The Kingdom of Avelon

The Kingdom of Avelon (a-vell-un) is the southernmost Jadar kingdom within Mystara. By population, it is the third largest, but the smallest by total territory.

### Geography

Avelon is a long, curved peninsula. In the north, it is wide, with a low, rocky coastline. In between are highlands and heaths, which gradually descend into meadows, forests, and flat grasslands which become lowlands further south. The central, western coast is made up of mostly cliffs, where The Cliffs of Dornach can be found. The southern and southeastern coast is flat and accessible, with white sand beaches, large, natural ports.

Notable geographic points:

* The Highlands
* The Highland Heaths
* The Scarlet Meadows
* The Enchanted Forest
* The Cliffs of Dornach

### Economy

Avelon’s currency is the same as all the Jadar kingdoms, the Pensket.

It is primarily known for its highland silver and coal mines, and its wool and tobacco exports. There is a small fishing industry and some farming, both of which are kept local and subsistence based. Avelon also produces gluesap, a sap from the glue tree which is used as an adhesive, as well as certain types of tea and explosives/munitions.

Due to their proximity to Middle Sea ports such as Tyria, Etrusca, and Grand-Port, Avelon has highly diverse markets, active ports and roads. It is often viewed as a resting point for shipping merchants headed west towards Plaedora and Ealan. There is also a great deal of pirate activity around Avelon's coastlines, though they're mainly confined to the waters, and are relatively peaceable when coming ashore.

### Government

Avelon’s government is a monarchy, currently headed by House Koranen. The reigning monarch is King Elias II. He sits in The Citadel, a heavily fortified palace within the capital city of Vislii. Within The Citadel is The Retinue, Elias’s group of royal advisors. The House of Justice is Avelon’s constituent court, deciding matters of law at the highest level. It is the only such formal court among The Jadar Kingdoms.

The Citadel is typically the site of The Jadar Council, held twice a year to discuss issues within The Central Continents.

The country itself is broken into 15 duchies: Hekkinen, Niemen, Aalto, Makela, Koskken, Kaalo, Laskko, Lane, Sahla, Paarten, Ranta (shore), Sansa, Maagisma (Highlands), Nomme (Heaths), Viti, Courie, and Eerka. The Duchies are ruled by Dukas, most of whom are appointed by The Monarch, while some are hereditary. Each duchy has its own form of regional government, usually in the form of Duka Councils, headed by The Duka and composed of a handful of elected council members.

#### Military

The Knights of Avelon—an elite group of knights that serve as the upper ranks and guardians of the royal household. Roughly 1,000 in number.

Avelon also has a moderately sized infantry that makes up the core of their military forces. They primarily use arming swords and javelins, and steel, reinforced shields with a red cover that bears their flag. The total strength of their infantry is around 20,000.

They also have a small naval force that is mainly tasked with guarding their shoreline and keeping peace within The Humhrood Sea, which carries a lot of commerce in and out of Middle Sea ports towards western lands, and is often teeming with pirates. It consists of 50 ships and 6,000 sailors. The Avelonian Navy works in conjunction with The Imperial Navy, The Silician Navy, The Two-Cities Navy, and The Gallican Mariners to keep peace within The Middle Sea.

### Population + Demographics

Avelon is the third most populous Jadar kingdom, behind Triseke and The Rockanies. Its population is slightly more stratified, especially in urban areas. Class issues perpetually infect Avelonian cities, with the nobility being extravagant and clueless in their lifestyle and Sunterran immigrants stoking the flames of division, seeking upward mobility. The younger generations of nobility are steadily becoming aware of the differences, though. This has not stopped tensions from getting out of hand, leading to protests and riots a few times a year.

Though Avelon has large disparities in wealth, there is a burgeoning middle class. Unfortunately, they often get caught in the crossfire in disputes between the lower and upper classes, which has been upsetting them quite a bit, leading to increased pressure on the nobility to make reforms.

### Courting season

Avelon is known for its courting season takes place in the spring, and is one practice among the nobility which the lower class takes issue with. Extravagant parties and balls are thrown as eligible men and women court each other with the intention of finding a spouse.

