Aedirn

Aedirn, one of Four Kingdoms, lies between Temeria and the massive Mahakam Mountains to the west, and the Blue and Fiery Mountains to the east. The Kingdom is feuding with Kaedwen about the land called Lormark or Upper Aedirn, depending on the interested party's political persuasion. These lands have been disputed for ages, with Kaedwen laying claim to them as well.

Overview
Aedirn, adjacent to the mountains forming the western border of the continent, was one of the latest areas colonized by humans. Unfortunately, aversion to other races still exists, especially the elves, whose remnants still inhabit the dense woodlands and mountain valleys, including nearby Dol Blathanna. In contrast to it, the situation of dwarves is rather good — many of them live on an even keel in Upper Aedirn, near to Mahakam Mountains, their homeland.

Aedirn is an agricultural country full of ridges and hills. Unchanging, continental climate makes the grounds give good yields, especially in the east, in the area called the Valley of Flowers (or Dol Blathanna in Elder Speech), which forms a real granary to the kingdom.

It also has a well-developed industry — in Upper Aedirn and at the border with Mahakam, large amounts of minerals, mainly coal and less precious metals are exploited by Aedirn's mines. In Gulet and Eysenlaan there are smelters and forges. Vengerberg (which is the capital of the realm) and Aldersberg are mainly known for dyeworks and manufactures of wool and textiles. Vengerberg also has malt mills and distilleries.

Coats of arms


Current coat of arms was designed by our resident heraldry and Witcher expert Mboro, based on the description in the novels. The second one is how it appears in. The drawing is the concept art from the Czech site.

Notable Aedirnians
Monarchs
 * Venger of Attre
 * Aedireen
 * Veygand
 * Baldwin of Aedirn
 * Videmont
 * Demavend
 * Demavend II
 * Virfuril
 * Demavend III
 * Stennis

Royal family
 * Agnes

Others
 * Aplegatt
 * Molnar Giancardi
 * Seltkirk
 * Saskia
 * Yennefer

Main cities and keeps

 * Vengerberg (capital)
 * Aldersberg
 * Asheberg
 * Hoshberg
 * Vattweir
 * Gulet
 * Tiel
 * Kalkar
 * Berg Aen Dal
 * Eysenlaan
 * Hagge

Regions

 * Dyfne
 * Upper Aedirn (disputed, eventually taken by Kaedwen but regained after the Peace of Cintra)
 * Lower Aedirn
 * Dol Blathanna (Allodial land)

Military
Lyria with Aedirn issued about 13,000 soldiers, including 3,000 cavalry. In the early days of the invasion 1/5 of these forces were cut off in the forts and fortresses. Part of the remaining troops had been withdrawn to defend the wing against light cavalry and Scoia'tael. The remaining army had about 6,000 men left. 1,200 soldiers and knights were beaten in Aldersberg. The current state of the armed forces of Lyria and Rivia may be determined at approximately 8,000 infantrymen who fought as a diversionary force during the last war with Nilfgaard. King Demavend III was also known as tactical genius.

Economy
Aedirn is one of richest domains in the Northern Kingdoms. It has a well-developed economy, its main asset is situated between mountains that provide state resources. In Gulet and Eysenlaan they have huge steelworks and forging plants. In Vengerberg and Aldersberg, they mainly manufacture wool and weaving and there are also malt mills and distilleries in the capital.

Religion
Not much is known about this realm, and thus we don't know much about religions there. Likely cults of Melitele, Saint Lebioda and churches of Kreve and Eternal Fire have their influence there.

Journal entry

 * This realm is bordered by Kaedwen to the north, Redania to the northwest, Temeria and the massif of the Mahakam Mountains to the west, and Lyria to the south. The Blue Mountains line its eastern frontier. Aedirn's coat of arms is a golden-red chevron on a black field, and its capital is Vengerberg. Not long ago the country nearly disappeared when Nilfgaard occupied its southern territories and its northern neighbor and supposed ally, Kaedwen, treacherously annexed Upper Aedirn. Though the invaders were defeated and Kaedwen withdrew from Aedirn's northern lands, the kingdom's fate still hangs by a thread. The country has been ravaged by peasant revolts and its central government seems ever unsteady.


 * The part of Aedirn that lies between the Pontar and Dyphne rivers is called Lormark or Upper Aedirn, depending on the interested party's political persuasion. These lands have been disputed for ages, with Kaedwen laying claim to them as well. During the last war with Nilfgaard, Aedirn found itself in deep trouble, fighting an uneven battle to repel the onslaught of the Black Ones in the south. Sensing that its southern neighbor would ultimately bow to the invaders, Kaedwen, Aedirn's ostensible ally in that conflict, sent its armies into Lormark, annexing the region. Several days later Margrave Mansfeld of Ard Carraigh and Marshal Menno Coehoorn, commander-in-chief of the Nilfgaardian army, greeted each other on a bridge spanning the Dyphne River. They shook hands over the bleeding, tortured corpse of the Kingdom of Aedirn, sealing – let us not mince words – a criminal partitioning of plundered lands. And even though Kaedwen restored Lormark to Aedirn after the war, its taking of the territory with Nilfgaardian support was one of the most disgraceful acts in history – though I venture to say it was probably not the only or last act of its kind.