Macanhia (Mech ann ia)
The pen is mightier than the sword, but the mind can be sharper than both.
Interesting Things About Macanhia
- The libraries dedicated to Ioun that are all across Macanhia are the largest sources of all known knowledge on all of Xalvion. Clerics and Monks dedicated to the Knowing Mistress run these libraries and they act as temples to those who worship her as well.
- Magic permeates many aspects of Macanhen life--more so than other nations. A Cleansing Stone graces every city, and you might encounter animated smithing tools in the forges. The Knowledge Knights are an elite group of Paladins that protect the throne and the various libraries across the country, and the Knowledge Seekers, a small group within the Keepers of Knowledge who run the libraries, specialize in divination magic.
- Some Macanhen nobles bound themselves to arcane pacts rather than learn at a school to acquire their magical knowledge though only remarkable heirs--such as player characters--develop into Warlocks. Most such nobles have a Genie or Great Old One Patron.
Macanhen Characters
Regardless of your Intelligence score, as a Macanhen you're sure you're the most intelligent and honest person in the room. Consider the following characteristics for your Macanhen:Arcane Talent.
If you’re not going to play a magic-using class, consider creating a high elf, warforged, dwarf, or a human with the Magic Initiate feat. Whether you favor damage-dealing cantrips or more utilitarian ones, every Macanhen should know a little magic.Mechanical Mastery.
No matter what race or class you're playing or whatever background you have, consider choosing proficiency with Tinker's Tools. Whether you prefer to make small contraptions to distract your enemies or large technological wonders to crush them, every Macanhen should know how to use Tinker's Tools.Historical Respect.
If you're not going to play as a dwarf, consider choosing Dwarvish as one of your known languages upon character creation. Nearly every Macanhen would know Dwarvish as a sign of respect towards King Bhalgolir Macanhis I and the royal family.Magic and Machinery Beats Mundane.
Why use your hand when you could use mage hand? Why strain your muscles tugging on a bowstring when you could use a wand or a firearm?Function Over Fashion.
Macanhen's don't really focus on how they look when they get dressed in the morning, they always tend to dress either to work or to fight, or both! Macanhen's are usually seen equipped with tools, goggles, and a rough pair of work gloves and boots.Geography
Macanhia occupies a large swath of land nestled between Partisia to the east, Qalik to the west, and Vabomescia to the south. The Wynheim Depths split the country right down the middle with the Lhar River, while the Pouzik Heights sit to the south-west nearly cut the country off from the Kingdom of Qalik completely, and the Dhalgrun Thicket covers much of the border between Macanhia and Vabomescia. While Macanhia is covered by many forests such as the Dhalgrun Thicket to the south, the Wailing Wilderlands to the north-east, and the Dazzleborough Timberlands to the west near the Pouzik Heights, there are vast grasslands that dot the country as well. The most famous of which are the Claymaw Fields to the west, the Dirtwick Prarie to the north, and the Bramblerop Meadow to the east.Berngaggle
The province of Berngaggle is the birthplace of Gnomish culture within Macanhia. Originally named after the Berngaggle clan, the first settlers of the surrounding area after Macanhia's founding in 813 AE.Shadeshire
A land nearly completely covered in the soaring Upphreech trees of the Shadelock Woods and the mighty oaks of the Dhalgrun Thicket, Shadeshire is one of the biggest exporters of wood within Macanhia. A spot of shade is never hard to find here! It is said that the original city of Boutra used to reside in the south-western side of the province, near the Pouzik Heights, before its destruction.Blacktide
Aptly named after the pitch black shores that cover most of the province. Much of this province is uninhabitable, nearly completely taken by the corruption of Vhognus. The Shireshiver River meets the Wynheim Depths along the coast of this province. Grendur: A small research town dedicated to studying and fighting back against the corruption of the Withered Coast. Ruins of Hysalona: Formerly a large Elvish port town. It was one of the many towns annihilated by Vhognus when he created the Withered Coast. Ruins of Bellcoast: Formerly a port town on the coast of Macanhia. It was one of the many towns annihilated by Vhognus when he created the Withered Coast.Rembam
Society
Nobility
The nobility of Macanhia are comprised of several families including the Royal Family, whose influence is determined by their wealth, their relationship with the royal family, along with their political standing, geographical positioning ruling certain parts of the land, and intellectual ingenuity.Noble Families
Titles of Nobility for the Kingdom of Macanhia by Rank
King/Queen
Prince/Princess
Duke/Duchess
Marchion/Marchioness
Earl/Countess
Viscount/Viscountess
Baron/Baroness
Baronet/Baronetess
Knight
Government
Structure
The Kingdom of Macanhia is ruled by King Bhalgolir Macanhis III.Foreign Relations
Trade
Coins of Macanhia
The offical currency of Macanhia are called Macanhen Gears or just Gears for short. They are about the same size of coins in most other places but are shaped like the gears in some kind of mechanism, each different variety of Gear has its own pattern of teeth and spokes. These coins were minted around 950 AE after the general populace grew tired of using Vhognian coins and came up with a plan of what to replace them with. Gears are minted in either the Royal Mint in Boutra, the mint in the Dwarvish refinery city of Berheim, or the mint in the city of Ironburn. Vhognian coins are now nearly impossible to find as they are not minted anymore and most were melted to down to make Gears. Collectors of such coins are just as rare apart from the odd historian here or Enlighted Mind archivist there. Just like most currencies on Xalvion, Gears come in multiple varieties that correspond with their worth.- Platinum Gears are the biggest and are worth most out of all the other gears but are also quite rare. They have 4 spokes on the inside of the coin connecting to an inner circle while the outside has around 25 square shaped teeth. They are approximately 30 millimeters in diameter and are 3 millimeters thick.
