Treonol Autocracy

The rulership of Treonol is oppressive and fights an ongoing war to suppress and oppress the people to maintain the rule of the elite merchant caste. The people loathe the rulers of their own land with more passion than the hated Helegu.

Undebted and free Treonol citizens live in constant fear of becoming an Indebted to one of the Grand Merchants. Travel is restricted by the Autocrat’s court and only the Grand Merchants may travel freely without the need for permission. Even general traders need permission to cross territories and permission to leave is only occassionally granted to free citizens and never to the Indebted.

Outside of the Citadel banditry is growing problem, along with non-human incursions.

Treonol has not been allowed to build any fortifications around its towns or cities until recently.

Villages are often enclosed with low lying walls of stone sometimes painted white but often surrounded by a series of ditches and bramble like fencing designed to slow down raiders and thieves rather than out and out stop them.

Regular tribute to the Roaring Host includes silver, hides, livestock, olive oil and slaves.

The Roaring Host currently have turned their attention westward against the Paracer Ascension and have left behind in Treonol:

• the Mughal (Governor);
• a small detachment of Helegu (1000 horse-warriors); and
• the blood sworn Gimu horse warriors (a client tribe of the Roaring Host).

The Autocrat, the Mughal and his detachment are based in and around the Citadel of the Autocrat, 100 miles from the Telehetti border at the plateau drop-off.

Inhabitants

The population of Treonol is 2.5 million humans, which is significantly less than the population from 130 years ago.

Orcs once roamed the fringes of Treonol in the more rugged and forested parts, while hill giants remain common and constant problem.

A few stone giants have made their way north in recent years and occasionally other humanoids such as gnolls and trolls will migrate through.

Dwarves fought alongside the Treonol 130 years ago but have bunkered down in their underground fortresses, never having made a formal peace deal with the Helegu, though they seem prepared to wait out this current human empire.

Before the Helegu the Treonol alternately fought and traded with the Gimu Steppe Warriors, Jayak tribes , dwarves, humanoids and eastern human nations. Interaction with Orcs and dwarves of the western hills was frequent, though the Orcs have now retreated to distant strongholds and dwarves make infrequent contact at trading posts.

Being built on the ruins and waste of so many former kingdoms and having recently been subject to so much bloodshed, hauntings and undead are not uncommon.

Society

Treonoli believe in the Season of the Witches (3 days of each solstice)

The Autocrat is appointed by the Mughal and his power is absolute. His power stems from the backing of the Helegu and access to power, trade and favours to the Grand Merchants.

Grand Merchants rose to replace the nobility after their defeat by the Helegu, with many nobles and their families slain or fled during the decades long conflict.

Largely rural nation with people living in small villages and towns as Indebted on the extensive estates of the Grand Merchants.

History

The Argos Kingdom ruled this area more than 500 years ago, falling after a series of succession wars (the last of which was orchestrated by Death Cults) and pressure from waves of humanoids being driven east and south by steppe nomads. The western part of Argos overlapped with eastern Treonol.

Treonol has been a client state to the Helegu for the last 130 years. Over 1 million Treonoli were killed in the initial Helegu invasion and all cities were razed except for the Citadel which remain unconquered. The Helegu have fought several Treonoli rebellions since the breakup of the great khaganate 130 years ago which killed and enslaved at least a further half million Treonol. For the past 50 years the Treonol elite have thrown in their lot with the Helegu and actively suppressed any idea of rebellion among the populace.

10 years ago Treonol supported the winning side in a Roaring Host factional war and have been granted preferred status as a result, with minimal Helegu interference in their internal affairs.