Vincer

The crown jewel of Humanity, or at least in its glory days. Still a powerful sea faring nation more than capable of bypassing Haldrod’s land bridge on trade if they risk Maltenese pirates, the continent has largely fallen into disarray. Once united under a single banner, the blue banner of the High King, it has since broken up in many smaller kingdoms as branches of the Vincer Royal Family have spread and gotten distant. An uneasy peace is kept mostly through kinship and a cultural fear of what could happen if they let themselves degrade to a state like Haldrod. Though this fear is fading in recent years.

Eliza
The home kingdom of the Vincer Royal family, originally named for High King Vincer II’s first and only love as the nation was starting to be divided. It controls most the northern coast near the mountains and remains a naval power that surpasses any other. In its capital city, also Eliza confusingly, the people live mostly at peace and in prosperity.

However recently Vincer II has mysteriously vanished from the public eye, once a very common sight was to see him out and about interacting with the people or tending his open gardens. But in the last decade he's become secluded and the castle closed up tightly.

Geography
The majority of Vincer is vast open plains, low hills, and sparse woodlands. However there are some swamps and estuaries following along rivers, both rocky and sandy coasts, as well as numerous lakes. This landscape is actually unnatural as it was once home to some of the most devastating wars in ancient times the land was flattened and carved away by magic and artifice over time.

In the modern age things are more peaceful and people take advantage of the relatively flat terrain and ample water sources to create large fields of crops, orchards, and pastures. Combined with Vincer’s unmatched rule of the sea and advancements in agricultural magic the majority of the nation doesn’t need to work in food production while still making enough to export. Even those who do farm or fish for a living have an easy time compared to the rest of the world thanks to the bounty the nation hosts.

However because of the damaged land it is fairly difficult to mine large high quality stones outside of a few places. Most stone found inside the country is only as large as a small boulder or found far under the ground, which with comparatively little natural ores aside from gold and platinum mines owned by the nobility. Of which almost all goes to minting coins.

Religion
Vincer is not a notably religious nation unlike their southern brethren, largely due to its history being rules by arcane magicians who put faith in unseen gods into questions. Atheism is the most common ‘religion’ in large cities but out in villages and towns worship Aelor, Yggsdral, and Reth.

Those who do worship gods aren’t looked upon fondly by the general population of the ‘civilized’ cities, who rather put their faith in understanding of the world they’re in than devote their time to praising some god they can’t reach. The folk who do worship generally bow their heads as nothing disallows their worship and clerics who can perform healing magic are very well respected in private. Even better out in the countryside where small chapels, druidic circles, and other groups of worship form the hearts of communities.

Of all the widely practiced religions the Church of Aelor is the most common and best viewed, if only for their reactions to detractors. The Church is headed by the Cathedral of Pope Mica in Eliza where most of the capital’s followers come to pray and every member of the clergy comes to receive their titles. From there bishops and other clerics spread out into the world to man smaller houses of worship, which the holy knights are tasked with raising.

Thanks to this they have churches throughout the nation and are known to have an overall positive effect on local populations, providing a small but useful contribution to farming and creating crafts for sale. But more so they’ve been given pardon by the High King to act as a pseudo guard force when needed. Some think the church abuses this power as their doctrine has a broad category of laws that seem to only be enforced when the local church finds it convenient. But overall the church is still in a positive light.

Yggsdral is more commonly seen in hamlets and rural villages far from the reach of the crown and not worth the effort of the Church of Aelor. Which typically suits the worshippers just fine, seeing themselves as simple and pure folk who work the land to live at piece. Meanwhile the rest of the nation seems them as a bunch of hippies who can’t grasp the basics of arcane theory or seafaring.

But so far away from large populations they rely heavily on druidic circles and wandering clerics of Yggsdral to make sure their harvests are bountiful and sick are tended to. While not an officially recognized religion these holy men are known as Road Canes after their iconic walking canes that serve as divine instruments.

Lastly more of an honorary religion is the Blood of Reth, intimately intertwined with the noble class as the god of nobility. Surprisingly one of the younger religious groups which somehow wormed its way into the nobility within the last century. Only the noble born really understand their practices and obligations but commoners have learned a few things.

One is that the Blood of Reth is headed by some sort of pseudo oligarchy of the heads of noble families, some say only of the younger nobility which has weak bonds to the royal family. And the other is that the Blood of Reth seems to have high demands of families which are lacking in influence, forcing them to work commoners and limit spending. Something most of those under the families disagree with and thanks to the open structure of Vincer it results in ruin more often than not.

