Kontelezh Dreger
Structure
The County of Dreger is a feudal state, sworn to the Duchy of Letha and ruled by the Konts of Dreger. The Konts, in turn, are supported by lesser lords and vassals maintaining increasingly localized regions within their borders. Barons, Lords and appointed Seneschals administer their own fiefdoms, producing value and providing soldiers in exchange for the patronage and protection of their noble lieges.
Within Dreger, in addition to hundreds of small fiefdoms, there are several large divisions of particular note, presented from West-to-East:
The Barony of Blackwater (Dourdu), also called Lower-Dreger, shares a border with Leon. Its territory stretches between the Queffleuth River at Montroulez and the Leger River at Kermaria. Blackwater is the most populated and prosperous region of Dreger, and the Barons are usually immediate family or trusted allies of the Counts of Dreger.
The Viscounty-Bishopric of Landreger , also called Great Dreger, is found between the Leger and the Trev Rivers. The Viscounts-Bishops of Landreger are also the current Counts of Dreger, with the city serving as the capital and county seat.
The Lordship of Gwengamp , also called Small Dreger, stretches between the Trev and the Lenv. A river town bearing the same name is the capital of this small region.
While the nobility exerts control over much of the countryside, Dreger's real power exists in its cities, where the powerful julod textile merchants control the thriving trade economy. Likewise, the Southern Church exerts a good deal of temporal power from its base in Landreger. These powerful factions are influential in the administration and trajectory of the region.
Public Agenda
Dreger's regional interests are driven by the julod merchant class, with the port cities establishing much of the region's policies and goals. It seeks to maintain its strength in trade with the Fortunate Isles, away from the control of the Kingdom of Gallia, having witnessed the effects of the annexation of the formerly independent Cloth Cities of the thriving merchant class there.
Dreger has a heated rivalry with their Eastern neighbors, the Kontelezh Pentevr, which has combined with their anti-Gallian leanings to place them on the side of the Monforz claimants to the ducal throne.
History
Foundation and Great Kernev
Following the The Tear, the region that would become Dreger was conquered by Magnus Maximus and his lieutenant Conan Meriadoc. Conan seized control of the region, holding it as the Usurper moved to conquer the South, meeting his defeat several cycles later. Meriadoc remained in control of territory both in Albia and on the Armorican Peninsula, then called Llydaw, and crowned himself Ard Rí of the Twin Kingdoms of Dumnonia. Fearing the spread of Faerie further into the region, Conan ordered the tongues of the women of the Kingdom be cut out to prevent them from being used for Huderezh, part of a larger campaign against the Fae and his political enemies. Conan divided the Kingdom between his two sons, Gadeon, who held the Albian territory and Gradlon, who was to receive the continental holdings. This arrangement collapsed as Gadeon ousted his brother, exiling him and assuming position of Ard Rí of Dumnonia. Gradlon's supporters adventured in the Northern Mor Bras, besieging The Royal Magocracy of Fjallkonan. Gradlon made an alliance with Queen Malgven and returned to the Peninsula, setting up the Kingdom of Kernev beneath the shadow of Menez Hom. Seeing Gradlon's return as a threat to his own throne, Gadeon built up an army, recruiting powerful similherez to counter Gradlon's Korrigan forces. The two forces clashed in the War of the Two Brothers, dramatically altering the landscape itself. Gadeon, was ultimately defeated, but the two reconciled and he remained as the Rí ruirech of Dumnonia. During the Kingdom of Great Kernev's existence, Dumnonia controlled territory from Kermaria to the Pleg-Mor Menez-Mikael, sharing the Northern ar mor with Leon. While Leon and Kernev bore the brunt of the Wyldstorms that destroyed Ker-Ys, it was not spared, and was badly damaged from high-winds and flooding. Dumnonia exerted its independence and easily threw the yoke of Kemper.The Kingdom of Dreger
With the Penn-ar-Bed in the midst of a power vacuum, Dreger was able to ignore most of Kernev's orders and strike out on its own. Despite devastation brought on by the Yellow Plague and the Dragon of Dol, it rose in prominence and autonomy. It was a frequent site of battles between Alliance of the Brekilien and Conomor the Cursed, In 505, Dreger once again claimed the title of High King, with the crowning of Alain II "Hir", the Tall and Urbien. The House of Dreger's rule was short lived, and the title returned to Kernev, then the West.The County of Dreger
In 900 SI, during the reign of Dug Jafrez I, a reorganization of Lethan holdings following The Poisoner's Game led the the Viscounty of Pentevr being spun off from Dreger as an appanage, the region's status as a county formally defined. This served to weaken Dreger and Leon against the ascendant East.Demography and Population
Controlling the major ports of Montroulez and Kermaria, Dreger is a large population center, outpacing much of the Penn-ar-Bed, but falling behind the Ducal Cities.
Dreger has a large population of Boermerzh
Territories
Dreger is largely situated on the Plateau de Dreger on the ar Mor Breizh in the North of The Armorican Peninsula. Its territory follows the coast from West to East from the Queffleuth River at Montroulez to the Lenv River.
Dreger controls several small rivers within its territory, which provide an invaluable connection between the Ar Goat and the Ar Mor, in addition to providing arable farmland along their banks. These rivers are, from West to East, the Queffleuth, the Dourdu (Blackwater), the Douron, the Hen, the Roscoat, the Kerdu, the Leger, the Yeodi, the Trev, and the Lenv. These rivers drain into the coastal marshlands along the Mor Breizh, cutting valleys into the granite cliffs of the plateau. The interior, rising towards the spine of the Meneziou Are, becomes rocky moorland as one heads South.
