Queendom of Naléni

Queendom of Naléni
Geography
Region	Madriamilak
Capital	Jezarpizu
Politics
Overlord	Melakmengi
Government	Harpy Matriarchal Monarchy
Notable Ruler(s)	Matriarch Muréda Nephieuda: Lived 1157-1238 ídar Odančés Bimogíre Nephieuda: Lived 1422-1491 Queen Ríva Nephieuda: Lived 1567-1653
Society
Ethnic Groups	Mixed Nalénian Harpy and Metobesebi Human
Religion(s)	Ravelian in the elite, Sky Domain amongst the commoners.
History
Major Events	Muréda accord Unification War Odančesta mutiny
Established	1176

The Queendom of Naléni is a state in North-Eastern Madriamilak, located on the tip of the Great Horn. It was formed by groups of harpies migrating from Siádunlen in the wake of Jaher’s conquest in the 11th century. Naléni has largely retained its territorial integrity since its annexation of the Mengi kingdom Irkan Eparta in the 13th century, though its influence in the Gulf sea has waxed and waned.

Migratory Period

The earliest history of Naléni begins with the sundering of Siádenlen (1022-1032). As Jaher’s legions marched through the realm, many Siádunan harpies began migrating en masse southeast out of the path of his advance. These harpies fled largely without organisation, authority having broken down into smaller familial units due to the chaos. During their migration along the southern gulf coast, they would eventually encounter the Telekenid mountain range of north-eastern Madriamilak. The lofty heights of the mountains and their relative geographical isolation were extremely appealing to these refugees, and they would come to settle throughout the range.

Pre-State Period

Following the migratory period and harpy settlement throughout the Telekenid range, there was an initial lack of any central authority amongst the harpies. Small familial units that had emerged as the primary social structures during the migration dominated still, and roosts were restricted to areas high in the mountains with little communication between groups.

Those harpies that had settled amongst the eastern face of the great horn would adjust well and increase in number steadily over the next decades. By the beginning of the 12th century the population there had risen enough that internal conflicts were beginning to arise between the different flocks, as well as external conflicts with the Mengi of the Irkan Eparta kingdom below.

During this period some harpies began to leave the roosts and partially assimilate into the culture below, finding a new home amongst the sailors, and particularly pirates, there.

Unification Period

The increasing disputes between flocks over territory, wealth and hunting rights escalated into a short lived conflict beginning in 1176, that saw the Nephieuda dynasty unite the various groups under their new matriarchy. There are no written records of this war, but it is well recorded in a Nalénian folk song known as “Muréda’s flight”, so named after the leader of the Nephieuda, and subsequent new Matriarch, Muréda Nephieuda.

“With feathers of gold and a heart forged in fire, She led us to battle, our souls to inspire” - Excerpt from Muréda’s flight, translated from the Nalénian dialect of Siádunan.

Most of the harpies opposed to the new Matriarchy opted to follow their kin down the mountains to the sea below, and took up new lives of piracy there, whilst others left and joined the other still independent groups throughout the rest of the Telekenid range.

Over the next several decades the united Matriarchy would divert their attention towards the Mengi of Irkan Eparta, the volume of raids and territorial seizures increasing dramatically. The Mengi had become rather complacent towards the harpies, due to the earlier infighting, and also the constant threat they themselves faced from sea raids. Owing to this, and the two fronted pressures, the Nalénian matriarchy would be extremely successful in making inroads into the Mengi territory.

By the early 13th century Irkan Eparta had completely collapsed under the external pressures due to its own weakness and lack of population, and Naléni completely integrated the former kingdom.

Confederation Period - 1220-1580 (approximate)

The annexation of Irkan Eparta in the early 13th century was an important moment in Naléni’s history, but it also brought a series of new problems to the realm. The most important of these was the status of the free harpies who had taken to life at sea, living amongst the Mengi humans. These harpies were quite numerous, and the leaders amongst them had become very wealthy. These two factors made them into a strong political force within the new realm, and Naléni seemed poised to slip into a new series of internal conflicts between the Matriarchy and these Pirate Captains, Odančesta in the Nalénian tongue.

