Paladine

Paladine
The Kingdom of Paladine is located in the northern part of the continent of Ferrum in a wide flat valley. The Sylvan Forest to the South just on the other side of the powerful Shield River defines the border in that direction. The populace refers to themselves as Paladins and everyone lives in a disciplined almost perfectionist lifestyle. Everything has a place and everything in its place. Armor always shines and every blade is always sharp. Two powers exist here to rule the land, The Crown King Phaulkon and his lineage and the Church. Both demand discipline, dedication, devotion and loyalty on all aspects of life. Everyone serves in the military for life. Most fill the ranks of reserves and militia but many are knights and squires while the church sends Templars and clerics. It is the Paladin the protector of both crown and church that lead the militaries and are often the heroes of history and battle alike. This is a nation full of laws and philanthropy with religious devotion and loyalty to the crown to a fault.
Language (Spoken and written) Linguistics of Paladine are rooted in the Atlantean languages with comfortable sweeping syllables, while similar to the common trade language but with a strong accent and precise inflection. Many in other nations think this language is both strong and romantic. It has become its own language ripe with local jargon, slang and terminology. The written word is as common as any other based on the Atlantean alphabet. Written translation is easy
Literature (Fiction, Non-fiction, educational, historical) Most written fiction stories are full of loving romance and thrilling action. Many stories revolve around a hero serving the church, crown or some local power in the service of one or both. The hero is often female as much as male but no matter the story romance and action fill the pages. As non-fiction goes, biographies and the retelling of scandal or downfall are popular as many like to not only keep up with local knowledge but learn from the mistakes of others. Educational material is almost exclusively produced by the church often with religious over tones in most subjects. Historical books are precise and in readily available print. Everything from heraldry, genealogy and battle grounds to weapons development and court recordings.
Music Music is dominated with grand orchestras full with every type of instrument. String quartets are popular in noble settings for parties and masked balls. Dramatic music played with passion be it a single bard or massive theater production music is often filled with visual ques as well. More often than not music has no lyrics, with a preferred pleasure for the instrument. The vocals do have a place and are often similar to the literature being filled with romance and drama. Crooners are often the heartthrob of young maidens during court gatherings with deep rich voices.
Arts (visual, paint, sculpt, carving etc…) Artists here are very talented, everything from simple charcoal sketches created in the market for a few copper to the grand depictions of battle that line the walls of the royal palace that took years to complete. Sculpture is also popular often featuring a beautiful woman scantily clothed or the hero in a triumphant pose carved in white marble. Gold statues are also popular among the rich and powerful and rarely in larger scale. It is a common practice to have ones portrait painted in full uniform and armor to be displayed in the home. Often larger houses have a room dedicated to this doubling as a ball room for gatherings and parties.
Architecture Architecture here is more often than not short, squat and very sturdy. Primarily single story homes of brick blocks or hewn stone with thick walls built under strong supervision and guidelines in strict order and straight lines. In the cities businesses and homes are combined in a two story manner with the living quarters upstairs and business on the ground floor. Timber second stories always white washed and trimmed with dark stained wood give the cities a clean look. Churches are grand in nature often with flying buttresses and stained glass windows. Streets are uniform and well maintained both in repair and cleanliness designed to help snow melt and rain water clean when possible. Even the smallest of villages have cobblestone pavers in the town square. Like most things even the simple common home is designed as a military dwelling to stand up to the common invasions of monsters like goblins, orcs and the like. Roofs are often flat slate and high pitched to keep the weight of the snow from damaging the home.
Gardens Agriculture at home is mostly for visual and olfactory purposes. With colorful flowers and strong smells in mind during the snow free summer months and indoor ever greens for the winter months for a fresh pine kind of smell. They are very disciplined in nature and often trimmed and orderly with straight rows and uniform shapes and sizes. Perfumes are very popular for both women and men. It is common to keep a pine tree in the family home year round.
Clothing (materials, fashion, colors) Clothing here is often wool and worn in layers due to the colder temperatures. Lighter colors and flowing robes are the choice for females while men prefer deep blues and family heraldry for tabards to cover armor during the hot months. Clothing often takes a similar look to that of plate mail giving it an almost rigid and protective look. Some tailors do indeed produce a quilted cloth like armor to look like plate with minor protective properties. Like most things in this nation clothing is made with precision and grace in artistry. Flowing sleeves and full robes to ball gowns and court attire are fitted for those who buy them. When attending church for services the finest clothes are worn, cleaned pressed and proper with shined shoes, boots and armor.
Cuisine The food of Paladine is very meat and potatoes. Beef roast; steak and the like are common. Stews and soups are not far behind. Most soups are of a cream type as the dairies are refined in the north, butter and cream are delivered daily to homes. Sea bass, salmon and Knucklemouth are very popular in large filet form among sea side settlements and cities. Vegetables of common use are squashes, carrots and potatoes. Breads are commonly flakey and light with an almost pastry quality. Although a popular dense bread baguette is also known throughout the kingdom. While nearly everyone in the kingdom has at least a sword and small wooden shield, farmers work in units together to go from farm to farm in an almost military fashion to harvest and herd cattle. Grains include wheat and are highly valued. A popular light meal is a flat bread open face sandwich. It has thinly sliced beef, mutton or lamb, finely diced fresh onion, fresh tomato slices, parsley and cilantro. Sometimes it is served with a heavy cream sauce with dill, lemon or lime, garlic and cucumber. Pork in its many forms follows close behind as breakfast staples of bacon and ham are popular. Eggs from endry and chicken are often delivered with the milk and butter in the mornings.
