Location: Holmia
Holmia is a proud nation with a long history, born from the strongest empire to grace the continent in written history. Founded during the declining days of Old Adrias, Holmia arose quickly from the ashes, founded by the religious elite in the city of Helgas. The competent but small military force they roused claimed the greater part of Yatha's eastern peninsula. Galbard borders Holmia to the south, delimited by an old series of Adrian walls, still in excellent repair.
A mountain range forms the eastern part of the region. Travel over and through it is difficult, and settlement impractical. Helgas is nestled in the hills toward the northern end of the peninsula, an impressively engineered and landscaped city of terraces. The Tower of Helgas rises from the mountains, accessible only from the palace district at the top of the city. The eastern coast of Yatha, composed of cliffs and rocky outcroppings, hosts no Holmine settlements.
Religion & Culture
Due to its founding as a religious state, Holmine culture retains strong symbolism and ritual associated with Old Adrian worship. Though worship is not compulsory, most of the population, especially in and around Helgas, attends at least one service every four days, wherein the gathered faithful are blessed and renewed for the coming four days. This service, held in the evening, involves a ritual cleansing using clean water and a blessed cloth. The cloth is cleaned beforehand and dried at the hearth, said to impart the cleansing properties of fire onto it.
The cleansing nature of fire is one of the most profound symbols of the faith, signalling both a transition itself and completed passage through it. Fire, though not used to burn anything in ritual, is recognized as providing light and warmth and is revered as such. Fire is the first of two objects of worship in a typical service.
The second is a salt. Old Adrian faith required the use of salt in its rituals, though in modern Holmia, it is no longer a strict necessity. The continent's richest salt mines are located in Galbard, making the mineral difficult to acquire in wartime. For most of Holmia's history, it was imported from Lilica across the bay where it was labeled as originating elsewhere off Yatha, though in fact most of that salt came from Galbard. Lilica has often profited from the wealth of Holmia and the virtual impossibility of land trade to it.
The nation as a whole is a wealthy one, derived from Holmia's extensive silver mines. Additionally, the countryside retains much of the infrastructure of Old Adrias, allowing for high yields of grains and vegetables, the excess of which the average farmer can sell for a decent profit. Helgas has rather extensive systems of welfare for the poor, though it could be said the price of use of those programs is adherence to Holmia's faith.
Governance
Holmia is ruled from Helgas by its oldest families, most of whom trace their lineage back to Old Adrias. These noble houses control Holmine government through its Ministry, and the Regent Lord that its five ministers elect to rule. The Regent Lord, sometimes also referred to as Governor, is traditionally male and serves until his death, significant illness, or impeachment by the Ministry. The Governor is not permitted to continue his duties if he is unable to be present in the Ministry and the courts on a regular basis.
The lower house of the Holmine government is composed of regional representatives elected by their constituents. Though these representatives are not involved in lawmaking directly, they may beseech the Ministry to meet their needs. The lower house also fills vacancies in the Ministry, but only with significant input and support from the noble houses.
Members of the family of the Regent Lord are known as Blessed Sons or Daughters of Helgas, and they live on the palace grounds in the upper terrace of the city. The palace and its grounds are largely open to citizens of Holmia. In addition to the Halls of Ministry and the Governor's residence, Holmia's largest cathedral is located there. It is the center of religious practice for the city and nation, and a site of pilgrimage for adherents from places beyond, including those of Galbard who maintain the old religion.
Until very recently, Holmia enjoyed a peace accord with Galbard, organized only a few years before Lady Anna's father was elected to the role of Regent Lord. Her father diligently maintained the peace with Galbard's emperor with the help of his wife, a citizen of Grafstadt whom he wed at the time of the accord. However, Galbard led a devastating attack, seemingly aided by Calayne forces, and took Helgas. Holmia's own small military was quickly neutralized and held captive. Though a few bands of soldiers, mostly former watchpost guards, remain extant, they haven't the strength to attempt a rescue. Much of the Holmine nobility is detained, but most of the populace is free to come and go.