Kingdoms: High Kingdom of Ruthae
High Kingdom Of Ruthae
Leader: High Queen Artemisia Sidra
The only child of King Dimisia Artemisia ascended to the throne on the untimely death of her father six years ago, still a Young untested woman she has overcame significant unrest in the wake of her fathers murder to solidify the council of Barons and the quarreling Kings and restore order in the Kingdom. Still suffering from the cloud over her fathers death the young woman has won over the hearts of her subjects with her stoic endurance of criticism and Fiery temperament. With a stable nation once again under the leadership of a stong ruler the empire enjoys a resurgence of trade and industry after a long and difficult period under a series of lesser Kings who allowed the Kingdom to fall into Disarray and stagnation leading to the loss of its colonies in Ja-Rhoon, and a long simmering period of antagonism with the growing Metahnii Empire.
Formed by High King Daedran nearly 200 years ago the High Kingdom is a union of lesser kingdoms unified by a series of brilliant conquests. The Practice of Allowing a Kingdom to retain it’s ruling family and social order eased the annexation of smaller kingdoms and created a varied and strong nation Under the High Kings rule. Numerous colonies and settlements on distant Islands and the continents allowed Ruthae to become a great power and for generations control trade in the far-flung Skies of every notable realm.
While a nation of strong tradition and orderly commerce centered around the numerous farms and holdings in the country side, the Kingdom has seen more than it share of bloody unrest frequent rebellions after the death of the first High King resulted in generational resentment between Kings and the diverse peoples of the Kingdom. After several strong Kings solidified the bonds between nations the resentment has faded to a point where usually the difficulties are a simple occasional grumble or cool but cicvil exchanges according to a strong protocol developed to assure that trade negotiations and chamber meetings did not end in sword play.
Council of Barons. The Baronies making up the bulk of the kingdoms area Is the arbiter of internal disputes, regulator of commerce and Keeper of the civil and criminal laws of the land. Each baron sends a representative to the Chamber and he speaks on behalf of the Barony. The Council appoints judges, marshals and rites civil laws and trade regulations as well as collects the taxes and administers the large bureaucracy required to administrate a large civil government.
The Baronial courts are a orderly and proper body proceedings controlled by a formal protocol and overseen by magistrates who try lesser charges, Judges who sit and hear more serious crimes and Knight Judges who sit over capital cases. Sentences are stiff and handed down without leniency on those who threaten the good order and safety of the land. Imprisonment is resurved for only the most serious cases, forced labor, conscription into the army and deportation being the most likely sentence handed out to criminal offenders.
The Baronial Ministers over see the departments of trade, Public safety, Agriculture and state. These life long professionals form the lower and middle rungs of the baronial governments and serve the Kingdom tirelessly behaving always to the strict and formal rules of conduct and behavior expected of an agent of the Kingdoms.
The Ducal Court: acting as advisors to the High King the Ducal court oversees the administration of foreign colonies through their royal governors and assures the steady and free trade between the Empire and other Nations. Descended from long lines of noble blood the Dukes are the right hand of the Empire in matters of military, trade and Politics. The presence of A Duke, Governor General, Or ducal agent is a sure sign that the parties involved have the full attention of the Kingdom and that matters should be handled in a proper and civil manner.
Matters of insurrection, treason, and crimes against the Crowns are handled by a devoted section of the Ducal court who deal harshly and swiftly with challenges to crowns Authority, and or threats to the security and good order of the Kingdoms. The dark, dismal, depths of Hellsgate Towers await any unfortunate soul spared the mercy of the gallows, and sent to it’s depths to serve out his sentence as a lesson to those who might dare the justice of the Crowns.
The Admiralty: the admiralty governs all matters of navigation and shipping, all ships, craft and command of those vessels Is administered through either the Merchant Admirals Or the Lord Admirals Of the military fleet. Few men meet the exacting requirement of a naval captain and fewer still rise to the ranks to command the fleets of the Crowns. A commodore or admiral must at all times exhibit both courage, devotion to duty and Proper Upbringing to rise to the command of even the smallest squadron of ships.
The Lord General: Supreme command of all ground forces is the Lord generals. The responsibility for securing the distant holdings of the crown from interlopers, raiders and foreign powers is a daunting task requiring the Lord general to have extraordinary powers over the deployment of troops. While the ground forces are of less importance to the navy in planning the ground forces are vital to maintaining the safety and order of foreign holdings requiring a large strongly disciplined force led By gentleman who are well versed in matters both political and Military. Many officers assigned to foreign lands are from prominent families and have a traditional upbringing as a future officer allowing them to draw on generations of experience and protocol to assure the smooth conduct of military matters.