Pets and animals Mastiff and wolf hound are common pets among those who are knighted other highly prized but rare animal companions include the bearcat and badger. Both have an arctic variant and are even more prized especially among those of Northman bloodlines. As far as farm animals the humble cow and chicken are dominant. Beef is a favored food and nearly a full third of crops are dedicated to feeding the cattle and horses of the nation. Horses here are a source of pride with breeders tirelessly recording bloodlines and breeding. Often shaggy in the winter due to the cold the horses are smaller but faster than those who come from the south. Pigs, hogs and giant ground endry are the next most common farm animals. Small farms with a pair of cows and breeding pair of pigs and several chickens or endry to support the household give a typical look to them.
Religion This religion is based on one true god. A single entity known as God or Arios who is the single creator of the world and all that is in it. Representing all that is benevolent and lawful. In opposition to this force of pure good is the first creation of Arios, Amon the most beautiful angel. Now known as Amon the Dark Lord of Shadow and Fire he is creating demons to battle the benevolent angels of Arios in an eternal battle of good vs. evil law vs. chaos. While the church of Arios is organized and goodly there is no church of Amon but he sends his minions out to create as much havoc in the world as possible. The church of Arios is a rank and file nearly militant organization and is the exclusive religion of Ft. Paladine. Three distinct branches of the church protect its temples and fight the forces of evil. The Clerics who use the divine power of Arios to heal the wounded and defeat the nefarious forces of the world, the Magi who use the powers of magic learned through long and tedious years of study to battle those who would use magic to commit evil acts, and thirdly the Templars who use the might of sword, shield and armor to defend the temples.
Festivals Fete’ Cavalier (Knights Celebration) is the first day of the year and the spring equinox. Celebrated by almost all cultures on this continent, the Paladine festivities revolve around the sacrifice made by knights in battle. It celebrates those who have died so others may live on.
Fete’ Arios is the celebration of Arios as the divine being as creator of the universe. While the church is heavily involved this is a celebration of Arios and not the church. Military Parade celebrates the military as a whole. It is a day for promotion ceremonies, consignments and new recruits. Ceremonial weapons, armor and uniforms are polished and perfected for royal inspection and presentation to the public and the world.
Midsummer Festival is the celebration of the royal family and the summer solstice. A very large festival in Paladine, this celebration celebrates the royal family. While not the actual birthday of the present king this is a day set aside to celebrate the royal family.
Fete’ Triumph (Victory Celebration) celebrates the victory of the last great goblin war. Good had triumphed over evil and the world continues. Bright colors are often displayed in banners, clothing and for the rich a fireworks display.
Harvest Festival is the celebration of the fall harvest and follows the second planting of the season. This is the fall equinox. This festival is nearly the same as celebrated anywhere.
Ice Festival celebrates the gift life from God. It gives thanks to all the prosperity given during the past year. During the evening meal it is traditionally a roasted turkey stuffed with a bread dressing. Sleigh rides and hot cocoa are also popular after dinner accompanied with singing to the neighbors for a refill of cocoa. It is Paladonian tradition to help the poor and give gifts during this time.
Once every four years the Cronos Balance is celebrated. It seems to be celebrated to an extreme here as opposed to other nations. Another philanthropic holiday, families put out scales (representing balance) and place gifts on one end. Weights are placed on the other end to either balance things out or represent more gifts will be given. The holiday is celebrated over four days culmination in the final day when all calendars and time is adjusted to make up for slightly off set recordings.
For most holidays the best armor and weapon are shined, sharpened and worn to church. An inspection from the highest knight in the land to the lowest common farmer present weapon and armor to be graded and any deficits noted for correction. It is also most common on Freeday to step out and help the poor, injured or feeble in some form or another. As a result most do not stay in this state for very long.
Economy (exports, production items etc…) The Paladin economic trade is dominated in precious metals of gold and silver. Lamp oil produced from whisker sharks is another prominent export as well as Mithral and adamantium. It seems the strong ties with the dwarves have given Paladine the vast market share and any larger amounts of this metal are almost always brokered through this country. Wine, spices and imported silk are also strong commodity items. Everyone imports iron or steel but this nation seems to have the gold to pay for it.
Military Every citizen in the kingdom serves in the military no matter station or class. Every farmer, cook and blacksmith does this. The Knights are the backbone of the military serving as commanders and officers on the battlefield. This gives the luxury of the largest military on the continent. However the middle and lower class has a more difficult time gaining and maintaining steel or iron weapons. This has created a legacy line for weapons and armor similar to the Knights for the common citizens. The equipment is always of superior quality to better guarantee a longer life time of service. Training is superior and one of the reasons this is a superpower on the continent.