Kingdom of Gurmanis

“Manistendom, Lands of the Manians”

Characteristic	Description
Population	100,000,000 people
Capital City	Royal Landing
Government Type	Feudalism, Monarchy, Semi-Centralized
Major Languages	Common Tongue Franormish, Gerian, Aangsax Tongue, Ruthiyan, Oles, Kraintsi, Scoannai, Irieann, Welmraeg, Magrszag Tongue, Volohanian
Nationality	Gurmian
Ethnic Groups	Germani (Franorm, Gerio, Aangsax) Ruvic (Ruthiyan, Oles, Kraintsi) Guelt (Scoannai, Irieann, Welmraeg) Magrszag, Volohanian
Religions	Major: Manianity (Conventual, Orthodox) Minor: Alhurahism, Old Faith
Climate	Temperate, Highland, Sub-Tropical, Sub-Arctic
Major Mountain Ranges	Blue Mountains, Alpennmos Mountains/Wealdbeorgas, Gueltic Highlands
Major Water Bodies	North Isen River, King’s River, Hertos River, Golden Inlet, Great Bay, Cheathrair Bay
Major Wetlands	Green Swamp
Major Forests	Roywood, Norwood, Dichterwood, Iznachalnyi Forest
Major Grasslands	None
Major Deserts	None
Trade Goods (Exports)	Major: Furs, wool, salt, herbs, grain, beer, wine, timber, metals Minor: slaves, spices
Currency	Gold, Silver, Bronze Barter

fOUNDING

Gurmian tribes known to the Imperium as the Gurmani, surged southwards conquering land from the Imperium Province of Gurmania. The Imperium could not resist effectively due to internal turmoil which allowed the Gurmani to take control of the northern province over several decades. The southernmost areas, known as Gueltica, remained with the Imperium until they abandoned it to the Gueltic tribes and left Gurmania completely.

Spiritual Founders

King Calis I and Queen Alana I are the founders of the first native Gurmian kingdom: the Kingdom of Franormia. Calis was the son of the governor of Gurmania who led three Imperium legions north of Emperor Tertius’ Wall which marked the northern border of the Imperium with the Gurmian tribes. The legions were ambushed and massacred, including the governor, but Calis escaped into the forests. He discovered other survivors who informed him of the legions’ stolen eagles held in a Gurmian stronghold. They assaulted the stronghold, only to be captured and tortured.

Imprisoned, Calis discovered more survivors, and Imperiali civilians trapped within the stronghold. Alana, a talented mage, treated Calis’ wounds in respect of his nobility during that time. There he had to make a choice: escape with the survivors and civilians, or escape with the eagles. Valuing service to the Imperium, Calis chose the eagles. He held Alana hostage and took the eagles, with some survivors, and fled south. His allies were killed in the pursuit, the eagles were lost, and he took Alana past the wall into the province. For his efforts the emperor denounced him and gave the province to Calis’ uncle who had been plotting for the position ever since Calis and his father had marched north. The Gurmians killed all their captives so Calis refused to ransom Alana.

Without supporters Calis faded into the province, turning Alana into his slave. He lamented about how his emperor had betrayed him and his people. His uncle’s rule was worse than his father’s and Calis realized how corrupt both governorships had been. Calis and Alana grew closer at this time and fell in love. Calis freed Alana who convinced him that he could find allies among the Gurmians living as non-citizens south of the wall. If he did this, she could convince her people north of the wall to join him and they could usurp the governorship. Thus Calis planned his rebellion with Gurmians at his side.

The campaign lasted a year. In the wake of losing three legions and with the speed of the campaign, the emperor could not send reinforcements fast enough. Calis and Gurmian non-citizens were instrumental in countering the strategies of the Rhoathian forces. Calis usurped his uncle and was declared governor by his alies. Most of these allies came from Franormish tribes, including Alana, and so these peoples were among Calis’ greatest supporters. After he successfully repulsed several punitive legions, the emperor ceded a small northwest portion of Gurmania to the Franormish who crowned Calis and Alana as their monarchs. The Kingdom of Franormia was born.

