| Contramara | |
|---|---|
| Nation | Kastalshire |
| Type | Capital City |
| Population | Unknown |
| Ruler | High King Vaerin Thalros |
| Founded | Ancient |
| Notable For | Palace of Kastal, The Citadel, The Praetorian, The Arcanum, seat of the crown |
Contramara is the capital of Kastalshire and the seat of House Thalros. It is home to the Palace of Kastal and the Citadel, a repurposed castle that now serves as the bureaucratic heart of the nation.
Contramara is the center of royal attention, prestige, wealth, ceremony, education, and corruption. It is the place where chivalry becomes most polished and most politically useful. The closer a noble house stands to Contramara, the more it is shaped by tournaments, court manners, patronage, academy access, legal maneuvering, and royal favor.
Institutions
The Praetorian
The Praetorian is a martial school that trains life-sworn soldiers in three divisions.
Royal Guards protect the royal family, palace, and capital.
Town Guards are dispatched nationwide to maintain peace and prevent rebellion.
Shadow Guard specialize in disinformation, espionage, and propaganda. They are not exclusively human.
Once a person graduates from the Praetorian, they may be recalled at any point to serve the nation. The Praetorian represents one of Kastalshire’s clearest promises and warnings: service to the crown can elevate a person, but it also binds them for life.
The Arcanum
The Arcanum is Kastalshire’s battle-magic school. Admission requires either a noble endorsement or a graduate’s recommendation and a successful entrance examination. The requirements speak clearly to Kastalshire’s culture: talent matters, but access still passes through endorsement, recommendation, and social gates.
Notable Figures
High King Vaerin Thalros — High King of Kastalshire, Lord of the Citadel, Hammer of the Southern March. See main Kastalshire file for full entry.
Queen Aralyn Thalros — Formerly of Varondale. Politically brilliant, handles the realm’s soft power. See main Kastalshire file for full entry.
Prince Dorian Thalros, The Iron Spear — Military prodigy. Stoic, loyal, commander’s mind. Currently stationed in Falbrin evaluating Duke Velmouth.
Prince Kaelen Thalros, The Silver Tongue — Charismatic, ambitious, studies at The Arcanum. Travels between Lyricast and Rath courting political favor.