- Gold gears are only slightly smaller than Platinum Gears and are worth one tenth of a Platinum Gear. They also have 4 spokes on the inside that connect to an inner circle while the outside has 15 square shaped teeth. They are approximately 25 millimeters in diameter and are 3 millimeters thick.
- Silver Gears are the same size as Gold Gears and are worth one hundredth of a Platinum Gear. They have 2 spokes on the inside that connect to an inner circle and have 10 square shaped teeth on the outside. They are approximately 25 millimeters in diameter and are 3 millimeters thick.
- Copper Gears are the smallest of all the other Macanhen Gears and are worth the least, they are worth one one thousandth of one Platinum Gear. They have no spokes on the inside but rather are completely filled in with a hole in the center and they only have 2 square shaped teeth on the outside. They are approximately 15 millimeters in diameter and are 5 millimeters thick.
Culture
Language
The primary language spoken by the people of Macanhia is Common, this is because it is the most spoken language on Xalvion making it easier to communicate with people from other places. Many Macanhens would also most likely know Dwarvish as the the first king of Macanhia, King Bhalgolir Macanhis I, was a Dwarf and his family still rules the lands and many of the inhabitants want to honor him by learning the language of his people.
Social Norms
Formal Norms
While the laws of Macanhia are mostly similar to most places on Xalvion, there are a few written laws that set it apart from the rest of the world.- Lying: The people of Macanhia heavily frown upon liers and those who omit the truth, this stems from the religious belief of followers of Ioun, the Goddess of Knowledge, their belief is that lies feed and empower the long forgotten lich Vecna and his followers and thus early into the history of Macanhia was a law written where lies, both big and small, are a punishable offense. However most times smaller lies are forgiven, especially if told by a child, but continuous breaking of the law will result in punishment to the full extent of the law, this could include physical punishment such as being locked in a dungeon or magical such as being forced to wear a bracelet that makes you tell the truth for a set period of time.
- Spreading Misinformation: Similar to the law that was written to make lying more or less illegal, alongside it was a law forbidding the purposful and malicious spread of misinformation. This law was written for the same reasons as the lying law and its enforcment is much heavier and its punishments are much harsher.
- Education: Schooling is absolutely mandatory in Macanhia, intelligence is held in high regard and thus it is required to send your child or children to school from grades K - 12. Because this is law, all schooling, besides university and college, is completely free. University and college is only free to citizens of Macanhia. Because of the law requiring formal education, the schools in Macanhia have some of the highest graduation rates on Xalvion, this is due to the schools being highly accessible and having special education programs for those who may learn differently than others.
"You can cast Fly on a fish but that doesn't mean you can teach it to fly! If this student is not learning this way, teach differently."
Informal Norms
- Although not a written rule or law, most, if not all Macanhens are expected to learn at least the basics of tinkering and artificery, this unwritten rule became standard after King Bhalgolir Macanhis I freed the lands, established the country of Macanhia, and became king, the people wanted to follow in the footsteps of their new leader.
Technological Level
Macanhia is more technomagically advanced than its neighbouring states, and magitech is prevalent in its day-to-day culture. Many buildings are outfitted with functional elevators and lighting systems which incorporate mechanical or magical technology developed over decades of experimentation.
Maps
-
Provinces of Macanhia
Founding Date
15th of June, 813 AE
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Predecessor Organization
Demonym
Macanhen
Leader
Leader Title
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Crowned Republic
Power Structure
Autonomous area
Economic System
Barter system
Currency
Platinum Gears
Gold Gears
Silver Gears
Copper Gears
Location
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
A great spread of information and flavor, with my personal favorite being the name 'Lying and Misinformation Act' - sounding pretty familiar there. The addition of the player references linking to mechanical bits is also a really great addition! Really cool idea :D
Creator of Araea, Megacorpolis, and many others.
Thank you so much! Yeah I kinda took a page out of Eberron: Rising From the Last War with that mechanical part, I thought it'd make sense for Macanhia and also be more immersive! What does the Lying and Misinformation Act remind you of if I may ask?
Without getting too political, we've got of a misinformation pandemic going on IRL right now, so it was an amusing connection in my brain. :)
Creator of Araea, Megacorpolis, and many others.
Ah ok that makes sense now lol. That is pretty funny now that I look at it.