Midheld

Midheld is a corporation-based nation, located in Central Aleria.

## Society

### Culture and Customs

The corporatocracy of Midheld has seeped into the fibers of each individual in the nation. This has caused a strict "work first" mentality among the middle class, so they rarely take days off to relax, while the lower class is forced into work in order to simply survive. So the upper class is the only real group that can and does take a load off, and they generally do so on pleasure yachts in the bay, enjoying a performance at the theater, or watching various contests in the city, particularly Siegeball matches and colosseum fights.

Everything in Midheld is based on ceremony. Each form signed, each notarized document, each business meeting has a certain ceremony to it. It can be very easy to screw up any of these things, and most Midhelders will get offended if these ceremonies aren't observed properly.

> All people must fend for themselves. If you're poor, then you clearly have not worked hard enough in life. Figure it out yourself.
>
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The people of Midheld generally don't keep pets, as they believe that animals are for work, not for pleasure.

Funerals in Midheld are quick and straightforward. The bodies are interred in catacombs built under their cities or in graveyards. Family gets up to three days off of work to mourn.

Once the home of some of the greatest sculptors known, Midheld's artistic production is barely even a thing anymore. The old sculptures still stand in city squares and museums, of course, but the few new ones produced these days sell for barely a gold.

### Religion

As a whole, Midheld is not exceedingly religious. Some farmers say prayers to Mazraea, some miners may pray to Errimdor, Altumnia, or even the lesser gods of the mountains, but temples are scarce and belief in (and reverence for) the gods is lower here than just about anywhere else on Alerion.

### Holidays and Celebrations

The Beggar's Feast is a holiday that has been observed in Midheld for centuries. Much of today's society spurns the old ways of the nation, but during the Beggar's Feast, they observe traditions that include traditional foods: lots of game and root vegetables.

Different corporations may host feasts for their employees here or there through the year, but nearly all of them do something for Greengrass. In other nations, the day traditionally involves wealthy people bringing flowers to the less wealthy, who wear them or spread them on the ground to encourage the gods to usher in the summer. In Midheld, this means the executives of the corporations throw lavish feasts for their employees, who look forward to this day all year long. They hope that the great bounty they put on the table will inspire the gods to bring the summer early, which will help them produce more food for next year's Greengrass.

## Trade

Midheld is broken up into five large companies and a variety of smaller ones, while the headquarters is in charge of managing its conglomerate. Draenir coordinates trade with other kingdoms and nations for goods and services it cannot provide itself. This is done by its corporate board, which is comprised of leaders from each of the companies, as well as the President of Midheld and some key Draenirean officers.

### Corporations of Midheld

#### Draenir

Corporate headquarters of Midheld, Draenir coordinates trade with foreign entities, manages the other companies, and provides some support for any who may need it.

#### Citali Corp.

The Citali Corporation is located on the Citali Plains. They produce most of the agricultural products in Midheld, thanks to the wide open farmlands they control. These open lands are also home to herds of cattle and horses. In addition, they control just the western edge of the Staghorn Forest, working the woods, and a small contingent of miners probes the Mountains for ores and gems and then works them into weapons and jewelry. Although their goods aren't always the best quality in Midheld, they have the most diverse portfolio of products, so they are quite successful.

#### Lumin Company

The Lumin Company's focus is on the forest for which it got its name. This includes such products and services as logging, hunting, foraging, farming, and tanning, among others.

#### Stagworth and Sons

Stagworth is very similar to Lumin, as both are headquartered within forests, and as such they have a fierce rivalry. Stagworth tends to do better than Lumin for the simple reason that they have a larger territory, and thus can produce a wider array of goods.

#### Midheld Mfg. Co.

Midheld Manufacturing is located in the badlands north of the mountains, and they are the only major company in Midheld to focus solely on one area. Using a combination of scientific knowledge and magic, they have managed to make themselves indispensable to the other companies with their manufacturing acumen. They create clothing, weapons, armor, jewelry, toys, homes, tools, and so much more, all from their factories that are located in one of the most inhospitable places in Aleria.

Midheld has become one of the most technologically advanced nations in the known world, at least when it comes to manufacturing. All of the corporations of Midheld have made incredible advancements during the corporatocracy era, but Midheld Mfg. Co. is the most advanced. Using a mysterious stone called *brunet*, in conjunction with their resident mages, they are able to power large machines that they use to mass-produce all kinds of items.

#### Highland Works

Highland Works is a company located in the hills and mountains of southern Midheld. It specializes in mining, but also deals in fish, agriculture, and animal husbandry.

## History

Midheld was once the mightiest nation in the known world. At their peak, their might could be put up against the peak of any other kingdom and hold up well. Midheld had conquered land from the Sunset Coast in the west to Harren's Marsh in the east, and from the Fyrewood in the south to the Egaré Sea in the north. Unfortunately for them, they stretched themselves too thin. Even more unfortunately for them, they ruled their conquered lands with an iron fist. This created populations of various sizes to resent their government, but most were fearful of the power and seemingly monolithic presence of Midheld in their lives.

The government of Midheld was always run in a strict and disciplined fashion. When the Kellish Rebellions occurred and Midheld was kicked out of most of their domain, they retreated into their strict culture even further. Now, the nation is run in a corporate-government structure, with their capital of Draenir the company headquarters.

## Rumors & Legends

### The Primordial Flood

The complicated, checkered history of Midheld has caused a menagerie of stories and myths to arise in the country and in the regions it used to rule. One of these myths involves the city of Morkoth and the Pilfered Badlands. It is said that, during the Primordial Flood, Galleria emerged from the current and wept for the lack of beauty in the world, and where her tears went, this is where the plants came to be. But in Midheld, they believe she emerged from the current where Morkoth now stands, and since she began to weep there, her tears were unable to fall where she stood. Thus, the Pilfered Badlands have never grown any flora, nor will they.

### Parsella the Just

Although impossible to prove, many Midhelders still hold on to the story that Parsella the Just, the paladin and prophet who grew Parsalos from a marsh country to a holy empire, was actually originally from Midheld. They say she was born in a small town outside Draenir, explored the world, took up the cause of Eadala, and eventually led Parsalos (then Harrenhold) to the riches it currently holds. These stories persist due to a continuing belief that Midheld's greatness was stolen from them, and they deserve more than they have. Those who tell these stories believe that, since Parsella was born in Midheld, all that she conquered is rightly theirs. Of course, none of them ever go to try and reclaim it themselves.