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W.I.P. - Umbria Kingdom& the Coidas
Topic Started: Aug 18 2014, 07:52 PM (110 Views)
Phaing

This will be where I work up a couple of Kingdoms for the Whitespire setting.

First up in the somewhat hostile Kingdom in the mountains to the south; Umbria.

The farthest province from the Whitespire border is ;

The Redlands.
Size: 2,800 square miles
Civilization: 500 square miles (17%)
Wilderness: 2,300 square miles (82%)
Castles: 2
Castle Ruins: 0

Population Density: 35 people per square mile
Total Population: 98,000 people

Productivity (Average earnings per year) 65 GP.
Life (expectancy for Average Human); 29 years.
Trade (balance) +20% {tarriffs, metals, gems}

This rough & tumble little province is a bastion of free enterprise and free-booting. Life is profitable and short here (see above) and many younger folk come here to make their fortunes, hopefully leaving alive with them as well. THis valley is astride the primary trade routes to the Hobgoblin lands. The savvy locals make a good bit of coin, but also bear the brunt of Bandit raids and occasional invasions from wandering Orc hordes.
Barron Marco Ullen is a retired Magus/Adventurer that earned his title the hard way; by taking down the previous Barron after he and his clan turned to Demonology.
This land has a small coast, and 18 trade ships and 4 fishery ships operate from here.

Army; 500 Calvary make up the core of this army and are backed by 2500 Heavy infantry.
Militia; A paltry 6,000 make up the Serf's militia, but 'armed landowners may provide the following if they think the threat is great enough; 2,000 Hobilars (mounted infantry), 1,000 Light Cavalry, 100 engineers.


The Grand Duchy of Montreve';
Size: 11,000 square miles
Civilization: 2,000 square miles (18%)
Wilderness: 9,000 square miles (81%)

Castles: 7
Castle Ruins: 1

Population Density: 33 people per square mile
Total Population: 363,000 people
Productivity; 45
Life; 42
Trade +5% {ore, grains, weapons}

The 2nd largest and most arrogant of the Provinces. Not as productive as the Capitol, it does provide some of the best fighting soldiers in the Kingdom.
Duke Haddak Malventum III is said to have Dwarf blood in his veins, and looks it. He is a Holy terror on the battlefield and a barrel of laughs in a beer hall. His influence keeps the boasting, confident Knights of his realm in line.

Magor Forts; Shaddamy is the walled city at the heart of this Province. It has many tall towers flying flags... but the walls are thin and built mainly for show.

Army; They went heave on Cavalry; A full 10,000. But that means they only have 6,000 Heavy infantry in this Province.
Militia; 1500 Light Cavalry will answer the call. The duke has boasted that he can raise a full 50,000 Serfs, but this has never been proven.

Eularia
Size: 6,100 square miles
Civilization: 1,000 square miles (16%)
Wilderness: 5,100 square miles (83%)

Castles: 4
Castle Ruins: 1

Population Density: 30 people per square mile
Total Population: 183,000 people
Prod; 20
Life; 35
Trade; -5% (livestock, including slaves)

This is the 'sick man' of the Kingdom. It is agriculturally exhausting itself and is morally depressed. Lousey weather and crime further depress things here.
Barron Benadicte Pyke has been beaten into early senility by his province's woes. Approximately 100 peasant families leave this land per month, and too few are replaced by Humanoid immigrants or slaves.

Magor Forts- Nammare' is Pyke's drafty home, and a strong castle, but poorly located to defend his realm.

army; nearly 1,000 Cavarly and 3,000 Infantry of variable quality.
Militia; 5-10 thousand Sefs may answer the call, but who really knows?

