Guinevere (Country)

## Guinevere

### Export(s)

Ale, arms, cloth, enchanted goods, fish, fruit, furnishings, grain, jewelry, leather, livestock, stone

## Politics

### Government

Monarchy - King Uriel and Queen Lowangen

Various Duchies

**Guinevere**, located in the center of Vitaria, is as battle-worn as it is plentiful. Guinevere's kindhearted rulers have made it prosperous and welcoming, but because of this, the country has many enemies that seek to conquer it.

## Customs and Culture

Guinevere is mainly comprised of grasslands, plains, and forests, and it is known for its towering castles and sturdy, well-built cities. The country's soil is rich, making it a prime location for agriculture and raising livestock, and many citizens are farmers.

Many people see Guinevere as a place of opportunity, since there are all kinds of professions across the many cities and towns. The people of Guinevere are generally accepting of anyone, regardless of culture or social status, and it is easily possible to obtain wealth and live comfortably through hard work and perseverance.

Both the country and its capital share the same name, and the capital is the biggest center of commerce in the world. Ycantha has many temples dedicated to Her in the capital, moreso than anywhere else in Vitaria.

Guinevere is home to many organizations of all kinds, from groups of rogues, mages, defenders of the people, bounty hunters, and more, and many of them work behind the scenes. The Red Fist is one notable organization, formed exclusively of monks that serve as armed guards and assassins.

While the people of Guinevere live fairly easily, there is an underlying worry among them, since they are in center of their three neighboring countries. Cor Anara and Hinode's conflict, and the threat of Eth'leen's dangerous flora and fauna spilling over are very real threats. Treaties are negotiated often, changing deals, plans, and events, and

## The Practice of Magic

Magic is widely studied in Guinevere, and the country boasts a number of schools and laboratories. Many influential mages reside all across the country, practicing their arcane arts in the hope of making new discoveries and earning an entry in magical encyclopedias and documents. Guineverian mages are often highly competitive, and do their best to make a discovery or breakthrough before their rivals. The various actions of the more well-known mages are popular gossip among Guineverian nobles.

The capital's Academy of Magic is incredibly prestigious, and graduating from it carries with it a number of perks and great respect. The school is infamous among its students for its attendance policy, requiring them to exclusively stay within the school's walls for their first three years, before they are allowed to leave once in a while during their fourth. Despite this, the Academy of Magic possesses a thorough curriculum for almost all of the magical fields of study known in the world, and many students, themselves, have experienced breakthroughs while in attendance.

Arcanists are commonly found in Guineverian cities, since the abundance of wealth makes it easy for them to obtain items and reagents needed for their craft. Many Arcanists own their own businesses in Guinevere, where they sell magical wares or offer to enchant items brought in by their customers.

## Government and Economy

King Uriel and Queen Lowangen Valendis are Guinevere's current rulers, and they are well known for being kindhearted and fair. They truly care for themselves, their people, and their lands, and they spend much time keeping the peace between the warring nations that surround them. The King and Queen possess difficult jobs, but their love for each other, along with the assistance of their Guardians and Magisters, help them keep peace throughout the country.

While the King and Queen possess the firm and final law, the lands of Guinevere are organized into nine Duchies, arranged roughly on a three by three grid. The royal family periodically sends regents to check on the Duchies, making sure they have everything they need and are doing well. Electing a new Duke or Duchess is a very formal affair, with the Duchy's peoples' vote counting as one point, the King and Queen's vote counting as the second, and a sign of the Gods as the third. Elections are a very grand and formal affair, and are a large source of excitement for both nobles and commoners alike.