It is this story that inspired and justified the future Kingdom of Gurmanis for two reasons:

1. The legacy of the Imperium at its height (that ruled half of the human world and bestowed a sense of awe and might) imparts a justification to monarchs for their rule. Since it was Gurmians who expelled the Imperium, Gurmians have a right to rule.
2. It is a story of Gurmian unity that serves to hold the Kingdom of Gurmanis together.

Birth from Chaos

The Gurmians divided their land and remained in constant conflict after the end of Imperium rule. Hundreds of small kingdoms and polities vied for dominance. Each Gurmian group can claim a time when they were the dominant power, but barely a unified one. In chronological order of dominance:

• Guelts ruled most land after the retreat of the Imperium.
• Aangsax expelled the Gueltic people, who retreated northwest, and controlled central Gurmanis. Their power diminished after attacks and settlement of Nordris and the establishment of the Nordlaw.
• The Ruvic controlled all of northeastern Gurmanis since the Nordlaw collapsed.
• Franormish occupied land in the northwest, and had control there ever since King Calis and Queen Alana as the Kingdom of Franormia. They expanded over much of Gurmanis as the Franormish Empire.
• Gerians under the Gerian Kaiserreich brutally expanded outwards, slaughtering many under an ideology that they were the rightful rulers of the Imperiali legacy. A coalition of all other Gurmians defeated them.

The next threat to befall Gurmians were the hordes of the Mokerjin Empire. These steppe warriors had already conquered vast lands to the east and now funneled into Gurmanis through Ruvic lands. They reached central Gurmanis and obliterated any resistance in a bid to reach the west. Gurmians formed a united front and, though with great casualties, repulsed the hordes.

Many kingdoms had been destroyed and no one had enough power to unify the land alone. It was then that Gurmians of all kinds came together to rebuild their shattered land into the Kingdom of Gurmanis. Under this system a king would rule all the Gurmians in what might be termed as an empire rather than a kingdom. The Kingdom of Gurmanis exists to this day.

Government and Social Structure

The Kingdom of Gurmanis is a semi-centralized polity in which each Gurmian group is given a duke to rule his people under vassalage to the king. The king is chosen from among the various Gurmian ethnic groups. The throne is passed onto the king’s descendants unless the king abdicates, has no heirs, or is deposed. It is then the responsibility of the dukes to chose a new king. It is also the responsibility of the dukes and, in turn, all vassals to usurp a tyrant king.

Feudalism

Feudalism was the response to the state of affairs after the Rhoathian Imperium withdrew. Various Gurmian ethnicities ruled dozens of Gurmian kingdoms. Each kingdom frequently entered conflict with its neighbor necessitating the need for protection. Because there was no wealthy central state, no one could count on protection from a central army. Wealthy lords levied armed forces in case of conflict and these wealthy individuals depended on the lower classes to sustain their wealth and food. Lords in turn relied on a monarch to provide the lands they lived on, and if a larger army was needed, a monarch’s lords and their armed forces would come together. As feudalism developed the obligations and loyalties required of each class became codified and involved the exchange of food and raw materials, taxes, and land.

Gurmanis is a religious state. The Father and Manis exist above the kingdom’s social structure and bestow the Right to Rule upon the monarch and his or her family. The clergy exist as a separate hierarchy alongside feudalism which is sometimes more or less influenced by the monarch and nobility or vice versa.

One rarely moves between classes. One stays in the class he or she is born into for life. A noble may move within the nobility, but rarely becomes a commoner. The same movement can occur among commoners. Some observations of mobility are:

• A merchant who is a commoner but is successful such that he or she gains wealth equal to that of a noble. The merchant does not change class but encounters more influence through wealth.
• A commoner may become a knight if granted the title by the monarch or a noble.
• An excommunicated person, regardless of class, might be treated as if he or she were a serf, slave, or prisoner, or may be exiled from society entirely.