Constanza (borders Whitespire)
Size: 2,000 square miles
Civilization: 500 square miles (25%)
Wilderness: 1,500 square miles (75%)

Castles: 2
Castle Ruins: 0

Population Density: 48 people per square mile
Total Population: 96,000 people
Prod; 40gp
Life; 40 years
Trade; even{books, skilled labor, art}

This little corner of Umbria has earned more than its share of enmity from Whitespire. Sharing many traits with neighboring Lombeldon, the Fouche' family has been actively wooing artisans and escaped Slaves from other lands for years, including from Whitespire itself. This came to an end a couple of years ago when the rulers were assassinated except for the younger daughter.
Baroness Richaundra Fouche', age 17, has the unswerving dedication to righteousness that only the young can have. No advisers can control her and even the King's viceroy can't hold her back... and the behavior of Trevalion isn't helping matters. Yes, Richaundra blames Whitespire for what happened to her family, and may the Gods help whoever was responsible for it when she finds them.
Escaped slaves are automatically freed in arrival here. Anyone found to be pretending to a slave to get across the border is clapped in irons and sent straight to the King to find out what slavery is really all about.

Magor Fort; Bor's Bastion is a fearsome rock-pile with walls 60 feet high that blocks the only good pass leading from this province to the lands of Whitespire.
Army; 700 fanatically devoted Cavalry. 2300 Infantry (a combination of Pikes and Longbows, very deadly) 250 Light Cavarly (Scouts).
Militia; 8,000 Serfs & freedmen, mostly Halbrediers.


Lombeldon (borders Whitespire)
Size: 3,600 square miles
Civilization: 1,500 square miles (41%)
Wilderness: 2,100 square miles (58%)

Castles: 6
Castle Ruins: 1

Population Density: 73 people per square mile
Total Population: 262,800 people
Prod; 35gp.
Life; 44 years
Trade 2% {Lumber, Mercenaries}

Known to be stubborn and well-organized, these people have fortified and aggressively patrol their border with Whitespire. They seem to enjoy antagonizing the "Impies" whenever possible.
(the local version of "the truth" is that the people of WHitespire want to re-create the Empire of old, with themselves in control of it)
Trevalion de Baudoin "The mad Duke of the mountains" is getting on the King's nerves with his constant badgering for an excuse to invade Whitespire. This Duke is too obedient to go against the King's wishes, but one of his Counts might not be.

Major Forts;
1- Meliseye'; would not qualify as 'major' (it is a wooden stockade) but for its vast size, a slate facing and its location on the only river that can be used for boat traffic on the border. 250 Cavalry and 250 Infantry are stationed there at all times.
2- Château de Beynac ; A fortified Town overlooking the best pass into Whitespire lands. It is ancient and has very thick walls.
3- Quéribus ; A fotified watchtower built on top of a volcanic plug of rock. 20 militia could hold it for as long as their water and rations lasted.

Army; 2,000 Cavalry that rival those of Montreve' for swashbuckling lunacy. 5,000 Light Infantry, Mountaineers.
Militia; 25,000, well trained and equipped, supposed to be ready to go on one hour's notice.


Alsconzia (small rough border w/Whitespire)
Size: 5,000 square miles
Civilization: 1,200 square miles (24%)
Wilderness: 3,800 square miles (76%)

Castles: 4
Castle Ruins: 0

Population Density: 42 people per square mile
Total Population: 210,000 people
Prod,; 55gp
Life; 48
Trade +5% {variety, tanned hides, cotton}

Large and prosperous by local standards, life can be good here unless you are worried about other people, or the rest of the world.
High Baron Emile Egalantine breaks from the local standards of selfishness by doing what he can to help Eularia. This befuddled do-gooder's army has been neglected because of this.

Major Fort; Château de Foix is a fine castle that had an important roll to play before this land was united under one ruler. Today, its is just another picturesque backwater and will remain so until the next civil war breaks out.

Army; 1500 Cavalry, 6,000 Heavy Infantry.
Militia; 20,000 Serfs.


Arazalle.... the Capitol
Size: 7,500 square miles
Civilization: 3,200 square miles (42%)
Wilderness: 4,300 square miles (57%)

Castles: 12
Castle Ruins: 2

Population Density: 76 people per square mile
Total Population: 570,000 people
Prod; 55gp
Life; 48
Trade; +3% {foodstuffs, finished goods}

The breadbasket of the Kingdom as well as the largest and richest province, with the largest and richest Noble family.
King Hugo de la' Rousse is a great leader & politician who spends his free time trying to become a competent Knight. Not everyone can be a great warrior, but then not everyone has fallen off his horse as many times as Hugo has. Fortunately for Umbria, his great skills as an organizer and administrator are up to the task of running this vast realm.

