Hey everyone,
In this 8th installment we'll delve deeper into the Politics of Bilinger Kingdom.
Last episode I started to tell you about the politics of Bilinger Kingdom. We began with the Founding of the Kingdom, we talked about the Feudal system that is in place and we skimmed the surface of Vassals and Tributaries.
If you are curious about what you might expect to find in future blogs please take a look at the table of contents described in episode 1.
If you have any preference please let me know.
Those in Bold are handled in this episode
1) Short warmup introduction to the Kingdom
2) The Feudal system of Bilinger Kingdom
3) The vassals and tributaries
4) Titels & Duties - The duke of Denwell
Merchantile Influence
The power of Guilds and Orders
Favour of the People
Factions and Plots
I want to talk more indepth about what titels means what in terms of ''what do they actually do beside getting rich?!'' So that means I'll be describing several important members of the kingdom and explaining abit about what they do and why they do it.
By telling you that and on the topic of Titels, what titels are grouped together so to speak. What kind of Ruling bodies are there beside induvidual persons with titels of Nobility? Yes you guessed it, there are councils of various kinds. I'll try to highlight the most important ones at the moment and describe their function(s).
The List of Councils and their function can be found near the bottom of this blog.
4) Titels & Duties
So here we are. Last episode we talked about the upper nobility titels like King, duke, count, viscount and duke. Ofcourse there are many more possibilities all the way from page to emperor but I use titels relatively loosely. If I think it fits to use a specific titel I use it ingame.
Ofcourse there are Knights (landed and non-landed), Bondsmen, Retainer, City Officials, Theological titels, Army titles etc etc, but I'll try to stick to the Higher Noble titles for now.
This part of the telling might get abit hazzy as to what it exactly is what I'm trying to tell you so I'll just say. I will try to describe several settlement rulers and their motives, actions and duties.
We'll start with:
Duke Atmos Rhainbon, Lord of Denwell.
Crest:
A rich brown background upon which an Ornate, golden letter D is displayed at its center.
Description:
Tall and Broad build, Brown/reddish hair which he wears loose around his shoulders. A full and well groomed beard around a powerful jaw, Dark chestnut eye colour and is 41 years of age.
Duke Atmos is foremost a military man, and such his pressence commands authority. His shrewdness and innate spirit for hard work have made him a motor for the dukedoms prosperity. His benevolent nature and his proven bravery caused him to be a ruler well liked and even loved by his subjects and soldiers.
Family:
Wife: Dutchess Levendia Rhainbon
A headstrong woman of 36 years of age with long golden hair and stark, deep blue eyes. She has always shown strong sympathies for the common man and her known reputation as an instigator have marked her as somewhat as a rabble rouser among other nobles. Despite this she is a supprisingly graceful woman more to natural talent than education some say.
Son 1: Mordakay Rhainbon
The heir to the Ducal Throne at 19 years of age. He is both blessed with hight and an athletic build. He wears his hair as his father, loose and at shoulder lenght with the same colour even. His eyes belie a shade of green which would make some more knowledgeble person wonder. He has recieved a warriors upbringing an has excelled so far at it. He is very sociable and bombards his tutors with his inquisitive nature which has done his education only well. However his hard headedness is definately a trait inherited from his mother, as is his optemictic mind and generous inclination towards the common man.
Son 2: Doromos Rhainbon
At 17 he is already a Broad and barrel chested youth. He keeps his hair short cut and has a plain brown colour. His azure blue eyes hold a natural watchfullness to them which makes him less approachable than his older brother. Doromos also enjoyed a warriors upbringing at which some claim he surpasses his older Brother's.
He has already shown to posses a keen mind for military matters and is an excelent horseman. His obvious love for riding also extents to other animals. He is an acomplished beastmaster and enjoys his time out in the wilds.
Son 3: Nevindir Rhainbon
The youngest at 16 summers. During his upbringing he recieved a court education. His frame displays visibly less muscle than his older brothers but he is still describable as athletic. His lightbrown, halflong hair and clear, light jade eyes make him stand out abit. Often Nevindir can be found at the Ducal court discussing political matters with the various ducal advisors or scholars and lawyers, whom are of one mind when they admit that Nevindir has a brilliant mind. It must be said that his education made him a well informed and worldly man already, his decisions in the future will prove if he is wise aswel. Nevindir Delights in overseeing and actively partaking in forging new trade agreements and seeking out the most efficient means of organisation, be that production, logistics or troop movement. The gods hold no mysteries for him though and he is often quite rational and exceptionally curious which has upset some of the priests on occation.
