Baustente Kingdom

The Baustente Kingdom

The Baustente Kingdom, also known as the Purveyors of Philosphy or the Knights of the Quill, is the largest national power on the northern continent of Feremoor. Its majority human residents reside above ground in establishments ranging from the typical farmer's towns to bustling metropolis of trade and. The nation is home to a wide variety of scholars, its universities seeing students from all over the continent, and occassionally a foreign exchange, all seeking to widen their worldview. It is second to the Kozholian Empire when it comes to magic, a fact refuted by the The Republic of Askar, and its business of magic scrolls remains one of the nation's greatest sources of revenue. They sport a friendly rivalry with the Hal Ulumgrad Aristocracy when it comes to beautifying its crafts.
While its scholars and wizards are a large part, the Baustente Kingdom also sports a notable naval presence around western Feremoor. Citizens often find themselves in service if they are unable to learn a trade or find meaning in other work.

Description

Initially starting as a human town in the crook of the southeastern mountain range, Baustente as a nation is the result of conquest. At the head of this conquest was a man named Garnier Baustente, the first monarch of what would eventually become the Baustente Kingdom when it was still a monarchy. Through his efforts, the fledgling nation embarked on a path of unification, either via peaceful treaty or through violent subjugation, and eventually unified eastern Feremoor. Their warpath eventually hit a wall when they attempted to invite the Federation of Triebia, an older nation in the southeast, but their power being backed by the dwarves behind them deterred the young country from continuing their expansion. Likewise, the extreme weather in the east also halted their territorial expansion.
Almost a million people set roots in the Baustente Kingdom. They adopt the same ten-day week that the Kozholian Empire does, but with people working seven days a week followed by a three day break. The disparity between the aristocratic and the working people has been a topic of contention as of late as frustrations rise from the cost of education and trades rising with no regulations in sight. The needy and poverty-stricken populace are particularly impacted, as they lack any official safety nets, instead relying on charity of churches, private organizations, and individual citizens.

Geography

The Baustente Kingdom is located in eastern Feremoor, particularly at a latitude of ~52 degrees at its center, though its reach extends to above the ~60 degree latitude line and below ~30 degree latitude.
National roads are well maintained, with paths near cities being either paved or cobbled at the very least, while rural roads are often dirt or gravel. The weather of the region only gives them typical wear and tear, so signage and upkeep are well updated and reliable.
Ocean travel is also frequent, particularly to and from the Kozholian Empire.

Geographical Features

The majority of residents live above ground near the two mountain ranges or in the Plains of Irn farther east, of which the kingdom claims as its territory but not the mountains themselves. The Mulmir's Hammer mountain range bisects the northwest from northeast Feremoor, and stretches into the northern icy continent of Hvir. The southwestern mountain range gives the nation some natural protection from naval invasion, and acts as their primary contact point with the Kozholian Empire.
The area is very verdant, offering large swaths of forest and open plains. River creeks are common as the continent's major waterways expand with time, though marshlnds and swamps are scarce due to the oddly level ground and lack of pooling areas. Temperatures range wildly from bone chilling cold as you go far north to hot and humid as you go south, especially in summer.
The nation also experiences frequent storms and turbulent weather, though not nearly to the same extent as eastern Feremoor.

Government

The Baustente Kingdom is a democratic aristocracy. Rich, affluent, or otherwise influential noble houses rule the nation with a legislative senate consisting of chosen delegates that represent the nation's provinces. The House of Impartiality oversees the nation's judicial needs, including establishing courts, appointing magistrates, and charging the heads of local law enforcement with any new orders or laws passed.

Legislative System, The Baustente Senate

As stated above, the noble families are required to appoint a delegate to represent their assigned province within the senate. However, recently it's been passed that they must also have a representative in each province to counterbalance each other, though it has garnered extensive criticism about only cementing the current nobility's powerbase and making it nigh impossible to replace them so long as they have descendants.
Regardless, this group meets once polls have closed and the representatives vote according to the people's choice and the best interests of the nation, supposedly.

Legal System, The House of Impartiality

Unlike its dwarven counterparts, many citizens (or at least affluent ones) don't mind engaging the courts to resolve sleights and insults. Laws are typically considered fair, though leaning towards the benefit of the reasonably well-established and wealthier citizens as of late. Magistrates are responsible for keeping a constant schedule check on ensuring law enforcement and courts are acting within the confines of the law and judging to its intended spirit, though there's been some pushback on repealing some of the aforementioned unfair laws, like tax breaks for windowed buildings.

Common Law

The law of the land is voted by legislation, but there may be additional laws depending on the province one finds themselves in. They are typically considered common sense and are enforced by The House of Impartiality and its systems.
The following activities are prohibited:

Crimes against the Gods

1. Theft of temple offerings, idols, or other goods.
2. Assault of a divine priest or lay worshipper.
3. Tomb burglary and/or robbery.
4. Worship of dark faiths, particularly those whose aspects involve raising undead, indiscriminate death and chaos, the opposition of magic, and/or the obfuscation of knowledge.
5. Attempts to achieve apotheosis.
6. Destruction of public knowledge such as library literature.

