Aldernord
See also: History of Aldernord
Structure
The Monarchy
See also: Alderni Laws of Succession Aldernord is, technically speaking, a hereditary monarchy, with the line of succession generally following a pattern of matrilineal primogeniture, passing to the eldest eligible daughter or female relative of the previous monarch in most cases - however due to certain complexities of the Alderni laws of succession in practice it might be better considered an elective monarchy, which usually but not inevitably follows hereditary lines. The House of Bheuren has held the Throne for almost a two centuries. As of 1344, the current monarch is Queen Margaretha IV Bheuren, a noted military strategist in her earlier years, who took the throne more than forty years ago but remains remarkably sprightly for her advanced age. Whilst some malcontents blame her for the defeat of Aldernord in the Long War, her supporters are quick to point out that prior to the rebellion of Vinzaglio - which is inevitably blamed on the incompetence and corruption of local officials - the Alderni position had been stronger than it had been in a lifetime, and that Margaretha's leadership likely prevented a far more humiliating defeat from occurring years earlier. Her heir presumptive is Crown Princess Hildegard Bheuren van Erling, a skilled diplomat who helped to negotiate the Zallenkirk accords that brought an end to the Long War.The High Houses
The high nobility of Aldernord consists of nine Great Houses: Bheuren, Canthor, Erastes, Mettvergen, Riddacci, Sarren, Votellian, Ysern, and Zaal. By custom and law, children of the High Houses are only considered legitimate if both parents are of the high nobility; as such, the bloodlines of the High Houses are interwoven in such a complex fashion that a class of professional bard-matchmakers find ample employment in arranging suitable partnerships between eligible nobles. In practice, all children born to a woman of the high nobility are assumed to be legitimate unless their mother declares them otherwise. Whilst ascension to the Throne is governed by strict laws and customs, inheritance of title within the High Houses is rather more ideosyncratic. The head of each family - referred to as the Matriarch - is elected by the nobles of the House upon the death or abdication of the previous Matriarch, with each house having its own method of selecting a successor. As with the monarchy, it is traditional that only women can ascend to the rank of Matriarch. It is usual for the Matriarch to likewise be the feudal Duchess of the ancestral holdings of the House, though this is not universal. The lands of the High Houses are termed duchies, each divided into a number of counties and marches of lesser size. A march, in this context, indicates a portion of land that is considered to border on a hostile, or potentially-hostile nation, and is considered to be of military significance; it is considered more prestigious, and the nobles who hold marches are typically granted more autonomy in the administration of their affairs. The possession of a county or march is not hereditary, but is granted by the will of the Duchess and can be retracted as such; the associated titles can thus be considered more akin to appointments than property. Whilst historically each of the High Houses held substantial tracts of land, the events of the Long War have drastically altered the balance of power in this respect. The houses of Canthor, Riddacci, Votellian and Zaal have lost almost all of their holdings, and are - behind their backs - referred to as "Vagrant Houses", lacking as they do land and feudal vassals. House Bheuren has likewise lost its ancestral holdings, though whilst it holds the throne none have dared openly question its legitimacy. This situation has bred great disquiet among the high nobility - and one would do well to remember that whilst the "Vagrant Houses" are greatly diminished, they are by no means powerless, and arguably have very little to lose. Noblewomen of the High Houses may hold the titles of Duchess, Margrave (sometimes styled Margrafin or Marchessa), and Grafin (sometimes styled Countess), depending on the estate that they are granted; noblemen of the High Houses can only hold the equivalent titles by virtue of marriage. Unlanded nobles of the High Houses are usually styled as Lady-Scion or Lord-Scion.The Low Nobility
The Low Nobility can generally be divided into Client Houses who have sworn fealty to one of the High Houses, a number of Alloidial Houses who exist outside of these feudal bonds, and Banner-Knights. The prototypical members of this class are the client houses, who are granted control of a portion of land to administer on behalf of their patrons. In exchange for the payment of a tax called vesselgeld and the provision of soldiers to their feudal overlords they are permitted to take a proportion of the wealth of the land for their own benefit. The obligation for military support is split into two parts: first, the requirement to provide a number of knights trained and equipped for battle; and second, to raise larger forces of levies when so commanded. Client Houses are able to offset this requirement through the payment of scutage at an annual rate generally set to one hundred golden marks per knight, or five golden marks per levied soldier. Alloidial Houses, mostly founded in the early years of the Sovereignty via the incorporation of independent minor powers who allied themselves with Aldernord, are now increasingly uncommon; most are small and own perhaps only a few square miles of land. They are not required to pay vesselgeld, though are still obliged to pay the Queen's Tithe, and are obligated to pay scutage if they do not provide soldiers for the Crown. Furthermore, they are expected to organise the upkeep of their holdings, ensure that the law is enforced, and to defend their lands against invaders or disorder. In recent years, the latter requirement has become increasingly onerous for many Alloidial Houses; the nation's instability and the rise in banditry have led to many such houses finding that, without recourse to the resources of a High House, the employment of adventurers and mercenaries is the only way to combat these emergent threats. As a result, since the Zallenkirk Accords a number of Alloidial Houses have sworn fealty to a Great House to avoid bankruptcy and ruin. Banner-Knights form a subclass of the low nobility who, in exchange for their service to one of the High Houses, are granted the social status of nobility but not the endowment of