Númendil
The Exilic Kingdom of Númendil (Adunic: Númenaranyë) is a kingdom and nation rising with the lands of Aevos. The culture and histories of the inhabitants, known as the Númenedain, rise from the long-lost culture of Idunia and have partially homogenized with the culture and histories of the more modern Humans. The kingdom is home to Descendants of all races but is the primary home of the Adunian.
The Númenedain (singular, Númenedan) are a group of Adunians who descended from the Adunians known as the Harren’hil of Almaris. These Númenedain colonized a region marred by mysticism and necromancy known as the Barrowlands in Almaris before undergoing a cultural rebirth with influences from Idunia under their first ruler, Tar-Númenatâr (then called Tar-Uriel). Tar-Númenatâr united the fractured and wayward Adunians under the Royal House Arthalionath (then called Royal House of Pendraic) and formed the first truly independent Adunian Kingdom.
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Contents
History
Almaris
The Exilic Kingdom of Númendil rose quite literally from the ashes of The Kingdom of the Barrow Marches. This kingdom was colloquially known as the Barrowlands at the time and held its singular city and capital Barrowton. An Adunian expedition led by Ser Uther Pendraic went underway in the year 108 of the Second Age which held the purpose of cleansing and quelling the rising undead that plagued the region. The errant knight and his warband would set out from The Duchy of Minitz and settle the region, founding the city of Barrowton around the year 110 S.A.
With the formation of his new city, Ser Uther would take on the feudal title of Lord Uther of House Pendraic and become Lord of the Barrowlands. Many more would answer the warband’s call for the rising threats of mysticism and necromancy outside the Adunian party the Minitzers that started. The town grew and the converted Harren’hil would now be on the path to establishing a new realm for Canondom.
As their successes piled up, a new threat would replace the dwindling concern of the Undead. Mori’quessir began small skirmishes and other attacks on the Descendants of Almaris and within the Barrowlands. In the face of that threat looming in the background, which at the time was unknown in its scale, the High Pontiff Pontian IV would recognize the efforts and progress Lord Uther had achieved in the name of Canondom and crowned the Adunic warlord as Tar-Uriel, by the Grace of God. The crowning would seal the now king’s title of King and Protector of the Adunians, uniting the Adunic tribes under one banner for the first time in nearly five centuries.
Time was not on the side of the newly united Adunians, nor on the side of the greater Descendants as a whole. The rising waves of a hostile and aggressive Mori’Quessir would begin to see city after city, nation after nation, be besieged and fall to their unrelenting and innumerable offense. The subjects of Tar-Uriel had long risen to the call for aid against these assaults from the other nations of Almaris. Yet mounting defeats quickly outweighed any victories and the morale of all Descendants began to wane with the all-consuming dark. In a moment of sheer defiance and Courage against the looming invaders, Tar-Uriel ordered his people to set Barrowton ablaze and deny its capture to the Mori’Quessir.
The final battle cry that Almaris would hear from the united Adunians had not yet come. The Adunians under Tar-Uriel retreated with the rest of the Descendants of Almaris to the ruined city of San Luciano in the south end of the continent. Here all Descendants would stand in the final battle of Almaris alongside the mysterious Brev, a battle hard-fought but quickly overrun by the invaders. Under the guidance of these Brev, the remaining people retreated and fled into the caverns below the city. Finding themselves displaced in the deep and dark reaches under the earth’s surface. . .
Arriving in the lands of Aevos, the Kingdom was reformed and renamed into Númendil, honoring its Aduninian origins.
Aevos
With the realm of Almaris now lost to all, Tar-Uriel would lead his united but wayward Adunians to the lands of Sharad’et’alkayaban alongside the group of Farfolk known as the Sharadûn. Here at the base of a mountain Alkayaban, the Adunian would settle for a short time. However, the Sharadûn would prove to be paranoid for the influence the Adunians had and the Imr-khagn would attempt to burn out and enslave the Adunians. With the Sharadûn raiding their encampment, Tar-Uriel would be gravely wounded in the conflict and fall comatose as he succame to the severity of his wounds. Fresh with the fears and grief that their king may soon be dead, the Adunians rose to make a final-stand in this foreign land.