Daughter 1: Siraya Rhainbon
At 18 summers she is the second born of the Duke and has always been a natural beauty. Rumour has it, and on many men's mind that the princes themselfs are in the race to win over her heart. Many believe Siraya to be the most beautiful woman in the Kingdom. Her long, golden hair clear heritage of her mother as her grey/blueish eyes must be aswel. Her frame is lith and slender with a hight to her which makes it plain where her ancestral roots ly. (northmen I recon, taller than average). With this beauty she also holds a natural grace which has aided her quite respectable diplomatic accomplishments. Her quick wits have shown her to be adept at forging profitable arrangements with other nobles and parties. Her wits also led her to become a deep thinker, ponderous of the how and the why, rather than simply accepting fate as fixed. Siraya is the only one of her family known to practise the art of magic, water magic to be more precise. Although alledgedly only an adept, it is still impressive to cultivate such an art with the schedual she usually has.
Dominion:
Large town of Denwell, second largest settlement within the Kingdom.
A center for woodworks, farming, hunting and has a good number of soldiers at its command. Commonly refferd to as the kingdoms granary.
Blakefield Forest, Largest Forest of the Kingdom at its south eastern border.
A persitant plague are the Blakefield Raiders whom seem to be organized enough to make their pressence a lasting one.
Greenfield Community, a prosperous farming settlement too small to be officially recognised as a village.
Zindou ferry, a river crossing which provides quick acces to Fort Karatas and is showing every sign of becomming a small trading port in the near future.
Muna Village, A vassal led by Baroness Daninea Steryn. Fair amount of elven inhabitants.
Bronze Oak Village, A vassal led by viscount Eradane Worez a renown military man.
This village is on the fronteir of the kingdom and is suitably build with defense in mind.
The Voradian ''Fort'' - The Voradian Order, an order of Cavalry men were recently allowed to restore an old and ruined river guardpost. It has since been renovated and is lovingly reffered to as ''Fort'', in reality is has a rectangular stone wall with 2 gates, 2 guard towers and 2 large stone barracks, a small forge and stables ofcourse. Compact and small but still has an air of fortification about it.
Duties:
The Duke's formost important duty is to protect and further the interests of the Realm/Kingdom. He does this by ensuring his dukedom prospers, that he aids his fellow vassals to the crown and defeats enemies of the kingdom in combat.
- Regent of the High Council of Bilinger
The Duke is the second in command of the High Council only after the King.
The High Council is the council of lords in a sense, all the settlement rulers are part of this council. The Duke's vote weighs heavily and his attention often vyed for.
- High Mashal of the Bilinger Army
In times of war the Duke holds the single highest position in the military, again after the King himself. Even Marshal Dennehue Erim, Lord of the West Cape Castle has to heed his orders in time of war.
- Lord of the Dukedom of Denwell
He holds court for his vassals and has to make sure all matter legal and temporal are met with satisfaction of both his subjects and the crown. Any requests or demands placed on him by the royal family he has to furfill to the best of his ability.
It is his duty to generate income from levying taxes, trade and other means. Ofcourse the duke also has a military commitment to the royal family to provide armed forces in times of war.
Interests:
Ofcourse all these duties and responsebilities are all fine and dandy, but what about Atmos? he's a man of flesh and blood (and IRON!) what does he want.
not to go to deeply into this I'll make a short list.
1 - Win over the hearts of his subjects and be seen and remembered as a good and just lord.
2 - Strenghten the Dukedom against the looming threat of Wildmen from the Savage nations to the east whom have harried the border of the kingdom more and more frequently in recent days.
3 - Find a suitable and honourable man for his only daughter. However he wouldn't mind if that took some time still, he is quite fond of her.
4 - Expand the Dukedom eastwards into the no-mans-land. Quite a long stretch of land just lies unclaimed and there are plenty of posibilities out there.
