Recfrere
The Kingdom of Recfrere is always viewed with ample suspicion by much of the human world. Their people are known to have odd habits and turns of phrase, and are far more superstitious than other humans throughout Emicara. They are bordered to the south by the Badlands, to the west by the Mersan Union, and to the north, the monstrous Kingdom of Populres. They are best known for the occasionally strange inventions and ideas that emerge from their lands and spread to the rest of the world.
Structure
Monarchs of Recfrere are actually an elected post. A monarch of Recfrere is elected from those who have served in the regiments of the Kingdom of Recfrere, a nod towards the nation's republican past. A monarch rules the nation for life, and is the uncontested head of the military, but their heirs have no claim to the throne and are not even eligible for election themselves to prevent the formation of dynasties. Legislative and diplomatic power rests in the hands of the Towns' Assembly, with the Chairman of the State. The Towns' Assembly consists of the elected mayors of each village, town, and city in Recfrere, and they elect the Chairman from among themselves. Enforcement of these laws rests in the hands of the Sheriff's Assembly, a collection of elected sheriffs from larger areas. The Grand Sheriff is the head of that Assembly, and between the Grand Sheriff, the Chairman, and the King, budget decisions and policies are made.
History
The origin of the Kingdom of Recfrere comes from a democratic state known as the Reclaimed Free Republic. Built in the wake of the collapse of the Nameless Empire, the Reclaimed Free Republic was a coalition of Caroan towns and villages that sought to have cooperative security amid the chaos. Their methods of independent rule and support proved popular among the surviving Jorgan and Caroan communities, and the Republic expanded rapidly. Unfortunately, this brought them into conflict with the Mersan Regency, headed by leftover remnants of the Nameless Empire. A war erupted, and the Republic, unable to coordinate military efforts among its members effectively, was brutally defeated.
The mayors of the Republican towns blamed the militia and military leaders for the failure to achieve victory in the conflict. Militiamen were scapegoated and some even exiled from the very towns they were hired or volunteered to protect. Outraged at this treatment, resentment grew among the militias, and in 194, it erupted into a full scale revolt, as the militias overthrew the mayors and inflicted vengeance. Martial law was declared and from among the militias, a man was elected to lead, proclaiming the Kingdom of the Reclaimed Free Republic. Those who had exiled the military leaders in the past found themselves exiled.
Military rule did not sit well with the people of the Republic, or as it was more commonly becoming known, Kingdom of RecFreRe. The military possessed the power and weapons, however, so their reign continued uninterrupted. They managed to forge a new alliance with their old enemies in the Mersan Regency, and concerned about the growth of Jakonian power in the Badlands, they formed the Enclave of the Old Empire. The alliance brought about a war with the Jakonians in 244, and the conflict turned from an easy coalition triumph into a major disaster, as nearly all of the Jorgan lands were annexed into the Jakonian Empire. Forced across the Savanna River, the kingdom was rapidly beset by dissenters calling for reform.
Those calling for reform were disappointed, however, as the kingdom faced multiple threats to its very existence. First was the Year of Fire, when over a dozen dragons united to plunder the Recfreran countryside, taking advantage of the severe losses the nation suffered during the Enclave War. Less than a decade later began a series of nine separate invasions by orc tribes from the Apps Mountains. These weakened the kingdom greatly over time, with each invasion sowing chaos and destruction, but they did allow the military to retain their full power. After the great tribal invasions, the orcs remained a threat, and several punitive expeditions were launched north and into the mountains to destroy their strongholds.
These wars left the nation unprepared for a new threat, this time from other humans, as the Savanna Wars began. The Mersans began settling on the northern side of the Savanna River, with much of the land left empty due to the dragon attacks and orcish invasions. After spilling blood to hold onto these lands, the Recfrerans were outraged at the gall of the Mersan Union. It took four wars and nearly a century of bloodshed before the Mersans were defeated and the lands north of the Savanna were reclaimed for good. A new threat was growing in the north, however.
The Dragonkin of the Apps, highly organized and efficient, and they launched two invasions of Recfrere. Their first attack was highly successful, and the dragonkin were able to organize the orc tribes along with their own into a single, highly effective horde. This horde invaded northern Recfrere, conquering the cities of the north, and smashing all of the armies that were sent to stop them. This time, instead of slashing and burning through conquest, the dragonkin led the orcs in establishing a new hegemony over the region. The Kingdom of Populres was declared, and the Recfrerans were forced south across the Peedee River. Unable to reclaim their lost territories, Recfrere was forced to acknowledge the conquest.
