The Kingdom of Larcen
Politics: The Kingdom of Larcen is headed by a King and Queen who have carried the Larcen name since the arrival of humans to the island many centuries ago. Every generation of Larcen king has children until they have at least four sons to inherit the throne and three Principalities (which has resulted in a rather expansive family tree if many daughters are born; the historical record is nine daughters, some of which are still alive as it occurred only two generations ago). The four sons are then tutored by their respective mentor: the eldest son by the King himself, and the other three by one of the three current Princes. When the sons are old enough to succeed their mentor, the mentor retires to an advisory position. This system heavily relies on the family connection and bonding in the boys’ youths in order to maintain a strong, tight-knit political landscape, where the eldest brother not only oversees but takes care of the adult. Typically, taxes are the highest in the Principality of Marcai, where the transformation of ores to finished goods generates the most revenue, while the Principality of Aloret has the lowest taxes to offset also having the lowest average income. Tariffs are low on average, as the Kingdom of Larcen aims to leverage its geographic location to become a central trade hub for surrounding nations, though there are some exceptions -- tariffs on things such as livestock are high to, in tandem with overgrazing laws, assist in maintaining the fragile island ecosystem (this was a direct result of a previous famine that nearly wiped out human life on the island after a severe overpopulation of livestock resulted in a shortage of grazing lands, which created a massive shortage in the next generation of livestock).
Structure
King of Larcen - The ultimate leader of the Kingdom of Larcen. Manages a figurehead position and handles international affairs, such as tariffs, maritime policy, declarations of war, and select few internal affairs such as passing "supreme laws" that supersede the Principalities' laws, being able to take control of the Principalities' local militias in times of unrest, or acting as supreme judge in the most significant legal cases.
Queen of Larcen - She is the King's councilor and most trusted advisor. Spends much of her time serving as judge for legal cases between the Princes' and the King's level of jurisdiction (much the same as the Court of Appeals in the U.S.A.), as well as being a public figure of goodwill who walks amongst the people and takes their complaints straight to the king.
Prince of Larcen - One of the three brothers of the current King. Handles local taxation, regulation, and lawmaking in their Principality, as well as advising the king on more lay-of-the-land matters that might require laws to be enforced across all three Principalities (ex. criminal extradition, weather effects on export production, etc.). Serves as a checks-and-balances system against the King, where two of the Prince, if they gain support from either the third Prince or the Queen, can veto a "supreme law" put forth by the King (the latter is much more common than the former, as usually the vetoed law is one put forth by one of the Princes and okay-ed by the King into a "Supreme Law")
City Governor/Town Chief - Every town and city has someone in charge. These people make political decisions on a local level and act with relative autonomy, but ultimately tip their hat to the Prince of their region on the largest legal matters or inter-city affairs. Additionally, in the capital of the three Principalities, these governors act as assistants and supervisors to the Prince of that region. They weigh in as judiciaries for enforcement of Principality-level laws, while only presiding over city-level laws as a peace-enforcing official, with justice regarding local laws meted out by a jury of citizens.
Militia of Larcen - Rather than rely on employing large numbers of soldiers at all times, the Kingdom of Larcen relies on heavy fortifications designed to be operated by the minimum number of trained soldiers and militiamen. Numbers are backfilled by locals who undergo periodic (often annual) combat training by battle instructors employed by the Princes.
Public Agenda
To shape Larcen into an economic powerhouse through trade across the Doraic Sea.
Assets
Natural Resources: Timber, wild game, exotic/unique fungus varieties, wind power, industrial scale fishing
Mining: Iron ores, gemstones (minor production), coal, granite
Military: Navy of 15 ballista-armed corvettes (60-man crew) plus 30 smaller trader/envoy escorts (25-man crew). Standing army of 2000 career soldiers + ~40% of 300k populace with mediocre weapons training.
Castles/Fortified Locations: TBD
History
After the bloody War of Kalet Gol, humans (with the support of high elves) were victorious in driving back several united clans of demi-humans spearheaded by the lizard-folk chieftain Kalet Ur'Zaak. Although not involved with the war, the High Elves of Tel Eiren showed favor to the humans for eliminating many of the "unclean" races by granting them the island as a new home, away from the lands that had been destroyed in the war so that the fields and forests could regrow in peace. The Larcen family were a powerful military clan during the War, and were granted exclusive right to rule the new land by the High Elves. In return, elves have been granted special privileges by the Larcen family since the foundation of the nation, up through modern day (392 D.H.)
