“Count the cost.”
The motto of Goldmere
From Lombardy to Goldmere
The descendants of House Valeri departed Lombardy owing their escape to merchants who extended credit without knowing whether they would ever be repaid. The heirs brought copies of those obligations into Corvaine and read them aloud at their first council. That custom helped shape Goldmere’s early belief that authority must account for what it owes. Later generations obscured their dealings until a public audit forced the books open again. Goldmere’s wealth began with a royal family admitting that its survival had a cost borne by others.
The Weight of a Signature
Goldmere's prosperity grew from its markets and the credit that kept trade moving between them. Its merchants financed bridges, warehouses, and royal campaigns. The citadel became a place where agreements were sealed in wax and fortunes could change without a sword leaving its scabbard.
That influence nearly destroyed the state when a royal borrowing scheme collapsed. Small lenders lost their savings while powerful creditors demanded the seizure of homes and workshops. A public audit exposed altered accounts and forced the ruling council to open its books. Ever since, Goldmere's great ceremonies have included the reading of obligations as well as honors.
The king's death has left royal debts unpaid and their guarantees disputed. Some houses would fund a claimant willing to recognize every bond; others fear buying a throne only to finance the wars that follow. Goldmere's next ruler inherits wealth, resentment, and promises scattered across Corvaine. Every signature offers power, and every signature leaves someone expecting payment.
Every state carries its own history. In Law of Kings, players build cities, form alliances, and contest citadels within the same persistent realm. Read the citadel guide for gameplay rules.
Your chapter in Goldmere
The old history explains how this state reached a divided Corvaine. Your cities, decisions, and alliances will shape what follows.