Kingdom of Astheria

"Today marks a new beginning for the hope and love of humanity. That we are destined for more than followers and laborers, that there is hope for us. Though the future is filled with hardship, we will stand together! Under one banner! For today, the Kingdom of Astheria rises as a monument to humanity and what is to come!"

- Asher Wardenfell after the Revolution of Astheria

The Kingdom of Astheria, also known as The High Kingdom is the first kingdom to rise during the Revolt of Humanity with the Revolution of Astheria. The Kingdom of Astheria nestled in the Vadam Highlands, a strategical location providing the city with open areas capable of negating defensive positions for invaders.

The Founding of Astheria
During their imperialistic expansion of Aiscoria, the Solarian Empire discovered a suitable location for a secondary capital south of the Eternal Gate. The Solarians also discovered Humans and Orcs in primal tribes and clans, knowing these lessers would be able to handle manual labor, something Solarians cared little for. Thus these primitives were enslaved and put to work on creating a kingdom.

Years went by as human and orc alike were forced into slavery, living in poor and unhealthy conditions while their Solarian lords reveled in their glory. Construction on this capital was yet to even have an estimated completion date, though the Solarians watched closely and kept their slaves in check.

Dorian Shadowcloak was assigned to oversee the construction later on as slaves began to fight back against their slavers, Dorian authorized the execution of those who fought back and would continue to do so until their job was done. From then on out five slaves were killed each day claimed as suspects against the Solarian Empire.

The Orcam Rebellion
Despite Dorian's brutal tactics, the enslaved orcs were only encouraged more to face down the egotistical elves. Over the course of months, the orcs planned a massive riot that would dismantle the solarian presence in the Vadam Highlands and force them to retreat or perish. While the plan was spoken among the orcs, they did not include other races that had been enslaved especially not the humans who they had bad history with.

Led by Azgor Blackblood, the orcs began their rebellion catching everyone off guard. The solarians were slow to respond and had lost a third of their forces within the hour. Orcs poured out of the labor mines, attacking anyone who got in their way, including other slaves. Azgor's orcs were hellbent on pushing into the complete portions of the yet to be named kingdom, where Dorian Shadowcloak sat upon a marble throne. The orcs faced substantial losses, but Azgor and a small band of orcs managed to invade the throne room. There solarian soldiers along side Dorian faced down against the poorly equip but better physique orcs. The end resulted in Dorian facing off against Azgor alone, while Azgor had the upper hand in the beginning he ultimately fell against the might of House Shadowcloak.

After the revolt, many slaves attempted to escape while the solarians were occupied with the orcs. Most were hunted down and executed by Shadowcloak Elites deployed by Dorian. In the aftermath of the rebellion, Shalendra Luren arrived with reinforcements to ensure Dorian's job was finished shortly after being displeased with his thumb of rule. Nonetheless, much of Dorian's elites were taken by the Empress to become part of the Golden Army. Dorian however, was not selected due to his inability to deal with the orcs.

The Ebony War
A year later, Dorian still had control over the nearly finished kingdom. Due to his shame during the orc rebellion, his rule became iron. Dorian would select two individuals a day and execute them himself by cutting their throats. On a day, that would be considered the very turning point of Dorian's rule, he had arrived in the quarries where he found a couple with their young son. Solarian guards forced the slaves back as they threw the couple before the Shadowcloak, in which he made the boy watch as he slit their throats and let them bleed out before him. This son, would be known as Asher Wardenfell. Dorian saw the potential to make a pawn to keep his slaves in check, he adopted Asher and trained him and sheltered him in return he would ensure the slaves stayed in line and no more would be executed.

Another year would pass, Asher a master swordsman at this point had ensured that the slaves were kept in line through words of inspiration and hope. Things would change when the Golden Army arrived to inform Dorian Shadowcloak of the Dark the encroached on Aiscoria. Dorian rallied his force at the behest of his Empress, forcing Asher to rally the slaves for war.

As the Ebony War raged on, Dorian and his pawn Asher remained vigilant in the finally constructed Kingdom of Astheria. The Dark made its way to Astheria as corrupted orcs and solarians invaded, though through the combined might of the solarians, orcs and humans they managed to push back the vile spawns of the Dark.

The war ended, the Golden Army had vanished and the Solarian Empire was severely weakened and nearly at the brink of destruction.

Revolution of Humanity
Months later, the Empire still had yet to recover or reclaim land lost during the Ebony War. While Dorian awaited orders and kept his slaves busy, Asher in secret had been communicating with other established kingdoms where they suffered a similar fate as Astheria. Uniting the human slaves together across the whole of Aiscoria, Asher planned to sound the horn when the time was right.

In time, Dorian had become complacent, believing that eventually the Empire would have him return to Morro'las and name him Emperor, if not he would proclaim himself as the Emperor of Astheria. Asher knew the Astheria needed to be liberated last, Dorian not only oversaw Astheria but every kingdom outside of the Empire. Dorian would become a major threat with his following.

Asher had relayed a message that at dawn the slaves across Aiscoria would rebel, except Astheria. When that time came, messages came from across the continent of uprisings and how the solarian garrisons were falling. Dorian Shadowcloak became enraged by this, sending reinforcements to each kingdom thus lowering the defense and manpower he had at Astheria.

Revolution of Astheria
A mere day later, Asher had his forces rise up. These slaves had been somewhat trained by Asher and were equipped with solarian spears, swords, shields and armor which had been smuggled out of the armory days earlier. With this in mind, once more Astheria's slaves revolted and with the dwindled numbers, Dorian's army was quickly dealt with despite their superior training and techniques.

As each kingdom continued its defense against the onslaught of the rebellion, Asher remained stern as he cut down any solarian who attempted to stand between him and Dorian. Eventually, Asher Wardenfell breached the throne room of Astheria and confronted Dorian. Dorian had not only become a threat to humanity but to all of Aiscoria as it was discovered he had dabbled in death magic. Asher faced off against Dorian, who refused to surrender. However unlike Azgor Blackblood years prior, Asher had successfully killed the tyrant Shadowcloak.

As Dorian laid dying upon the marble floor, reports came in that every kingdom had been liberated from the solarian control and now humanity rested as a powerful force in Aiscoria, with the Empire leaderless and still licking its wounds from the Ebony War. Asher declared the Astheria to be the first kingdom of humanity, claiming himself as First King which no one objected to.

Military
"Whenever it was by sword, shield, spear or upon the horse. The Astherians have honed the craft of war in order to protect their people, their allies and most of all humanity."

- Remembrance of Astheria, Volume 3

The Army of Asteria was initially formed under Asher Wardenfell during the Revolt of Humanity, where it fought against the weakened Solarian Empire and became a powerful military force and then was a key pillar of stability for the land as the newborn Kingdoms began to build upon what the elves left behind. The true size of the army was always debated by scholars and historians, its size flucrating between the few thousand under Asher Wardenfell to nearly ten thousand under his son whom drove the Solarians back beyond the Eternal Gate.

The Astherian Army, every single men and women that swore to serve the throne were all sworn to the line of Whitemore whom continued to honorable lead the kingdom through the years and was believed to have reached their highest point under the rule of Matthias Whitemore during the Green War.

Notable People

 * Asher Wardenfell - First High-King & Founder
 * Valance Whitemore - Founder of the Whitemore Dynasty, Second High-King
 * Tonic Wardenfell - Son of Asher Wardenfell, Founder of Kingdom of Wardenfell
 * Matthias Whitemore - King of Astheria during the Green War
 * Abercomb Wellington

Trivia

 * Image