Orpeva
Orpeva is the largest of the Western Kingdoms that formed after the fall of the Rhilan Empire. It's capitol, Val Lanoux, was established during the days of the Rhilan Empire and is considered one of the most cultured and diverse cities in all of Alkotas.
The Kingdom of Orpeva is located in the westernmost section of the Broken Sea on the southern side where the sea meets with the ocean. Like most of the Western Kingdoms, Orpeva occupies territory once considered part of the Rhilan Empire. When the Empire fell, the Kingdom of Orpeva was formed out of the North west section of the Empire that contained the bulk of the population centers and landmarks.
Brightcourt is the seat of King Gaetan IX of House Gavreau, here the King makes most of the decisions that influence the lives of every Orpevan. Matters are typically brought before the king by one of the nobles of the Rose assembly, a personal advisor to the king or queen, or presented via petition from the Leaf Assembly. In times of war or when matters of security are concerned, the Thorn Assembly will also have a strong presence at court and offer advice as well.
Matters at Brightcourt are usually Judicial, with the King ruling on some matter that is in dispute by either the people or between Noble houses. Legislative action in the form of decrees is less common than it was in the past, though in instances when they are issued they are usually done so at the beginning of court being called into session. Most legislative action is managed between the dual responsibilities of the Rose Assembly and the Leaf Assembly and do not require decrees, but at any given time the King is capable of putting his own word into law or issuing a decree to call attention to a significant decision made by the assemblies.
The Rose Assembly
The Rose Assembly makes up the bulk of Nobles who actively participate in the matters of court, with every member of the King's cabinet being pulled from the assembly. Only senior members of a Noble house or those duly appointed by the house or handpicked by the crown are permitted to speak in court as part of the assembly. Any member of the assembly outside of the cabinet may bring business before the crown, either requesting special permission for something or settling a dispute. Rarely, a member of court will bring full sweeping legislation before the crown, those who do usually do not have their matters ruled on in a single session, requiring extended review from the crown and the cabinet before a decision is made. The Rose Assembly will also work in tandem with the Leaf Assembly on select matters, usually as it pertains to public works projects and other minor civil matters that may require funding or land acquisition. Many of the nobles of the Rose Assembly are, by nature of their position, given leave to lease out various lands and handle the finances of those lands and who lives on them provided the proper taxes are being paid to the crown. Rules and guidelines for every aspect of land management and business are outlined by the Rose Assembly for every noble to go by, only rarely does a member of the assembly go off-book in matters of administration. Those who do don't do so for long, and are quickly reined in by others of the Assembly before the crown takes notice. The Leaf Assembly
The Leaf Assembly was established as a means to give the common folk of Orpeva a say in how they are ruled, particularly those of Val'Lanoux, but in reality the Leaf Assembly was originally established as a means to pacify those fomenting rebellion among the commoners a long time ago. Since it's inception, the Leaf Assembly has gained a reputation for being fair among the people and professional among the nobles, providing a bridge between the classes. The Leaf Assembly is made up of representatives of the various Quartiers and Neighborhoods throughout Val'Lanoux with most being elected by the people who occupy those spaces and a select few holding a seat through special appointment from the crown. The Leaf Assembly mostly attends to day-to-day matters of the realm and reports results to the Rose Assembly or requests their assistance when noble authority is required to get something done. Few things approved by the Leaf Assembly on mundane matters are rejected by the Rose Assembly, with those who make up its ranks generally trusted to oversee things without being second guessed. The Leaf Assembly also handles most of the administrative and clerical matters for civil courts around the realm and will assist the Thorn Assembly on matters that do not reach the level of felonies. Orpeva's main judicial duties are divided between those of the Thorn Assembly's Constabulary branch and the courthouses maintained by the Leaf Assembly. The Constabulary is usually charged with apprehending suspects while the Magistrates prosecute any offenders. In instances where someone is charged with high crimes against the crown, the Thorn Assembly will often take full control of the proceedings and put the offenders on trial in one of their own courts, usually in Val'Lanoux.
