|
|
| Kôhp
Nyr Kôhpitol Royale |
Bridgeville
Majin Dûcton |
Aarunvale
Hilldale Forestvale |
Fyr Kôhpitol
Kôl Bhyd Outpost |
The kingdom of Stephen is a feudalistic
state. That is, all land belongs to the ruling monarch, who grants
to his dukes or duchesses in return for on oath of fealty and their military
support. The dukes and duchesses in turn grant smaller patches of
their respective duchies to the resident minor nobility, who in turn allow
several peasant families to work land in exchange for a large percentage
of their output, which is usually a fixed amount. The families retain
the remainder of any food they grow to support themselves, or even sell
it. The minor nobility dominates the markets with their bulk crops
that they can sell for lower prices than a single farmer. This minor
nibility, however, owes substantial annual (if not seasonal) taxes and
other services to ruling duke or duchess whom has granted them their land.
The major nobility in turn owes substantial taxes and absolute fealty to
the monarch.
Most major nobles reside
in the largest center of civilization with their respective duchies, usually
a city or town, but perhaps merely a farming village if the duchy is small
or undeveloped. For example, the Duchess Aurelia Disbane lives in
a grand residence within the city of Nyr Kôhpitol. Yet, her
family has been granted an enormous duchy, stretching from the banks of
the Capitol River to the edge of the Black Forest, most of which is farmed
and dotted with small communal hamlets that produce enough crops to support
the enormous city. In contrast, Alorn Hutchet of Dûcton resides
in a small mansion just outside of the village proper. In many ways
his estate is little different from those of the minor nobility of Nyr
Kôhpitol. However, should the comparison ever be made in court,
it would quite possibly be deadly. The title of Duke or Duchess carries
equal weight in the law of King Xerxes, regardless the size of the realm.
Several of the most
select areas – such as the fertile plateau surrounding Nyr Kôhpitol
or the dense and ancient woods of Forestvale – have already been pledged
and to some extent developed and civilized. However, there remains
a great deal of land that remains, in title and theory, directly in the
King’s possession and totally or only partially undeveloped. Total
wilderness abounds, such as the dark heart of the Black Forest or the cold
and hilly Frost Plains about Kôl and Fyr Kôhpitol.