land. Traditionally, this was a non-inheritable title held by an individual, which did not grant any particular social elevation to a spouse or child of the banner-knight; however in recent years the distinction between a banner-knight and a client house has become increasingly vague, with such things as spouses being jointly ennobled as banner-knights, and client houses being granted a hereditary patent of nobility without land, becoming commonplace. Members of the low nobility who hold feudal or alloidial title are typically styled as Baroness, Baron, or some similar variant, though there are a variety of local variations; unlanded members of minor houses and banner-knights are typically styled as Ser. Historically a handful of families of the low nobility have enjoyed particular privileges and an increased level of autonomy, swearing fealty directly to the crown rather than through the intermediary of one of the High Houses. Known as Palatine Baronies, they are typically tasked with the upkeep and defence of particular castles or areas of strategic importance. The precise terms of their relationship with the crown have varied significantly. At present only two such Palatine Baronies exist: Tonnenkreek, and Witharen. The heads of these families are entitled to bear the title of Palgrave.Freefolk
Below the ranks of the nobility are the freefolk - who are free inasmuch as they are exempt from serfdom, though not from the payment of feudal dues. Freefolk are usually granted tenure of a portion or land and the produce thereof; in exchange, they are obligated to pay an annual fee to the Barony to maintain their status. They have several important legal rights, including exemption from collective punishment. There are two subclasses of freefolk who do not pay these fees: Tenured knights, and yeofolk. Tenured knights are those among the freefolk who are granted tenure of a portion of land in exchange for their military service. This typically amounts to four "half-moons", or 44 days per year. Tenured knights are in principle able to pay scutage in lieu of their service, traditionally set at a rate of two and a quarter golden marks per day of service forgone - though few are able to afford this. Yeofolk, also known as "tenants of service" are expected to provide specific goods or services to the Barony in lieu of, or in partial payment of, their fee; a skilled tradesperson may be granted this status in exchange for the production of goods, for example. Typically this would consist of one day in every fourteen working for the benefit of their overlord, or goods valued at around ten percent of those they produce every year. Yeofolk are not typically granted more than a token parcel of land; their status is closer to that of a citizen of a charter town.Charter-Towns
A number of the larger towns and cities of Aldernord exist slightly outside of the feudal system, their rights and relative autonomy guaranteed by royal charter in exchange for a share of their wealth. The citizens of the charter-towns, often called burghers in the Ysberwaal, are permitted to own property and practice a trade as they wish, without need to provide labour for a feudal overlord; they are likewise permitted to elect a number of Burghermeisters to act as spokespersons and governors, and to set - within certain limits - their own laws and statutes. Charter-Towns and their inhabitants are exempt from the Queen's Tithe, and are instead taxed burghesgeld at twelve percent of the value of all trade that occurs within them. It is the responsibility of the Burghermeisters to ensure that this tax is paid promptly and in full, and any shortfall becomes their personal responsibility to correct. As such, all merchants and tradesfolk are obliged to keep detailed accounts of their business dealings, and most charter-towns levy punishingly high taxes on those who trade outside of the auspices of a recognised guild.Serfdom
At the lowest point on the Alderni class system can be found the peasantry, who exist in a state of indenture under the control of the local landowners. They own no land of their own, but are permitted to work the land on which they dwell in order to grow crops for themselves. In exchange for this, they must give up a significant amount of their labour without payment, usually totaling around one day in every three - but potentially much more. Though not considered slaves, serfs have only limited rights and freedoms. They are forbidden from travelling without the permission of the owner of the land on which they dwell, and can be returned by force should they do so; and whilst they cannot be bought and sold as such, should the land on which they dwell change hands then they are effectively bundled in with it. They cannot be killed without recourse to the law, but are subject to summary punishment by the local barons and their enforcers, the nature of which is often entirely arbitrary. Serfs can be theoretically buy their way out of serfdom, though this is a relatively rare occurrence; more commonly one might be granted their freedom as a tenant of service should they possess some particular talent. Not all serfs are agricultural workers, though they are the most common; many are employed as servants by the freefolk and the nobility, provided with room, board, and a token wage in exchange for working solely for their employers. Their conditions are perhaps a little better, though they ultimately have no more freedom than those who work in the fields.Governance
For most of its history Aldernord has functioned as an absolute monarchy, with supreme autocratic power invested in the Queen; but whilst there is no formal limitation on the powers that the reigning monarch can exercise, this power has always been tempered by the existence of the High Houses.The Grand Council
The Queen is advised by a group of nobles known collectively as the Grand Council, who make up the de facto legislative body of the nation. The power and composition of the Grand Council has changed over the years; in 1344, in stands as follows, with seventy-two seats:- The Crown Princess of the Royal House
- The eight Matriarchs of the other High Houses
- The nine justices of the Royal Tribunal
- Eighteen grafines or margraves, two appointed by each High House
- The nine Apertori, the ranking priests of the Daughters of Null
- The two Palgraves of the Palatine Baronies of Tonnenkreek and Witharen
- The thirteen burghermeisters of Ajakappel, Brenheim, Crobbenberg, Eldemaat, Overmeer, Sassenheim, Schwannenholt, Ulfenbroeg, Valkenholt,Viane, Walswoed, Westerholt, and Ysberinge.