The Rose Assembly makes up the bulk of Nobles who actively participate in the matters of court, with every member of the King's cabinet being pulled from the assembly. Only senior members of a Noble house or those duly appointed by the house or handpicked by the crown are permitted to speak in court as part of the assembly. Any member of the assembly outside of the cabinet may bring business before the crown, either requesting special permission for something or settling a dispute. Rarely, a member of court will bring full sweeping legislation before the crown, those who do usually do not have their matters ruled on in a single session, requiring extended review from the crown and the cabinet before a decision is made. The Rose Assembly will also work in tandem with the Leaf Assembly on select matters, usually as it pertains to public works projects and other minor civil matters that may require funding or land acquisition. Many of the nobles of the Rose Assembly are, by nature of their position, given leave to lease out various lands and handle the finances of those lands and who lives on them provided the proper taxes are being paid to the crown. Rules and guidelines for every aspect of land management and business are outlined by the Rose Assembly for every noble to go by, only rarely does a member of the assembly go off-book in matters of administration. Those who do don't do so for long, and are quickly reined in by others of the Assembly before the crown takes notice. The Leaf Assembly
The Leaf Assembly was established as a means to give the common folk of Orpeva a say in how they are ruled, particularly those of Val'Lanoux, but in reality the Leaf Assembly was originally established as a means to pacify those fomenting rebellion among the commoners a long time ago. Since it's inception, the Leaf Assembly has gained a reputation for being fair among the people and professional among the nobles, providing a bridge between the classes. The Leaf Assembly is made up of representatives of the various Quartiers and Neighborhoods throughout Val'Lanoux with most being elected by the people who occupy those spaces and a select few holding a seat through special appointment from the crown. The Leaf Assembly mostly attends to day-to-day matters of the realm and reports results to the Rose Assembly or requests their assistance when noble authority is required to get something done. Few things approved by the Leaf Assembly on mundane matters are rejected by the Rose Assembly, with those who make up its ranks generally trusted to oversee things without being second guessed. The Leaf Assembly also handles most of the administrative and clerical matters for civil courts around the realm and will assist the Thorn Assembly on matters that do not reach the level of felonies. Orpeva's main judicial duties are divided between those of the Thorn Assembly's Constabulary branch and the courthouses maintained by the Leaf Assembly. The Constabulary is usually charged with apprehending suspects while the Magistrates prosecute any offenders. In instances where someone is charged with high crimes against the crown, the Thorn Assembly will often take full control of the proceedings and put the offenders on trial in one of their own courts, usually in Val'Lanoux.
Demography and Population
Orpeva has a dense population of Fae and Elves, like many of the Western Kingdoms but also has a varied population of humans and other non-fae as well. It should be noted however, that even among the non-fae populations, fae and elven blood is fairly common and results in a great deal of people having at least a small amount of magical talent. The non-fae population of Orpeva is concentrated mostly to the north around the port cities while the fae and elven populations become more homogeneous further to the south.
Military
Orpeva has a sizeable standing military both with it's Navy and it's Army, the latter of which has a robust cavalry provided by the various noble families of the realm. In times of war, thousands more infantry can be added from a reserve in the civilian population. This reserve receives formal training, making the conscripts for Orpeva generally better trained than many other realms of the Broken Sea.
The Thorn Assembly
One of the Three great assemblies of Orpeva, The Thorn Assembly's primary concerns are split between defense of the realm and criminal law that rises to the standard of high crimes against the crown. The Thorn Assembly usually does not have much to offer in terms of governing unless there is a dispute with another realm or a matter of national defense. Multiple branches are maintained within the Assembly for the Chevaliers, the Constabulary, and the rest of the Military. Nobles who serve in the Thorn assembly cannot also serve in the Rose Assembly. Those who might be the head of their house who serve in the Thorn Assembly must appoint someone to act on the behalf of their house within the Rose Assembly and are Forbidden from exerting influence over them. Heads of House usually avoid serving in the Thorn Assembly when possible, being uncomfortable with abdicating authority to someone else, but unlike the Rose and Leaf assemblies, the Thorn Assembly is viewed more as a duty and honor that is thrust upon someone than one that is typically sought out. During times of war, the Thorn Assembly often supplants the Rose Assembly in priority, becoming the chief source of advise to the crown. Though the Thorn Assembly's advice carries immense weight in such times, it can be over ruled by the other two assemblies working in tandem through a show of majority. The Chevaliers
At the top of the military are the Chevaliers, an order of Knights which serve both as elite soldiers and generals on the battlefield. Renowned across the Broken Sea for their daring deeds and swordsmanship, there are few individual knight orders that have the reputation and panache of the Chevaliers. Though the order is composed almost entirely of those with noble pedigrees going back multiple generations on both sides, there exist several instances of the order encountering individuals who display such astonishing swordplay as to Knight them solely for the purpose of adding to their prestigious number. Unlike Knights from many other realms, Chevaliers choose to stray from the use of plate mail and favor lighter forms of armor when possible to maintain their nimble fighting styles. Those scene wearing what appears to be heavier armor almost certainly have it made from an incredibly light metal like mithril or have it infused with magic to maintain their dexterity. The Musketeers
The Musketeers are a specific division of the Orpevan military trained in the use of gunpowder specifically with rifles and cannons. Though Musketeers do not hold the same noble position as Chevaliers and are pulled from the ranks of commoners, the high degree of specialization they possess has earned them an almost peer-like respect from the noble born soldiers. As such, small squads of Musketeers will oversee the protection of the King and other members of the royal family in and around Val'Lanoux. Sometimes seen outside of Val'Lanoux, the expense of producing firearms and the dangers of transporting gunpowder have restricted them almost entirely to the capitol. The Wave Blades
While all Chevaliers obtain some degree of training in sea-based combat, the Wave Blades are a specific order of Chevalier who specialize in it. Members of the order are easily identified apart from other orders by the tinted ocean colors of their armor which is constructed entirely of mithril, allowing for faster and more flexible movement in an environment that would normally be prohibitive to heavy metal armor. Wave blades are assigned mostly to the ships at sea, with a much smaller number being assigned to patrols along the rivers and lakes within the realm.
