Difference between revisions of "Deepwood/Reflection"

Revision as of 18:13, 20 January 2017

Vassalage

House Deepwood is vasseled to House Bisland, which in turn is vassaled to House Grayson. House Riven, which holds the County of Twainfort, is a vassal of Deepwood, along with the Baronies of X and Y.

Cultural Notes

The March of Old Oak is situated in the northeastern-most region of the Crownlands. It is spread to the edge of the moutains to the north, the eastern continental shore of the Mourning Sea, and is deeply entrenched in the Gray Forest.

There are no restrictions in terms of gender roles, and there is equal appreciation for those who work the land in various ways as there is for positions that are more education focused. Pursuit of the arts is only slightly less valued, regulated by most to being pasttimes, while those who evince true talent are given the opportunity to pursue their course to maximum potential. While all children receive education as required by the Crown, the March offers offers an annual festival in which the young may present a demonstration of their burgeoning talent or skill in all manner of subjects and disciplines, the finest of which receive a prize of having their further educations or apprenticeships paid for by the March's nobility as sponsors.

Both the healers of the Church as well as secular health providers are available to all citizens regardless of their economic situation, with payment based on a sliding scale. Labor and barter are considered acceptable alternatives to coin, and the truly desparate may appeal to their local noble for aid. While their resident noble may not be required to assist, such a lack of compassion is generally regarded as dishonorable.

Festivals and holidays differ in terms of region, though the two most popular are both Autumn events: the Harvest Festival, centered around Old Oak and featuring the culinary bounty of the entire March, and the Running of the Salmon, held at Twainfort. Finding excuses for celebrations and festivals is common to the March's culture.

The most popular alcoholic beverage is apple cider, and hunting is plentiful. The March tends to favor hardy food over more delicate, refined flavors; meals frequently feature venison, pig, or cow, with the addition of freshwater fish from the rivers and the delicacies of the sea from the east coast. Groves for tree bourne fruit are plentiful, as are garden vegetables and berry crops. Apples feature heavily in Deepwood cuisine, particularly in and around the Gray Forest.

The County Seat

Deepwood Hold, sometimes called Old Oak, is the seat of the March. The town that has built up around and adjacent to it is also referred to as Old Oak, which can sometimes be confusing to non-locals.

Military Doctrine

While service in the March's defense forces is not compulsory, the opportunity to learn the basics of defense are offered to every citizen, and most consider it a point of pride to have served at least a year if not more, unless they have decided to take it on as full career. Because of the variety of environments that encompass the March's landscape, military forces are more or less equally divided in terms of archers versus footsoldiers versus cavalry, etc - with a slight favor toward foot soldiers and the least amount being cavalry.

In the event of violence, the March's nobles are required to provide some form of safe shelter for their resident non-combatants; failure to do so incurs harsh penalties.

Climate and Geography

TBA

Industry and Economy

Exports: Lumber (and various byproducts including paper, glass production, furniture, and charcoal), fur, freshwater fish, and produce (along with their various byproducts, including cider). The eastern shore held by the March has a thriving sea-based economy, including pearldiving, shellfish and mollusk gathering, and harvesting sea plants.

The March's economic system is by nature, somewhat complex and leaves very little room for opportunities for embezzlement and other forms of fraud. Taxation is based on income, with higher percentages owed by the wealthy and less by the poor, who may also offer equivalent barter in payment. By law, reports on amounts received by the March's tax collectors must be made on a regular basis, and each year the March produces a document outlining how taxes have been spent, available for the public's perusal. Taxes are in majority used to fund defense, public works, education, and medical services.

More added soon!