Ethfamen
One of the oldest and the largest of the Frontier lands kingdoms, Ethfamen is a growing state with a benevolent ruler doing his best to improve the lives of its citizens in the face of the ever-present threat of monsters from the nearby Tågbaf mountains.
Structure
In true feudal form, the head of the nation is the king, in the case his holiness Cynesige Apfelnähe who in theory owns all the lands. This land is then parceled out to various dukes, who in turn parcel it out to various barons. So far there are only a dozen dukes, and each has only two to six barons under him (or her).
As king Cynesige has supreme power. He sets the laws, subject to the constraints within the founding charter, he sees that the laws are enforced, and he is the final judge of what is and is not in accordance with those laws. Since taking the throne he has passed few laws, and most of those geared towards limiting the power of the nobles and granting more freedoms to the commoners. His enforcement of the laws has been evenhanded and just and consequently few of his subjects have appealed their cases to him directly.
As king Cynesige has supreme power. He sets the laws, subject to the constraints within the founding charter, he sees that the laws are enforced, and he is the final judge of what is and is not in accordance with those laws. Since taking the throne he has passed few laws, and most of those geared towards limiting the power of the nobles and granting more freedoms to the commoners. His enforcement of the laws has been evenhanded and just and consequently few of his subjects have appealed their cases to him directly.
Public Agenda
The agenda of Ethfamen is to actually settle and protect the land it has claimed. While settling people to the north and south isn’t a problem, settling them west is hard as it moves closer to the Tågbaf mountains and the many dangers it presents. Cynesige is also striving to improve the quality of the weaving (already garnering fame) as well as other crafts. To this end on 29th of Divy (the Azurite Winter Crafts Day holiday) there is a public judging of crafts with monetary rewards given to the best quality and most improved. Cynesige is also working to form alliances with Onzethcalet, Tiefhohl, and to strengthen alliances with Cektoh, Tatidär, and Windbrücke. He is also working on improving the infrastructure by paving the major roads in the kingdom.
Assets
Ethfamen is a fairly wealthy kingdom with a well-endowed treasury. However, Cynesige’s plans for the kingdom are quickly making a dent in the reserves in the treasury, even supplemented with the money left over from his adventuring days. The land is very fertile, and crops grow well, so the tax base is strong. The castle in Fexlil is well built, and Cynesige is working on some improvements to that too, but his more pressing concern is his people. His father started to build a series of forts along the western border to help protect against raiding orcs and giants. While the chain was not finished before his death, it is probably only a matter of time, before Cynesige restarts the project.
History
Ethfamen was founded in 633 when Thunor Apfelnähe led a band of a little less than three hundred settlers into the western Frontier lands. They skirted the edge of the Tågbaf mountains until the came to the confluence of two rivers. The land was level and looked fertile, so Thunor established the small hamlet of Fexlil. Over the years, more and more people have migrated to the kingdom drawn by the tales of rich farmland there for the settler. Thunor started off the town as a small motte and baily keep, near the floodplains of the rivers, over time the hamlet grew into a city and tower grew into a true castle. As the people migrated to the new land, Thunor, followed by his son Hagan parceled out the land to his most loyal and trustworthy retainers naming them dukes.
In time Thunor grew old and passed the mantle of leadership on to his son. Hagan continued to build up the nation doing what he could to attract more settlers. He started a project building a series of forts along the border of the mountains to protect the kingdom from marauding orcs and giants. It seemed that Hagan was shaping up to be every bit the ruler that Thunor was when his life was cut short through the machinations of a vrolikai (demon).
While not truly ready to settle down, Hagan’s son Cynesige wouldn’t leave the people of his kingdom bereft of leadership. He came and took the throne and started a series of projects that may dwarf the accomplishments of both Thunor and Hagan. However, it is too early in the reign of Cynesige to be certain how his grand plans will turn out. Only time will tell.
In time Thunor grew old and passed the mantle of leadership on to his son. Hagan continued to build up the nation doing what he could to attract more settlers. He started a project building a series of forts along the border of the mountains to protect the kingdom from marauding orcs and giants. It seemed that Hagan was shaping up to be every bit the ruler that Thunor was when his life was cut short through the machinations of a vrolikai (demon).
While not truly ready to settle down, Hagan’s son Cynesige wouldn’t leave the people of his kingdom bereft of leadership. He came and took the throne and started a series of projects that may dwarf the accomplishments of both Thunor and Hagan. However, it is too early in the reign of Cynesige to be certain how his grand plans will turn out. Only time will tell.
Demography and Population
Military
Ethfamen is the only nation currently working to establish a military independent of its militias. So far the nation has managed to pull together just fifty full-time soldiers, however as their training progresses, Cynesige is busy recruiting others and has almost one thousand interested individuals.
Religion
While Ethfamen doesn’t have an official state religion, many of its inhabitants revere Utu as their ruler Cynesige is a devout servant of Utu. However, worship of all nonevil deities is tolerated, and most people pay at least lip service to the majority, that is making the occasional offering and celebrating the holy days. The most popular deity after Utu is Eresu followed by Arammu, Kello, Laki, Vaalea, and Voimakas. The worship of Rohkea is also becoming popular with the decision of Cynesige to create an army and the popularity that Ethfamen’s weaving is gaining. The Green Faith is also popular amongst a good chunk of the populace, and many adherents of the Green Faith also revere Eresu.