The army is sometimes viewed with distaste by Higher Classes, but they well understand the necessity of professional officers and strong experienced NCOs who oversee the vast number of conscripts and poorly educated lower ranks, and Foreign Provisional soldiers, that make up the bulk of the army.
Day to day Life:
Cities: the cities of Ruthae are bustling and industrious the day begins for most before the bells sound first watch and they are off to the shops and factories. While factory workers are employed by anyone of hundreds of independent firms that manufacture and process the goods and resources of the land, their lives tend to revolve around numerous unions and guilds, and political clubs, which have become the focus of much of urban life.
It is common or both men and women to work in the textile mills and clothing shops of larger cities. While men and boy predominantly work in the foundries and factories. The day often begins early with the housekeeper of the family preparing a simple meal for the family and tending to the domestic needs of the house before departing to work in a shop or factory.
The wage earner often leaves at first watch and does not return till near the end of third watch, a full shift in a shop or factory may be ten hours six days a week, with an hour or two spent at his favorite public house, guild/union hall, or political club. He returns to the house, eats a simple evening meal and retires to bed.
Children wake early and tend to various household chores before departing to school, or the shops if they do not attend a school. They return at noon, and spend the rest of the day at some small tasks or left to entertain themselves.
Country Life: In the country life is remarkably the same as it has been for generations small farms, estates and shops are the main source of employment and income with each family operating it’s own concern usually under the auspices of a landowner or trading house that organizes and markets their goods in the cities in return for a percentage of the proceeds of the sales. Larger estates may actually have a number of farms and shops run directly by the landowner or minor noble with a stipend, housing, upkeep, supplied to the tenants in return for their work.
In areas where mining and or logging are common it is usually a single mine owner or forester who founds a small town around his operations to house waged employees and draw city dwellers to work for hi in exchange for free company housing and access to the company stores. As these company towns are not crown chartered the owner/operator must provide all law enforcement, utilities, and common schools for the inhabitants in addition to collecting any property or Poll taxes as required by the crown. ( Often employers will also pay these taxes as an incentive to skilled or valued employees.)
Education:
Education in the cities is seen to by first common schools, which teach basics of writing and mathematics, and are usually attended by all children for four years. A secondary or trade school is then attended four another four years by those children whose families consider it advantageous.
Craft schools (which have largely replaced apprenticeships) teach simple skills such as weaving, tailoring, shoemaking or other trades under the supervision of senior tradesmen. Often the schools produce goods for sale which pays the tuition and expenses of the school allowing it to be free or relatively inexpensive.
Secondary schools offer a more in depth education for those seeking to enter a more skilled profession or attend university. Such subjects as history, the sciences, intermediate mathematics and accounting, and geography become available to a secondary student and the curriculum is demanding and disciplined. Most secondary schools are private schools charging a nominal tuition and sometimes requiring the student to reside on campus to eliminate outside distractions. In addition to a Secondary school some youths attend a military or vocational school after or in place of a secondary school.
Military schools are favored by the upper gentry, land owners and minor nobles as a means of ensuring their suns have a career as a junior officer in the army or navy. They are taught the basics of military drill, discipline, traditions and tactics as well as the sciences and humanities required to ensure a junior officer has the well grounded education to be both thoughtful and capable of understanding the delicate matters of politics and military doctrine in order to fully carry out the duties assigned to them by senior officers.
Trade Schools, for those wishing to continue their education in a skilled trade such as management, accounting, or the bureaucracy trade schools provide a well founded practical education in logic, politics, and the sciences of social interaction and trade. While the humanities are not stressed there is a basic education in those arts to give a tradesman some refinement and knowledge of the larger world.
After secondary education some students will continue on to a vocational scool or attend universities vocational schools are intended for those who wish to enter upper management or become senior bureaucrats these disciplined and demanding schools pride themselves of staffing many legal firms, counting houses, and companies with the most professional and tradition minded men and omen who are available. Each school is highly competitive and only the most capable graduate with full honors and are granted permission to ear a special emblem in addition to the schools pin.
Universities do not offer a set curriculum instead they offer diverse classes to educate those men and women who seek the most advanced educations, becoming physician, arcanist, scientist, engineers, poets, philosophers, and scholars in their own right. The strong ethical and moral education, and demanding academic programs of most universities ensure that, by simply displaying a school pin or tie, doors normally closed to many people will be quickly opened to them.
Class and Social Standing:
Important to all Ruthae is class and or social standing.
