Stormfall
The Stormfall Shogunate rests on the northwestern most portion of the continent of Tillanong. Ruled by a patient and shrewd leader, the political turmoil from within is kept at bay. A nautical and mixed culture, Stormfall stands opposed to the ethnocentrism of Intransica to the South, even at the peril of it's own sovereignty.
Public Agenda
The public facing agenda for Stormfall is whatever the Shogun wishes it to be; none of any real power dare question it.
For the moment, that agenda is fostering greater trade with it's neighbors, and it's coastal partners to the west in the continent of Zythrina, and consolidating strength along it's southern borders.
Having labeled The Intransican Empire's constant persecution of any and all Orcs or Drow as Genocide, Shogun Thilara is making great steads to provide refuge for those needing safety from the onslaught.
For the moment, that agenda is fostering greater trade with it's neighbors, and it's coastal partners to the west in the continent of Zythrina, and consolidating strength along it's southern borders.
Having labeled The Intransican Empire's constant persecution of any and all Orcs or Drow as Genocide, Shogun Thilara is making great steads to provide refuge for those needing safety from the onslaught.
History
What is now Stormfall formed comparatively late to most of neighbors. What makes up it's current provinces and governorships were once small sovereignty's unto themselves. The first Shogun, a Human by the name of Zhan, claimed to have had a prophetic dream from Glokrei, the God of War. He saw a glorious campaign of conquest, that through unifying the warbands of the area, one large nation might become stronger than smaller competing ones. From where the current capital is, Zhan first moved north, up into Pardunum. This land conquered, he made a daring naval campaign across Cradle Bay into Dubrica.
Zhan knew early on that his conquest, and the nation he sought to create, would not last long if he was not magnanimous in his glory. The lands were allowed many of their ongoing traditions. More importantly, the former rulers of the lands were still able to keep some of their power, acting as governors and tributes to the Shogun. Zhan would in turn take many of the customs, traditions, and ideas home with him, to better unify Stormfall.
Territories
The Shogunate comprises just shy of a million and a half square miles of land, one of the more vast and populous nations of the world.It is broken into about eleven territories, with most of them having been composed of former nations or city-states that were once independant, before being conquered.
The northernmost portion of Stormfall, nearing the tip of the world, is consistently cold, boreal forest. Habitation here is rare, thou opportunities for mining and exotic game do bring some of the adventurous type this way. The rest of the land is made up of temperate forests, the nature of them shifting as one shifts more inland.
The tail end of the Analistari River feeds into Stormfall, before dumping it's wide water into Cradle Bay. This river not only marks a significant boundary between the different territories, but would make a significant navigational challenge, as ferry crossings can be difficult to manage.
There are a number of rivers through Stormfall, with the Krug and Cesosctolo Rivers near the Capital city. Although mostly flat and low elevation, it does start to rise in the southeast, near Vinopoly. A lack of prominent hills our mountansides does not impede movement in the area dramatically, though this also means that it holds no benefit as a natural border or deterrant from potential invasion.
There are a number of rivers through Stormfall, with the Krug and Cesosctolo Rivers near the Capital city. Although mostly flat and low elevation, it does start to rise in the southeast, near Vinopoly. A lack of prominent hills our mountansides does not impede movement in the area dramatically, though this also means that it holds no benefit as a natural border or deterrant from potential invasion.
Foreign Relations
Since the rise of The Intransican Empire, the Shogun has taken a souring tone towards it’s neighbors. Most of them have been come puppet states of the xenophobic and warmongering Immortal Emperor. The Shogun has made it clear that Stormfall will not bend a knee to the Emperor, or adhere to their heresy, or pay their protection rackets. As such, the southwest neighbors particularly are viewed as buffer states between them and the superpower; making any military action against Stormfall painful and cost-prohibitive.
In that spirit, the Tribes of Krag’ash to the Southeast have been found to be more diplomatically friendly. Though they refuse to form anything approaching a formal government or civilized society, they are intransigent and belligerent against the Immortal Empire in a way that no one else has, even as it proves to be a fight for their very lives. Covert Aid has been sent into Krag’ash, either to help them fight more effectively along the Intransican border, or more direct aid in order to support their direct survival.
The heart of Linthalia is too far to make for efficient and effective trade partners. However, the Maiden Queen is proving to be a more useful ally in the growing cold war. The Sovereigns of the Sea would be a dramatic impediment to any plans the Immortal Emperor may conceive.
Trade & Transport
Trade moves through Stromfall like blood, moving from the extremities towards the heart of the country in the center. This has caused some scorn in the northern territories, that the Shogun only remembers about her northern territories when it’s time to collect their tribute and taxes.
The most common form of transit is through Cradle Bay, an area with favorable and calm waters through most of the year thanks to the circular base.
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Leader
Leader Title
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Despotism
Power Structure
Feudal state
Gazetteer
Zaghlia Island, in the centre of Stormfall, is ironically one of the more remote and unpopulated areas. It is considered a solemn and holy place; a land only fit for the Shogun themselves, or those chosen by the Shogun for their loyalty and divine right. Cradle Bay, which surrounds the island, is one of the more unique features, granting calm and safe seas through most of the year.
Legislative Body
There is no effective legislature in Stormfall. Regional governors or nobles with an ear of the Shogun make direct appeals for decisions to be made.
Judicial Body
The court system is largely decentralized. The regional leaders of Stormfall make their personal decisions for who shall administer the courts, the magistrates, and the law enforcement entities within their purview. This has meant that there is no consistency as to how strict or lenient the laws are being applied and enforced.
Although few have noticed it, there is a pattern of those seeking to rise within the levels of power within the Shogunate have tended to push harder on the administering of justice, bordering on vengeance and vindictiveness, for attention as an effective manager, and often softening once landing into more powerful and privileged positions.
Executive Body
The Shogun wields the ultimate power of the state. Even for the most stalwart of minds, there is not time enough in the day to manage all facets of rule that require national attention, and so there are a number of Consulars that preside over specific facets of the government, such as military, taxation, and the like. There are currently ten under the current Shogun, but this has risen and fallen at the whim of the leader. With this, and the ability for the Shogun to dismiss any Consular, General, or other officer at a whim, it has made the role a dangerous game. The power and privilege of such a role is immense, but the political and possibly even very real danger of rival Consular’s is not for the faint of heart. Sabotage, while not incredibly common, has occurred with enough regularity in the past that anyone in or approaching these positions must be constantly wary of it.
Beyond the Royal Palace, government of the various provinces is administered by governors appointed by the Shogun directly, and serve for as long or as short as the Shogun permits. These governors are commonly chosen from the officer corps of the army, or from the courts, as defense of Stormfall and the execution of the Shogun’s will is always a paramount concern. Typically, the Shogun of Stormfall has given the regional governors their strict expectations, and have been more focused on the results than on the methods used to obtain them. This has granted governors in some cases to act as sovereigns in their own right, using the call of the Shogun’s Will to rule as some others would a small kingdom of their own making.
The Shogun is aware of this behavior, and so long as these governors know to whom their true loyalty lies, and the loyalty of their subjects, has cautiously looked the other way. She knows that if any were to step too far out of line, that there are many who would gladly rise up to put the errant ruler in their place.
Location
Neighboring Nations
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