Bastia

Miserth Keep, home of the Tavarans in Chalgrove

The Kingdom of Bastia is the largest country in Todosia, consisting of 10 regions, or Holds, and technically the region known as the Steppes. A predominantly human Kingdom, Bastia encompasses an extremely large landmass and holds people from all walks of life. Generally hostile to the neighboring nation of Ilstar, the country has seen plenty of strive and war over its almost millennial long lifespan.

## Economy

Bastia as an entity is predominantly self sufficient. Holds trade amongst themselves independently as need, with a healthy and generally amicable amount of competition. However, that isn't to say that out of country imports are unheard of. Most Lords do some business with the Serenity Sands Trading Company for spices and coffee and the Bastian Trade Company ships in elven artwork and wood frequently. Bastian exports include; lumber, raw minerals and metals, tobacco, ale, meats, whiskey, wines.

Bastian currency relies on three different coins. Gold, iron and copper. Copper is the lowest and most common of the coins, used frequently for cheap services or goods like food and water. A night at an inn, not including food, usually cost about 7 copper. The average servant at a keep, makes about 30 copper a week. Iron is used mostly by shop owners and men at arms. A coin of iron is worth about 15 copper and a small bar is worth 150 copper. Gold is usually predominantly used by lords, although occasionally a commoner looking to buy some land from his lord may opt to exchange his saved up copper for gold. A single gold coin is worth about 250 copper. Foreign currencies are usually accepted readily in larger cities, whereas villages and small towns refuse to recognize the value of an Elven silver coin or Ilstarian currency.

## Politics

Bastia is a feudal society wherein the Tavaran family holds supreme authority over all other lords in the country. Although a King or Queen is technically free to make royal decrees, managing a region as personally as the Duke or Count, it is rare for the King or Queen to intervene in the matters of the Holds. A ruling Tavaran likewise enjoys the ability to declare war or peace, to grant and rescind titles of nobility, redistribute land and make orders of almost any variety to anyone.

The King or Queen, shortly after being crowned, names the members of their High Council. These serve as advisors and acting rulers in their absence. This includes the Hand of the King/Queen, the Royal Steward, 3 Chief Advisors, a Minister of Affairs, a Bishop of the Faith, the Captain of the Order, the Lord's Defender and the Constable.

Independent Holds are ruled by a Head, usually called a Duke, although sometimes called something more appropriate for the region, that enjoy a great deal of autonomy. All Heads must report to the ruling Tavaran if they're requested so and must heed any and all orders of said Tavaran, but are otherwise effectively the acting law makers and rulers of the territory granted to their family. Each Head has direct authority over the various Lords and noble houses under them, most of which are in possession of either a keep, a city, a strip of villages, land or a fort. The city a Head of a Hold lives in is typically called the Hold's mother city.

Nobility is split into two, the High and the Low. The Highborn nobles, of which there are 22, are the most influential and wealthy families in Bastia. Only a Highborn is permitted to be the Head of a Hold, although the King or Queen is allowed to bestow Highborn status on any family they see fit. Lows are far more common. They are qualified to be the Lords of a town or city, should the Head of their Hold bless it. Often, Lows serve as bannermen for the High; wealthy families in possession of a keep, a garrison, land, wealth and some business.

Commoners have very little control or influence over the direct of the Kingdom or their Hold, although they do possess a right of petition. Commoners are generally told to go before their local Lords and make their case for any changes they wish to see. In the case that they are displeased with their local Lord, they are permitted to request an audience of the Head of the Hold although the effectiveness of such a request varies from state to state.

## Culture

Defining Bastian culture is difficult. The Kingdom of Bastia is woven from several dozen subcultures and ethnic groups that all swear fealty to the same family, and as such, certain customs and taboos can vary from region to region. That isn't to say that there is no common grounds amongst the populace. Regardless of social class or education, most Bastians view each other in a brotherly manner. Most Bastians feel a duty to take care of their fellow countrymen, and as such, it's almost universally seen as rude and dishonorable to discriminate or openly disrespect the traditions or culture of another region, regardless of how odd it may seem.

Although strongly united amongst themselves, a majority of Bastians are notorious for their somewhat xenophobic or closeminded views on other nations and races. Elves and Ilstarians are viewed as shifty and not to be trust, werewolves are bloodthristy beast that will strike out at friend and foe alike at a moments notice, shapeshifters are tolerated as tribal subhumans meant to be pitied. Although faeries are generally viewed in a positive light, the faerie wing trade is strong enough that most of Këln has a negative view of the two human nations. Although slavery was legal across the nation for many centuries, until outlawed by King Sibir Tavaran, Bastian culture widely looked down upon slavery, making use of it sparingly as laborers.

Laws are dictated by the acting Lord in each area and punishments are ordered by said lord. Most commonly, one is either fined or sentenced to a certain amount of hard labor. When an extreme offense is made, the defending party generally is given the option of a life of hard labor or a public execution. Most execution methods vary from area to area and range from simple hangings to the Bronze Bull.

Another common aspect of Bastian culture is a love for sport. Tournaments, usually friendly and only to first blood, are frequent. Two Holds, Arașov and Sifos are notable for their fondness of tournaments fought to the death, recently Ontemot has begun holding death tournaments.

Popular games included dominoes, chess, knucklebones and Nine Men's Morris.

### The Church of Bastia

The Church of Bastia is almost the only faith with influence in Bastia, and the majority of the country follows it devoutly. The religious aspect of their culture, specifically the teachings of Ragnar, only further strengthening the bonds between the people. Most religious Bastians agree, wholeheartedly, in the divine right the crown holds.

### Language

Bastia is home to dozens of languages, some dating before the formation of the country and others created amongst nobles to prevent servants from listening in on them. Most Holds have 2 or 3 regional languages, spoken by the native men and women of that territory. After that, the regions split into High Bastian and Low Bastian as the most common language for bartering. Most educated men and women or those who travel, speak both High and Low Bastian.

#### High Bastian

High Bastian is a dialect spoken predominantly amongst the Northern Holds.

#### Low Bastian

Low Bastian is a dialect spoken predominantly amongst the Southern Holds.

## Calendar

Bastians utilizes a simple calendar, known as the Bastian Lord's calendar. It recognizes two major eras, B.T. and A.T. There were 12 months, usually referred to by the number they sequenced, although certain months had more common names, such as January and October. Each month ranged from 27 to 32 days.

## Trivia

* High Bastian is based upon English, Low Bastian is based on German.