Kriteria Kingdom Profile

Kriteria is the most northern and eastern kingdom on the continent. Its western border lines Mount Crown and Anthemia, while the kingdom borders Raleigh to the south. It lines the Riter Sea in the east, and the unclaimed and barren Northern Wastelands lay to the north. The kingdom has a diverse geography, including the Kriterian Desert, hills, farmlands, piedmonts and the Boiling Plains. Most of these are challenging to inhabit, so the massive capital city of Han-Kriteria is home to most of the kingdom’s population.

Kriteria’s only other towns are Millendell and Atmor. Millendell is a homey respite location near the base of the Anthemian Ranges. The waterfalls from the mountains power their watermills and double as a scenic feature for tourists. The town is independent from Kriteria’s sovereignty, since a rich, retired merchant purchased it from King Magadon. Atmor is a one-of-a-kind city, located in the center of the Boling Plains. The plains are littered with hundreds of highly active geysers, but a stone road from the capital to Atmor makes the city accessible from the east. The founders of the city designed it to harvest the steam emitting from the plains to help power the steampunk technology of the city.

Kriteria has a long and interesting history. Its beginnings trace back to the great Riter empire, which once ruled most of the known world over a thousand years ago. When the empire finally fell, the smoldering heart of the empire gradually transformed into the new kingdom of Kriteria. As technology and industry began to spread across the continent, Kriteria’s cities became the center of innovation. When the Technological War waged four hundred years ago, Kriteria was targeted by the surrounding kingdoms as having the most dangerous technology. Two of its cities were leveled, and have since been buried in the sands of the desert. The treaties that ended the war were supposed to limit if not entirely eliminate Kriteria’s technology.

While the capital still had its skyscrapers, plumbing systems, and electrical lights, for hundreds of years the city was barred by the Peace Force from creating or trading new technology. Along with much of the continent, the capital returned to a simpler life similar to before technological advances. Until thirty years ago, rulers in Riverian and Kriteria dared to invent and trade new inventions in secret. Ten years ago, the last of the Peace Force intervened and destroyed the most deadly of these inventions, including nuclear weapons and fossil regeneration. However, the last members of the Peace Force were killed on this mission before any of them could pass their roles to successors. Realizing that for the first time in four hundred years, there was no one left to enforce the ancient treaties, Riviera and Kriteria became even more bold in their use of technology. Now, Han-Kriteria is the most advanced city the continent has ever had.

The same bloodline has held power in Kriteria since the end of the Technological War. While Kriteria was long ago founded on the same democratic principles as the Riter Empire, they were diminished during the war. Since then, the royal family has ruled as dictators, often using their force for their own agendas rather than upholding law and protecting their citizens. The current king, Magadon, is the worst in his family’s history. He cares nothing for his kingdom’s stability and well-being, only how his wealth and power can satisfy his gluttony and lusts. Therefore, the streets of the capital city are dangerous, and the most moral citizens, the ones who would oppose Magadon’s corruption, are the most likely to be imprisoned or executed. While the kingdom’s pride in democracy and justice have waned until gone, the kingdom’s military pride through excellence in combat has never faltered. The Kriteria army is known for having both the most skilled and most brutal warriors.