A coastal region, Dreger holds nominal control over numerous islands off the mainland. Frequently battered by storms and isolated from the Peninsula, these nevertheless support small villages, remote abbeys and granite quarries. These islands are frequently targeted by pirates smugglers and finfolk, as well as raids from Fjallkonan, The Lost Peninsula and Tevenn Du.
Military
Dreger's wealthy cities maintain garrisons, supplementing the levies and knights of the nobility. The cities of Montroulez and Kermaria as especially well-funded, their reputation for producing skilled sailors only surpassed by Aleth.
The Barons of Blackwater have excelled at modernizing and streamlining Dreger's forces with the establishment of the Dreger Windguard, including a Wyvern Corps. The Blackwater Ambaxtoi, the Dragons of Dreger are widely regarded as one of the most elite military units in Letha.
Religion
Despite a brutal history of conversions and religious subjugation I the region, the grip of the Southern Church has weakened in recent years as a Druidic resurgence, spurred by a major Bleed of Faerie, has taken some parts of the County. The Faithful still hold the majority, but for the first time in centuries, have felt pressure both from the people and the ruling class. The Druids have a strong presence in the more remote areas of the County, but have been successful in gaining influence in the cities as well.
Foreign Relations
Dreger has a long-standing and active rivalry with the Biskonti Leon and Kontelezh Kernev, its "siblings" on the Penn-ar-Bed. This relationship fluctuates between friendly competition to outright war, but the three regions generally stand together against outsiders.
Dreger is often at odds with its primary political and economic rival, the Kontelezh Pentevr and stands in opposition to it in many cases.
The region is a trading hub, with strong ties to the Kingdom of Logres and the Fortunate Isles, the Duchy of La Manche and the Cloth Cities.
Dreger has a long-standing and active rivalry with Leon and Kernev, ranging from friendly competition to outright war. It was the princes of Dumnonia that were responsible for crushing the fledgling Kingdom of Leon and forcing it into the nominally subservient Viscounty, rather than a full County, within the Duchy. However, it stands with the rest of Penn-ar-Bedd[/I] when against the affluent Ducal Cities of the East, and together with Lower Breizh when standing against Gallian interests, continually asserting their collective autonomy. However, the ploys of individual noble families often break this mold. House Frihep, Viscounts of Dinan and Barons of Ar Mor Emrodez, align more closely with Roazhon than Landreger politically, and the House of Pentveur has made significant alliances with the Gallian House of Blaez.
Dreger has a sizeable trade network with Logres and the Cloth Cities of Northern Gallia. It maintains cordial relationships with the Courts of Summer and Winter, both their terrestrial and maritime holdings, although this largely depends on the rulers and can vary greatly. House Roc'han of Loudeig and House Frihep of Dinan are especially hostile to the Fae.
Agriculture & Industry
The rivers of Dreger provide fertile land for agriculture and grazing, which make up the largest portion of its economy, equaled only by fishing. Granite and sandstone quarries are common. Mills line many of the rivers and the cities have developed industries, such as sailmaiking, textiles and shipbuilding.
The primary crop cultivated in the region is flax, utilizing seaweed fertilizer to assist in its growth. Flax seeds are constantly replenished, and a robust trade with other regions exists. To protect the fragile crops against the high winds off the Narrow Sea, the use of Bocage is heavy in the region. Flax is harvested, refined and shipped in massive quantities. A large adminstration has arisen to maintain and rotate the fields for the intensive crop.
Trade & Transport
Dreger is the wealthiest of the three realms of the Penn-ar-Bed of Western Letha. Its well situated ports along the Mor Breizh allow it a flourishing trade network from the Cloth Cities to the Fortunate Isles.
The majority of travel and trade in the region is done by water, taking advantage of the slow rivers and large harbours that define Dreger, which has in turn supported the growth of port cities along the Ar Mor Breizh. Windships have recently begun to appear in the region as well.
Overland travel relies heavily on the network of Imperial roads, which are often neglected in remote regions and subject to attacks from bandits and solitary Fae. These roads, connecting only the major towns in one or two routes, limit efficient overland travel greatly.
Forged in Fire, Tempered in Water, Strong in Faith
Founding Date
28 SI
Type
Geopolitical, County / March
Capital
Alternative Names
Bro-Dreger, The Dragon's Country, Dumnonia
Demonym
Dregered
Leader
Leader Title
Head of State
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Traditional
Gazetteer
Currency
Dreger was an early adopter of the Livre Tournois, and the Julod became early advocates pushing the coinage to be standardized across the Peninsula.
Coinage minted in Dreger is often called "Dragons", due to the arms stamped on them. Among the oldest of the Lethan coins, they are often counterfeited, leading to suspicion if large amounts are used at once. As a result of this, local slang has adopted the term "hoard of dragons" to signify something that, while initially appearing impressive, is actually worthless upon closer inspection.
Because of the strange quirks of mineral-based coin valuation, some of the older the counterfeits occasionally become worth more than the real coins when the gold or silver content is lowered by the mint.
Major Exports
Major Imports
Legislative Body
Legislative authority falls into three bodies of law. Ducal law is broad, generally only affecting royal property, appointment of clerks or disagreements between conflicting realms. This law is carried out by the Seneschals of Letha, who serve as appointed representatives of the Dukes, usually relegated to large cities, even if they have nominal authority elsewhere. Laws are often discussed and suggested at the Estates of Letha, an annual meeting of ruling parties in Roazhon
The main body of law falls to the Kont, and then to other noble vassals to administer the regions as they see fit. The free city of Montroulez operates under a charter, granting certain rights to the Merchant's council.
The final legislative body falls to the Church, capable of setting out law based on religious dogma.
Judicial Body
See Seigniorial Justice and Ecclesiastic Justice
Official State Religion
Parent Organization
Subsidiary Organizations
Location
Official Languages
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Related Myths
Comments