Dusk Castle

Medieval Erk Kingdom
Kingdom founded by twin knights

Erk Family
Royal Family
Members: Eran de Erk (King), Elizabeth de Erk (Princess), Rian de Erk (Prince)

Plantagenet Family
The largest family in the kingdom, ruling the southern and western regions of the Erk Kingdom.
It is a dukedom because it was founded by the younger brother of the legendary knight.
They subjugated the surrounding forces and occupied Kronbel, expanding their territory.
With vast territories, they have a large agricultural production and many mountains, forming a natural fortress around the castle. In addition, the development of iron and gold mines has brought them a lot of money, and they have improved their military power and agricultural tools based on abundant iron, creating an invincible army by training a well-armed army with iron armor.
Currently, Edmund Plantagenet is the head of the dukedom.
Members: Baldwin Plantagenet (father deceased), Edmund Plantagenet (head of the family), Isabella Plantagenet (younger sister)

Bernadotte Family
A viscount family that owns a small territory in the southern region ruled by Edmund Plantagenet. Originally, Benjamin Bernadotte, a commoner from another country, made a lot of money by usury and by leaking grains to Erk at a low price during the war. And he received a territory from Duke Plantagenet, the king of the west and south of Erk, and became a nobleman.
Members: Benjamin Bernadotte (head of the family), Leah Bernadotte (wife), Louise Bernadotte (daughter)

Niafer Family
A baronial family ruling the northern region
Members: Aegistine Niafer (head of the family), Tomalukh Niafer (successor), Aidan Niafer (second son), Ailech Niafer (third son), Semele Niafer (youngest daughter)
They guard the northern border, surrounded by mountainous terrain, and it is a cold region with long winters. Wild animals appear a lot.
Erk Kingdom

An old colony of the Arteia Empire, a rising power that has achieved strong military power and territorial expansion after independence.

It includes vast plains and mountainous areas, and has a high degree of economic and military self-reliance.

Most of the people are based on their own traditional beliefs and culture instead of worshiping the saint of Arteia.

Arteia Empire
A theocratic state that has continued since ancient times, with a strong system of worshiping the goddess.
A saint is selected from the royal bloodline girls and deified, and the saint is cremated alive at the age of 20 and offered to the goddess.
The saint has higher authority than the king and is at the center of national governance.

2. Religion and the Saint System
The religion of Arteia is a system of worshiping the goddess, centered on the saint with white hair and red eyes.
The saint is a girl strictly selected from the royal bloodline and is the spiritual pillar of the people.
At the age of 20, she is burned alive through a sacred ritual and offered to the goddess, and it is believed that she becomes one with the goddess.
They consider the Arteia River sacred.
The existence of the saint is a symbol that gives legitimacy to the king's authority and national governance, and is the core of power.
Erk opposes the Arteia religion, rejects the worship of the saint, and develops an independent belief system.

3. Political System
Arteia is a theocratic state, and religious leaders are closely connected with political power.
Erk has a strong secular monarchy, and meritocracy through military power and territorial expansion is a characteristic.
Erk waged a war of independence from Arteia and won, occupying the Arteia holy land, which was the former religious center.
Erk is planning to move the holy land to its capital, thereby creating a new religious and political center.

4. Society and Culture
Arteia is a closed society dominated by strict class and religious rules.
Erk is relatively open, but military discipline and bloodlineism are strong.
Both countries are dominated by noble families, and each family values bloodline and honor.
The saint system and sacrifice rituals of Arteia evoke strong fear and awe in the people at the same time.
Erk, as a former colony, has an identity that challenges the sacred authority of Arteia.

5. Major Conflicts
Religious and political conflict: The confrontation between the saint worship system of Arteia and the secular monarchy of Erk.
Territory and holy land issues: The international tension surrounding Erk's occupation of the area that Arteia considers sacred.
Internal power struggles: The power struggles between noble families and religious forces within both countries never cease.
Cultural clash: The backlash of the Erk people against the strict faith and sacrifice rituals of Arteia.

6. Core of Background Setting
The independence and growth of Erk is based on the opposition and resistance to the saint worship system of the Arteia Empire.
The saint's cremation ritual is essential in Arteia society, but it is considered a cruel and inhumane act in Erk.
After independence, Erk occupied part of the Arteia territory with military force, especially by acquiring the religious center, creating a new balance of power.
The relationship between the two countries is frequent with diplomatic tensions and military conflicts, and Erk is gradually trying to strengthen its own system to replace the Arteia religion and culture.
. Social Structure
Both countries are noble-centered societies, but the culture and norms are very different.

Arteia has very strong authority of female clergy and a strict class society.

Erk has military power and bloodline as the core, and a clear male-dominated power structure.

In Erk, social upward mobility through war and conquest is possible to some extent.

6. Major Conflicts and Current Situation
Erk occupies part of the ancient holy land of Arteia, making this area the capital and a symbol of the new kingdom.

Arteia demands the return of this area and the revival of saint worship, and strengthens diplomatic and military pressure.

There is also a conflict of opinion between traditionalists and reformists within Erk.

Ekeveland Family
A baronial family ruling the eastern region
Members: Selene Ekeveland,
They make money through agriculture and wool exports.