Kingdom of Weidany

The Kingdom of Weidany is the largest and most populous of the kingdoms of northwestern Euressa. It has been a unified nation for over two hundred years, since Queen Aelfthryth ascended the throne in 994. The current Queen is Behrith, daughter of Frythrun the Fair. She received the Kingdom in 1225, from her sister Godrun the Red who died in her 59th year.

The succession of Queens has always been ensured by the Cult of Neya, the Keeper of Oaths. The Kingdom was forged out of bloodshed and betrayal, and the goddess lay down a prophecy, that the Kingdom would be doomed if a king was crowned.

The relationship between the royal family and the Cult of Neya has generally been strong, though some Queens have tried to break this - notably Godrun the Red. Queen Behrith is very much a follower of the Cult however.

Politics

The Kingdom is divided into shires, each of which is an administrative unit, govered by a shire-reeve. Many of the shires are based around the borders of the old kingdoms which Weidany swallowed.

The shire-reeves are directly appointed by the Crown, and originally they were not nobles, but freemen. However, the financial benefits (one of a shire-reeve's many duties is tax collection) proved too imporant, and these days many are nobles, often with connections to the important noble houses.

Each shire is sub-divided into hundreds, each governed by a reeve, who selected from the upper ranks of the freemen. A reeve has much work, and little reward, so the freemen have managed to keep the right to select a reeve from within their own number.

This neat and orderly bureacracy is complicated by the nobility, many of which wield far more power than was original planned in the early days of the Kingdom. Those nobles who own large amounts of hereditary land are known as eoldormen, and are amongst the most powerful people in the kingdom.

The eoldormen are also heads of the powerful Noble Houses, which make up the most influential factions within the Kingdom. Officially, the Noble Houses have no actual power, but they represent a large number of land owners who are able to work together to push through their own plans and ambitions.

Social Classes

The Kingdom is heavily class orientated, and there is a large distinction in the freedoms and rights of the higher classes compared to the lower classes. However, a person's class is not fixed in stone, and it is possible (though very rare) for a slave to rise to be a thegn.

With the exception of Outlaws, nobody may be slain without reason. Even slaves have a right to life, even if they don't have much else. The penalty for killing (or harming) a slave is much less severe than the penalty for harming a thegn is however.

Level	Social class
-4	Outlaw. Outlaws have been cast from society and are considered to have no rights. Anybody may kill an outlaw, and it is even illegal to seek revenge if an outlaw is killed
-3	Slaves. Slaves own no land, and are total dependant on their lords for food and shelter. They may buy their own freedom, and are allowed to own goods and make money.
-2	Gebur. The lowest of the 'free' classes. He has three acres of land, and must work for his lord for food and protection.
-1	Kotsetla. Like the Gebur, the Kotsetla is dependant on their lord for enough food to survive. They must work their lord's land, though have five acres of land themselves.
+0	Geneat. The geneat are the upper classes of the ceorl, fully independant.
+1	Craftsman.
+2	Priest.
+3	Low noble. The lowest rank of nobility, normally a direct relation of a landed noble, such as a child or spouse.
+4	Landed noble. A noble who owns at least a manor worth of land. The title is not heriditary, and can be stripped at any time.
+5	High noble.
+6	Ealdorman.
+7	King.

Most of the population consists of commoners, who are free (or mostly free) people who make up the farmers, craftsmen and townsfolk of the Kingdom.

The nobility are those who own enough land to farm it out to others (mostly commoners). Most noble positions aren't actually heriditary.

Women

Though a Queen has sat on the throne for the last two centuries, women are still considered to be the inferior sex. Men hold most of the positions of power, sons inherit before daughters and men are expected to fight whilst women are expected to look after the home.

However, reality if a lot more complex. A wife who is only good for bearing sons is considered to be pretty much a failure. In the absence of their husband, a wife is expected to be able to manage the household, including conducting business, getting involved in politics and sometimes even taking up arms in defence of the home. This latter is considered optional, and many women leave it to sons or relatives, however it is not considered unusual.

A manor or business is often jointly run by both husband and wife. The man is expected to have ultimate say in things, however a man who doesn't delegate many of the important decisions to his wife will gain a negative reputation.

A woman on her own, or a daughter in a household with many sons, has it harder. They are expected to help in the household, but going off and doing their own thing because they want to (rather than because they have to) is considered unusual, and possibly improper.

