West Azanara 02

Nations of the West of Azanara 02

The disunited realm of Catallar.

About 400 years ago there was a war over succession between the brother and sister of house Hallensa. The realm was split in two; the Queendom of Kaz and the kingdom of Hidallga were formed. Unlike most wars this one included a very strong gender element. The queen of Kaz was not simply a female monarch, she installed a matriarchy, with the aim that 90% of all important jobs, especially leadership posts, be held by women.

To understand the area one must understand the character of the Catallar people. They are highly passionate and interested in reputation above all else. Personal reputation for achieving great things is first but also local town glory matters a great deal. In contrast to the other great nations; Goffnians who value organization and discipline, Parizans who value art and comfort, Albyons who value wealth and power, the Catallar are quite different in their outlook. A person’s life should be a great story filled with adventure, to live a simple normal life is to be a failure.

The Queendom of Kaz.

Today Kaz is ruled by the house of Kallensa, with the queen holding total authority. She is supported by an elected council of 12 noble Ladies, who hold an open court where important matters can be brought to the Queen’s attention. In addition there is the appointed body of departmental officials, who are usually but not necessarily noble Ladies.

The capital, and home of the royal house, is Kazallus. It is also the main port city. Up river is Monrius, move of a collection of communities than one single city, there is a hilltop fortress, a mining industry and a crafters town. On the west coast is Avinaz, a town famous for its textiles.

Men are not restricted in their occupations, but are limited in their climbing of the social ladder. They may not own property, land is passed down the female line. Being flamboyant by nature, men are not meek second class citizens. They have come to accept the dominance of women in most social aspects, or they have left the realm. Yet the men are still adventurous, maybe even more so because they have to work very hard to win the respect of the ladies.

Kaz is well organized but only in comparison to Hidallga. Although the Queen’s authority is strong her actual ability to exercise it ( outside the capital ) is not. There is very little in the way of a standardized bureaucracy exerting power over the realm. What is most universal and influential in that regard is the Church of the Trinity; Maiden, Mother, Matriarch. With its emphasis on health and welfare, especially for young children, it is a powerful force in society.

The army, navy and air-force are all small, yet have sizable support systems. The Queen insists that any warrior who wants the honor of an adventure must serve half of each year in the support sector.

The Kingdom of Hidallga

Today Hidallga is ruled by the house of Dallgo, with the king holding a firm grip on his aristocracy. According to law his powers are limited and the big noble families enjoy a great deal of autonomy, but in practice he is a capable and charismatic leader who gets what he wants. There is a parliament of nobles, but its function is not very clear. It seems only concerned with resisting any change to the privileges enjoyed by the nobility. It also serves as a forum for lords to brag about their adventures.

The capital is the port city of Sidalla. But the royal family has its main house up the river at Dallgo Bridge, about 10 km north of the city. To the west is Villago, a town known for its horse breading and the skill of its riders. To the east is Bendat the major industrial town, famous for its sword smiths.

Women are treated as treasures, the objects of very macho manliness. They are not so much oppressed as they are sheltered from the rough aspects of life. Chivalry in its most romantic form is alive and well in Hidallga. It is widely believed that if a woman in unsatisfied she can find a better life in Kaz. The truth of this belief is somewhat less glamorous, but it serves as a powerful motivating idea.

Naturally land and important offices are held by men. Women often act behind the curtain as advisers, but have no legal rights to ownership of anything. They can however act as guardian for a male who is under the age of maturity.

The organization in Hidallga is nearly none existent. There is a feudal system, that has been modified by patronage appointments to an endless sea of official posts, many of which have no real functions. There are laws, that serve as merely guide lines for local courts and Lords who dispense justice. Thus if the king wants a specific thing done, he will appoint an agent and issue a decree, empowering the agent to act, but not usually attaching any funds or means to the job.

In terms of a military, Hidallga has some of the best warriors in the world, but the worst armies. Because of the cultural imperative to seek individual glory, the warriors tend to be lone wolves or to work in small packs ( adventuring parties ). The army, navy and air-force all follow feudal organization, with each noble fielding a small force from his own pocket.