A Brief Summary of the Realm

The Realm of Bariene, sometimes known as The Kingdom of Bariene and sometimes simply as The Realm, is a human-centric absolute monarchy that is (in name) largely guided by the teachings of a faction of the faith of Pelor. The Realm has been in existence for just over seven hundred years, and occupies the most of the Southern peninsula of what the Elves call the subcontinent of Goros, including The Summer Isle to the South, and the land below the Stagwood and between the Wolfwood and the Dreadwood Forest.

The Realm came into existence as the result of a war against the Dark Elves waged by the human chief-tan Uerthelred at the behest of Bariene, an Elf Sorcerer and devotee of Pelor. Their victory in this war and subsequent marriage united the tribes of men and the Fair Elves living beyond The Western Elvenwood, with the territory ceded from The Elves for the establishment of a new kingdom and home for Pelor's followers, who were effectively banished from the Elvenwood, which remains closed to all who are not its' subjects. 

Now under the rule of its 100th monarch, King Roehm (at best a distant cousin to Urthelred's original line), The Realm is divided into ten Comptes, with multiple lower landed titles beneath - a proper feudal system. 

The Pelor-centric sect which has so much influence over Bariene's laws and policy-making is rooted in the Resurrection of Uerthelred, the first such display of magic that could return a departed soul to it's repaired mortal body. This event was a turning point in the War of the Realm, cementing Bariene's interpretation of the faith as unquestioned. As First Queen, she issued doctrine alongside her brother Seminster, who was anointed by Uerthelred as the first in a line of Grand Prefects of the Faith. Bariene and Seminster's interpretation of the Will of Pelor went far beyond anything followers of the Sun God previously knew, setting the precedent for an increasing byzantine religion, and one that found increasing fewer ways to tolerate those who did not subscribe to the Faith's way. 

The Realm is home to a majority population of humans, with some elves, and a significant number of half or partial elves. Uerthelred and Bariene's marriage made human-elf relations fully accepted in the kingdom. Half orcs exist, and are generally regarded with a mixture of pity and revulsion. Some call for their annihilation as creatures not meant to exist. The gnomes from the Isle of Sharrybazz are The Realm's primary trading partner, and some gnomes have made their way to the mainland and established homes here. Dwarves and halflings are unheard of. South of The Summer Isle, in the continent below, tribes of Lizardfolk rule. The lower continent is where humans first crossed over into Goros, but few subscribe to the idea that there is anything worth remembering about the time before they arrived here. 

Anxiety and tensions concerning a new conflict with the Lizardfolk to the South or the Dark Elves beyond Dreadwood Forest are constant, but The Realm has been largely undisturbed by outside invaders since being established seven centuries ago.