The Kingdom of Undland
A human dominated kingdom and slave state between the Long Sister River and the Edrani River.
Structure
Undland is a Feudal state system with: peasants and slaves working the fields and toiling for the above. Knights whom can be any of the upper class whom act as professional soldiers to the kingdom. Landed Barons, whom make up the bulk of the plantation class, and end up one of the most profitable. The Earl class above which rules over most towns and the many many castles that rise above the swamp to hold the country together. Dukes in the Leonesse style represent a sort of Earl of Earls, whom rule the major cities and castles. All the above owe their allegiance, their financial support, and levies of troops and knights, to the King whom gives and takes titles based on what is permitted. Each power below has large autonomous authority over their lands and peasants. Each lord is their own court and master, though kings have been known to exert political pressure and use some traditional law and judicial power against lords, however Unland politics is a constant game of balancing competing lords and their squabbles as well as eking out an ever greater value out of an ever more stressed land.
Culture
Undland culture has not changed for most of its short existence. People toil in their fields wet and cold for the most part, cut limber, forge metal; clothes are mostly hand-spun and quality of life is fairly poor. For plantation owners life is better, with luxury goods imported from Dobruja improving lives in exchange for the cash crops sent out abroad. Most people live in what is seen as the "original human style", simplistic rural lives, churches to Valkur dotting the landscape. Some mixture with Tiefling art can be found, the use of knots, twisting patterns and colorful palettes can be seen in hamlets shields and banners. As few people read. endless folk songs and simple instruments make up the bulk of musical and literary culture. Many traveling beggar performers can be found traveling too and fro, often also trained in the art of trade and repair. Few live in cities instead finding hamlets, castle towns, and mage tower villages as the center of ones life. Among the elite there is a lot of perceived value in traditional human art and works of culture. Knightly imagery and tourney life being a major form of entertainment for the elites. Also not uncommon is a type of slave Gladiator culture called Arena Theater is popular, where plays and stories are performed by slave actors involving real fighting and blood, though death is usually faked. Some of these slave actors can be seen as highly sought after almost celebrates though with no real rights or freedoms.
Public Agenda
Undland's interests lie in its independence and the maintenance of its feudal system and the system of slavery. Internationally that makes them strictly anti-democratic and anti-abolitionist, and though they lack the means to act widely internationally they have supported the monarchs of Aragon and Leon.
History
Undlands history pre-human migration is largely unkown, but by the time the original migratory human tribe, the Undalocks, entered the bog land it was already an undesirable mass. There small petty kings and tribes built a mostly human civilization, the largest of which in Elvish ruins that make up the rocks of Water's Keep. The people there were seen as rural and pure settlers by the people of modern Undland, and as savage swamp peoples to their Edren conqueror's when a general of King Edra took a small force of knights and unified Undland in their name, becoming the mythical knight Queen Undala who was permitted to rule under the new Empire for all her days. She would go on to build the province to supposedly mythical heights in the first Empire from her personal castle Gris .
Few records speak of Undland in great clarity during the first Empire, those that do mention it as a dangerous and hard land, and which produced many famous warriors and heroes. The first empire would revolutionize the region by importing Tiefling slaves late in its life whom would shift a largely unpopiulated swamp and into the plantation heavy region it remains to this day.
The second empire often treated it poorly, extorting much wealth from its plantations and levy's from its impoverished classes. This would finally peak, as many Undallocks parished in the Second Drow War and native generals from Undland achieved much success over their rivals. They found the later peace a final insult. In 658 the plantation owners and former generals from Undland rose up in revolt taking advantage of a weakened empire. The war would be a bloody back and forth, with the Empire unable to pierce the Wolf's Wood or hold Water's Keep while Undland lost any battle fought on Edren soil.
With many failed cease-fire's it seemed almost impossible when Saint Myra negotiated a settlement for peace ending with Undland independent but owing three hundred years of reparation payments in material to the Empire, along with numerous other agreements, such as their oath never to ally with Leon and Aragon and recognizing the rivers hugging Undland to be Edren territory.
Since then Undland has been ruled by kings of the Undel family (Formally the Astley Family) holding court from their castle in Grisland and has faced only minor raids from enemies abroad. Instead for the last 300 years Undland has fortified itself against invasion and committed itself to fight themselves either through oppressing the peasants whom revolt or to squabble over titles and lordships of all kinds.