Demography and Population
Racially, Larcen is relatively diverse. The majority of the 300,000 who call Larcen home are humans, dwarves, and elves of all three varieties (wood elves being the most numerous, followed by high elves, then the drow), shortly followed by orc and half-orc varieties. While perhaps considered an unusual sight in the more rural towns and hamlets, the likes of halflings, tieflings, gnomes and tritons can be found around the larger coastal cities from time to time, as they cluster together in small enclaves within different segments of larger cities. Unusually, dragonborn are rarely found amongst cities, as they live in an isolated clan high among the Arcan Mountains; few, however, leave in order to dedicate their lives to perfecting crafts not available within the confines of their clan, such as seafaring or leading soldiers in combat. Generally, humans are prevalent throughout Larcen. Dwarves and orcs tend to find themselves working amidst the mines and forests of the Principality of Aloret, where their brawn gives them ample strength to harvest trees and ore all year long, while wood elves handle the forest’s more delicate treasures. Drow tend to live along the foothills on either side of the Arcan mountain ranges, where the natural caves give them respite from the sunny Mediterranean-like summers. Other unusual races, such as aarakocra, aasimar, genasi, firbolgs, and kenku are typically considered rare curiosities, and are assumed to be tourists enjoying Larcen’s fair weather or envoys of other nations from across the Doraic sea. Population rates are on a slow upswing, with an average of ratio of 1.3 births to deaths over the year.
Technological Level
While the development of the Larcenian Navy is relatively slow due to the limited acreage over which they can grow lumber for shipbuilding, they have advanced the art of shipbuilding a considerable degree with the development of compartmentalized hulls, superior sail designs, and the addition of ballistae to the decks of warships. The ballistae are armed with three different types of warheads: grappling bolts with sharp heads and attached to sturdy ropes, designed for reeling in other, potentially faster ships; flat-head bolts with beads of Necklace of Fireball attached to the end, designed to punch large holes in ships and set fire to the dry interior structures, and stone-throwing pouches for throwing stones as a kind of rudimentary "cluster shot".
Agriculture & Industry
The Kingdom of Larcen rules over the island, splitting the land into three major principalities ruled by the King’s brothers. To the southeast lies the Principality of Harol, where the island kneels to the sea in a sprawling sapphire-colored coastline. International trade flourishes amongst the natural bays and coves, and fishing provides for much of the local populace as well as a significant portion of Larcen’s exports (of which a unique species of mussel native to the location is exceptionally favored). To the southwest, the Principality of Marcai, where industry flourishes on the high cliffside coasts. With revolutionary new machines powered by the constant updrafts from the seaside cliffs, they excel in producing finely milled flours, sawn timber, and exceptional irons and steels thanks to naturally-aspirated blast furnaces from the fast-moving winds. To the north, on the other side of the Arcan Mountains, lies the Principality of Aloret. With the Arcan mountain range lying within their domain, they rely on supplying the island country with important raw resources, using an innovative pulley system to haul timber and ore up the northern slopes of the mountain to Lake Larenet, where timber and ore (in carved wooden boats) are floated down the southern slopes by river with the assistance of log drivers. The area is also known for its plentiful game and gathering, and is the host location for a special foraging competition held each spring by the locals.
Infrastructure
Within cities, roads paved with cobblestone are a common sight, while dirt roads are prevalent everywhere else. The largest cities (Valeria, for example) may have sewage, castles, perimeter walls, and town centers with free space for hosting events.
Founding Date
52 D.H. (Dominatus Hominum -- Domination by Humans)
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Demonym
Larcenian
Leader
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
Standard DnD 5e coinage - Platinum Coins (PP) are largely reserved for significant transfers between royal treasuries of the Principalities and Highrock Castle, while Gold, Silver, and Copper coins (GP, SP, and CP respectively) are used for day-to-day transactions.
Major Exports
The Kingdom of Larcen is known for exporting exotic foodstuffs, quality iron and steel goods, granite, and other minor ores.
Major Imports
Imports largely consist of clay for brickwork, pottery, fertilizer to assist in regrowing trees and crops, and additional livestock in years when overgrazing laws require livestock population culling.
Legislative Body
King Franco of Larcen. Laws can filter up from the lowest levels of society (local law recommended to become principality law, principality law recommended to become national law), but King Franco (with advisory assistance from his wife) make the laws.
Judicial Body
Individual cities and towns use a jury of peers for minor crimes. Larger crimes are escalated to the Princes or the Queen with a jury of peers, depending on the location, and the ultimate crimes against the state are directly escalated to the King.
Location
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
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