Introduction
Anielt, once a province in the Eloisan Empire, is a country with a somewhat violent history. Bordered to the West by the Strait of Broust, to the North by the Northern Waters, to the South by the Tangosa Sea and to the East the Coldain mountain range which is also the border to The Eloisan Empire.
Content
- History
- Geography, demographic and language
- Politics
- Administration
- Economy
- Transportation and commerce
- Religion
- Military
History The province of Anielt was settled by the Eloisan Empire about 100 years ago, the scholars still debate if the first settlement was in 3016 TID or 3018 TID. The main reason for settling the province was to secure both sides of the Coldain mountain range where silver deposits were found on the Eloisan side of the mountain range. Nothing was found on the Anielt side, and the province was for a long time an almost forgotten province.
Resentment towards the empire grew due to being neglected and in 3048 TID made the senate send a legion to the province in order to quell any unrest, because it wasn’t about to let some rebel scum destroy what they, in their mind, had worked hard to obtain. The senate chose to send the nearest legion to the province, failing to notice this specific legion was made up of more than 80 % of legionnaires from the province. When the legionnaires found out they had to fight their own kin, they revolted against the empire. The remaining 20 % of the legion was given a choice, they could join the rebellion, surrender and get sent back to the empire or fight and most certainly die. Some joined the rebellion, others went home to the empire, mostly those with family back home, and only the legatus and his personal guard decided to fight it out. They were killed down to the last man. This made the senate decide on moving more legions into the province. The three legions was chosen was dispatched early 3049 TID.
The only way into the province from land was through a narrow mountain pass. The Anielt army knew this and an ambush was set in place to stop the three legions the senate sent towards the province. When the first legion went into the pass, the rebels dropped a lot of stones and other stuff on them, and more than half the legion was either killed or wounded. This made the legatus of the legion retreat and warn the two other legions about the possibility of an ambush ahead. When the two legions went into the pass nothing happened, and they moved on almost to the other side. Here they were ambushed as well, and an entire legion worth of men was wiped out. The remaining men pushed for the exit of the pass, here they were met by the bulk of the rebel forces. They were given the same ultimatum as the very first legion, join the rebellion, go home or die. Since none of the higher ranking officers had survived the ambush, they men decided to throw down arms and go home. This effectively ended the senate’s attempt to regain the province by military means.
In the following months, a rush job to build a fort blocking the pass was ordered. This is how the first Fort Brackmoor was founded. Built at the narrowest point, the fort was made of wood and some stone. The fort was built over the span of a year, and the fort was enforced several times with more wood until a large fort stood mighty tall in 3051 TID. The newly elected government knew they had to start making an army as well. The remnant of the legion was to be the backbone of the new army. Then disaster struck in 3052 TID, a small imperial scouting party (or so it is believed) managed to set the fort on fire and it almost burned to the ground. This made it clear that a wooden structure wasn’t the way to block the pass.
The government quickly agreed to make a new and upgraded fort with walls of pure stone, and made gates on both sides. This made the fort weaker but also allowed for merchants to go through the pass. The fort was also moved a bit closer to the Anielt side of the pass, to make room for a larger courtyard where merchants could be checked for contraband etc. This new fort was finished in the year 3067 TID and during the entire decade and a half the construction took, the new Anielt army stood watch in case the empire decided to take advantage of the situation.
After the construction of the fort, the trade started to flourish, and many believe it is because of this influx of money, the empire so far hasn’t attacked again since they love the money coming in as well on their side of the mountain range. But this might change in the future mainly because the empire never accepted the independence declaration. But for now the country and its citizens are living in peace.
Geography, demographic and language
Since it gained its independence, Anielt have never sought to expand its borders. In stead the country focused on becoming a merchant power to be feared. To obtain this goal, the artisans and merchants are working hard to make good use of the land in which they live.
The country consists of flat land very suitable for farming. The Coldain mountain range provide for the raw metal needed for forge items and the small forests around the country provide the lumber needed for the merchant ships.
The population consist mainly of humans, but some dwarf, elf gnome and halfling communities exist in Maidenhaven, Anielton and Fort Brackmoor. The towns and villages of the country are small, but the city of Maidenhaven is a somewhat large metropolitan city.