Crimes against the Nation

1. Littering or vandalism of the Kingdom's cities.
2. Brandishing a weapon without cause.
3. Tampering and/or scheming to dismantle the state or undermine the law.
4. Participation in unsanctioned markets to purchase sanctioned goods requiring a license.
5. Bribery of nation officials such as government workers, guards, magistrates, or legislative nobility.
6. Slander and/or libel of legislative nobility.
7. Practicing magic without prior licensing or officially recognized education.
8. Inciting terror or schemes to incite terror, via any method including but not limited to: arson, magic, alchemical attacks, rumor, dark faiths, and more.
9. Forgery of signatures.
10. Theft of items from markets and places of sale.
11. Assault or murder of nation officials such as government workers, guards, magistrates, or legislative nobility.
12. Espionage for foreign entities outside of the Baustente Kingdom.
13. Treason, defecting away from the Kingdom.

Crimes against the Individual(s)

1. Disorderly conduct and/or public indecency.
2. Forced quarter and/or schemes to steal and/or force ones way into residence status within another individual's home.
3. Blackmailing another individual.
4. Impersonation of another individual.
5. Using magic to influence another individual without express consent.
6. Burglary and/or robbery of an individual's home and/or their items.
7. Assault or injury of another individual.
8. Inciting the death of, or personally ending the life, with or without justification, of any individual without their express consent. Such cases involving consent may be, but not limited to: euthanasia.

Crime

Crime is, for lack of a better phrase, within expected norms. Individual and small group acts of crime such as bandit raids on poorly guarded caravans or personal theft are somewhat common, while isolated murders and other heinous acts are plentiful in places where one can expect it. Underworld societies somewhat flourish within the Kingdom, and it's rumored they are often used by nobility to undermine each other and solicit the desired change in public opinion.

Policing

The Baustente Kingdom allows its provinces to employ their own guards and forces, each overseen by a nationally appointed magistrate. These forces are made up by normal people turned into guards, employees of noble houses where appropriate, and some individuals of faith like clerics and paladins to give them some utility. Wizards are frequently employed as investigators and rangers are common in rural areas for their tracking abilities.
Public attitude towards the guard is met with trepidation, especially with the noble guards. Many citizens would rather duck their head and take a nobleman's insults on the chin instead of risk being dragged away because they made a snide joke about a noble's poor choice of footwear. Due to this, the guard is seen as somewhat fair, but easily swayed when a nobleman is nearby.

Prison

The legal system is fair, though confinement methods still remain somewhat draconian. Cells and poor living conditions can be expected when arrested, not to mention potential harsh treatment by guards depending on their mood or moral disposition. Punishments range from community service (or even public humiliation) to the death penalty, depending on the severity of the crime and the judgement of the court. They make no distinction for magic users and mundane citizens, though they will take extra precautions for the former.

Trade

The Kingdom is the primary trade hub of magical scrolls, knowledge and foodstuffs in the northern hemisphere. It has a large market for tomes, books, scrolls, livestock, food, and crafts involving these things and more. Its restaurant industry is large and also helps drive the prices of unprocessed food and raw ingredients. Services such as scribes, cooks, and weavers are commonly sought here.
Most trade arrives over land via caravan and magical transportation (i.e. Floating Disc) since the roads are a reliable avenue of travel. Makeshift trade posts are common at intersections depending on the time of day, though you might only find perishables at these markets.
Ports are also valuable sources of merchandise, though the Kingdom only trades with the Empire via sea.

Transportation

The cities and towns are characterized by their stone and wood architecture, many with eye-catchingly colorful heraldry of their province, house, and allegiance, where applicable. Roads between these settlements are cobbled or paved as you approach the larger cities, while they remain pleasantly maintained gravel or dirt roads in rural areas. Caravans and carriages are common, alongside enhanced land travel via purchased magical services.
Recently there's been sightings of metal box on wheels propelling itself without magic, albeit at a slow pace. There's also been rumors of commissioning the Kozholian Empire to build them a leyline network to develop their transportation infrastructure further.

Notable Locations

Major Cities:

See Also

Organizations:
People:

Garnier Baustente

The Baustente Kingdom

Geography

Aliases
Purveyors of Philosophy
Knights of the Quill
The Inventor's Bastion
The Dilettante's Cradle (Derogatory)
Regions
Great Plains of Irn

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Society

Demonym
Baustentian, Bausian
Demographics

63% Human
13% Dwarves
9% Halflings
8% Elves
7% Others

Religions
Eiour, Trien, Yeren

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Commerce

Imports
Alcohol, ore, water, spices, Bhulerian Crystal
Exports
Grain, fruit, leather, livestock, spell scrolls, literature, textiles
Currency

1 pp = 1 crown
= 10 gold bangles
= 100 silver rings
= 1000 copper beads

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Politics

Government Type
Democractic Aristocracy
Religious
The College of Trien
Legislative
The Baustentian Senate
Judicial
The House of Impartiality

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