Trandrafia
Trandrafia - also known as the Land of Sanguine Fields or the Grand Duchies - is a country on the far southern coast of Lithria. It is ruled over by a group of noble families, each with their own duchy, county, or domain. The country has a long-standing rivalry with the elven kingdoms to the east that once owned much of what Trandrafia claims as territory. Trandrafia holds the goal to conquer their neighbors for the glory of their goddess, their legacy, and for power.
Depending on the area of the world, Trandrafia is often spoken about with a mixture of judgmental tones and disgust due to the rumors surrounding their culture, but many who visit would find the Trandrafian people to be warm and inviting with a deep, unyielding pride in their homeland.
There are ten duchies, each ruled by a Duke or Duchess but one. The central duchy is the region immediately surrounding the ancient city of Zeiţăresti and is ruled by the priests and priestesses of the Red Queen. The city serves as a central, neutral city where the Dukes, Duchesses, and other rulers can meet to discuss Trandrafia as a whole under the watchful eye of their Queen. For this reason, the people see the Dukes only as regional lords under the reign of the Red Queen despite the rarity of policy coming from Zeitaresti.
Unlike some places, necromancy is welcome in Trandrafia and is often utilized, especially in war. A large portion of the standing army including some of the guards of nobility and guards of settlements are formed of the undead, but rather than shambling skeletons, most are well-preserved and semi-intelligent to intelligent undead.
There is no doctrine or assured belief in an afterlife in Trandrafia. There are those who believe that if you have given your tithes to the Queen your soul will join her in her domain, but those who die, may well be gone for good. This may cause some to be tempted by the promises of a life after this world in other religions, regardless of the limited reach those gods seem to have in Trandrafia, but for most people of Trandrafia it is a testement to the importance of living a life to its fullest.
Depending on the area of the world, Trandrafia is often spoken about with a mixture of judgmental tones and disgust due to the rumors surrounding their culture, but many who visit would find the Trandrafian people to be warm and inviting with a deep, unyielding pride in their homeland.
There are ten duchies, each ruled by a Duke or Duchess but one. The central duchy is the region immediately surrounding the ancient city of Zeiţăresti and is ruled by the priests and priestesses of the Red Queen. The city serves as a central, neutral city where the Dukes, Duchesses, and other rulers can meet to discuss Trandrafia as a whole under the watchful eye of their Queen. For this reason, the people see the Dukes only as regional lords under the reign of the Red Queen despite the rarity of policy coming from Zeitaresti.
Religion
The major religion of Trandrafia focuses around the worship of a goddess known as the Red Queen or the Queen in Red. She is a dualistic goddess of life and death, presented as both one who gives life (often depicted as a pregnant woman in white) and one who takes it (depicted as a woman in black funeral garb wielding a scythe). She is associated heavily with blood and rebirth, requiring the citizens of Trandrafia to give a blood tithe periodically. These tithes do not take life, simply a small donation among several people.Nobility
The nobility of Trandrafia are hereditary nobles whose families have ruled since the founding of Trandrafia. They are long-lived, presumably blessed by the Red Queen, and hold absolute power over their regions. There are nobility outside of those viscounts and viscountesses who rule the viscounties of Trandrafia as well.Magic
Often, a child born with magic is seen as a blessing. Sometimes a child born with magic or skilled with magic learned through study may take the notice of a noble family who will offer them patronage and, for the truly gifted, a place within their family.Unlike some places, necromancy is welcome in Trandrafia and is often utilized, especially in war. A large portion of the standing army including some of the guards of nobility and guards of settlements are formed of the undead, but rather than shambling skeletons, most are well-preserved and semi-intelligent to intelligent undead.
Death
Death is seen as a part of life, but also a shame. The greatest gift a citizen of Trandrafia can be given is the blessing of the Red Queen, granting them long life in her service much like the nobility. Some can even be granted life after life through undeath.There is no doctrine or assured belief in an afterlife in Trandrafia. There are those who believe that if you have given your tithes to the Queen your soul will join her in her domain, but those who die, may well be gone for good. This may cause some to be tempted by the promises of a life after this world in other religions, regardless of the limited reach those gods seem to have in Trandrafia, but for most people of Trandrafia it is a testement to the importance of living a life to its fullest.
