Finally starting to feel like working on this again.
Lakeshore: this province is ruled by Lord Davorian and covers the more prosperous areas along the lake shore. Not only does the Lakeshore region produce most of the fish for the Empire, its ports take deliveries of metal shipped from Fashor and shipments of grain from Haven to be exchanged for them. As a result, there are many wealthy importers in the Lakeshore region.
Most of the major ports here are small but bustling cities and very cosmopolitan. All breeds are welcome and even crows have been known to hang around the area, selling their services for food and shiny objects.
Population: Predominantly Common Mice, with a large portion of Common Rats and White Mice. Jumping Mice and Wild Rats are also found here, but usually have jobs as sailor or dockworkers. The province is ruled by a small handful of Imperial Governors (all Royal Mice) who generally split their time between running things here and attending court in the Imperial Palace. The position of Imperial Governor is a highly desired and tightly contested one, so a lot of infighting takes place between would-be candidates amongst the nobility.
Darin's Weal: a smaller province on the southern edge of the lake shore. A series of levies were intended to improve the moorage here, but have since fallen into disrepair. The land is technically ruled by Lord Ollen, but his personal forces are concentrated on defending his estates and can't be spared to patrol the rest of the province. As a result, petty brigandry and small bands of shrews are a constant threat; most of the smaller villages have been wiped out, with only the larger and well-defended ones remaining.
The region is prone to unrest and rebellion, although the Imperial Army is quick to stomp out disturbances that look like they might spread out of the region.
The most dramatic landmark in Darin's Weal is the great Titan's Bridge... an enormous structure that extends partway out into the lake, then comes to a sudden stop. It's purpose is unknown but it is obviously of ancient construction.
Population: predominantly Common Mice with Common Rats and Jumping Mice coming soon after. A small but thriving population of Wild Rats exists here as well. White Mice are rare and rather disliked; most either travel with guards or keep most of their fur covered in public.
Royal Expanse: this province includes the grand Imperial Palace and the Alabaster Temple of the church. The great city of Haven lies on its border, between it and the Imperial Heartland. This province is under the direct control of the Emperor, although he invariably farms off the actual duties to various minor nobles and rarely leaves the palace himself.
The roads here are kept in good shape and the plants are kept trimmed so that they minimize the wind without blocking the sun. Guardsmen wear well-shined armor with ornate decorations according to their rank.
Population: predominantly Common Mice and Common Rats serving a smaller population of White Mice and an even smaller population of Royal Mice. Jumping Mice make up a tolerated minority and mostly work as messengers and heralds. Wild Rats are distrusted and will generally be forced to leave if they try to stay for long.
The Heartland: the Heartland covers most of the productive fields in the Fallows. Grain-bearing plants grow huge here, with small roads between them for wagons to run. During the harvest season, harvesters climb up the stalks with baskets strapped to their backs, which they fill with grain. Large wagons are filled with seeds, most of which are eventually delivered to Haven with the cream of the crop going to the Imperial Palace. The Alabaster Temple owns a small set of fields that provide their own food and are worked under the supervision of the church. Lower-class priests and apprentices are often assigned to work the harvest.
Population: predominantly Common Mice, with some Common Rats and Jumping Mice. White Mice and Wild Rats are a small minority here.
Fashor: the rocky and relatively barren land on the far side of the lake. Fashor was colonized during the height of the Empire's expansion after an enormous source of metal was discovered there. Even today, ships laden with chunks of various metals make their way across the water to Lakeshore and return again with a hold filled with seeds and wines.
The mice of Fashor speak with a slight accent due to their years of separation and are strongly prejudiced against breeds other than true mice. In Fashor, non-mice are given the lowliest of jobs and are often kept on the verge of starvation or rebellion. White Mice are almost unknown; Fashor was colonized by commoners and common mice there occupy about the same tier as white mice in the Empire itself.
Fashor itself consists of several port towns and a number of scattered villages. Most of the construction is underground. Technically, they consider themselves to be semi-independent... that is, when they need aid from the Empire they think of themselves as dutiful citizens, and when the Empire demands taxes, they think of themselves as independent. Fashor once tried to declare complete independence several generations ago, but their lack of resources other than metal left them too vulnerable to starvation and an Imperial Governor was appointed. These days the position of Governor is largely ceremonial, with the individual towns running things their own way and just paying periodic bribes to the Governor's office.
Population: predominantly Common Mice, with a small population of oppressed Common Rats and Jumping Mice. A smattering of Wild Rats exist, but they are considered to be natural-born criminals and are subject to immediate enslavement or execution if they come to the attention of the authorities. Crows arrive occasionally, usually bearing messages or passengers from the other side of the lake, but they aren't particularly welcome and know to leave as soon as possible.
The Barbarian Clans: a number of tribes of "barbaric" mice and rats live out in the wildlands beyond the edge of the Empire. Many are nomadic, wandering through the rocky landscape seeking food in great circular paths that eventually take them back where they started. To the Empire, these barbarians are regarded as a single culture, but to the locals the wildlands are broken up into numerous small kingdoms and clans, many of whom are deadly enemies.
Magic and learning are rare. Most clans have at most a single mage, who would often be thought of as not even suited for apprenticeship in more civilized areas. Their shaman are the most skilled practicioners of Summoning and Binding in the known world, however. Because Summoning is impractical in more populated areas, most mages in the Royal Expanse don't even believe in spirits and discount the art entirely.
Population: Common Mice, Jumping Mice and Wild Rats, generally separated into single-species clans.
Posted by Kiz at October 4, 2005 03:39 PMCommentsPost a comment