The Lands of Mavarin

Mavarin was once a petty cluster of warring "kingdoms," before finally being united roughly three centuries prior to the current day. Each was at once opposed and dependent on the others for resources, leading to a constant tension -- and perpetual border conflicts -- before the Magi brought their squabbling to an end. And while they style themselves the "Lords of Mavarin," they are *legally* known as Barons, each province a Barony of Mavarin. This title is largely disdained, with one exception (to be mentioned). Epheldan seems to care very little how each rulership styles itself, so long as its allegiance is clear.

## Provinces of Mavarin

### Sekkast

**- [Middle-northern province, directly south of Throne]**

Named for its ruling family -- the longest traceable lineage of rulership in all Mavarin -- Sekkast thrives on its proximity to the capital, and its position as a primary thoroughfare to northern trade. The Sekkast family lives in Sekkast'Or, an Elder Common name that simply means "Seat of House Sekkast." The family prides itself as "First-Knelt," having sworn allegiance to Epheldan before any other. At the time of play, the prevailing intrigue surrounds the most viable heirs having all killed one another off, forcing the youngest -- and famously weakest -- of the Baron's children to be forced into rulership.

### Hasper

**- [Northwest, hooking up along the Veid River against the northern Hags]**

Citizens of Hasper boast that their ruling family is the most honorable, benevolent, and beloved in all Mavarin. The Haspers are famously transparent, and their word is perhaps the most assured among the nobility. They do however have a lasting enmity with Sekkast, because of their chokehold on the Veid -- the only river that cuts directly from Throne all the way to the southern shore of Mavarin, and the trade city of Landsmouth.

### Rille

**- [Northeast, squeezed between Throne and the Free City of Oth-Amon]**

Rille is the smallest of the Baronies, but among the wealthiest. Their notch of land runs up against the territory claimed by Oth-Amon, city of the Merchant-Princes. Export and import from that trade hub and Throne is their primary asset, though it is also known for its and seaside quarries, and its exotic inks and dyes. Its rulers style themselves High Patrons, and are perhaps the most audacious in their display of wealth. It is said that all fashion is first worn in Rille.

### Bount

**- [Central Marvarin]**

Bount is the largest province in Mavarin, and its primary agricultural "bread basket." Most of its developed geography is devoted to farmland. Bount is ruled by whichever ten families produced the biggest yield in the previous year's harvest. Its one truly "city" is Arveston (derived from the simple "Harvest Town"), filled with warehouses, silos, and the national transport concerns necessary to move the products it produces.

### Dol'Mir

**- [East of Bount]**

This midland barony is the most fiercely and overtly independent. Their culture is militantly defensive, built upon a long history of protecting their territories. Their sense of identity, however, is inconsistent. Persistent infighting and banditry make the province feel more dangerous than most. Dol'Mir has an unusual name -- typically places or concepts use the "-" to connect prefix and suffix, and people/gods are more likely to use an apostrophe for any necessary divisions. [Name]'Mir is in fact the honorific applied to whoever is given authority of the province, duly elected by anyone who possesses at least a dozen herd animals. The votes are called any time there are at least one-third the number of voting citizens requesting a new election, but never more frequently than ten years. The largest city is Tenshed.

### Sulthen

**- [South/southwest, border by the Neversung to the west below the Hags, and the province of Sickle to the east]**

At the southern end of the Hags where it disappears into the dreaded Neversung -- where dwell the elf-Kind -- Sulthen's borders shy from several miles of no-man's-land. Where the River Veid opens into the southern sea, the most populous and cosmopolitan city in Mavarin. Landsmouth is the crown of Sulthen, and the most prosperous trading port aside from the independent city of Oth-Amon. Its founding family is advised by a small council of the richest merchant families, in an only marginally less corrupt reflection of the City of the Merchant-Princes.

### Sickle

**- Southeast Arc, longest coastline**

Hooking like its namesake along the southeastern corner of Ku-Tan, Sickle is a rocky and forbidding province largely pushed from the center of political play for most of its history. Its continued existence owed more to its incredibly hostile terrain and stubborn fishing villages -- and the ruthless naval forces ensuring no one could trade between Oth-Amon and Landsmouth without their consent -- than any real diplomatic skill. The ruling family is chosen once per generation in a unique form of dueling upon the decks of respective shipping boats, as often as once per generation, if a challenge is mounted.

## Within the Provinces

Each settlement -- from the smallest to the largest -- recognized as a distinct entity within Mavarin has a Grace and a Mercy. The Grace is the chosen community leader -- essentially a Mayor, chosen however the local populace decides. The Mercy is frequently their spouse, but might also be a close friend or chosen ally. The Grace and Mercy further appoint a Seneschal -- someone to uphold the local justice system, and act as its highest arbitrator outside of their direct involvement.

These are the formal legal positions that serve as both local and national representation. In truth, however, as with the provinces themselves, their actual importance is just as likely to be purely ceremonial. This is how things officially work throughout Mavarin, but your experience may (will) vary.