Realm Overview

The Meadowlands

The Meadowlands consists of seven provinces in the northern half of the main continent. The realm is based around a large river that runs through most of its provinces. The people are a very tolerant goodly bunch of Rjurik. Raiding seems to be entirely unknown to these people, having left that legacy behind in Cerilia. The capital is the inland province of Rolling Meadows, although many assume it is Wavecrest since that is most people's first contact with the Meadowlands.

The provinces of the Meadowlands tend towards having a number of large towns, and a lot of small towns, although there are very few "villages", leaving much of the region as wilderness. The towns all have a longhouse as the central structure for government, and it provides housing for the poor, travellers, or those who are moving or have recently moved. It is customary to have communal meals at the longhouse at least weekly, although some of the larger towns, particularily in Wavecrest, can no longer accomodate all the citizens in the longhouse.

Roughly 100,000 Rjurik humans live in the Meadowlands. They originated from Svinik, Rjuven and Stjordvik in the Taelshore region of Cerilia. While there are many farmers among them, and the well-irrigated land is good for farming, many Rjurik traditionalists stick to animal husbandry. Among these shepards, large dogs are commonly used to protect their herds and keep them organized. Even among farmers, most families have a dog, although they are less common in the towns.

Law

Law enforcement is generally strict, although the punishments for minor offenses are relatively minor. Notable laws include a number of provisions protecting women and animals from harm and against theft. Men have less legal rights, being expected to exercise their manhood appropriately to defend themselves. Nobles do not generally enjoy significantly better legal protections then commoners.

Numerous Meadowlands natives have found homes in neighboring realms and a large number of them work in Law, giving Meadowlands a small degree of influence in those areas.

Faith

The nobility have largely embraced the way of life the Church of Joy promotes, while some of the more rural areas are affiliated with the Pantheon's Human League's religious ideas. So far, there has been no religious conflict in the realm.

Commerce

Ore from the mountains of Mt. Prospect, Galena and Palatine fuels the local economy, while the forests of Inverness and Hidden Springs provide much needed building materials. A variety of deals with friendly and not-so-friendly neighbors has resulted in a slight diversification of commercial interests in Meadowlannds, although the Crown control's the largest share of trade and commerce in the realm. There are frequent demands from the merchants classes and merchant-friendly neighbors to diversify the State Guild's even further. The entire domain is connected by an expansive road network.

Army

The military of the Meadowlands was once one of the largest in the region, although a lack of new equipment and recruitment challenges have seen its military ranking decline in recent years. Militia training is regular, and all able bodied males are eligible for service.

Archers, Scouts and Infantry make up the core of the Meadowlands army, likely as it does all Diasporic armies. One thing that makes Meadowlands armies unique is that they travel with their dogs, many of whom wear spiked barding.

Navy

The small professional navy of the Meadowlands has two responsibilities, commerce protection and troop transport. While the Meadowlands lacks the large shipyards needed to build massive navies, it has a large enough navy to contribute decisively to its allies in wartime, and to deter half-hearted aggression from Naval powers. Extended naval combat would be risky to local commerce, however.

Education

The school and gymnasium in Rolling Meadows has ensured the first generation of petty nobility from the Meadowlands is highly educated, with near universal literacy. This is no doubt a contibuting factor in the strong tax infrastructure of the Meadowlands. Many foreign youth also attend, as the tuition for age 5 to 14 is a mere gold bar for all 9 years. Graduates of the Rolling Meadows educational system learn another language, full literacy, and gain basic knowledge of Tracking, Engineering and Gem Cutting.

Diplomacy

Royal Marriages: Annuvin, House Llyrandor,Saemund the Learned, Cariele, Rzeczpospolita Polskabr
Defensive Alliances: The Central Alliance
Vassals: Cariele, Baragha Korda

The Meadowlands first war began in the spring on the 28th year of the Diaspora. Defending the property rights of a Central Alliance member brought the Meadowlands to war against Annuvin. Annuvin promptly invaded Baragha Korda, who had just sworn fealty to the Meadowlands. The early phase of the war was a massive naval battle which was slightly in the Central Alliance's favor.

Decrees

Year 21, Month 4 of Diaspora
Hope, firstborn daughter of Valen, is hereby granted the hereditary title of Countess of Inverness.
Year 16, Month 6 of Diaspora
Mass extermination of civilians is entirely unnaceptable. Any attempted exterminations of humans, elves, dwarves, or halflings of Cerilian descent will be regarded as a valid cause for war.
Year 12, Month 2 of Diaspora
In preparation for the upcoming Winterfest to be held in Wavecrest, Meadowlands Valen orders a two week holiday period throughout the province. There will be daily feasts and entertainment provided to all.

Heraldry

The heraldry of the Meadowlands contains three spearheads. The spear is Valen's chosen weapon. Occasional heraldry featuring a canine is also popular. It has been said the white chevron represents the river that runs through the Meadowlands. White is the color of life and the river gives life surely. The dark fields represents the soil and the transition of the Rjurik from herding to agriculture.

Personalities of the Meadowlands

King Valen

Valen is the Kingdom's founder and ruler. He is a very physically powerful and charismatic figure. Passionate and heroic, he provides a model for other Rjurik men of the Meadowlands to aspire to. He has dozens of children, no more then a few with any one woman. Valen still looks young, perhaps a vestige of Sidhe blood or a blood ability.

Countess Hope Inverness

Hope is Valen's eldest daughter and first-born child. She studied magic at the elven Academy before joining the court as his first native-born lieutenant. She rules the province of Inverness as its administrative Countess. In the 26th year of the Diaspora, she married Janek of Rzeczpospolita Polska, who joined her at Inverness.

General Alfred

Alfred is one of Valen's sons and a formidable warrior. His natural talents at military organization, training, and strategy ensured his appointment as General in the Meadowlands army. He leads the armies in King Valen's absence, or assists in training and battle deployments as needed.

Astrid Freyrdotter

Astrid is one of the most beautiful Rjurik women in the Meadowlands. It is no wonder she is mother to several of Valen's children. She is also the court Skald and Lorekeeper.

Bjorn Larsen

Bjorn is Valen's first lieutenant. He joined Valen before they departed Cerilia. With the loss of the old Gods, Bjorn began to worship Valen's spark of divinity. The sole priest of Valenism, he keeps watch over Valen's health and wellness while handling many administrative duties for the King.

Prince Fulgar Meadows

Valen's fourth child and second son, Fulgar is the Prince of the Meadowlands. He spends most of time at the Academy of Joy learning the full measure of Joy. It is not known what sort of ruler he would be, as he has no presence at court.

Offa

Valen's fifth son, Offa has a modest talent for magic. He trained at the Sidhe academy of joy, and is now frequently seen in Mt. Prospect. Rumor has it he will be made Count of Mt. Prospect. He has certainly borrowed on that rumor.

Aedilthryd

Aedilthryd is one of Valen's daughters, and a skilled hunter and tracker. She is widely known for challenging her older brother in many things, and generally besting him as an attempt to wrest heir status from him. She has taken "joy" very lightly compared to many of her siblings, and is more focused on the responsibilities that are already hers and what else might become hers rather then any personal sense of pleasure.

At other courts

Many of Valen's childrens have been married and or have left the Meadowlands. Abeodan was recruited as a lieutenant by Daene the Bastard. Bretta married Saemund the Learned. Rowena married Daene. Wulf and Glory both married Rhyel's children and moved to the elven lands to better support their spouses' roles. Glory married Arrawn's son and moved to Annuvin.