The story of the united Adunians and that of their leader, Tar-Uriel, was not yet done however. The comatose king would awaken in those final moments and rise to lead a countercharge. With renewed drive and Courage, the Adunians would drive the Sharadûn back to their capital and defeat Imr-khagn. Standing in the captured city, Tar-Uriel would proclaim the lands under his own name and in the honor of the Idunia and the Adunic language, they would be renamed as Númenaranyë or ‘The Royal Realm of the Númenedain’. A united Adunic people once more had a land for their home, and thus The Exilic Kingdom of Númendil rose. Tar-Uriel would now take his final name in the same tradition and become Tar-Númenatâr, ‘King of the Númenedain’.
Culture and Society
This article is meant to give a small overview of Númenedain culture. For more details, click here.
Fashion
For fashion, Númenedain are typical, if albeit more conservative than most Canonist nations, stemming from Owynist influence. Both men and women are expected to dress modestly, with minimal exposed skin. Because of this, both gloves are common among both genders, and headgear specifically among the women. Due to Númenost’s southern climate, most clothing is fashioned from breathable, if concealing material, which thanks to the wealth of that region, is typically quite finely made and intricate. Because of this stance, sleeveless clothing, cleavage, or shirtlessness among either gender is highly frowned upon, and will often be met by vicious verbal mockery and condemnation.
Art
With the heavy influences that the Númenedain have from Canondom, their art is largely composed of pieces with religious expression and the impersonal translation of theology with Canondom into artistic forms. This interconnect between theology and art led to an iconographic scheme for art within the Church. Frescoes, mosaics, and murals often cover the interiors of culturally significant places, such as churches and palaces, and lead to a homogenization of architecture and pictorial expression. If not for influences from The Church of Canon and the Scrolls, Númendil takes inspiration and expression from ancient Idunia into their works of art in the modern era.
Sculpture is not heavily seen in society for the Númenedain. Most often it is seen through the use of smithing and other smaller works such as goldwork and silverwork. Some of the Númenedain take to small relief carving into materials such as ivory, wood, and stone. Illustration and illuminated manuscript are an important expression of style and iconography in Númendil. A notable exception to the lack of sculpture would be in the creation of statues and other life-size monuments to a variety of purposes including the depiction of influential Adunians, Saints within Canondom, or even iconography for the second Exalted Owyn.
Demographics
The Exilic Kingdom of Númendil and the Númenedain are composed of a variety of Descendants, however a bulk majority of the population are Adunian. Since the earliest founding days of the Barrowland Expedition under Ser Uther Pendraic, a mix of other races have joined and been integral to the formation of the kingdom. Westron kin from the Heartlands and High Elves from The Silver State of Haelun’or answered the call of the original expedition and remained steadfast and loyal to the kingdom ever since.
Since then, a number of other Descendants from all areas of life filtered and joined the kingdom as subjects under Tar-Númenatâr. Many of these people, including the High Elves converted to Canonism through their affiliation with the kingdom and are seen as true Númenedain Typical names of Adunians can be found here.
Values
The Númenedain carry a legacy of lost traditions going back over a thousand years to Idunia of yore, and while much is gone, never to be recovered, newer, better traditions have been made, honoring the legacy of the Harrenite homeland, while disavowing the corruption and decadence that brought it to ruin. Even in wealth, Númenedain are encouraged to err towards humility and charity, though that is not to say the acquisition of wealth is discouraged, far from it, only the misuse of it. In times of peace, the Númenedain trade happily with their neighbors, chiefly in alchemical goods, for in the last century, such they have come to specialize in, but raw materials also flow from the White City.
Furthermore, though having long abandoned the woodland life of their Harren’hil ancestors, the Númenedain maintain a keen connection with their natural surroundings, viewing nature as an unmarred facet of creation, and thus, a thing worthy of protection. Though they possess the same skill in it as all men, the Númenedain are not quite so industrious, believing that such aught be tempered with a healthy respect for the natural world that the Creator made for them at the dawn of time. Because of this, animal husbandry is also a well-respected profession among them, as is hunting. Most Adunians keep pets of some form or another, typically horses, large dogs, and the occasional hunting-bird, for falconry is a common pastime also.
Herbalism and healing are also seen as favored skills among that folk, not only in keeping with their woodland roots, but also simply for practicality’s sake. Númenedain Rangers will often spend many months, if not years beyond the white-walls of the capital, and as such, identifying what plants are safe, and what plants are not safe has become a matter of some importance, as has healing injuries accrued in the wilds, a skill that doubly serves well, as a folk so prone to battle are also prone to injury.