- The Warden of Kalamak
- The Preceptor of Theriko
- The Representative of Khut Oros
- The Chamberlain to the Queen
- The Auditor of the Treasury
- The Chancellor of Gildenschloss
- The Grand Marshall of Aldernord, or their adjutant, should the Grand Marshall be entitled to a seat on the Council for another reason
- The Queensknife, or the Castellan-Regent to the Queensknife
- The Captain-General of the Royal Guard
- The Chief Herald of Aldernord
- The Prioress of the Order of Heliodora Tyrantbane
Culture
Gender and the High Houses
Within the High Houses, gender is legally considered a binary for most purposes, and is generally assigned at birth. There is a well-defined legal route for one assigned female to become a "man by oath" through making a formalised declaration before the Matriarch of one's House; he who does so takes up a new name and is technically considered a different person under the law, being the "brother" of his previous self (though there are a number of legal fictions which maintain some connection between the two persons; for examples, the "sister" is considered to have left all her property in trust for her "brother", along with the guardianship of her children, if any). Such a step is irrevocable, and also has the result that the future children of such a noble are legally considered to be unrelated children adopted by him. There is no equivalent solution for a high noble, born male, who wishes to be recognised as female whilst retaining her status as a high noble; though not impossible, one might be legally declared a woman if it can be proven that the assignation as male was in error. The most definitive form of proof is considered to be the giving birth to a child, though there are other ways that it might be proven; and there are a number of magical and alchemical methods by which such a transition as this might be achieved. A legal grey area exists around those born into the High Houses who are of indeterminate or ambiguous sex at birth. Commonly, such children are raised as male unless it becomes clear that they could potentially conceive and give birth, in which case they might be acknowledged as female; but there is no strict protocol on such matters. It is perhaps notable that whilst there are significant legal differences and social roles between the binaric genders recognised by the High Houses, gender presentation is not strictly regulated, and fashions among the high nobility tend not to be especially strongly gendered in any case. In practice, those members of the High Nobility who do not identify with their assigned gender tend to have one of option - to remain, often somewhat unhappily, within their assigned gender; to transition, and potentially lose legal rights in doing so; or to resign their claim to the High Nobility. Those who fall into the third category are generally treated very sympathetically - it is relatively standard practice to immediately grant a patent of lesser nobility to a scion of one of the High Houses who does this; and if one's own parent House won't do this, another House certainly will. Among the low nobility, the freefolk and the peasantry, gender distinctions are seen as not especially important; the majority of people are considered to fit into one of two binary genders in accordance with the customs of the Ald, but non-binary gender identities are widely recognised and are not considered abnormal or even especially remarkable, though some do have particular cultural significances among the various ethnocultural groups that dwell in Aldernord.Marriage Customs
Among the High Nobility, marriage is considered a binding oath between two people, sanctified before the Nine Daughters. It is expected that such a relationship will be lifelong and monogamous, though in practice there are certain legal fictions which mean that this is often not entirely the case. There is no legal mechanism for divorce or annulment of marriage to take place, and a member of the high nobility is only permitted to remarry on the death of their spouse; however there is a longstanding precedent whereby one might declare one's spouse to have likely died should they have been absent for a year or more and there whereabouts be unknown. In principle this is intended to apply in cases where, for example, one spouse is lost at sea and their body never recovered; but as a second marriage undertaken in this situation is considered to override the first, this has on occasion been used as a de facto form of divorce. The practice is somewhat frowned upon, but not technically illegal; it is sometimes sarcastically referred to as "spending a year sailing". The cultural formulation of gender in the High Houses interacts with their marriage traditions in several ways which are worth mentioning. Though Marriages in the High Nobility are only sanctioned between a woman and a man, they are not obliged to remain this way; a "woman by demonstration" who married whilst she was considered a man remains married to her spouse. Conversely, as a "man by oath" is considered a different person to his previous self, he is not considered to be married to his former spouse, and is thus free to marry someone else; if he does wish to remain in a relationship with his former spouse then it will not be legally recognised as marriage. His former spouse, however, is still considered married - though is permitted to remarry after a year, under the legal fiction that his wife is missing and presumed to have died. The lesser nobility and wealthier burgher classes often have sacramental weddings, imitating the customs of the high nobility; for followers of the Daughters of Nine the ritual formula is often very similar to that employed by the High Houses, though not necessarily with requirements of heteronormativity or monogamy. Among the less well-off, formalised marriage ceremonies are uncommon, and informal agreements between partners are the norm. Customs vary significantly between the different ethnocultural and religious groups in Aldernord.Inheritance and Legitimacy in the High Houses
In line with the customs of the Ald, inheritance among the High Houses passes solely through the maternal line; the logic is often given that patrilinear inheritance is fundamentally flawed as the true father of a child can never be established with absolute certainty - whereas one can be rather more sure of the identity of one's mother. The High Houses of Aldernord part company from the Aldish traditions, however, in the insistence that one can only be a true and legitimate scion of a noble House if both of one's parents are of noble birth themselves, or were directly elevated to the nobility by the will of Erastes Tideborn. The extent to which the requirement for paternal nobility is anything more than a legal fiction, however, is questionable. Adultery is technically illegal among the High Nobility (it being treated as a form of sedition against the legitimacy of the High Houses), but the definition of adultery is quite narrow; in practice it applies only to relationships between a married member of the High Nobility and another member of High Nobility, of the opposite sex, other than their spouse. Even in cases that do fulfill these criteria, the law is rarely enforced, and is mostly wielded as a threat to bring recalcitrant scions in line. It is thus not especially uncommon, nor particularly frowned upon, for a woman of the High Nobility to take a