Valanthe Worldbuilding

The Principality of Ashenalp

Geography:
The Principality of Ashenalp encompasses a small territory (about 5000 square kilometers) in a series of elevated valleys within a great (Alp sized) Mountain range. It sits squarely within the main central passage from one side of the range to the other and historical evidence suggests the first settlement started as a trade waystation.
The main city is Ashenalp itself, which is a fair-sized city compromised out of a number of incorporated Townships around a Principal Center. It is the site of the Palace, the Royal Academy and the Royal Barracks.

Outside of Ashenalp, the valleys contain a number of farms and some logging valleys

Demography:
The people of Ashenalp are, owing to it's status as a major trade hub of the area, diverse for it's size. The original population contained mostly Humans, Halflings and Gnomes. Since the War of Defiance, a number of more exotic races have been incorporated into the population, including Tieflings, various forms of Genasi and Dwarfs. The mountainous outskirts of the Principality also contains Goliaths and at least one small village of Dragonborn.

Society is organized on three classes;
* Nobles, which owe direct fealty to the prince. Some nobles wield authority over specific area's of land or of the Townships of Ashenalp, others hold titles for the services they did for the realm, etc. A noble council advises the Prince, but is appointed by him.
* Yeoman, commoners of higher standing. Originally, it referred to Commoners owing their own house or farm, but nowadays they are also wealthy traders and academics. Yeoman status is bequeathed by the Prince and they are freed of their local (ie Noble's taxes), only pay the Prince's taxes and have the right to directly petition the Prince.
* Commoners, those who lived on a Noble's land or houses they own. They are not *quite* serfs (they can travel as they wish for one) but they owe fealty to the Noble on whose land they live and have to pay him taxes as well.

History:
Long ago, Ashenalp was a simple, somewhat sleepy Principality sitting on a very nice trade road that gave good gold into their coffers by even low trade traffic fee's.

Eventually...this changed. An expanding empire on the far side of the Mountain Range saw Ashenalps position both as boon to its economy as well as a strategic position. As a result, they began a slow and inexorable expanding of their borders in that direction. The Princess of that Age saw the writing on the wall, realizing the Army itself could not stop them. And so she send out couriers to the lands on the other side of the range; All magic users who were looking for a better standing, or simply a place to life were welcome. They would gain instant Yeoman standing, a House of their own and a generous Crown's guerdon...if they could make sure Ashenalp remained free to give them to them.
Of course, not many people followed the call...but the advantages of sending the scouts along the trade routes that went through Ashenalp meant they reached far. And the few added up.
And thus the War of Defiance came and the Empire's advancing Army ran into more than twice their own numbers of magic users, supported by an Army which knew the territory far better than they did.
Victory came in a long defensive war and Ashenalp came out of it with a new and strong sense of patriotism, service and pride.

Coming of Age:
In Ashenalp, coming of Age is a two-step process. First, when reaching the Age of 17, everyone has to spend three years of service to the Realm. Generally, this means military service, but Yeomen and Commoners may petition their Prince or Lord respective to do other services that better works to their temperament, working as Nurses, Teachers, Watchpeople etc. After these three years, they become fully of Age.

Military entry is divided by class. Nobles always enter the Military Academy to become officers, Yeomen may enter the Academy after passing an Exam and those who fail and Commoners are grunts.
Those with Magic talent are automatically enrolled in the Royal Academy's Magic wing and receive specific training to support the Army in battle with their arts. Any magic user is automatically a Yeoman upon entering the Academy, unless they are already of higher rank.

Magic Potential:
The bulk of Ashenalps magic power comes from the number of Sorcerous Blood within it's people, with many Yeoman and (the few) Noble Houses proudly proclaiming the origin of their power on their Crest.
They also have less than a dozen full Wizard's, most notably the entirety of House DuShatar, a Tiefling Noble House who currently presents the Magus-General of the Magic Corps.
Recently, careful experimentation in employing (and creating) Warlocks have begun at the Royal Academy.

Army:
The Royal Army is commanded by the Captain-General and contains a bit more than three full brigades. One stationed in Ashenalp and one in Forts on each side of the main passage through the mountains.
Given the terrain, they have very few cavalry but a lot of missile troops and are trained to operate with heavy magic support.


Code Duello: Duels are only legals among Nobles and Yeomen, Common people may not challenge or be challenged. There are no weapon restrictions and the duel goes until one side either cannot fight anymore or the referee declares a winner obvious.

If a challenged is not of Age, their legal guardian may declare another member of their family or house as champion.