Hirschtal

Another of the young frontier kingdoms, this one grow rapidly due to the fertile soil deposited by the Rozux river from the Barrir swamp. It makes braving the creatures from the swamp as well as the sundry other dangers of the Frontier lands worth it. Like its northern neighbor Sternenhellwolf, Hirschtal faces raids by the orcs of the Tågbaf mountains as well as the Fjernhjem and Ledigklar barbarians, however Wynnstan Scheuer, the ruler of Hirschtal has made overture of peace to the Fjernhjem peoples hoping to establish trading relations with them.

Structure

At the top of the hierarchy is Wynnstan Scheuer who is the king and supreme monarch. He has appointed below him a number of dukes, with counts below them and barons below them. All the dukes answer directly to him. Most counts owe fealty to a duke, but a select few owe fealty directly to Wynnstan. Barons generally owe fealty to a count, but some owe fealty directly to a duke and a handful owe fealty directly to Wynnstan. As more and more territory is settled Wynnstan appoints more dukes, counts, and barons. Below the barons are the knights who may or may not have estates. Knights generally owe fealty to a duke, count, or baron, depending where their estate is located. Knights errant, knights without an estate, owe fealty to their father’s lord. Below the knights are squires, who usually own an estate but haven’t been knighted. There are a handful of yeomen, commoners who own their own land, but generally pledge fealty to the nearest lord. Guildsmen and tradesmen freemen, who generally occupy towns and villages. Tradesmen are not members of guilds and guildsmen are and thus wield considerably more power than tradesmen. At the bottom rung are the serfs, peasants who work the land. Wynnstan prefers that serfs in his land be well treated, and frowns upon nobles who abuse their power over the commoners, however he has yet to take any action in these cases apart from reprimands.

Public Agenda

As with most of the Frontier Land Kingdoms Hirschtal’s agenda is to increase in size and population. This is hampered by the frequent raids by the orcs to the west and the barbarians to the north. Further expansion is blocked in two directions, by the Barrir swamp to the northwest and the growing kingdom of Onzethcalet to the south. However, growth is encouraged by the very fertile soil in this region. Currently Wynnstan and Ælfheah Handfläche are in negotiations. Wynnstan would like to absorb Onzethcalet as a duchy or several duchies within Hirschtal, a proposition Ælfheah rejects. So far they haven’t come to violence and both Cektoh and Ethfamen have been encouraging negotiation, not wanting to see a full fledged war in the Frontier lands,

In addition to his negotiations with Onzethcalet, Wynnstan has been negotiating with several of the Fjernhjem tribes in order to cut back on raids and establish trading relations. These overtures are aided by the fact that Wynnstan was raised by the Fjernhjem and knows their language and customs.

Assets

As already mentioned, Hirschtal has some of the most fertile soil in the Frontier lands thanks to the sediment dropped by the Rozux river as it exits the Barrir swamp. In addition, as a retired adventurer Wynnstan has quite a bit of wealth set aside, much of it has been invested in the infrastructure and defense of Hischtal. In addition, silver often washes into the Barrir swamp, and some make a decent living panning for silver in the swamp. Further there’s a rare species of cedar that’s native to the Barrir swamp and is quite valuable. However, Wynnstan, at the advice of an druid advisor limits the number that can be harvested and encourages the planting of more.

History

Only established some 45 years ago, Hirschtal is a young kingdom. Wynnstan set out to establish a kingdom. A druid friend of his from his adventuring days pointed him to the area south of the Barrir swamp as very fertile land. A few surveys with some people knowledgeable about farming confirmed the fertile nature of the land and soon Wynnstan established his fortress in the site that would become Thetil. As more settlers came people began to explore the Barrir swamp, and silver was discovered along with the Barrir cedar, both of which served to bring more wealth to the growing nation. The wealth was needed to hire mercenaries from the south to protect the fledgling nation from orcs from the Tågbaf mountains and Fjermhjem raiders from the north. As the nation has grown one of the things Wynnstan has worked hardest on was attracting experienced warriors to Hirschtal to form the backbone of a strong militia and eventually a standing army. So far the population and prosperity hasn’t grown enough to allow a standing army, but Wynnstan has managed to establish a decent militia that provides more than enough defense during the winter. Recently Wynnstan has been in extended negotiations with Ælfheah Handfläche of Onzethcalet over the territory between their kingdoms. Currently they’re trying to come to an agreement regarding their mutual border. Wynnstan is hoping to annex Onzethcalet, something Ælfheah has rejected repeatedly. Both Wilkin Westadt of Cektoh and Cynesige Apfelnähe of Ethfamen have gone on record opposing a forced annexation of Onzethcalet. So negotiations have been at a standstill for the past year with neitherparty willing to budge.

Demography and Population

Population: 426,420 (Human 336,872, Halfling 38,378, Dwarf 21,321, Elf 12,793, Gnome 8,528, Other 8,528)

Military

Hirschtal doesn’t have a standing army yet, although that is one of the things Wynnstan is anxious to build as relying on southern mercenaries is proving to be expensive. Unfortunately. Hirschtal doesn’t yet have the population nor infrastructure to support a standing army. However, he does require each of his nobles to maintain a standing guard of no less than 60 men and has himself managed to organize a standing force of 180 men.

