KC of my kingdom for the one part of Blackmarsh. Certainly not my First choice, but it is my most interesting. It is completely, or most certainly tied to lore. Tell me if anything needs to change, or if you don't like the idea.
Also I'll post a picture of more detailed part of my lands later, and where the cave is.
If the kingdom isn't what you're looking for, then hopefully I can work on another, placed in Elsweyr.
Tenere Mortuorum
Death is merely the beginning...
Full name: The "Lukiul" of the hist
Capital: Feahem, Boglands
Symbol and flag: Black tattered flag and banner
Colour: Black
Government: Theocratic Dictatorship
Population: About 10 000 undead, and 200 living.
Religion: Corrupt hist
History
Nowhere to go, and nowhere they belonged. They were lost, and the forest welcomed them openly. They heard tales of the bog, dark tales but they built a city and then they followed through with their pagan-like lifestyle. Right on and near the ruins of Rockguard, an old Argonian city which was overtaken by the The Hist. It receded, and the tales they heard seemed to be false. These people, feared magic and instead learned the ways of warriors and archers. It went on for many years, The Hist learned from these Nords but the Nords didn't know any better. They labeled magic users as witches, abominations that were a threat, and burned them in great bonfires.
The Nords were isolated from the world when the war raged on and it was at this time a thick mist ravaged the area. It was also at the time they burned an unknown man, an ancient man who just asked for a day's lodging. Overnight, many people of the city died but they returned as well. Soon the whole town was inflicted, dead but not dead. Their flesh rancid and decayed, pale and sickly. They were the first, the drones. They dragged the leaders of the city to an semi-underwater cave, Where a hist tree grew undisturbed till the Nords came. The roots assimilated their flesh, and spewed out a goo that made the rancid smell of meat and rot of fruit smell like daisies.
It is known as the council of five, joined by the one (included in the five). Four from the kingdom of the pagan's and The hist tree.
The kingdom of the living vanished, and what was left were servants to The Hist. Slowly they regained their Independence, and their sense of self and some diverged from the drones, who become a lesser few left in bogs and to serve the hist forever.
The ones that evolved from the drones, while still serving the Hist returned to somewhat of a life they left forming a civilization unlike any other. Other refugees eventually came, looking to get away from the bandits that formed after the war but they only found the bog, seemingly empty until they started disappearing. The humans that were brought back were stripped of their will, but remained alive. They were to be ambassadors and Emissaries, to spread the mission of the undead.
Farms, lodges, barracks and commodities of the old were formed. A kingdom upon a kingdom. One with the hist. who grew with the city, it was the one who molded the city from its very roots.
No one really knows how the legend of the corrupt Hist tree came about, or how it really came to grow with the blood and flesh of the pagan Nords, but it is believed to be similar to this.
Perhaps, if you dare venture into the bog. You could hear the screams of those whose souls are damned and, condemned for all eternally. They say you can still see the mist in the air, followed by the taste of adventure on your tongue. A idea forms in your head, and you can't help but walk on, deeper into the bog and before you know it you're slowly sinking into the waters, with a skeletal hand pulling you deeper. Helplessly panicking for your last breathe of air, but this isn't the worst part. For that is yet to come. You don't want to feel the rancid sludge choke you, rotting your soul and skin. Forging away your memories, and a undying lust to forever serve. For you are now servants of the Hist. The Assimilated. The "Lukiul".
Relations and diplomacy
Isolated, and condemned. The only interaction are the lost wanderers that seem to find their ways to the bog. They are driven mad, followed, and watched before a decision is made. They either join the mission as undead or emissary, or left on their way so that we can learn of their ways, and customs. But the Marshes will eventually always get them.
On a more diplomatic bases, other civilizations will almost always only interact with the humans of "Lukiul". Those that can be trusted, can be told. They are then offered an invitation to join, but this is solely their choice. If they do, then they must leave. For this one Hist has no interest in the outside world.
Government
Undying loyalty to the Hist tree, and their king. Who is renowned as a great and skilled warrior. They also worship the Hist tree as their death god, similar to how the Argonians formed a religion based on the Hist. They however drink a very rancid form of sap, that is directly made from a mix of sap and rancid flesh. From which this tree enjoys. This tree is not linked to their hive mind, and has gone rouge. Possibly the first of it's corrupt generation but not the first to go rouge.
Lands
In Black Marsh, or Argonia. The very North western area which was once named Rockguard and its surrounding dense forests, and swamps. A area named Feahem in the center of the boglands is the main keep and city of the "Lukiel". It is the only city of its kind, but to the east lies a underground cave, where the corrupt Hist tree lives. Then there are farmland and fisheries for the humans, they grow and catch whatever they can.
Feahem - It is a simple city, wooden paths and boarding is built so it doesn't sink into the water. It is met by a grand stone castle where the king resides.
It only houses the undead, for whatever purposes do they require it for.
Abstince - A human city that is similar to Feahem, but without the grand castle. it is surrounded by farms and fisheries and has a counsel home which would be used to house any other diplomatic visitors, but there hasn't been any.
Blood cave - This is the cave in which the Hist tree resides. You can smell the blood and decay from miles away, and once you enter it only gets worse.
This is also the place where you will find the council of the five, and the one. If you are lucky enough, you aren't here to drink the sludge that it produces, nor are you here to feed the tree. You just might have the opportunity to speak with it. The cave is semi-underwater, but does have surface accessible entrances.
Military
Most of the military is made up of drones, who ever serve The Hist. They seem endless, and feel no pain, nor care for any emotions. They are fitted for multiple scenarios, and are the prefect predators in swamps. Where they sit and wait for their tracked pray to fall into their hands. Or where they slowly march upon sleeping travelers, bringing them back for the tree to consume.