Foreign Relations
Right now, Ethfamen’s closest relations are with Cektoh and Onzethcalet, and Cynesige has considered entering into a mutual defense treaty with the two smaller nations. His advisors are cool on the idea as the two smaller nations don’t bring a lot to the table. It also has good relations with Tiefhohl, Windbrücke, the elven kingdom of Tatidär and the dwarven kingdom of Ajneh. It’s relations with Hirschtal are cool at the moment owing to its continuing support of Onzethcalet. It enjoys neutral to good relations with the other Frontier land kingdoms. Its relations with the city of Ebhar are also a little cool owing to the latter’s habit of harboring pirates and slavers. Recently Leofwine Bach of Sternenhellwolf has made overtures to establish diplomatic relations and possibly an overland route between the two kingdoms.
Agriculture & Industry
Right now, like most of the Frontier lands kingdoms Ethfamen is an agricultural power, it’s fertile plains producing bountiful harvests and raising substantial livestock. Unlike most of the Frontier lands kingdoms, Ethfamen has sufficient craftsmen and artisans to produce most of the finished goods it needs. While it isn’t an industrial powerhouse, yet, Cynesige is working to build the industrial infrastructure, with an eye towards providing the Frontier lands with the finished goods that must now be imported from the New Kingdoms and beyond. One area which this has already come to fruition is the industry of spinning and weaving. The lush farmlands produce fine wool, cotton, and to an extent, linen. The spinners and weavers, subsidized by the crown, produce marvelous textiles.
Trade & Transport
Currently most trade is conducted by means of the Ammihlit and the Nichteb rivers. To this end Cynesige has started a project to improve and expand the Fexlil ports on the rivers. He is also working on a project to pave the roads between the many communities. So far, the work is only completed between Fexlil and the neighboring communities, however progress is being made to bring the outlying communities into the network of highways. Work is also progressing on an overland highway to connect Ethfamen and Cektoh to facilitate trade. In addition, Cynesige is negotiating with Onzethcalet and Tatidär to construct similar highways. While both these kingdoms are interested in paved trade routes, the issues are the cost and garrisoning of such trade routes. Nonetheless, Cynesige hopes to see such trade routes finished in his lifetime.
Education
The majority of Ethfamenites possess at least a basic literacy along with a good grasp of numbers. This is in no large thanks to the churches of Emku and Rohkea, whose temples and shrines provide free education to the surrounding people. So much so that Cynesige is sponsoring construction of temples to one or the other or both in all of the outlying communities. He is also working in concert with both churches to establish the first university in the Frontier lands. Right now, those with the aptitude and wealth are sent to the New Kingdoms to receive advanced instruction. Cynesige hopes to turn Ethfamen, specifically Fexlil into the education hub of the Frontier lands. Currently construction is begun on the university with the handful of teachers (most Ethfamenites educated in the New Kingdoms) teaching their advanced classes in the temples of Emku and Rohkea.
Infrastructure
In addition to the highways, Cynesige is working to upgrade and build a system of canals and aqueducts that bring water to the farm and grazing lands of Ethfamen. While expensive, Cynesige sees the expenditures as investments in the future of his kingdom. Most of the work, both on the highways and the water systems is being done by imported dwarven labor. These dwarves work mostly for foodstuff, the bulk of which is shipped back to the dwarven kingdoms. He is also working to upgrade the sewer systems of Fexlil and eventually all the communities of Ethfamen to deal with waste more efficiently. In addition, the kingdom has many reservoirs that the heavy spring rains are channeled into and stored for the dryer times of year. While Cynesige hasn’t gotten around to expanding this system, yet, many believe it is only a matter of time. He is also looking into stocking these reservoirs with fish to provide yet another resource for his growing kingdom. Also, Cynesige is looking to expand and improve the system of border forts established by his father and grandfather to provide protection from the less savory denizens of the Tågbaf mountains, as well as the occasional monster of the plains. So far only improvements of existing forts are being done, but once these improvements are finished, he plans to build new forts to expand the system.
Founding Date
633
Type
Geopolitical, State
Capital
Demonym
Ethfamenite
Leader
Head of State
Government System
Monarchy, Constitutional
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Market economy
Major Exports
Right now, Ethfamen’s largest exports are foodstuffs and textiles. The former being traded primarily within the Frontier lands kingdoms, and the latter being exported as far away as the New Kingdoms, where Ethfamen textiles have earned a reputation for being high quality. Currently Cynesige is subsidizing the textile industry to encourage his weavers and spinners to continue producing and improving their textile techniques. So far cotton, wool, and linen are the biggest exports, but Cynesige is hoping to become and exporter of other things. Right now, a group of horse breeders are working together to produce a superior riding horse for export. While this project has yet to come to fruition, the results thus far are promising enough that Cynesige is considering subsidizing their efforts.
Major Imports
As previously mentioned Ethfamen is self-sufficient in most of the materials needed to conduct its day to day affairs. The largest exception being high quality iron to produce steel, tools and arms. At the moment steel, both in its raw form, and in the form of finished products are imported from the dwarven kingdoms of Ajneh and Ikofah. In return Ethfamen provides the dwarven kingdoms with foodstuff and textiles. Another big export is finished goods from the New Kingdoms. While such imports aren’t strictly needed, many view owning such items to be a symbol of wealth and status.
Legislative Body
As a constitutional monarchy the king, Cynesige, is the legislative force. Technically all laws originate with him. In practice most laws are proposed by his council of advisors, and he considers whether or not the law is needed and good.
Judicial Body
The low justice and civil cases are handled by reeves that are appointed in each community. The decisions of these reeves can be appealed to the duke’s courts where high justice is also administered. Cynesige requires each of his dukes to hold a court at least once a month, a practice he continues from his father and grandfather. The decision of the duke’s court can be appealed to the king’s court where Cynesige sits in judgement. Cynesige is ultimate judicial authority, but few people appeal to his court as he has yet to reverse a duke’s decision.
Location
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
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