Post by Trippy Hare on Apr 18, 2005 4:38:52 GMT -5
Waeleden, the only Human kingdom to survive the War of Oblivion, is one of the oldest kingdoms in Eshathar. Although held in low regard by other kingdoms, Waeleden is nonetheless a force to be reckoned with. It is an Oligarchy, led by the Wael clan, as it has been for generations beyond rememberance. There is a strict, feudal hierarchy in place, which guarantees both a steady stream of wealth to the king and his vassals, and keeps the enormous peasant population under control.
Unable to support its large population increase in recent years, Waeleden has been hard-pressed to expand its borders and reorganize its basic infrastructure. After a Civil Uprising in 1346, Waeleth III, a distant and obscure member of the Wael clan, seized power, and has begun a campaign of increasing hostility to expand his territory and keep the populace distracted from domestic issues by keeping their attention raptly focused on expansion, and the ever-increasing conflicts at Wealeden's expanding borders.
Waeleden's strategy revolves around innovation and adaptation, utilizing new technologies and weapons to compensate for the lack of natural and environmental defenses. Without any natural weaponry, like the Canids, nor any inherent skill with magic, like the Elves, the humans of Waeleden rely on technology and enormous numbers of troops to bolster their military might. Wael knights are clad in not just armor, but steam-driven powersuits. Foot soldiers carry explosives-filled canisters as well as swords and shields. Instead of mere archers, Waeleden has skilled engineers operating massive war-machines, capable of launching enormous bolts, explosives-filled containers, or the old standby- heavy rocks. They have mighty siege towers, durable Mobile Fortresses, and the much-feared Fire-Breathers, which spew great gouts of flaming liquid.
Waeleden is ruled by a single, divinely inspired, all powerful King. His word is seen as being handed down from the Gods themselves, and is completely inviolable. Waeleth III has used this to instigate skirmishes all along his borders, claiming that the Gods have selected the race of Men to be superior to others. Most of the Waeleden commoners fanatically follow this doctrine, thanks to a brilliant propaganda campaign by Waeleth III and his advisors. The combination of a power-mad king, a fanatic populace, and fearsome technology makes Waeleden a universal threat to all other kingdoms, but none have dared make a direct challenge for fear of bringing Waeleth's wrath down upon them.
Economically, Waeleden's main currency consists of coins minted in the Waeleden capital city-state, each different material having a different value. Coppers are the most common. Silvers are less common, and worth 100 coppers. Gold is less common still, and each gold coin is worth 1000 copper coins, or 10 silver coins. Mithril coins are the rarest, each being worth 100 gold, or 1000 silver, or 100000 coppers. Though the major cities and settlements all rely on this currency for trade goods and services, outlying villages and frontier towns also use barter systems.