Orodeth
Orodeth was a nation in northwestern Syra. It is run by the Mercantile Alliance, which operates out of the port cities of Northeron and Drakkengarde. Most of the settlements in the center of the nation are simple farming communities, though many larger towns do good business by utilizing the bustling trade along the river.
History
In 1580, a dwarf named Torvald Flameforge founded the kingdom of Belsimar. Primarily centralized in the middle of the continent, the port cities of Northeron and Drakkengarde were built at the mouths of the river to facilitate trade. Belsimar was constantly besieged by giants, ogres, trolls, and orcs, however, and in 1842 the kingdom fell. Northeron and Drakkengarde, however, were far enough away that the giants and their minions didn't bother with them, and survived as isolated, independent city-states.
In 2291, a band of adventurers known as the Champions of the Dawn finally defeated the giants, reclaiming the land. They decided to found a new kingdom, and bring Northeron and Drakkengarde under their rule. As their elven wizard had been slain in the final battle against the giants, the four surviving adventurers decided to name their new kingdom after her, christening it Orodeth in her memory.
Unfortunately, the heroes were ill-suited for sharing power in joint rule. Bickering turned to violence, and soon they were in open warfare with each other in what would come to be known as the War of the Dawn. Seeing the benefits of a unified nation, but also the lack of leadership by their supposed kings, nobles and merchants from Northeron and Drakkengarde joined together and formed the Mercantile Alliance to ensure smooth trade while their rulers tried to kill each other.
The War of the Dawn ultimately ended in 2318, having claimed the lives of all four members of the Champions of the Dawn. The Mercantile Alliance was quick to fill the vacuum by seizing power, becoming the official rulers of Orodeth. After nearly thirty years of fighting, the people were glad for the stability they provided and the prosperity they facilitated, and welcomed them with open arms.
In 2964, the weather in Orodeth began to grow chaotic and unpredictable. Earthquakes became more frequent, as did attacks by monsters. An adventuring group known as Drake's Company determined that four elemental cults were behind these disturbances and reported this to the leaders of Drakkengarde. Unfortunately, Drake's Company was stymied by local bureaucracy. In addition, many whom they spoke to were hesitant to put resources towards fighting what they saw as a minor threat--and one they saw little direct profit in--and trusted Drake's Company to do what needed to be done on their own.
Tragically, the Alliance's lack of support led to the defeat of Drake's Company in 2965. Less than a month later, the Cult of the Black Earth and the Cult of the Crushing Wave summoned the primordials Ogrémoch and Olhydra into the Material Plane. The clash between these two beings created a series of cataclysmic earthquakes that sunk most of Orodeth beneath sea level, and tidal waves that scoured the land. Drakkengarde was completely destroyed. Northeron survived, being built into the high cliffs, but its harbor and the fleet moored there were obliterated.
The destruction effectively ended the Mercantile Alliance as the surviving cities were forced to fend for themselves. In the absence of any sort of centralized regional power, and the encroachment of external influences such as giants and orcs, Orodeth ceased to exist as a nation.
Population
Orodeth had a significant number of dwarves making up its population; many of them, especially those living in Northeron and Drakkengarde, were descended from citizens of Belsimar. Humans made up the next largest group, followed by halflings and gnomes. Curiously, Orodeth also had a notable population of genasi of all kinds; as they were already firmly established even before the Champions of the Dawn arrived, it was difficult for scholars to determine the reasoning behind such a large concentration of planetouched individuals. Recent events, however, suggest some sort of ancient link to the Elemental Plane.