Royalty

The royalty of Gurmanis are the top class in feudal society. Owing to the legacy left by the Rhoathian Imperium, the king or queen maintains some aspect of central governance. The royalty dictates laws of the land and can apply them on a national scale. The monarch dictates foreign policy (military, trade, justice system, university education, etc.) despite frontier lords sometimes acting independently. To exercise this central power the monarch has:

• Wealth generated by direct and indirect taxes from lower classes and from lands within the Capital Region and Crown Lands, estates, and forests directly owned by the royalty.
  • Direct: taxes collected by the Royal Forces’ tax collectors
  • Indirect: taxes and dues given by nobles
• A military known as the Royal Forces, an armed force raised and maintained as a professional fighting force used directly by the king.

The city of Royal Landing and the lands surrounding it is the Capital Region. Crown Lands also exist outside the Capital Region. The monarch directly administers both and they include:

• Plots of forest
  • Major Crown Forests are the Roywood Crownclaim and the Norwood CrownclaimUsed for hunting and resources
  • Maintained and policed by the King’s Rangers
• The University of Gurmanis
  • The only university in Gurmanis for non-mages
  • Fulfills the traditional mandate of the royalty to support education and scholarship
• Crown Prisons
  • Isen Prison, Grey Towers (Tours Grises) Prison, Orecarcern, Gébendán Ailigh
  • Those sentenced by the Royal Courts are confined in one of the Crown Prisons
  • Fulfills the traditional mandate of the royalty to dispense justice
  • Vassals are required to refer a quota of criminals to the Royal Courts each year to be tried and punished, thus fulfilling this mandate
• Central Gurmanis Command, Fortresses, and Castles
  • Used by the Royal Forces as residences and training areas
  • Central Gurmanis Command is a large star fortress and castle which serves as the main fortification and the headquarters for:
    • The Eyes of the King (Gurmanis’ spy network)
    • The King’s Rangers (those who police forests and act as scouts)
    • The King’s Elite (the most senior and skilled members of the Royal Forces)
    • The Royal Forces upper command

The King’s Court

The King’s Court is the body of nobles that meet with the monarch when called upon. Two bodies form it:

1. The Outer Court (any nobles commanded to assemble and meet with the king in a given time and place)
2. The Inner Court (nobles and/or advisors who live in the household of the king and help the king administer his kingdom)

The outer court commonly meets in Royal Landing. It is the duty of all nobles to attend the King’s Court when called upon. The inner court helps the king daily and is made up of:

• The royal family
  • The spouse is the most important member and depending on the time she had more or less power and involvement in governance.
  • The crown prince (sometimes princess) is the second most important member.
• Lord Regent
  • In the absence of the king and a member of the royal household, is the ruler of the kingdom with the same powers as the king.
  • Is the chief advisor of the king.
  • Is sometimes in charge of administering the University of Gurmanis.
• Grand Chancellor
  • Responsible for civic and judicial duties and advice.
  • Records and archives all official meetings of the king and drafts, in writing, new laws.
  • The head of the Royal Courts and appoints judges based on the king’s selection.
  • Traditionally is a mage from the Mages Guild.
• Grand Marshal
  • Used to be a position filled when Gurmanis is called to war, but is now is a permanent position which controls the Royal Forces, assembled vassal forces, and the sheriffs and constables on Crown Lands.

The Inner Court has some additional members which can be more or less involved in governance, can be permanent or temporary positions, and attends with the regular members of the Inner Court when required:

• Lord High Treasurer
  • Oversees the Royal Treasury and financial matters of governance.
• Lord High Admiral
  • Oversees the Royal Forces navy and vassal naval forces when called upon by the monarch.
• Grand Chamberlin
  • Oversees all the royal household and ensures the king receives all correspondence.
• Keeper of the Seals
  • Assistant to the Grand Chancellor.
  • Guards the Royal Seals and Signatures.

