Lagoria

Lagoria is a small kingdom in Iber that has been struggling to assert itself on the peninsula against myriad opposition, from the Gallians to the Karthacks of Nisperada, to the attempts at conquest by vikings from the north, first seeking plunder, now fleeing the Branded Zells.
Lagoria's claim to fame is its swordsmen, and its exquisite steelwork. Lagorian blades are the finest in Vosca, and Lagorian blademasters, perhaps as well.
This may be tied partially to the culture of dueling that pervades both the upper and lower orders of the kingdom, and the scientific approach to it that has been taken by the nobility, while the peasantry prefer a more holistic and brutish method. 
The synthesis of these two mindsets creates terrifyingly capable swashbucklers, whose services are in demand across Vosca.
Lagoria's wars are highly mobile out of necessity. Set-piece battles are unusual, with small skirmishes and meetings of patrols being the most common. When large battles do take place, they tend to be the culmination of years of maneuver, and the light horse of Lagoria dismount to fight largely as infantry with pikes and swords. Their knights prefer the lance, as the Gallians do, but many horsemen besides them use the javelin, something that has largely fallen out of favor in the rest of the continent. Lagorian courage is widely respected, though there is also a reputation for foolheartiness and recklessness.
Aside from war, Lagorian dueling culture has connected several distant countries together at the edge of a sword, so to speak. The Nine Schools of Krajina, the Dacian Academies, The Brotherhood of St. Hector in Kasel, the Rossi School in Illegon, and countless others convene their finest in Lagoria's capital at Ponpiedra, where great tournaments of skill are fought.
Before battle, Lagorians will pour coffee over their blades, to awaken the steel. 
== An Average Life ==
The average Lagorian lives on a farm, one of many watched over by a fortress-abbey. He works his crops (wheat, thanks to the fertile soil of Lagoria and the grace of God) and grows a fine collection of fruits from the many trees planted by his grandfathers upon retaking the land from the Karthacks. He eats many of these fruits, loquats, oranges and peaches, and fine white bread. Sometimes he enjoys cured ham, or skewers of rabbit roasted over open fire when drinking with his friends.
He is a competent swordsman, having been practicing from an early age, and he continues to practice with his friends in their free time. He also spends a great deal of time at church, attending a mass every morning and sometimes more than once a day. He is deeply devout, knowing that he owes much to Genosus for his rich harvests, good soil and good king. His Priest also ferments excellent wine, and shares it with the faithful on feast-days.
He will marry young, and will place a great importance on his firstborn, who will be given the most, first, in all things. As he ages, he will teach his sons how to fight, and gradually hand off his many possessions to them. As he ages, he may join a monastery, leaving his wife behind to manage the family in his stead as he pursues matters of the spirit.
When he dies, he will be buried in the abbey's graveyard, and a little monolith of brick and mortar will be crafted for him by his friends and family. His sword will be given to his firstborn son, who will swear to uphold the family's honor with it. If the sword is ever broken, it too will be given a burial next to the oldest member of the family who was known to have wielded it, and a new sword will be made using some component of the old one, if possible.
Category:Countries
Category:Iber