Veliky Farwind
"Adversity shall not break us."
"The snow shakes not Farwinder men"
-Farwinder proverb
Velikiy Farwind is the northernmost civilization on mainland Czerelan. They are a monarchy made from the unification and conquest of several principalities and settlements led by the Grand Prince of Farwind. As a kingdom that has stood for over 600 years, it has seen it's fair share of different rulers and challenges to face, some still influence and torment Farwind to the present. The current Grand Princes are from the Voyimir Dynasty who have ruled for 350 years. Under Grand Prince Milan I, Farwind reached it's greatest extent reaching from the northernmost reaches of the Chillwind Desert to the plains just north of Coredesh.
Due to the harshness or extreme circumstances of their home, Farwinder culture is molded heavily by the geography. For those who hail from Farwind's cold climates, their clothes are made of thick insulated cloths and the warm furs of the wildlife. Much of their faith is built around the sun's impact on their land and strength of their people with the sun god Fosredas taking front seat and several war gods standing at his side. The taiga landscape and boreal forests are home to massive cities built from their pine woods, while those who live in the Chillwind Desert are often the most extreme of survivalists.
Ethnicities of Farwind
While the assimilation efforts of previous rulers attempted to bring all of their people under the Farwinder culture, and as a result there only stand a handful of ethnicities who still practice their culture within Farwind openly. the Tsilni and Sagar people of the Agre Basin are the most fervent of rivals and have made bitter enemies of each other. They both claim the Agre Basin and refuse to comply with each other's demands. Both have large populations in the cities and towns of central Farwind. However, when one of them get a step ahead they tend to push the others even lower. To the south ride the Royos, a nomadic people who live for their freedom and are deadly fighters with weapons or without. They train from childhood to ride horses and are often found to be unmatched when facing off against Czerelan's other riders. To the far north are several different peoples categorized under the name Enuq. They mostly live in the Chillwind desert and have made the harshest landscape on Czerelan into their home. Their settlements are led by druidic elders who are supported by experienced hunters and survivalists. The Farwinder ethnicity stands as the most populous though, with over 70% of Farwind's people being Farwinder. They are a combination of a northern culture from a cold harsh land, with imported southern additions mixed in.Royalty of Farwind
Farwind has several princes who control their own Principalities. The Boyars rule over their own titles given to them by the princes and the grand prince. They all swear fealty to the Grand Prince who sits as the ruler of Farwind. The Grand Prince rules from the capital city of Asdrazsa. While the Grand Prince holds absolute power over the principalities, the decentralized government allows for the princes and boyars to have autonomy in how they rule. Many of them are dynastic monarchies where the families of the nobles have tight reigns on the rule of their territory. However, some areas of Farwind take a different route to their governance. The city of Agregrad is ruled by the Pravili Soviet, a council of oligarchs who run the city. Very small villages are often run by smaller close knit democracies or oligarchies."...I sit upon a throne of skulls with a scepter made from the femur of my predecessor. I sit and look upon the gods as they place this crown upon my head!" -Rados The Mad Prince, act II scene I, By Bartholomue CherningDuring the mass assimilation efforts at the hands of the much larger Farwinder ethnic population, many of those who held titles and were of other ethnicities were either forced to convert or were stripped of their titles. After stripping several noble families of their power, this led to a civil war in which the Sagar and Tsilni of the Agre Basin rose up against the Farwinders. The rebellion was put down swiftly as the Farwinder forces overpowered the bickering and seperated rebel forces. After the war, a new law was put in place where they could remain in power but must be married to a Farwinder.
The Remains of Ruination
The Crown Ruination took its toll on Farwind as it did everywhere. Plagues swept over cities decimating the populations, terrible storms swept away villages, and the Principalties were on the verge of splitting apart. During the end of Milan's reign, he managed to keep it from crashing around him. He put down several rebellions in the Agre basin and southern Royozha Plains. and managed to form the Velikiy Triad or Farwind, Godrigal, and Andelheid. However, in the wake of Milan's attempts, millions had died and two massive swathes of land were still lost to disease and are as of now quarantined. Farwind has yet to fully recover as the cities lie with massive abandoned districts and the ground is still marked with the chaos and strife caused by the Ruination.Structure
The land is split up into seven different princedoms. Each of which is ruled by a prince. As of this moment only six are recognized and have a ruler. The Princedom of Rekgorod, The Princedom of Kraystena, The Princedom of Royozha, The Princedom of Chillwind, The Princedom of the Agre, The Princedom of Asdrazsa, and the Princedom of Krodykh. Since Krodykh has been quarantined it is currently not recognized as a Princedom and has no Prince. Each Prince governs their own demesne with authority, however they each swear fealty to the Grand Prince who lives and rules from Asdrazsa.