Nobility

The monarch grants land to higher nobles in return for taxes, natural resources, and their loyalty. The monarch also permits a number of serfs to the higher nobles to work and maintain the lands given. Nobles who exist in this relationship are called vassals (of the monarch). Higher nobility includes dukes, counts, and barons. Counts and barons are vassals of both the king and their duke and owe the same obligations and loyalties to their duke. Dukes distribute the land and serfs given by the monarch to counts and barons who then distribute them among the lower nobility such as lords. Lords in turn grant land and serfs to knights. Other vassal duties include:

• Attend the monarch’s court to participate in advising the king or queen on state affairs.
• Host the monarch if he or she should arrive in one’s estate.
• Answer the monarch’s summons to war and bring the agreed upon number of troops, equipment, and provisions (or provide coin instead).
• Apply the laws and word of Manis and of the monarch to all classes below one’s own. Vassals have a duty to administer justice and regulate local trade and production.
• Provide a quota of accused persons to be tried and punished by the Royal Courts each year.

Territory	Noble Title (Male/Female)
Kingdom	King/Queen
Three or more Duchies	Archduke/Archduchess
Two or more Duchies	Grand Duke/Grand Duchess
Duchy	Duke/Duchess
County	Count/Countess
Barony (including major cities)	Baron/Baroness
Fiefdom	Lord/Lady
House	Knight or Chevalier

So long as the vassals meet their duties and obligations they are free to rule and live as they desire, increase their lands, and go to war with other nobles within Gurmanis. A set of laws do exist and all the king’s subjects are meant to follow, however administration and interpretation of the laws have not always been standardized in Gurmanis.

Higher nobility make up a body known as the Council of Lords. This council meets when the succession of a monarch is uncertain.

In addition to all the obligations the nobility has to their monarch, clergy, and fellow nobles, the monarch levies taxes on them which are paid in goods or money. They include:

• Aids: tax for specific purposes such as funding a war
• Assart Tax: tax taken for the clearing of a forest or uncultivated land
• Dues: land or house tax
• Entry Fine/Relief: inheritance tax for children to take over an estate
• Herbage: tax on use of pasture lands or ownership of pasture lands
• Heriot: death tax commonly paid by surrendering the best good(s) of the deceased
• Leyrwite/Lecherwite: paid by unmarried women over a certain age
• Nordgeld: tax to raise money for defence against Nordri raiders or to pay tribute to them
• Merchet: female marriage tax which the to be wife must pay to marry
• Mortuary: death tax paid to the local church. Commonly the second-best good(s)
• Scutage: tax paid instead of military service
• Tithe: church tax paid for religious services

Commoners

Peasants

Peasants are skilled or favored non-nobles who provide their services to fellow commoners and the nobility. Artisan professions such as blacksmiths, masons, bakers, carpenters, cartographers, butchers, and other guild regulated and non-guild regulated professions are performed by peasants. Those who worked in noble households as hunters, maids, cooks, etc., are also from the peasant class. Merchants are also from the peasant class. These peoples provide a portion of their labor in taxes to their lords (or knights) in exchange for protection. They may also exchange the goods of their trade for this protection. Many of these peasants are unbonded (except for those working in a noble’s household) and can move, own their house, and seek less permission for personal matters more freely than lower classes. Peasants do not have the lifetime protections of the serf class (see below) and so during some periods and in some areas of Gurmanis peasants can make a choice between freedom with less protection or less freedom but more protection. Stories of peasants electing to become serfs and vice versa have been recorded.

Serfs

Serfs are non-nobles who work the lands of a noble and include all farming professions conducted on a noble’s land but may also include skilled professions. Serfs cannot own property and instead rent property on the lord’s land. Many aspects of a serf’s life is determined by their lord including where they may live, how much of what they farm can be kept, who they marry, and others. A serf and his family is to remain in a noble’s service for life and can be hunted and captured if escape is attempted. Serfs have obligations to their lord which include how much taxes to pay, what days and for how long to work, and what type of work is required.

Common buildings on the lord’s land are owned by the lord who could levy a fee or tax. If a serf does not want to pay this fee or tax, he may need to find another at great personal expense. Serfs have little political rights, but are entitled to protection from their lord and are not required to fight in battles unless conscription is demanded by the monarch.

