High Kastor
An ancient and proud human ruled Kingdom, High Kastor was formed near four millennia ago, when a group of sixteen petty kingdoms banded together in an alliance to oppose the aggression of the Bastion Mountain Dwarves. In a century long war, the human nations fought the Dwarves inch by bloody inch until the Dwarves decided to retreat back to the mountains and cut their losses. The alliance stuck, and the sixteen kingdoms became the duchies of High Kastor. The kingdom suffered heavily during the rise of Kanarosh two hundred years ago, and the South Western reaches of the Kingdom still bear heavy scars from that time.
Structure
The head of the Kingdom is the Monarch, ruling from Kastor City, advised by their Privy Council. Power is devolved down from there to Sixteen Lords, who in turn devolve power to Barons and Counts within their lands.
Culture
High Kastor is land of Pomp and Circumstance. It's people are highly fond of tradition and ceremony, and tend to place great emphasis on these aspects of life. Of course, this often applies more to nobility and the upper classes, who can afford to spend time making such observances, where as the common folk tend to have a slightly more pragmatic outlook on life, but still never pass up the chance to treat an occasion of sate as an unofficial holiday.
Demography and Population
High Kastor is traditionally a human kingdom and indeed, amongst the noble classes, humans make up the vast majority of faces. In the lower ranks of society, though, it is not uncommon at all to see elves, dwarves, tieflings, half-breeds of all kinds, or indeed most any race represented, as High Kastor thrives on trade, the bounty of it’s coastline, and the riches of it’s vast grasslands, all of which need workers, no matter their size or shape. One race slightly more common than most others in High Kastor are the halflings, who have been a part of the makeup of the area since the Kingdom was founded, and are viewed as much an integral part of High Kastorian society as the nobility.
Territories
Occupying the Seventeen Duchies of the original petty kingdoms that formed High Kastor, the territory spans from the Bastion Mountains in the North and East, down through Chilly, forested Highlands and rich, verdant Grasslands, to dry, dusty savannah lands in the South. In the west, the nation leads directly onto the Celestial Sea.
Military
The standing military of High Kastor is known as the Glorious Standard, and comprises of twenty two regiments, each numbering roughly five hundred soldiers. In times of war, the Glorious Standard can be reinforced by levied troops pulled from the duchies. The Lord General of the Glorious Standard is always a member of the Privy Council, and the role is usually given to one the lords favoured by the Monarch.
As well as the Glorious Standard, the local militias and town guards, which vary greatly from location to location, can be very capable of defending their lands. However, these small, unique groups are slowly being replaced and absorbed by the Crown Guard, a policing force under the direct control of the Crown Judges. The aim is for there to be one uniform policing style across the whole of the Kingdom, although a number of the Lords, Barons, and Counts are against the idea.
Technological Level
High Kastor exists in a late medieval technological state. Gunpowder is becoming more common, mainly thanks to the Legion of Progress, and a number of Airship docking towers have been constructed in major cities. Mining operations are being helped by an influx of technology, allowing miners tom delve deeper than ever before with only a slight decrease to worker safety.
Religion
While the vast majority of people in High Kastor, like everywhere else in the world, worship The Pantheon and the gods within it, High Kastor has a unique problem with cults dedicated to Kanarosh, the Half-Demon who attempted to take over large swathes of the continent. These cults are often short-lived, but can be highly destructive, causing great issues in their local areas.
Foreign Relations
As a general rule, High Kastor tries to remain open to all nations in terms of relations. Long since past it's conquering and expansion days, the Kingdom tries to exist in peaceful co-operation with it's neighbors. Despite this openness to most everyone, High Kastorians tend to have a chip on their shoulders when it comes to the Bastion Mountain Dwarves, and the two nations often find themselves at loggerheads.
Agriculture & Industry
The heartlands of High Kastor are rich and fertile, and the kingdom produces more than enough food to support itself. The port city of Westcliff is famed for it's fishing fleets, bringing in huge hauls each day, while further up coast in the rough port city of Bladesport, Whalers make a good trade. The forests of the northern highlands of the country make for an excellent logging industry, and the foothills of the Bastion Mountains provide large amounts of ores and minerals.
Trade & Transport
Within the country, Transport is handled along well established road systems, with the major roads regularly patrolled. River transport is also a viable option along the large. navigable rivers that snake through the land. For exports and imports, High Kastor prefers to use sea trade, with large docks available at all three of it's major coastal cities, although for more local trade, well travelled roads do exist through the Bastion Mountains to the North and East, and through Tyrest to the south.
Education
The average person in High Kastor is only as educated as their role in society requires, with many being completely illiterate. Those in the higher echelons of society can often afford private tutors, and there is even an academy in Haidenport that is frequented by members of the nobility.
Infrastructure
The large cities of High Kastor all have well developed and maintained sewer systems as well as access to fresh water supplies, whether by river, lake, aqueduct, or aquifer. The road systems are well maintained and the major roads are regularly patrolled. Traditional in style, High Kastor builds plentiful high walls and towers around it's settlements, and operates a number of border forts along major trade routes.
Founding Date
BR.862
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Demonym
Kastorian
Leader
Leader Title
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
High Kastor uses a simple system of minted Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Copper pieces.
Major Imports
While High Kastor is generally self sufficient, it still imports large amounts of soft and hard timber from abroad to satisfy a demand for exquisite furniture and building materials.
Legislative Body
The laws of High Kastor are usually created by the Privy Council, under advice from the Lords of the Seventeen Duchies. The Monarch then signs the law into existence. Technically, the Monarch has power to create whatever laws they wish, and can choose to ignore whatever laws the privy council set before them.
Judicial Body
The crown judges are a board of seven Judges appointed by the privy council . These judges appoint lesser judges to accompany every Baron, Count, and Lord in the land, ensuring that the Crown's laws are followed to the letter.
Official State Religion
Location
Neighboring Nations
Comments