Nation Name: County of Qaelun
The flag is said to have been derived from a poison induced vision of the first lord wake. It is said to represent an eye looking forth from the darkness and unknown, the black and purple respectively.
Nation OverviewThe County of Qaelun exists in the Xedmire vale, a flooded marsh to the northeast of Choedal. It is a hard and depressing land, characterized by a festering stagnation. Here, the mad-earl reigns. Day-to day affairs are managed by his steward, Gallo Canto, a southern noble and longtime friend. Sir Canto is a veteran of early skirmishes of against the Timluks (wherein he met Lord Wake), and the county is left in capable hands should Choedal take to war as a means of keeping Qaelun suppressed, or in the event of Timluk attack. That said, Sir Canto not alone at court. Also of import is Bishop Anfonz Rigo, the court chaplain and head of the religion in the region. He is a paramount scholar of the faith, though a shy and reclusive man himself. His scholarly interpretations have variously been labeled “revolutionary” and “heretical” by proponents and opponents alike. That said, he has always recanted out-of-line teachings when pressed by mother church. He gets along well with the Steward-regent Sir Canto, and they regularly enjoy each other’s company. Other notable figures are Lady Joyce Wake, wife of the earl. She is seen as something of a socialite. She hedonistically and unashamedly engages in all manners of indulgence. Drugs, drink, art, literature, sex, lavish food, fashion. All the happiness that wealth can buy. In years past, she has been more discrete, but with her lord-husband not in his right mind, she has less fear of repercussions. She has created quite the social circle around herself at court, though she faces outside censure. She is mother to one son, the young Walter Wake. Little Walter is a lad of twelve years, and is pampered under his mother’s direct tutelage, grooming him to rule and assume the regency in his father’s stead once he comes of age. Though her poisonous influence on him runs deep, the boy does still retain some of his father’s character, as well as a few tidbits picked up from the more honourable men at court. He is not a lost cause entirely. But the mother is not wholly concerned with her family. Though she engages openly with many men, her favored consort is the “court mage.” She installed this man through her own workings at court, in the early days of Earl Vyncent’s madness. The man claimed to have magic that could cure the man’s madness. Indeed, he spends long hours poring over his books and rarely speaks to anyone save Lady Joyce. By all accounts, he is an eerie and enigmatic man with a subtle and subdued air of power about him. The last figure of note is the ambassador from Choedal. Following the assertion for indepencdence, a knight from the capital of Choedal was sent to treat with the earl and resolve the matter. This knight has yet to arrive, though this paragon of chivalry is due any day now. Only time will tell who this knight is and what impact they will have on the realm.
Geography
The Xedmire is a hazardous place. The snowmelt from the Xeddish Mountains runs down into the vale and floods yearly, perpetuating the muck and mire. The region is very much a wetland, and any of the settlements are found on the rim of the county, where they can make use of the stone of the mountains as a solid foundation. Still, wildlife thrives here. The marsh is cold and wet, home to many vermin species. Disease is rampant, as well as toxic wildlife. Beyond this, some reptilian species are able to survive here despite the cold. The most notable is bog-dragon, a large reptilian beast that spends most of its time in the water. It has a large, snapping jaw, and a ridged back. This beast is feared by many in the region. In terms of flora, hydrophilic plants that can weather the temperatures thrive here. Many of these wild plants bear fruit, as a means of insulating their seed through the harsher winters. In terms of crops, the terrain is used to advantage. A strange grain known as rice was brought across the deserts and acquired by trade with the timluks, and it is farmed in the flooded ground, where they actually seem to thrive. This has become very popular here. There is a common phenomenon is the swamps. Strange dancing lights are occasionally seen, said to be the souls of those lost to the mire. These spirits are known as wisps, and these lights are their manifestations, and are so called “will-o-the-wisps”. The capital is Xedshire, located in the northern center of the region and it is the seat of House Wake. The other two settlements of proper size are Passwall, barony and seat of House Gylle, and Stockingham, seat of House Mesalt. Passwall is located to the west, at the mouth of the vale, and Stockingham is located in the south center of the region, somewhat toward the west as well. Also of note is Wywood Abbey, the most important site of the church within the realm.
