Faryon

The largest nation in the Western Reaches, Faryon is a highly divided feudal state, where the local lords at times pay little heed to their liege-lord. It is founded on the remains of an ancient Elven nation, lost long before the human and Dwarven settlers that established the nation as it is nowadays arrived, initially naming their newly established homeland "Far over yonder", after how it is the most western explored and settled region known on any maps, eventually ending up bastardized into "Faryon".
The king is responsible for writing write the law, which is codified by clerks in the capital, with word sent regularly to every lord and major city with news on changes regarding laws, or new laws entirely. He is aided in this matter by a council of close advisers who more often than not are the ones actually writing the laws, with the king only signing for their approval - more often than not, the council is somewhat self-serving, and positions on this council are highly coveted by many. A body of judges oversees the enactment of the law, paired with local authorities such as lords or mayors. Appointed by the king directly, the judges either settle in major cities, or traverse the country to oversee cases where asked to do so.
In the end, this results in local lords and other assorted nobility carrying a great deal of authority, especially with the rather limited amount of judges around at any given time.
At the current time, the king's influence over the nobility is especially low. A civil war fought over a century ago has kept the king's power rather crippled ever since, and Ludwig III has not managed to solve this issue. Now, in his aging state, his influence recedes more and more, and the higher nobility functions, in practice, as individual monarchs more than anything else.

Structure

The ruler over all of Faryon is, formally, a monarch - be it a king or a queen. Below this monarch are the nobility - local lords and ladies who may have other, lower nobility serve underneath them, ruling over vast amounts of land and owing fealty to the king or queen. Towns that aren't governed by nobility are most commonly ruled by a mayor instead, who likewise owes fealty to the king.
Faryon's monarch almost always keeps a council of private advisers around him, and while these do not formally hold any power, individual councilors are powerful individuals indeed, for they have the ear of the ruler and are often responsible for writing new laws.

Military

Local lords and towns are responsible for their own protection, maintaining their own private armies or guard forces.
Besides these, the crown holds its own army, garrisoned in and around the capital city of Nylanor. The army is maintained at all times, including times of peace, and upholds relatively high standards of training. It serves as a deterrent for any power hungry would-be usurpers and backs up the Crown's legitimacy. As such, its highest ranking officers are practically all close confidantes and well-trusted members of the court of the ruling monarch.

Education

There is no standardized form of education, and it is not something everyone within the kingdom's borders has access to. Often, individual guilds will train new apprentices in their craft, or parents will simply teach their children what they know. Several educational institutions exist, but these are practically all either only accessible to the wealthy, or a part of a larger organisation, such as military academies preparing officer's for the royal army, or groups such as the Ethereal Council.

Maps

• 

  Stillvault & Surrounding areas

  The map of the Duchy of Stillvault, including nearby towns.
• 

  Tarmsworth and surrounding lands

Founding Date

302

Capital

Nylanor

Demonym

Faryonian

Head of Government

Ludwig Embercrown III

Government System

Monarchy, Absolute

Economic System

Mixed economy

Currency

Golden coins, typically imprinted with the head of a (former or current) monarch. 'Lesser' coinage consists of silver and copper coins.

Legislative Body

The king and his council.

Judicial Body

A body of judges traversing the lands, together with local lords and mayors.

Controlled Territories

• Nylanor
• Ravenset
• Stillvault
• Tarmsworth

Notable Members

• Ludwig Embercrown III
• Mereneth Lynes