Princedom of Lynora
Government
The Monarchy
The Princedom of Lynora, a beacon of modernity and progress, thrives under the enlightened governance of a Constitutional Monarchy. Here, the Prince, a ruler not only by birthright but also by the consent of the governed, operates within the boundaries of a written constitution. This document is the bedrock of the nation, enshrining the division of powers and safeguarding the liberties of Lynoran citizens, ensuring that the leader's reach is both empowered and ethically confined. While the Prince stands as the ceremonial head of state, embodying the heritage and unity of Lynora, the pulse of daily governance beats within the Parliament. It is here, in the hallowed chambers where representatives, chosen by the populace through transparent public elections, debate and shape the future of the nation. The Chancellor, an extension of the Prince's will, presides over this assembly, translating royal vision into legislative action. Though appointed by the Prince, the Chancellor's duty is to both ruler and realm, serving as a bridge between the throne and the people. Despite the shared powers, the ultimate authority rests with the Prince, who retains the right to dissolve the Parliament, a measure kept in reserve to refresh the nation's leadership, should the need arise. This delicate balance of power ensures that while the Prince's voice is paramount, it is harmoniously tuned with the will of the people. Lavande, the capital, is a city synonymous with freedom and cultural flair, embodying Lynora's spirit. The city's name, reminiscent of the fragrant fields that grace the countryside, is now a metonym for innovation, fashion, and the arts. In Lavande's bustling avenues and serene boulevards, the Lynoran ethos of liberty, elegance, and enterprise is manifest, making it not just the political heart of the nation but also its soul.Ruling Dynasty
The ruling lineage of the Princedom of Lynora is marked by both triumph and tragedy, embodied in the figures of Princesses Rossa and Lisa Lavander. Princess Rossa, now 21, ascended to the throne following a period of regency under her uncle Ionathan. Her reign began at the tender age of 18, a mantle she took up amidst the shadow of familial loss and political turmoil. Her sister, Lisa Lavander, a prodigy born with formidable yet volatile magical abilities, remains a figure of intrigue and sorrow in the annals of Lynoran history. At just 16 years old, Lisa's uncontrolled powers led to a catastrophic incident at sea, resulting in the untimely death of their parents. This tragic event cast a long shadow over both sisters' lives and the future of Lynora. The realm, initially set to be co-ruled by the two sisters, faced dissent from the nobility who questioned the wisdom of shared rule, particularly given Lisa's dangerous abilities. The controversy culminated in a dramatic court session, where Lisa, unable to contain her fury, caused further chaos before fleeing into the unknown, leaving her sister Rossa to navigate the complexities of governance alone. Princess Rossa, now the sole ruler, stands as a beacon of resilience and poise, guiding her nation through the challenges of leadership and the weight of a crown bestowed under less than ideal circumstances. The whereabouts of Lisa remain a mystery, her legacy a blend of awe and apprehension, leaving a question mark hovering over the future of Lynora.Geography
Lynora is a geographically low country, so lands closer to the coast are in parts flooded when the tide is high, but perfectly traversable when the tide is low. Additionally, the Iron River which winds it's way across the lowlands periodically floods it's banks for quite a distance, making the surrounding area a boggy swamp. There are ongoing reclamation efforts to expand Lynora's arable terrain by building polders, which are elevated strips of land built atop flooding areas which keep the crops out of the water, while damming water access from the sea so they can bring fresh water in from the river via canals. The nation heavily relies on it's use of canals for both irrigation as well as transportation, in rural areas as well as in urban ones. Especially their capital, the city of Lavande, is riddled with canals of various sizes used for commercial transport, as well as leisure. They have become somewhat of an icon for the city, a part of it's identity. The Lynoran lowlands are the far western tip of the great Heartlands region, which stretch all the way from Lynora, to the Diynar mountains on the border between the Kingdom of Ardechia and the Tsardom of Kyrus. Lynora has direct access to both the Nord Sea and the Jagged Sea to the north-east and north-west respectively, and is flanked by the Valpine Mountains to the south-east and the Veyrian Highlands to the south-west. Through the heart of the Princedom flows the venerable Iron River, which owes it's name to the rich deposits of iron ore excavated from the Valpine mountains, and taken down-river via rafts to be processed in the valley below, and exported through Lavande.People & Culture