Conflict between these factions was averted by the diplomatic skill of Matriarch Muréda, who successfully negotiated an accord between the two groups. Subsequently known as the Muréda accord, the agreement formalised the Nephieuda dynasty as the Matriarchal family, and Muréda herself as the Matriarch with nominally supreme authority. In exchange for the Odančesta recognition of this, they were granted an extreme degree of autonomy in domestic affairs, along with a formalised power sharing agreement. Every four years the Odančesta would have the opportunity to nominate one amongst them to serve as ídar Odančés, or Dread Captain. This individual would then represent the Odančesta both externally and internally, and functioned as a sort of quasi-military ruler.

This accord, whilst tenuous, would ensure the functioning of Naléni for the next several centuries, a period which saw the native harpies increasingly taking to the sea as pirates. It would only truly begin to fray during the Raheni colonisation of Sarhal during the early 15th century, where the interests of the Matriarchy were pitted directly against the Odančesta - the Matriarchy seeing the Raheni as a threat, whilst the Odančesta saw their shipping as extra plunder.

Despite this unity was maintained throughout the century by the efforts of Bimogíre Nephieuda, the daughter of the then Matriarch. Elected as ídar Odančés in 1444 due to her own impressive feats, she would go on to be re-elected an unprecedented 11 times, leading up to her death in 1491. Under her stewardship the Odančestas activities were usefully diverted against Raheni shipping, preventing them from being able to muster any sort of real invasion plan for the mountainous kingdom, thus reassuring the Matriarchy.

Following her death the confederation would continue on, however divisions would begin to rise again in the following century.

Centralisation Period - 1580-1653

In the back end of the 16th century, tensions between the factions of Naléni would reach a boiling point, culminating in a group of rebel Odančesta murdering the reigning Matriarch and attempting a coup. Naléni was engulfed into a brief and unconventional civil war, with the land based forces of the Matriarchy, rallied together by the murdered Matriarchs daughter Ríva, pitted against the seaborne Odančesta. After several months of blockade and raiding, the Odančesta would attempt to sail on the Capital Jezarpizu.

The subsequent battle of Jezarpizu saw Ríva lead a force of Nalénian Sirens in a boarding action of the Odančesta flagship, where she allegedly personally slew the rebel leader.

Following this battle the remaining rebels surrendered, and Ríva proclaimed herself ruler of a new Nalénian Queendom.

Retaining a strong maritime heritage, and an extensive amount of associated ships conducting piracy in the gulf, Naléni nonetheless centralised under the new queens rule. It functioned more as a proper realm, establishing formalised interests abroad (particularly in the ringlet isles) and dealing with attempts by hostile neighbours to annex the territory.

Post Rívan Period - 1653 Onwards

In the later parts of the 17th century, following Ríva’s death in 1653 and her granddaughter's accession to the throne, Nalénian traders and diplomats would make contact with Busilari emissaries and missionaries in the Ringlet isles. These contacts would spread the Ravellian faith back to Naléni, where it would propagate amongst the elite in the nobility, navy, and intelligentsia. The spread of Ravelianism, and its acceptance amongst the ruling classes of Naléni, created good relations with the Busiliari - which would prove to be a boon in the following century as friendly relations with the Cannorian power helped shield them from becoming a target for Cannorian expansion.

Despite the spread of Ravenlianism amongst the elite however it failed to propagate very far amongst the lower classes who still adhered faithfully to Sky Domain, particularly the Mengi humans but the faith's adherents also included many harpies by this period.

In the back end of the 18th century, Naléni would participate in the war of the final shadow against the Hags of Yezel Mora, primarily contributing their naval power against the Dakinshi coast, but also launching expeditions into the Dakinishi held provinces to their south. Drawn into the fighting by aggressive action by the Dakinishi, who were seeking to surround Melakmengi, Naléni ended up a minor participant in the conflict, but their raids did considerable damage to Dakinshi shipping.