Freecity of Yerad
- Area Square Miles: 77,500
The rough area in square miles of that nation. - Population: 968,750 (12.5/sq. mile) The total population, including all significant humanoid races, plus the average population per square mile.
- Racial Balance: Human (70%), Elf (15%), Gnome (8%), Halfling (3%), Goblin 2%, Other (2%) The details of all the major races of that country, as a percentage of the total population.
- Capital City: Yerad (pop 50,500) The capital city of that country, if it has one, along with its population.
- Government: Monarchy The political structure for that nation, if any. This will be one of: autocracy, confederation, democracy, despotism, dictatorship, imperial, monarchy, oligarchy, republic or tribal. By far, the most common form of government is monarchy.
- World View: defensive / agricultural, mercantile, seafaring The attitude of each nation toward its neighbors (passive, defensive or aggressive) and a number of terms that best sum that nation up (ie agricultural, nomadic, seafaring, wild, etc). Each nation can have one or more such terms, but will only ever have one attitude.
- Religion: Aruthane, Concei Japur, Fandor, Gorazyn, Nendagon, Omuz, Uther; Ky, Ney Allond, Tannun Maruth; Firngald, Gungorn; Olgden, Thim; Gygafrak, Babbarax The main gods esteemed by that nation. The list reflects the racial balance statistics (see above); so if humans are the largest racial group in that nation, followed by elves and dwarves, the list of deities follwed by humans will be first, then elves and dwarves. Within this context, they are listed alphabetically. No deity is listed more than once, even if more than one racial group prays to that god (for instance, both elves and gnomes are likely to follow Ky, but it will only be listed once nonetheless).
- Languages: Noroven The main languages spoken by the people of that nation, listed alphabetically.
- Climate: Continental Cool Summer The climate of that nation, from: arctic, continental cool summer, humid subtropical, subarctic, subtropical, temperate, tropical, warm temperate.
Overview
The lands bordering The Gold River are rich with amongst the finest precious stones to be found anywhere in Arrasia. This has brought great wealth and prosperity to a city that is now one of the largest, but has also come at the price of constant war, greed and corruption.
The lands now protected by the Freecity of Yerad were once the southern peninsula of Elminn, but the third civil war of Elminn saw Yerad declare its secession, triggering a war that continues to this day. The lands of Yerad have grown substantially since then, with the entire southern peninsula now coming under the sway of the city. The war between the two nations continues relentlessly, both on land and at sea. Elminn, having lost the greater part of its national wealth, are determined to get it back.
The people of Yerad are on good terms with the elves and gnomes that also live in these lands and both have been involved in activities against Elminn. However, mostly they live in their ancient communities and have very little to do with the chaotic life of Man.
The precious exports of Yerad primarily end up in Norvsond, from where they are distributed around Arrasia. The journey to Norvsond is treacherous enough, but the ongoing war with Elminn has made this an even more difficult task. While it is common practice for naval vessels to be boarded and captured and their cargo impounded, nonetheless countless precious stones and gold have found their way to the bottom of the seas.
Significant Trade Export
Gold: The lands bordering The Gold River are rich in alluvial gold deposits which are washed down stream from the Misty Downs. This source of gold provides a high income for the people of Yerad.
Precious Stones: Alluvial deposits of diamond, emerald, garnet, ruby, sapphire, spinel and zircon can be found along the route of The Gold River, though especially at the estuary where the river meets with the sea. These are primarily sold on to dealers in Norvsond, where they can be shipped safely to the corners of Arrasia.
Brief History
The death of King Beowyn II of Elminn sparked a vicious war of succession that saw his two sons, Rasmus of Ingwell and Ferapey of Yerad, drag Elminn into a long and devastating civil war. With the north siding with Rasmus and the south with Ferapey, both sides took an uncompromising stance and the bloody third civil war saw a great divide driven through Elminn.
With neither side able to make any conclusive gain or substantial victory, and with Rasmus controlling Fulton, the capital, and with it the administration network that ran the country, Rasmus declared himself king, provoking Yerad's secession and it's declaration as a Freecity. Much of the southern peninsula followed suit, under the protection and guidance of Yerad and the newly appointed king, King Ferapey I.
The death of King Beowyn II of Elminn sparked a vicious war of succession that saw his two sons, Rasmus of Ingwell and Ferapey of Yerad, drag Elminn into a long and devastating civil war. With the north siding with Rasmus and the south with Ferapey, both sides took an uncompromising stance and the bloody third civil war saw a great divide driven through Elminn.
With neither side able to make any conclusive gain or substantial victory, and with Rasmus controlling Fulton, the capital, and with it the administration network that ran the country, Rasmus declared himself king, provoking Yerad's secession and it's declaration as a Freecity. Much of the southern peninsula followed suit, under the protection and guidance of Yerad and the newly appointed king, King Ferapey I.
Furious and insulted, King Rasmus marched his forces south and besieged Yerad for eight months. However, the city was supplied easily through its port, despite a naval blockade and a series of naval battles, and illness soon ravaged the besieging troops. Seizing his moment, King Ferapey I opened the city gates and his soldiers, aided with a deadly unit of elven archers firing from behind the city walls, marched against the forces of Elminn in the Battle of Yerad. The battle was a decisive victory for the forces of King Ferapey I and Yerad, forcing a general retreat by King Rasmus' forces, who had been entirely routed.
The Freecity of Yerad greatly extended its borders during this period, seizing control of much of the south of the country. Only a determined counter strike by the Elminn forces repelled several attempts to take Fulton itself.
The borders between the Freecity of Yerad and Elminn remain both fluid and volatile and war between the two nations has remained constant. However, with the greater wealth now belonging to Yerad, Elminn's resources have become depleted and the people poor. This has only added fuel to the fire, as Elminn attempt to reclaim the land they believe is theirs by right and there are some in Yerad who believe the time will soon come when Yerad will march against Elminn and entirely consume it. Some even look further afield to Angor and Hardale and a reunification of the old borders, but this time under a new banner - that of their own.
The Major Towns and Cities
Yerad: (pop: 50,500) A vast, sprawling city on the Gulf of Yerad, the Freecity of Yerad is the largest of the Norv cities and amongst its most significant. With war still ongoing with Elminn, the city has gone through three periods of evolution, with each clearly defined by the rebuilding of the city walls to accommodate the growth of the city. The Old City, hemmed in by the original city walls that are now as much a part of the city itself as are the roads and houses, is the most built up and also where the old port is located. It is a tight web of streets and alleys, with buildings built closely together and, generally, where the poor people of Yerad live.
The next developmental phase of Yerad saw the building of a new wall as the city continued to expand, which itself has become like the first, consumed by the city. This section is home to the merchants and wealthy of Yerad, with well-constructed long houses set in plots of land, with well defined and well kept roads. More recently, the third expansion of the city has seen a third rebuilding of the wall, which now acts as its main defense against it enemies. It is here that the new port area has been established, from where the Yerad navy operates, and is also home to an overspill of the population from the Old City. Otherwise, many farms and landowners can be found here, where the land is still plentiful. This latest expansion has also seen it engulf several elven communities, which are now part of the city of Yerad.