Archpatriarchy of Ambrasia

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The Archpatriarchy of Ambrasia is a self-governing theocracy headed by a college of heliophants seated in the capital Amyrn. The state cult is the worship of the god Amrulon whose chief temple stands in Amryn with a bevy of lesser temples to the various revered Isxinthion Gods. The Ambrasian love of the ancient sun god Amrulon who is traditionally acknowledged as the father of Arathrax and the head of the Isxinthion Pantheon is widely seen by historians as a rejection of the Arathracian Religion and a determination to establish local rule in the Rhaunve River Valley. The city of Amyrn was the center of the cult of solar gods since the ancient Kemerite Period.

A human inhabitant of Ambrasia is an Ambrasian citizen, but could be of Durrhaunvish or Gonfalese heritage. Most Ambrasians are of Durrhaunvish Moigthe stock with a very large minority of Gonfalese heritage whose language came to dominate since the thirteenth century. Uryalan Gnomes are a noted minority along the shore of Lake Lisgoria. Amyrn and other larger cities are home to significant expatriate communities of Ithradite dwarves.

The City of Amyrn is not only the capital but an important international pilgrimage city, celebrated for its ancient acropolis and Temple of Amrulon Sun God with its famous gilded bronze-tiled rooftop that can be seen glittering on the acropolis from throughout the lower places of the city. Other cities include Archmages-o'-Law, Sheaffy Dreath, Örrhabnych, Cathairn, Blamffa, a suburb or Amyrn, and the gnomish cities of Twyve and Annuvain.

The Flag of the Archpatriarchy of Ambrasia displays an intricate sunburst representative of the state cult of the god Amrulon.

Government

The ruling body of the Archpatriarchy is the Magisterium of Heliophants of Amrulon. They in turn elect an archpatriarch to officiate the rituals of the state cult who resides in the Temple of Amrulon Sun God in Amyrn. The Archpatriarch appoints the various ecclesiastical governors of the various archdioceses and selects new members for the magisterium from the established clergy, typically those who have completed service as a governor of an archdiocese.

Ambrasia rests in the Rhaunve River Valley and comprises most of the ancient land of Durrhaunve.

The name 'Ambrasia' derives from an ancient name for the god Amrulon and was the name of the archdiocese during the Yophenthean Empire.

Archdioceses of Ambrasia

The archpatriarchy is divided into various archdioceses which are further divided into dioceses.

History

The Archpatriarchy of Ambrasia was established in the twelfth century, centering on the priests and cult of Amyrn. The priests exploited the weakness of the Deavingeal Dynasty whose power in western Pytharnia was collapsing. The priests excised a tax for the use of the Rhaunve River which gave them sufficient support to establish their power. The use of the Rhaunve River has been the cause of conflict with Asbardy which controls the mouth of the Rhaunve River. Ambrasia has also allowed the Ithradite dwarves to use the river to access the sea for trade and diplomacy.

The original Ambrasians were of Moigthe stock and spoke the now extinct Ambrosian Language which is one of several Yophenthean Languages. Their language and culture were overtaken by the immigration of Medibgösk exiles in the thirteenth century which introduced the Medibgösk Language that eventually became the Gonfalese Language, becoming the dominant tongue of the country.

Politics

The Archpatriarchy has a strong, ongoing defensive treaty with the Commonwealth of the Ithrads which has extinguished the imperial ambitions of Magdala and Asbardy. The Ithradite dwarves are well-known for their powerful heavy infantry. The Ambrasians rely upon the dwarves for gold essential for their cult practices and the dwarves in turn have the advantage of a favorable buffer state to separate them from Asbardy. Modern Ambrasia has reciprocal agreements with Asbardy concerning the use of the Rhaunve River that enable Asbardian river shipping the use of the river in Ambrasia and in turn allows Ambrasian and Ithradite river shipping through the mouth of the river to the Sea of Asbardy.

Economy

Ambrasia is famous for golden wines, fine pastries, and sweet cheeses. The chief livestock are sheep and cows. Wool is an important product and Ambrasian wool is rated fine. The city of Amyrn relies on income from visiting pilgrims to the Temple of Amrulon Sun God and is famous for selling small gold-plated likenesses of the temple and of the sun god.

See Also