Structure
The Heirarchy of Trandrafia is heavily fuedal in nature. While the country as a whole is recognized as being led by the Red Queen, the patron goddess and founder of the country, her throne for the last centuries has been one held mostly in silence, with her church acting as her mouthpieces. Outside of the central capital of the nation, nine regions form the fundamental structure of rule, each led by a Duke or Duchess with Counts, Barons, and Lords under them. While one land, it each Duchy is ruled as if it is its own nation, but are enouraged to work together with other duchy nobility to survive the harsh land of Trandrafia.
Religion
The main state religion of Trandrafia is the faith of the Red Queen. While this religion has splintered into some smaller sects, the official religion is the oldest sect which has taken the name the Claret Covenant. They resolve matters of faith within the church and words from the Red Queen. Their station as the voice of the Red Queen affords them emense power in Trandrafia, even over some of the nobility.
Foreign Relations
Trandrafia has a poor reputation among many foreign nations, and not for lack of reason. Trandrafia is often described as a terrible place full of monsters, ruled by monsters - vampires in most tales -, and cursed lands filled with the spirits of the dead. In some places it is only ever referred to as "the Deadlands". Trandrafia has the worst relations with the Dawn Principalities to the west, from which they took the lands they currently hold nearly 1000 years ago. The Forest of Graves is also blamed on Trandrafia for the actions of their last king known coloquially as the Palid King or the White King.
That being said, enough effort by some seaside duchies has opened some trade with foreign nations, namely Zarath and Lerandora.
The citystates of the Grave Accord and the Dawn Principalities have no qualms about attacking any Trandrafian who crosses their borders if they suspect them of foul magic or malicious intents.
That being said, enough effort by some seaside duchies has opened some trade with foreign nations, namely Zarath and Lerandora.
The citystates of the Grave Accord and the Dawn Principalities have no qualms about attacking any Trandrafian who crosses their borders if they suspect them of foul magic or malicious intents.
Laws
As with most feudal lands, the lands of a Duchy belong to the Duke or Duchess of the land who in turn grants those lands governance to lesser nobility who then grants those lands to their lessers. Anyone who holds land is a lord, otherwise their lands belong to the lord of the region.
Blood Tithe
Each month, a tithe or tax of blood must be taken from every region in every duchy and given to the Queen. This tithe ensures the continued protection of the Red Queen and the Dukes and Duchesses of the regions. These tithes do not require - rather are against - the sheding of blood to the death, requiring communities to visit the local temples or blood vaults to make their donations as a group.Laws on Magic
Founding Date
185 DEARTH
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Alternative Names
Land of Sanguine Fields, Land of Roses
Demonym
Trandrafian
Leader
Founders
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Oligarchy
Power Structure
Federation
Gazetteer
- Castle Ticalos and the Traitor Lands
The ruins of Castle Ticalos, whose rulers led their people in a sacreligious ritual using the blood from one of the blood vaults. For their transgression, they were transformed into inhuman monsters and are still hunted. Their castle, and the keeps of a few of their lords and barons under them, are considered cursed and only ventured to as a means of ensuring the castle has not been reinhabited by the vilebloods that once lived within it.
- Rotten Fen
The lands where the Rotten Fen now sits were once the primary lands of one of the houses of Obraria. The exact details are not commonly known, but during a war with a rival house's forces, their lands fell into a state of decay that spread out through the waterways that met there. Neither force survived the aftermath of that combat and the remaining fighting soon quieted. With the waterways dammed up, the Rotten Fen is contained. While it is an oft-avoided place in Trandrafia, rumors have spread of meetings with people who have made the fen their home by some miracle.
- Vanteanu Castle
Castle formerly belonging to the Duke of Ceskivania and their family. During the tyranny of the Palid King, Sorin Vaneanu led the charge against their attempted transformation of Trandrafia. For this, he was lauded as a hero, but that would be short lived after his attempt to invade the holy city of Zeitaresti and overthrow the Red Queen's rule. For this the family was hunted and their home was sundered. It now sits upon its hill as a testament to the hubris of those who believe they can challenge the Red Queen.
- Jadeleaf Forest
- Gloamfire Peak
- Zeiţăresti
Currency
Currency in Trandrafia are in the form of metal coins like most other places in the world, but where most other places use gold, silver, and copper, Trandrafia substitutes silver for electrum.
Official State Religion
Subsidiary Organizations
Related Traditions
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Comments