Principality of Fangort
The Principality of Fangort is a small nation on the coast of the Eastern Sea. It is completely surrounded on the inland border by Aria. It is a small country made up of sharp coastline cliffs, rocky hills and a range of low mountains on the Arian border. Its capital city is Solir on the northern coast. Only three other cities have been established in the small country: Salmora in the far south on the Arial River mouth, Manoht on the Arian border, and Soth on the east coast. Each of these three cities is the administrative center of a Province, with an appointed Lord Governor as regional leader. Solir and its immediate surroundings, as the capital, are administered by the Prince directly. The entire population is 240,000 people, made up of Humans (168,000) and Halflings (65,000). There are small communities of Dwarves and Gnomes in and around Manoht, and a (very) few Elves in the coastal cities.
Fangort became an established Principality about 400 years before the present. Prior to that time, the region was dominated by warlords and chieftains that controlled various areas of the country. They fought amongst themselves until such times as an outside threat appeared, then they would band together just long enough to defeat the threat. As the Kingdom of Aria became more cohesive as a society, Fangort followed their example. The strongest of the chieftains met in council and chose a new Prince, all vowing to follow him and his heirs as their sovereign lord.
Fangort is currently ruled by Prince Rodin III Argoni, a man of 44 years and father of 11 children. Rodin has an excellent relationship with Mak II of Lesser Imesse and with Lomain am Lomanni, Duke of Lorancourt. His realm has an economy almost entirely based on maritime commerce. The finest ships, the best navigators, the most experienced crews and the most extensive library of maps in the known world are all found in Fangort. Fangort maintains a small but very effective naval force to combat piracy and protect its commercial assets on the seas. It keeps trade houses in all the major ports, including Len Doa, Grenwich, Ben Doa, Benrick, Koricshold, and even Northridge (on the Calas River).
Structure
The Principality is divided into four regios each led by Regate , appointed by the Prince for life to act as administrator and chief justice for the Regios. Traditionally, these Regates are drawn from leading noble families within the Principality, but there is no actual requirement that the Regate be a noble.
Military
Each of the four provinces of Fangort have small (but adequate) standing armies, most stationed around the largest cities of each province. The largest of these forces is located in Solir (the capital) and that army stands at 4,000 armored foot.
Religion
The vast majority of Fangorian subjects worship Maranosoi as the one and only creator god. Maranosoi is the Fangorian name for the god of the Maranonic Faith, and they follow the spiritual foundation as described in the Song of Life scriptures. The faith is led by semi-monastic priests who live dedicated lives in service to Maranosoi and his followers.
Agriculture & Industry
The most active industry in Fangort is fishing, in all its forms. Fangorian harvests of the bounties of the sea are the backbone of the nation. Net fishing, line fishing, harvesting oysters, clams, mussels and shell fish, whaling and the collecting of seaweed and kelp from the surf are all means by which the nation keeps itself fed. Fangort designs, builds and mans the finest vessels afloat. They are the best sailors, shipwrights and sailmakers in the world. Communities further from the sea find farming and herding more productive, raising sheep, cattle, goats and horses. There are several very large and very profitable salt mines deep in the interior, as well. The Rose Dome Mine (named for the rose-colored salt it produces) by itself produces more than enough salt for all the needs of the country and is operated by a community of Dwarves residing at the mines.
Another successful mining venture of impact in the realm is the mining of a massive diamond deposit located along the northern border with Aria. A small Gnome community (1,500 souls) has been given the exclusive rights to mine the abundant gems by the Prince (for a 40% share of all profits to his personal coffers). The mine has been operating for about 12 years, and it is already one of the most profitable mining efforts in the entire world. Security around this community is always a concern, and is never considered adequate.
The rugged interior highlands are ideal pasturelands for huge herds of sheep that produce a fine wool that is much prized across the globe. This fine wool, coupled with dyes made from particularly rare shellfish shells harvested off the coastal rocks, make a purple cloth that is one of the most valuable textiles in the world. This is another industry that the Halflings of Fangort monopolize from shear to loom (at the cost of 40% to the Prince), and reap gold in abundance for.
Trade & Transport
Fangort ships products and people all across the known world. Huge cargo vessels, fast transport ships, sturdy fishing boats, and the finest river barges known are all produced in Fangort.
Infrastructure
Fangort is a small country, with a small population. With ony four sizable cities within its borders, most rural regions are reached by road, and few roads in the Principality are paved. In fact, along the more than 100 mile route from Solir to Soth, the finest stretches of road were built more than 5,600 years earlier by a mysterious ancient unknown people.
Type
Geopolitical, Principality
Demonym
Fangorian
Leader
Leader Title
Head of State
Head of Government
Currency
Marque (1g)= 10 Punde (1s)= 100 Feks (1p)
Major Exports
Fish of all kinds, ships, nautical maps, salt
Major Imports
Iron, wheat, specialty old-growth oak for shipbuilding
Official State Religion
Subsidiary Organizations
Deities
Related Traditions
Related Ranks & Titles
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
