Epron
Epron is a large theocratic principality in the center of Isera. Bordered on the west by Gashain and Morethalas to the east. It is strongly allied with the free city of Kirchkirchen as well. @
The majority of the country is covered in old high forests of sturdy oak, pine, and spruce. Lumber is a major export. Since acquiring swaths of farmland from Gashain during the The Great War, it is also a primary exporter of grains and agricultural products.
From 1172-1181 Epron was at war with Gashain. The exact causes of the war are unknown outside of the combatant states but there are rumors of a discovery in the Braghmaine mountains. Regardless, Epron gained territories to the west of the Braghmaines, but lost territory on its eastern borders to Morethalas and @Kirchkirchen. The Church of Moradin is the official state religion and the High Forgesmith of Epron is both head of State and Government.
Structure
Epron is divided into nine patriarchies and those are subdivided into archdioceses, dioceses, and parishes. These largely correspond to the traditional feudal delineations of dukedoms, earldoms, and viscountys or baronies. Parishes are officially individual congregations and the number of parishes within cities can vary wildly, from a single village with a single parish church, to Bremour which has over one thousand individual parishes.
Culture
Epronians value hard work, decorum, punctuality, resilience, and competence. The Church of Moradin especially emphasizes the values of punctuality and decorum through a clerical police force called the Tongs of Moradin.
Local churches of Moradin ring bells at prescribed times of day to direct citizens to their tasks and Epronians refer to the number of "bells" rather than hours of the clock like most other nations. In most small towns there are bells to go to and from work or school and bells for prayer. At monasteries and in the capital of Bremour there are bells nearly every hour signaling times to wake and sleep, to wash, for silence, and for a variety of other activities.
Epronians consider hard work a principle expression of their faith in Moradin and all adults are involved in a trade. Adults who do not have a natural inclination towards a trade or a reluctant to put in the 'appropriate' level of work are provided work opportunities by the Church in agriculture, mining, or logging. These industries are state owned while fine goods and crafts are created by individuals or small workshops. Craftsmen can hire apprentices and assistants and mark their products with their name until the apprentice reaches legal adulthood, after which the apprentice is entitled to mark their work with their own name. There is intense pressure in families to maintain a high level of craftsmanship in a field because Epronians are quick to move on to a new supplier if quality diminishes. Long-standing workshops collapse into obscurity if there is just one unskilled or uninterested generation.
Because of this, Epronians place a high value on their names, work, and honor. A perceived slight on any of these topics is just cause for a fight which can be carried out physically or through contests of skill and crafting. Crafting contests are only available to opponents who are both in the same profession, a baker could not challenge a brewer to a bread-baking contest for instance. Both types of contests are arranged with a local clergyman and take place in a specially designated area of town. In smaller towns these contests can be a welcome respite from the regimented life and parents see them as valuable educational opportunities for children to learn honor and possibly a new skill. In larger cities these contests are usually handled immediately if they are physical, or at the workplace if they are between colleagues. It is bad form to kill in duels but if the slighted party kills the slighter it is usually seen as justifiable.
Common Epronian greetings are: "Hoforge" (A corruption of 'Hot Forge"), in the early hours. "Mayahaven" (from "May You Have Endurance") in the afternoon or evening, and "Mayablost" (from "May Your Blows Be Strong") can be used as a farewell at any time of day.
History
The nation of Epron has existed for almost a millennia in the territory east of the Braghmaine Mountains. Archeological research has found dwarven and pre-Epronian artifacts dating back as far as the mid 10th century b. The current Principality is usually given a founding date of 850, but scholars believe that developing versions of its culture existed before. The Church of Moradin has been gaining power and influence in the principality since the 800s a. and the church assumed official rule over the nation after the death of Elizabeth Goldenrod I in 1163 when High Forgesmith Ashdraft named himself regent serving the then ten-year-old Prince Logram Dragonfury-Goldenrod.
1167 High Forgesmith Ashdraft ordained every noble landowner, bastardizing their children and ending their hereditary claims to the land and converting them to ecclesiastical holdings of a comparable position to the noble title the owner had held. This completed a centuries long project of the Church who had slowly acquired territories from the traditional feudal structure. The nobles forced the High Forgesmith to ordain their heirs and promise to appoint them to the necessary position to maintain their holdings for one final generation and to keep the feudal residence in the family along with its associated property. In exchange the Church of Moradin became the official landowner of the entire nation.
Demography and Population
Epron is home to almost 30 percent of the inhabitants of Salea. As of 1196, its population was around 150 million. 80% of the population are of dwarven heritage and 92% of the population are devout Moradinists based on recent census data.
Religion
Epron is a monotheistic theocracy where the only god recognized or worshiped is Moradin. Most if not all dwarves recognize Moradin's primacy in their religious observance but Epron has taken this to an extended position. All other gods and their worship is banned on penalty of death within Epron.
Laws
The Laws of Epron are written in the Book of the Bellows and the master copy is stored in the Grand Smithy in Bremour. Laws are derived from Moradinic holy texts and the interpretations of said texts by the Synod of Moradin. The High Forgesmith may also issue decrees, known as Bulls, unilaterally but these are usually temporary measures that must be codified by the Synod. Major focuses of Epronian law are clerical laws relating to proper service and worship of Moradin, laws excluding and punishing worship of other deities, and tort law between personal, clerical, and governmental bodies. Property law in Epron is based the belief that all things are created by or through Moradin, and as such the Church of Moradin has eminent domain over all property. Practically, this works out that the Church 'loans' property and materials to individuals or corporations and it is rare for the Church to wield its eminent domain but it has happened especially in times of extreme economic disaster or war.
Agriculture & Industry
Epron's major industries include logging, agriculture, and copper and silver mining. It holds most of the usable forests in Isera and around 46% of the arable land. It has vast mineral resources in the Braghmaines and Epronian metalsmithing is highly sought after.
Education
The majority of Epronians are well educated with an approximate literacy rate of 94%. There is a notable pocket of non-readers who rely on an oral tradition on the Northwestern face of the Braghmaines that accounts for most of the disparity. Traditionally Epronians were educated through secondary school at parochial schools and the Church has been spreading them to the newly acquired territories in the west where they are slowly replacing the Gashanian public school model. Tertiary education is available to high performing students either at Universities to study arcane magic or specific fields, or at Monasteries for the divine and clerically inclined. Collegiate education is not required or expected of Epronians unless they plan to become scholars, wizards, or clergy.
Founding Date
before 850
Type
Geopolitical, Theocracy
Capital
Demonym
Epronian
Leader Title
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Theocratic
Power Structure
Feudal state
Major Exports
Lumber, Grains, Furniture, Raw metals, Forged metal goods
Major Imports
Sand, Alcohol, Technomancy, Palm sugar, Honey
Legislative Body
The Synod of Moradin
Judicial Body
The Gathering of Five Craftsmen
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Comments