lover from outside of the High Houses, or even to have a child with them; the public appearance of monogamy and fidelity is valued rather higher than the truth of what may go on behind the bedroom doors of the nobility. It is assumed that all noblewomen are aware of the identity of the father of each of their children, or can at least remember it at some later date if they happen to forget; but likewise, given that illegitimacy is a bar to any claim of High Nobility, it is assumed that all children born of a noblewoman of the High Houses are legitimate unless she declares otherwise. One consequence of this is that all noblewoman of the Great Houses have the right to declare any child of theirs (and thus any line that issues from them) to be illegitimate, stripping them of the family name, elevated titles, and their rights as members of the High Nobility. Though the legal fiction maintains that this can only be used when the parentage of a child is disputed or otherwise in doubt, the reality is that the threat of such disinheritance is widely used as a political tool. The only power that can reverse such a declaration is the personal intervention of the Queen - and this has only been used in a handful of cases. Accusations of illegitimacy between members of the High Nobility are treated as grave insults - not because of any inherent stigma that is attached to being an illegitimate child, but because of the implication that one is therefore not entitled to the rights and privileges of the High Nobility. Whilst the mother of one so insulted ultimately has the say in such cases, such an accusation is ultimately less about the truth of the matter than it is a pro forma challenge to someone's worthiness to claim nobility; in the past such accusations were usually settled by Justification by Arms resulting in the death or banishment of one of the involved parties (or even, as occurred during the Year of Six Queens in the case of Queen Theodike II Erastes and her sister Antigone, the death of both participants), and though in the modern era it is rare for things to escalate to lethality, it is not uncommon for wagers of arms to be fought over such accusations.Inheritance in the Low Nobility
Among the Low Nobility, patterns of inheritance vary. Land that is held in alloidium - by the nobles themselves, not in trust or at the gift of one of the Great Houses - along with personal wealth and most other property, is generally distributed down family lines through gavelkind, an equal portion going to each heir. The property of those who die without issue is split equally between all their surviving siblings; if there are none, then another relative may be granted a Writ of Inheritance upon appeal to a magistrate. Where no surviving relative can be found, alloidial estates are reclaimed by the crown. Property that is held in vassalage of one of the Great Houses cannot be legally divided, save by the Great House that owns it. There are two types of vassalage in Aldernord - vassalage temporal and vassalage perpetual. The former is the more common; the land and title is passed to an eligible heir who is the child of the one who held it. The heir presumptive can be chosen by the vassal, but the final decision is made by the Great House, who also have the right to declare any heir to be unsuitable to hold the title; should no heir be found, the High House may then dispose of the title as it wishes. A legal fiction exists that this is used only when an heir is judged to be incapable of carrying out the obligations of the vassalage, though in practice it is frequently used to remove titles from families who have fallen out of favour and transfer them to those who the House wishes to reward in some way. In all cases, the recipient is obligated to pay a tax known as Relief of Vassalage in order to inherit or otherwise obtain the Barony, at a rate set by their feudal overlord; some High Houses have been known to effectively auction off baronies to the highest bidder when they are short on money, though this is seldom openly acknowledged. Vassalage perpetual is similar, though the vassal maintains the absolute right to appoint their chosen heir, and this cannot be overridden by the will of the Great House; the title can only return to the Great House should the vassal die without issue. These titles are rarely issued, and most date back to the establishment of Aldernord. The Great Houses tend to resent their ongoing existence and the degree of impunity that they grant their vassals; there are stories sometimes told of such vassal houses suffering terrible misfortunes in which all heirs meet their demise as the vassal is on their deathbed, and though such things are surely rare, they have been known to occur.Coming of Age
In line with Aldish tradition, a child is considered to become an adult at the point that they take on the responsibilities of adulthood, and make a declaration to this effect witnessed by at least three others. Prior to Erastes' Landing, and in the early years of the Sovereignty, the Ald required all adults to be ready to serve as soldiers or otherwise support their communities, and this declaration served as an enlistment and oath of loyalty to the community. Among the High Houses, many elements of the Aldish traditions are retained, and coming of age ceremonies are generally performed at some point between the ages of 16 and 18 years old; the young noble must be granted permission to undergo the ceremony from their mother, or else from the matriarch of the House. These are religious as well as civic rituals, usually overseen by one of the clergy of the Daughters of Null; they incorporate a formal oath of fealty to the young noble's House and to the Queen, and impart all the rights and responsibilities of life as a member of the High Nobility, as well as emancipating them from parental control. A comparable ceremony is often performed among the low nobility, the only major differences being that there is no requirement for maternal permission, and in the precise oaths of fealty that are sworn during the ceremony. Formal coming of age ceremonies are rare outside the nobility; adulthood is generally assumed to be reached at or around the age of sixteen.Territories
The Nine Duchies
At the height of Alderni power the nation was divided into nine duchies, each controlled by one of the High Houses, plus a certain amount of land which was considered to belong to the Crown independent of the ruling house. Alumark, formerly held by House Canthor, consisted of the lands east of the river Lynd and south of the Alterwald. Its easternmost border was never precisely fixed, due to the occasional territorial skirmishes between House Canthor and the Serjeanty of Trask, but was generally considered to be bounded by the Leonmort Hills and the Labyrinth of Byial. It was considered a rather wild and untamed duchy in the most part, heavily forested save for the areas around its major settlements such as Vaagesstad. Alumark was the site of the original insurrection against Alderni rule in 1124AK, and was among the first territories to fall to the Balthans. It was ceded to Balthas in its entirety under the Zallenkirk Accords, though Matriarch Andromeda Canthor continues to style herself Duchess of Alumark, much to the consternation of some members of the nobility. Cameria, formerly held by House Zaal, consisted of the inland part of Savura, extending from the Pangratic