Nation: The Most Serene Republic of Carnelia (Grey Nation)
Government: Noble Republic
• Bonus: Trade and Industry (Increased Income)
• Malus: Feuding Princes (Increased Factionalism)
Ruler(s):
His Serene Majesty, Grand Prince Alteo Regaan Verkun IX of Carnelia, Stalwart Defender of the Republic, Hammer of the West, Lord Protector of the Highlands, and Head of House Verkun.
Trait: A Throne of Lies and Blood (Scheme)
Prominent Terrain: Hills
Secondary Terrain: Mountains
Prominent Race: Humans
Secondary Race(s): No races are barred from entering Carnelia’s borders, but none form a significant population.
Bios: The time was that the land which now forms the Most Serene Republic of Carnelia was divided amongst petty feudal nobles, squabbling over spits of land and — according to some stories — even individual hills. So it was until the great Bertak Carnelius overthrew his local Count, and spread out to conquer a sizable chunk of what is now Carnelia. Bertak established the system of noble houses, headed by the Princes, from whom the Grand Prince is elected on the old Grand Prince’s death. The stories say that all citizens were given the power to vote, and the books of law still do, but the Princes cast the votes of all their houses, and all those that their house employs. As the Houses have, split amongst them, complete control of Carnelia’s economy, it is only the Princes who hold any power. Ove time, the borders were expanded through conquest and land purchases to become what it is today.
Grand Prince Alteo: It is said that money the blood of Carnelia, and as the man who controls the richest mineral deposits in the realm, Alteo has been the realm’s richest man for years. Since he succeeded his uncle Prince Vashin after a freak, completely unexpected accident involving a poorly built balcony, exploding manure, and a lone bowman killed Vashin and his four sons. While in grief over the death of his family members, the absolutely unforeseen deaths of several troublesome subjects allowed Alteo to expend the wealth given by his demesne to further his influence within the realm. While his skill as a financier was no greater than average, his influence flowed well. At the age of forty-five (39), Alteo is the youngest Grand Prince in decades, having ascended after the old Grand Prince Alik’ash Carnelius died, not from the mysterious pleasure-ship fire just off the western coast, but of a perfectly legitimate illness that did not in any way resemble any kind of poison. Much of his family did die in the fire, though.
Geography: Geographically, Carnelia is best known for its hills. The center of the country is covered in hills, but they level out towards the southern coast, a region known as the Breadbasket of Carnelia, as it is the place where most farming occurs. In contrast, they grow steep, and eventually give way to the mountainous Highlands in the west, and much of the western coast is a long cliff face. From the Highlands flow many rivers, which intertwine as serpents between Carnelia’s many hills as they flow south, into the Breadbasket, and east, towards Corialus.
Corialus is the capital city of Carnelia, and is larger than any other settlement. It rests upon a delta, fed by both streams and rushing rivers that have flowed through the heartland. In the cradle of the Breadbasket is the city of Vithrin, seat of house Molkoth through which all of the Breadbasket’s food flows to the rest of the realm. Close to the northern border is Stram, seat of house Cornelius, the only city to come close to rivaling Corialus in size, and the funnel of overland trade.