Kingdom of Keoland

Keoland, properly known as the Kingdom of Keoland, is a nation located in the Sheldomar Valley in the western Flanaess. It is the oldest continuously ruled human realm in the Flanaess, and can trace an unbroken line of succession back almost one thousand years.[1]

Keoland was also historically referred to as the Empire of Keoland,[2] or Keoland Empire.[3] Due to variations in spelling across the Flanaess, it is occasionally spelled Keoghland.[4]

History

Ancient history

Long ago, the lands which now form Keoland were part of an ancient human Flan empire. Surviving evidence from this era includes tomb paintings and statues, which give clues as to how these people looked and dressed. They used bronze weapons, and rode chariots in battle. Their society also included demihuman races unknown to modern Keoland.

Sheldomar Valley migrations

A thousand years ago, the lands which are now Keoland were sparsely inhabited by the Flannae, peaceful tribal folk for whom the continent of the Flanaess is named.

In the year 5031 SD (-485 CY), war began between the powerful Baklunish Empire and the Suel Imperium, two human kingdoms who dominated the lands west of the Flanaess. The war led to internal instability in both nations, and in 5069 SD (-446 CY), 38 years after it began, Suloise refugees began fleeing east across the Crystalmist Mountains and into the Flanaess.

Among the fleeing Suel were the noble houses of Neheli, Rhola, Malhel and Lizhal. Here in in the Sheldomar Valley, south of the Empire of Vecna, these factions fought the native Flan and non-humans for control of the region.

House Rhola headed southeast toward the Azure Sea, founding the city of Gradsul in -368 CY. House Neheli, heeding the last words of the epic seer Slerotin whose apprentices still served the Neheli as advisors, headed northeast and founded the city of Niole Dra within ten years. Around this time, the Empire of Vecna finally fell, and migrating Oeridian tribes arrived in the valley from the north before settling peacefully alongside the Neheli. A series of brief conflict with the Flan followed.

Founding

The Kingdom of Keoland was formally established in the year 303 OR (-342 CY) as an alliance between the Neheli, Rhola, and numerous small Oeridian states between them. Niole Dra was made the capital of this new nation. By consensus of the nobility, a nobleman of House Neheli was established as its first king.

Nyhan I ruled for 28 years until -314 CY, when the throne as assumed by Malv the Defender of House Rhola. The throne of Keoland would be held variously by scions of Rhola and Neheli for most of its history, with rare exception.

Early era

Keoland's first five rulers are known in retrospect as the Early Kings. By -236 CY, they would expand Keoland to establish the kingdom's dominance over the region.

Malv I was succeded in -295 CY by Lorgyr the Seer of House Neheli, who ruled until -279 CY. He was succeeded that year by Nyhan the Forlorn, who ruled just seven years until -272 CY, when he was succeded by Mandros I of Sedenna.

Mandros was the first and only member of an Oeridian noble house to ascend to the throne, although intermarriage between the Suloise and Oeridians was common. Mandros continued the kingdom's expansion, and by -242 CY, the borders of Keoland first established to their modern extent as of 591 CY.

The practice of religion was constrained during the reign of Mandros. In -267 CY, oppressed followers of Trithereon in the Kingdom of Keoland fled to the Wild Coast, where they established a temple.

Middle era

The kingdom's growth continued under Mandros and successive kings, largely through peaceful annexation of new territories and alliances with the local inhabitants, whose nobles were typically given seats on the Council of Niole Dra.

In -236 CY, the throne returned to House Rhola, with kings Luschan I and Luschan II ruling a combined 43 years until -193 CY. Early in their reign, in -230 CY, Sterich was founded. The successor, Malv II of House Rhola, founded the Gran March in -161 CY. In -96 CY, during the reign of King Lanchaster the Wise, the Yeomanry was incorporated into Keoland, and wisely allowed to retain their democratic tradition.

In 49 CY, King Malv the Explorer of House Rhola died, and was succeded by Cedrian I of House Neheli. This began a 229 year Neheli dynasty known as the Slumbering, during which Keoland ceased its expansionist efforts, followed by the eight-year reign of Gillum the Mad, who died in 286 CY without an heir.

Imperial era

The throne subsequently reverted to House Rhola in the summer of 287 CY, when a conclave elected Tavish I, Duke of Gradsul, to the throne. Known as Tavish the Great, he began a period of conquest with the intent that Keoland should rival the great foreign powers of its day. He raised great armies, built castles across the frontier, and ended historic prohibitions against the use of magic.

