venerating herself as well as her family. She was not seen much at events however and people wondered why it was exactly. It wasn't until in 992 AOE was the truth found. A Zealot named Reynolds-Tima of the temple was given a vision. No-one but Tima herself ever were told what the vision was exactly, but whatever the vision, she herself invaded the Queen's bedchambers, which had been declared off limits to all. What she and a multitude of witnesses chasing her found, was the Queen and her consort making love. However this was not the same Consort that had ruled many years as Magistrate. Instead he was possessed by a demon and his body twisted to a horrible form. Tima declared the queen a heretic and immediately called for her execution. The demon that was her consort was sealed forever and Dalia was executed.

Reynolds-Tima returned to her life as a Zealot, but was called back by the Circle of the High Council and asked to be the new Queen. She was reluctant at first and in fact denied them fully, but after many months of convincing, she finally agreed.

Kannian Times
After Reynolds-Tima's rule ended with her death, her Niece, Reynolds-Kanna was crowned in 1041 AOE. Unlike most Queens, she was not interested in battle. Though she was an experienced commander, she felt more inclined to defend her people and further their culture, rather then full scale war. So, she created a system where all art and inventions in Avianis were welcomed and well rewarded. With a lack of war and science and art booming, Avianis grew in size and became much richer. At the same time, Kanna used the wealth and inventions to outfit her soldiers with stronger weaponry and gear, so that if war possibly happened in the future, they would have the finest equipment available to them. A new flag, casting out the old cross of Dalia and putting in a reimagining of the Avianis Diamond was even created. She ruled this way for 65 years only for her work to be continued by her grand daughter, Reynolds-Kanna II. The era, lasting from 1041 AOE to 1163 AOE, was considered a golden age in the history of Avianis and was known thereafter as the Kannian Times. Many great masterpiece inventions and construtctions, including the Great Port of Eos were created in that time and are now considered a lost art.

The Mighty Queen
Only 10 years into her Reign, Queen-Commander Reynolds-Syranna and her eldest daughter Reynolds-Reina were killed while visiting their summer home in Kier. What was even more surprising and shocking, was that it looked to be the work of demons. This sent shock-waves through the Queendom as no-one had ever gotten through the Queen's guard since it was established. Not only that, but the only heir and only warrior that was deemed worthy of being the Queen, Princess-General Reynolds-Eirika, had left the army and departed for the mainland a year before. With the throne being empty, a search for Eirika was called. It took many months, but she was finally found and was brought before the council. She was still very young and though a very skilled warrior and tactician, knew very little of politics. Though reluctant, she agreed as she realized that the interest of her people was a truly important mission and was crowned in 1175 AOE.

In the same year however, the Second Kaen Rebellion occurred. As the Kaen were still seen as slaves to many, the people of Avianis requested that Eirika send troops to help quell the rebellion. Though she personally had nothing against the Kaen, she agreed and attacked the Kaen force, alongside the forces that rose in Cirvarsi City and in a great battle, destroyed them. After a victory in that battle, she proceeded East to their base in The Wastes. With the kaen on the run and her own troops invigorated from their victory, she would have utterly decimated the Kaen forces if it were not for her own reluctance and the words of her consort, Ire. Instead of defeating them, she met with their leaders and agreed to let them flee to Sakuken territory unharmed. They agreed and her troops returned home. However as she reached home, she was given dire news. The Skeddic Nations had once again returned and sent a force once again and had taken over the town of Kier in the struggle. Her sword barely cleaned, she once again engaged in battle. As she got there she learned that the Skeddic Nations once again deemed Avianis a threat. It was a tough fight, but she was finally able to drive them from the shores. The fight had been costly though as over 80% of her troops had suffered casualties and her herself had received grave wounds. It put many in a depressed mood as it almost seemed they were going to lose Eirika in the same way Avius-Avianis had been lost.

Mysteriously, she was able to survive and even heal incredibly quickly from her wounds. Her people saw it as divine providence and she was revered as one of the strongest queens ever. When she returned to the capital, she was given a hero's welcome. She was thankful, but knew that if the Skeddic Armies returned once, they could return again. So, she set up a grand project. With all the architects and stone masons in the land, a plan was made to create a massive sea wall that would encircle the entire island chain, with two gates at Eos and Avianis and constructed so that fish and other sea creatures could pass under it, but nothing a Skeddic army could get through. It was a large project that required multiple areas to be worked on simultaneously and would send the Quarry industry on high output It wouldn't be finished until 1259 AOE, almost 85 years later. The idea of this wall excited the people and before construction had even been started, it had been dubbed the "Shielding Wall of Eirika" However, right after she laid the plans for the wall, an inquisition was called on her by the Zealots.

