Albion
The Continent of Man
A Short History
Albion is the continent of Man. By some accounts Albion was first settled by humans some three millennia ago, but what is known with certainty is that the first major colonisation effort took place 1757 years ago. Those human ancestors followed Arran, then the first emperor, across the Alvus Sea in his 500 ships, landing in today's Kingdom of Alba. The first colony proved sustainable, and a colonisation fever took place in those ancient times. All Southern cities of Albion were founded with ten years of each other, the then-capital of the empire - Arrah - only being founded a year after Zaragoza.
The North was settled in time too, however in a longer time span. The Black Forest - which still dominates the northern part of Albion today - back then stretched almost entirely across it. Over a hundred years or so it was slowly whittled down, its fertile land allowing for the foundation of one of the most successful states: Aumont. There is still the perception that those living in southern Albion are generally more complacent, lazy or even weaker than their northern counterparts who had to fight both natural and unnatural factors to claim their land.
The Economy of Albion
Albion is one of the most developed continents on Calcaria. During more than two thousand years of Human settlement it has had the chance to evolve its economy from an agricultural bartering system to a more traditional one reliant on currency. This change was adopted and pushed through primarily by the Empire of Arran, who witnessed the settlers and colonists from Eridas primarily revert back to their old ways of bartering. The change was a slow one, taking longer than the lifetime of Arran to complete. Eventually however, currency became the adopted norm on Albion, helped by a single standard of coin that was able to be used empire-wide. Sea trade with the various city states on other continents also helped introduce a more varied source of goods and immigrants, bringing with them their merchant and financial knowledge. This immigration rush from the rich city-states initially created a divide between the knowledgeable immigrants and the more traditional, poorer farmers who worked the land for generations. Even today many richer merchants and upper middle class citizens still have surnames originating not from Albion nor Eridas, but rather have roots from Xento, Vilverin or Eneita . Today, in the year 568AE a simple, unskilled worker can be expected to be paid no more than 18 gold a year, averaging at five copper a day. A skilled worker, such as a carpenter or cobbler, makes roughly a silver piece a day. Mercenaries act slightly differently, with scouts and rear-line troops earning the standard silver-a-day, whereas frontline troops earning either double or even triple that, whereas cavalry can be expected to be paid five or six silver. Such meagre income may very well provide a man with food so long he has a roof over his head, but often cannot provide for a larger family nor the renting or even buying of property. Thus children – particularly sons – are made to work from the tender age of ten or even eight years old. On the other end of the spectrum are the landowners. The landowners of Albion are an elite of their own, and their currency is not measured in silver or gold, but platinum. Such discrepancies makes social mobility nigh impossible, except for valiant effort on the battlefield or the finding of treasure. As such, many third and fourth sons often turn to adventuring. Albion is home to a history much longer and richer than simple human settlement, with old Elven and Dwarven ruins hiding away in ancient forests or deep below the surface. Even older, human ruins may harbour riches left behind in the haste of retreat, riches that monsters that now live there do not use. Adventurers exist everywhere on Calcaria, and they too play a part in the economy of Albion. It is uncommon but not unheard of that an adventurer, finding a long lost magical item or a hoard of gold, suddenly and immediately jumps up the social hierarchy. Others inhabit old forts and ruins, becoming de facto land owners and even attracting settlers there. Such a shift in social standing often upsets other, local lords or even one of the Five Kings but nevertheless represents an opportunity to risk one’s life in exchange for eternal riches and fame. Currency The currency used in Albion is still the one minted in imperial times. Though they accept gold, silver and copper from anywhere, their own currency has their own names: Copper pieces = Pence: depicting a local figure head such as an Earl or Baron Silver pieces = Shillings: Depicting the heraldry of the kingdom they were produced in on one side, and the face of the king on the other. Gold pieces = Marks: Depicting Danu, the Mother of Man Electrum pieces = Generally not produced, made only under special circumstances, usually bearing the symbol of Luna Platinum pieces = Grosse: Depicting Arran, the first Emperor one side, and the kingdom's heraldry on the otherGeography
The North
Marred by swamps and the Black Forest, the North of Albion has produced hardy people for many centuries. Nature has reclaimed most regions here, and the terrain is generally flat with some low hills interspersed throughout the countryside. A significant feature is the northern peninsula of Damar, home to the city of Seagard. Further East over the water lies Lornar's Pass, and across this the Grimstone Shores and Trondheim.
The East
Often referred to as the Hinterlands, Eastern Albion has scarce resources in terms of crops and fields, but instead its treasures lie in the earth. Sheep are herded throughout its rough landscape and stony hills, and no road runs straight for further than a mile on this rugged terrain.
The South
Hot and humid, the South of Albion is characterised by the White Mountains that separate it from the North, within them the valley of the Free States. Pearly white beaches surround the coasts in Alba and Rivain, and many timid forests dot the land all around.
The West
The Riverlands, or the West of Albion, has plentiful fields and crops that grow much of the continents food. Rolling hills and streaming rivers bring the region to life, though the Azurian Sea brings with it colder shores than the South. The forests grow larger and denser here, mostly thanks to the quantity of rivers nearby.
Type
Continent
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