Tarascon Is the capitol city, ringed by a triple-wall that is regarded as impregnable.

Army; 12,000 Cavalry, 18,000 Heavy infantry, 60 war-Elephants.
Militia; 40,000, half of them are not fighters, but are the sort of people that an Army needs to move and survive; Suttlers, Medicos, drovers, cooks, engineers and mule-skinners. In order to mount an invasion of any real size outside the Kingdom's borders, the Dukes need them, and this levy of support personnel cannot be called up without the King's written orders.
* An unknown and unnamed Squadron serves as the King's closest guard and his Henchmen. Their main job is to protect the Royals by intercepting Spys and assassins, but they have been known to take a more aggressive roll from time to time. The majority of them are assassins, in fact.
The King's official bodyguard are 50 Knights and 250 Longbowmen that have horses that allow them to keep up with the Knights, but they must dismount to use their bows.


Overview of Umbria;

They take pains to make food taste better and meals more of an event instead of a chore. They are picky about music and dancing, and everyone has the right to voice their opinions about it while it is going on. A Bard that has found favor here can be assumed to be a very good one.
The warmer clime and different priorities mean that over-dressing is frowned upon. Skirts are only one layer thick, and anyone wearing a veil or having a hood up when its not raining is assumed to be a criminal on sight.

Racial; Humans are the majority but they have developed Good relations with the Humaoid Kingdoms around them, Hobgoblins in particular. This is how they acquired a supply of Longbows, but the means to make or repair them is still in the hands of the Hobgolbins... and they make up a majority of the troops using them for the Kingdom. Trade has also been helped a great deal.
There were strong prejudices against Goblins until recently, officially people are not allowed to be bigoted that way, and this Kingdom has ways to enforce their laws.

Better relations with the Hobgoblins started like this;
The frontier between the 2 lands was dense, wild, neglected forest lands, higher and drier than other forests. As the farms and roads on either side of the border became over-grown, a new peril grew to terrible proportions; the Forest Fire. Not little ones. These were the kind that could be seen from ten miles away, the smoke darkened the skies 30 miles away and could be smelled from 100 miles away. They could burn half a year and leave a place the size of a Province in ashes.
Something had to be done.
It started small, a few mountain-men and homesteaders fighting a common foe. Then Counts made arrangements for a truce, and eventually people were going back and forth in the hundreds to do what needed to be done. That was supposed be it, but some of the bravest and toughest people on both sides had already met, and had to stay on contact to beat the next fires. They came together to catch wanted criminals, trade goods, and within a couple of generations the menace of the fires had abated, the frontier was civilized again and the Dukes had to formalized the good relations their people had built.
The deal was sealed in a strange way; the Rulers of both lands just had to have one more splendid little War. The locals were aghast and did not take part at all, just watching as a few hundred armored knuckleheads went chasing each other around the wilderness... apparently having a whale of a good time while doing so. They didn't get far without any cooperative native guides, and when it was over the peace-treaty left the boarder as was for the same reason. Once honor had been settled the Royals got together, hammered out their deals, and that was the last of the wars between Umbria and the Hobgoblins.

Customs; In most places, 2% of the people are slaves, 3/4ths are Serfs, and the rest or freedmen, nobles or soldiers.
The differences as as follows; If a slave walks in on a man in bed with his wife, he must walk away, even if its rape. If a Serf does, he can throw a bucket of cold water on them. If a Freedman does, he can kill them both. right then and there.
Slavery is a luxury the people here cannot afford, and have contempt for Whitespire for its continued use of them. (this is one reason teh people of the Republic are called "Impies", or 'little Imperials' by the Umbrians) The few here are either condemned prisoners, war-captives, or were sold into that state to save a family from poverty. Only Nobles can afford them.

