Goldreed

Goldreed is Wesrino's capital province and the Crown's personal fief. It and it's namesake are the reasons for Wesrino's moniker of "The Jewel of Tonad"; rolling plains filled with vibrant plant life render it awe-inspiring to simply behold. It is little exaggeration to say that beautiful vistas are closer to the rule rather than the exception in the Crownland. Though its aesthetic value has made Goldreed the home of choice for those with the means to make it so in the past, it has never before seen the likes of the population boom it is currently experiencing. Thanks to the ease of travel afforded by stable, toll-free leylines, the 12-hued star encouraging immigration from distant lands, Palletia's lowering of tensions with Riek'Dahn, and the sheer indulgent wealth of freely-given amenities given to those living within its borders, Goldreed has gone from a wealthy, gentrified province to the most densely populated place in the world, absolutely brimming with people of all stripes.
Goldreed's vibrant, unique plant and animal life and its rich veins of magical materials are owed to its intricate network of leylines that run through the province. In antiquity, the influence of Aeons was wild and uncontrollable, rendering Goldreed unstable with Aeonic phenomena. After the Elder's downfall and leylines became better understood, the excess energies were able to be controlled, funneled into the stone-and-metal Manses that dot the landscape, their now-harnessed power seeping into the environment and granting it extraordinary characteristics. Ownership of a Manse is the mark of nobility in Goldreed, their controllers able to literally shape the land around them at will and slowly generate rare materials. The gifting of one of these nexi of magical power is an a reward of immense proportion, being granted only to proven heroes after great deeds (or a particularly egregious border dispute or bout of political maneuvering). It is these manse-owners that make up the social and political elite of Goldreed, the owners of larger, more influential manses wielding greater power; in lieu of a Herald, a council of the holders of the three greatest manses make decisions for the good of the province when the Crown is otherwise occupied (that is to say, almost always).
As Palletia's seat of power, Goldreed is the very manifestation of her vision for Wesrino as a whole. Wine is very nearly as common as water in the streets of many of Goldreed's cities and even the poorer hamlets are used to a level of luxury unseen elsewhere in the country. Despite the relative opulence of the common folk, all other beds of indulgence pale in comparison to the sheer decadent splendor of the Palace of the Arts. A city sized repository of all forms of art and Palletia worship, the Palace's name belies its size and grandeur. This complex acts as the headquarters of the Order of the 12-hued Star, the Order's holiest site, and a combined museum, atheneum, art gallery, pleasure palace and more. While most people of import pass through the Palace for one reason or another, to be extended an invitation by Palletia personally is an incredible honor and assures and unforgettable experience. Above the Palace itself hangs the 12-hued Star, bridges of scintillating light extending to far off lands, inviting foreigners to indulge in and add to the Palace's luxuriance.
While the Star's creation has been successful in introducing the once-isolationist nation of Wesrino to unfamiliar peoples and stimulating trade, the mass immigration has also lead to large amounts of unrest, most prevalent in the areas around the Star itself. Language barriers, differences in values and practices, and no lack of apprehension towards the strange, unfamiliar faces living in the recently homogenous country. Worse still, the noble manse-holders seem wholly unwilling to mitigate the instability this influx has caused, altogether more interested in politicking and luxuriating amongst one another. Already, blood mixes in with the rivers of wine that run from the Palace, with no sign of de-escalation in the near future.

Culture

The people of Goldreed have a not-wholly-unearned reputation as pretentious hedonists, interested in nothing beyond their next lavish feast and thinking themselves as gods for it. While this is a caricature, Goldreedians are often dionysian in nature. Good food and experiences are the greatest pursuits in life; greater "causes" and living for the satisfaction of someone other than oneself are seen as pitiable and foolish in equal measure. Despite this, they are not selfish on the whole. Indeed, the only thing approaching the greatness of personal fulfillment is the fulfillment of others; what good is a feast if there is nobody to indulge with? Still, living the nation's lap of luxury does quite a bit to skew the perception of the average Goldreedian, especially since some rarely see the need to leave the province.
Goldreedians take great pride in the incredible wildlife endemic to their homes. Most people own at least a single pet or a small terrarium of utterly unique organisms. The wealthier amongst them often have personal greenhouses and menageries filled with tame, obedient animals. While ultimately status symbols, these creatures are seen as an extension of their owners and afforded respect accordingly. Cavalry regiments from Goldreed are organized by general features rather than exact species, as finding two identical creatures native to Goldreed is a fools errand, and are known throughout the country for their rider's skill, mount's strength and their mutual loyalty.  
Despite the existance general trends within the province, Goldreed's culture becomes ever more diluted and differentiated with every passing day. Otherwise unseen numbers of elves, ogrish, drakken and many other races besides have come to reside within Goldreed, each with their own histories, practices, and languages. These differing lifestyles are immortalized within the Palace of the Arts, slowly taking root within the province. Despite no small amounts of strife from the struggles of immigration and integration, most Goldreedians are fascinated with these exotic strangers and their customs, occasionally to the chagrin of those who are uninterested in having their very being dissected and fawned over.

Type

Geopolitical, Province

Parent Organization

Wesrino