Calix

A map showing Calix (green) in relation to the rest of Glirelle (grey)

Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Calix

### Noteable people

- Sir Guille "le batard des tours" Dugraal. Champion of the Lady, King of the kingdom of Calix and Duke of East Calix. Knight of the Grail
- Anara Dugraal. Princess of Calix, Damsel of the Lady

- Ria ✝ Queen Consort

- Aleric Dural

## History

### Founded

149 OWC (Unification of Calix)68 NGC (Declaration of Independence)

### Preceded by

Empire of Glirelle (Duchy of Calix)

Calix is a **kingdom** in **Eastern Glirelle**, comprising of 4 **Dukedoms**; **Equitaine, The Fjord, Valles** and the **Maris**. According to the Calixian customs, The King is chosen by a **witan** made up of the Four dukes and five most influential knights from each **dukedom**.

Calix's political capital is **Sainte-Dame**, the primary residence of the Elected King of Calix. Although many still consider **East Calix** the Capital as it had been for many years.

## History

**- Calixian Tribes (***OWC 300-250***)**

The heritage of the people of Calix originated from a land to the east of the continent. They were made up of several nomad tribes who fled their homeland after what was called the **great orc calamity**, wherein a large orc force rampaged through the land destroying hearth and home. The **Caluxi**, seeking land free from the green-skinned plague, fled to **Glirelle**, and settled in the land that would be Calix. The tribes settled in different territories. And would in time make up the dukedoms that still reign in Calix today. Though orc attacks followed from across the sea, they were fewer in number. Each village of the Caluxi would choose the strongest individual, feed him the best food, and treat him to the nicest home and women, and his duty would be to defend their land to the death. This was the origin of the **Knights of Calix**, and would be the foundation of Calix as a whole.

**- Societal Reform (***OWC 251-150***)**

Taking inspiration from its neighboring kingdoms, Calixian society would form away from tribal culture into a feudalist society. Merging the nobility structure of the developing world, with their own values on justice and chivalry imbued in them by their worship of their patron Goddess, The Lady of the Lake, the values of what was Calixian Knighthood would set them apart from others on the continent baring the same title.

**- Unification of Calix (***OWC 149***)**

Calix would be formed during the age of its first King, **Louen Calix,** and his first errantry against the orcs. Uniting the territories of calix into one unified kingdom. After a successful crusade the leaders of each territory, **Calix, Foster, Maris, and Niln** would unite under the first King of Calix, thus pushing calixian culture further within its borders.

**- Unification of Glirelle (***OWC 11-0***)**

Under the threat of invasion from the **Repherian Empire**, **King Edward Calix** bent the knee to **King Reginald  Gervaise** in his quest to unify Glirelle in preparation for a full-scale assault. The former King was granted the title of Duke in this newly founded empire, and was merged into the fold with the rest of Glirelle.

**- War of Repheria (***NGC 1-46***)**

Many knights of Calix took part in the front lines during the war against the repherian empire. Similar to most this was a costly war that left the duchy in ruin. They were defeated in the war and lost the blessing of the **Lady of the Lake**. which would not be gained again until the time of **King Guille Dugraal.**

**- Calixian Rebirth** (NGC 47-59)

With the growing discourse with the High king of Glirelle, Calix, like other duchies grew tired of the lack of leadership from the kingdoms capital. Gregory Calix, Duke of Calix, refused to make a move against the king despite his peoples discontent. After hosting a Failed diplomatic meeting with Glirelle seperatists, the Duke would be killed in single combat by knight challenger Guille Dugraal, who would go on to become the next Duke of Calix.

**-Glirelle Civil War (***NGC 60-65***)**

Under the reign of **Sir Guille**, Calix would establish a front against an invasion led by Asmodean of Aldair and southern allies. Defending neutral regions from Aldairian occupation. Aldair would attempt an assassination attempt on Sir Guillle, which would fail at the cost of Guilles personal guard.

**-Great Independence (***NGC 68-71***)**

Calix, along with Nordheim, would become the first nation to declare its independence from greater Glirelle, causing a chain event of other nations doing the same. The Glirellian Empire would officially absolve in the year 71, and Aldair would be forced to halt its advance.

**-Re-establishment (***NGC 72-81***)**

King Guille established a foothold on a continent in the east, where they launch Errantries against savage orc tribes, and establish trade routes with other regions, bolstering the Calixian economy. This would act as a cold war era between Calix and Aldair.

**-Re-ignited war efforts (***NGC 81-85***)**

Calix would take part in diplomatic relations with Ladiria, in an attempt to set a "rules of war" to establish basic protections for minor kingdoms. When negotiations failed Aldair began reinvesting its forces on its northern border with Ladiria. In response to an act of aggresion, Calix would again declare an Errantry into Aldair, accompanied by Ladiria.

**-Re-establishment (***NGC 86-87***)**

Through this military campaign, Aldair would be forced back to its original borders and a peace accord would be signed, with King Guille backing princess Aenesa's claim to the throne. Calix, following the accord, would help Aldair generate a greater economic production in its lands in exchange for the complete abolishment of Slavery. Calix would take the freed nations as Vassals until they felt ready to declare their own independence. Later they would take part in diplomacy during Nordheims invasion of Aramore.

#### **Notable conflicts**

Siege of Slywallow, Siege of Artis, Glirellian Civil War, Siege of Calsely

## **Economy**

### **Currency**

Minted in Calix is the **Calixian Gillie.** The gold coin variant, the **Gold Gillie** as most in Glirelle, weighs around one ounce. Similarly designed silver coins, called a **Silver Gillie** are also minted, and are valued at 1/64 Gold Gillie. These coins have been in use since the kingdoms declaration of independence in the year 68.