In 289 CY, Keoland fought a brief skirmish with Ket at the city of Thornward. In 292 CY, Tavish negotiated a treaty of union with the Ulek states, and soon made diplomatic overtures to Celene. Within his lifetime, Tavish the Great established a great confederacy of states spanning the Sheldomar Valley region.

Tavish died in 346 CY and was succeeded by his son, Tavish the Blackguard. In 348 CY, Tavish II made the Wealsun Proclamation, declaring Keoland's manifest destiny to conquer the entire Sheldomar Valley and beyond. He sent his armies to Veluna, forcefully annexed the Pomarj, and drove out the rulers of Ket.

Keoland is viewed to have reached its peak in 1000 OR (356 CY), when Nyrond was formally established.

In 361 CY, the Yeomanry and Celene responded to Keoish aggression by closing their borders and withdrawing their forces from the armies of Keoland. Keoland was beset by a major internal revolt around this time, and its military forces were over-extended elsewhere, allowing Yeomanry the opportunity to declare independence.

The conquest of Ket was a gradual failure for Tavish II, and by 400 CY Keoish forces had been forced to withdraw to Thornward, where they fortified the Fals Gap and left Bissel the most northerly province of Keoland.

In 395 CY, Nemonhas of House Neheli was selected as Tavish II's successor, but refused to accept. In his place, duke Luschan Sellark IV of House Rhola served as regent, a peaceful period known as the Duke's Regency which lasted until the duke's death from illness 414 CY. His young nephew, Malv Sellark, assumed the name of Tavish III, called by historians the Boy King.

Late imperial era

The era circa 420-450 CY saw Keoland in further decline, ending Keoish aspirations of empire.

In 433 CY, Tavish III's brother disappeared in the Amedio Jungle, speculated the victim of pirates. The two decades from 434-453 CY saw the rise of the pirate slaver coalition known as the Sea Princes in the south, while in 438 CY the Small War between Furyondy and Keoland saw the secession of the March of Bissel and resulted in a complete end to Keoish power and influence in Furyondy and the northern Sheldomar Valley.

In a disastrous attempt to save face, King Tavish launched an invasion to recover lost lands in the south. In 453 CY, during the Siege of Westkeep south of the Hool Marshes, King Tavish III was slain.

His son, Tavish IV, assumed the throne immediately, and put a formal end to Keoland's era of conquest. Keoland conceded the independence of the Yeomanry in 460 CY, Celene in 461 CY. Tavish IV died in 488 CY withour heir, and the throne reverted to House Neheli, whose scion Nyhan the Listless ruled without attention to foreign matters, refusing to take part in the Hateful Wars which dominated the Ulek states for most of his reign.

In 501 and 502 CY, witchhunts rocked southern Keoland, a hysteria which saw many spellcasters killed.

Recovery

Nyhan IV was succeeded by Senestal the Dilettante in 510 CY, followed in turn by Trevlyan the Afflicted, who ruled from 539 CY until his sudden death in 564 CY. The reign of these two kings did not bear kindly on House Neheli, whose scions were afflicted with such unfortunate illness and madness that they were unable to put forth another heir.

The Council of Niole Dra entered a prolonged conclave, and in an unexpected move elected Kimbertos Skotti of the minor noble House Lizhel, Baron of Grayhill, as the new ruler of Keoland. Skotti was the first member not of house Neheli or Rhola since Mandros of Sedenna, but as an outsider to Keoish court politics he was considered politically ideal.

Geography

Terrain and climate

Keoland has a temperate climate year-round. It consists of a great deal of mostly flat, arable land. The most notable exceptions are the Good Hills in the northwest, and the Dreadwood forest in the south. There are no notable mountains within Keoland's borders. Most of the kingdom is surrounded by rivers which divide it from other nations, but only the southeast of the nation is adjacent to the sea.

Borders

Keoland is the largest kingdom in the Sheldomar Valley. Its current borders are primarily defined in the east by the Sheldomar River; in the south by the Azure Sea; in the north by the Lort River and Rushmoors, and to the west by the Javan River, although the County of Cryllor extends across that river where it is bounded by mountains and hills.

Keoland is surrounded on most sides by nations whose lands once formed its provinces. To the north lies the Gran March; to the east the Duchy of Ulek, County of Ulek and Principality of Ulek; to the south the Hold of the Sea Princes; to the southwest the Yeomanry; and to the west Sterich.