Karst to the river Ptele. The Dragonmarch, formerly held by House Riddacci, consisted of the northernmost part of what is now Savura, stretching from the Pangratic Karst to the border with Mandragore. The duchy was heavily militarised, and often threatened by incursions from Mandragore or the Clans of the Reaches; it was also a major trade hub of trade through the port cities of Mesoscorrana and Campocavola. The Dragonmarch was lost in its entirety during the Savuran Wars of Independence. Hexenhugel, formerly held by House Bheuren, consisted of the lands east of the river Lyska and north of the Alterwald, plus the area immediately around the city of Rostog. A mountainous and heavily-fortified region, it was considered to have significant strategic importance due to its mineral wealth. It was the site of numerous skirmishes and larger battles throughout the course of the Long War, and was eventually ceded in its entirety to Balthas under the Zallenkirk Accords. Kjelslund, formerly held by House Votellian, consisted of the lands between the river Uil and the Lynd. It was one of the smaller duchies, primarily consisting of agricultural land. It was ceded in its entirety to Balthas under the Zallenkirk Accords. Sarrensea, held by House Sarren, once encompassed the entire western coast from Kalamak to the Scorran Estuary, including the cities of Triponzo and Vinzaglio. It was one of the richest duchies, with extensive trade links along the coast and across the western ocean. Following the War of the Seas the duchy had been heavily fortified against maritime invaders - but was altogether unprepared to wage war against attackers from the land; it thus put up little resistance, for the most part, to the Savuran insurgents. As of 1344 AK, only the portion of the duchy south of the river Ptele is under Alderni control. The Ysberwaal, held by House Ysern, consisted of the valley in which the river Ysber ran, as well as the Sternespass and the lands north of the Forest of the Emerald Hunter, to the limit of the river Lyska. The western part is the most densely populated area of Aldernord, including the cities of Ysberinge, Valkenholt, and Ulfenbroeg, whereas the eastern hills are less inhabited but were considered strategically important due to the road to Rostog that passed through them. Following the Zallenkirk Accords, much of the Sternespass was ceded to Balthas, though the majority of the duchy remains under Alderni control. Zallen, held by House Mettvergen, consisted of the lands between the Azellin river and the Alterwald, bordered by the Forest of the Emerald Hunter in the north and the river Uil in the south. The western part of the duchy was heavily forested, with the eastern part consisting of a significant amount of farmland. Under the Zallenkirk Accords, the greater area of the duchy was ceded to Balthas, with only the part east of Bos Withar remaining under Alderni control. Zudemoeras, held by House Erastes, encompasses the lands south of the river Ysber and west of the river Azellin. When the Aldeni first arrived in Kataris the region was mostly covered by fenlands, but over the following decades the greater part of these were drained, and the area became part of the agricultural heartland of the nation. This was not, however, achieved without violence - as the fens were home to a number of peoples including the Batrarchiarchy of Verag and their vassals, who resisted Alderni encroachment until they were overrun and driven from the land. As of 1344 AK, the entirety of Zudemoeras remains under Alderni control.The Royal Isles
Whilst the mainland was divided into the Nine Duchies in the decades following the Alderni conquest, the islands off the western coast are considered to be the personal domain of the Queen of Aldernord. Prior to the ascent of Queen Hildegard I Ysern to the throne in 806AK, they were not formally differentiated from the rest of the holdings of House Erastes, and the issue was considered contentious until the reign of Queen Kasimira Sarren (900-924 AK), who claimed the isles as her personal demesne following the short but ruinous civil war of the Year of Six Queens . Since the rule of Mathilda I Bheuren (1132-1154 AK), the isles have remained in the possession of House Bheuren; with the loss of the territory of Hexenhugel, some suspect that the Queen may attempt to declare the isles the feudal property of her house, to avoid the slow decline of the other "Vagrant Houses".Military
See also: Military Units of Aldernord
Aldernord's feudal system obligates the High Houses to provide soldiers at the request of the Crown, and this obligation is typically delegated to their vassals. Prior to the Long War, it had no standing army to speak of; levies were raised as and when required, generally consisting of conscripted peasants fighting under the command of the knights of the Low Nobility. The Low Nobility could exempt themselves from their feudal obligations through the payment of scutage to their overlords - this payment in lieu of service was generally used by the High Houses to maintain their own "house guard", a core of professional soldiers recruited from among the freefolk and burghers, who formed elite units under their command.
During the Long War the practice of peasant conscription gradually faded due to the logistical impossibility of maintaining such armies over a longer period of time whilst also ensuring there were sufficient workers for the farms that fed them. The payment of scutage became the norm among many of the established houses of the Low Nobility, though there was a resurgence in the use of peasant levies during the desperate final years of the Long War. Professional soldiers became more common, both those directly employed by the High Houses and also in the form of Free Companies funded by the charter-towns. These were essentially mercenaries under contract to the Grand Regiments; their leaders were not infrequently paid with land and titles, leading to the formation of such client-houses as House Kruger-Ysern.
Initially, most Free Companies tended to only employ those who already had military experience and could provide their own weapons and armour; however over time a common practice emerged in the employment of bond-soldiers, untrained recruits from poor families or foreign nations who were provided with training and equipment in exchange for a contract of indenture, typically lasting three to five years and considered something akin to an apprenticeship. Many bond-soldiers would later go on to re-enlist with the Free Company that trained them, and for those lucky and skilled enough to not only survive the dangerous life of a mercenary but to prosper in that context, this represented a potential route from the direst state of poverty to significant wealth and social standing. Serfs are legally prohibited from joining Free Companies, though the extent to which this is enforced varies from place to place; the narrative of a young farmhand running away to become a soldier, returning home years later with wealth to purchase the land on which their family worked and thus free them from serfdom, is a popular tale throughout the land (and used, on occasion, as a way of justifying the Alderni class system by the logic that the truly exceptional can always rise to greatness) - but one should note that for every time that such a thing has occurred, perhaps two dozen or more have died in the attempt.