5 - Find a better way to funnel trade through his dukedom that depends less on Kelm Harbour and perhaps even the northern Zindou river.
Political enemies/opposition consist of:
Magus Lendien Feowind - Mistress of Lendien's Tower ( a highly placed member on the League of the Grand Magus - the ruling body on all things magical within the Kingdom).
Count Asyrin Kanmar - Lord of Kelm (the Main trade harbour in the Kingdom).
Baron Elden Dunbure - Steward of Zindar (small fishing village at the north border).
Princess Kelina Danalar - Princess of the Realm
Political friends/supporters:
Prince Terinis Danalar - Prince of the Realm (has ambitions to explain the kingdom towards the east)
Baron Hinren Haust - Steward of Ronnel (an industrious village along the zindou river).
Grand Master Valaran Rubec - Master of Fort Karatas (a decent size mountain fort which belongs to the Knights of the Purple Cross / a neutral order of warriors with high military standards).
These two groups are as things are precieved in the political area's of Bilinger and may ofcourse shift one way or another. The other participants of these arena's may or may not side with the duke. It all depends on having the right leverage and interests at hand.
Right, that sums up the duke and his direct family, description, idea's and position.
The Councils of Bilinger
The High Council of Bilinger
People that sit on his Council are all rulers within the Kingdom. They lead the various villages and towns. This council discusses law, war, high profile or high noblemen's disputes within the kingdom and ofcourse the general course the Kingdom is taking.
Members of his Council:
King Aroban Danalar - King of Bilinger
Crown Prince Ninadar Danalar - Crown Prince of Bilinger
Duke Atmos Rhainbon - Lord of Denwell
Count Agetor of Hatbur, Lord of Healk
Count Asyrin Kanmar, Lord of Kelm
Viscount Daren Perilli, Lord of Fankar
Viscount Eradane Worez, Lord of Bronze Oak
Baron Hinren Haust, Steward of Ronnel
Baron Elden Dunbure, Steward of Zindar
Baroness Daninea Steryn, Steward of Muna
The Grand War Council of Bilinger
This council presides over all things military. They maintain, train, orchestra and supply all things needed to keep Bilinger in the best possible shape for war.
Members of this council do not however have final say in all these matters but they do govern them. For example, they may signal the need for expanding the size of the army. They will then voice this to the appropriate ruler, be that a count, the duke or the king himself. It may be that they signal an increase in raiders in the blakefield forest. They will then form an advise for the Duke to take under concideration. This council also excecutes orders recieved from the rulers if those rulers have the proper powers to do so.
Members of this Council:
Marshal Dennehue - Lord of the West Cape Castle
Grand Commander Dalin Arabella - Master of the West Cape Foot Camp (army base)
High Commander Horas Ironhand - Master of the Fankar Guard (river fort)
High Commander Argos of Dwain - Master of the Bilinger Guard (river fort)
Grand Master Valaran Rubec - Master of Fort Karatas (order of the Purple Cross - Military order of warriors)
The League of the Grand Magus
This body of government presides over all things magical. It ensures the use of illegal magic is persecuted and that talented induviduals are recognised and taught.
It debates the flows of magic, how to improve the kingdoms defensive and offensive magical properties can be strenghtened but most it debates about spells and magical occurances that need their attention.
Members of this Council:
Grand Magus Illyra Sunarch - Grandmistress of the Redwind Mageguild.
Magus Lendien Feowind - Mistress of Lendien's Tower
Magus Doramen Gleanfyre - Chancelor of Redwind
High Sorcerer Jordal Asand - Esteemed Wizard of Bilinger
High Sorcerer Gaden Longfield - Esteemed Wizard of Bilinger
High Sorceress Sesiera Lievash - Esteemed Wizard of Bilinger
High Sorceress Milea Lewranora - Esteemed Wizard of Bilinger
*** this last person, Milea is a tiger woman / feline humanoid and is a PC in our campain. She has long been a student at the Redwind mageguild but holds no position of power there ***
Alright people, thats it for me fortoday.
As always I hope you enjoyed reading this and that perhaps you found it useful.
Questions and Comments are likewise always welcome.
-Leoven