## List of Guineverian Duchies

* **Lion Duchy** - Central Guinevere, where the capital is located. King Damon, the first King of Guinevere, named this Duchy in honour of Llymayn.
* **Owl Duchy** - Northern Guinevere, ruled by Duchess Isaire Berenna. Duchess Isaire is an escaped slave from Cor Anara, who has fought tirelessly for her people in Vea's name. Her Duchy shares its border with the Frozen North, and is almost always covered in snow. The Owl Duchy's people are fairly hardy from living so close to dangerous conditions.
* **Horse Duchy** - Northeastern Guinevere, ruled by Duke Adam Vimmarck, a Shadewalker. The members of the Horse Duchy are usually quiet and keep to themselves, but they are excellent allies to have, evident by their assistance in the liberation of the nearby town, Hillside.
* **Hawk Duchy** - Eastern Guinevere, ruled by Duke Casper Herrian. Sharing its border with Hinode, the Hawk Duchy boasts proud people, famous for their acceptance of other cultures.
* **Wolf Duchy** - Southeastern Guinevere, ruled by Duke Arim Iember, a Bard famous for his silver tongue. The Wolf Duchy is almost single-handedly focused on keeping peace between Cor Anara and Hinode, since they often send spies and small armies into this Duchy as discreet attempts to avoid their respective border. Life in the Wolf Duchy is incredibly difficult, due to the large number of dangerous demons that seemingly appear out of nowhere.
* **Bear Duchy** - Southern Guinevere, run by Duke Xayin Pearce's son, Marquess Riel. Duke Pearce's wife has been murdered, and he himself was stricken with a mysterious illness. Because of this, Duke Pearce has been magically sleeping for over five years, despite all healing and medicinal attempts. The Marquess is doing his best to rule, but his inexperience is proving the endeavor difficult.
* **Fox Duchy** - Southwestern Guinevere, ruled by Duke Whemont Caalisian IV. The Fox Duchy is home to the Guineverian Royal Research College, which focuses on magical research and Eldyrian ruins. Duke Caalisian, a famous Scholar before he was elected, considers the College his greatest work, and its members are known for their fascination with time travel.
* **Shark Duchy** - Western Guinevere and at the edge of the Waking Sea, the Shark Duchy is ruled by Duchess Mara Wingsem. Rumoured to be a pirate, Duchess Wingsem nonetheless commands the respect of her people. Although she is incredibly secretive, her people, and thus, Guinevere as a whole, are very prosperous because of her knowledge of trade routes, sea charts, and avoiding the natural dangers of the seas.
* **Falcon Duchy** - Northwestern Guinevere, the Falcon Duchy is governed by Duchess Rosalie Grey. Due to a great deal of this Duchy occupied by the Greying Mountains, explorers often journey to the Falcon Duchy in hopes of uncovering Eldyrian ruins.

## Notable Cities and Locations

* **Berholven** - One of the largest cities in Guinevere, located in the Hawk Duchy. Most of Berholven's citizens worship Trestae, and the city contains one of largest temples to Her on the continent. Berholven is a port city built around several dams, and specializes in imports, exports, and fishing.
* **Bosmarr** - Capital of the Owl Duchy, Bosmarr is located at the cusp of the Frozen North. The city is protected by a powerful amulet blessed by Ishtan, Himself, which provides warmth and holds the freezing cold at bay.
* **Brismonth** - A large, fortified city in the Hawk Duchy. Many guards are stationed there, where they keep the peace between Cor Anaran and Hinodean forces.
* **Caer Pellean** - A large harbour town on the Waking Sea. Through Caer Pellean, goods are shipped to and from Eth'leen, and the city is a vital aspect to Guinevere's prosperity. Because of this, Caer Pellean is infamous for its trouble with pirates.
* **Dawnhold** - A monastery on the tallest peak of the Greying Mountains, Dawnhold is home to a small group of Scions of the Sun. The Scions keep to themselves, but have been known to accept new members eager to study their secluded ways.
* **Greycrest** - A village east of Berholven, in the Hawk Duchy. It is known for its growing of herbs and vast pastures.
* **Guinevere** - The capital of the selfsame country, Guinevere boasts over one million citizens and is headed by Castle Guinevere, a remarkable structure at the top of the King's Road. Home to three districts, its own personal military, the Guardians, and its royal archmages, the Magisters, Guinevere is a proud city and one of the pinnacles of modern culture. Many citizens see the city as a wonderful opportunity and a chance to meet new people and pursue one's dreams.
* **Hillside** - Located in the Horse Duchy of northeastern Guinevere, half of Hillside crosses the border of the Frozen North. Hillside is an ominous place with a dark past, and it currently remains unoccupied, due to the death of its citizens by an evil force that has since retreated.
* **Lion's Breath** - This city serves as a checkpoint right after crossing the Great Bridge of Hinode's Kirakira Lake. Both Guineverian and Hinodean culture mix here, creating a unique culture all its own. Lion's Breath is part of the Hawk Duchy, ruled by Duke Herrian, a Bishop dedicated to Eikor.
* **Nordvest** - Head city of the Fox Duchy, Nordvest is home to the majority of Guinevere's scholars and Eldyrian researchers. Additionally, it is guarded by the Hand of Eikor, a small group of Saint Knights and Templars that have vowed to defend the city in His sake. Nordvest boasts the largest temple dedicated to Eikor in the world.
* **Renquest** - Located near the capital in the Lion Duchy, Renquest is a smaller town, formerly led by Sister Rosalin, a Favoured of Vea. The town is now led her two closest friends, Dean and Jessup, while they work to rebuild it with the aid of the capital.
* **Suldana** - Located near Hillside, Suldana is a quiet rural city. Suldana is led by Duke Adam Vimmarck, and his archmage, Chandra Fetten. Duke Adam and Chandra aided in the liberation of Hillside, freeing it from the icy grip of an unknown force masquerading as an advisor.
* **Remmens' Ward** - A city beloved by Alchemists and Potionmasters, Remmens' Ward was built over a series of Ancient Eldyrian ruins that have since been picked clean. New alchemical discoveries are being pursued constantly here, and reagents are being imported in as quickly as they are being used.