Bosme

By far the smallest duchy in Cireth, Bosme is often overlooked in the wider politics of the realm. There is very little of worth in Bosme, at least on a national scale. Most of the territory is covered in nearly unliveable swamps and bogs.   The only notable location in Bosme is the Great Cirethian Library. An immense tower that is said to contain all the knowledge collected by Cir and his followers since the empire's founding. Access to the library is not easily attained, and the city surrounding the Library is heavily fortified and under permanent martial law.  

Living In Bosme

Life in Bosme is unlike the other Cirethian duchies. Taxes are paid not in money but in knowledge. Each citizen is required to produce a detailed report of their experiences each year and bring it to the Library. Wealthier citizens are required to perform some form of research in addition to the yearly report. All such research is closely monitored, and paid for, by the Library itself.   Where the Library gets its funding is largely a mystery, but most scholars suspect that a portion of the other duchies' taxes are diverted to the Library's endeavors.   Apart from the research and reports, citizens of Bosme are largely left to themselves. This is both beneficial and detrimental. Citizens rarely have to deal with governmental beaurocracy, but the government also provides little protection from crime and other non-existential threats. The Bosme military will respond to border encroachments, invasions, and accusations of "black magic", but for anything else the citizenry is on their own.  

Citizens

Bosme is a more culturally diverse land than most of the rest of Cireth, despite its tiny size. The relative freedom of individual towns and citizens leave them free to self govern. In fact, the Library encourages unique cultures to form within Bosme in order to increase the variety of knowledge gained for its shelves. Conflicts between such cultures are frequent and are often encouraged by the Library for the same reasons, so long as they continue to bring in their experience reports.  

Governmental Structure

As part of The Sovereign Domain Of Cireth, Bosme is primarily ruled by Cirethian clergy, but not by the Faith of the Burning Crown like most of the other duchies. Instead it is ruled by the Faith of Secrets Unspoken, a small, secretive sect of which very little is known.   Outside of the Library and the borders, each town in Bosme is self governed. They are free to form whatever governmental structure they desire, from autocracy to democracy and everything in between. There are only three rules:
  1. Do not shirk your yearly reports.
  2. Do not rebel.
  3. Do not commit herecy.
Type
Geopolitical, Duchy