The loss of these territories sat poorly with the people of Recfrere, and dissent and unrest grew rapidly with each new word of atrocities from Populres. After nearly seven decades of a troubled economy, unruly subjects, and even infighting within the army, a new war was launched to try and reclaim the lands of Populres. The war quickly turned from victory into a prolonged stalemate and then into a defeat. The people of Recfrere were not amused at the heavy losses and chaos of the conflict. To placate the mobs, it was agreed that the elected kings would share power with the sheriffs of the kingdom. These elected law enforcers would uphold the law equally versus both the people and the military. Equal treatment and the culling of corruption within the army using the sheriffs helped to calm the crowds and preserve order, for a time.
A new prosperity and peace came to Recfrere, as ties were built both with the dwarven kingdoms of the Apps and the human Kingdom of Alsona. In a monumental undertaking, the Alsonans, Recfrerans, and the dwarves started construction of the Long Road, a path connecting these nations together in trade and commerce. This road passed the peaks of the Apps and allowed for trade to open and caravans to begin traveling. These three nations also coordinated efforts in squelching the remaining wild orc tribes of the mountains, occasionally even cooperating with the Kingdom of Populres, which was anxious for recognition by the other civilizations of Emicara. An unprecedented peace settled over the kingdom for nearly a century.
This peace was interrupted in 718, when increased demands by the Jakonians for tribute upon Recfrere sparked an uprising against the Empire. The Recfrerans declared their independence and told the Jakonian ambassador that they would not be paying any further. In response, the Jakonians invaded, simply capturing Recfreran cities and taking what they were owed from the people directly. When the sieges were stopped and the Recfreran armies shattered, the Jakonians waited until they had accumulated enough funds from looting, and then withdrew, warning the king against further lapses in paypment. Matters were made worse when the Populresis invaded less than two decades later, driven back after two more years of war.
The fortunes of Recfrere continued to decline, as in 796, a massive horde of goblins arrived from the west, using the very Long Road that the kingdom had built for trade. This horde rampaged through Recfrere, destroying entire cities until they reached the crossing with the Kingdom of Populres. Much to the outrage of the Recfrerans, the Populresis welcomed the goblins, giving them citizenship in their nation. The Recfrerans declared war, and a vicious struggle erupted once again. As before, the war was a stalemate, with neither side able to gain a permanent foothold over the Peedee River. It was with these events that the Kingdom of Recfrere agreed to participate in a coalition with the Shin Empire and others, with the Jakonians as the target in mind.
The Great War shifted the fortunes of Recfrere once again, and even their tattered and tired armies were able to gain glory in the conflict. Fighting alongside their old enemies in the Mersan Union, the Recfrerans helped reclaim their long lost lands to the south. The conquest of new lands brought about the issues of integration. The system of elected kings and the loss of aristocratic power brought significant popularity to the Recfrerans among their new subjects, but tensions still remained. There was no clear successor to the old bureaucracy and the military took direct control of the new settlements. With corruption returning into the military and even among the sheriffs, reform was called for once again. The Recfreran Revolution was a fairly bloodless affair as backed by elements of the military, elected mayors demanded a voice for the people. The end result was the formation of the Assembly of Towns after a series of largely peaceful demonstrations.
In the century and a half that followed, the Recfrerans renewed their enmity with the Mersan Union, and three individual wars were fought between the two nations, with Recfrere more or less coming out ahead. Tensions have continued to build, but plans for a fourth war were thrown aside with the closure of the Shin Empire in 999, which distracted the Mersans. Hoping to exploit this diversion, the Recferans prepared for war, but in 1003, the Populresis launched another war and invasion. This one dragged out for some time, once again with ample bloodshed, but both powers unable to secure the opposite side of the Peedee. The fighting stopped, but no treaty was ever signed.
Demography and Population
Recfrere's human majority population is divided between Jorgans in the south and Caroans in the north. These divisions have caused conflict on occasion and the other races within the borders typically end up on one side of another. Recfrere has the largest population of half-orcs of all of the nations of Emicara, a legacy of the constant wars and proximity to the Kingdom of Populres. There is also a small but significant population of mountain dwarves from the west, and even gnomes, snallygasters, and a handful of elves in Viracocha itself.
