Ka-te

## Names

Official name: Ka-te custodio del Maldkin (Ka-te custodians of the Maldkin)/ Ka-te

common name: Ka-te, Ka

## Overview

The united dukedoms of Ka-te exist to the southwest of the Vibergska Eostheia protectorate and to the south of the island colony of Vibergska. The majority of the population exists upon the island of Ka-mar. Though a sizable group of mostly priests to the church of the other call mainland Eostheia home. Protecting the falls of the Maldkin and welcoming all to the portal between realms.

It is a mostly agrarian state typical of a feudal society however in recent years private enterprises funded by the nobility have been spreading throughout the nation creating large trade cities close to the coasts, capitalizing on the nations proximity to the trade colony of Vibergska.

It is a peaceful nation of rolling fields and grand forests. Spotted with quaint little towns and villages overlooked by their lords castles. Most that live upon the land are content with their quiet lives and more than happy to give a portion of their revenue to their lord tax collectors.  For the most part there is little to say about this nation when it comes to the common folk, however that can not be said about the nobility.

The nobility is structured much like a typical feudal government with the peasantry at the bottom, knights above them, then barons, lords and finally the Dukes and Duchesses. Though there is no king, instead there is a council of nobles. What is odd about them is their culture of honor based one upmanship. Stemming from a peasant revolt that killed off a countless number of nobles. Has lead to a culture of continuous terror that the peasents will either leave their lands or in the worse case revolt killing their lord at the slightest provacation. They fear that if they don’t act in the most honorable way possible their and their children's lives will be forfeit. Creating an extremely flamboyant and eccentric personality and appearance focused on doing anything that could be seen as righteous and/or honorable to appease the peasantry.

## Government

The Ka-te government is both simple and complex. The best way to describe it is as a communistic feudal aristocracy of united dukedoms with a twisted idea of a meritocracy. Starting at the preconceived bottom. The peasantry have little to do with how things are run within the country for the most part. They do not have a say in international policy nor in who is incharge on a national level. Though that does not mean they do not have power. Which we will get back to later.

On the smallest scale are the villages dotted around the nation. They are normally left to govern themselves. Working as a commune of sorts with a weekly assembly of the village's adults. Discussing any problems that the people may have and anything that need to be discussed with the tax collector or knights that arrive bimonthly.

Moving up the scale. Towns are the center of trade for a small collection of villages. They also act as a direct line to the knights and their local lord. For whenever trouble occurs that can’t wait for the scheduled arrival of national officials. They are also the location for advanced hospitals for issues that the local doctor can’t handle.(That of course is free of charge as it is the righteous thing to do.) They are governed by a baron, the third level of nobility above peasant and knight. They mainly work with the peasant trade guilds to ensure the flow of goods, and the continuation of peace. Whilst in addition creating reports for the lord of the region on crop yields, mined resources and the current flow of goods plus taxes.

Up from there are the cities. Normally there are only a few cities within a dukedom. With one of them acting as a royal capital, the seat of power for the duke/duchess. Smaller cities are run by lords, the fourth layer of nobility just before the ruling duke. Lords are incharge of interstate trade agreements, reading reports regarding the state of the region which they govern, and keeping their region up to the standards of the peasants and to a lesser extent the dukes. Lords normally are incharge of 3-10 barons. Receiving reports from them at least once a week and sending knights to ensure that the barons are keeping the peace once every two weeks. They will also once a month on a random day visit the barons territories. Talking to the locals whilst helping out where they can and if they find something that the baron has done that could be seen as dishonorable. They will immediately demand an explanation and actions to be taken or that baron will be executed for dishonorable conduct. It could be seen by some as extreme but lords fear that the duke would do the same or worse killing/torture them and their family if they don’t keep standards high.

Lastly is the dukes themselves.