### **Agriculture**

Calix is composed of a great many plains, with rich in nutrient soil. As such they have developed a keen eye for farming large quantities of grains and vegetation. Calix's primary trade goods are Wheat, Barley, and Rye, making up over 40% of the total grain production in Glirelle.

### **Errantries**

As grains alone cannot build a mass amount of wealth for an entire kingdom, Calix makes use of its knight based military to host Errantries(crusades) into other regions of the known world. Here they amass wealth in the forms of raw materials, arms and armours, and whatever else they acquire from the battlefield. Upon their return home, what they cannot make use of themselves, they trade to Arkaly, who has highly efficient means to rework materials into useful goods at a low price. The two have become highly valuable trade partners to one another over the years.

## Society

### **Women of Calix**

**Women** in Calix are considered to be **blessed**, as they share a special relationship with the  **Lady**. Women are usually given higher value lives then men due to this, so are not usually put into **military positions** that may cause harm or forced to work the field. Though they may do so.

### **Class Divide**

Calix is separated into two very distinct **classes**, **Peasants** and **merchants** who work the crop and trade goods, and **knights** and **priestesses** who train the sword and preach the **Lady's word**. Any individual, if they are worthy, can become a knight, likewise a knight may lay down arms to work he field. A peasant is to pay his liege lord no more than **90%** of their crop yield, at the discretion of his reigning **lord**, to be distributed across the land. In return they get a wider variety of **food and protection**.

### **Knighthood**

Knighthood is held in the highest esteem in Calix. A knight will protect his lands and his people from any and all threats, at the cost of their lives. Even the lowest of knights in calix vastly out skill the ordinary warrior. The combined **vows** of the knights' order are as follows.

"With my shield, I will Protect, with my sword I will destroy. To Defend the weak, to uphold the good. This I vow. No Evil shall stand before me. No injustice shall escape me. I will uphold the Light, For the Lady and my Liege. When the Clarion calls I will ride with vigorous might. Honor is all, Chivalry is all. Rejoice, for we, the Knights of Calix... will be your shield".

#### **Knights Errant**

Knights Errant form the backbone of the army of Calix. These knights fill the roll of heavy cavalry, guardsmen of high value locations, and Household knights pledged to superior lords.

#### **Knights of the Realm**

KOTR are proven knights granted land and lordship for themselves and their family. These knights maintain a higher degree of command and political skill than their Errant counterparts.

#### **Questing Knights**

Some knights may lay down their lance and titles to take on the Grail Quest, a noble pilgrimage of the Cult of the Lady, where in they search the land for danger in hopes of winning the Lady's favour for a chance to drink from the **Grail**

#### **Grail Knights**

demigod like beings who have drank from the Lady’s grail are known as Grail knights. Very few survive the ordeal, as only the most uncorrupted and pure hearts can drink of the Grail and survive. Currently there reside 12 Grail knights in Calix. The highest ranking is King Guille himself.

### **Religion**

The people of Calix are devout followers of the **Cult of the Lady**. Blessed by the **Lady of the Lake** with at times **supernatural** abilities for her most devout followers, the Calixians take great pride in their religion and defend it with their lives. The Lady is the goddess of **nobility** and **purity**, and is the **patron goddess** of Calix. The Cult of the Lady is preached by women possessing foresight  known as **Damsels**, who spread the word of the Lady across the land and advise those they deem worthy. It is the dream of every knight to sip from the Lady's grail and be bestowed with godly power.

Although the worship of other religions are not banned, public practice is forbidden outside of approved holidays, in which case the practices must be kept within approved grounds. Failure to comply can lead to fines at the discretion of the governing lord.

## **Government and Military**

**Military**

Calix makes use of a simple but effective military structure relying on level of Noble Prestige to determine the soldiers position within the army. Footmen and Knights are recruited by their superior lord, and given command by the highest ranking noble within the army, and ordered by their lords appointed structure.

Calix uses a variety of knight classes in combat. Shock Cavalry makes use of lances and the lance formation unique to Calix to break formations. Greatsword and sword and shield cavalry are trained to place and hold in melee. The role of light cavalry is taken on by yeomen, who are each trained in bow and spear combat, filling the roles considered non chivalrous, such as scouting and running down fleeing enemies.

A **General** within Calix is a Duke commander of an army. This is the highest Rank within an army. Following this is a **Knight Commander**, who is a Count, Baron, or Lord commanding an army or a regiment within an army taking part in a **Calixian Lance Formation.**

A special case is the **Castellan**, who can be of noble or non-noble status, who is charged with the Defense of a Castle.

The remaining army is commanded by **Yeoman Sergeants**, who are given command of Squire, Men-at-arms and Archer units. These units are often disorganized as infantry is seen as a lesser combat form than professionally trained lance formations.

### **Monarchy**

Calix is a monarchal feudalist society, wherein land is granted to nobles as a **knights fee** to provide for their military exploits and the costs to raise an army. In return they will answer the **call of the King** should he beckon. The current ruling family is Dugraal, with the head being **King Guille Dugraal.** More commonly known as **Sir Guille**. The king of calix is voted by a group of nobles, made up of the four **Dukes,** and three most influential **knights** from each dukedom. This voting tends to follow bloodlines but is not restricted by them, as seen when Sir Guille is voted in by the witan despite not being of **noble blood.**