Achievements
The crowning achievements of Vincer are all of course magic in nature. It is the practical origin of all magic in the world where it has been openly practiced and advanced since before its founding. The schools of magic were all defined by Vincer as well as the ‘classes’ of magic practitioners so that people could have a better idea of who can do what than the old fashioned umbrella term ‘mage’.

Because of this all forms have been created including the two very widely practiced stage and utility fields of magic. Distinct from normal schools of magic these two are considered an art form and a sort of tool respectively, both being much easier to learn than traditional magic while being much more useful to common folk than spitting fire or summoning monsters.

Stage magic is by far the more flashy and is used extensively in plays, concerts, public displays, and to make different forms of art. The most basic of this it the cantrip used to create the nation’s iconic Vincer Blue dye but extends to spells that can create marvelous carvings on stone or ones which can quite literally bring a play to life with illusory actors and sounds.

Utility magic is much more practical but an undeniable achievement when it comes to bringing Vincer forward beyond what current technology can. This field describes any sort of magic just used to make life easier and has an astounding amount of effects. Farmers typically see the ‘Till row’ cantrip cast by government trained agricultural mages to help sow seeds in their massive fields. Or commoners might see a cleaning cantrip used on the streets, one to repair small tools, make an item lighter to lift, create small constructs to act as assistants, and so on.

Otherwise Vincer has seen a good amount of art works created. Of course the crown jewel of which is the castle of Eliza. The towering castle of brilliant white stone and billowing blue flags is maintained daily with magic, ornate carvings of the Age of Man and War showing the first high king’s achievements on every surface. And more recently the current high king has added hundreds of exotic plants in the royal garden that creeps up the castle towers in hanging gardens and select portions on the ground open for the public, where the king once often mingled with his people while doing garden work.

It has a rich statue culture, creating lifelike stone sculptures of many heroes from its founding days and even more modern figures who have local significance.

Politics
The current political landscape of Vincer is tenuous at best. It is technically a monarchy lead by the high king, currently High King Vincer II. Who in turn distributes his land unto the lesser kings, who govern it and distribute it among their own underlings that manage the population. Though ultimately all kings bow to the high king and their coffers are his, which means any person is freely able to leave the ‘kingdom’ they were born to as they are the high king’s first and his land is as open as ever. Even the law is ultimately subject to only the high king’s word.

However in recent years the once very public and beloved high king has gone quiet, rumors abound over his son, the Bastard Prince, are sweeping through the nation. Many kings eager to truly own their land, make their own laws, and profit themselves over the high king are teasing limits of their power. Something the high king seems to have gone blind to, though even still the scars left by the first high king’s terror over such discourse linger so none so far are willing to try and succeed fully. Though for all intents and purposes many are tightening borders and establishing their own laws by force, much to the chagrin of the citizens.

Economics
The foundations of the economy in Vincer are magic, ships, and people. Though it does not lack in perishable export it pales in comparison to the sheer volume of magical goods, knowledge, and people that are sent out daily.

Being the cradle of all magic of course Vincer has a practically inexhaustible industry for creating magic items to the point even most villages have at least one craftsman capable of making simple things like elixirs and tools. Many consider scrolls and wands to be the chief export though, relied upon worldwide to give magical relief or aid otherwise impossible by locals. And if those are in short supply there are many schools and merchants who ‘rent’ out mages of every flavor to provide services. These mages are usually just shorthanded to ‘Whorcerers’ as they aren’t looked at in a good light by natives, sending out their nation’s strength at a comparatively cheap price to even scrolls and degrading national reputation. Possibly in part because most whorcerers are either drop outs, independent/unlicensed, or otherwise untrustworthy.

Carrying these goods is often an object for sale itself, Vincer’s navy has been legendary since the Age of Man and War which the shipwrights eagerly spread. Ships made in Vincer tend to be massive works of art that look stunning, sail faster, and often come armed with fierce armaments or magical support. It’s even a generally accepted fact that if there were ever to be a flying ship it’d come from Vincer, something many shipwrights are actually working on. In fact the ship building industry is so strong it is actually common for wealthy merchants and lesser foreign nobility to buy one of the ships that bring their goods, despite said ships often being considered cheap and disposable by natives.

Social Structure
As a monarchy the High King rules all, but Vincer is actually very progressive when it comes to basic rights in the world. Mostly due to the current high king’s virtues of mercy and peace which has let his nation prosper into a place where people are free to study and forge their own position in life.

