Midland

> *"Keep your nose out of other's business and they'll stay out of yours."*
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> -Common Midland saying.
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## History

Founded by Halfling settlers striving to find a place outside of the rule of the Elves and Men, Midland (Also known as The Midlands) started off as a loose connection of hidden Shires before growing into a large and expansive country, nestled between Republica and the Royaume.

However, the influx of men who refused to serve in the Royaume led to a military based "second-government", with their own policies, laws, and taxes.

Living in small, secluded farming villages away from the pressures of the world, the Halflings live traditional peasant lives, with no major form of government. They tend to thrive on the easy life of sunshine, beer and good food.

Halflings will have a Teatime to celebrate a friendship, or a family visit- usually in the mid afternoon and served outside, this event involves the drinking of Sweet Tea and eating of pastries, breads and other such food. Often neighbours will come by to share in this event. Ever the lovers of sweetness and taste, they produce many fine baked goods and sweet beers and juices, and often a shire will have an apiary to produce honey.

## Politics

Each village and town is run by the Elder, the oldest living inhabitant born to that village. In turn, they are deferential to those in other villages older than they.

Once every year, the elders gather in the Farcity, the capital, to discuss the events happening in their own Shire. Beyond that, government is largely decentralized and based around the principal of protecting the people as much as possible while remaining unobtrusive.

Unlike other societies, there is no real class-structure, as most people live similar lives.

After the Elder, the next most important person in a Shire is the Representative. Typically a grandchild or other relative of the elder, the representative's main duty is to inspect things that the elder might be too frail to reach, and to relay the information they discover back to the Elder.

### The Military Government

The second-government of the Midlands is led by the current Lord General of the Midland Army. They are much more militaristic and very rigid in their thinking. They take taxes from the area around their forts and in return offer protection from monsters and the criminals that sometimes arise in the local area.

## Military

The Standing Midland Army, the main fighting force of the Midlands, is not known for it's many achievements. Primarily a citizen-militia, the standing army has rudimentary training and equipment.

New citizens to the Midlands who wish to settle are conscripted to serve for a period of four years before being allowed to own property, to encourage loyalty and foster a sense of community with immigrants. Although this can be subverted by the local Elder, most of the time this is upheld.

Soldiers are typically assigned somewhere far from their home for experience. They are garrisoned in a fort that overlooks a few villages and towns. some of these forts are outdated and falling apart, staffed by only a dozen or so soldiers, while others are much more advanced, with connecting train stations and even airship docks.

One of very few areas in the Midlands that has a rank-structure, military life can be a difficult adjustment for citizens to make after living life in the rank-free society where the only person above you is the elder.

Those born with magical potential are force-conscripted at the age of 15 for at least two decades to both learn how to control their magic and to keep an eye on them.

## The Law and Criminality

The country is protected by the local Sheriff and the standing force of the Midland Army assigned to the local fort. The only real law is not to "disturb the peace", what qualifies as disturbing the peace is typically decided en masse by the population of a shire as whatever is annoying or bad enough to warrant the Sheriff being called for.

The Sheriff will lock people up for a few days until they have calmed down, but in the case of activities that are more severe (Such as murder) the military will be called for and much harsher sentencing will be decided by the local fort commander, often including years in the dungeon, forced conscription to borderline-suicide units, and execution by firing squad or hanging.

## Technology

Although rarely innovative, the Midlands have welcomed any and all technology that makes their lives easier, but remain wary of magic in general. Airships are rare but not uncommon, and paved roads do allow for modern conveniences such as automobiles.

Due to a deal with the Commonwealth, the Midlands have a fairly sophisticated train network, used mostly for shipping farmgoods and tractors.

Most villages prefer the simple life, and so welcome any innovation that makes the work in fields easier.

## Geography

The Midlands are covered in rolling hills and flat plains. There are hot summers, and cool winters. Beautiful blue lakes are common, and there are some cliffs at the west border that waves lap against.

