County of Naugard

## Naugard

The coat of arms of Naugard

The County of Naugard is a fief of the Holy Human Empire. As one of the six fiefs ceded to the Holy Human Empire after the War of the Alliance, Naugard is underdeveloped and thinly populated.

### History

Naugard was ceded to the Holy Human Empire after the War of the Alliance.

#### Recent Events

Duchess Veronica has not yet visited or mentioned Naugard.

### Geography

Naugard is covered in vast pine forests. The soil is universally poor for agriculture. Along the border with Lacertia, the terrain is mostly mountainous, while to the east and south, it is a somewhat lower plateau. In the west, the lowest point of the region descends into swamplands. The Thiuthan river cuts a valley through the plateau along the southwest border with Atrium.

### Economy

Despite the vast forests covering Naugard, neither timber nor charcoal are produced in any great quantities. Instead, tar and resin are harvested from the pinewoods, with most woodcutting being for the purpose of local construction and tool production. As the soil is sandy and acidic in the lowlands, rocky in the highlands, and marshland along the west, agriculture is generally pursued only on a subsistence level. Some sheep herding is practiced in the highlands, producing wool for export to Atrium to be woven into cloth. This trade is dominated by Imperial magnates rather than native shepherds, however, creating tensions as the magnates eat up more and more land for private sheep herding, and depriving the subsistence herders of resources. Iron deposits have been exploited in the south of Naugard ever since its absorption into the HHE, but coal and charcoal must be floated down the Thiuthan River that flows from Atrium to fuel the smelters, as transporting the raw ore elsewhere is not economical.

### Culture

Naugardians are stereotyped as being short, quiet, and meek, but immoderate drinkers. Naugardians tend to dress in muted colors and are generally highly religious. It's a common device in jokes made about Naugardians to have a Naugardian isolated alone, or otherwise thrust into an extreme situation, and the first thought to be to build a meeting house. However, unlike Krachensvelters, Naugardians are not thought of as particularly dour or antisocial. The mandolin is regarded as the 'national' instrument of Naugardians, and Naugardian-style music, with its cheerful, yet serene tone, is popular in taverns throughout the east of the HHE.

### Politics

Some lizardfolk tribes still stubbornly inhabit the marshes of Naugard, and a few Outlander tribes dispute areas along the border with Lacertia. As such, the issue of lizardfolk is more acute in Naugard than in the rest of the HHE. City councils often maintain well-drilled militias for the purpose of clearing unruly lizardfolk from the countryside, or repelling raids. Naugardian nobility are generally more inclined towards (and proficient in) fighting on foot for the reason that conflicts with the lizardfolk often happen in terrain unsuitable for cavalry. Naugardian peasants are more often freemen farmers than serfs. Freemen are allowed by the laws of the county to own long knives, bows, and spears; necessary for defense against lizard raiders. Lizardfolk occasionally make permanent residence in the towns and villages as laborers or artisans, but are generally distrusted, and localized massacre of lizardfolk in times of tension (whether the tension is lizardfolk related or not) is common. Captured lizardfolk are sometimes put to work in the mines, separate from the general population of miners.

There is considerable tension between the Naugardian nobility, predominantly agrarian and not particularly wealthy; and the wealthy mercantile elite, predominantly urban or located in areas of extractive industry. The nobility are closer to their peasant vassals than in most areas of the Empire, and regard themselves as a warrior caste. As such, they resent both the more cosmopolitan culture of the merchants, and the intrusion of proactive urban militias on the traditional prerogative of the nobility to defend (and organize the defense of) the people.

#### Count Thiudala of Gairnsaiw

Count Thiudala of Gairnsaiw is the current Count of Naugard. He comes from an ancient Naugardian family, and is generally regarded as aloof towards Imperial politics and fashions. Despite this, he is regarded as one of the most important counts in the empire, as Naugard is one of the border fiefs. He is referred to as 'our good lord' in Naugard, as he is highly regarded by almost all Naugardians for leading a modest existence, and for his proactive stance against the lizardmen in the province.