In keeping with the belief that the natural world is an unmarred example of the Creator’s work, many landed Númenedain will keep a sacred grove in their fiefdoms known as a Godswood. A Godswood is a meditative tree garden, either walled within a keep, or kept outside of it. It is maintained by the ruling family instead of servants, in the belief that something as simple as gardening focuses the mind, keeping one humble, and strengthening their connection to the world around them. Most typically kept in a Godswood is a grove of native trees, dominated in the center of the grove by either the silver-leafed Adunic White Tree, or the red-leafed Almaric Heart Tree, however, other plants may be kept and grown at the base of these trees. It is not uncommon for alchemical reagents or berry-bushes to be grown in the Godswood, primarily though it is a place of quiet reflection.
All that having been said, one would be wise not to confuse a Númenedan’s love of nature as heathen aspectism, indeed, the Númenedain are deeply suspicious of druids, who they view as a meddling folk that serve the Fey, nature spirits who at best are mischievous, and at worst, outright malicious. While not so superstitious as to believe the Druids themselves as Faeries, they are thought to be in league with them, and thus avoided unless one wishes to court fate by dealings with the fey. To ward off these spirits, lines of salt and iron-dust are often drawn along the edges of a Godswood, or the property of a Númenedain living out in the wild.
Cuisine
The Númenedain are both practical and modest people. The Harren’hil who dwelt in the Barrowlands were known for a hearty palette consisting mostly of beef, pork and venison spiced with more northernly seasonings, on account of Barrowton being far disconnected from any main trade-routes. This was not the case after the founding of Númenost, which unlike its predecessor, was a central trading hub on the continent of Aevos thanks to its key location as a crossroads between the southern deserts, the eastern jungles, and the Mannish heartlands. Because of that, regular access to more exotic and southron spices was attained, something which the Númenedain swiftly developed a strong taste for. Likewise, some preference for spice had already been attained thanks to Barrowton’s Santegio-Hyspian community. Fish is also prevalent. Notably, Númenedain hunters are careful to avoid, and do not consume bear-meat, stemming from the usage of bear meat and blood in occult rituals during the reign of Aurelion Marsyr the Faithless of Cartref Mor.
Religion
The Númenedain are devout and pious followers of Church of the Canon and it is the steadfast and official religion for The Exilic Kingdom of Númendil. While past ancestors for the Harren’hil could be outright against the Canonist Church, namely that of Aurelion the Black and the Xionists who gathered under his reign, Ser Uther Pendraic began converting many of the Harren’hil prior to the expedition and settlement of the Barrowlands. Those in the warband who followed Ser Uther to the Barrowlands came to hold the second Exalted Owyn into high significance and planted a firm sect of Ownists within the Harren’hil. While the sect is popular amongst the Númenedain, The Exilic Kingdom of Númendil avoids a sectarian stance and instead identifies as ‘Canonist’.
Politics
Law
Laws of State The following are those laws which outline the hierarchy of our Kingdom’s government, as well as the laws of inheritance and succession.
I. The ruling monarch, hereafter referred to as ‘the Crown’ or ‘the White Throne’, shall hold full and unquestioned authority over the lands and titles of the Kingdom.
II. The Crown shall have the authority to dictate, enforce and alter this code at their discretion.
III. Those empowered by the Crown to enforce the law, including Knights, levies of the royal house, and others appointed to such authority by decree, shall be privileged to interpret and enforce the law as appropriate and necessary, and shall hold that IV. privilege at the pleasure of the Crown.
V. Subjects of the White Throne shall be obligated to adhere to any and all royal decrees or taxes levies.
VI. The succession of the Kingdom shall be determined by appointment of the Crown. In such an event that the monarch is slain or becomes otherwise incapable of ruling without an appointed heir, the crown shall pass to the oldest trueborn child.
VII. The recognized Houses of the realm shall have the right to dictate their own traditions of inheritance. However, should a dispute of inheritance threaten the peace, it may be settled at the Crown’s discretion.
VIII. No title held by an Adunian House or individual shall, in any circumstance other than Royal assent, pass to one not of Adunic blood.
Laws of the Crown
Listed hereafter are those laws which shall dictate the honorable conduct to which subjects of and visitors to our Kingdom are to hold themselves.
I. For a subject to act to our Kingdom’s detriment in any way, be that by the raising of arms or the aiding of Her enemies, shall be considered Treason.
II. To practice or to affiliate knowingly with those who practice the Dark Arts is strictly forbidden, and shall be considered the crime of Unholiness.
III. No individual shall willfully slay another outside of defense of self or others, and to do so shall be considered Murder.
