Duchy of Saxe
Wedged between parts of the Kal’Iugus Mountains to the east and Lake Escaurt to the west, the Duchy of Saxe is relatively small, but it stands on a major trade route between the east and west. One of the earliest conquests in the expansion of the Kingdom of Foere, Saxe is well-established, wealthy, and of great importance to the crown. Saxentry is known for its architecture and ancient roots and has been used as an example for city planning in other areas.
History and People
Conquered and held by Foere early during its expansion, the Duchy of Saxe was named and granted in 2807 I.R. to one of the generals instrumental in the conquest of the eastern provinces. Recently, the Duchy of Saxe fell from favor with the overking in Courghais. Once considered a guiding light, a shining example of loyalty and service, recent losses of lands to the east of the March of Mountains have frustrated the overking and some of the blame has, perhaps unfairly, been placed on the Duchy of Saxe. Expected to maintain information networks and pass information to the overking, Saxe has allowed those networks to fade and break down.
In general, the people here are hearty, cheerful, and overwhelmingly loyal to the crown. The nobility and wealthier merchants do their best to prove their fealty to Foere, though the effort goes increasingly unrecognized in Courghais. In the view of the crown, Saxe’s most important role is control over the trade routes heading to the eastern provinces. While the duke has ensured that the trade roads are carefully maintained and patrolled, other parts of the border are less well protected, and his agents have failed to provide important intelligence at key moments.
Trade and Commerce
Although smaller than some baronies, Saxe is a densely populated, wealthy province with control over a major trade route combined with rich farmlands and productive gold and iron mines. Craftsmen and crofter’s guilds thrive in Saxe, and clothing, armor, weapons, furniture, and a variety of other trade goods are made here, with some craftsmen living in small, isolated communities to focus on their manufacturing.
Loyalties and Diplomacy
The duke and his people are loyal to the crown. All male nobility of the Duchy of Saxe are required to perform a minimum of three years of military service to Foere as evidence of their loyalty and dedication to the overking. The duchy as a whole has good trade relations with the Duchy of Mains, the Iron Kingdom, the Kingdom of Suilley, Keston Province, and the County of Toullen. The personal relationship between Duke Mercur Saxe and Duchess Aeria Enserrat of the Duchy of Mains is somewhat tense. Duke Saxe believes that some lands presently assigned to Mains should belong to Saxe, as they did in the past, while Duchess Enserrat believes the duke is a bumbling incompetent, and she has made no secret of her assessment.
Government
Ruled for many centuries by the Saxe family, the leadership here has been surprisingly stable. Over the years, there have been few conflicts about succession and almost nothing in terms of scandal. While the term “boring as Saxe” has fallen from use, it is that stability and loyalty to the crown that made the Duchy of Saxe so highly valued. Alas, all families and nations have their ebb and flow, and Duke Mercur Saxe is neither bright nor charismatic. These factors, when combined with poor advisors — all friends of the duke from his childhood — have put Saxe’s influence and power on a precipitous decline.
The court system is well-organized, although like most in Foere, it substantially favors the wealthy. The militia and guardsmen are also well-organized and equipped. Other parts of the government are controlled, at least officially, by childhood friends or longtime allies of the duke. Most of these are unfit for their jobs, and many try to take financial advantage of their positions when they can. The networks of spies and information gathering about the eastern provinces that Saxe was once responsible for have been poorly monitored, and this failure has angered the crown.
Military
Because Saxe is a gateway to the east, particularly the Kingdom of Suilley and other areas that have broken away from Foere, there is a strong military presence here. Lord Marshall Bertrand commands all the forces of Foere stationed throughout the area while Captain Korwell commands the militia and guard forces of Saxe. All of the male nobility are required to perform three years of service for Foere and must be prepared to answer a call to battle from the overking.
Major Threats
Saxe, though fading from favor with the overking, is of major importance to the Kingdom of Foere, so troops, trade routes, and farmlands in the duchy are carefully defended and watched over. The overking and the duke openly fear possible attack from the east, though in truth this may likely be more of an excuse to increase certain taxes and troop deployments in the area. The true threat to Saxe at this time is the incompetence of its ruler and the growing corruption and ineffectiveness of the people he has appointed at several levels of government.
Wilderness and Adventure
Areas near the Kal’lugus Mountains and Shadrack Forest are poorly patrolled and subject to incursions of monsters. The deep catacombs beneath Saxentry, known as the undercity, are said to be haunted. Otherwise, much of the rest of Saxe is free from excitement as most of the area is well-settled. That being said, some adventure can be found here in the form of special jobs and investigations for some of the nobility, who are always seeking new forms of wealth as well as information.
Region
Duchy of Saxe
Parent Organization
Controlled Territories
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