Kingdom of Karne

Karne is a large kingdom located in western Orathea, bordered by the Ulstak Principality to its north, the Suthran Marches to its south, and the Kingdom of Dorenum to its east. Though the kingdom has taken many forms over the past millenia, Karne has remained a significant and powerful nation throughout history, but suffered in the past century from political upheaval and civil war.

History
Karne is an ancient nation, named for its mythical founder, Karnas. The legend tells that Karnas and his people travelled the Weygard Sea and settled among the great cliffs near what is now Ilda. The Karnish people would become known as great stonemasons, not unlike the dwarves of the Thundering Range, and completed many great citadels to protect their people from the monsters of the wild plains and wooded hills.

Centuries later, Karne had fallen into the rule of the Tyrant Merciul, a half-ogre who had previously served as a commander in the Karnish military. With an iron fist, he brought great tracts of land under the Karnish banner, but was infamous for his deadly forced marches, and penchant for decimating rebellious battalions of soldiers. Merciul was eventually challenged by Yohn the Brave, who challenged the Tyrant to a duel for his crown. Merciul agreed, but employed underhanded tactics, even relying on his men to intervene against the challenger. Yohn remained true to the agreed terms of the duel, and cut through all deceptions and cheating, ultimately slaying Merciul and winning the crown.

Recent History
Following the death of King Liamon in 1356, a succession crisis divided the nation, ultimately leading to the secession of Blackmark from Karne. Following a bloody civil war, the two halves of Karne entered into a tenuous peace that lasted until the Karnish invasion of Blackmark in 1378. Karne continued its expansionist policy further east, subjugating the people who now make up the Kingdom of Dorenum. Karnish rule would eventually be overthrown in 1401.

Trivia

 * The White Pegasus was said to have been Karnas' mount. It appears in the heraldry of many Karnish houses, but is most famously used by House Khorusmark, who have ruled Karne for centuries.