IV. No person shall willfully do harm to another outside of defense of self or others, and to do so shall be considered Assault.
V. To make use of any magic in a manner which is harmful to the Crown’s properties or to others, or in a way that is counter to the decrees of the Crown, shall be considered the crime of Sorcery.
VI. To deprive or dispossess another of their rightfully owned property or goods shall be considered Theft.
VII. To damage the properties of the Crown shall be considered Vandalism.
VIII. To publicly encourage the practice of Pagan faiths, or to cast insult upon our Lord GOD Almighty shall be considered Blasphemy.
IX. To damage properties of the Church, or to dishonor icons of the Exalted or the Saints shall be considered Sacrilege.
X. Should one accused of a crime so desire, they may request trial by combat or to appeal to the Crown for royal trial. Those known for fact to be guilty do not receive this privilege.
Succession
The Exilic Kingdom of Númendil follows primogeniture succession, with all children of the monarch able to inherit. The first-born child of the current monarch would be next in line to the throne, though discretion is always at the behest of the leading monarch to determine the successorship and lineage. Should there be a situation where the reigning monarch has no heir-apparent or consort, the leadership of the kingdom shall fall to the Steward of Númendil. In such a scenario, if no legitimate descendants of the Royal House Arthalionath remain, the throne shall pass to whoever can win it through a bloody contest of arms.
The succession of the Royal Throne is maintained in the Royal House Arthalionath which itself is derived from King Tar-Númenatâr.
Nobility of The Kingdom
Court Positions
The King's Court consists of the immediate members of the Royal House of Pendraic, as well as the Castellans, the Captain of the Guard, the Cardinal, and a court alchemist. Additions to the court can be made at any time at the King's behest.
Noble Families and Houses
Royal House Arthalionath
House Glennmaer
House Thassion
Military
Knights of Númendil
The origins of the Númenedain dating back to Ser Uther and the warband that settled in the Barrowlands revere The Errant Knight’s Code and that of Hedgeknights. To the Númenedain, martial prowess and piety outweigh the value of titles and peerage so long as the hedgeknight sticks true to the chivalry laid out in the code. ‘False knights’ ie, those granted the honorific title for political reasons alone, and those lacking martial skill or moral fiber, are viewed more akin to bandits than true knights, and the Númenedain disparage those who grant them such false ‘honors’. In accordance with the laws of Númenedain, a ceremony can be held by any Knight to swear an individual deemed worthy into Knighthood.
Following the reverence that the Númenedain hold for the Knights, some expanded rights are afforded to them including being permitted to fly their own banners beneath that of their served Lord, them and their household being permitted to wear their own colors into battle, and being awarded favored treatment in the eyes of the king’s law, which they are also permitted to enforce should they be pledged to the kingdom.
Knights of Númendil are trained as heavy shock-cavalry, but are required to be capable to serve in any role. However, the Númenedain hold a duty unlike any other called ‘The Last Rite of Kings’.
The Last Rite of Kings is a clause which dictates that, should the reigning monarch of Númendil be willingly or unwillingly brought under the sway of the Forces of Darkness, it is not only expected, but commanded of all Knights of the Kingdom to either bring said monarch back into the light, or, failing that, raise their banners in rebellion and overthrow them in favor of the heir, or should succession be muddied, the High Steward. In the case where both the High Steward and the Heir are unavailable, regency is to be assumed by the eldest knight in service to the Kingdom. This is perhaps the only case among the Mannish Kingdoms in which regicide is not only permitted, but outright commanded per the founding principles of the Kingdom.
Guard of Númenost
The Guard of Númenost are the honoured local guard force for the capital of Númenost within Númendil. Commissioned under Tar-Númenatâr, they are charged with the defense of the capital and the kingdom as a whole. The Guard are also charged with the protection of the Adunic White Tree of Númendil.
Beginning with the reformation of the former Kingdom of the Barrow Marches into The Exilic Kingdom of Númendil, the soldiers with the Guard of Númenost bear the Livery of Arthalionath - a radiant silver crown with five stars above, all embroidered on a field of dark red. In reverence to the ancient Idunian, the helmets of the Guard are tall with close-fitting cheek-guards and bearing the carved wings of sea-birds.
The Guard is structured with few ranks, the Captain of the Guard leads the overall command while select duty and bravery lead particularly accomplished soldiers to be promoted to the rank of Sergeant. At the discretion of the Captain, additional specialized titles may be granted such as the duty of Siegemaster.