Trade

Trade makes up a large part of the Kingdom's revenues, mostly indirectly through taxation. A few monopolies have been granted by the Queen, and there are countless more unofficial monopolies enforced by practicalities, networks of friends and simple violence against those who try to break them.

External trade is mostly up the coast with Bryteland, Taneith and Tanwall, or down the coast with Midlaen. Trade with the Northern Kingdoms is rare because of the difficulties involved.

Settlements

Villages

The majority of the poulation (about 90%) is rural, living in small villages of 100-150 people. Small personal farms are also common, though these will normally belong to a nearby manor.

Every village is ruled by a thegn, who governs in the name of the Queen. Their manoral holdings consists of the village and any surrounding settlements, such as hamlets and individual holdings. The size of a manor is measured in hides of land, each approximately 120 acres - enough to support a single household. In fertile regions, a hide can be a much smaller area. Most manors consist of five hides, since this is considered a suitable size to support the military obligations of the thegn.

Households have their own internal structure, and will consist of several closely related families. The head of the household will be the ceorl who is most respected. The rest of the household will consist of sons, aged parents and dependants - kotsetla (poor freemen) and slaves.

Building materials consist mostly of wood, thatch and some wattle-and-daub. Villages consist of a mixture of A-Frame houses and timber buildings, sometimes with a stone walled smithy.

Towns

Towns are often little more than villages which have grown in size due to the presence of a market. Some are walled (generally a mixture of earth and wood), though the majority aren't.

Unlike villages, towns tend not to be completely self sufficient. Food will be delivered in from nearby villages as needed, with the shortfall growing with the size of the town.

In the central regions of Weidany, towns tend to be found every three or four leagues, which is about the right distance for all villages to be within half a day's travel of a town.

Borders

The Kingdom borders onto six other countries, and is at war with all but two.

The Kingdoms of Bryteland

Bryteland is viewed as a barbaric land, full of warrior lords and little else. The truth is that Bryteland is just as civilised as Weidany, though does differ in some respects.

Trade with Bryteland is quite common, however the Brytish often raid down the coast of Weidany whenever they think they can get away with it, and the situation on the land border is tense at best, openly hostile at worst.

The truth is that warriors of both kingdoms are itching for a fight, though neither the Queen nor the Kings of Bryteland particularly want one, and merchants in both countries would rather trade than see blood spilt.

The situation seems content to remain at the level of bickering and the occasional raid or border incident, without there really being much chance of outright war.

Tanwall

In culture, Tanwall is much like Bryteland, however its people's worship of the Animal Powers makes it darker and more reclusive than its western neighbour.

Neither Weidany nor Tanwall have much interest in the other. Tanwall is engaged in fighting Bryteland (with somewhat more enthusiasm than Weidany is), and doesn't want a war on two fronts.

Danuch

Relationships between Danuch and Weidany are cold at best. The Kingdom is very interested in seeing the last homeland of the Druids conquered, and their power shattered, but does not currently have the resources to do this. A proxy war is being fought in Cadwold, and once that is completed, then the Kingdom's attention will probably shift to Danuch.

Cadwold

Cadwold used to be part of Weidany, and was once part of Danuch as well. It is currently fighting for independence from both. Its war with Weidany is not going well however, and it is becoming more likely to see aid from Danuch rather than be conquered by the Kingdom.

Weidany currently has several armies positioned on the border with Cadwold, and several full scale battles have been fought in the previous year.

Nailand

The great wilderness of Nailand is home to the Short Folk who do not care for the civlisation of Weidany, and fear that it has desires on their homeland.

Nailand is the second border where outright war is being fought, though the Short Folk have the advantage of space to retreat into, and it is difficult for the Kingdom to keep supply lines open if they try to advance much beyond their current borders. Fighting consists of occasional skirmishes, raids and the odd ambush.

Midlean

Midlaen was a shire of Weidany when it was settled in 1148. In 1193 however it claimed independence, and after a short war pretty much got what it wanted. The distance between the Kingdom and the main towns was too great to enforce control over.

Currently, both Midlaen and Weidany are happy to trade with each other, and there is no sign of an attempt to reclaim the old shire being desired by the Kingdom in the near future, though the House of Hrulgar would be more than willing to make the attempt if anyone else would let them.