Wejnazeer
Structure
Wejnazeer is ruled by an alliance five great families which each control their lands however they deem fit - the Estebe, Alaia, Petri, Ederne, and the Kattalin families. While other lesser families exist, the majority of them pledge their allegiance to one of the great houses, being powerful enough to differentiate themselves but not nearly strong enough to hold lands in the same capacity. Though many claim the name of one of the great houses, it is generally not particularly impressive due to extensive and broad lines of succession.
Families organize themselves can govern themselves in vastly different ways - the Estebes, Alaia, and Ederne effectively function as a monarchy with lesser families pledging loyalty in exchange for protection. The Kattalins rule as a democracy, with only those part of the family able to hold leadership positions.
Of the five great families, the Petri were not in power at the time of Wejnazeer's founding.
History
Wejnazeer was formed during an invasion by Lenif in 3715 EC. The five great Halfling families of the Riverlands banded together knowing that none of them were powerful enough to repel the invasion on their own. With the aid of the Koh, the alliance banded together and was able to repel the invaders and keep their ancestral land.
Following the invasion, the families convened in Ardibar where the Estebes hosted a grand meeting to determine the fate of the lands. Each of the four other great families were invited, along with the Koh, to plan the new country. In a series of simple majority votes between the families, the basic structure of the new country was formed. The country would remain as a loose alliance rather than a strictly structured government like its neighbors and the five families would gather to repel any claims to the borders of Wejnazeer, but otherwise governance was largely left to each family in their lands.
The Kattalin family which bore the brunt of casualties during the war pushed for unification of the country, but was outvoted by the larger and more wealthy Estebe, Alaia and Ederne families.
Currency
Wejnazeer uses a mixture of foreign coinage and coins minted by the Ederne family to conduct much of their trading, though bartering trade goods is not unheard of between great families. Due to the variety of different coins, it is common for people to simply melt down their coins (at a small fee from a smith) into small bars for storing wealth for longer periods or for large purchases. Most merchants carry scales to weigh customer's coins and bars. Silver and copper is more common in the mountains of Wejnazeer than gold, and most gold coins in use are from foreign mints.Demography and Population
Wejnazeer is primarily inhabited by halflings that live along the valley rivers, and kobolds that live in caverns and caves. Few humans live in Wejnazeer, as they were largely pushed out after the invasion by Lenif and founding of the country. Those that do are traders that rarely stay in one place for long, and tend to attract unwanted attention if they stay in a town for more than a few months.
The kobolds of the Koh mostly live separately from the halflings more out of a sense of comfort than not being welcome, and kobolds are a common sight among halfling towns.
Agriculture & Industry
Wejnazeer mines and produces metal bars from the mountains that the Alaia and Ederne families control in the more mountainous southern regions of the country. Small farms can be found along the rivers, where water is diverted for small fields.
Large, expansive farms are rare in the nation due to the steep and mountainous terrain - most farms support the communities they are closest to and rarely travel far to sell their excess goods. The large farms that do exist are primarily in the east, controlled by the Estebes.
Trade & Transport
Wejnazeer primarily trades downriver to Northern Usmina and beyond to Iccot. Its main exports are the metals that the Alaia and Ederne families mine from the mountains, along with medicinal plants and herbs grown throughout the region.
Wejnazeer is largely self sufficient, but imports goods that can be made more cheaply elsewhere, such as cloth and clay finished goods. Its people supplement their own fishing and small farms with foreign grains.
The great families of the country have trade treaties with each other, with the Estebe family acting as an intermediary for much of the trade that occurs between foreigners downriver.
Maps
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Wejnazeer
Map of Wejnazeer and the great families that control it.
Founding Date
3715 EC
Type
Political, Confederation
Demonym
Nazeeran
Government System
Democracy, Representative
Power Structure
Autonomous area
Currency
Silver tael
Major Exports
Stone, Coal, Metals, Sugar, Ceramics
Major Imports
Textiles, Grain, Animals
Location
Official Languages
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
