Addiaska
The city state of Addiaska is an active and prosperous participant in the play for the rulership of all Klomellien. It got its main rush when pearls where found in large quantities outside of its shores. The pearltrade and miniatures carved from pearls have made Addiaska famous over most of western Ereb Altor.
The citystate of Addiaska is a absolute monarchy and all land is owned by the throne. There is no land owning nobility which can be found in other monarchies and all peasants are serfs directly tothe throne. The ruler is Queen Nadoia Freimann
To become a knight of the throne it is necessary to prove ones worth. Your family or heritage is unimportant and for a serf of the land this is one way to improve ones standing. Exceptions are often made for knights from Kardien or Zorakin, where their tests are mostly a formality. Once someone have become a knight of Addiaska they often join a knightly order in which they can try to improve their station. If a knight or anyone else makes a name for themselves, they might be granted the title bailiff and set to rule an area in the name of the throne of Addiaska.
Structure
The citystate of Addiaska is an absolute monarchy, where all the power is centralized in the one sitting on the throne wearing the title King or Queen. The throne owns all land in Addiaska and rents it to those who wants to use it. Serfs workin the land are often granted a little cottage with a patch of land as part of their yearly income. Rich noblemen often rent land from the throne in order to work a mine, and shrewd burghers might rent land and build a mill. The rent could be a set pay once a year or it could be a percentage of the income. The land can be rented on a contract with no end date or it could be for a year. It is situational and comes down to how greedy the person who sits on the throne are.
Unlike the southern feodalistic monarchies there are no noble landowners who rule over their own domain. Most settlemets are operating beneath a elder of their chosing, and a bailiff who are employed by the throne. The bailiff are mostly involved in the taxation, enforcement of law and protection of the settlement, and the elder take care of the daily business. Bailiffs are almost always from the nobility of Addiaska.
There are no free peasants in Addiska, as all are serfs to the throne. The only free people are the one living in towns or cities.
Culture
Wearing armour and weapons are for the fighting and ruling class. By being armed you show that you are a to be considered a warrior. The double edged swords are considered the weapon for knights, and anyone wearing one who are not part of the knightly orders will be challenged by knights. If they are from another country it is often accepted, but a mercenary who wears one might be called to a duel. One edged swords are the swords for non knights.
The culture of the ruling class are very influenced by Kardian culture and the role of the church is important.
The serfs toil all day and sleep all night, but they get two days off each week to tend to their small gardens where they are allowed to farm some extra food or herbs for their family. The local bailiff are also allowed and encouraged to give a family gifts from the throne when a new child are born.
At the end of a year there is usually a large feast which lasts for three days. During these days the serfs exchange their old and worn clothes for new sets of clothes. All paied for by the throne. During the feasts the throne pay for barrels of beer and wine to drink, and food to eat. The serfs put what they can on the table, such as a home made pie to the bailiff. They also are responsible for all entertainment, but of course the elder discuss it with the local bailiff. Common entertainments are melees with blunt weapons, sharpshooting contests, dance and singing shows, wrestling, sprinting races, poetry readings et cetera. Although the bailiff and other important people have their own tables they do not expect to be served during these feasts as it is for everyone. These feasts are one of the few times where people get together and meet over classes. Many bastards with a knightly father and serf mother have been concieved during the feast, and they are called "winter bastards". They are accepted but have to accept they will be made fun off, as they where concieved during a fun period. The father often adopt them with the thrones blessing, and the serf mother are often allowed to work in the fathers home if they want to. But the throne very seldom allow them to marry, as they do not want serfs to use this to better their station.
Public Agenda
Addiaska are vocal with their right to rule over Klomellia, not as a despot but begnin ruler. But more important to dethrone Mercana who is tyrranic, corrupt and vile. They also claim the right to toll their part of the Maure which Mercana refuses to acclaim to, as they want free trade.
Assets
Along the river Maure there are many small castles overlooking the river, with catapults and arbalests ready to fire upon enemies. Some of them have been built on the northern shore of the Maure, which formally are the city state Sanzas territory. Each of these are a small rock in the diplomatic relations between the two powers. Addiaska are trying to buy the land upon which the castles are built, but Sanzas refuse as they suspect Addiaska would claim more and more of the shores of the Maure. In the future these castles could lead to a war between the two city states.
Demography and Population
Most of the populance are humans of Jori descendancy. There have been a large influx of Kardians, mainly low nobles who have no prospect of inheriting.
Territories
The majority of the Addiaskan people are found alongst the River Maure where the land are bountiful and prosperous. Another populous part of Addiaska are the shores of the bay of Gryppa, where its shallow beaches breaks the waves. There are plentiful villages who used to be fishing villages who now are pearl divers. All villages have a small fortified house for defence where the thrones "fogde" are found.
The land itself are saltfilled and the hilly plains are cold and windy. There are few settlements but those who exists are often specialised in one form of extraction. Salt production is one of them and sheep herding is common. The people are always on the lookout for predators and bandits from Mercana or Black bloods from the Morezes Forest.
Military
Heavy knightly cavalry: The knights often wear a long gambeson with hood. Upon it they brigandin armour with lameller plate on arms and legs. On the head they have a full helmet. They wear shield and lance when in the saddle, but prefer to change to twohanded weapons when on foot. The knights are all clad in the thrones colours and are very disciplined. Their loyalty to the thronem, in this case the queen, are stronger than their sense of personal honour in battle.
Addiaskan fleet:
Addiaskan Maure Fleet:
Mercenaries: Addiaska employs many merceneries and prefers mercenaries from Kardian or Zorakin. But they take what they can get. The focus is infantry companies as the Addiaskan cavalry are covered by their knightly orders.
