Romborn

Overview

Vast swathes of farm land and agriculture make up the majority of Romborn. The region is the largest of all the provinces in Grouce. The area is primarily made up of plains and arable farmland. Small towns and hamlets dot the countryside and the only area that is considered a city is Tulluran. Calling Tullaran a city is somewhat misleading, as the area is only busy for one month a year. During that month the city becomes a massive agricultural trade show and auction called the Great Plains Show. The region stretches from the Forest of Rhofan to the East and South, the Beresto Mountains to the North, and Sherpmel to the West. The region is the least densely populated of all the provinces, but accounts for nearly eighty five percent of food production and almost ninety percent of textile production. The region is almost entirely self sufficient, using domestic lumber to build their houses and only importing exotic goods.

The area was originally much smaller before the War of Unification. However, since Romborn took Amersham's side in the conflict, they were rewards with a large tract of land. After the war, a new ruling body was established to oversee the area. The Agricultural Board and the Seven Point Judges oversee the province and run the Great Plains Show yearly in Tulluran. The board is made up of the five families that own the largest amount of assets and is determined at the end of the Great Plains Show. The judges are lawmen appointed by their own body to enforce the rules of the province.

Because of the importance of land control in determining political power, land auctions and sales are highly profitable and extremely competitive. Since all of the land in Romborn has been claimed, when any land is up for sale the competition to claim it, and by extension control more assets, is fierce. Even small plots of land are extremely valuable and are often viewed as extravagant gifts and status symbols.

The region's dispersed population has led to a lack of a cultural identity. The majority of infrastructure is spent on maintaining major roads and trade routes used to support the agricultural business. As such, some criticise the lack of social services. The laws of the province follow a similar pattern and are primarily focused on agricultural regulation and are executed by a decentralized law enforcement agency. While people from outside the area criticize the system, those in the region have actively pushed back on external reforms.

History

Founding

Romborn was established in the lower steppes in the south of Vinmur where the Beresto Mountains give way to the plains. The nation was started in the 3rd millennium BU by groups of people who originally came together to worship the Followers of the Ode as the religion started to spread south. The people who had been nomadic herdsman, following herds of deer and cattle through the countryside, established small communities to support one another and to have a place to more regularly worship their new gods.

As the communities grew in size and started cultivating, they banded together to help support each other. By working together farms were able to increase their yield and the resources of the area started to grow as the people were able to devote more time to it. Eventually the land they claimed grew until it came up to the border of the nation of Sherpmel. While the farming country had little in the way of defense and would have quickly fallen to the Sherps under normal circumstances, because of the actions of Marcus Sherp Sherpmel turned a new leaf and did not attack the agricultural nation.

War of Unification

During the War of Unification Romborn initially took a neutral stance in the conflict. However, after being promised a large tract of land if they supported Amersham in the conflict, Romborn allied itself with the Amer. During the war, Romborn provided food and materials to Amersham, greatly bolstering their troops and giving them the edge in the prolonged conflict. Romborn was also able to help Amersham open talks with Sherpburg, which eventually led to Amersham being able to bring the adventuring province into their fold.

Geography

The majority of Romborn is a flat plain that is sparsely populated by villages. Nearly the entirety of the province has been worked into farmland and fields with communities often simply representing an intersection of several farms. The temerapture of the region is mild and the years often have a long enough growing season to support two rounds of planting. An early crop that we be used to fertilize the soil and create feed and a food crop used to feed the people of Grouce. The province is bordered by Vinmur, Sherpmel, and Amersham determined by the Beresto Mountains. Its border with Sherpburg is defined by the forest and the Karishy River which it also shares with Granhan.

Adjacent Provinces and Countries

• Amersham: North and Northwest
• Vinmur: North and East
• Sherpburg: East and South
• Granhan: South
• Sherpmel: West

Climate

The change in seasons is felt no where stronger than in Romborn, as the seasons determine the livelyhood of the provinces inhabitants. The province starts the year with a long rainy season from the Effinigan Ocean and the remnants of tropical storms that travel in from the coast. During this rainy season the people of Romborn will plant their first crops. After the rainy season comes a long summer and a second batch of planted crops. With the close of summer comes the harvest and preparation for the mild winter ahead.

Major Cities

The only major population center in the province is the capital of Tulluran. The capital of the province is the 17th largest city in the nation and is only densely populated during the Great Plains Show every year. The city lies near the center of the province along the Road of Gold where it acts as an intersection with several other major roads.

Demographics

The province of Romborn is the home of the majority of the nations halfling population. The halflings emigrated out from Vinmur when the land was first being settled. The only other races of notice in the province are gnomes and humans. The proclivity of smaller races to call the province home has led to some dubbing the province "The Giant Land of Littles".

Administration

The province of Romborn is overseen by the Agricultural Board and the Seven Point Judges. Each group oversees part of the province's administration and are used to keep each other in check. The Agricultural Board are in charge of setting the laws for the province and are selected from the five families who hold the most resources in the province. After the Great Plains Show, new members are determined for the board. The Seven Point Judges are a group who travel the province and enforce the law. They settle disputes and carry out both trials and investigations as needed. The judges are appointed by one another and serve a seven year term. After seven years, the judges can either be reappointed or they can chose to step down from the position. Reappointment requires the consent of twice the number of judges that initially appointed them for confirmation.

Economic Capability

The economic capability of the region comes from the farm land and natural resources of the province. The largest economic boon period for the province is during the Great Plains Show, where famers will auction the goods they have grown and produced over the year to each other and outside merchants. The show often makes the city of Tulluran the highest concentrated area of wealth for a brief time each year before the farmers disperse into the country side once more.

The majority of wealth that is collected by Romborn remains in the province, with the exception of national taxes. As most farms produce enough for those who work them to live, and those that don't can often by from other local farms, little is bought by Romborn. Even lumber is grown by some farms, making foreign building materials relatively unnecessary. The only goods that are brought in are luxury goods that are used to show wealth or status, however few people of Romborn have both the means and the desire to flaunt their excess.

Culture

Because of the disperate nature of the province Romborn does not have a unified cultural identity. The only major commonality between the people of the province is the worship of the Followers of the Ode. The religion was partially formed in the region and has maintained a heavy presence in the area. The religion and its stories often act as the base for many of the province's myths and as well as its law and social codes.

Contents

Type

Geopolitical, Province