Honor culture is extremely prevalent among the nobility, who are by far the most conservative and genuinely devout of The Jadar nobility. Sex out of wedlock is extremely taboo and men who take a woman’s virginity are expected to marry her—even if it entails taking multiple wives. Sex in general is very taboo amongst the nobles, and not usually discussed amongst anyone in that society. Sex between couples of older generations is very vanilla while the younger generations have branched out due to influence of The Silken Dragons and The Daughters of Rirris. Brothels exist but are very secretive and not talked about outside of men’s circles, though they tend to be chronic visitors of them. Men flock to The Silken Dragons en masse, and quite frequently. Affairs have become increasingly common even among the nobility.

Men who accuse another man’s honor may be challenged to a duel. Women may not be dishonored sexually or physically, and men who do must either marry them or face societal penalties such as losing their title and status, jail, or even death via a duel.

The Knights of Avelon are forbidden from marriage or siring children. They are also banned from brothels, though that rule is rarely adhered to.

The commoners, lower or middle class have no qualms or reservations about sex, although it is still not openly discussed or done. Alternative lifestyles are accepted as a result of Sunterran influence on the lower and middle classes.

### Culture

Avelonians greet themselves very formally within the non-peasant classes, usually via bowing or a courtsie. There is no standard greeting amongst commoners or peasants.

As there are a variety of pressures, influences, and conflicts within Avelon, there is no unified culture anymore, which is itself a source of conflict. Many Avelonians see the influence of Sunterrans as a drain on their Jadar heritage, while others see it as valuable and a means of evolution within their culture. This has often led to backlash against The Sunterrans, and demands from the middle class to round them up and deport them. Which, in turn, has caused tensions between Avelon and their neighboring Sunterran kingdoms of Two-Cities, Tyria, and Castilla.

Avelonian nobility is highly conservative and religious. They are essentially a closed society, with little opportunity for outsiders to penetrate their ranks. Their conservative mindset applies only to their values and demeanor, however. They are actually quite extravagant, with grand villas and mansions in which they frequently throw elaborate parties and balls, especially during courting season. Sex is taboo, and honor culture is heavily prominent. The older generations of nobility are often aloof and out of touch, even with their own subjects, but the younger generations are slowly coming around to the ways the negative effects their families often have on the kingdom.

The lower class is nearly their exact opposite. With heavy Sunterran influence, they are quite libertine in comparison, with no qualms about sex, and no pretense for custom, traditions, or dumb rules. Their neighborhoods are seen with displeasure by the nobility as places of sin and debauchery, as well as dirty and grub. The lower class is routinely disgusted and irritated with the nobility, often leading to protests and riots insisting reforms be made to break down barriers of social mobility and redistribute wealth. Much of this idealism is perpetuated by the Sunterran immigrants.

The middle class, though, is quite literally in the middle. They are a bit more polished and reserved with cultural attitudes than those in the lower class, and while they put pressure on the nobility to establish reforms, they rarely become violent or rowdy. Their neighborhoods are clean and safe, often with their own members providing security. They work to establish their own customs and traditions, separate from the nobility who refuse to share theirs.

#### Food

Krumper—small potato dumplings, usually served with braised beef, chicken or sausage and smashed, roasted tomatoes, or melted cheese and fish.

Zelje i hleba—green beans baked with butter, crumbled bread crumbs, and bacon.

Palenta—soaked and ground corn flour mixed with milk, salt, and cheese.

Petsa—pizzas, usually consisting of lots of cheese, creamy sauces (white/red) and vegetables. It is baked in an oven heated by coals, giving it a smokier flavor than its other Middle Sea counterparts. The Avelonains also cut their petsa into triangular slices.

Seafood stew—tons of variations, usually using: swordfish, carp, tuna, seabass, flounder, oysters, mussels, and scallops. Served with bread.

Grilled sardines

Roasts (usually made in winter, or sliced and used in sandwiches in the warmer months)

Minced beef, served with bread, rice, and vegetables

Bakery items

* Strudla kreme (strudel) – strudel filled with custard made of cream cheese, cottage cheese, and soured cream. Other variations of strudla exist as well, mainly involving berries and other fruit.
* Donuts—balls of fried rum dough dusted with powdered sugar, raisins, and orange zest.
* Custard creme cake
* Creme puffs
* Trifle
* Puddings: toffee, butter bread,
* Shortbread cookies
* Sponge cake