The Rilgan Diet
The noble houses of Rilga have ruled the lands in the western reaches of the Caldhan Lowlands for centuries, developing from semi-nomadic herdsmen to a thriving civilisation. The Rilganlaw, the area under the rule and customs of Rilga, is governed by a leading council comprised of the heads of every major family in the land, known as the Rilga Diet. From the capital city of Somiochr, one of the most eminent cities on the continent, the aristocracy of Rilga meet, debate and rule on matters of national import. All of the numerous noble houses are represented at the Diet, as well as the High Provost of the Skeinwynd Institute, and the Iron Marshal, the high inquisitor of the Iron Hands.
Rilgan society places great esteem on magical ability and arcane knowledge, and for centuries stretching back to the Titanic Age the people of Rilga have revered and idolised those who practice the arcane arts. The location where Somiochr now stands is believed to be the site where the mythic sorceress Mairgwen saved her people and her homeland from destruction when the seas threatened to drown them all. Her knowledge was passed down and over generations the secrets of the arcane slowly spread and disseminated across Rilga, with those who showed the greatest aptitude going on to consolidate their power to become the ruling class. To this day, the nobility of Rilga go to great length and expense to ensure that all their children are given a rudimentary education in magical practice, as much to maintain their status and prestige than for any practical application.
Almost three centuries ago, the reputation of Rilga was irreparably scarred by the cruel and malevolent reign of the archmage Mordred Rannasland. The evils he and his sycophantic followers inflicted upon their own people as well as their neighbors has cast a dark cloud over Rilga for generations to come, and forced those who came after to think hard on the future of their realm. The cabal of rebels who eventually brought Mordred down were swift to assume control of Rilga's institutions and noble houses. With inquisitorial efficiency, they set about rooting out all those who had shown even fleeting support for Rannasland, stripping them of all titles and ranks.
To guard against the rise of a second dark tyrant, two new institutions were created to oversee the ruling and magic-practicing classes. The Iron Hands, an autonomous organisation committed to policing the practice of magic both within Rilga and the Dales, and the Skeinwynd Institute, a coalition of arcane practitioners bound together by shared laws and philosophy. From that day forward, any person who was to study magic would be required to train under the supervision and tutorship a trusted member of the Institute. On top of that, no family could have more than two of its members as part of the Institute, a ruling imposed to ensure no one family could attain magical superiority over the others.
The townships of Rilga, along with Somiochr, are ruled by the noble families that took control after Mordred's fall. Some of them are old and respected bloodlines, but others are relatively new, related to the esteemed members of the Skeinwynd Brotherhood. These noble families are the landowning class of Rilga and carry the authority to govern their estates as they please, provided they are in keeping with the laws passed by the Diet. The day-to-day governance of the settlements under the lords rule is often left to a trusted subordinate to act as mayor, known as a reeve. Over the past century, the social hierarchy of Rilga has become less rigid than it once was. The merchant and artisan classes are enjoying a rise in influence and political power to rival that of the younger noble houses.
In the past, Rilga was not reliant on a standing military to defend its citizens, instead trusting to the powerful magics that the nobility could unleash upon wandering monsters or raiders. Now, with the magical dominance of Rilga much in decline, Rilga now utilizes a citizen levy to defend their settlements and all noble families have adopted the Langharad tradition of keeping a body of retainers and sworn swords as personal guards. Unwilling to completely abandon their magical inheritance, a number of Rilgan nobles have begun to revive ancient customs of warriors who martial arts with rudimentary magic. Many noble scions who are not chosen to join the Skeinwynd Institute go on to become eldritch knights, bladesingers or arcane archers.
A number of houses desire to forge a new future for their nation, distancing themselves as much as possible from the shames of the past. They believe the practice of magic should be heavily regulated, and that Rilga's new future will be one of culture and trade. They advocate international relations and cooperation, and members of this faction were responsible for the new alliance with the Earldom of Gungarad.
However, a sizable number of nobles wish to revive the old glory of Rilga before Mordred took control. They wish to return to the days of Rilga's magical prominence and to free their country from their current subservience to Langharad. Debates between these two political factions can become heated, and more than once has a Diet meeting devolved into furious shouting matches.
In the years following Mordred's fall, Rilga has existed as essentially a vassal state to the crown of Langharad. As part of the reparations agreed to by the Skeinwynd Brotherhood, Rilga was forced to open its borders to Dalean traders and dignitaries, to pay a yearly tithe of gold, and to allow Daleans of sufficient talent to be given the chance to study at the Krystalbrond College. While the majority of the Diet accepts this state of affairs as necessary to reestablishing Rilga's standing, a vocal minority view it as an outrage upon Rilga's dignity, and bristle at what they view as the cultural dilution of their country.
Rilga has only one true political ally on their side. The young earldom of Gungarad to the north-east of the lowlands never truly experienced the horror of Mordred's reign, and thus have no grievances against Rilga. Indeed, Gungarad was eager for an ally to support them as they weathered raids by the barbarians from the north, and Rilga was in desperate need of friends. The alliance between Rilga and Gungarad is vehemently defended by almost all noble houses, and Rilga is careful to keep the relationship sweet as much as they can.
Rilgan society places great esteem on magical ability and arcane knowledge, and for centuries stretching back to the Titanic Age the people of Rilga have revered and idolised those who practice the arcane arts. The location where Somiochr now stands is believed to be the site where the mythic sorceress Mairgwen saved her people and her homeland from destruction when the seas threatened to drown them all. Her knowledge was passed down and over generations the secrets of the arcane slowly spread and disseminated across Rilga, with those who showed the greatest aptitude going on to consolidate their power to become the ruling class. To this day, the nobility of Rilga go to great length and expense to ensure that all their children are given a rudimentary education in magical practice, as much to maintain their status and prestige than for any practical application.
