Anelyn

Name: The Divine Confederacy of the Great Houses of Anelyn

Category: Complex limited Oligarchy

Age: Country founded in 5217 DA. Present system of government established122 NA (5602 DA)

Population: 3,500,000 humans. 1,500,000 Gnome, Halfling minorities.

Geography:

  o	Salatran 			
       o	Designation	- Capital
       o	Population	- 150,000. Human. 100,000 Minority (Gnome/Halfling populations)
  o	Uvexis 				 
       o	Designation	- Port City
       o	Population	- 100,000 mixed races. Sizeable immigrant population
  o	Endelasan			 
       o	Designation	- Border keep
       o	Population	- 50,000 + Garrison
  o	Cathuarona			
       o	Designation	- City
       o	Population	- 100,000
  o	Manchevor			
       o	Designation	- City
       o	Population	- 100,000
  o	Great House Keeps
       o	The Great House Keeps are primarily fortified sites with small villages attached.
       o	Glasswynne		- House Varserain
       o 	Lightwynne Island	- House Subran (Now Ruined, partially reoccupied by a mercantile family)
       o	Vertedgek 		- House Maralis
       o	Marsantheos		- House Shobroth
       o	Indymna 		- House Oelstenan
       o	Ethacon		        - House Beleth (destroyed by fire in 973 NA, not rebuilt)
       o	Tunicya 		- House Kalys
       o	Danetaea 		- House Sybaro
       o	Ferrorcion		- House Aganor

History

Earliest History

Anelyn is the southern part of lands formally known as Lyndorran. had been a fractured state with competing great families and frequent periods of civil war escalating in the conflict of 5213-5217 YG, during this conflict the southern great families fought the northern ones and eventually an uneasy peace was settled with the foremost of the southern families Rhaame becoming the ruling dynasty. The first King Guille Rhaame, named the country after a mythical Lyndorran heroine, Anelyn Karan, to help gain popular and nationalist support.

Anelyn's history after it's separation from Lyndorran was filled with bloodshed. Though Guille Rhaame was a benevolent man, his son was not. He slowly poisoned his father and drove him insane, making him believe that traitors and spies were watching him. Rhaame, increasingly paranoid about all those around him, declared a war on terror and traitors. Simple travel was made over complicated with extremes made in security measures around cities. Hangings happened at the slightest mention of dissent. Many people lived worse than slaves, trapped in their homes unless they had a proven reason to be about. Their time was spent on the edge of a knife, precarious with a dangerous fall with the slightest wind. People starved, many were sick, and none could get proper treatment because the many hospitals and churches formerly available under Lyndorran were torn down and it's proprietors driven away as spies and usurpers of his majesties power.

The other great families could not tolerate this abuse of their influence and controlling the majority of the countries resources fought against the monarchy. When the castle of Salatran finally fell it was discovered and made public that the king was mad, his mind fractured by poisons, and his son was nowhere to be found. A bastard lesser son of the ruling dynasty Alex Crombie was placed on the throne and a council appointed to “aid” the king in ruling. This council was made up of representatives of many of the houses and had over 500 members. The council remained the major power behind the throne for many years and though very inefficient governed the county fairly well. The other group to gain influence was the church of Aresir who had joined whole-hearted in with the great houses to defeat Guille.

Dinestaven Conflict

The war against Dinestaven was instigated by the church advisor for the temple of Aresir, in which the Dinestaven armies were acquiring land and resources along the disputed strip between Anelyn and Dinestaven. People were being slaughtered mercilessly, and it was rumoured that the leaders of these invasion forces were worshippers of Falkrin. The war did not happen immediately, as the king had fallen ill that summer from a strange disease. When the king died and his son, Prince Stephen Crombie took over, the call to arms was issued immediately. The battle lasted nearly a decade.

Dinestaven began parley after their armies were being struck back by Crusaders from the church of Aresir. The Crusaders returned to their barracks under a rain of flowers for a successful victory in the campaign against evil, and continued their work by training people to fight for themselves by rooting out those who would threaten them. When it was discovered 6 years later that the disease the king had died from was sent by Dinestavenians to slow opposition, vengeance drove King Stephen onto the battlefield once more, however Anelyn's Crusaders refused this campaign of revenge claiming that the armies that sent the disease had been driven back. The church of Aresir entered decline and the Crusaders were exiled until 5467 DA when the demons "Pestilence" and "Famine" were released, taking up arms and helping protecting the common folk that make up Anelyn's population.

The War of the Age

The War of the Age caused both internal and external strife. Though peace was eventually made with bordering nations after the War of the Age was ended, civil war brewed just under the surface, and erupted frequently into open battle well beyond the end of the War of the Age. Eventually in the year 121 NA, the remaining 9 noble houses in the nation of Anelyn realized that their constant internal strife was destroying the fabric of the country they all loved. Putting aside decades of civil wars the opposing factions met in the wartorn capital city of Salatran. Over the course of a fortnight, an uneasy truce was hammered out. Within a year, the Accords of Salatran had been agreed upon. The Church of Aresir had been influential throughout this period in negotiating peace with the neighbouring countries and persuaded the noble houses to negotiate instead of fight, they have remained in such an ascendancy ever since.