Ever since Reynolds-Tima had gained power, the Zealots were given the power to call an inquisition. It could be a general one over many citizens, or a single person, even the Queen herself. The Zealots declared that they had proof that Eirika's father had been a demon and that no mere human could survive such wounds as she did from the battle with Skedda. The Zealot Master called for her execution and it was believed the public would agree, just as they had when Tima had called for the death of Ezria-Dalia. Unfortunately they were wrong, and instead; the people, the Two Circles of Avius, and the Armies sided with Eirika. In a join effort between the Queen's guard and a small militia formed by Avius citizens, they thwarted the Zealot's attempts to capture Eirika and the Zealot's Haven was raided. What was found, changed the structure of the Zealots forever. Secret messages between the Zealot master and none ofter than the Red Queen of the Demons Kiraku were found. In his personal notes, he even referred to her as his "Mistress". With this evidence, the Zealot's power and entire order was given instead to the High Cleric.

With her name cleared, Eirika continued her fair rule, with her reign lasting an amazing amount of time of 91 years, with her dying of natural causes.

The Withering Wars
With the creation of the shielding wall, invasions from the Skeddic Nations were almost completely stopped cold. In order to launch a successful crusade, a new way had to be found. And one was soon found. While the Withered Isles was considered to be a dangerous, but necessary route to Emertia, an idea came out to actually set up a foothold in the region.

The Second Age
By the time the Second Age of Emertia was declared by Emertia Scholars, Avianis had already been on it's way to start utilizing steam power. Though Airships were still not something that they could create, they did realize the threat of such things as an air lane blew right through Avius itself and upgraded the Shielding wall to defend from such things, as well as allowing it to stand up against cannons. Due to their effectiveness in the Eirika Revolution A small battalion of gunpowder infantry was introduced, with more units on the way. Becausee of reluctance to use such arms by many nations, it remained oddly enough one of the largest of such battalions in the world.

Geography
Avianis lies off the south eastern edge of Emertia, with the Naeim Sea separating the two. It's eastern and southern edges lie at the bounderies of the so called "Crying Sea" which produces many large tropical storms and hurricanes. The entire land sits between a mostly tropical area to the south but is dominated by more temperate areas in the North. Though mostly a nation filled with plains and hills, natural rain forests and a small mountainous area fill it's southern tip.

A large amount of fish migrate in and around the Naeim Sea, making up for the small amount of farm-able land. This makes the main industry of Avianis revolve almost completely around fishing. It was especially important when the Shielding Wall was created to allow fish and other marine animals to be able to continue their migrations while still making the wall quite strong.

Many of the islands of the Islands were once considered territories only, but due to a change in policy they were changed directly to be small Fiefs and Counties.

Division of Land
Avianis is Separated into 10 different sub-divisions



Government
The Queendom of Avianis has stayed with the same type of government from the moment it was born, due to Avius-Avianis realizing that she had to learn from the mistakes of her father. Though the Queen-Commander does indeed represent the highest Authority, all the smaller domestic tasks as well as the ability to choose the successor relies totally on the Two Circles of Avius.

Mainly, the Queen acts as the military commander, leading her armies directly at the front. During peacetime she attends to ceremonial duties.

The Two Circles consist of the High Council and the Circle of Representatives. Though divided differently they still meet all together, with the High Council making the final decisions for what the Circle of Representatives bring up.

Demography
Avianis is almost completely filled with humans, as the common law dictates that migration from any race is compleltey prohibited. Strict watch is kept on any boats going in and out of Avianis so that no illegal immigration can occur. Most human filled ships are allowed, as the largest fear for an Island nation is, of course, stagnation without expansion. However, there is a small Kaen population. After the Second Kaen Rebellion, slavery was seen as a dangerous idea in Avianis and was immediately aboilished. However even with it abolished, Kaen were still not able to own their own land, and since the Journey to Emertia and then to the Sakuken Territory was dangerous, many Kaen stayed, working the same way they had before, but this time only referred to as "Servants". An estimaed 5% of the total population of Avianis is said to be Kaen, most of them living in the large cities, where servants are needed more.

Religion
Heaven's Fist worship is the Official state religion of Avianis and any other worship is extremely prohibited. Temples are required in every city and village and the construction and maintanence of each one is closely watched. Pockets of Demonic Worshippers are said to exist outside the larger cities, exploiting the lack of trained Demon Hunters. Any sign of Heretical or Demonic activity is immediately destroyed, lest it spread and guards are constantly vigilant. An organized worship of demons is nonexistant though and most worshippers are considered to just be curious people who have given into temptation.

Military
The Avianis military is quite large for a nation of the size, as the land focuses heavily on a strong and proud military tradition, strengthened by the fact that the Queen-Commander is required to have military service as a General. Military service is compulsory, but recruitment is unregulated, the youngest recruits being recruited at the age of 13 and heavily trained for years till they are of a more acceptable age to actually serve in combat.

The Navy is just as respected as the rest of the Military, after the many battles that the Seafaring Queen Ezria-Avianis II won in the past. The single port that lays on Nautis: The Island that many of the nation's elite troops are trained and housed on as well its capital, owes it's name to Ezria-Avianis II (Port Seadaughter).

Currently heavy research on firearms is being conducted, with one battallion of soldiers already outfitted with them.

Knight Orders
Avianis also holds a large amount of Human Knightly Chapters, dedicated to the Queen while also seeking their own interests. The Isle of Kanna, though run by the Knights of the Seadaughter, has a conjoined Chapter Area for where all chapters meet and trade information and other commodities.