Taboos; you never question the nobles, or have anything to say about the governing class unless you are a Noble. People simply vanish without warning from time to time, just on the strength of a denouncement.
Denouncement is an action anyone can take against anyone at any time, and can lead to the death of the accused if any proof can be found of the charges. If one accuses a person of a higher class, then the accuser is confined in reasonable comfort until the matter can be verified. And if the accused is innocent, the accuser is executed.
For the purposes of denouncement, Soldiers have the same standing as Freedmen, and Senior officers have the same as the Nobles they serve. This gives henchmen a high level of immunity and some of them are enjoying abusing that fact.

It is rumored that the King would like to woo Richaundra Fouche'. This would be a politically dangerous move; the Queen is a popular and attractive woman that has already given him 2 sons.

Edited by Phaing, Aug 29 2014, 04:59 PM.
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Phaing

Kingdom of Coideland:


Bryony
Size: 2,500 square miles
Civilization: 700 square miles (28%)
Wilderness: 1,800 square miles (72%)

Castles: 2
Castle Ruins: 0

Population Density: 47 people per square mile
Total Population: 117,500 people
Prod; 45
Live; 50
Trade; +9% {variable}
This southern province has a warmer clime and a more relaxed life-style than the rest of the Kingdom. Other Coides may sneer at Bryony light-heartedness but its one place that 1/2 Elves and other outsiders can find a good welcome here. One of those is Sylvester Bataglia; a prosperous merchant that has risen to become the Duke's adviser and unofficial foreign Minister when the King himself feels the need for one (not a common occurrence).
Duke Kerys Kitnada runs his province like a Tavern- convenient to all, clean and neatly serviceable, a place where the customer is entitled to get what they pay for and walk away smiling.
The Duke's stronghold is Tiriari; not a harbor so much as a maze of little islands connected by a bewildering variety of bridges (think like a Dutch version of Venice). It is not meant to be defended if attacked. In the event of invasion, the locals evacuate to Glomarah, collapsing the bridges behind them, and leaving the invaders with an incredible mess to deal with if they want to do anything at all with the little city.
Merchant fleet; Over 100 fishing boats and merchant ships call Tiriari home... when they can find a place to park.

Army; 400 heavy infantry, 600 light infantry/archers
Militia; 2200 young men and women have been given arms and armor, and some training.


Aohdana Keep
Size: 700 square miles
Civilization: 100 square miles (14%)
Wilderness: 600 square miles (85%)

Castles: 1
Castle Ruins: 0

Population Density: 38 people per square mile
Total Population: 26,600 people
Prod; 30gp
Life; 35
Trade; -1% {food, lumber}
The smallest Duchy in the land is also the most heavily armed and fortified. Two navigable rivers some together just a few miles from the coast, making this the preferred invasion route into the Kingdom.
Duke-Marshall Corcan mac Connor is the top Soldier in this Kingdom, and as custom demands, this province is his responsibility. Primarily, this means the Keep that gives the province its name. At the confluence of the 2 rivers is a geoligical formation that was called Table Rock or Table mountain. Over the course of a human lifetime, craftsmen have transformed it into a Fortress carved from one solid mass of stone. 500 soldiers could fight from within its walls while another 500 shelter within its bowels. 14 catapults and other heavy weapons can stop any river traffic.

Army; 500 Heavy infantry are such a drain on the local economy that no Militia is maintained. However, nearly half the people here are armed, either pole-arms or shield and mace, with a few archers.


