Kingdom of Govria

Form of government:

Unitary and Absolute Monarchy. The kingdom is ruled by Artani dynasty for two centuries. The country is divided in five Major provinces and two Minor provinces. Their names are:

Major provinces:

* Poulli. Capital city: Menesca.
* Oscia. Capital city: Nubiria
* Ofnolia. Capital city: Mangaria
* Fuaquol. Capital city: Albe.
* Tlasca. Capital city: Artigovia

Minor provinces:

* Tupinal. Capital city: Closta. Includes the territory surrounding Marsaul, Closta and Luore.
* Isle of Tenseiz. Capital city: Tenseiz.

Provinces are ruled by a Governor, designated by the King. This governor is the only representative of the King in each province. He (or she) is the responsible of all the govern tasks in his province, excepting the competencies that are only for the king: declare war, foreign policy, army and navy leadership, last appeal court (the own king is the that judge), coinage and a few others. The governor elects mayors, local courts, police leaders, collects taxes and etc.

In Artigovia there exist a "senate", a group of 60 senators who form a kind of parliament. They are 10 senators from each major provinces and 5 for each minor ones. They are elected directly by the king. Its function is helping the king, drawing up laws and acts, etc. This senate has not a real power: the king is who decides everything, the one who could change any act performed by governors and senators.


Govrian people

Govrians are normal humans. Their ancestors were a tribe part of a people called Nurabyest, a race of Nordic appearance. That old people was conquered by the powerful and now collapsed Empire of Tanansi. Nurabyest people lost their language and adopted the one of Tanansi, but they maintained part of their tribal organisation. When the Empire was divided in several kingdoms, the old Nurabyest created four kingdoms, that fought for long years against a new Empire formed in the South. When one of that kingdoms, Ghergaria, was about to collapse, a tribe called Govri, that "worked" as pirates, fled from Ghergaria and sailed to a set of three far islands in the north, inhabited by a strange race of dwarfs. Govrians defeated twice the native armies and created a kingdom that conquered the greater part of the biggest isle.

Govrians are tall. Average men height is about 6 feet and women's one is about 5' 8". They are very fair skinned, with blond hair and blue-eyed, although there are some govrians with green eyes, brown hair or, exceptionally, with black hair. No red-haired govrians are known.

Govrian population is about 16,500. Near of the half part lives in Artigovia (4,200) and Albe (3,000). Must be remarked that Artigovia is the biggest harbour of the kingdom. The second one is Albe harbour. In Artigovia, law is obeyed the most that govrian way of life lets. Albe, and the entire province of Fuaquol is almost a lawless land. Seona is a "camp-city".


Govrian Army

Talking about govrian army is the same to talk about king's army. The govrian army is a professional one and it is divided in "legions":

* Legion I or Artigovia Legion. Composed of 600 soldiers, including pikemen, heavy infantry (swordsmen), light infantry and archers.

* Legion II or Artigovia Cavalry Legion. Composed of 100 elite knights. They are the best fighters of the whole island.

* Legion III or Artigovia Distant Legion. 300 soldiers that are usually serving as mercenaries out of the kingdom. They are a very important income for the King and a way to train the professional army of Govria.

* Legion IV or Seona Legion. Composed of 600 soldiers. The duty of this legion is facing an hypothetical invasion from Hakol. It is composed of the toughest and cruelest soldiers of Govria. They hate hakols and hakols hate the Seona Legion.

There exist four small auxiliary units, composed by scouts and "harriers" (light infantry whose combat technic is attacking the enemy and fleeing immediately, in order to disorganize the enemy formation) which are semi-professional.

In case of invasion, the governors can recruit a provincial "militia", but as govrians does not have anything similar to the military service of Hakol, these units are not very reliable in a true battle.

Govrian Navy is composed of ten galleons, and it is very effective.

Depending on the Legion, a 5%-10% of members are women. Usually, they serve as archers, but some of them form part of the light infantry or even, of the heavy infantry.