In addition, Wynnstan’s practice of seeking ex mercenaries and adventurers as settlers ensures that the militia is particularly well trained and disciplined. In an emergency he could field a militia of around seventy thousand able bodied warriors.

Religion

Wynnstan and a good portion of his population is a follower of the Green Faith, however he doesn’t discriminate, and followers of all religions are welcome in his lands. The most popular faith are those of Arammu, Asmodeus, Azu, Emku, Eresu, Laki, Metsäst, Mudutu, Rohkea, Ukkonen, Utu, Vaalea, and Voimakas.

Hirschtal is one of the few places in the Frontier Lands where Asmodeus and Ukkonen are openly worshipped.

Foreign Relations

Hirschtal is on good terms with Sternenhellwolf, its neighbor to the north, as the Barrir swamp proves a formidable barrier to Hirschtal’s expamsion in that direction. Leofwine Bach of Sternenhellwolf is a little upset over Hirschtal claiming the Barrir swamp (and its resources) but acknowledges that Hirschtal got to it first. Relations with Onzethcalet are strained as the younger kingdom was established on Hirschtal’s doorstep limiting expansion, however neither party wants to go to war over the territory, so negotiations continue. Relations with both Ethfamen and Cektoh are likewise strained as Wynnstan has more than hinted that he may forcibly annex Onzethcalet if a suitable agreement can’t be reached, something neither kingdom wishes to see happen.

Wynnstan has also opened negotiations with several Fjernhjem tribal leaders to both curtail raids and establish trade relationships. Leofwine Bach, as ruler of another kingdom that faces raids from Fjernhjem barbarians has been watching these negotiations with interest, though they’ve yet to bear any fruit.

Agriculture & Industry

With rich soil deposited by the Rozux river from the Barrir swamp Hirschtal is an agricultural powerhouse despite its cooler climate. Wheat and oats are staple crops but plenty of other vegetables are grown there such as kale, spinach, lettuce, carrots, beets, radishes, turnips, cauliflower, broccoli and brussels sprouts. The region is also good for sheep, the cooler weather encourages the wool to grow extra thick.

Hirschtal has little in the way of industry. It produces some, but imports more.

Trade & Transport

While there is a good network of roads in Hirschtal most of them are unpaved, and become muddy morasses in the spring, making travel difficult. Wynnstan has been working to pave the roads not just to encourage spring trade, but to make it easier to move troops about. Most of Hirschtal’s trade is with Sternenhellwolf using the Rozux river, however Hirschtal also trades down river as far as Orthatebh on the coast. Hirschtal currently has no overland trade routes but may establish some if a trading relationship can be established with the Fjernhjem.

Education

As with most kingdoms, education is handled by the churches of Mudutu and Emku who provide classes for donations. Consequently, all children come to adulthood knowing how to read and write and do basic math. Some who show an aptitude for learning may go on to study more advanced subjects.

Infrastructure

Hirschtal has little in the way of infrastructure. It has a good network of roads, but most are unpaved and become morasses of thick mud in the spring. Thetil has a good river port and Wynnstan has been working to construct border forts and already has a number completed. Wynnsta is working to make other improvements to the nation, but they take time and money. His current project is to get the main roads paved. A Sisyphean task as the roads keep lengthening as the kingdom expands.

Founding Date

682

Type

Geopolitical, Country

Capital

Thetil

Demonym

Hirschtalians

Leader

Wynnstan Scheuer

Head of State

Wynnstan Scheuer

Government System

Monarchy, Absolute

Power Structure

Autonomous area

Economic System

Market economy

Major Exports

Hirschtel being blessed with rich soil exports a great many agricultural products, particularly wheat, oats, and wool. It also exports the valuable Barrir cedar. Much of the agricultural products are exported upriver to Sterenhellwolf but a goodly amount is sent downriver as well. The cedar wood is usually shipped downriver to Orthatebh where it is shipped to places beyond, such as the New Kingdoms and even the Old Kingdoms.

Major Imports

Hirschtal doesn’t have much of an industrial base just yet, so most finished products have to be imported. It is lucky that it can import finished steel products from its neighbor Sternenhellwolf, but other goods have to be imported from down river. Wynnstan has been looking into attracting some craftsmen to jumpstart the manufacturing base, but so far has had little luck.

Legislative Body

Hirschtal doesn’t have a legislative body, as legislative power resides in the monarch in this case Wynnstan Scheuel the founder and current ruler of the kingdom. He however has a host of advisors, most of them old adventuring companions, who advise him on laws and help with the day to day running of the kingdom.

Judicial Body

Likewise, Hirschtal doesn’t have a separate judicial body. Judicial power resides with the nobility and their representatives. Low justice (non-capital crimes) is administered by the representatives with high justice (capital crimes) being reserved to the nobility. An accused can always appeal a verdict to the next level of the hierarchy, from a representative to the noble, from a noble to the noble’s liege and so on up to the king.

Civil matters are generally handled by a mediator such as an elder or member of the clergy. However, if this fails to resolve the situation to the satisfaction of all involved, they can appeal it to the noble’s representative or even the nobility. Since the noble ore their rep can claim a portion of the settlement in civil cases, people are loathe to resort to this option.

Location

Frontier Lands

Official Languages