Strategically, the Alderni forces are organised into nine Grand Regiments, each under the command of a general, officially styled as "High Captain", from one of the Nine Houses, all of whom are under the ultimate command of the Grand Marshall. The Grand Regiments emerged from an older tradition in which the High Houses held absolute control over their own private armies, which gradually gave way to the current structure over the course of the Long War; the core of each Grand Regiment is drawn from the forces of the High House to which it corresponds, bolstered by specialist units seconded to their command, and by Free Companies under contract to the Regiments. Each Grand Regiment is at least somewhat specialised in function:
- The First and Second Grand Regiments (under respective nominal control of House Erastes and House Sarren) are in effect the Alderni navy, encompassing both the sailors who crew the ships and a number of cohorts of naval infantry who specialize in boarding enemy ships and in assaulting coastal strongholds.
- The Third Grand Regiment (under nominal control of House Mettvergen) encompasses the majority of the Alderni cavalry
- the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Grand Regiments (under Riddacci, Votrllian, and Ysern) form the majority of the infantry.
- The Seventh, under House Bheuren, consists of a number of specialist units including arquebusiers, artillery, and reconnaissance troops, as well as some even more unusual units such as the Aerial Lance, an elite force of knights mounted on hippogriffs.
- The Eighth Grand Regiment, under House Zaal, acts as a corps of engineers and logistics.
- The Ninth Grand Regiment, under House Canthor, is responsible for strategic magic and similar esoteric matters.
Religion
The worship of the Daughters of Null is the official state religion of Aldernord, and the most prominent one throughout all strata of society. Whilst the worship of the Daughters was promulgated extensively by the Alderni, other religions are rarely persecuted in Aldernord; the general attitude is one of tolerance towards those faiths that are compatible with the Daughters, provided that they do not disturb the peace or agitate overtly against the status quo. The prime exception here relates to the worship of the Lost God of the Sun in the city of Baletto and the surrounding region, which was brutally suppressed by the Ald for reasons which are not entirely clear.
The reverence of the Wakeful Dead as practiced by the Volsangans, predates the arrival of the Ald to Kataris by a century, and the wider tradition of venerating ancestors and egregores dates back even earlier than this. Such veneration is not seen as conflicting with the worship of the Daughters, who could themselves be classed as egregores of an atypical kind.
The reverence of the Monarchs of Ash is common among the Tevashi diaspora, and also has some following more generally in the charter-towns. Whilst there are some fundamental philosophical incompatibilities between the two religions, a certain degree of syncretism with the worship of the Daughters is not uncommon, with some Tevashi considering them to be exemplary figures who might be emulated. Likewise, some consider the Monarchs to be among the Wakeful Dead, dwelling on as ancestral spirits to guide the living - the Tevashi do not consider this blasphemous so much as simply absurd.
The Role of the Nine Priesthoods
Though Aldernord cannot reasonably be considered a theocracy, the Nine Priesthoods of the Daughters of Null play certain specific roles in Alderni society which should not be overlooked. Akandra, seen as a goddess of civilisation, agriculture, and the wild, has a large and varied priesthood. It is the responsibility of the priesthood of Akandra to examine all crops to ensure that they are fit for consumption, and likewise examine slaughtered animals to ensure that they are free of disease, inspect other forms of food that are sold, regulate the production of ale, and so-forth; and for this service they are entitled to claim a portion of all that they examine for themselves. Over the centuries, the priesthood has gradually grown in wealth and influence, especially in the agricultural heartlands of Aldernord; the lower orders tend to operate more like guilds than a priesthood, and in many areas corruption is rampant. In a different aspect she is seen as goddess of the hunt, and is the patron of any number of gamekeepers, rangers, and the like. A particular legal privilege that is granted to those sworn to Akandra in this aspect is that of being able to travel and hunt freely and it not be considered trespass or poaching, provided that one takes only what one needs for sustenance. Among the High Houses, Akandra has relatively few dedicants; those in the higher ranks of her priesthood often treat it as more of a political appointment than a religious calling, though the cult of Akandra the Hunter has always been popular within House Riddacci. Damalith, the goddess of dreams and prophecy, has one of the smaller priesthood among those of the Nine Daughters; made up exclusively of members of the High Houses - most notably, of House Erastes - the clergy of Damalith have few formal powers or responsibilities but a significant degree of informal influence. Many members of the High Nobility make a point of consulting Damalith's clerics when they find themselves confronted with a decision of great importance, or when their minds are troubled by some particular matter; her oracles are said to possess the power of prophecy, though it is often said that the Poet of the Dreaming Depths never directly tells a petitioner what course of action they should take, but may grant them a certain degree of insight into the problems that they face. Disphona is worshiped in three aspects, and her priesthood is likewise divided into three parts: of merchants, of law, and of travellers, though the three are nontheless heavily intertwined at various levels. The mercentile priesthood has certain responsibilities for overseeing markets and often act as scriveners and notaries in addition to their ceremonial functions. The legal priesthood tend to be scholars of jurisprudence, and have a major role in the Alderni system of law; in particular, the members of the Royal Tribunal are all drawn from the higher offices of the priesthood. Finally, an element of Disphona's priesthood is concerned with the protection of travellers; various organisations operate under the guise of clergy of this kind, providing protection for travelling merchants or patrolling the roads to keep them free of bandits - though the extent to which these "religious sodalities" are distinguishable from mercenaries, or brigands themselves for that matter, is perhaps debatable. In both this latter role and some aspects of their mercentile priesthood, the dedicants of Disphona often face stiff competition from secular guilds - competition which has turned violent on more than a few occasions. Ekirena, the Midwife of Heaven, is one of the most widely revered of the Nine Daughters among the lowborn, despite her formal priesthood being relatively few in number. Associated with medicine and midwifery, her adherents can be found across all strata of society; almost every village will have a midwife who has been initiated and trained under the patronage of Ekirena, and likewise a great many apothecaries, physicians, and healers of all kinds are at least peripherally involved in her cult. Most are not formal members of her priesthood, as doing so require a sworn oath not to take payment for the healing of the sick and injured; some of those who do formally join the priesthood exist as members of mendicant orders who travel from village to