Administrative divisions

The Kingdom of Keoland primarily divided into some twenty-seven politically important duchies, counties, marches, territories, and baronies.

The Royal District, containing the capital city of Niole Dra

The Duchy of Dorlin, a large northern district centered around Dorglast Castle

The Duchy of Gradsul, Keoland's wealthy and most heavily populated southeasternmost province

The Earldom of Gand, a small province which broke off from Gradsul

The Earldom of Linth, a small, old province south of the capital

The County of Nimlee, a small province adjacent to the capital

The County of Marlbridge, a small province bordering the Gran March which broke off from Dorlin after the Short War

The County of Flen, centered around a defensible western valley pass leading to Sterich

The County of Cryllor, a wealthy and strategically important western province which crosses the Javan River

The Good Hills Union, a region consisting largely of the Good Hills and environs, inhabited by many gnomes and other demihumans

The March of Mandismoor, a small northwestern province bordering the Rushmoors

The March of Mareman

The March of Sedenna, a small province known for its wine exports

The March of Middlemead, a central province

The March of Blerfield

The Barony of Sayre

The Barony of Grayhill, occupying the northern Dreadwood forest

The Barony of Westgate

The Barony of Riverwatch

The Barony of Axewood, a small northern forest province near the capital

The Barony of Mill Creek

The Barony of Dilwych, a small barony which seceded from the Barony of Dorlin

The Barony of Raya

The Viscounty of Salinmoor, a southern coastal province famed as home to the town of Saltmarsh

The Viscounty of Nume Eor, once part of the Yeomanry

The Dreadwood Preserve, consisting of the majority of the Dreadwood forest

The Hool Marsh Protectorate inhabited by lizardfolk

Additionally, there are numerous smaller or less politically important divisions which rarely bear inclusion on official maps.

The more distant and minor regions of Keoland are home to a few fraudulent and self-appointed lords and counts, many posing as foreign nobles in exile. This is made more easy by regional tradition, in which nobles-in-exile are not expected to use their full title. Impersonating Keoish nobility is a capital offence in neighboring Sterich.

People

Population and demographics

As of 576 CY, the population of Keoland totaled some 1,800,000 persons.

Three quarters of the Keoish citizenry are humans, chiefly of mixed Suloise and Oeridian heritage, with a minority of Flan. Elves make up 8%, with six-tenths of those Sylvan elves, and four-tenths high elves, many in the Dreadwood forest. Gnomes are 6%, primarily inhabiting the Good Hills.

Halflings, primarily lightfoot halflings, are 5% of the population, half-elves 2%, and dwarves 1%. The remaining 1% of the population is made up of other races.

In recent history, a significant number of high elves and mountain dwarves fled to Keoland during the invasion of Geoff and Sterich. Many of these mountain dwarves resettled in the Good Hills, as did many gnomes originally from the Stark Mounds.

The most common alignments in Keoland are lawful good, neutral good, neutral, lawful neutral, and chaotic good.

Religion

The most popular deities among the Keoish are Heironeous, Phaulkon, Saint Cuthbert, Fharlanghn, Ehlonna, Lydia, Osprem, Zilchus, Kord, Xerbo, Norebo, Olidammara, the Seldarine, and Trithereon. Additionally, nearly every deity of the Flanaess has at least some small following somewhere in Keoland. Atroa, Delleb, and Sotillon also have a following here, with Sotillon's largest temple located in Niole Dra. Rao is worshiped in the western Flanaess, and has a temple in Keoland.

The Founding Charter of the Kingdom technically forbids establishment of organized religion, a move originally intended to prevent religious conflict within the ethnically diverse founding cultures of Keoland. Despite this, the government of Keoland have never actively attempted to suppress religion, and worship of gods is as popular as in any other realm of the Flanaess. However, the religious groups have little influence on politics.

Languages

The most widely spoken languages in Keoland are the Common tongue and Keolandish, a dialect of Common derived from Old High Oeridian with local admixtures. The accent of the commoners is highly recognizable even to people from other parts of the Flanaess; the accent of the inhabitants of nearby Sterich is naturally similar.

Keolandish is largely spoken in Keoland and surrounding regions, and has a range of regional dialects. It is spoken as a first language at all levels of Keoish society, from the peasantry to the king, and dates back at least four hundred years. It is mutually intelligible with Common or Oeridian, and most educated people learn Common and/or Old Oeridian. Its written form includes several characters unique to Keolandish.

The languages of the elves, gnomes, and halflings are also spoken here.

