Varlishi Dukedom
Gold and Spice flow in equal measure from Varlishi ships, matched in quantity only by the blood that tends to follow their sails.
-Unknown Temuraen woman, during an interview
Structure
At the top of the chain, sits el Duca (pronounced ell Dooch-ay). Below the Duca, are the merchant families. It isn't really worth trying to list them, for the only right to rule that they have is the right that their money buys. Many have risen just to fall upon hard times and vanish into obscurity.
Assets
- The Gilt Trust
- The Colenia Shipyards
- The Cathedral of Attivitàuna
- 2.2 million Condottieri
- The Occhi de Vitro
- 6,500 Naval Warships, including 54 Battleships
- 125 Aerial Warships
History
The Varlishi got their start with a single port town. Indistinguishable from any other. So small the little village doesn't even have a name anywhere on record and is just referred to as 'la casa poca', or the little home. That was, until the Realmshatter. La casa poca was passed over by the worst of the effects, allowing its docks to remain open when others lay in fragments and splinters. A few enterprising individuals, the ancestors to the modern merchant families, started to draw in business. Taking loans to build naval infrastructure and expand the little ports'
abilities to host travelers. These investments bore dividends and in a few years, the port had exploded in size and buzzed like a beehive. The families had continued to invest intelligently, always building their wealth and climbing ever higher.
And then the conflict started.
Unsatisfied with the fortunes that they had built for themselves, they struck out at each other. destroying businesses and assets, even going so far as to assassinate each other in an attempt to steal another's fortunes. After several fleets wound up at the bottom of the ocean, and clients started searching for a more stable place to invest in, several families met. They agreed, that if they wanted to retain their positions, they would have to curtail their confrontation. At least, they needed to keep it out of the public eye. Rounding up their Condottieri, the brought this lesson to the remaining families, who agreed under the threat of death or asset seizure. Once the fighting had stopped and swords were stowed, the families decided that they needed some way to settle their disputes.
Thus, the office of the Ducé (pronounced do-chay) was created. Voted in by a council made up of the heads of the families, the Ducé was meant to mediate their disagreements, and had the power and might to bring any errant family that attempted to rock the boat back in line, with force if needed. Of course, the families all balked at the idea of placing someone above them and did everything in their power to strip the position of its ability to do it's intended job. Every action the Ducé took required a majority vote of the merchant families. Military action required a unanimous vote, including a passing vote from the family the action was intended against. Satisfied by the shackles they had put on their keeper of the piece, the families put their first Ducé in place.
Giovenco de Alberigi
Giovenco was considered old for his time. Grey-haired and grizzled, many of the families felt they were putting him to pasture. Something they would come to regret. The moment he was installed into his new office, and the families went back to their business, he started setting up his move. Spending a great deal of his families fortune, sending hundreds of missives, and even commissioning a colossal cog to be built so it could serve as the world's largest (at the time) pleasure ship. The final step was simple invitations, sent to each and every one of the merchant families, asking them to join him on his newly constructed pleasure boat.
The night arrived, and well over 3/4ths of the families showed up, sailing out in their own pleasure ships to enjoy the wines and food provided by the Ducé. As the party went on, Giovenco appeared on the forecastle, greeting his guests. After pleasantries, he unrolled an official-looking scroll, and state dit was the document that created and gutted his position. He asked them to amend it, and give him the power he needed to do the intended job. They laughed, of course. They stopped when the Vralgardi raiders hauled themselves over the side rails and buried their axes into the skulls of their guards.
Now that he had their attention, he brought out his own document and insisted they sign it. They did once the Vralgardi went for their weapons again. One guest, probably blind drunk, asked what he intended to do about the families that hadn't come to the party, where he famously responded "There are no other families than those that I see before me. They have bought their final sleep with their refusal to meet on this fine night." He then motioned to several servants, who brought out dozens of scrolls and dumped them on the deck. "Do not mistake this change to be completely adversarial, my friends. Those who do not disturb the equilibrium of our business shall be rewarded. Those are the deeds to every asset the families that did not arrive to this soiree. Take what you can carry, but do not come to blows. I will only warn you once. Whatever you can grab is yours."
The music started again, the food and wine flowed once more, and the smoke of estates burning across Vilotiri punctuated the view from the side of the ship. Nothing could be sweeter to Giovenco than that sight.
In the modern era, the families still remain under the Ducé, though it's no secret that they regularly attempted to assassinate and overthrow the descendants of Giovenco de Alberigi with every attempt for the past two Ages thwarted by the Condottieri of the Alberigi family. The largest and strongest of any Condottieri in the Dukedom as they are the descendants of the Vralgardi that originally were hired by Giovenco.
Territories
The Dukedom has it's fingers in a great many pies. The homelands of the Gnolls, Kobolds, and Goblins all have Varlishi 'investments' whether they wanted them or not. Temurae has been a recent addition to Varlishi attention, with Nantutek putting it's foot down immediately.
Religion
When you have a people who's whole society revolves around the accumulation of vast fortunes, it is only logical that their diety would weave such a thing through hard work and diligence.
It is said that she weaves great tapestries depicting the rise and fall of every person's fortunes. Of course, this has caused theologians to ask the questions about whether or not she actually creates the fates she depicts, or has some sort of link with past, present, and future events.
While she is not heavily worshiped, in the way that Cadfael is in the Kingdom of Avalon, people who are involved in trade an business regular offer prayers and sacrifices for her guidance out of tradition, if nothing else.
Founding Date
608, Age of Wounds
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Demonym
Varlishi
Government System
Oligarchy
Power Structure
Thalassocracy
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
Varlishi Tokens: A white note with gilt gold trim, one side bears a trio of sailing ships, while the other bears the Ducé's likeness
Legislative Body
The families often present laws and ideas to el Ducé, who then determines what will and will not go.
Official State Religion
Subsidiary Organizations
Official Languages
Neighboring Nations
Related Ethnicities
Comments