village, treating those who need their help and enjoying the hospitality of the village as a whole, whilst others work in charitable institutions in larger cities, offering treatment without payment but readily accepting donations from those who can afford to do so. Among the higher ranks of the priesthood, accessible only to those born into the High Houses, this tends to be less of a barrier - for whilst the wealth of he High Nobility varies between septs, few would ever need to rely on paid work. Ektrophos, Guide of the Stars, has one of the smaller, and more mysterious of priesthoods. She is widely revered as goddess of hearth and home, and is called upon as a protector and bringer of good fortune by the nobility and the common folk alike; most settlements have some form of shrine or temple to her, that she might watch over and extend her protection to all who dwell there, but save for in the largest cities these shrines will generally be tended by lay initiates. The responsibilities of the higher orders of her priesthood are not widely known, though it is said that they involve acting as protectors and guardians against threats of an esoteric nature. The most well-known of these higher orders is the monastery of Theriko. The cult of Hrenisha is a large and influential one, in a similar fashion to that of Ekirena. As she is the patron goddess of education, her initiates are naturally heavily involved in academia of all kinds; those who attend certain institutes of education such as the Studium of Valkenholt or (prior to the revolution) the University of Auditore have historically been expected to be initiates of Hrenisha's cult - though some exceptions have always been made for Tevashi scholars - and this is likewise a strict requirement for all who attend the Collegium Coniuratio at Kalamak. More widely, Hrenisha's priesthood is responsible for the majority of education at all levels of Alderni society; the tutors hired by the High Houses, the scholars-militant of the Academies Martial and Scholastic, and the teachers of the various schools of the charter-towns are all inevitably members of her priesthood, and even those of lower status who teach the children of serfs the basics of literacy and numeracy are likely to be lay initiates of one kind or another. Among the upper echelons of Hrenisha's priesthood there is a tendency towards academia of an increasingly specialised kind, either in areas mundane or magical; those of a particularly mystical disposition sometimes making the claim that the pursuit of pure knowledge does in some subtle way influence the nature of the world - and that new ideas bring new possibilities into existence in more ways than most would consider. Kriophona, generally regarded as a goddess of the dead, presides over a funerary priesthood who conduct rites to ensure the dead are laid to rest and their souls are delivered to the Abodes of the Dead under the watchful eye of Kriophona. They are entrusted with a number of particular civic responsibilities including the preparation of the dead for burial and the upkeep of cemeteries and sepulchres, and conducting rites to ward against the passage of restless spirits. Many have some training in herbalism, whilst others specialise in more arcane matters. Those of a martial bent sometimes accompany armies into battle, whilst a handful of militant orders travel the land seeking rumours of the restless dead, that they might lay such spirits to rest. Almost all are at least somewhat well-versed in the study of history. The lesser ranks of the priesthood of Kriophona are mostly freefolk and urban citizens, and it is quite usual for several generations of a family to be involved in the priesthood as a sort of family business. As with all the Nine Priesthoods, the upper ranks are strictly reserved for members of the High Houses. There is a strong tradition within various septs of House Vottellian for sons to enter the priesthood of Kriophona, and most male members of the House have at least taken the preliminary initiations into her cult. Laethe, generally considered to be the Alderni goddess of war, has a large and influential cult. Most Alderni soldiers pay homage to her in one way or another, and prayers to her are often painted or engraved on the armour of those who seek her protection. Many professional soldiers are lay initiates of her cult, and most Free Companies will have a chaplain drawn from her priesthood. Those who dedicate themselves to her service can be identified by a ritual brand on the back of each wrist - said to represent manacles, and a sworn oath to accept death rather than surrender or be taken prisoner in battle; such individuals have the legal standing equivalent to at least that of a banner-knight regardless of their birth (though in practice most who take these oaths are already members of the nobility), and also have certain unique legal privileges relating to the tradition of Justification by Arms. Laethe also presides over a number of knightly orders, and the highest ranks of her priesthood act as chaplain-adjutants to the generals of the Grand Regiments and their officers. The priesthood of Mellet, the Dweller in Darkness, is generally held to be the smallest and most mysterious of the priesthoods. Their formal powers and responsibilities are unclear, and the precise nature of the cult is not widely known outside of the dedicants themselves.Laws
Trade & Transport
Prices of Goods
A number of laws govern the prices that can be charged for certain essentials; these include that a loaf of bread sufficient to feed a person for a day cannot be sold for more than two copper pfennigs, or a pint of ale for more than four pfennigs. The prices of certain bulk goods are similarly fixed by royal decree; these include wheat at one pfennig per pound, flour at two pfennigs per pound, salt at five pfennigs per pound, and lamp oil at one shilling per pint.Taxation
All landowners are responsible for paying the Queen's Tithe, valued at ten percent of the expected income of their land each year; this is assessed by the civil service when a new owner takes control of a parcel of land, and is reassessed every ten years. How a landowner raises this tax is left to their discretion; much is ultimately derived from various forms of corvee labour performed by serfs. A higher rate of taxation of twelve percent is applied to charter-towns, whose burghermeisters are obliged to keep accounts of all trade that occurs within their cities and report such on an annual basis, though guilds that hold their own Royal Charters are exempt. Due in part to the administrative burden of such accounting, most charter-towns levy rates of taxation on tradesfolk unaffiliated with a guild that might be described as something between "punishing" and "extortionate" - a situation which the guilds find eminently agreeable. A variety of taxes are levied on the import and export of goods; most such transactions carry a tariff of one sixteenth of their value, though some goods are taxed at a markedly higher rate.High Nobility
The High Nobility are subject to the Queen's Tithe in respect to the entirety of their lands, though save for their personal demesnes this is inevitably delegated to the Barons of the lower nobility.Low Nobility
The Low Nobility are subject to the following taxes:- Queen's Tithe - ten percent of the expected annual income of their land, assessed when a new owner takes control of the land, and reassessed every ten years thereafter
- Vesselgeld - a tax on expected income paid to the High House of which they are vassal; this is typically placed at twice that of the Queen's Tithe, or twenty percent
- Scutage - an optional, but common, payment in lieu of providing soldiers to the High House.
