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Keoland

Page history last edited by John 15 years, 8 months ago

Region 6: South-West Flanaess, Sheldomar ValleyKeoland Demographics

 

 

 

KINGDOM OF KEOLAND

 

The Kingdom of Keoland is one of the oldest nations in the Flanaess, and its history is well-dwelled on in other tomes. What has not been mentioned is the extent to which King Kimbertos Skotti has reformed his nation's society. Whereas before Keoland was known for being an 'old-style' kingdom similar to that of Nyrond (where slavery and serfdom were allowed, women did not fight, and demihumans were secondary citizens), Skotti has, since he ascended to the throne in 564 CY, undertaken considerable social reforms.

Keoland has now abolished its slave trade, though some nobles still conduct secret (and flagrantly illegal) trade with powers such as the former Slave Lords and Sea Princes, and now Turrosh Mak and other slaving organizations. The position of women in society has been considerably improved, while Skotti now ranks as one of the most popular kings among his elf and gnome subjects for his hands-off approach to running affairs in the Good Hills, the Dreadwood, and the Ulek states. The common folk also appreciate his strengthening of their civil rights.

Unfortunately, this has alienated a fair number of Skotti's nobles, who packed up and left for Sterich, Gran March or even the Sea Princes in the intervening years. Skotti has responded to this by simply replacing those departed nobles on their estates with relations who are more likely to follow his new laws. Adventurers have also been rewarded for their service in cleaning up many of the dirty messes these nobles left behind.

 

Society and Culture: The people of rural Keoland are friendly but reserved, often preferring that travelers stay no more than one night before moving on. Magic-users are regarded nervously and fearfully, and anyone who does not speak Keolandish is automatically viewed as something of an outsider. Still, they are good people, and will always reward good turns and services rendered to them by strangers who cross their paths.

The city-dwelling Keoish are similarly friendly, and also much more outgoing and hospitable. They have a hail-fellow-well-met attitude to them, and will pester travelers for every last bit of interesting news they can carry. They will happily swap food and tales with strangers who reward them in kind, although some travelers have noted how much Keoish nobles tend to ramble on about themselves.

Despite the goodness of their hearts, the Keoish have a certain noblesse oblige towards all other citizens and people, and so tend to patronize and talk down to outsiders, even though they are not usually aware of it. Being so sure of their own moral rightness and superiority, citizens of Keoland are often left surprised, offended and/or hurt when irritated people can no longer bite their tongues, and tell the offending Keolander off.

Keoish culture is very egalitarian and open, with no regard to gender or race when determining who fills what role in a society. This openness means, however, that people from any level of society, when organized into a large enough faction, can try and seize the attention of the king at the expense of other groups, thus making changes in policy slow in coming.

The king is advised by the Council of Niole Dra, who may override the king's decisions when dealing with the nation?s charter, although to do this risks the wrath of many of the kingdom?s interest groups, not least of which is the king?s family itself. The hodgepodge of subdivisions and provinces within the kingdom are continually butting heads with the Crown over matters relating to what they consider to be their own areas of control, and this slows decision-making yet again. Despite all this, the kingdom?s various factions do not fight nearly as much as they could. Thus, while decisions may be slow in coming, they cannot be thwarted or ruined by a small group of dissenters.

Some Keoish nobles have grown very comfortable in their wealth, which means that they have little affection for the upstart King Kimbertos and his reforms. These nobles use many methods, some subtle, others obvious, to skirt the laws he has passed, and increase their own personal power. These nobles are the ones that will smuggle.

 

Military Structure: Both Gran March and Sterich send troops to aid Keoland, although her own light and heavy cavalry, comprised of nobility, are the core of Keoland's forces. These are the best of Keoland?s troops, although they are no match for the elites of any given client state. Archers, engineers, light and medium foot, and heavy hobliars round out the rest of the kingdom's armies, none of whom are skilled enough to deserve merit in a continent-wide work. Keoland is noted for preferring diplomacy over combat, and has not fought a serious war in centuries. Her first dispatches to the aid of the western nations suffered badly against the giant gangs they were not expecting.

The troops sent by Keoland's client states are often of inferior quality compared to her own homegrown soldiers, and the small companies of demihumans are neither common nor well-trained. Finally, Keoland's peasant levies are among the weakest of the major Flanaess kingdoms, most of them having never even seen a sword in their lives.

Keoland?s navy, based in Gradsul is stronger now, thanks to ships looted from the Sea Princes after the Greyhawk Wars, and generally considered to be superior to that of Furyondy, the Horned Empire or Urnst.. Still, it is hardly a match for the buccaneers and sailors of the Solnor, and has sent emissaries to Onnwal and Nyrond, soliciting mutual naval aid against Ahlissa and the Lordship of the Isles.

 

Ruler: Formerly a naïve and open ranger lord, fearsome against giants but uninformed concerning international politics, King Kimbertos Skotti has matured into a strong, steadfast ruler, whose charm and charisma are the object of the lust of a thousand noble's daughters from across the Flanaess. He retains his forceful, direct manner of speaking, which sometimes lands him in trouble with the court wizard, Lashton of Grayhill. Skotti has, sometimes by simply commanding obedience, brought in many laws to improve the health and welfare of the common and oppressed peoples of the kingdom. He has not, however, been able to adequately deal with the leaders of his client states, who are increasingly upset with the king's apparent inability to confront the crises around him. Despite his reforms, his unpopularity is growing even among his own native peoples, who fear that they should be next to suffer a giant or goblin invasion.

SKotti has remarried since the death of his first wife in 587 CY. The first queen seems to have died giving birth to her eighth child, and now Skotti's current wife is currently pregnant with her fourth offspring. The apparent fruitfulness of the royal marriage is the subject of much gossip in the courts of nobles across the country.

 

Foreign Relations: Most of Keoland's neighbors are upset with her, to one extent or another. Geoff and Sterich are outraged over Skotti's politicking, and demand compensation. Gran March has had little contact with Skotti's court since the disappearance of Commandant Petros. The Ulek states are nervous about the menace of the Pomarj, with Prince Corond voicing his frustration at Keoland's lack of support for his ongoing war with the Pomarj. The citizens of all these nations also resent the haughtiness and high moralizing of the Keoish, as well.

Veluna offers to join with Keoland in driving the Baklunish out of Bissel, though why that nation does not deal with Gran March is curious. The Iron League is reaching out to Keoland, with secret trade designed to prop up the flagging states of the east against what seems to be a rapidly recovering Ahlissa. Keoish support to distant lands, and the corresponding lack of aid for her vassal states, has not gone unnoticed by the latter.

 

Region 6: South-West Flanaess, Sheldomar Valley, South-Western Flanaess, Sheldomar Valley map

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