Demography and Population
Territories
Military
Unland functions with a near paranoid level of military focus. Doted with feudal lords each with castles and expected territories to defend every lord and noble is expected to fight and bring with them to war levy of both peasants and a massive professional knight class. These knights range from the Hippogriff knights that make up the nations air power out of Castle Gris to the Knights of the Thunder, a Human only paladin order based out of Castle Boglind that acts as the national police hunting down runaway slaves. It is said that of the human populace one in seven are professional knights or part time soldiers, a fact made only possible because of the massive slave infrastructure.
Technological Level
Undlands development has largely been stifled by the decentralized nature of their society, as well as the economic siphoning of value to an elite few. In a world without much of a middle class or upward options few have the means or will see benefit in higher education outside of the few elites. Industrial technology has not picked up as the expense in adapting to steam industry is not seen as a strong enough short term investment compared to continuing the dehumanizing practice of slavery. Some magical technological development has been found in the minor court mages throughout the land, as many mages seeking less oversight has moved into the country in sparse towers in the swamps. Some have accused Undland of allowing illegal research to attract mages to their backwater, and rumors of necromancers practicing in the swamp are not uncommon.
Religion
Any god in welcomed for worship in Undland however chief above all is the god Valkur a god of storms, freedom and hardship has turned into an icon of human purity and strength. Representing the religious "Old Way" of humanity before the Empire. However the Imperial Church of Myrrine remains somewhat powerful if only due to the influence of the Sacred Band and the poltical influence of the church with King Edward Undel.
Foreign Relations
Undland is a nation with no Friends, one trade partner, and the illusion that everyone is their enemy even your own neighbors. The kingdom has had harsh tariffs from and for all other nations except for the odd friend in The Republic of Dobruja whom trades openly with them. The Republic enjoys them as a buffer to the The Edren Empire
Agriculture & Industry
Undland's Agriculture is powered by large feudal estates and plantations that use a massive slave workforce to control the swampy waters of the region to produce the nations dye, rubber, and sugar cane exports. Outside the lordly estates and castle towns some villages subsist on meager farms able to only be worked in the short dry season without the heavy water control used by plantations.
Industry is largely limited to forestry around the wolfs would, and small textiles done in castle towns. The only true industrial center lies in the mines of Water's Keep and where the mixed dyes are finished together.
Trade & Transport
Bordered by large rivers, thick forest, and harsh coastline Trade in Undland is limited, as no real infrastructure or ports exist on the swampy land baring the largest city in the kingdom, Water's Keep, located in the shallow mouth of the Long Sister River from there some ships capable of sailing in the rough but shallow waters transport goods from Undland to The Republic of Dobruja and onward into the world. Within the Kingdom all lords are suppose to maintain at least one dirt road to Castle Gris, however internally it is largely just locally known paths many of which are covered in plantations and mud.
Education
Most people are largely uneducated, some taught to read and write by the church. Many lords send their childen outside the country for education, to the Church of Vulkur or to court wizards in the country. Despite this the kingdom is rich with Wizards towers, as many wizards enjoy favorable rights in the very decentralized poorly regulated land. There is rumored to be several necromancers present throughout the kingdom opperating in secret with their lords consent.
Infrastructure
There is little to no major highways in the country, as large stone roads are difficult to build in the swamp and instead raised dirt roads make up the bulk of the major roadwork. Some boats travel the shore but the ports are all shallow ports poof for more than light vessels and the occasional long boat.
Founding Date
721
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Alternative Names
Undland
Demonym
Undallock
Leader
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Traditional
Currency
Copper Lord- A copper coin marked by the local lord usually.
Silvers King- Marked by the current or former kings.
Electrum Rider- The Hippogriff that represents Undland national symbol
gold Undala- Marked by General Undala the mythical founder
Platinum Valkur- Marked by the god Valkur
Major Exports
Undland produces many cash crops mostly dyes, rubber, low grade cotton and chocolate as well as sugar. Most farmland produces internal goods and corn is popular both as a food and material good. Many of these are exported to the Sea Kingdoms through Dobruja traded for Wallachian wheat.
Major Imports
Most of the imports to the Kingdom are industrial and luxury goods as well as war material mainly through Water's Keep.
Legislative Body
Field of Lords - A decision making body in times of trouble or legal uncertainty at the Kings pleasure.
Judicial Body
Local Lord, King, Priests of Valkur
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Comments