HistoryQaelun has long been regarded as a backwater. The wetland terrain makes serious infrastructure difficult to build, as evidenced by the sunken ruins of Imperial garrisons from their foolhardy attempts to tame these lands long ago. Under Imperial occupation, Qaelun was of little use. It existed on the fringes of the Empire, and was ultimately abandoned when it was realized the land was not profitable. Likewise, the native people resisted conquest, asserting their independence through violent means. Following the dissolution of the empire, Qaelun would finally see occupation. Choedal, the neighboring land would ultimately annex them after a brief and bloody war. This occupation would not be permanent, as in recent years it has re-asserted its independence under the current ruler, Earl Vyncent Wake. Unfortunately, the years of the use of toxic drugs has driven the earl to dementia in his old age. This could not come at a worse time, as the declaration of independence was issued only recently. Some say that this was an early act of his madness.
SocietyAs a whole, the people here are fiercely independent and isolationist. In the past, occupation of the county has been tentative by the empire, and the neighboring kingdoms. The people of this land do not take kindly to outsiders, preferring to eke out a meager living on their own merits than to lean on others for support. The peasantry is very much impoverished. Life is hard here, surviving the festering stagnation of the quagmire. The common man is employed almost invariably in the key industries of resource production. Few “middle class” people exist, and those are almost invariably those who have found ways to innovate in ways related to the core industries. The lower classes are a sour and somber folk, as the trials and travails of daily life weigh heavily on them. They often turn to their work, and most importantly their faith for comfort. The nobility is another matter. In their finely appointed keeps of stone, ornate decorum is in vogue. Indeed, the common fashion of dress is rich in frills and lace, as the nobility pride themselves in not having to interact with the muck and mire, and keeping such impractical attire neat and clean is evidence of this privilege. They indulge in various psychoactive drugs derived from the toxic wildlife of the region. This has spurred a recent art movement that is popularly patronized by the nobility, based on hallucinatory images. Bright colors and impossibly complex designs are the flavor of the day. The native Kaissavan-wine is a point of pride as well, and is much beloved by the nobles here as well. Religion is notably less important to them, as heterodox and sometimes even heretical doctrines are circulated here. They are relatively faithful, but often swayed by divergent interpretation of scripture.
Economy/IndustryThe region is rich in a few key resources. The land is one large peat-bog. This resource is often harnessed, and when not in use for crude heating purposes of the native populace, it is exported in copious amounts to more industrialized nations who can make use of it for manufacturing and as an energy source. Some have even found a way to process this into a more refined form, creating an oily substance that is very efficient as an inflammatory agent. Baseline levels of mining is done, though use of metal is avoided when possible, due to the abundance of water in the area and the tendency to rust. Stone is quarried from the mountains on an as-needed basis, as moving large amounts of stone trough a bog is impractical. Rice is farmed in abundance in this region, as the flooded landscape is very accommodating to this. The fruit of the Kaissava tree, a wild fruit-bearing tree that is native to the marshes, is fermented into an alcoholic beverage similar to wine that is very popular with southern nobility. The wood of this tree is often harvested as well, as the wood is particularly soft. Because of this it is often pulped for paper. Due to the moisture of the region, however, this is done almost exclusively for export purposes, as paper products that are not well protected tend to deteriorate here.
MilitaryThe military of Qaelun is largely disorganized. The heavy plate-and-mail designs of old were never popular here, as moving about in the marsh while wearing these are exceedingly difficult. Light armour is favored by soldiers, and sometimes forgone altogether. Spears are a popular weapon here, as wood is plentiful enough to allow this, and metal is only needed in small amounts, as well as spears having uses as an improvised walking aid steering method for rafts in the more flooded areas. Archery is popular as well, as is the use of reed-based weaponry known as blowguns. Arrows and darts are often poisoned, as the virulent toxins and diseases here can easily be weaponized. Mounts are often forgone as well, for obvious reasons. Stealth is the modus operandi of the military in the Xedmire region, guerilla warfare being the means by which the realm is protected. Qaelun is very much isolationist, and does not march to war outside their lands (typically), which is likely good for them, as their tactics are unlikely to be successful elsewhere. However, it is important to note that the pitch and peat of the region is weaponized. Firebombs are not uncommon, especially in large-scale battle.
Made some subtle tweaks to things here. Most people probably won't notice unless they've read closely, but just letting you all know. 