Gelding Wood
Land of Horses and Forests
The nobility of Gelding Wood pride themselves in two things. The lineage of their horses, and the lineage of their families. Vast swathes of the heavily forested nation are given over to noble estates where they rear large herds of horses, many of which are considered among the finest in the world. The common folk of the nation live in small villages and towns on the noble estates, paying tax to their noble lieges, who in turn pay their dues in either coin or troop levies to the royal family.
Structure
The King is head of state in Gelding Wood. He devolves local power to Lords who control vast swathes of the countryside, and Counts who run the cities and towns. These Lords and Counts have, in turn, various landowners and landed knights beneath them who oversee the common folk. Each tier pays tax to the one above, usually in coin or goods or occasionally in levied troops.
Culture
The people of Gelding Wood are proud and hard-working. They have a strong belief that, as long as they stay true to their system, their way of life, everything will be okay. As such they tend to view people stepping outside of traditional roles as somewhat untrustworthy.
Demography and Population
Gelding Wood has a population that is roughly forty percent human, twenty percent half-elven, ten percent elven, and ten percent halfling. The other twenty percent comprises of various races in smaller amounts. The population is spread roughly fifty fifty between the hamlets, villages, and farmsteads that dot the countryside and forests, and the larger settlements and cities. The level of population had, for many centuries, been fairly stagnant but sanitation advances brought in with the aid of the Legion of Progress have led to a baby boom in recent decades.
Territories
Gelding wood stretches from it's long coastline in the north and East to the start of the Demacian Steppes in the south. Heavy woodland covers the West of the country, running up to the base of the Pelator Foothills.
Military
The military of Gelding Wood is large and wide ranging. It varies from vast regiments of levied foot soldiers to standing regiments of some of the finest horsemen in the world. There is also a small standing navy of twenty five warships that patrol the Gelding Wood coastline of Saloess Bay, and two small airships outfitted for military action.
Technological Level
Gelding wood runs in a late medieval level of technology. Firearms are beginning to be slowly integrated into the military, and cannons are in heavy use, but both are far from the norm. Through trade with the Legion of Progress the kingdom has gained access to a handful of airships and has constructed a dock in Sewit's Run for them.
Foreign Relations
The Kingdom of Gelding Wood is currently pursuing peaceful relations with all of it's neighbors with varying degrees of success. It is also pursuing friendly relations with the countries of the New North, hoping to exploit valuable trade routes.
Agriculture & Industry
A huge part of Gelding Wood's industry is geared towards the breeding, breaking, and training of horses. The bloodlines of the horses are highly valuable and prized by the noble families. Aside from horses, the grasslands of the Central Range provide a fair amount of food to the nation, while the heavily forested Western reaches provide large amounts of hard lumber for export.
Trade & Transport
Any products moved internally within Gelding Wood benefit from a well maintained and guarded system of roads that are designed for heavy use. For trade beyond it's borders, the ports of Gelding Wood bustle with trade vessels, and road routes to the south, north, and west are well travelled and considered fairly safe.
Education
Many of the common folk are uneducated and illiterate. The higher classes, such as the landowners and knights, receive a standard education, usually courtesy of a Lord or Count. The noble families and royal family can afford the best of education, often hiring outside tutors or, for the insanely wealthy, sending their children to the Academy of Dawne.
Blood Is Worth More Than Gold
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Demonym
Geldian
Leader
Leader Title
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
The official currency of Gelding Wood is the Gelding. They most valuable coin is a Platinum Gelding, then a Gold Gelding, Sliver Gelding, and Copper Gelding. However, bartering is still a very common system, especially among the common folk.
Major Exports
The finest export of Gelding Wood is, without a doubt, it's horses. Being adept at both grasslands and forest travel, as well as extensive training for war, they are considered the finest in the world. Some of the lineages curated by the noble houses are sold for more gold per horse than the average commoner will earn in their lifetime. Gelding Wood also exports hard wood from it's forests, some of which is fairly valuable as it comes from rare breeds.
Major Imports
Gelding Wood lacks in rich veins of ore, so relies quite often on imported metals.
Legislative Body
Laws for the kingdom are created by the King and his privy council, which consists of 9 of his Lords and closest advisors.
Judicial Body
The crown employs a house of magistrates in each major settlement that oversee the dispensation of justice.
Official State Religion
Subsidiary Organizations
Location
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
Comments