The Merchant nation of Jordatt
At a Glance
The state of Jordatt is a constitutional monarchy which is supported by a massive free peasant class and a trading consortium called the Guild of Merchants. The goverment is made up of elected representatives who can serve for a maximum of ten years. The system works well and is relativly free of corruption. Jordatt is divided into administrative districts called "Steadings". Each Steading sends an elected representative to the Capital Tol Kheldar. Once there, they represent their Steading at the Great Moot where all descisions are discussed and eventually pass into law.
Jordatt to maintain peaceful relations with the Cabal to the east. The Great Moot has recently been able to secure peace treaties with the Shorkai Nomad tribes who roam closest to the River Stein. Despite this the Jordattian army still maintains a heavy presence in the lines of fortifications which extended along the river, starting from the fortress Citadel Forgun. peaceful contact is also maintained with the elven nation of Corecelantir and the Kureshtin Empire. The guild of Merchants also services links with the Once Kingdom of Kroman and other more distant nations.
Statistics
Towns
2 Cities of 50000+ (these are the Tol Kheldar and the most major port, Tol Corlin10 towns with a population in excess of 25000
30 towns with a population greater than 5000+
Population
The population recorded at the last Cenuswas 13976562 people, the vast majority of whom live in communal farmsteads spread accross the country. Five or six families often live together in these farmsteads.
Land
The nation of Jordatt covers nearly xxxxxxx square milesWealth
The standard of living in Jordatt is good, the Guild of Merchants brings large sums of foreign currency into the kingdom. This is eventually used for the good of all. The farming peasants, which make up the bulk of the population, have become so proficient in the co-operative style of farming that large excesses of foodstuffs, animals and other arable materials, including cloth, leather goods, wines and ales.What Others Think
The Military
Population
Government
Famous People
Points of Interest
People
King Otto "Broadshoulders" the VIIMother Frederika, High Priestess of Gaia
Erik Wulven, Leader of the Woodsmen of Gaia
Organisations
The Guild of MerchantsThe Woodsmen of Gaia
The Church of Gaia the Earth Mother
Places
Tol Khelder, the Capital cityTol Corlin, the biggest port in Jordatt and a major trade centre
Citadel Forgun, the great fortress which guards the north from the Shorkai
Tuan Tel, a newly established town at the Jordattian end of the "Tunnel of Tel". This town (or Tuan) is likely to grow rapidly, and because of its importance it has been declared as and independant Steading.
The Military
The Army
Jordatt maintains only a relatively small standing srmy. This consists of armoured pike and crossbow men supported by light and medium cavalry. Each steading supports a militia drawn from the local peasants. Every farmer above the age of 15 trains for at least half a day each week with other men from the area. This training with men they know makes for a surprisingly well disciplined and effective force. The militia train as pikemen and crossbow while those that show particular apptitude train as halberdiers or are excused other exercise to become crossbow marksmen. If a full militia was ever called the resulting army would number nearly a million men.The Navy
As with the army Jordatt does not maintain a large navy. The Naval vessels that it does have are small, fast cutters used for coastal patrols against smugglers. The Guild of Merchants however has a large number of vessels available to it both for trading and for escorting the vulnerable cargo ships.Magical Forces
The only true magical forces in Jordatt are the priests of the Church of Gaia and the warrior priests of the Woodsmen of Gaia. In war the priests can and would act as healers while the Woodsmen would use their powers to infiltrate and disrupt enemy lines of communication. Further details will be supplied on both these organisations in additional sections.Magic
Unlike the Cabal there is no central body which controls the activities of magicusers in Jordatt. Instead teach mage answers for his own actions to the civil authorities. As there is no central body, any aspiring mage must find his own master to whom he can apprentice himself. Magecraft is respected as any other trade and restrictions are only placed on magics which can only be used for evil.
Essence
Nothing out of the ordinary, users can be of nearly any profession but the tend to live well apart from each other.Channeling
Probably the most commonly encountered form of magic in Jordatt. The priest and Woodsmen of Gaia both belong to this realm of magic.Mentalism
The least common form of magic in Jordatt.The Law
The Judiciary
The judicial system is based on a trial by a jury of 10 people, five chosen from the Steading in which the crime was committed and 5 froma neighbouring Steading. Penalties normally take the form of fines or enforced servitude on a Steading project such as a road or local fortification. However judicial maiming and the death penalty can be applied if the jury deem the crime dispicable enough. Because of the way the Jury system is constructed the Jordattion judicial is one of the fairest on the continent.The Militia
As has been previously noted, each Steading is responsible for training and maintaining a militia drawn from the local population. In choosing to serve regularly as "officers of the peace"members of the militia can earn tax credits for their family or farmstead.The Thieves
Due to the high standar of living in the and the social structure of Jordatt there are few thieves and certainly no specially orgainsed structure. Outside of the cities bandits and their ilk rarely prosper.The Assassins
Because of the stable nature of Jordattian society there is no requirement for political assassination. There are not even rumours of such an organisation exisiting in Jordatt.Other Agencies
The primary agency in Jordatt is the Guild of Merchants. While technically a trading organisation there are rumours that hiding within the structure are goverment licensed spies and other operatives.The Government
The Nature of the Government
Jordatt is governed by a constitutional monarchy. The true descisions are made by the elected representatives of the Steadings. The "Royal Family" owns much land in Jordatt which is farmed by many peasants. The King is a verry generous landlord and much loved by his peopleProminent Players
King Otto VIIDespite the fact that the king is only a figurehead the "Royal Family" still continues to train itself in the art of statecraft . As result of this the king is normally able to offer extremely good advice. King Otto "broadshoulders" is one of the best that his line has ever produced and is advice is normally heeded.
Mother Frederika
Foreign Policy
As has been previously stated, Jordatt maintains peaceful relations with as many other nations as possible. The allows the extensive trade links, established by the Guild of Mechants to prosper bringin wealth into the country. Jordatt maintains particularlt strong links with the Cabal and Kureshtin - its major trading partners and attempts to keep the fragile peace between these two nations from breaking.Jordatt will always first attempt to negotiate rather than go to war.
This is not to say that they are scared to fight it is just that the pragmatic
rulers of the country see war as a waste that rarely achieves its aims
Trade
Merchants
There are no merchant houses in Jordatt as there are in the Cabal. Instead all native merchants (those who make a living by buying and selling as opposed to crafters who make things to sell) belong to the Guild of Merchants. This body also licenses anyone who wishes to trade in Jordatt. Thier headquarters are in Tol Khelder but they also maintain sizeable offices in Tol Corlin.Imports
Jordatt is self sufficient in all essential. Most imports are of luxury items such as spices, wines and silks from KureshtinExports
The farmers of the Steadings of Jordatt produce a large excess of food produce. Jordattian ales and wines travel well and are sought after accross Holat. In addition many of the skilled workers who left the Cabal during the rising against the Kureshtin Empire chose to settle in Jordatt and much of their produce is exported.
Natural Resources
A vast and efficient farming base produces a large excess of arable and pastoral produce. In addition the forests in the south are maintained by the Woodsmen of Gaia and produce many valuable hardwoods. The Jordattian side of the Fenshiral Mountains contain many valuable minerals, including large quantities of gold, silver and iron.Currency
The Jordattian Barke is a small gold coin worth 10 Cabalian Leopards. The Jordattian Hande is a silver coin worth 1 Cabalian LeopardReligion
Although no religious restrictions are in place in Jordatt, and there are many small temple to the gods of the Mortaisan, the principle religion is the worship of Gaia. Gaia is the Earth Mother aspect of Saira and as such is highly revered in a country which regards itself as a nation of farmers.