Serfs live lives of daily labor and service, and are considered the property of the monarch. Because land is tied to a serf family and all serfs are the monarch’s, a serf cannot be displaced if their lord changes, and is guaranteed a basic set of rights that seeks to avoid the abuse of serfs by their lords. For example, a lord cannot kill or torture their serfs for no reason and cannot remove from him the means for his trade (such as his tools to farm with). A lord cannot forcibly separate family members from each other unless one has committed a crime severe enough to warrant it. A lord cannot deny a serf access to religious amenities, require him to work on holy days, or make him perform actions considered immoral. A serf can become a peasant in several ways:

• The monarch declares the serf free
• The lord who owns the serf declares him or her free
• The serf can become a member of the clergy
• The serf is granted freedom for excellent military service
• The serf can get a sponsor to pay the lord for the serf’s freedom
• The serf can run away and remain uncaptured for a year and a day

Many festivals and celebrations break up the labor filled lives lived by serfs. The total of these instances may equal eighty to one-hundred days of the year where serfs are free of labor. The last day of the week is also a no labor day and is instead reserved for mass at church. For the preparation and service at a lord’s feast, an especially large feast may require serfs not to work in the fields and farms for a whole week. Craftsmen work, housework, and travel (unless to church or a festival) are also prohibited on these days. Even sexual contact is prohibited in some areas. Laws are in place for those who break these rules.

Female serfs have the least rights and freedoms in Gurmanis aside from lower classes, and cannot lead a household, therefore if a husband or father was to leave a wife or girls the lord of the land would force them into marriage if no other males remained in the family.

Both peasants and serfs must pay taxes. Taxes can be levied by the monarch, nobility, or clergy and are paid in goods, services, or money. Some examples include:

• Aids: tax for specific purposes such as funding a war
• Assart Tax: tax taken for the clearing of a forest or uncultivated land
• Dues: land or house tax
• Entry Fine/Relief: inheritance tax for children to take over an estate
• Herbage: tax on use of pasture lands or ownership of pasture lands
• Heriot: death tax commonly paid by surrendering the best good(s) of the deceased
• Leyrwite/Lecherwite: paid by unmarried women over a certain age
• Nordgeld: tax to raise money for defence against Nordri raiders or to pay tribute to them
• Merchet: female marriage tax which the to be wife must pay to marry
• Mortuary: death tac paid to the local church. Commonly the second-best good(s)
• Multure: grain milling tax paid for use of the lord’s mill
• Tallage: additional land or house tax
• Tithe: church tax paid for religious services

Slaves and Prisoners

Slaves are uncommon in Gurmanis. In early kingdoms slavery was more common, but has since declined exponentially. It is taboo to openly keep slaves and so most Gurmians engage in slavery as punishment or go abroad to engage in the trade. Slaves are paid property and so their abuse, killing, and assault is discouraged especially for an expensive slave. The church of Manis guides state law in respect to slaves:

• Slaves must obey their masters as strongly as one is expected to serve God.
• Masters can be punished for killing or torturing their slaves, commonly by banning masters from church services.
• Setting a slave free is considered a pious act and is encouraged.
• No Manian can become a slave.
• Slaves work the same fields as serfs and can attend church with serfs.

The lowest class are prisoners. Prisoners are those who have committed crimes and serve a sentence in prisons or work camps, awaiting trial in jails, awaiting execution, or are serving a local punishment such as whipping or the pillory. Prisoners have no rights or freedoms. Upon being convicted of a crime in the Royal Courts a commoner becomes the responsibility of the monarch. If convicted in a lower court the commoner is the responsibility of the local noble. The monarch operates prisons and a work camp for convicts, local nobles may use local prisons or confine a prisoner within a jail or manor. Becoming a prisoner allows for the use of Juedicar’s Justice and even when one serves their punishment, branding and tattooing singles them out as a convict for life. Nobles may also become prisoners, though it is less common.

After a sentence is served some rights are returned, but all rights are never reinstated. Laws that provide protections to serfs cannot be reclaimed and many do not hire an ex-convict or allow apprenticeships. As a result, most ex-convicts join gangs and illegal guilds, flee to the Freelands or Free Isles, commit more crimes, and are imprisoned again or live as beggars.