Charter Towns, Burghers, and Guilds
Each town established by a Royal Charter is obligated to pay the following taxes:- Burghesgeld - a tax of the value of twelve percent of the value of any monetary transaction that occurs within the town
- Carucage- a tax on the area of land covered by the burgh and number and type of buildings within it
- Tallage - an annual tax of one silver schilling per adult dwelling within the town
- Burghesgeld - of twelve percent of all income regulated by a guild; plus a variable, but often punishingly high, rate set for all income not regulated by a guild, which is justified as covering the expense of ensuring that all such accounts have been properly recorded.
- Lottage - of a variable amount depending on the size and value of a house or other property owned within the town
- Prestation - of three days labour each year for the purpose of public works, such as the upkeep of roads and walls, or a variable amount of money in lieu of this
- Constableage - of a certain number of days service each year as part of the town militia, or a variable amount of money in lieu of this
Tenanted Freefolk
Most freefolk do not pay the Queen's Tithe, but rather pay an annual fee to their Barony, determined on the creation of the tenancy. In lieu of their fee, Tenured Knights pay their obligation to their Barony in the form of military service, usually of 44 days per year. They can in principle pay scutage of two-and-a-quarter gold marks per day in lieu of this obligation, though few do. Those who hold a tenancy of serjeanty are likewise obligated to provide specified goods and services to the Barony in lieu of their fee; artisans and skilled workers who are freefolk of this sort are typically expected to give over one day in every fourteen to work for the Barony. In addition, tenanted freefolk of all kinds pay a number of additional taxes to their Barony:- Aid of Ransom - an ad-hoc tax to contribute towards the payment of a ransom should their feudal overlord be taken prisoner in battle
- Cheifage - an annual tax of one copper pfennig for each serf dwelling on tenanted land
- Quit-rent - a payment to ensure freedom from the obligation to allow the use of one's land to one's feudal overlord - typically, this refers to hunting rights
- Relief of Bequest - a one-off payment to allow the inheritance of the tenancy from by a child, sibling, or spouse, under the same terms. This is usually set at a rate determined in the tenancy
Serfs
Serfs, having neither land, crops, nor cash, are obligated to provide labour to their overlords. At minumum, this amounts to almost a third of their labour, and includes:- Corvee Primary - the cultivation and harvesting of crops on the land of their immediate landlord, typically of one day in every seven, equivalent to 48 days per year
- Corvee Secondary - the cultivation and harvesting of crops on the land of their baronial landlord, typically of one day in every seven, equivalent to 48 days per year
- Corvee of Works - labour to maintain bridges, roads, and fortifications on their overlord's land, typically of one day per month, or twelve per year
- Surety in Lieu of Discipline - a tax to provide immunity from corporal punishment for minor offences
- Wedgeld - a tax, usually payable preemptively, to grant a serf the right to depart from their place of residence in order to marry
Education
The children of the High Houses are typically educated by private tutors who are retainers of the family, and taught a wide range of subjects from the ages of 5 to 16. It is usual for children of a House to be educated together. Those who show particular academic promise - and especially those who have developed any degree of aptitude in the arcane sciences - often receive further tutelage until the age of 18 or so, and may attend a university or join one of the magical-academic societies such as the Collegium Coniuratio or the Gilded Tower.
Lower nobility and burgher children usually attend schools run by the orders dedicated to Hrenisha. These are generally charitable organisations funded by benefactors in the High Houses or among the richer families of the charter-towns, and do not charge for tutelage. They initially study grammar, arithmetic, and logic from age 5 to 10; and a wider range of subjects until the age of 13-14. Education beyond this point is typically through apprenticeship at one of the guilds for burgher children; the low nobility tend to send their children to the "Academies Martial and Scholastic" until the age of 16-17. Perhaps one in ten will remain in education beyond the age of 18, attending one of the universities for several years.
Peasants tend to lose out when it comes to education; there is a legal obligation for landowners to fund village schools, but many do so only grudgingly, and they are of variable quality. Most teach the basics of literacy and arithmetic between the ages of 5 and 10. Literacy is around 50-75% in most areas, but further education is very rare - and in any case, there are strong demands on families to enlist their children in the work of farming from a young age. The children of rural freefolk fare a little better in this regard, and often continue to attend some form of schooling until the age of 13 or 14, often followed by an apprenticeship.
Founding Date
688 AK
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Alternative Names
Sovereignty of Aldernord
Predecessor Organization
Demonym
Alderni
Leader Title
Head of State
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Mixed economy
Currency
100 copper pfennigs = 10 silver shillings = 1 golden mark
Legislative Body
The Grand Council
Judicial Body
Baronial and Ducal Courts, the Royal Tribunals, and the Charter Courts
Official State Religion
Subsidiary Organizations
Related Ranks & Titles
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
Comments