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Ruler: His Most Resolute Magnitude, Magnus Vrianian, Commandant of Gran March

Government: Feudal monarchy, minor fealty to Keoland. The leader, known as the Commandant of Gran March, serves a five-year term and is elected by the 10 Barons, the 2 march Wardens, and a group of 100 Gran March nobles known as the Electors. The Electors pass their titles to their heirs and should an Elector die without issue, the current Commandant selects a replacement based on merit.

Borders: Lort River to the east, Sheldomar River and Rushmoors to the south, Realstream River to the west and undefined border about 40 miles north of Hookhill to the north

Size: Approximately 74,000 sq. miles (37,200 in plains; 14,000 in Dim Forest; 14,000 in Rushmoors; 4,700 in Lorridges; and 3,900 in Lortmils)

Capital: Hookhill (pop. 7,500)

Major Towns: Shiboleth (pop. 5,900), Hochoch (pop. 5,500; taken from the giants in 586 CY)

Provinces: Ten great baronies, two marches (eastern Dim Forest, Rushmoors)

Resources: Foodstuffs, cloth, copper, gems (typically 100-500 gp value; including azurite, malachite, turquoise and gem silica chrysocolla near the copper deposits and garnet, jade, tourmaline, and aquamarine elsewhere)

Coinage: [Modified Keoland] griffon (pp), lion (gp), eagle (ep), white owl (sp), heron (cp)

Population: 302,000 humans (Suloise, Oerdian, flannae), 9,000 noncitizen elves (sylvan, Dim Forest), 2,000 dwarves, 4,000 humanoids (various)

Languages: Common, Keolandish

Alignments: LN, LG, N

Religions: Heironeous, St. Cuthbert, Pholtus, Fharlanghn, Zilchus, Merrika, Atroa, Sotillon, Velnius, St. Gwen, Wenta, Phyton, Obad-Hai, Trithereon, Johydee, Kurell

Weather: Temperate and dry in the north, more damp in the south nearer to the Rushmoors

History: Formed nearly 600 years ago as a buffer between Keoland and Baklunish west, Gran March is one of Keoland's oldest holdings. The Knights of the March (later to become the Knights of the Watch) were charged with pacifying the area. Gran March grew in power during the Keoish expansion beginning around 350 CY. Mismanagement by Keoish nobles (notably Commandant Berlikyn) around the time of the Short War (sometimes referred to as the Small War, 438 CY) led to granting Gran March nobles the right to choose their own Commandant and greater independence from Keoland. Forces from Gran March liberated Hochoch from the giants in 586 CY and it appears likely that the city will be permanently annexed.

Culture: The defining factor in life in Gran March is the mandatory conscription of all able-bodied males for a period of up to seven years. Most serve in the army but some also work on civic improvements such as building and maintaining roads and clearing land. This has a significant effect on all other aspects of life in Gran March. Given the lack of young men for apprenticeships, a higher percentage of women join craft guilds than elsewhere and many manage the farms that are the mainstay of the Gran March economy. Women hold a great many positions of power in the guilds and government. Women are allowed to join the army voluntarily, but are not required to serve. Marriages take place at a higher average age than for most other countries in the Flanaess and women have much more equality in all walks of life. The mandatory army service carries a benefit of citizenship not present in most of the feudal lands of the Flanaess - veterans are granted the right to vote in local elections (although the candidate supported by the nobility usually wins the office anyway). Most citizens are farmers or work in industries arising from the bounty of Gran March's fertile soil. They take pride in their traditions and tend to be a sober, hard-working lot. The flood of refugees from other nearby countries has greatly swelled the population of this formerly rather small country and integrating these many new arrivals into the existing society has caused some friction.

Army: The standing army numbers 18,000 but up to three times that number of armed and ready troops can be mobilized within a week. The core of this army is formed from mailed cavalry armed with lance, sword, and crossbow. Veterans frequently join local militia companies upon retirement. These militia units often serve as social clubs for the local citizens and larger cities will usually have several competing companies. The militia units sponsor parades and other celebrations, but maintaining their equipment and training is a high priority.

Guilds: The Weavers Guild and Fellowship of Ironmongers are the most powerful, given the importance of their products to the national economy and military. Farmers are also beginning to organize themselves into guild-like structures in order to gain recognition in accordance with their contribution to the economy. The Brotherhood of Carters also carries a great deal of influence in Gran March (food is only valuable provided that it is delivered before it spoils). Many other guilds control other critical craft and service industries.

Law: The Gran March legal system has three levels: Magistrate, Tribunal (one per barony), and The Great Tribunal. Commoners typically appear before local magistrates and a jury, with appeals possible to a Tribunal and then to The Great Tribunal. Commoners may choose instead to confess to their Feudal Lord and accept his judgement, from which there is no appeal. Sentences for all but the most serious crimes are limited to fines and heavy labor (so as not to waste resources on incarceration). Nobles are never tried in magistrate courts; all nobles charged with crimes appear before a Tribunal or The Great Tribunal. Nobles may choose trial by combat instead - facing a champion of great skill. Given that the vast majority of the male population has extensive military training and maintains arms for defense, the citizens of Gran March are accorded more rights than may be found in other feudal societies. These rights include freedom of movement, habeus corpus, trial by jury, voting in magisterial elections, due process, and property rights. Dueling is permitted but is strictly regulated. There are also separate bodies of law governing those in the military, Guilds, and recognized churches.

Politics: In the international arena, Gran March's bond of fealty to Keoland has weakened over the years, but still remains a powerful factor in its political outlook. The government is very concerned about the recovery of Geoff from the giants and has committed troops to this effort, although the virtual annexation of Hochoch has caused some friction between the two states. Likewise, Gran March units have been sent to the Ulek states to help repel the invaders from the Pomarj. The government is aiding Bissel in its recovery from the Ketite invasion and has sent troops to Thornward to take part in the joint occupation (together with troops from Bissel, Veluna, and Ket). The government is keeping a close eye on Ket to make sure that their aggressions are kept in check.

Last Updated 08/31/04
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