Counting In Transylvania

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Counting Coup

Count, or Countess, is a title given to the noble ruler of a territory called a county. This rank stands above a baron whose territory encompasses a single town or city and below a king who rules a kingdom. This title is often inherited with the approval of the king. However, ever since the Habsburg Empire gained Transylvania, the title of count was rescinded and replaced with that of governor. The ruling counts at that time either gave up their land and became nothing more than a manor lord with a fancy title beneath the governor or they gave up their lives. Ever since, the Transylvanian Counts live as landed gentry under the governors. Many, but not all, of these counts were willing to sell their titles and country estates for town manors in the more influential capitals of the governors. They were so pleased with a windfall at such a terrible time, few if any wondered why people wanted to buy their now worthless titles.

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Shadow Dragons and Vampires

Unbeknownst to these nobles, most of their buyers were either shadow dragons or vampires who found these places perfect as their own seats of power. Most of the Shadow Dragons had each been a Voivode at one time or another and were eager to return to a place of rule, even if it was over some small and insignificant town or village. Being excessively long-lived, they excelled at long term planning. Vampires also had their own long-term ideas and just as eagerly bought up places. Unlike the dragons, they were more strategic, taking care to ensure they had at least one castle in every county and often helping each other afford the price.
This strategy, crafted by Dracula, finally ensured he, throguh his vampires, now had a "respectable" foothold in every part of Transylvania. Each new vampire count, still subserviant to Count Dracula, established monster laws. Granted, such laws were not many but the ones that existed were firmly enforced. These laws were also essential to monster co-existance as humans now had muskets and canons, a great equalizer to magic and monstrous abilities.
The dragons accepted these laws, though insisted that their ranks of count were as worthy as the vampire counts. This was accepted. Since most human counts often held more than one estate, a Transylvanian county can find more than one count within it. The only exception is Bran. There is only one there, Count Dracula. He is also the Count of Counts in Transylvania that even most of the dragons respect.

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by PHG

by Dazzlinkat

by Dazzlinkat