The League
The Archduke
Buffer State
Economy
Who's Who

Places
People
Legal System

THE LEAGUE
The Duchy of Algandy (map) is part of the League (map), a collection of city-states and petty Princedom ruled by a council. The League was formed initially for military strength but now lies bound together by economic dependence.

 

The number of states in the League has fluctuated over time between 9 and 27. The official start date of the League was the year 0 LT, the current year is 1270 LT.

The catalyst for the formation of the League was the collapse of the Golden Empire under a wave of barbarian invaders from the eastern steppes. With central authority gone following the assassination of the last Solar Emperor the provinces were forced to look to their own defences. The luckiest ones were those near the frontier which had permanent legion garrisons. They held together in a hastily formed alliance and have managed to keep the light of civilisation burning until the current day.

The League at present stretches from the northern Wilds, where winter lasts for half a year to the burning great desert of the south inhabited by fierce nomadic barbarian descendants of the destroyers of the Golden Empire. In the west the great uncharted Western Ocean forms the boundary of the League, in the east there is no natural feature acting as a barrier. Beyond Algandy the forests and swamps extend into a featureless plain known as the steppes. Civilisation stops at the eastern border of the Duchy of Algandy, (although if you spoke to a Chaubetian or a Veermarker they would claim civilisation stopped at their own border). Beyond lies the land of the heathen and the barbarian.

The neighbouring League states to the Duchy are the Barony of Chaubrette, known for its iron mines, the Princedom of Veermark, known for its fine but smelly cheeses, and the City of Losse, famed for its vineyards and its University. All of these are to the west of the Duchy as it is the most eastern of all the League states.

For more information see Places page.

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 rasing 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 typeof 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.

 

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
Legal System

 

 

 
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