Each Prince and the Grand Prince take advice from the noble class known as the Boyars. They are of noble blood and advise the Princes in their duma, or council. The Boyars could be wealthy landowners, bestowed the title by a prince, or possibly a voivode or warlord.
Culture
Farwinder culture finds itself as a mix between northern culture with hints of imported southern motifs. The men of the country often have long well cared for beards and don clothes made of fur, wool, and other warm textiles. Many of them speak with thick accents and can have trouble communicating with foreigners.
They mostly worship Fosredas and Estana from The Campiotic Church. However, many of the denizens of Farwind also worship other dieties not observed by the church, such as Crasmin, a mountain diety of stone and earth who is a god of crafts, stones, and strength. There is also Ded Morozko and his daughter Snegurochka, a pair who are not worshipped in the same vein as dieties, but are still celebrated and respected as supernatural entities.
Assets
Farwind finds itself with a sizeable army of 640,000 men. However, many of them are under equipped compared to their southern rivals and a sizeable force has to keep Krodykh and Chillwind Keep quarantined. Compared to their regular troops however, they have the Royozha Regiments. Three legions of cavalry who are either Royos or trained to fight like them. Farwind also has a sizeable navy with both seafaring vessels and riverboats.
The nation is also fairly wealthy in regards of resources. Furs and timber are abundant and are traded to southern kingdoms.
Demography and Population
The people of Farwind are diverse both in race and culture. While many ofthe previous ethnicities have been assimilated into the larger Farwinder ethnicity, many ethnicities still remain and are fully recognized by Farwind's government. The race demographics are also fairly diverse and the harsh landscape gives home to many hardier folk as well as new settlers.
The most populous race in Farwind is humanity. They can be found anywhere in all of Farwind's cities and make up the largest size of the population. In percentages they are roughly 45% of the population. The next highest in race is the elves, mainly high elves who settled alongside humans in the region after the Sylvan Exodus or came to the region recently. The elves make up roughly 20% of the population of Farwind. Halflings can be found in cozy little southern towns or sprawling northern cities as they can find a home for themselves as easily as
Territories
The territories of Farwind include the Agre Basin, The Chillwind Desert, The Royova Plains to the south, and the eastern coast of Zoyvodie. Split up into
Religion
The Relgion of Farwind is mixed between new gods that have popped up in the region, and gods of The Campiona Pantheon. The most widely worshipped gods from the pantheon are Fosredas and Estana, but the other gods can be spotted with temples and worshippers as well. Fosredas is often worshipped because the Farwinders treasure the summer sun before the cold harsh winters. Estana is worshipped because of her ties to agriculture and is worshipped by the farmers and ranchers.
There is also Crasmin, The Mountain Man. Crasmin is openly worshipped in Agregrad and by people who live near the mountain ranges. He is said to sleep beneath the earth but brings shelter and protection to the faithful.
Ded Morozko is a strange figure, he is not worshipped like a god but is a revered and supernatural individual. He is often worshipped in the wintertime when it is toughest. A giving god who travels with his daughter Snegurochka in the winter months to deliver gifts to those who are good and need them. No one reports having actually seen him or his daughter, but they have heard strange sounds being carried along the winter winds. They also wake up the next day to find a bountiful supply of firewood and food before them in their home.
Trade & Transport
While most of Farwind is remote and disconnected, there are large roads that connect cities together and allow for safer transport. These highways also allow access out of the Princedoms and into the southern territories of Godrigal, Hallen-Coredesh, and Andelheid.
There also exists a smaller system of roads and paths leading from villages to towns and cities. While not as travelled or large as the highways, they still allow for easier transportaton from the more remote parts of Farwind.
Velikiy Farwind
Founding Date
19th of Estamber, 3694 AS
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Alternative Names
Farwind, Land of the North
Demonym
Farwinder
Head of State
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Federation
Economic System
Mixed economy
Currency
The official currency of Farwind is the golden Grivna, a long oval shaped coin made of gold. They also have copper and silver coins but unlike many other countries, they have no official platinum coins. They do however, accept platinum coins for trade.
Subsidiary Organizations
Deities
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
"...within my coat my frozen hands rest, amidst the storm I follow home. The ghost is a ferryman on which my spirit shall ride out to sea..." -Ghost of Blue, Farwinder PoemThe harsh landscape of Farwind and the hardiness of her people produce inspiration in wandering artists. The bleak landscape of the chillwind desert has inspired Farwinder bards who write melancholic tales of the harsh tundra. Artists in the cities make beautiful paintings and drawings of the forests and city streets. Their greatest peices of architecture are often the palaces of the boyars and the Solsteads of Fosredas. The awe-inspiring St. Asinov's Solstead of Rekgorod was constructed from the bones of a dead dragon, wood, and gold.
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