Almost three centuries ago, the reputation of Rilga was irreparably scarred by the cruel and malevolent reign of the archmage Mordred Rannasland. The evils he and his sycophantic followers inflicted upon their own people as well as their neighbors has cast a dark cloud over Rilga for generations to come, and forced those who came after to think hard on the future of their realm. The cabal of rebels who eventually brought Mordred down were swift to assume control of Rilga's institutions and noble houses. With inquisitorial efficiency, they set about rooting out all those who had shown even fleeting support for Rannasland, stripping them of all titles and ranks.
To guard against the rise of a second dark tyrant, two new institutions were created to oversee the ruling and magic-practicing classes. The Iron Hands, an autonomous organisation committed to policing the practice of magic both within Rilga and the Dales, and the Skeinwynd Institute, a coalition of arcane practitioners bound together by shared laws and philosophy. From that day forward, any person who was to study magic would be required to train under the supervision and tutorship a trusted member of the Institute. On top of that, no family could have more than two of its members as part of the Institute, a ruling imposed to ensure no one family could attain magical superiority over the others.
The townships of Rilga, along with Somiochr, are ruled by the noble families that took control after Mordred's fall. Some of them are old and respected bloodlines, but others are relatively new, related to the esteemed members of the Skeinwynd Brotherhood. These noble families are the landowning class of Rilga and carry the authority to govern their estates as they please, provided they are in keeping with the laws passed by the Diet. The day-to-day governance of the settlements under the lords rule is often left to a trusted subordinate to act as mayor, known as a reeve. Over the past century, the social hierarchy of Rilga has become less rigid than it once was. The merchant and artisan classes are enjoying a rise in influence and political power to rival that of the younger noble houses.
In the past, Rilga was not reliant on a standing military to defend its citizens, instead trusting to the powerful magics that the nobility could unleash upon wandering monsters or raiders. Now, with the magical dominance of Rilga much in decline, Rilga now utilizes a citizen levy to defend their settlements and all noble families have adopted the Langharad tradition of keeping a body of retainers and sworn swords as personal guards. Unwilling to completely abandon their magical inheritance, a number of Rilgan nobles have begun to revive ancient customs of warriors who martial arts with rudimentary magic. Many noble scions who are not chosen to join the Skeinwynd Institute go on to become eldritch knights, bladesingers or arcane archers.
Goals
One goal currently dominates the political landscape of Rilga in the current age; that of repairing and rebuilding its reputation and influence abroad. However, differences of opinion on how to go about this are rife in the political discourse of the Diet.A number of houses desire to forge a new future for their nation, distancing themselves as much as possible from the shames of the past. They believe the practice of magic should be heavily regulated, and that Rilga's new future will be one of culture and trade. They advocate international relations and cooperation, and members of this faction were responsible for the new alliance with the Earldom of Gungarad.
However, a sizable number of nobles wish to revive the old glory of Rilga before Mordred took control. They wish to return to the days of Rilga's magical prominence and to free their country from their current subservience to Langharad. Debates between these two political factions can become heated, and more than once has a Diet meeting devolved into furious shouting matches.
Relationships
The ordinary citizens of Rilga suffered in equal measure the evils of Mordred and his cult. Many people were abducted to be used as test subjects in their twisted experiments, and numerous terrible creatures and monsters were cast out into the wilderness by the uncaring mages to plague the villages and farmsteads of Rilga. This shared trauma at the hands of their rulers has not been forgotten a century-and-a-half after Mordred's fall, and many Rilgan citizens are mistrustful of magic-users. Still, with the founding of the Skeinwynd Institute and the Iron Hands regulating the nobles, most Rilgans continue to view magic and sorcery with admiration and aspiration. It is the dream of many parents that their child will show enough promise in the magical arts to attract the attention of the Krystalbrond College or a Skeinwynd master.In the years following Mordred's fall, Rilga has existed as essentially a vassal state to the crown of Langharad. As part of the reparations agreed to by the Skeinwynd Brotherhood, Rilga was forced to open its borders to Dalean traders and dignitaries, to pay a yearly tithe of gold, and to allow Daleans of sufficient talent to be given the chance to study at the Krystalbrond College. While the majority of the Diet accepts this state of affairs as necessary to reestablishing Rilga's standing, a vocal minority view it as an outrage upon Rilga's dignity, and bristle at what they view as the cultural dilution of their country.
Rilga has only one true political ally on their side. The young earldom of Gungarad to the north-east of the lowlands never truly experienced the horror of Mordred's reign, and thus have no grievances against Rilga. Indeed, Gungarad was eager for an ally to support them as they weathered raids by the barbarians from the north, and Rilga was in desperate need of friends. The alliance between Rilga and Gungarad is vehemently defended by almost all noble houses, and Rilga is careful to keep the relationship sweet as much as they can.
Symbol
A robed figure raising a staff, emitting shafts of light
Type
Geopolitical, City-state
Head of Government
Government System
Magocracy
Power Structure
Feudal state
Legislative Body
The Rilga Diet
Neighboring Nations
Notable Noble Houses
- House Fosch
- House Deerbruk
- House Gosmark
- House Penndragan
- House Morfaine
- House Lampet
- House Weimannd
- House Craidon
- House Rodsaith
- House Edinmurgh
- House Ayesfall
- House Rannasland (exiled)
Notable Classes
- Bard
- Cleric
- Fighter
- Paladin
- Rogue
- Sorcerer
- Warlock
- Wizard
Comments