Difference between revisions of "Flannary"

Revision as of 13:13, 2 July 2009

Name:Flannari Empire
Adjective: Flannari

Flannary is the the second largest nation of the mainland, and is an expansive pastoral land dominated by agriculture. The majority of the population work in this agricultural industry, tending crops and raising livestock on massive manors owned by a small noble population. Flannary is a highly centralized nation, run by a hereditary monarch, where virtually all wealth is concentrated in a small number of noble houses. It also has a strong religious tradition, and is home to a powerful but independent sect of the Alexandrian Church.

Government and Politics

Though the Flannarian government has its roots in feudal tradition, the government itself is deeply centralized. Virtually all of the power and wealth is controlled by hereditary noble houses who reside in one of a small number of large, cosmopolitan urban centers, who act as absentee landlords for the numberless peasants who toil the Flannari fields, while the rest of society has internalized feudal divisions, leading to a rigid, class-based culture.

First and foremost among these noble houses is the House of Veromii, who trace their lineage directly to Hadrian Ubrekt. More directly, the Flannari royal house comes from the Veromii line of the Ubrekt. Julianna Veromii took Imperium of the East in 1440 BI, and ten years later she declared herself Empress of the East, leading to the Ubrekti Civil War, also known as the First War of Fracture. Thus, the Veromii have controlled Flannary since its inception, and some tie to Veromii blood is critical to any claim of legitimacy. There also exist a handful of other major noble houses, usually tied to guilds and production, as well as as dozens of minor noble houses who control Flannari agriculture. These noble houses are the exclusive landowners in Flannary, and each house maintains strict control over all goods produced on their lands. In practice, they maintain a similar level of control over the people that live on these lands as well--very few members of the Flannarian populace own anything at all, and many are legally forbidden to leave the land they were born on. Thus, the individual quality of life is dictated exclusively by the nobles they live under.

Beyond the noble houses, the only other significant power broker in Flannary is the clergy, and the regional episcopacy in Flannary is very powerful. As the Veromii line, through Hadrian Ubrekt, are Divine Blooded, the Emperor of Flannary has always claimed to rule by divine right, and thus has always maintained a close relationship with religious authority. While the Church owns little in terms of land, it has wielded its considerable social power to acquire significant wealth, especially through Monopoly of the Vices. Noble houses are all expected to employ a large number of religious consultants, tutors, and ministers, and host for a large number of elaborate ceremonies on their lands, which is easily accomplished, as almost all instruction is conducted through religious institutions, up through the University of Flannary, which was officially given over to the Flannari Episocpacy in 212 FI. Virtually all nobles are expected to educate their children (and pay tuition) at this university.

Economics and Industry

Flannary is considered the breadbasket of the mainland, and is a massive supplier of grain and meat to most of its neighbors. Much of the mainland, even their bitter enemy Fresia, depends on Flannarian grain to support their population. There are also a number on industries centered around products and byproducts of agriculture. Flannary is famous, in general, for baked goods, fine foods, and preparing elaborate and involved cuisine, which it exports as experts and chefs, as these goods to not travel well. They also export a number of fine leather clothing goods (but not armor) and cheeses that produced from their livestock populations. Finally, they manufacture a number of fine scented soaps, perfumes and candles, which are prized throughout the world. Another major industry in Flannary is the production and export of wine and brandy. Indeed, it is said that Flannari perfumers were the first to discover the secret of its manufacture. Finally, Flannary is renowned for the production of elaborately worked luxury goods that are demanded by the exacting royalty. These items include, but are not limited to, clothing, crafted goods, and furniture, and to a lesser extent jewelry. The raw materials for these goods are notably not produced in Flannary, and are instead imported from other nations. However, they are constructed and decorated in Flannary, and exported to nobles and sophisticates throughout the world. These items not particularly rarely well-made or resilient: Flannari luxury goods typically require significantly more care, maintenance, and attention than other goods. Their value comes instead from elaborate and expensive decorations, complicated patterns, and bright colors and dyes used in their construction.

History and Culture

- Flannarians take their ties to Old Ubrekt seriously, and see themselves as representing the height of human art, culture, and achievement.

- As such, to outsiders, Flannarians often seem inflexible and arrogant.

- Virtues : Etiquette, Distinction, Piety, Excellence.

- Culture is very stratified. Rich people go to University and all network. Artisans and middle class are educated in regional religious schools and network. Poor people don't get educated and stay in their villages.

- Culture is very church-centric - public entertainment in the form of morality plays put on by the church, for example, stories in the form of religiously themed allegory.

- Flannari practice a High Ritual form of religion, and pretty much everything else.

Flannarians of Note

Marrwyn Collar