Duchy of Waymarch
Lands of hoof and fang
Known as the “Gateway to the South," Waymarch is a nation whose main roads connect the Ivory Coast to the southern hotlands. Windswept savannahs dotted by plateaus and sandstone sculptures cover the nation, but fertile lands near Waymark rivers and waterways allow cities to thrive in the scorching heat. The country is notorious for its unregulated market and extensive criminal presence.
Despite being home to all manner of criminal organizations, the duchy's extensive cavalry patrols, trade route watches, and local guards have led Warmark cities and roads to be considered among the safest in the world for passing travelers. Waymarch's cities are full of open-air marketplaces where anything can be found for a price. The Solarian Alliance possesses a sizable presence in the nation, and Orian Industries has deemed Waymarch a primary place of operations.
Waymarch's standard education and libraries are nearly unmatched, and her citizens speak many languages. The country’s general lawlessness and diversity make her accepting of outsiders. Adventurers from all nations pass through Waymarch at one point or another, and many become entangled in her windswept mysteries and never leave. Whispers of ancient artifacts and forgotten cities in the Bone Eaters Desert lure travelers from far and wide to comb the sandy dunes.
Structure
The duchess has a council of five advisors in her court: the director of military affairs Quahpili, the supreme judge and director of finance Necaica zi'Tochli, the first mate Lesk zi'Pazlact, the director of the interior Illatol zi'Cualli, and the director of health Imzulk zi'Tisiil. The duchess is elected by the House of Chiefs, and the duke appoints his or her own council.
Each settlement within Waymarch is allowed to be run as its Chief sees fit as long as they adhere to the duchess's laws and respect the interests of the duchy. When a settlement needs a new Chief, a candidate is selected by the duchess and voted on by the House of Chiefs. All rulers in Waymarch serve for life.
Demography and Population
Waymarch is around 70% human, 10% orc, 10% elf, and 10% other species. Most of the elves in Waymarch are moriedhel originally from further south. Orcs are treated equally in Waymarch, which brings many disillusioned orcish settlers southward from Thessalaine, especially since the current duchess of Waymarch is a half-orc who has made it her mission to combat the widely-held perception that orcish peoples are all savages.
Most of the duchy's population is clustered around the Aiglar River and along the coastline, while the majority of the country's inner lands are hard-scrabble flatlands utilized for the rearing of horses, cattle, buffalo, and other hooved livestock herds.
Military
Waymarch's military is competently trained, and her ranks are composed of horse-riding warriors with elite sections of the nation's forces possessing exotic griffon mounts. The duchy can field 6000 light cavalry, 2000 heavy cavalry, and 4000 cavalry archers as needed. It can also levy 15,000 irregulars, but they are poorly equipped.
Foreign Relations
Waymarch has close ties with the desert folk of the Bone Eaters, particularly the moriedhel of Qiram and the otherworldly forces of Aknehpet. Waymarch also maintains a strong relationship with the Isle of Princes to its east, even though most Marchers know that a good portion of the criminal element in the duchy comes from this cluster of loosely aligned cities.
Agriculture & Industry
The Waymark economy is an unwieldy beast when compared to the conventional markets of other nations. On the surface Waymarch deals in the goods one expects to find in the hot plains, but underneath the mundane trade agreements lies something truly unique to the Gateway to the South. Waymarch, during all its time as a nation, has maintained a truly open market. In Waymarch the regulations on certain items considered contraband in other countries are lax or completely nonexistent. In the typical Waymark market one can find consumable intoxicants, furs of protected beasts, rare magical tomes, and quality steel. The open markets of Waymarch are a sizable boon to the country’s local economy, and countless merchants travel from far and wide to gain access to the rare wares of the desert.
Education
Uniquely Waymarkian is the sheer amount of historic, religious, and magical knowledge found within the nation’s borders. The nation boasts texts, artifacts, and lore from countless ages past, making the duchy the first stop for those seeking esoteric knowledge.
La Yuqhar
Founding Date
24010
Type
Geopolitical, Duchy
Capital
Demonym
Marcher
Leader
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Elective
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Traditional
Major Exports
Livestock meat, horses, leather, stone
Major Imports
Grains, produce, metals
Parent Organization
Location
Neighboring Nations
Comments