Thessilane

Thessilane
Thessilane's location (dark green) within the Amasynian Peninsula (light green), relative to Regal Province of Trae Kelsa (blue).
Information
Type	Territory
Description	Upstart duchy
Region	Trae Kelsa
Subregion	Amasynian Province
Population	149,600
Area	2,200 sq mi
Capital	Meadowford
Demonym	Thessilanean, Thessil
Government	Monarchy
Ruler	Duke Burel Tassnehof
Currency	Trae Kelsan Shilling
Religion	One True Faith

Thessilane, officially the Sovereign Duchy of Thessilane, is a region on the east coast of the Amasynian Peninsula. It is bordered New Dauntless to the north, Heath to the south, the Beradt Sea to the east and Derry to the west.

History

Origins

In the days when the Old Kingdom ruled the west of the Amasynian Peninsula, the lands now known as Thessilane were divided into a number of smaller domains ruled by feuding warlords, each vying for dominance over his neighbours. It was during this period that the Thane of Meadowford first rallied the scattered clans of Thessil to his banner, paving the way for the unification of the region under one ruler in 1112 AI. This newly-united people made steady gains over the following hundred years, beginning with the annexing of Almark after the decisive Battle of Sesvyr in 1119 A.I. and continuing until all of modern Thessilane save the seaport of Orvere and the island nation of Jaheuss lay under Meadowford's rule.

The First Consolidation

In 1206 AI Thessilane was finally unified under the rule of the Lord of Meadowford, bringing together the various lesser domains into a single realm. The years that followed saw numerous skirmishes and conflicts with the Kazimid kings of neighbouring New Dauntless, an ongoing tension that was only exacerbated by New Dauntless coming under the rule of House Taliaferro, whose expansionist ambitions were every bit the match for those of the Lord of Meadowford.

The Amasynian Period

Following the conclusion of the Seventh Wars of Salvation in 1254 AI, in which the reborn Amasynia marched its armies further east than they had even in the days of the Kingdom of Amasyn, Thessilane found itself under external rule for the first time in its history. The integration of the the new Duchy of Thessilane did not come easily, and the missionaries of the One True Faith who sought to bring Amasynia's new territory into the fold faced a population stubbornly resistant to such changes. For all that the heirs of the Meadowlords added their doughty horsemen to the armies of the Kingdom of Amasynia they did not forget their proud and independent heritage,

Government

The region is ruled by the Duke from his palace at Meadowford, aided and advised by his Barons, Counts and Thanes. The Duke holds supreme executive authority within his domain, with duties and powers ranging from the enacting of legislation to commanding the military during wartime.

Law and Order

Maintaining law and order on a local level is the purview of Thessilane's various Lords of the Land. The Ducal Government requires each count, baron or thane to fund and equip a professional militia to protect their holdings, and townships of more than five hundred souls are required to fund a Constabulary force to assist the local militia in keeping the peace.

Military

Thessilane's military is famed for the quality of its cavalry, a tradition dating back to the horselords of Thessil prior to the unification of Thessilane.

The region's army is predominantly comprised of full-time professional soldiers, though local lords provide levies of troops drawn from their militias in time of need. The army is divided into Legions, a single Legion consisting of as many as five thousand men at full strength. Each Legion is commanded by a Marshal, who in turn answer to a Field Marshal tasked with coordinating campaigns involving multiple Legions. High command ultimately rests with the Duke in Meadowford.

Geography

Divided from New Dauntless by the Afanasiy River, the rolling meadowlands of Thessil are bounded by the nine-mile strip of Orvere Beach to the east, the foothills of the eastern Sikasoon Mountains in the west, and the shores of saltwater Lake Mist to the south. Beyond Lake Mist the rugged Red Hills (once home to the tribal Orclords, since pacified and become a Dwarven Clan-hold) divide the rich plains of the interior from the Beradt Sea. This expanse of sheltered and fertile grassland reaches west as far as the banks of the Albourne, which forms the border with Derry. In the south, the former principality of Almark stretches to the foothills of the Fraoch Mountains, which form the border with Heath. The south and east coasts are remarkable for their broad beaches, well-settled with numerous fishing villages and shipyards.

Cities

The city of Meadowford in the north of the region houses the seat of Thessilane's government and the Ducal residence.

The recently-reconstructed seaport of Orvere lies on Thessilane's north-east coast. In 1655 A.I. (205 AR) the city was almost levelled by a duel between Channellers on opposing sides of the Schism, the conflict surrounding an attempted usurpation of the ducal throne by Baron Wiglaf.

• Janeiro

Travel

The city of Orvere is one of Thessilane's major shipping ports, carrying goods to and from across the Beradt Sea and along the east coast of the Amasynian Peninsula, and beyond. A network of roads meanwhile crosses the rolling grasslands of the interior, with main highways carrying traffic into New Dauntless in the north, and Derry in the west.

Economy

Given that it possesses the longest working coastline on the Amasynian Peninsula it is perhaps unsurprising that Thessilane draws a considerable amount of its wealth from the sea; fishing is a major industry, and its fishing fleets ply the waters from the mouth of the Afanasiy River in the north to the coast of Heath in the south.

Following the Thessilane-New Dauntless War and the associated destruction wrought upon New Dauntless shipping, a large proportion of that region's industry has been drawn instead to Thessilane, such that shipbuilding has experienced a considerable growth in recent years.