Kingdom of Matrona

Matrona, officially the Eternal Kingdom of Matrona, is the oldest human kingdom, whose roots are most closely tied to the last great human empire, Nerath. This kingdom has stood the test of time, neither waxing nor waning as it has withstood the conflicts of the ages.

History
The Fall of Nerath in 752 left a power vacuum that allowed self-serving opportunists and more insidious forces to rise. In 751, former Nerathi officials who had defected and fled south two decades ago agreed to consolidate their power and forge a new kingdom in order to keep themselves and the people safe from such threats. They named this kingdom "Matrona," meaning "motherland," as this region was the heart of Nerath's former seat of power.

Geography
Matrona is among the northernmost realms, bordering Myvanna to the north, Eth'ruvanna to the west, and Galefridus to the north-east.

The Naharanak River runs through Matrona from south-east to north-west.

Climate
Matrona has long, humid summers and cool to mild winters. Summers feature frequent, intense thundershowers, while winters are foggy and damp, with sudden bursts of frost.

Government
Matrona is a monarchy ruled by a King and subdivided into four counties: the King's Realm, known as Matrona; The Raven County of Illegardis, The High County of Ciprianus and The Royal County of Tryphosa. Each of the three counties is ruled by a Count that serves the King. Cities are governed by Magistrates.

Proficatian Dynasty
The Proficatian dynasty was a Matronian noble family with origins in the Empire of Nerath. The dynasty is named after Proficatus, a great Nerathi general. Proficatus' grandson, Tudinus I, became the first king of Matrona.

Cercatian Dynasty
The Cercatians were initially a line of Magistrates under the Proficatian kings. Cercatus von Maroccia's son, Nero, became king of Matrona after a coup d'état.

Law
In Matrona, priests of the Church of the Raven Queen do not fall under the jurisdiction of secular courts. Many politicians have tried to change this law, but the Church fought hard to preserve its legal independence, and the people generally have sided with the Church on the matter, so that no corrupt politicians can unjustly imprison priests. The Church has its own ecclesiastical court.

Foreign Relations
Matrona rarely implicates itself in the affairs of other nations, and thus maintains a neutral to positive relationship with them. Matrona enjoys positive relationships with Myvanna and Eth'ruvanna due to shared borders and mutual trade. Distance keeps relations with Farraj and Morgrak neutral, precluding any direct interaction. Relations with Galefridus are ambivalent - disputes exist over territory along the two nations' shared border, though amicable trade continues between them. Gavriel has a cold attitude towards Matrona, as the nation saw Matrona as an aid to Galefridus during past conflicts.

Military
The military leader of Matrona is the Imperator, who presides in the king's court. Matrona has a standing army of roughly 60,000 soldiers divided into six legions.

Under the Imperator are the Legati. A Legatus commands a legion of 10,000 soldiers.

Beneath the Legati are the Centurions, who command units of 100 soldiers. These units are called centuries. Every legion consists of 100 centuries.

Each century is divided into columns of ten troops led by a Decanus. The Decani can be distinguished from the lowest-ranking soldiers, the legionaries, by their crested helmets.

The six legions of the Matronian army are as follows:


 * First Legion, also known as the Eternal Legion, or the Eternals. Stationed in the king's province.
 * Second Legion, also known as the Swords of the King, or the King's Blades. Stationed in the king's province.
 * Third Legion, also known as the Raven Legion, or the Holy Ravens. Stationed in Illegardis.
 * Fourth Legion, also known as the Ciprianian Legion. Stationed in Ciprianus.
 * Fifth Legion, also known as the Sons of Proficatus, or the Faithful. Stationed in Tryphosa.
 * Sixth Legion, also known as the Reapers of Vengeance, or the Reapers. Stationed in Tryphosa.

Economy
Matrona has the second-strongest economy in the world, after Galefridus. Its economic base is trading, with its major exports being textiles and dyes. Fishing also supports Matrona's economy thanks to its bountiful rivers and lakes, and Matrona has a robust agricultural sector with the world's largest wine production.

Agriculture
Matrona is the world's largest wine producer, and one of the leading in fruits and vegetables.

Demographics
The Matronian people (Matronians) tend to be olive-skinned, with dark-colored hair and eyes. In addition to these common traits throughout the kingdom, the Ciprianian people (Ciprianians, or "Ciprianis," colloquially) tend to be shorter than average, with curly hair; the Tryphosian people (Tryphosians) tend to have wavy or curly hair, and light-colored hair and eyes is not uncommon; the Illegardian people (Illegardians) tend to have straight hair and fair complexions, often with light-colored eyes.

Languages
The official languages of Matrona are Matronian and Common. Matronian is a regional dialect of Common that all Matronians speak. Most Matronians can also speak Common, though not all are fluent, particularly in more rural areas.

Religion
The deity most worshipped among Matronians is the Raven Queen, and her greatest temple, the Cathedral of Crows, can be found in the Matronian city of Alzeiza.

Education
In Matrona, formal schools serve paying students, and private tutoring is not uncommon. Formal schools are arranged in tiers of education, and progression through the education system depends more on ability than age.

The first tier of education, elementary school, focuses on teaching reading, writing, and the requirements of everyday life. Most Matronians complete elementary school between the ages of nine and twelve. Only those from affluent families are able to afford moving on to the second tier of education, grammarian school, which teaches advanced writing and speaking skills, literary analysis, and the Elven language in order to study Elven poetry. Most Matronians complete grammarian school by age 14 or 15, at which point only the wealthiest are able to move on to the third tier of education, rhetoric school, which teaches public speaking, geography, music, religion, philosophy, arcana, and geometry.

Architecture
Doorways are toped with pointed arches. Rooves are steeply angled and topped with pointed arches, surmounted with one or more spires of various sizes and heights. Buildings are built taller than they are wide or long and have asymmetric layouts, and the external design seems to reflect the arrangement or rooms inside. There is an emphasis on verticality and height - everything is narrow and high. Buildings are generally supported by load-bearing structures such as flying buttresses. The larger, and more important buildings have towers that stretch even higher into the sky, with stained-glass windows.

Overall, there is an impression of grandeur, or of an aspiration to grandeur, even among the humblest of the buildings.

Fashion
Matronian fashion is dramatic, with a tendency towards contrast: with predominantly stark black clothing with some scarlet or purple thrown in somewhere for contrast. You see the odd person wearing pure white instead of black, and these people seem to be wealthier - white is almost a status symbol among the upper class, because it signifies that they are wealthy enough to not have dirty clothes, as white would stain most easily.

High collars, patterned fabrics, and elaborate belts, buckles and buttons are common features of Matronian clothing. Jewelry is plentiful, and seems to be mainly silver and iron.

Men wear tailored cloaks with sleeves, with high-collars instead of a hood, known as overcoats. Vests and tricorn hats are also common.

Women wear corsets, chokers, lace, stockings, and extravagant plumed hats.

Matronian clothing, overall, has an air of high fashion - even the peasants seem to be well-dressed.

Cuisine
Red wine is the most popular beverage in Matrona. In the County of Tryphosa, white wine is the most popular. Brandy was invented in the County of Illegardis and is the most popular liquor in Matrona.

Fish is the most widespread protein in Matronian cuisine.