Something the lesser nobility, the assigned kings, their families, and other such people of power either love or hate. In places where natural resources are comparatively sparse is where most people learn magic or other skilled professions, and so the rulers are fine with it as they can keep their people happy while still making good profit. However where resources are farmed, fished, or mined the noble classes are always in a rough financial spot, depending more on the royal family. Many would eagerly close their people off from migrating elsewhere and work them like slaves to increase their own wealth in these regions, but the high king’s influence stops them.

Mostly from the Royal Hand, a group of 5 faceless knights who abandoned their individuality to act as the iron hand of the High King, an ever present reminder of his power. Actually founded by the old high king as a precaution that his legacy would weaken, they live independent of the current high king and uphold the foundation of the first’s will. That being the nation will be unified, succession by force will be crushed, and that defiance will be met with utter destruction. Something the Royal Hand is more than capable of.

On the small scale however it’s more or less the same wherever you go. Nobles try to get a bit off the top of everything and stick their fingers into merchant’s affairs, who in turn compete among each other for skilled workers, markets, etc. Which leads to most people in Vincer living fine lives assuming they can work, failing that they can become a government backed mage. Which isn’t the best job but it takes care of needs, gives fine pay, and in a way is the backbone of society. Keeping roads maintained, cities clean, farms bountiful, ships in good shape, keeping records, aiding research, so on.

Royal Family
The royal family is somewhat of an honorary term. In reality the royal family consists of Vincer I, High King Vincer II, his wife the late Eliza, and while not officially recognized the Bastard Prince. The identity of the High King’s mother has long been lost as well.

Instead the royal family is a network of capable individuals who have been ‘adopted’ by the high king, trained to act as officials that enact the crown’s will and maintain day to day affairs. And is more a collection of titles than individuals, such as the King’s Treasurer, High Librarian, High Executioner, etc. They take the weight off the high king’s shoulders and do the grunt work, make sure everything runs smoothly, and reports to the high king. Notably they are said to have a family like relationship with the high king, back when the man was seen more often it was common to see one address him as father.

Government Mages
The crown has a wide spread program across Vincer typically called the Government Mages. Which is exactly what it sounds like, an organization backed by the crown that trains and cares for mages of most every flavor.

The most common being the utility mages who keep the nation held together. They do all the menial labor like trash collection, keeping water networks running smooth, making sure goods are quality, working on roads, helping certain industries, so on. Easily identified by Vincer Blue robes and a badge for their individual job, they’re looked at as a somewhat shameful position but nobody denies they make life leagues easier.

True Blood Plate
The suit of armor worn by the High King. A brilliant stunning solid blue, engraved with scenes of war and disasters on one side and cheering crowds on the other. Decorated with golden filigree at the edges but otherwise a very subtle design despite its make. Usually seen with a cloak of Vincer blue with a veritable garden of embroidered flowers.

The absolute peak of Blood Iron, the metal forged of blood. It was made from the blood of thousands of humans condensed down into the perfect blue hue, a testament to the sheer volume that went into creating the immovable plate. All enchanted by the first high king, though as a legacy piece its abilities are unknown.

Heart of Humanity
The blood red amulet worn by the High King. A smooth heart shaped gem set in a golden locket and chain, said to be engraved with its creators will and carrying the collective will of humanity.

Created by High King Vincer II as an inverse to his father’s creation. Its creation was an ordeal seeing the high king travel the world at large to ask a single drop of blood of every human to be given willing, something many believe he actually did. Legends abound from this amulet, some saying it holds dark powers over humanity and is the High King’s shame as it is now hidden away under his armor. Others say it is a precious trinket and nothing more, a symbol of unity.

All-Knowing Tome
A rumored book to exist somewhere within in the castle of Eliza, said to hold all the arcane knowledge of the first high king.

Eliza’s Coffin
The coffin holding the body of the dear queen Eliza, held in private quarters deep under the castle but brought out on holidays where the High King is never seen far from its escort. Though it is a fairly unremarkable construction, the high king was convinced to only decorate the plain stone tomb with a gold engraving of his beloved’s image as she was when laid to rest.

Bones of Sagrimentis
The preserved bones of the first high king’s familiar, Sagrimentis. Often a surprise to the few guest who see it expecting some small beast, Sagrimentis was a gold dragon that served as Vincer’s familiar, confidant, and counselor. His bones are well cared for in the wizard’s abandoned tower, resting with his master’s war regalia.

The Redwood Cane
A relatively simple redwood cane with a silver handle credited as being Vincer’s favorite tool of execution in his warring days. It is no magical artifact or object of great power but the tip of this cane is said to have killed hundred of powerful people Vincer brought to kneel. Many say it is haunted with the lingering fear those people felt as the cane crushed their throats. Made all the more popular as it was found in his chambers with a bloody tip when he vanished.