Dalrida
Size: 3,700 square miles
Civilization: 800 square miles (21%)
Wilderness: 2,900 square miles (78%)

Castles: 1
Castle Ruins: 6

Population Density: 40 people per square mile
Total Population: 148,000 people
Prod; 50gp
Life; 48
Trade; +8% {wine, delicacies, heavy weapons}
The interior is Province is dotted with lakes and rolling hills, a land of with truffle-hunters and gentleman Farmers. This pleasant place would seem as if it could do no wrong, but it also forms the northern arc of the Kingdom.
Duchess Sibeal mab Clunda has had nothing but trouble from her coast, as have her ancestors, for centuries. It is perhaps ironic that her very family is descended from "political" refugees that fled the North 300 years ago, and worked their way up from indentured servants to the rulers of the province. Their distant cousins are now their worst enemies, and the Clunda do their very best to give as they receive.
The Duchess has demanded a fleet of warships, but the King has refused her permission or funding, he forbids a navy on the grounds that it would incite the North or other enemies to attack them. The last thing the Coidlands want is to appear as a threat to anyone outside their shores.
The King also thinks that the Duchess is looking for an expensive new plaything, a vanity her warlike family would covet... and he may have a point.
Major forts; there are none, all have been leveled in previous wars. Only stockades and a series of fortified watchtowers are kept in good repair.

Army; anywhere else in the world, you would be hard pressed to find a dozen skilled artilerists in one place. Here there are over 100. The Fouche' family has spent much coin and effort to create mobile groups of siege weapons meant to sink ships and scatter enemy formations. A favorite is their variation on the Balistae, called a Scorpoin. Mounted on horse-drawn wagons, they are slow to reload but so accurate that it is said that the crews can target individual people from hundreds of yards away, in good weather.
_500 Heavy and 700 light infantry make up the core of the army, plus 20 mounted scouts (Halflings mounted on the fastest ponies in the land)
Militia; 3,000, 500 of those are always on duty for a month at a time, to keep their skills sharp and to man watchtowers.


Kenderry
Count Dhonne' Donnchadh; Counts don't normally count in a listing like this, the man's realm is nothing but the port of Kenderry and what can be seen of the countryside from there. It's a nice port with a good harbor and there is easy access to a freshwater lake just inland.
The Count despaired of every being able to fortify the place, it is the ideal place to start and invasion this land.
Count "Donny" spent a small fortune to build a River Galley of Gnomish design to solve the problem. It has 50 iron-braced oars, 4 Balistae and a small catapult, and a big iron ram. The Northlands Dragon-ships would not stand a chance against this monstrosity.
This would mean a Kingdom Navy, something forbidden by the King, but for 2 things;
1- The count spent his own money and retains private ownership of his "yacht".
2- This heavy, low-slung beast would be swamped if it ever tried to leave the calm waters of the harbor or the lake.


Glomarah Maze
Size: 3,000 square miles
Civilization: 700 square miles (23%)
Wilderness: 2,300 square miles (76%)
Castles: one large underground Fortress complex, everywhere.
Population Density: 3.5 people per square mile
Total Population: 23,000 people
Prod; 43gp
Life; 50
Trade; even (but see below)
This is the high, rocky, forbidding heart of the Kingdom.
It is here that the people flee to in times of Crisis, and this is also where you find the highest % of Gnomes, Dwarves and Haflings. It isn't just the ridges and rapids that give this place its name, but the extensive network of natural caverns and crafted tunnels that see to be everywhere underground. Were it not for the way the "wee folk" opened their homes to the outsiders, it is doubltful that any humans would be alive in this Kingdom today.
And they have not forgotten this.
King Nyls Donnal is the elected Monarch of Coidland, a Gnome engineer with great diplomatic skills. he does have a tendency towards melancholy, and tries to hide it lest he disappoint his people. His own popularity is something of a mystery to him, and he would hate to let anyone down. The real problem is.... the Maze is so full of life, such a comradely hustle and bustle going on when the people have to shelter here in times of crisis... and he misses that. In times of peace, it all seems rather quiet a dreary here in the maze, to the King if nobody else.

Militia; There is no standing Army here, or even a King's bodyguard. Instead, there are 2,000 Dwarven 'Militia', one tenth of them serve at a time to do the Kings bidding, a privilege they compete for with great vigor. The trust and honors the King gives to his citizen-soldiers is legendary, and worrisome to his pessimistic staff.

