Simbelhoff
The smallest sovereign nation in Hisenor, Simbellhoff is a land dominated by craggy, mountainous landscapes and rushing, whitewater rivers. It’s people live in hardy, walled towns on the occasional areas of flat land, farming sheep and goats, as well as mining in the mountains that surround them. They are often seen as a dour folk, with a pessimistic attitude to life, but there is a reason they build their walls so high. The people of Simbelhoff live in fear, and many say the land is cursed. The ancient Simbelhoff traditions of burying their dead on the mountain sides has come back to haunt them, as the dead have been rising at night to assault the living, and retreating before dawn, for decades. Because of this, Simbelhoff has a small but highly skilled standing army, known as the Red Jackets after their bright ceremonial frock coats. They specialise in the use of firearms and long ranged weaponry and are held up as some of the finest sharpshooters in the world.
The power in Simbelhoff is held by a hereditary ruler known as the Grand Duke or Grand Duchess. They rule from the Reikfort Estate, a town taken over entirely by the business of government. The current ruler is Grand Duchess Emelia Bellafont Wysteria Reikfort IV. She has never married but her steady hand alone has guided Simbelhoff through three decades of terror. While the people hold her aloft as an almost religious like figure there have, in the last few years, been many unanswered questions. The Grand Duchess is, according to official records, only 42 years old, despite having been a full grown woman when she ascended to the throne 34 years ago. Also, the Grand Duchess has not left the Estate in nearly a decade, with all her decrees and speeches being delivered via proxy. So, while the people of Simbelhoff hold a small portrait of the Grand Duchess close to their person in fervent devotion and hope, there are many looking from outside who question the goings on in this tiny nation.
Structure
The Grand Duchess is the head of state and, from her, power filters down to the Barons and Baronesses.
Culture
The people of Simbelhoff seem grim and dour to most folk, as they have learned to weather the curse their land is stricken by. On the same hand, however, they tend to be people that take delight in the small, simple pleasures. Living to see another sunrise is not something taken for granted in Simbelhoff.
Demography and Population
Simblehoff is home to a great many dwarves, making up nearly forty percent of the population. Humans are the next most populous, at thirty percent. Gnomes and halflings make up a further fifteen percent, while the remainder is made up by members of various other races. Due to the circumstances of Simbelhoff's nightly undead incursions, everyone except the foolhardy lives within walled villages and towns, venturing out into the fields and hills during the day. There are, surprisingly, a number of Orcish families that exist in the mountains of Simbelhoff, seemingly able to fend off the Undead threat.
Territories
A small nation, Simbelhoff is based almost entirely in the foothills and even some of the lower peaks of the Hisenor Range. Due to this, the vast majority of the landscape consists of rugged, craggy uplands, with the occasional deep valley. The furthest Western reaches of the country, where the border with Poor Mahone exists, are the flattest, allowing for limited farming activity.
Military
The Simbelhoff army, The Red Jackets, are well respected across most of Hisenor. Their name derives from the red, ceremonial jackets they wear, and they have a reputation as sterling marksmen as they weigh heavily in the favor of using ranged weaponry over melee. The Red Jackets have also begun heavy implementation of firearms, resulting in a higher percentage of firearm equipped units than any other nation in Caeteria, except for possibly Eagle Island.
Technological Level
For the most part, Simbelhoff is on a par with other countries in terms of technology, although their early adoption of the method has led the to have an advanced military that embraces gunpowder more readily than most.
Religion
In Simbelhoff there is an odd aspect to the worship of the Pantheon that occurs there. While the nation does indeed worship the pantheon, there are a growing number of citizens that see the Grand Duchess as some sort of divine conduit to them. They tend to worship her directly, believing that she will, in turn, ensure that their messages reach the ears of the Gods. The religious authorities have seen no reason to condemn this practice, as it does not seem to deter from overall worship of The Pantheon, at least so far.
Foreign Relations
Simbelhoff exists in a state of peaceful co-operation with it's neighbors. They know that, should they ever decide to pursue hostile relations, they would be wiped out fairly quickly and, besides, thy have their own issues to worry about.
Agriculture & Industry
Simbelhoff produces just enough food of it's own to get by, importing further supplies if needed. It produces large amounts of minerals from the mountains, although output is not as high as it could be, with many mines having to be cleared of undead on occasion. Strangely, one of Simbelhoff's most successful industries is that of chocolate. Taking pleasure in the small things, Simblehoffian bakers began importing Cocoa and turning it into chocolates. Within years, several famous Choclatiers had sprung up, and Simbelhoffian chocolates became sought after across Hisenor and beyond.
Trade & Transport
The Red Jackets patrol and maintain a highly organised road system within the country itself, and trade passing beyond the borders does so by road.
Education
Most folk in Simbelhoff remain uneducated and illiterate their whole lives, unless their job requires them to be otherwise. The Barons are educated privately.
Infrastructure
Every settlement in Simbelhoff has walls. They are a necessity of life there. The Red Jackets also operate a number of highly defensible forts around the country, including a number on the borders. The larger towns have well developed sewage systems and they also try to ensure that water is brought into the settlement somehow, rather than people having to leave to get it.
Founding Date
PR.1201
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Demonym
Simbelhoffian
Leader Title
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Market economy
Major Exports
Simbelhoff exports tonnes of it's highly sought after chocolates each month, headed to all corners of Hisenor. It also exports small amounts of common metals in both ore and refined states.
Major Imports
Simbelhoff imports foodstuffs and luxury goods, as well as Cocoa for the Chocolatiers.
Legislative Body
The laws of Simblehoff are laid down by The Grand Duchess herself, supposedly under advice from her Barony Council.
Judicial Body
Due to Simbelhoff's unique circumstances, the laws of the nation are enforced by the army, The Red Jackets, with any officer of Major rank or above empowered to act as a judge.
Official State Religion
Location
Neighboring Nations
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