Anielton, population 1700, is a small town on the road between Fort Brackmoor and Maidenhaven. It is a popular stop for merchants travelling between the two and got a somewhat thriving. economy only surpassed by Maidenhaven. The town is governed by a mayor, his deputy mayor and a small council with the head of the five largest businesses in the town as councilmen. To keep the order the mayor got a constabulary of 50 constables including the captain and his three sergeants.
Dreigton, population 400, Dreigton is one of two larger villages in the country. The main source of the village is wheat and dairy products.
Fort Brackmoor, population 700, a fort in the Coldain mountain range located at the only pass between Anielt and The Eloisan Empire. Tasked with controlling merchants going in and out of Anielt. The population includes every civilian and all the soldiers stationed at the fort.
Longing Willow, population 600, the second of two larger villages in the country. The main income of this village is forestry.
Maidenhaven, population 15000, the capital of Anielt and a major shipping port where ships from all over the world come to do business. Maidenhaven was settled at the end of a natural enclosed bay now named Maidens Bay.
A few hamlets are scattered around the country as well, but nobody is keeping count of them since they don’t generate any large income for the country.
The main language of Anielt is a local dialect of Eloisan (Common), the reason for this comes from its former status as a province of the empire. As with the empire, Islipar (Elven) is also spoken by some, and closer to the Coldain mountains, Doralmin (Dwarven) is spoken as well. As with other places, gnomes and halflings have their own version of Doralmin and Eloisan, but it is more a dialect of the two languages than an actual new language.
Politics
The Anielt society have three levels, the cyning (king), the tanage and the free men. Their respective political influence is negotiated at government meetings and thus it is possible for the politicians to keep the various levels of rulers in check oppose to the common people.
Administration
The government of Anielt is a constitutional monarchy. From the foundation of the country some 70 years ago, the leadership of the rebellion was clear on having an elected government, but still have a monarch with some powers. This resulted in a free election where the people of the land had to vote for members of the government and a ruling monarch.
The monarchy was established with Agram Ionit being crowned as cyning. He was one of the head figures in the rebellion, so this made sense to people. Currently it is his son Lisk who sits on the throne. The throne goes to the eldest son, should a son not be present, currently females are not eligible for the throne, there will be an election for a new family to take the throne since only the descendent line can ascend the throne.
The country is divided into six shires each ruled by a shire-reeve, and he got a constabulary at his disposal to maintain law and order in his shire.
Economy
With country a country as young as Anielt, the economy is not bad, but it sure ain’t great either. The last two decades has seen an increase in the commerce, but the country is still not rich enough to support a large military or expand the realm using colonies.
Most of the country is still farmland, and as such a much of the economy is tied up to this production. Another large part of the economy are fishing and quarrying of a type of red marble found in the mountains.
Transportation and commerce
Due to the previous mentioned small economy, the infrastructure in the country is close to non-existent, dirt roads do exist. If you need to get from one end of the country to the other, you either travel on horseback, walk or try to get a spot on a wagon going the way you are traveling. Due to the fact that the country got no major rivers or anything, traveling by boat is only something that happens at the coast.
This lack of infrastructure is also a reason as to why the commerce haven’t picked up more rapidly. Maybe someday somebody will get around to building roads.
Religion
One of the things Anielt kept from the Eloisan Empire, are the view on religion. It is up to the individual which god they will worship. That being said, any deed done in a deity’s name that are deemed evil will be punished severely.
Military
The armed forces of Anielt is small compared to it’s neighbour the Eloisan Empire. But being a small country Anielt can’t keep a large army ready at all times. To make up for this, all able-bodied men and women of any race residing in Anielt can be called upon to take up arms in case of need.
The army is made up very similar to the way the Eloisan Empire does. The main unit in Anielt is called a fyrd, it is the same as a legion with 1000 soldiers. These are split into ten hersir each of a 100 soldiers and each hersir is split into five hirds of 20 soldiers each, which is then split into two churls with 10 soldiers each.
The Anielt navy are in charge of protecting the coastline as well as fight of pirates threatening the merchant ships crossing the waters.
The ranks that both army and navy use are:
- Jarl equals a General
- Ealdorman equals a Major
- High-reeve equals a Lieutenant
- Reeve equals a Sergeant
- Housecarl equals a Corporal
The housecarl is normally the standard bearer in the unit.