The historic human languages of Flan, Oeridian and Suloise are also used by various groups in Keoland.

Notable individuals

Reynard Yargrove, Great Druidess of Obad-Hai, lives in the Dreadwood forest. She holds responsibility for most of the Sheldomar Valley, including all of Keoland and the lands to its east.

Kahari Kellainen, a half-elven theater director in the Free City of Greyhawk, originally hails from Keoland.

One of the more colorful residents of the Good Hills of Keoland is Borgora Hilltopper, a dwarf and former adventurer, as well as a craftsman of some repute. He is the inventor of "Borgora's Inflatable Scare-Dragon," an inflatable red dragon made from a rubbery material introduced to him years before.

The brutal highwayman Tagus regularly robbed and killed travelers at Keoland's border region, near Shiboleth..

Society and culture

Law

Keoland is a civilized kingdom, and the rule of law has always been strong here,.

Magic was originally outlawed in Keoland, available only to the nobility and a handful of seers in their service. It was not until the reign of King Tavish I (ruled 287-346 CY) that the restrictions were lifted, with the establishment of a legalized guild of wizards in Niole Dra. As a result, magic is still feared as witchcraft by the peasantry. The use of arcane magic outside of sanctioned guilds is still illegal, though many "freemages" in Keoland openly flout this law, particularly in Gradsul where they enjoy the protection of the city.

Slavery has always been outlawed in Keoland, forbidden by the Founding Charter of the Kingdom.

Magic

The Keolish Plate Mail of the Seas was given by the King to an admiral who fought against the Sea Princes. Its bearer stays afloat in water. The Disk of the Azure Sea, an item which protects a sailing ship by raising a fog if attacked by pirates, was also first sold to a rich merchant on the coast of Keoland.

Education

The nobility of Keoland are well-educated from a young age. The kings of Keoland have long sponsored establishments of learning, including the Royal Explorers Society, an academy of adventurers, and the bimonthly issues of the Minutes of the Royal Explorers Society have inspired generations of noblemen's children. The royal library of Keoland contains the best selection of accurate maps in the Flanaess.

Government

Throne of the Lion

See also: Rulers of Keoland

The Kingdom of Keoland is a feudal monarchy. The King is the highest station in the land, and is head of both government and military, tasked as both Chief Bureaucrat and Defender of the Realm.

The king rules for life, but succession is determined by the noble Council of Niole Dra. Historically, the Council almost always selects from the Suel noble houses of Neheli or Rhola, who founded the kingdom. The Council may also remove a king due to extreme infirmity or, rarely, a vote of disenfranchisement. The Throne of the Lion can trace an unbroken line of successful back to the founding of Keoland.

The king possesses a ring bearing a royal seal as a badge of office. He may lend this ring to a subordinate as a symbol of authority, as occurred during the reclamation of Sterich, when the archmage Lashton was entrusted as King's Agent.

As of 576 CY, Keoland's ruler is King Kimbertos Skotti, who has ruled since 564 CY. Skotti, formerly Baron of Grayhill, is the first of the minor noble House Lizhal, and only the second ruler not of Neheli or Rhola.

Council of Niole Dra

The Council of Niole Dra, often called the Court of the Land, is made up of major nobility and heads of historic guilds and secret societies of Keoland. The council wields significant power in Keoland, and is the sole organization allowed to levy taxes or decide matters of royal succession.

The Council is based in the capital of Niole Dra, and meets all year round except during the four festival weeks of the calendar. It numbers approximately 100 members, and disproportionately represented by the Oeridian nobility, unlike the royalty which is dominated by the ancient Suel houses.

In addition to selecting the heir to the throne and levying taxes, responsibilities of the council include settling disputes among the nobility and other matters of government. Decisions are typically made by a simple majority of votes.

The Council also ratifies amendments of the Founding Charter of the Kingdom, something which has occurred only twice in Keoland's history and requires a near unanimous decision. The charter lays down the rights and responsibilities of nobility and commoner alike, including the independence of the council.

Heraldry

Keoland's coat of arms is blazoned thus: Gules, a lion rampant sable.

Economy

Resources

Keoland is noted for its foodstuffs (including wheat and rye), cloth, gold, and precious gems.

Keoland's year-round temperate climate makes it exceptionally valuable in trade, and allows it to produce a great deal of grain. Valuable varieties of gemstone are found here, but not in great quantity.

Keoland produces tamal leaves, a tobacco-like chaw originally discovered in the Amedio jungle, and excellent brandy.

