The Grand Duchy of Gallica

The Grand Duchy of Gallica (Gal-ih-CUH) is a small kingdom on The Middle Sea, inhabiting the rocky landmass of Gallica. It was previously a duchy of Avelon, but gained its independence during Asher's Heralding. Its main people are Gallicans, who are a hybrid subrace of Avelonians and Silicians.

### Geography

The Grand Duchy itself only possesses roughly half of Gallica's landmass, specifically, the southeastern portion of the island. The coastline and much of the interior is rocky, mainly coastal desert, leading to chaparral and coniferous forests near the center and northern reaches. Thus, they are highly dependent on trade for foodstuffs and many other goods.

Key geographical points:

### Government

The capital of Gallica is Grand-Port, a city which sits on uneven ground along the southeastern most point of the island. It is constructed almost entirely of limestone, giving its buildings a whitish-gray appearance, contrasted with multicolored, clay rooftops and covered with ivy, flowers, and other plants. The city itself consists of multiple, uneven levels, linked by some two hundred staircases, ramped alleys, and pillared colonnades. Overall, its highest levels rise no more than a few hundred feet above sea level. The streets are made of colorful stones.

Like many other cities, there are lots of alleyways, which are mostly the site of secret rendezvous.

Although it has the appearance of being an old city, most of Grand-Port is surprisingly less than a hundred years old. This is due to a fire that ripped through the city during The Trade Wars with The Imperium.

Other main cities include the inland city of Hautleu and the coastal town of Serein.

The flag of Gallica is white with a shield in the middle, rounded, with three sides. Inside is a large fleur-de-lis, and two branching out diagonally from the top. All dark gold with a hint of light brown.

Rather than a traditional monarch, Gallica is ruled by a Grand Duke, carrying on its tradition as a duchy. The current Grand Duke is His Grace, The Grand Duke Allard Ben-Clod.

#### Military

The Bombardier- 15,000 men at full muster, which includes conscripts. Regular forces are close to 6,000.

* Darker armor than The Vigilancie but similar style
* Blue, white, and red feathered plumes on the helmet
* Red capes
* Red sheaths
* Tulwars
* Shields the same color as their armor with a big, gold fleur-de-lis in the center

The Mariners

* 30 ships
* 4,500 men
* Carry tall and short sails marked with the fleur-de-lis
* Mainly guard the coast line and harbors

Vigilancie— city watch in Grand-Port (inspiration: Swiss Guard). Total strength is 600.

* Armor is silver with multiple, flexible parts for the chest, legs, and arms
* Fluffy ruff around the neck
* Oblong, pointed helmets with a red plume
* They carry halberds and long tulwars

### Economy

Gallica's main currency is Silicia's Soldi.

It is known for having the second largest shipping port in Mystara after Östra Aros.

Main exports: potash, coal, arsenic, fashion/textiles, and medicine.

#### Culture

The Gallicans are a snobby and pretentious people, unreserved and unyielding, but bright and intelligent. The culture as a whole has a chip on its shoulder, enjoying newfound independence and a capital city that houses the ever important Pharmacopeia.

Though formally a part of Mystara, they share a common heritage with Sunterra, being a byproduct of the Silicians and The Jadar.  Thus, much of their culture is a hybrid of the two and they tend to be a bit crass about picking sides, preferring independence from the confines of geopolitics. In general, they tend to have an unfavorable view of The Imperium as a result of The Trade Wars. Gallica sided with Silicia, Two-Cities, and Nihen, intending to become the northern port of choice for all trade from the south and east. Instead, Grand-Port was burned by The Imperium and the port itself blockaded by Imperial Ships as they fought against The Silicians.

Gallican culture is very high minded and elitist, with heavy class separations between the working class and those above them. Politically, it is most aligned with The Vrilic Order, despite its proximity to The Imperium. This is primarily due to the Pharmacopeia, which is heavily regulated by The Order and massive corruption among its nobility.

They are very artsy, but in a different way than The Hintria. The Gallicans appreciate and pontificate on art, philosophy, and other such subjects. The Hintrians make it.

Gallicans are also less opposed to the taboo in relationships than their Mystaran counterparts, but they are not as open with it as The Silicians. Incest, adultery, and other such things are common, but generally allowed to exist without much attention being drawn to them—positive or negative. That is, outside of the gossipy salons.

Though ruled by a mostly corrupt and generally incompetent set of aristocrats, they generally do not cause problems for the common folk. They are also less destructive than The Aristocrata.

Social Classes

* The Dukesmen
* The Barons
* The Common Class: Merchants, shop owners, entertainers, etc.
* The Working Class: field workers, laborers, mariners, and soldiers/watchmen.

#### Family

Mostly patriarchal, although the women tend to have a rebellious mind to them. Surnames are determined by the husband/father.

Women are mainly caretakers of the home and children, but they tend to have their own little pet projects for fun, that are usually pointless or for wasting time while the men are working.

#### Social Rules/Norms

The society is not exactly conservative, but it’s not open to the same extent as The Silicians nor is it as harsh as The Slavi. They generally allow the taboo, but it exists as an undercurrent of mainstream culture and is usually associated with the arts or secret clubs. Those who engage in it are revered as “edgy” and “fringe”.

Guest offering: fruit and water

Gallicans greet each other with cheek kisses and a light hug

#### Food

Common foods:

* Granota e pa— slow cooked frog legs and bread
* Sope Peixos—fish soup
* Tomaquits farcits—stuffed tomatoes, usually with vegetables and some sort of meat. Served with bread and butter.
* Tarte—fruit and cream tarts with a hard crust bottom made of buttery dough
* Galette—an open face fruit pie
* Cuixa—roasted leg of lamb
* Chou le Crame—cream puffs
* Petsa—flat, flaky, and crispy dough usually topped with olive oil from Silicia or butter, and combined with meats, cheese, and vegetables and baked in a hot brick oven

#### Art

Art is trafficked into Gallica from all over: sculptures, paintings, figurines, statues, and more, but not made there. These pieces are flooded into galleries, salons, castles, and houses to be pontificated on and stared at. They are more a signal of social status than anything else.

The Gallicans don’t have a ton of their own art, aside from fashion.

#### Clothing

Center of high fashion in Teleria, for both creating new styles and making fashionable, high end clothing for most of the barons.

They like to use rich colors and expensive fabrics: silks, satin, soft cotton, reds, blues, purples, dark greens, gold.

Many Gallicans of the upper classes wear these styles, while the working class tends to wear drab clothing in grays, browns, and stained white—usually old and worn.

#### Entertainment, Celebration, and Festivals

Salons— a collection of secret clubs that meet in unmarked buildings throughout Grand-Port. They contain lots of lounges which are the site of gossip and intellectual discussion, as well as extensive collections of intoxicants and a “don’t tell” policy. Most have libraries, food, whores, and other pleasures that members can access at any time they wish.

Pleasure houses— all owned by Lady Sanna, are mostly in Grand-Port and heavily frequented by the Gallicans who are secretly sex obsessed.

Talismans—a handful exist within Gallica, all next door to The Silken Dragons and just as popular.

Independence Day Parade

##### Sports

* Badminton
* Fencing
* Lutte (wrestling)
* Ballon Paung