One of the Three great assemblies of Orpeva, The Thorn Assembly's primary concerns are split between defense of the realm and criminal law that rises to the standard of high crimes against the crown. The Thorn Assembly usually does not have much to offer in terms of governing unless there is a dispute with another realm or a matter of national defense. Multiple branches are maintained within the Assembly for the Chevaliers, the Constabulary, and the rest of the Military. Nobles who serve in the Thorn assembly cannot also serve in the Rose Assembly. Those who might be the head of their house who serve in the Thorn Assembly must appoint someone to act on the behalf of their house within the Rose Assembly and are Forbidden from exerting influence over them. Heads of House usually avoid serving in the Thorn Assembly when possible, being uncomfortable with abdicating authority to someone else, but unlike the Rose and Leaf assemblies, the Thorn Assembly is viewed more as a duty and honor that is thrust upon someone than one that is typically sought out. During times of war, the Thorn Assembly often supplants the Rose Assembly in priority, becoming the chief source of advise to the crown. Though the Thorn Assembly's advice carries immense weight in such times, it can be over ruled by the other two assemblies working in tandem through a show of majority. The Chevaliers
At the top of the military are the Chevaliers, an order of Knights which serve both as elite soldiers and generals on the battlefield. Renowned across the Broken Sea for their daring deeds and swordsmanship, there are few individual knight orders that have the reputation and panache of the Chevaliers. Though the order is composed almost entirely of those with noble pedigrees going back multiple generations on both sides, there exist several instances of the order encountering individuals who display such astonishing swordplay as to Knight them solely for the purpose of adding to their prestigious number. Unlike Knights from many other realms, Chevaliers choose to stray from the use of plate mail and favor lighter forms of armor when possible to maintain their nimble fighting styles. Those scene wearing what appears to be heavier armor almost certainly have it made from an incredibly light metal like mithril or have it infused with magic to maintain their dexterity. The Musketeers
The Musketeers are a specific division of the Orpevan military trained in the use of gunpowder specifically with rifles and cannons. Though Musketeers do not hold the same noble position as Chevaliers and are pulled from the ranks of commoners, the high degree of specialization they possess has earned them an almost peer-like respect from the noble born soldiers. As such, small squads of Musketeers will oversee the protection of the King and other members of the royal family in and around Val'Lanoux. Sometimes seen outside of Val'Lanoux, the expense of producing firearms and the dangers of transporting gunpowder have restricted them almost entirely to the capitol. The Wave Blades
While all Chevaliers obtain some degree of training in sea-based combat, the Wave Blades are a specific order of Chevalier who specialize in it. Members of the order are easily identified apart from other orders by the tinted ocean colors of their armor which is constructed entirely of mithril, allowing for faster and more flexible movement in an environment that would normally be prohibitive to heavy metal armor. Wave blades are assigned mostly to the ships at sea, with a much smaller number being assigned to patrols along the rivers and lakes within the realm.
Religion
Orpeva doesn't have a singular state religion but does count many of the faiths of the Old Gods within its borders.