The Jermane:
The Human culture group who inhabit all of Lynora as well as Sturmgard are known as the Jermane, and they are split in to the Waxon, Belltic, and Lynoran cultures. Lynora is home to the majority Lynoran people, with a fringe minority of Waxons on the border with Sturmgard. The men of the Jermane are known to have a wider forehead and square jaw, smaller cheeks but more prominent and higher cheekbones. They have a fair skin tone, and it is fashionable for a man to sport a mustache.Lynorans
Lynorans are stereotypically considered to have an odd sense of fashion, and can often be dramatic. Their nation is remarkably well off, due to it's trade influence and riches from the colonies, and it trickles down to the everyman. The nation's culture is as rich as it's coffers. Their clothing is pristine, it comes in vast varieties of shapes and colors from the finest fabrics, and with intricate décor. They have an affinity for wide flamboyant hats, sometimes adorned with a feather or other prop, for men and women both. Flamboyant shorts along with thigh-high socks are popular among men, while women usually wear skirts and corsets. Men usually sport a pencil thin mustache and or goatee, and are accepted with both short or long hair, while women are preferred long haired. Their cuisine revolves around pastries and pasta, of which there is an infamous innumerous variety of, with one type of salad or other on the side. Lynora is famed for it's many festivals and carnivals, and due to it's wealth, it's liberal use of fireworks and public entertainers during such events. Individual Lynorans, especially the higher classes, also commonly host private parties for their close friends and family, as well as their wider circle. During such events, it is tradition to attend with one's face masked, in a simple mask or in one with an artistic expression of an animal or mythical creature, to detach from ordinary life and be someone else for a time.The Elves:
There is a large minority of native Arborian Elves who live in the eastern forests of Lynora. Theirs is a disconnected Arborian forest which was once joined with the rest of the Elderwood in Sturmgard, and is called the Lysillian Grove. They have been granted much autonomy, have their own leaders and laws, and their own representatives in parliament.Religion
The Princedom of Lynora is a western moralistic society, and much like the rest of them, is a follower of the Faith of Light. The Faith of Light is a preacher of enlightenment through understanding, strength through unity, and cooperation. It does not discriminate between races, but embraces all, and it not only accepts the practice of magic as natural, but encourages it's study.Military
Doctrine
The Princedom is a remarkably wealthy nation, especially considering it's small size. Because of it's immense natural wealth and prosperous mercantile practices, it is able to afford the best weapons and equipment money can buy. As it does not have the most manpower to draw from, so it relies on the ideas of quality over quantity. The troops directly employed by the state as a standing army are referred to as the Royal Guard, who's commander and chief is the Prince themselves.Specialties
Often times however, the nation's own armies seemed incapable of fighting the nation's conflicts due to their small size and limited manpower. It would simply be too expensive, even for Lynora, to constantly maintain a huge standing army from such a small populace. So instead, they hire mercenaries. Hiring mercenaries and private armies is common practice for Lynora, as they get the benefit of not needing to continuously maintain their wages and equipment once their contract is fulfilled. They only hire who they need, for as long as they need them. Hiring foreign companies also brings the benefit of putting their specialties to their own use.Navy
Lynora has a capable modern navy. It's military navy is not comparable to the might and size of Sturmgard's, but Lynora's merchant fleet is without match, and they often rather hire privateers when they know naval combat is most probable.Air
Lynora does not have any air capabilities of it's own, but it has been given the option to rent airships by their ally Sturmgard if the need arose.
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Location
Neighboring Nations
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