The kingdom of Cedova is centered along a fertile river valley. They control a large swath of coastline, including a vital choke point in the southern sea, and these natural boons saw them grow great and powerful. They were bolstered by their land's fertility and vibrancy, exporting fine dyed fabrics and flavorful spices. This connection to the broader world left them open to more than just wealth and trade, however. Eventually, the land was devastated by a mysterious plague, reducing its population by two thirds.

The king was desperate for solutions to the resulting labor vacuum, and knew that the fertile land was host to many nonhuman populations that had proven to be largely nonviolent, if a bit reclusive. In a decision steeped in controversy, he allowed goblins to enter society and offered them "rights" in exchange for their labor. It was not glamorous, and they were not truly regarded as equal citizens. Goblins are not deterred by the kind of labor that humans abhor, and so happily settled into their roles as tanners, dungsweepers, and butchers.

The very same plague that took more than half the kingdom eventually took the king as well. His son, Videric Daventree, rose to power at merely 16, and was an ambitious and bull-headed lad. He had never known a life before the goblin integration, which was still going rather well at this point. Many uneventful years passed while the kingdom rebuilt, the new king settling into his role. He showed great promise on the battlefield, and made a strong name for himself in a series of conflicts in defense of their western border against the antagonistic neighboring kingdom of Fellmarsh.

When Videric reached his twenties, in a shocking and controversial break from tradition, he took a half goblin wife. Adeline was a skilled seamstress employed by the crown, and was seemingly content with her station until she began spending more time with the new king. The official story is that they were drawn together by the threads of fate, but rumors abound that she carefully calculated her proximity to the king. This decision sparked outrage for many, but by this point, the majority of the king's closest vassals were friends he had made during the skirmishes against their aggressive western neighbor. They offered their support, and his decision stood. The king began to push for reforms to integrate goblins more fully into their society, amid whispers that this was the new queen's influence upon him.

Cedova

This new direction saw goblins integrated into the military for scouting and overwhelm through sheer numbers, among other things that they were more suited for because of their size and rapid reproduction. They were now permitted holdings of land, so long as they were able to defend it and produce value for the kingdom. The laws restricting them to the Goblin Quarter and similar segregated districts were abolished.

Cedova was traditionally a coregency, with the king and queen ruling with near equal power. The king's focus was on the protection of the land and direction of its military forces. The queen's focus was on internal matters, political alliances, and trade deals. This power structure has been called into question, with many insisting that a half-goblin could not possibly handle the responsibilities typically entrusted to the queen.

Now well into his manhood, the king and his half goblin queen have ruffled many feathers. Dark rumors abound among the dissenters, including the bold assertion that the goblins themselves were responsible for the plague that ravaged the land, and the death of the previous king. Despite this mistrust, the kingdom has slowly begun to recover from the devastation of the previous generation's misfortune.

The decision to integrate goblins has created a rift in the kingdom that will see greater conflict in its future, but for now, king Videric and the goblin queen Adeline are working hard to bring their land back to the greatness of its past.

The Goblin Quarter

Along the bank of the river Gramina in Cedova's capital city of Escawick is the infamous Goblin Quarter. Situated along the Gullet, a stomach-shaped swath of wide banks and deep water, It was originally sanctioned by the previous king as a ghetto to confine the newly "freed" goblins away from more prosperous areas. Even after his son, king Videric, rose to power and abolished the decree, goblins have continued to enthusiastically reside within the quarter.

Here they enjoy lives free of judgment from the tall folk and revel in the company of their own kin. Though the buildings were originally meant for humans, decades of haphazard goblin modification have turned them into sprawling, overburdened hives of comfort and excess. There are more brothels and taverns in the Goblin Quarter than the rest of the city combined.

The city watch has abandoned the district, unable to traverse its cramped streets and short rooms or to police its rambunctious inhabitants. The goblins themselves have enforced an order of their own, though they tolerate far more revelry and mischief than their human counterparts. There was even a time where goblin "guards" attempted to exercise authority outside the quarter - this short-lived rebellion was quelled with such prejudice that no such attempts have been made since.

There is trade within the Goblin Quarter, though few but goblins can withstand the aggravating and ever-changing customs in the district. Uniquely suited to the quarter are sailors, who find the abundance of carnal companionship and strong drinks palatable. Other nonhumans find themselves welcomed in this chaotic district, and it has become a haven for those who don't quite fit in elsewhere. From lecherous delights to games of chance, pit fights to rambunctious tournaments, the Goblin Quarter is always a bustling hive of activity.

Fellmarsh

Bordering Cedova to the west is the swampy kingdom of Fellmarsh. This land has a reputation for being antagonistic, meddling in the shadows to secure resources and destabilize their neighbors. The land itself is said to be evil, and the blighted swamplands that cover the region are distinctly unnatural. Necromancy and undead abound, and it is well known that bodies laid to rest in its ground do not often stay down for long.

The land's nobility are notoriously violent and hedonistic, ruthlessly backstabbing whoever necessary to elevate their stations. They are promiscuous and indulgent, their parties often lasting for days and featuring a wide variety of intoxicating substances and sexual perversions. Their knights wear gruesome enameled helmets with expressive faceplates, intended to frighten and intimidate their opponents.

The blight upon the land makes them near impossible to invade, but it has also ravaged their people with famine and hardship. The predominant religion of the realm is Diabolism, further adding to their reputation as irredeemably evil. There is more nuance within its borders than it would seem from the outside, with the majority of its citizens being normal people simply trying to survive in a cursed land.