In 1415, the easternmost province of the Erlyid Empire was a hotbed of radical opinion. More and more voices were raised in discontent with the derelict Imperial structure, and with the complacency with which the Imperial nobility viewed what they referred to as "the Northern War". Finally, seeing some sort of uprising was inevitable, Count Belarn of Blueglen moved to capitalize on the situation, adopted the cause as his own, and fed the fires of revolt. Finally, enough momentum had been gained, and the Province of Beragyn formally seceded from the Empire and renamed itself the Kingdom of Stryre, with Belarn as first King.The new kingdom then braced itself for a full-scale Imperial invasion, but as the months rolled by it became increasingly clear that there wasn't going to be one. In fact, the Empire was so uncertain of the loyalties and degree of safety in the central provinces that it didn't dare move its' reduced military through them to get at Stryre.
Buoyed by this, the Stryrans consolidated and fortified their new land, and cemented their independence from the Empire. They also embarked on a determined program of military preparation for the inevitable assault by the forces of the Dragon.
Stryran society is still a rather free-and-easy thing, as compare to the austere Imperial style; even after two hundred years, they act as if they have just been freed to do what they like. The nobility are especially extrovert and rather "showy", although the country's general air of progressiveness and energy affects them too.
The military buildup intended to resist the Dragonarmies stood Stryre in good stead after the Dragonslaying; with the remnants of Varkar's southern force, thrown back from Gloiran, trapped on its' northern border, and the Red Dust nomads pillaging cities on the south, the kingdom has been at almost constant war since the Dark Beast fell. Though there has been considerable suffering at the southern edge, by and large Stryre has risen to this challenge well.
The new religion of the Triad has begun to spread across Stryre, feeding a dissatisfaction at being beholden to 'the imperial Gods' that had ranked for a long time.