## Society

Midland society is peaceful and content. There are few reasons for people to think about the world outside of their own small hometown.

### Food and Drink

Pasta dishes are common, with meat and breads being similarly popular. Most food is simple and filling. Although complex pastries like those in the Republica are enjoyed by the population as a whole, there are few dedicated shops to such places.

Sweet juices and honey are highly popular, as many shirefolk have a sweettooth.

### Clothing

Most clothes are made of simple fabrics and in simple colours. Shorts and dresses that end above the knee are common, much more so than longer dresses and pants. Generally, clothes are worn with an Apron of thick leather to keep them clean while cooking, cleaning, metalworking, or carpenting. The apron is full of pockets of various sizes and often lovingly hand-stitched and repaired. This apron is removed at the end of the work day at home.

### Marriage and Family

Marriage in the traditional Divine Priesthood way is celebrated. Typically between two adults of-age, there are few restrictions beyond this. Notably, the Midlands have a very progressive view over mixed-species marriage, as it doesn't change anything for the neighbours.

Children are raised as part of the family unit and part of the village as a whole- "It takes a village" is a saying taken quite literally, as all people in a town will consider a child born there to be one of their own.

### Popularity

Pastries from Republica are highly sought after, and people will often gather from all over town to see a motorcar or similar vehicle- it's quite common for people who hear that a train is coming to a local station to run there and greet the travellers disembarking from far away.

The Halflings created what is referred to as Sweet Tea, hot black tea that is sweetened with milk as well as cream, honey or sugar depending on the affordability and wealth of the person serving it. This halfling drink is considered peculiar, but pleasant to those who experience it and aren't from this society, and a taste of home for those who come from it.

### Education

Education is sadly lacking, most in the Midlands are illiterate and barely numerate. However, they learn all the skills they need from locals, as each person in a village will take the time to teach any children around how to perform their craft- be it blacksmithing, baking, or governing and soldiering.

If a child shows an aptitude for a particular field, they will often study full-time as an apprentice to the local who performs that art, and eventually take over from them when they are older.

### Medicine

Although towns lucky enough to have a church in distance will pay for clerical assistance, apothecaries are rare and you will not find many skilled healers.

Travelling groups, such as the Apostles of Kurise, will occasionally show up to heal injuries for donations, but mostly medicine is dealt with by whoever has the most experience in a given area with treating that sort of illness.

### Species and Religion

Although mistrustful of those not of the Divine Priesthood, the people of the Midlands are accepting of all species as long as they do not disturb the peace and respect those older than they are- or those with more experience.

### Death in the Midlands

When a person dies, they are greatly mourned by the whole village. Dressed in the finest clothes they owned, people are typically either buried or, in coastal towns, set out to sea in a small boat that has a hole to slowly fill with water and eventually sink.

During the ceremony, a priest will give a blessing and then those who knew the deceased will tell stories of their time with them, funny, sad and stupid stories are all welcome, and will continue to be told until the last of them goes to sleep after drinking probably most of the town's liquor.

### Bathing and Utilities

Bathing is done every second prayer day as a solitary affair. Toilet facilities are very basic, usually a bucket from a houes is emptied into a midden that is eventually covered in dirt once it becomes too noxious.

### Taboos

There is a strong taboo against magic, many fear and shun it- the only place to get magical training is the military, which mages are conscripted into once their powers start to develop.

Abandoning someone to drink alone is considered incredibly unpleasant and even downright rude- if someone is drinking the least you can do is get a drink and join them. Drunkenness is fine but if you become too rowdy you may spend the night in whatever passes as the local jail cell.

Public nudity is considered odd and like many places embarrassing, but surprisingly not particularly called out. Generally it falls under the rule of if it doesn't disrupt others day, people don't care about it.

Smoking is slightly taboo, many people find the experience of being around someone who smells strongly of smoke to be an unpleasant one, and so in general smokers are looked down upon by greater society.