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THE LEAGUE
The Duchy of Algandy
(map) is part of the
League (map),
a collection of city-states and petty Princedoms ruled by
a council. The League was formed initially for military strength
but now lies bound together by economic dependence.
For more information see Places
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THE ARCHDUKE
The Archduke of Algandy is the descendent of one of the
barbarian tribes that sacked the Golden Empire. The Algundians were
once a fierce tribe of herdsmen who were driven westwards into the
empire by the migrations of other barbarians. Having conquered the
part of the frontier that would become the Duchy, the Algundians
settled back to a life of raising cattle and sheep, fighting only
to defend the frontiers of their land from the Empire and later
from other barbarians. Within a few hundred years the Duchy had
been converted to the Faith by missionaries from the League, the
Duke converted and declared that it would become the religion of
his people replacing the shamans who interceded with the spirits
of nature on behalf of the tribe. The old ways were outlawed; overnight
the shamans either converted becoming priests of the new faith or
fled deep into the woods to continue their worship. Perhaps it is
the continuation of their traditions that spawn the many lycanthrope
stories told of the eerie Algundian woodlands, where drums can be
heard sometimes at dusk and where beast and man blur into one.
BUFFER
STATES
From embracing the Faith it was a simple step to joining with the
League as a buffer state against less settled and still
pagan barbarians. With the end of the great barbarian migrations
Algandy found itself a full member of the League, its rulers educated
in the League heartland, its people grown accustomed to the luxuries
of the other League states.
ECONOMY
Economically Algandy is an importer of luxury goods such
as fine cloth, wine and spirits, tobacco and glassware. Many of
these items are then traded onto the barbarian tribes bordering
the Duchy in exchange for furs, slaves, amber, gold, exotic resins
and dyes. Two items traded across the border are illegal under Duchy
and League law, gunpowder and a type of narcotic fungus called Far-dreamer
by the barbarians. Gunpowder, as the most recent military development,
may not be traded with any enemies of the League. Any attempt to
do so would be considered treason and punished as such. Unfortunately
the possession of a thunder stick has become a status symbol amongst
barbarian nobles, and something they are willing to pay phenomenal
sums for, sums capable of tempting the greedy despite the risk of
punishment. Far-dreamer is a type of toadstool that is prized by
barbarian shamans for its vision giving properties. In the League
it is valued by the rich and the decadent as the narcotic of choice
and for its feeling that the mind floats free of the body, able
to travel vast distances in an instant. The fresh toadstool is more
potent, but most often traded to the empire are dried and are consumed
as a tea or in alcohol.
THE NEW WORLD
A new spirit is sweeping across the League, men of
education are gathering to question the essential nature of the
universe. Men of science are treading new paths, the printing press
was invented less than twenty years ago, black powder, child of
the alchemists genius, has revolutionised the concept of war since
its introduction ten years ago. Now the shape of the world is under
threat, some have suggested that the world is round and not flat
and that things stick to it due to some sort of attraction similar
to magnetism. More astounding is the idea that the world goes around
the sun, and that the stars and moon are not attached to celestial
spheres that form a shell around the world but seem to rotate due
to the spinning of the world.
In the cities of the League, universities are springing
up, rivalling the Church run schools and colleges, catering to the
growing middle classes. With the advent of the printing press it
is suggested that a quarter of the population are now literate and
the percentage is growing each year.
The arts are taught as well as philosophy, medicine,
the natural sciences, and mathematics. Students and scholars have
become a common sight on the streets of the Leagues metropolises.
Noted Universities:
The Huldmann University in Losse
The Walstein academy of artillery and logistics
The Free Thinkers college of Natural Philosophy
The University of Phoenice
WHO'S WHO
| Name |
Notes |
| Archduke Harald the Bald |
Ruler of the Duchy |
| Sir William of Redcliff |
The Archdukes champion and confidant |
| Simon of Wisbruck |
Bishop of Algandy at the Cathedral |
| Offa the Pious |
Former bishop of the Cee of Algandy now retired |
Earl Richard de Burne |
Earl of Osterune, head of the powerful de Burne family |
| Lord Wilfrid de Burne |
Second son of Earl Richard de Burne |
| Edda Elric Bellmere |
Lord, scholar, renaissance man |
| Lord Aiden Fitzburke |
Heir to a proud name but recently fallen into obscurity |
| Wat |
Tavern keeper and grandson of the original Wat |
| Esme Alewife |
Co-owner of the tavern, widow of Wat's brother |
| Jack Woodsman |
The local's local. Woodsman and occasional tavern bouncer |
| Jack's mum |
She's lovely |
| Vassiley Locke |
Phoenician doctor/hypnotist/barman |
| Aldan Doyle |
Captain of Mercenaries |
| Brother Gerald |
Templar and agent for Simon of Wisbruck |
| Father Lazarus Steele |
Tax Inspector and agent for Simon of Wisbruck |
| Laughing Jack |
A bandit chief with a flair for the dramatic (safely in the
grave) |
| The Rough Grey Dog Man |
A protagonist with a bad reputation (dead and not missed) |
| Earl Edvard |
Leader of the Wolgard Clan and enemy of Earl Snorri |
| Mord Earl |
Edvard's younger brother and heir |
| Titus Hoad |
Earl Edvard's War leader |
| Lars Earl |
Edvard's champion |
| Strykarr |
Earl Edvards chief scout and advisor |
| Lord Rufus |
Edda of the local district (deceased and much missed) |
| Lady Alice |
Lord Rufus's famously plain daughter |
| Lady Candida de Savoy |
The wealthiest heiress in the Dukedom |
| Sir Thomas de Savoy |
Father of Lady Candida |
| Lord Bertrand |
A Chaubretian knight married to Lady Alice |
| Wizard Wolfram |
Shaman in the wildwood |
| Father Thomas |
Priest of the village of Axebridge |
| The Spinner |
"Legendary" head of the underworld of Algandy |
| Scourge |
Algandy's most famous prize-fighter, master of the flail |
| The Daggerman |
A semi-mythical assassin believed to be still active |
| Sir Kay |
Leader of the Archdukes Rangers in the district |
| Sir Robert of Sorton |
Neighbouring lord to the lands of Lord Bertrand |
| Guildmaster Cylus Philtre |
Guild master of the Alchemists |
| Baroness Angelique de Lys |
Ruler of the neighbouring Barony of Chaubrette |
| Baroness Elanor de Lys |
Regent of the Barony of Chaubrette |
| Master Godfrey Leech |
Guild master of the Physicians Guild |
| William Black |
Considered to be the best archer in all Algandy |
| Magister Morgwyn |
Guild master of the Mercenaries Guild |
| Guildmaster Alfred Cooper |
Guild master of the Bakers Guild |
| Jarl Snorri Axebyte |
Most important Fensmen noble |
| Hungry Pete |
Legendary bogeyman of Algandy myth |
| Guild Mistress Maud |
Hollywell Guild mistress of the Clothiers Guild |
| Reuben Abbott |
Head of the powerful and feared Abbott family |
| Ethelred Mercer |
Head of the Mercer family, enemies of the Abbott family |
Places
People
Beliefs
Legal System |
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