Laertagne Is a small nation on the Sam'nirin coast, consisting of the plains and peninsulas to the southwest of the Noravian Olor'im. While once the ancestral lands of Illhad'or's House Nistaleth, it is currently under the control of a diverse population of humans.
Geography
Laertagne's landscape primarily consists of hills and valleys with good irrigation, creating an excellent agricultural landscape. Many of its major cities lie somewhere near the sprawling coast, leaving much of its fertile inner lands free for farming.
Weather
While its weather is warmer than that of the Noravian mountains, Laertagne still has a cold season in the winter and occasionally sees snow in its coldest periods. The mountains protect the region from heat waves in the summer, creating a generally warm climate.
Politics
Unlike its neighbors, Laertagne maintains an absolute monarchy and feudal system. The country is divided into a series of city-states and holdings, each controlled by a feudal lord.
The current ruler of Laertagne is King Leopold V, who ascended to the throne in 1305 after a family dispute.
Foreign Relations
Laertagne depends on Noravia as a trading partner, and as such strives to maintain a positive relationship with their neighbor. While the trade relationship is stable, the nations do not share similar ideologies or express any favoritism toward each other.
Since the start of the Endless War with Illhad'or, Laertagne has kept a hostile attitude toward the elvish nation and its allies.
Economy
Laertagne's economy is based mainly on agriculture and livestock, both for local trade and export. What resources aren't used in the production of food are generally used in pursuit of weaponry and other warfare needs.
Most manufactured goods, outside of weaponry, are imported from Noravian territories, leading to higher costs and lower availability compared to its neighboring nations. Illhad'orian goods, particularly textiles, magical items and components, and machinery, are typically only available through means such as privateering, and as such are quite rare and sought-after.
Culture
Laertagne is primarily populated by humans, but its cities include a very small population of dwarves and half-elves (the latter being particularly common in Myrelda and its neighboring villages.
Doladrion's population is still largely influenced by the culture of Central Noravia, with which it shares many deities and traditions. Southwestern Laertagne, in contrast, still maintains many elvish traditions, including a small number of gods, festivals, and agricultural practices. Most notably, worship of Myrel still persists in the Nistaleth city of Myrelda, and has been adapted to better fit human ideas of religion.
Outside of Doladrion, most Laertagnians are fairly poor and not well-educated. In most cases, one must find favor with the nobility in order to gain the opportunity for upward mobility, as it is rather hard to achieve otherwise.
History
Laertagne was founded by a group of human settlers who were exiled from Noravia due to their suspected meddling with demonic forces. They would establish the city-state of Doladrion in Laertagne's far north, though other, smaller settlements would arise in the following years.
The Endless War
After sharing the territory below the West Olor'im with the elves for some time, in the year 28,652 AM King Leopold I would raise forces against the Nistaleth settlements north of the Sam'nirin strait and claim the land for his kingdom. Though Leopold I would win the initial battle and force much of House Nistaleth to retreat to their territory on Saeldia, this act of aggression would spark a constant cycle of violence that would persist until the rise of the Illhad'orian Council, which would broker an armistice after reclaiming a portion of Laertagnian land in 348. King Leopold III would later break this agreement in 1047 and recapture these holdings, including Myrelda to the south. To date, Laertagne has managed to maintain this territory, though not without constant conflict.