Military
The Recfrere Regiments are a well organized and professional military force with a devoted following. Many choose to enlist in the Regiments in order to be allowed a vote in elections for king, and these people tend to stay in the army for life. Years of war have taken their toll, and the equipment provided to the Regiments varies in quality, especially in remote locations and city garrisons. These forces often make do with weapons that are decades old, while the main border garrisons receive the most modern of equipment and training.
The Recfrere Navy is also allowed to participate in the elections, but it exists under a different organizational structure than the Regiments. The head of the navy reports directly to the king, and they are universally well funded and supported. Naval dominance is one of the few edges Recfrere has upon its enemies, plus they must remain constantly vigilant against Bahami raids along the coast and upon shipping lanes.
Technological Level
Recfrere lags behind the majority of other nations in Emicara, predominantly because of its isolation and constant conflicts with its neighbors. The army typically manages to stay on top of new developments, constantly searching out innovations among both its own universities and those of the south. In all other spheres, the nation fails to maintain parity with most technological and scientific development and ideas. A few inventions have emerged from the north, predominantly in the ways of fighting back invaders with the defense of town walls and citadels.
Religion
The Church of Keshush is the official religion of Recfrere, and the most commonly practices among the human population. Other religions are not illegal, and shrines and temples to other deities do exist. The dwarves in particular have kept up their own faiths and ideals, and have been resistant to the idea of the church. The Church of the One Sun also maintains a presence among the Jorgan population, albeit a declining one, as few have forgotten the active role that the Church and their orders had played in the oppression of Recfrere by the Jakonian Empire.
Foreign Relations
Recfrere faced hostile powers on two sides, which thankfully seem to be incapable of working with each other. Populres and the Mersan Union have both invaded or attacked Recfrere on multiple occasions, and further conflicts seem to be almost inevitable. Recfrerans therefore are constantly prepared for the threat of the reemergence of conflict, and most of their foreign relations are aimed with that in mind. Unfortunately, most possible allies are on the other side of the Badlands or the Mersan Union, and they are engaged with issues of their own, so Recfrere for the time being stands alone.
Other powers that influence relationships with Recfrere are the free towns of the Badlands and the Bahami Federation. The free towns of the Badlands have resisted direct rule from Viracocha, and the Recfreran government has allowed this in order to maintain popular support among the Jorgans. Although they are not allied with Recfrere, they act as a powerful buffer in the Badlands, forestalling the opening of a third hostile border with the wild orcs in those lands. The Bahamis prey upon the Recfreran ships as much as they do any other nation, and are the main threat that Recfrere faces on the high seas. Occasionally Recfrere does pay tributes and ransoms, trying to keep the Bahamis off their back.
Agriculture & Industry
The economy of Recfrere is mostly geared towards agriculture than it is towards industry, but it possesses both in considerable quantity. Cotton is the largest group produced on the most lucrative farms of Recfrere, but tobacco has also proven a popular item for sale. Produced in great enough numbers for sale primarily to the free cities and Jakonia, these goods help keep the larger economy afloat. The majority of the industry with Recfrere is directed towards supporting the army and navy, as the requirements to protect the nation seem to grow daily.
Education
Education is widely available in Recfrere, but also optional. The army and sheriffs provide free education to those who join their ranks, but the towns and cities typically offer education at a price. Still, these prices are traditionally waived for anyone under ten years of age, and most people attend the schools to receive at least basic literacy before beginning an apprenticeship or working in the fields. Higher education is also available, as several institutions of higher learning exist in Recfrere, but they lack the renown of the colleges and universities of the Jakonian Peninsula.
Infrastructure
Every town and city in Recfrere is responsible for its own budget and upkeep of its infrastructure, with the national government rarely taking a role in development. This means that wide swathes of Recfrere's interior are undeveloped and not patrolled, while the roads between communities are usually unpaved. Inside the walls of Recfrere's towns, there is usually enough funds for paved roads, but not always, dependent upon the locale. The king has also financed a series of small forts and watchtowers along the northern and western borders, helping to keep an eye on invasions, but these are meant simply as small garrisons to provide early warning, rather than fortifications to stop a determined assault.
Necessity is the Father of Invention
Founding Date
Sunscorch 17, 194
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Demonym
Recfreran
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Elective
Power Structure
Unitary state
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
Copper/Silver/Electrum/Gold
Major Exports
Cotton, tobacco
Major Imports
Iron ores, steel goods, luxury foodstuffs
Legislative Body
Judicial Body
Official State Religion
Subsidiary Organizations
Neighboring Nations
Comments