Blade Kingdoms

The Blade Kingdoms was the collective name given to a group of six relatively small city-states nestled between Chondath and Chessenta in the mountain valleys of Akanapeaks and shores of the Akanamere.

Description
The Blade Kingdoms included six city-states: Lotoli, Lomarta, Kirenzia, Sumbria, located on the fertile shores of Akanamere, Zutria, that laid on the shores and in the Hills of Apion, and, lastly, Colletro, in the Akanapeaks' rich Valley of Umbricci.

Geography
All cities of the Blade Kingdoms were surrounded by smaller quaint rustic villages, vineyards, and olive tree groves. The city walls were erected on top of Chessentan ruins that predated the Blade Kingdoms by a dozen centuries. The military engineers from the young cities repaired ancient aqueducts, carrying waters across lush valleys and decaying villas that were left from the previous occupants of the land. Many of the valleys of the Blade Kingdoms, including the Valley of Umbricci, were littered with ancient strange cogs and shattered statues. Many of these remnants of old Chondath were left in peace by the superstitious folk of the Blade Kingdoms.

Government
The long militaristic traditions of the Blade Kingdoms founders eventually changed to democracy. Free-voting mercenary councils of each of the city-states turned into senates of nobility. Each member of the senates status was indicated by the number of troops under their control.

History
The Blade Kingdoms were resettled circa 1017 DR by the grand mercenary companies from the Vilhon Reach. The sellswords turned their backs on their honor-less Chondathian masters and their trying bloody wars. The numerous mercenary troopers with their families, traveling hospitals, mobile sanctuaries and courts, slowly traveled the continent until they reached the unclaimed lands on the north-western shores of the Akanamere. The Vilhonese claimed the yellow rolling hills and valleys of scattered ruins.

The engineers and scientists that came with the mercenary settlers spent several years preparing ancient aqueducts, soldiers cleared the broken harbor mouths and repaired the roads and mountain passes. With more time, tent cities became high-walled cities. Each mercenary company claimed a piece of land, each becoming a city-state. Mercenary captains wed their followers, captured enemies, and courtesans, making the first generations of the noble families of the Blade Kingdoms.

The Blade Kingdoms flourished for the two centuries that followed. The military tradition of the mercenary leadership became married to the democratic governing. Mercenary councils evolved into senates of nobility.

In 1374 DR, several armed conflicts among neighboring nations sparked among the Blade Kingdoms, the Border Kingdoms, Chessenta, and Threskel. During that time the Kingdoms existed in a state of regular conflict.

Inhabitants

 * Jaka Sculi: along with his mother left the Blade Kingdoms for Luskan in 1365 DR. The Sculi family were distant descendants of the mercenary princes from the Blade Kingdoms and Jaka planned on accumulating wealth and eventually returning beck to to the place of his birth.

Appearances

 * Novels
 * The Council of Blades
 * Spine of the World
 * Spine of the World