Apex

Apex
General
Statistics	Foundation: 2 TR Population: 93,000 (human) 7,700 (beast) Life expectancy: 35/28 (human/beast) Literacy: 6%
Type	Absolute monarchy
People
Leaders	Queen Vendrien Alanta (until 429 TR)
Maps

Apex was a mountainous realm to the east of The Bastard Tier. It stood by as their neighbors in the Bastard Tier fell to Kyros' armies. It wasn't until 429 TR that they tasted war, as a joint Disfavored and Scarlet Chorus force entered their realm, to take control over the Tiers' central valley.

Background

The landlocked, mountainous land of Apex was once one of the four Younger Realms of the Tiers. Situated at the geographical center of the Tiers, the people of Apex are descended from seafarers but divorced from the ocean. They are masters of alpine living, and take great pride in their bronzework and beekeeping. More notably, the nobles of Apex have a rich tradition of warfare with their neighbors since its foundation in 2 TR. Its militant policies eventually backfired, when it faced a coalition of Haven, Azure, and Stalwart in 312 TR. Almost destroyed, Apex lost its lands outside Vendrien's Well, and reformed into an absolutist monarchy under the militant House Vendrien.

After the fall of the Bastard Tier in 429 TR, the Disfavored and Scarlet Chorus had pushed deep into the Tiers. Apex was the first of the Younger Realms to face Kyros' forces. Despite requests for help sent out by Vendrien Alanta, Queen of the Mountain Spire, Apex faced the invaders alone. Apex fell in the year 429 TR after Kyros' armies successfully crushed the army of the Vendrien Guard. The survivors swore an oath of fealty to the Overlord in the Hall of Ascension, traditional throne room of the rulers of Apex.

Organization

The Kingdom of Apex was an absolutist monarchy, ruled by a single royal sovereign out of the Ascension Hall, with multiple noble houses playing a vital role in regional politics. The most important of these are Houses Vendrien (the ruling house since 312 TR), Pelox, Tarkis, and Matani. House members, like most nobles of the Tiers, go by their house name and then given name, in this order.

Military

The military arm of Apex was the Queen's Royal Army of Vendrien, a standing force composed of infantry contributed by the noble houses. Their defeat in 429 TR resulted in the disbanding of the Army. It reformed in 431 TR as the insurgent Vendrien Guard.

During Conquest

Apex is one of two postings the Young Fatebinder can opt for in year 2, the other being Lethian's Crossing.

• By selecting Apex, you will leave the Bronze Brotherhood in control of the Crossing. The Brotherhood does not operate a brothel, and the quests Remnants and Blind Ambition will be unavailable to you.
• The dilemma involving Cairn's actions at Edgering Fort can provide you evidence against Graven Ashe in A Trial of Archons.
• The final dilemma of the region involves Vendrien Alanta, the last Queen of Apex. Killing her will bar you from the Rebel path, while negotiating peace will earn you Favor with the Vendrien Guard.

References

Locations Spires of Terratus Mountain Spire Sunset Spire Aurora Spire Dawning Spire Ocean Spire Vendrien's Well Major locations Mountain Spire Edgering Ruins Disfavored Camp Scarlet Chorus Camp Echocall Crossing Tripnettle Wilderness Vendrien's Well Citadel Minor locations Razed village Northern clearing Remote settlement Secluded grove Abandoned cache Other Matani River Bastard Tier Major locations Bastard City Tunon's Court Haven Major locations Sunset Spire Lethian's Crossing Lethian's Crossing runic hall Ironhaul Trail Deserter's March Twin Rivers Minor locations The Old Thicket Broken Plains Wilderness Timbervale Village Caedo Village Forge-Bound supply cache Oldwalls Twin Rivers Oldwalls - Brotherhood Camp → Twin Rivers Oldwalls - Depths → Lethian's Crossing Oldwalls - Antechamber Contested Lands Major locations Ashweald Burning Library Effigy Minor locations Deserted Battleground Stone Sea Major locations Aurora Spire Gulfglow Oldwalls Gulfglow runic hall Dawning Spire Howling Rock Howling Rock runic hall Cacophony Halfgate Plainsgate Minor locations Jagged Maw Shrine Stone Down Gorge Graystone Valley The Blighted Expanse Boulder Reef Village Torment's Scar Deadman's Drop Passage of Culling Dead Ravine Blade Grave Major locations Ocean Spire Blade Grave runic hall Sentinel Stand Iron Hearth Oldwalls Breach Duskwatch Fort Minor locations Rust Canyons Trapper's Junction Disfavored supply cache Infested Oldwalls Oldwalls Blade Grave Oldwalls - Central → Blade Grave Oldwalls - West and Blade Grave Oldwalls - East

Terratus The World Global Spires of Terratus · Oldwalls Kyros' Empire Northern Empire The Tiers Five Wives· The Bastard Tier · Haven (Free Cities) · Apex · Azure (Stone Sea) · Stalwart (Blade Grave) · The Contested Lands (Vellum Citadel) Politics Kyros' Empire Kyros the Overlord · Archons (Bleden Mark, Graven Ashe, Sirin, Tunon, Voices of Nerat) Setting Archons and magic · Bronzeworking and ironworking · Calendar · Edicts Kyros' law and the Fatebinders· Rings