The Ranger's sect sit upon trees, from afar they look like warning signs. Some are frighted off, but others let their curiosity drive them forward. These aren't the same as mindless drones, and unlike them can think on their own without getting their orders from The Hist. These are also the professionals of the swamp, knowing every hideout, every depth of water, every inch of the boglands is connected to them. They almost feel lost out of it.
The Warrior's sect stays in the city, training and waiting for their time to come. They guard the palace, and watch the few humans. They enforce order, and eliminate anything that becomes a threat. Whether it's a human or undead. They disappear, with only a black bag to identify them. Where they are taken, is up to debate.
Protectors sect, are made up of the elite, and some humans who go out with the emissaries, who attract people to the boglands for the tree to consume. They protect the king, and high ranked people.
Reapers sect, They are the elite guardians of The Hist. They are also the most dedicated to the Hist, at least to the corrupt Hist. They are also the smallest of the Sects. The members always are in the blood cave.
Death cult sect, They are the death mages of Feahem and control what's apart of the blighted boglands or are learning to control it fully. They try to learn from The Hist, but it only gives them what is needed or what it thinks is okay. So far, it was only enough to control some of the drones or summon their own dead. A form of necromancy and nothing too strong, at least yet.
Drones - 3000
Rangers - 1500
Warriors - 1500
Protectors - 1000
Reapers - 100
Death Cult - 1000
Culture, Demographics and misc.
There was once a city, a floating city. It went by many names, but was commonly called Umbriel or The Infernal city. It was known for its terrible deeds and its process of staying afloat. Perhaps it is known by its greatest ill-deed, The siege of lilmoth or more commonly known as The Slaughter at Lilmoth, where it slaughtered a great deal of the town, and the dead of the town rose up and joined the invading army. It left the town desolated and a people were destroyed. The earth was soaked in blood, and carried towards a nearby river. The blood flowed upstream, almost if it were attracted to something. it was just after the massacre, and so it was not noticed much.
The trees were distraught, and at a lost. The blood continued to flow towards one tree. A tree that's seed fell from the very city of Umbriel. So it flowed into the underwater cave, where it was joined by the blood and the seed blossomed from the death's of Lilmoth. It connected its roots to the network, learning as much as it can. Trying to be as open as it can. It learned of the outside world and the hatred that it contained. The Corrupt tree, started to feel the world's hatred and even grew its own hatred against the world. It started to sought a way and will to fight back one day. Little that it knew, Ingenium or something like it also fell with it.
The tree seeks to unite everything so nothing will be different. It hopes everything can then, live in peace and won't treat anything wrongly or different again.
The Tree is the centre stone for their religion as well as their being. Without the Tree they would still exist as a indifferent people who burned those who wield magic. Afraid of death and living. Now they just survive in the city, in the boglands. Listening to the tree, also trying to remember their forgotten pasts. Which the tree doesn't quite want them to. They try to practice art and music, but is described as being soulless and without proper meaning. Beautiful but not right, event if every note and key is in proper tune.
They have little festivals or holidays, the only ones contributed to the dead or to the Tree. They don't sleep and thus get a lot of work done. As much as they can try, they can never truly find their peace. They have no dreams, or have no hopes. They are hardworking, not for themselves but for The Tree. They have a sense of self, but it's so contained and so buried that it is barely noticeable.
Much of the undead is made up of multiple races, all of them were wandering refugees. Khajiit with dull skin, patches of fur missing. Orcs that are deathly gray, and hulking muscle that is maintained by the ooze.
Colovians, Nibeneans, Nords, Bosmer and Dunmer, but no Altmer and no Argonians.
Factions
Ri'Nebula - All humans belong to this faction, they are the worshipers of the Hist tree. The ultimate cult in serving the hist, not connected the the hist's mind, but seek death as a reward. They serve the tree multiple offerings, so that in turn it will grant it to them.
Blackwood Rangers - Elite group of the Rangers sect. The ones that control the entire sect and are the best at it. They go about on their own missions and serve high in the king's court.
Reaver's guilt - The king's personal death squad. There is no higher military position. The king himself, leads every mission.
Dustly ravens - Elite death mages, and are the best in bringing untold pain to the living and dead. Not only do they hold every secret of necromancy, they don't let you go easily. They are the king's torturers, when required.
Black dawn - The cult of the reapers, the ones that guard the Hist tree. The one's that want to bring everything and everyone into the sway of the Tree.
Figures
The Corrupt Hist - The Blood Tree, The Red Awning of Umbriel, The insatiable rouge. The tree is known by many names. Many of them given by itself or by the other Hist trees. The main leader, and makes all the biggest decisions.
King Reaver - Known by one name, he is the king under the Hist. Fierce and strong, they say the ground even rots in his wake. He isn't tied by human emotions and that makes him a great king, but it also makes him lack the compassion and mercy of other great kings and rulers.
Council of five, joined by one - Four from the previous kingdom, the Nord pagans who burnt magic users. The Hist Tree is also apart of this. Overall, the four are controlled by the Hist but they do have a say in things.
Count Richard Dustly - Head Death mage, the general of the mages sect. Leader of the Dustly ravens.
Count Andley Blackwood - Head Ranger, the general of the Rangers sect. Leader of the Blackwood rangers.
Angus Mc'gullen - The head human ambassador. What other kingdoms will see as the king of this land.
Blodier - Leader of the Black dawn, the tyrant of the boglands. The fiend of the people. Horrid and cruel to humans, wants them to all be turned. But he does see them as a means to turn others.
Drudges - Second to Reaver, patched up by multiple seems of flesh, wool and other materials which also include animal skin. The sludge manages to hold them together and include it as his own. Soon to be leader of Reckoning hill's Fighters pact, which is under creation. Also part of Reaver's guilt.
(Prone to changes)