Trade

A great deal of trade is conducted between Keoland and other realms across the entirety of the Flanaess, primarily involving the export of basic foodstuffs and the import of a wide variety of goods. Keoland even trades with distant or hostile nation states, made possible by the kingdom's important merchant class. As a result, the merchant guilds wield considerable political power in the Court of the Land.

Keoland imports high-grade platinum from the Duchy of Urnst, which it uses primarily for the manufacture of platinum coinage. It imports a pungent aged cheese known as wickler from the Yeomanry, which is particularly popular in Saltmarsh.

Currency

Keoland's standard coinage consists of the platinum griffon (pp), gold lion (gp), electrum eagle (ep), silver hawk (sp), and copper sparrow (cp).

Keoish coinage is widely accepted in other nations, including Furyondy.

Taxation

Only the Council of Niole Dra can levy taxes in Keoland.

The council has the power to enforce a tax on treasure recovered by adventurers in Keoish territory. While the King himself cannot levy taxes, it is noteworthy that during the reclamation of Sterich, King Kimbertos Skotti pledged that privateers and adventurers who took part would have tax waived on recovered treasure.

Travel

In addition to its well-worn roads, Keoland boasts much river traffic along the Javan and Sheldomar. The port city of Gradsul is the largest on the Azure Sea.

Military

Keoland's military might reports directly to the king, who holds the role of Defender of the Realm.

Land forces

Keoish troops are typically well trained and equipped. Soldiers of Keoland bear the shield device of the coat of arms of Keoland, namely a black lion rampant upon a red field.

The forces include patrol groups of light cavalry who are typically equipped with a longsword, a lance, and four javelins. They are organized into groups of around thirty men led by an experienced commander holding the rank of Officer, who is served by two Sub-Atlerns, in turn commanding six Sergeants, with around twenty Regulars or enlisted soldiers. Keoish light cavalry units are also famed for their deadliness with the crossbow.

Keoland also fields heavy cavalry, traditionally recruited from noble houses. It also has noted units of demihuman troops recruited from regions near the Ulek states. The kingdom lost significant numbers of its forces during the Greyhawk Wars.

Heavy infantry of Keoland are equipped with innovative dwarven double mail, a superior form of double-linked chainmail. Current fashion among nobles is to wear an armored neckpiece known as a gorgetal, which is often concealed beneath fashionable ruffs.

Knightly orders

The Knights of the Watch, whose members are also called Watchers, are the most notable order of knighthood in Keoland. They are based in the Gran March and their membes are most commonly seen in northern Keoland. Its members serve Keoish king and various nobles. The Knights of the Watch currently have fewer than 2,500 members overall.

The Knights of the Watch are divided into two primary factions: the Watchers, and a faction called the Dispatchers, or Knights of Dispatch, funded by the governments of Keoland and Gran March. A radical branch known as the Malgari, or Darkwatch, is based in Keoland and are sworn to defend the realm in particular from outside threat and foreign influence.

A few members of the Knights of the Chase are found in Keoland.

Naval forces

The royal navy, based at Gradsul, is led by the Lord High Admiral of Keoland. The current holder of this position is the Duke of Gradsul, Luschan VII.

Keoish naval forces stationed along the kingdom's southern border have been critical in the kingdom's defense. They were successful at turning back the Sea Princes at the Battle of Jetsom Island, after which many of the Sea Princes withdrew from Keoland's coast and turned to raiding the Amedio Jungle.

Relationships

Enemies

Keoland is one of many realms of the Flanaess to consider the Scarlet Brotherhood an enemy. In rural southern Keoland, anyone wearing a red cloak is treated with suspicion, and a (false) rumour once claimed that commoners would hang anyone seen wearing one. The Brotherhood is believed to have been behind magical attacks on the south coast, includin the appearance of undead and strange weather-controlling magic.

Keoland has come into conflict with the elven archmage Theodain Eraison, whose followers have been caught on unauthorized journeys into Keoland to hunt monsters in the Dreadwood.

Sea Princes

Allies

Keoland signed the Treaty of Niole Dra, formally allying itself with its neighbors, including some of its former enemies. This alliance includes Gran March, the Yeomanry, the Duchy of Ulek, the County of Ulek, and Celene.

Furyondy is an ally of Keoland, though grudgingly so, still holding a grudge from the Short Wars.

Other

Keoland and its allies are largely neutral toward the Free City of Greyhawk. Following the Pact of Greyhawk, Keoland established an ambassador in the city.

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