Standing:
Each profession and social circle has it’s own system of standing, the more reputable and respected a family within a class or profession is the easier it is for them to do business secure financing and education for their children Low social standing is a serious impediment as normally open doors slam shut in a persons face, business opportunities vanish and social function invitations end abruptly. Scandal, criminal activity or accusation of such) and immoral acts by any family member is sufficient to affect social standing drastically.
Class:
Key to the social structure of Ruthae is the idea of class, more than a measure of wealth and popularity class is almost a formalized system of profession, heredity, and breeding. Lower class families, no matter how wealthy or influential they become will never rise to a higher class without some incredible circumstance or direct intervention of the divine.
Normally attending the proper functions, friends of the correct circle and attending certain schools is part of maintaining class status however in some cases more than simple socializing may be required.
Appearance: Ruthae are a divers cultural group but most are physically close in resemblance ith each barony or region having a slight bit of difference in their dress and manners. Most Ruthae are of medium height and build with light skin and hair colors ranging from black to light brown. Northern regions will often have reddish hair, and green or blue eyes, while western regions will have dark hair pale skin and tend to be taller and leaner than most.
Dress is usually a simple short, vest and light trousers for men, and a blouse corset or bodice for women worn over a light skirt and under skirt for women. In workplaces a pair of light trousers worn under a short open sided skirt is considered acceptable for women and in more progressive regions omen will wear trousers in sports or enjoying leisure time.
Dress
Children will wear a pair of knee length shorts and long sleeved shirt until the age of seven when boys will often add a jacket or cap, and girls will often begin to wear a dress or jacket and wide brimmed hat.
Young men switch to long pants, low cut shoes, and a jacket around twelve. As they grow older a cap, and or slouch hat becomes common. Often wearing a vest or heavy apron with many pockets and pouches, while working young men's clothes become more rugged and practical as they advance in their education and vocation.
At fourteen most girls will switch over to a full dress and bonnet with more adventurous girls retaining their trousers and jacket until they are married. Few married women wear trousers in public and in higher social circles the sight of a mature woman in trousers is nearly a scandal.
Adult women will usually dress in a long dress, Blouse and bodice or vest. While colorful garb is viewed with a raised eyebrow intricate embroidery, and stitching is common. Jewelry is usually only worn when attending social occasions and consists of a circlet or tiara, ear rings, and necklaces. ring are only worn if they are gifts, rewards for service, or a single wedding band worn on the left hand.
Nobles, aristocrats and Gentry tend to wear more colorful garb, often closely tailored and decorated with Embroidery and decorative gens and stones. Higher class Men will were a half length jacket, long flaring sleeves and ruffles at the neck and down the front. They tend to wear a wide brimmed hat with a stiff rim and plume or buckle on one side and the brim tipped up and pinned to the hat.
Higher class women wear a similar outfit of half length jacket cloak or cape, with a long layered skirt and a decorative mantle or shawl across their shoulders indoors. Hats are often wide brimmed and droop slightly to cover the face easily if the lady wishes to avoid eye contact or obscure their identity.
Military: the navy and marines of the Crowns Military are regimented and disciplined NCOs perform the bulk of day to day management and training directed by gentlemen officers. The battle line forms the main formation a number of battleships and cruisers form into a line or all and position themselves in a position to fire onto thebe or stern of an enemy force. Maneuver is limited and coordinated by the Line captain under the direction of the commodore or Admiral in command of the battle line.
Destroyers, frigates and corvettes form a sphere around the battle line and fire on any small craft approaching the battle line and execute torpedo attacks on larger enemy ships, hen they attempt to close to gun range with the battle line. While squadrons spread out to harass supply lines, secure merchant shipping and ensure the presence of the crowns flag over the colonial territories.
The fleet is not fond of it roles in bombardment or fire support, as a result of this policy bombardment craft and gunships are a low priority, these second class formations are commanded by Junior officers and senior NCOs. The small ships are scattered widely in small squadrons that rove across the skies free from direct admiralty control. They form the bulk of the Fleet squadrons providing support and transport for the Infantry and Marines.
The Queens Marines: the far reaching power of the Queen under the direct control of the Imperial Ministry of war the marines rangge far and strike with the overwhelming support of the navy. The crimson Dragon and Propeller insignia of the Marines is a sight that raiders, rebels, and criminals flee from in panic.
Operating in companies instead of regiments Marines are trained to fight without the numbers and heavy warships that the Army uses. They are ferocious fighters and fearless when they strke where and when the enemy least expect them.