Vida
Vida is often regarded as the chief deity among the fae, so it comes as no surprise that the goddess would have a strong presence in the realm of Orpeva. Temples and shrines to Vida can be found in almost every city of Orpeva and sometimes on well traveled roads. Vida's motherly aspect is heavily favored in more rural communities while the more heavily populated cities and fae communities lean more toward the Maiden aspect. Roztok
Roztok's presence in Orpeva is mostly restricted to the coastlines of the realm, but because the realm is surrounded by coastline on nearly every side this makes for a significant number of Roztokaion among the population. Smaller shrines and temples can be found near lakes and a handful of heavily traveled waterways. The largest of Rostok's temples are found in the largest ports of the realm, with one of the most majestic around the Broken Sea being located in Val'Lanoux. Kyridwen
Kyridwen's temples are found primarily in the cities with the most dense populations and are credited with keeping a great deal of the rundown melancholy of city dwellers at bay with their exquisite services. Most of the Kyrs keep a low profile for a majority of the year, though the celebration of their holidays in the cities are renowned for their festivity, liveliness, and racy natures. Matrieve
Worshipped almost entirely within the fae communities of Orpeva, the God of dreams has a stronger presence in Orpeva than in most of the other modern realms of Alkotas. Though some of these temples are located in population centers, such as the Grove Quartier of Val'Lanoux, most are located in more rural areas of the realm. These slightly more locations do not lower the quality of the temples, though due to the nature of the faith, some may still have trouble locating the mercurial places of worship.
Vida is often regarded as the chief deity among the fae, so it comes as no surprise that the goddess would have a strong presence in the realm of Orpeva. Temples and shrines to Vida can be found in almost every city of Orpeva and sometimes on well traveled roads. Vida's motherly aspect is heavily favored in more rural communities while the more heavily populated cities and fae communities lean more toward the Maiden aspect. Roztok
Roztok's presence in Orpeva is mostly restricted to the coastlines of the realm, but because the realm is surrounded by coastline on nearly every side this makes for a significant number of Roztokaion among the population. Smaller shrines and temples can be found near lakes and a handful of heavily traveled waterways. The largest of Rostok's temples are found in the largest ports of the realm, with one of the most majestic around the Broken Sea being located in Val'Lanoux. Kyridwen
Kyridwen's temples are found primarily in the cities with the most dense populations and are credited with keeping a great deal of the rundown melancholy of city dwellers at bay with their exquisite services. Most of the Kyrs keep a low profile for a majority of the year, though the celebration of their holidays in the cities are renowned for their festivity, liveliness, and racy natures. Matrieve
Worshipped almost entirely within the fae communities of Orpeva, the God of dreams has a stronger presence in Orpeva than in most of the other modern realms of Alkotas. Though some of these temples are located in population centers, such as the Grove Quartier of Val'Lanoux, most are located in more rural areas of the realm. These slightly more locations do not lower the quality of the temples, though due to the nature of the faith, some may still have trouble locating the mercurial places of worship.
Education
Formal education in Orpeva is public for the primary level, establishing baseline literacy and math skills for young children. This level of education is free to all who wish to have it but is not established as mandatory by the crown. Secondary education is also elective, but requires a tuition fee paid for by the family, and usually takes the forms of academies and boarding schools. Tertiary education is much the same, though is focused on more specialized fields of study.
Magical Education
Orpeva has some foundational magical schooling due to the prevalence of fae and elven blood throughout the population. This begins at the secondary level and those who show particular aptitude for magic may earn scholarships to attend school. This magical training is not comprehensive and instead functions to prevent mishaps and to prepare young magic users for enrollment in a proper magical academy. Most arcane preparatory courses are geared toward enrolling students in Greenstone Academy after graduation, these courses often provide excellent foundations for any Magical Academy. Those who do not wish to attend a large formal academy are also given the option to apprentice to a certified mage in Val Lanoux or one of the other major cities. Most apprenticeships last 4 years, but it's not unheard of for particularly talented mages to complete their training sooner if their Master finds they've mastered their particular fields of study in less time.
Orpeva has some foundational magical schooling due to the prevalence of fae and elven blood throughout the population. This begins at the secondary level and those who show particular aptitude for magic may earn scholarships to attend school. This magical training is not comprehensive and instead functions to prevent mishaps and to prepare young magic users for enrollment in a proper magical academy. Most arcane preparatory courses are geared toward enrolling students in Greenstone Academy after graduation, these courses often provide excellent foundations for any Magical Academy. Those who do not wish to attend a large formal academy are also given the option to apprentice to a certified mage in Val Lanoux or one of the other major cities. Most apprenticeships last 4 years, but it's not unheard of for particularly talented mages to complete their training sooner if their Master finds they've mastered their particular fields of study in less time.
Capital
Alternative Names
The Kingdom of Orpeva
Demonym
Orpevan
Head of State
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Mixed economy
Major Exports
Lingerie
Legislative Body
The Rose Assembly and the Leaf Assembly
Judicial Body
The Leaf Assembly's Magistrates and the Thorn Assembly's Constabulary
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
Comments