Empire of Erenthill
Though Erenthill prefers to give off a quiet perception, as if disinterested in the rest of the World, there's no denying how much this resource-rich nation influences trade World-wide. Produce, livestock, lumber, iron, copper, tin, stone, marble; Erenthill produces and refines it all, shipping it across the World. The various corporations that govern Erenthill try to hide their overseas ventures, but through shell companies and private navies they tilt the workings of other regions in their financial favor.
Bountiful Resources
Erenthill is a land of ample natural bounty - mighty oaks for lumber, ample farmland for crops and livestock beasts, hillsides filled with ores. These readily available resources allowed the early settlements in Erenthill to grow quickly. They were able to feed and build homes for the people, and there was plenty of work for any new arrivals. Over time, these resource-rich cities continued to grow, outpacing their regional neighbors in economy and industry. Trade networks soon followed, and even more wealth was brought to Erenthill. Today, nearly 80% of the goods produced in Erenthill are shipped to other regions.Old Money
Erenthill's senate is made up of members of the region's wealthiest families, many of whom have held their wealth for hundreds of years. Those with land to their names and enough money can simply purchase a seat, instantly becoming a political player in the ever-expanding oligarchy. In the past, this caused huge divisions in the senate as competing families and factions bickered over any vote that might impact their wealth and status. It became a common expression among the people of Erenthill that "little works less than government." This status quo changed around a hundred-and-eighty years ago, after a war with Colladia proved disastrous for many of the wealthiest families of Erenthill. With depleted navies and no return on their war investments, there was little choice but to combine resources. Decades of company mergers, political marriages, and buyouts have consolidated the wealth and power of the region into increasingly fewer hands. Today, the oligarchy's senate is roughly split into two-dozen competing factions, instead of the hundreds of individual families it used to be.Notable Factions
- Lugella Metalworks: The oldest of old money in Erenthill, this small mining operation made the Lugella family wealthy beyond their wildest imagination, and put the town bearing their name on the map. What began as a small copper mine grew when the family realized the smelter they'd partnered with had been shorting them. Through dubious legal means they aquired the metalworking facility, ramped production of both the mine and smeltery up, and continued buying mines until much of the south-east of the region fell under their charters. Six-hundred years later, their operations have expanded to include every step of the supply chain.
- Naval Protection Company: The largest naval force in Erenthill, this fleet for hire typically aligns itself with the major trading powers, offering protection from pirates and foreign ships during their trade journies. In the past, their policy of playing for the highest bidder led to instances of fighting alongside foreign navies against other Erentish vessels, or in the worst cases, paid off by pirates to abandon jobs. After several Protection Company shipyards were burned by the companies they'd scorned, they reformed and starting signing contracts with dates decades in advance.
- Inner Seas Trade & Transport: The largest shipping venture in the north-east, this company has vessels hopping between Colladia, Gordunni, Nalendi, Lusia and Vittania at nearly all times. Their furthest reaching trade routes navigate the Colladian Sea to bring goods to and from Dorun and Pirenni as well. Company policy states that they aren't to transport non-company personal aboard the ships, but most captains will "hire" strangers for a small fee.
- Varnoosh Architect Guild: This architects' guild is responsible for some of the most monumental constructions in recent history, including Edessa's new lighthouse and the reconstructed Leilathan Arena. Requirements to become a guild member are incredibly high - only a select few have the opportunity to join each year, and most are recruited by the guild rather than apply.
- Erentish Lumber Co.: What began as a small lumbermill outside Moreve grew to purchase others nearby, and eventually, a Worldwide business venture. The Lumber Company now employs some two-thousand people across their hundreds of lumbermills in four regions. Their newest venture - purchasing land in Ikarell.
- Sigran Mercenaries: This band of mercs has grown to the size of a private army over the hundred years it's existed in Erenthill. It's common to see them in towns across the region, protecting company assests and assisting local guards with dangerous matters. Sigran mercs have a reputation of being fierce and efficient fighters - not hesitating to kill and doing it in as few blows as possible.
- Moreve Magician's Guild: The Moreve Magicians claim that they're just as capable, if not more, than those mages across the Singing Sea in Luneburg, though their reputation isn't nearly as high in other regions. Still, in Erenthill, if you have a magical problem or need a magical solution, the Moreve Magicians are the go-to. They have guild halls in nearly every town in the region.
- The Wild Coast Company: Built in a matter of years by young members of old families, this company is in the process of assembling a fleet for colonization of the Wild Coast. Critics have pointed to past failures and the dangers of the region, and the Luneburg Institute has formally petitioned the Erentish senate to stay the company until after their upcoming exploratory program begins in earnest.
Notable Places:
- Edessa
- Lugella
- Moreve
Demonym
Erentish
Government System
Corporatocracy
Neighboring Nations
Travel Tips:
My, what a busy place! It seems everywhere you go, there's something at work in Erenthill. When in the cities, it's easy to find goods and food from all across this exciting World. You can use your time in Erenthill to sample many cultures at once. I recommend taking a trip to the inner countrysides of the region, they're the quietest places and good for a respite after the hustle-and-bustle. -Rodanté
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