Ramius Tolbukhin
Mercenary General in residence.
A foreign Adventurer that landed here after a narrow escape from Denouncement in Umbria (he had commented about how the practice itself did nothing but train neighbors to live in fear of each other), this Dwarf found that his reputation preceded him and found a ready home in this land. Still a "guest" and a "mercenary" after 25 years in service to the King, he is by far the most popular non-native in this Kingdom.
Ramius is a canny General and thinks outside the box. It was he who created the only effective cavalry in the land; 300 mounted archers on sturdy mountain horses that hit & fade to allow masses of civilians to escape Northman raids. There are also 50 Heavy infantry of the highest caliber, as a sort of unofficial King's Guard.

Recently, the King and Ramius concocted a scheme to link all the provinces with tunnels. It was really just something to keep themselves busy with during a lull, and they didn't get far before they made some great discoveries. Tin, something the gnomes have been wanting so that they can make more useful alloys. Copper is suddenly abundant in a land that never had any of it's own before. And Silver, enough to mint a whole new currency.
The King is not entirely comfortable with the latter development, he wonders what the sudden availability of coinage "stamped from the earth" will have on this pastoral Nation. Not just what it might do to a barter economy, but the attention it might draw to his Kingdom from overseas....hmmmm.



Overview;

Customs; In a land where the majority of them man have been slaughtered so many times to save the women & children, polygamy has become accepted ... as the situation demands. And, however distasteful it may be, some folk even try to continue it when its not 100% necessary to repopulate the land.
In Dalrida, it has not lead to the diminishing of the status of women, but just the opposite in the upper class. After all, if the women are the only ones that can be trusted to live long enough to build and exploit good political connections, then a matriarchal society becomes inevitable. :P

It is said that only 2 kinds of people try to predict the weather here; Newcomers and fools. Wool is preferred for all garments because it can still keep you warm when wet. On most days you spend outside, your going to get wet, it rains that much. On those rare days when it is sunny, warm and the wind is not blowing hard enough to knock you down, most people shed all the clothes they dare, and are even given to frolicsome behavior in the meadows. While their pale bodies adsorb all the sunlight they can, the people are more sociable, forgiving and just plain relaxed.
No enemy has found a way to take advantage of this because its totally random and only happens about a dozen times a year, at most.

Taboos; Tattooing, especially where it would show, is frowned on here. This sounds weird to every visitor, since body-painting is very popular and on special occasions people may have their faces covered by all sorts of fanciful designs.
The reason for this reaches back many generations; The people of the Kingdom of Coideland have suffered so many invasions that any scheme that gives them an edge is tried out. One that worked is changing their appearance to give the illusion that there are many more of them than is the case. When under attack, they can change the face-paintings several times a day, or scrub them off entirely. They also prefer reversible cloaks, and some warriors even maintain 2 sets of armor.

Having spent so many years on preserved rations of the most basic sort, they are fascinated with 'good' food, but rarely have a chance to indulge their tastes.
Sparring is the favored sort of entertainment. There are 4 different grades of dueling, and only the most severe can lead to death because that is the one that allows for any arms and armor that the 2 fighting own. Below that is blunt weapons, and under that is where no metal is allowed. The lowest grade is unarmed, and unarmored. The only times you will ever see people naked in public here (besides a Sunshine-Day) is when the argument over what can be used as a weapon or armor has gone on too long, and both combatants simply strip down and go at it.

Slavery is frowned upon since almost everyone had a relative that was carried off by raiders to that fate. Indentured servitude is the alternative; slavery for a limited period of time... unless you are a captive in the wars, or a criminal. In fact, there are no prisons here, just people that have their release date branded on the side of their neck.
Edited by Phaing, Aug 27 2014, 03:49 PM.
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Loremaster
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Superb work, Phaing. I really appreciate it!
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Phaing

Loremaster
Aug 19 2014, 03:26 PM
Superb work, Phaing. I really appreciate it!
Thanks! ^_^

I think I may be done, I will be back tomorrow to talk about this and see what I missed so far.

Maybe even skip the numbers entirely, I just needed them for a benchmark in my head.
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