The 9 families were all that remained of the dozens who had existed before the War, the civil war the War provoked led to the devastation of the majority of the land and devastated the noble population until when the War was finally over only 9 families could coherently prove a link to the previous ruling family.

The Accords essentially recognized each faction under the new title of Great House. It also granted temporary dominion over the nation to each faction in its turn. For a period of 23 years, each Great House would rule from the Palace of Tears in the city of Salatran. The Prince of that House would sit upon the throne as King, and his word was law. This length of time was deemed sufficient for a House to have a fair say in guiding the kingdom, but not so unreasonably long that the Prince of the House ascending would have no chance to sit upon the throne himself. Because the length was of fixed duration -- death of a sitting King would not end it -- it also reduced the temptation of former enemies to speed up the reign of the ascendant House through uncouth means. This system of rule was initially difficult as the early Houses used their authority to extract retribution against those they believed had wronged them.

The foolishness of this path was driven home with the extinction of House Subran in the second Reign of the first Cycle, and the remaining Houses took that lesson to heart. It was also at this time the Anelyian council was resurrected, this time with only 10 members, 8 from the remaining Great Houses, one from the church of Aresir and one from the town council of Salatran.

The extinction of House Subran was the single most important event during this period...

Recent History

The system outlined above has remained unchanged until the present day, the country is presently in House Shobroth is in the twelfth year of third reign of the seventh Cycle (1302 NA). Further information on each of the Great Houses can be found in the appendices. ((Any particular events that need adding here?))

Economy

Anelyn is a primarily agricultural economy with a strong internal system of trade between the different regions of Anelyn. The currency is strong being mined in Anelyn but due to the dominance of the 9 Great Houses does not have a developed banking or financial systems, much of the trading is carried out by the gnomes. The only major organisation is that of the Imperial Mining and Logging Guild, which is run by nobles related to the king and hardly counts as independent of the government. Different monarchs have different views on slavery. The present monarch is pro-slavery whilst the Princess Ascendant is less favourable. Generally very few people own slaves, essentially restricted to the very elite for whom it is a sign of class or foreign residents.

Land Ownership

Anelyn is deeply prosperous, filled with overflowing mines, rich farmlands, deep woods and plentiful coastlines. While anyone here may own a house, it is only the wealthy and privileged who may own land. Taxes are based off of size of plots, or the general use of the land. Accepted practice is that large plots have landlords and allow people to live off their land in exchange for a portion of goods. It's expected that when you do anything on a grand scale, that you use that to support nearby communities, and it is frowned upon to horde mass resources from others; Greed is often a sign of other evils.

Imports and Exports

The Kingdom of Anelyn trades with the Dwarves, Tabanasta, the Kingdom of Dinestaven, and even some sporadic shipments to Telvor. But the bulk of their trade, however, is with the Garéans. Overland caravans conduct most of the trade, since their only overseas partners are in Telvor. The Anelyn navy is comparatively weak when held against the forces of the Garéans or Dinestaven. Extremely important trades are sometime conducted by ship with a heavy naval escort.

Very little is imported as very little is required, mostly it is luxury goods. Comparatively much is exported, raw materials of all kinds, wheat (in only limited quantities due to the difficult of transporting), and a few goods. Most goods are manufactured in Anelyn and transported regionally with the remaining more elite goods, such as Dwarven crafted jewellery imported for elite ideological legitimation.

Religion

Aresir is the unquestionable leader in the battle for people's souls. While there are temples to Llilanthra for healing, and roadside shrines to Fallerin, only the church of Aresir has a truly fully-fledged following. The Order of Knights Gallant, a group of rich nobles and paladins dedicated to Aresir’s cause, aid the people of Anelyn and defends the land.

People

The people in Anelyn live well enough. They are hardworking and cheerful, supportive and proud of their unique political system. Though there are the poor, even those not so well off have access to healing that greatly increases their quality of life. Generally, anyone and everyone is offered a place to work and become productive. Nothing is given for free however and even though most of the people are kind and generous, they expect proper thanks and usually payment in return for their services. People work hard, and all benefit from it.

Outlook

Due to their generally positive nature the Anelynians are generally quite open to outsiders and are a culture where hard work is rewarded, but also a strong respect for the absolute oligarchy supported by the church of Aresir which brought peace to the country after the long years of war. This view is reinforced by the Great Houses to protect their position. ((Not sure what else would be wanted here))

Culture

Anelyn is not a great culture, it imports most of its luxury goods and foreign intellectuals are welcome at its courts. Depending on the ruling monarch the focus on the arts shifts between many of the foreign cultures at the court level. At the public level culture is not an issue as people are largely concerned with living and the next harvest with occasional entertainment from wandering musicians or actors who ply their trade across the country.