Overall Govrian military strategy

The only potential enemy is the Republic of Hakol. It is very unlikely that hakols try to invade Govria, but the auxiliary scouts of Legion IV are permanently guarding the frontier with Hakol. In case of hakol invasion, Legion IV would intercept and attack the invading army, aided by the militia of Albe. Legion IV and Albe militias are the toughest of Govria and both of them are famous for their cruelty.

In the unlikely case of a defeat of Legion IV, Legions I and II and a strong militia from Artigovia and Mieni will attack the enemy.

It is extremely unlikely that Govria could be attacked from the mainland. In that case, they would fight the enemy in the sea. No plans exist for defending Govria of enemy landings. Only, concentrating the troops in a big army capable of defeat any single enemy unit.


Govrian society

Govrian people main feature is that they are sailors. Govrians are very progressive and open-minded. They think that the survival of their kingdom depends on earning money outside their island. Although Govria produces al the food that the population needs, they buy and sell goods in the mainland. Govria is a small country, so govrians understand that some goods must be buy to more powerful kingdoms. They feel that their ability for sail is the one that let them to found their kingdom, and the main tool for giving it a future.

For the average govrian, law is something that you have to obey because if you do not do, you will be punished. By this, govrians love to find ways to violate laws in a way in which they will not be able to punish them. They love specially mistakes in the legislation that can be used for take advantage. The dark side is that public servants are corrupt and they usually accept or, even, require bribes. Govrian are avaricious: they can do dangerous or humiliating things if they feel themselves well paid. Although they are industrious if the kingdom is under threat, they do not feel that the work is something valuable by itself, only a way for earning money.

Their greediness, their love for sailing, for earning money, for despising law and for "good life" do not like to hakols who consider govrians as "pirates", capable of doing any mean or weird thing in exchange of a few coins.

Between govrians, women's status is only a little bit inferior to men's status. Govrian women have the same rights that men: they can work, earn money, travel freely and possess land or houses. However, the men usually possess almost all the lands and houses and they earn and have much more money than women. That is due to the fact that men are more appreciated for the more dangerous and lucrative activities. The soldiers and officers are usually men. Explorers, sailors and ship owners are men. In theory, women can aspire to access the same jobs than men do, in reality, everything is more difficult for women. However, it is not surprising that the king elects a woman for being a governor or a mayor: it is uncommon but if happens sometimes.

Regarding to love, relationships and sex, govrians are very liberal. Sex between single persons is tolerated and it is uncommon to wait to the wedding for having sex. In parties, men and women can mingle without restrictions.


Govrian religion

Govrian are not religious. The official religion is an animistic-like set of beliefs. They worship to a set of spirits of nature and to another set of more powerful spirits, or gods. Although all the cities and villages in Govria have a temple, these temples are usually small and only a minor part of population celebrate regular religious rites. Usually, Govrians only visit the temples in weddings or funerals.

The more usual rite is lighting a candle and paying a coin to the temple when somebody is going to start a long travel by ship or when the person is worried for something.


Appendix

I) Rough population of govrian cities and villages:

Province of Poulli

Menesca 1,100
Urbosi 100
Lungatus 200

Province of Oscia.

Nubiria 1,200
Lacus 500

Province of Ofnolia.

Mangaria 1,000
Malgate 800

Province of Fuaquol.

Albe 3,000
Seona 1,000
Luanta 200

Province of Tlasca.

Artigovia 4,200
Mieni 1,100
Bruse  900
Plae 200

Province of Tupinal

Closta 350
Marsaul 150
Luore 200

Isle of Tenseiz

Tenseiz 300

TOTAL: 16,500


II) Size of govrian armies

Legion I: 600 soldiers plus 50 auxiliary solders.

Legion II: 100 knights plus 50 auxiliary soldiers.

Legion III: 300 soldiers plus 100 auxiliary soldiers.

Legion IV: 600 soldiers and 100 auxiliary soldiers.