Addiaskan city guard:
Towns militias:
Religion
The formal religion is The Shining Path as interpreted by the Exarch in Kardien.
Addiaska accepts other religions whom are considered good, such as Olem, Most of the Old Gods et cetera. They outlaw religions whom they consider evil, such as religions who are enemies to The Shining Path or where there are human sacrifises. They condemn aesir worship but do not charge them as long aas they worship in their own homes.
Foreign Relations
Close ties to Kardien
Very cold relations to Arno Novii as they follow the Caddian version of The Shining Path
At war with Mercana
At war with Birkho
Peace with Melogh since a few years. Addiaska do not have diplomatic relations with Melogh
At war with Magilre, but the two realms have much in common such as being followers of The Shining Path and being monarchies. But as Magilre is at war with the whole of Klomellien, Addiaska participate in the war on the Klommelian side.
Laws
The serfs of the Throne are not allowed to own land or bear weapons, unless they serve in the milita. In general all who are not directly employed by the throne needs to get a permit to wear arms in the realm. In the settlements out on the plains the local Bailiff have solved the issue by making all serfs part of the militia at all times. But this is the exceptions to the rules.
Death sentences are common and the severity of the crime is a factor in how cruel and long the death are. Being tortured to death for a few days are known to happen.
Agriculture & Industry
Pearl fishing is in alla villages a communal affair. All the boats and material are owned by the village and at the end the throne. The villages have an elder who manages the day to day affairs of organisaing the fishing and overees it at the end of the day. Within the villages there are often a few artists/ pearl carvers who choses which pearls are to be carved. When enough crates are filled with pearls a boat or cart are sent to Addiaska and return with materials and food. These boats or carts are well defended by the bailiff and his guards, and wears the thrones flag to make sure everyone knows who they are meeting. It is uncommon these boats or carts get robbed but it has been known to happen and the throne have made sure the culprits regretted it for the rest of their short lives.
Trade & Transport
Addiaska are a large producer of salt and have many small settlements where it is produced. The main issue is the fact that Addiska can´t transport it on the river Maure to be sold to the international trade fleets who anchors in Mercan. Instead they must tranport it on wagons to Addiaska and use their own tradeships sailing to distants shores. A costly way of trading and more than one salt caravan have been attacked by bandits or black bloods.
Addiaska used to have many fishermen on the coast of Gryppa bay, but when it was discovered how rich the pearl banks were they became pearl divers instead. And as the plains of Addiaska are not very fertile there is a need to import food. The main supplier of food is grain from Zorakin and Kardien. While Trakorien supplies meat and fish. As there is not enough money in food export for these nations Addiaska have to send their ships to trade.
The naval seagoing fleet of Addiaska is quite large as they are excluded from trading in Mercana due to the war. They can´t formally trade with with Magilre for the same reason, although individual merchants have been known to round the war and trade. Although the throne own the ships and captains and officers are Addiaskan, most of the sailors and mercenaries are from other more maritime nations. Erebians, Felician and Trakorians are common.
Education
The ruling class is well educated and the high arts are held in high esteem. Most of the upper class can read, write and do basic math.
The serfs are taught what they need to know to do the job, and the teachings of Odo through the church.
Infrastructure
Along the river Maure there are many small castles which overlook the river.
The coast of the bay of Gryppa have many small villages along it, all with a small fortified manor for protection. Connecting them all is a well worn road, which is patrolled by the knights orders whom have their castles distributed along the coast.
The castle of Barh is situated close to the Mencaran town of Frecol. Castle of Barh is the headquarter of the largest of the knightly orders and stands ready for war at all time. The knights are known for using their strong and fast horses to make raids into frecol area and causing economic damages. Frecol do not have the military force to counter it effective, but as the knights are careful not to cause to much harm to the people or trade, they do not put much effort into it. Sometimes they send merceneris on counter raids, but often they send merrcenerais they do not want to pay for any longer as these raids seldom are fruitful.
Connecting the settlements on the plains to Addiaska are many roads made up of well worn tracks. They are not formal or maintained by the throne and as such dangerous to travel. One reason the throne have not formalised these roads is a sense of pride. Doing so would mean accepting they do not control the Maure and redirects trade to the capital instead.
Leader Title
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Economic System
Traditional
Gazetteer
Dwarf stone is a dwarven stronghold and mountain which lies within the borders of Addiaskan rule. Its been abandoned for a long time and most of it is undiscovered. But all known areas have been thoroughly looted. There are rumours of great treasures to found within the sealed chambers, but the dwarven traps and monsters who make their living inside have so far protected the abandoned halls of the dwarves.
Major Exports
- Addiaska is a major exporter of pearls. They are either supplies as is or the Addiaskan artists turn them into faboulos little miniatures through carving.
- salt
Major Imports
Food
Legislative Body
The King or Queen of Addiaska writes the laws of the City state. To his or her help she have a law council made up of individuals from the church and scholars of law. Their job is to make sure the law is well written and does what it is intended to do.
Executive Body
The assigned bailiff of an area such as a village or town are responsible to uphold and execute the law. The bailiff are the judge in courtcases brought before him, and he/ she knows they are upholding the law of the throne. They often have a city guard or milita to help with enforcing the law and upholding the peace. Sometimes they have a knight who fulfill the role of sherrif who are responsible for finding the suspect and bring him/ her to justice. If the suspect are good at hiding from the law or leave the City states territory the bailiff put out a bounty on the heads of the suspects. They are often dead or alive as the suspect act as they are guilty by going in to hiding. The bailiff also have the power to hold trial over a suspects who are not present. In which case a establish scholar of law are elected to defend the suspect.
Official State Religion
Parent Organization
Controlled Territories