Barony of Ampelo

"I must say this years harvest seems astounding! I simply cannot wait to get a taste."
"I see. Is this your first visit to Ampelo?"
Two servants entered the small dining room, serving the two nobles goblets of wine fresh from the barrel as they spoke.
"Indeed, thought I hope your lack of familitarity will not cause me any hindrance in seeking your support against Terralta?"
"Of course not. Anyone who partakes in an Ampelian greeting is like an ancestor to us. Now, shall we?"
The two lords raised their goblets in salutes, the foreigner taking a hearty swig whilst the local lord took a measured sip.
"Mountain preserve me, this is the best wine I've tasted in-"
The noble suddenly clutched at his throat, struggling to breathe for a few moments before his blue visage fell onto the table.
His adversary simply rose out of his chair and summoned the servant with a snap of his hand, only the faintest trace of a smirk visible.
"Welcome to Ampelo, friend."

Structure

In theory Ampelo is a hereditary monarchy ruled by a Baron, but in practice the position changes frequently between different noble families by means of political maneuvering, assasination or other means of subtrefuge with as broad an interval as one to ten years between major power shifts. A unique fixture of the feudal system in Ampelo is the tying of noble houses to vineyards rather than traditional estates and any noble aspiring to make a name for themselves must therefore learn at least a cursory outline of winemaking, though a consitently low quality of wine is equally as likely to make one lose their throne as a coup or assasin in the night.

Public Agenda

Ampelo has no stake in the petty wars between the other realms on the Dionan peninsula and its various nobles are more concerned about the wealth from Ampelian wine exports than any outward territorial expansion and thus tends to serve as a neutral ground between other factions and as a haven for dissidents and spies. Interfere in the affairs of the families though and you might find yourself on the wrong end of an "Ampelian greeting".

Assets

Agriculture is diverse enough to keep the people of Ampelos fed, but the real power and money lie in the countless rows of grapes stretching across the land and tended to by serfs and smaller noble families, though there is also enough gold coin in the realms treasury to buy a considerable army.

History

Ampelo was once under the rule of the Steelbreaker dragons until the arrival of the first Champion of The Mountain, who used the powers of Old Magic to slay the dragons and free the people of Diona. Ampelo was part of both of the united efforts to combat the dragons during the lifetimes of the first and second Champions of the Mountain, but did not attempt to assume the role of Dionas unifier after the death of the second Champion, staying outside any conflict and building up its repuation as the finest wine provider in the south as time passed.

Demography and Population

Most Ampelians are serfs and work either in simple agriculture to sustain the populace of the Barony at large or have employment making wine under the supervision of the noble families. Most of the population live sparsely across the countless kilometers of farmland that makes up the majority of Ampelian territory, but the capital of Ampelia itself has a large population of Merchants, Nobles and Tradesmen from all corners of the south.

Territories

Military

Aside from the occasional peasant militia, most of Ampelos military capacity consists of armed guards aboard their many transport ships hired to guard against pirates and privateers looking to get their hands on Ampelian wine.

Technological Level

Ampelo is firmly reliant on horse and steel like the rest of the south of Kontinent and relies mostly on muscle and horsepower for work and spears and bows for war, but the proximity to other centers of knowledge in Diona makes them a step ahead of some places outside Diona.

Religion

Most native Ampelians follow the traditional Dionan devotion to the Holy Mountain and the two Champions, but there is a small diaspora in the city of Ampelos itself that follow the various faiths of their homelands.

Foreign Relations

Ampelo maintain cordial relations with its many warring neighbors and rarely takes sides in anything occuring on the Dionan peninsula.

Agriculture & Industry

Ampelo is agricultural like most of the south and primarily makes wine, though vegetables and grains are also widely farmed. The most common animals kept are chickens and goats for their small size and availability as food sources

Trade & Transport

Ampelos does not have much transport capability by itself other than the network of dirt roads that connect the farmlands of the exterior, but Ampelos hosts a busy port that services ships across the entire south.

Education

Education is mostly reserved for the upper class through personal tutoring and small institutions of learning, but even the most ignorant serf has some cursory knowledge of winemaking and it is important enough to be included among skills like fighting and religious studies in the education of the Nobility.

Infrastructure

Ampelo proper has a large amount of advanced infrastructure like underground sewage and clean drinking wells, but most extensive is the large irrigation systems spanning the countryside to provide water for the countess rows of grapes administered and maintained by the various noble families at their own expense.

"As fair as Wine"

Type

Geopolitical, City-state

Alternative Names

Vineyard of the South, Home of the World's most memorable greeting

Demonym

Ampelian

Government System

Monarchy, Absolute

Power Structure

Feudal state

Economic System

Market economy

Currency

Dionan Uva

Major Exports

Ampelian Wine, Raisins

Major Imports

Large cattle, Dyes and Pearls

Legislative Body

The Baron of Ampelo , Council of Nobles (advisory)

Judicial Body

Various Nobles