Prealith's Cultural Landscape
Prealith is affected by its neighbours but is distinctly different from them as well. You can examine this page for an overview of the other Kingdoms. (Link to Cultural Landscape of the Eight Kingdoms and Surrounding Territory).
The rest of this page and the connected material will concentrate on Prealith....
Prealith's physical geography has not changed over the centuries of the kingdom's existence. The above map is available in the royal archives and in Sanctuary. The present state of its cultural geography is a much different matter as time and repeated conflict has reshaped it many times.
Widely Known Facts about Prealith's Cultural Geography
Prealith occupies a wide strip of land on the east coast. It stretches from Prealith's capital city, Bannerlith, in the south to its 2nd largest city, Danalith, at the mouth of the Honnorgat River (the river is Prealith's northern boundary). Both cities are extremely well known, even to people from outside Prealith. In between these two cities, there are scattered coastal settlements and patches of civilization. These places range from a few well known places - such as the widely known region of Sanctuary- to most places which have limited factual information and lots of rumours to places almost no one outside the immediate area is aware of their existence. Prealith's inland territory is extremely hazardous - even the most skilled wilderness travelers have a substantial chance of being killed and possibly eaten or worse... This hostile territory has both limited Prealith's development and protected it from outside incursions.
Prealith's power depends on the sea. Almost all trade from the western continent to the eastern continent goes through Prealith's ports. Prealith's navy is a reactive force, anyone or anything that attacks Prealith ships is hunted down. However, they still lose ships to pirates (who take the view, 'If there aren't any witnesses....). A sea college has been established in Bannerlith by a branch of the royal family; but, it lacks official royal patronage. As a result, while there is a developing cadre of highly skilled and educated naval officers; impact remains limited on both the navy and merchant marine. Still there is interest as trade is Prealith's lifeblood. As a result, Bannerlith and Danalith are wealthy and cosmopolitan cities and the two home ports of Prealith's royal navy.
Prealith's population is, unsurprisingly, extremely diverse. Every racial group can be found in Prealith's borders - including all human racial groups. In the cities and their nearby communities, these human groups have mixed and produced a 'Prealith population'. The average person has tanned/light brown skin, a lithe build, dark hair, brown or dark eyes, and fairly sharp facial features. Of course, this 'average' appearance is not the rule as different genes assert themselves differently in individuals. It is not unusual for individuals in a family to have radically different skin,eye, or hair colours or builds. Residents in Bannerlith tend to be confident to the point of arrogance with a firm belief they live in the best place in the world. They also tend to be very hardworking and focused on getting ahead. Danalith residents share this view though they tend to tone the attitude slightly (more exposure to the other kingdom's residents). In the more isolated communities or the frontiers, the population in a community may be almost all of one human racial group with minor influences from other groups. In addition, many of these isolated communities have very distinct cultures, beliefs, and practices. While almost all communities know their ruler is the Sea Prince, many of these isolated communities may not know the name of the current Sea Prince.
The Sea Prince is the head of Prealith's government. While it is a hereditary monarchy, it has several key features that set it apart from the other kingdoms. First, the title of Sea Prince does not automatically go to the eldest child; the Fleet Council may insist on a more capable member of the family. Second, Prealith has a Fleet Council. This is an elected/selected council of advisors/administrators that represent the significant groups within Prealith. Among the groups that have representation on the Fleet Council are: Royal Navy, the merchants, craftsmen, farmers, land military, .... Councillors are elected/selected by the groups they represent. Councillors and their underlings are expected to follow orders once a course of action is decided; however, they are also expected to question that course of action, directly and forcefully, if it is the wrong decision for the country. Other kingdoms find this attitude ... disconcerting... Thus, those with actual experience with Prealith's government refer to it as 'more of a fleet that happens to have a country rather than a country that has a fleet.'
Prealith's relations with other kingdoms is interesting. On one hand, many other kingdoms covet Prealith's wealth. On the other hand, Prealith has a long standing and acknowledged policy of not interfering in other kingdoms. As a result, while other kingdoms would like to have Prealith's wealth, that desire is far outweighed by not wanting any other kingdom to take control of that wealth and influence. In addition, Prealith's naval strength versus the almost total lack of sea power in the other kingdoms makes Prealith a difficult target. It is also obvious from Prealith's lack of progress with its own inland territory that Prealith is not about to be able to invade any other people's land (nor is that land a viable option). Finally, the other races prefer Prealith's sovereignty as well - the dwarves for trade, the elves as Prealith's territory borders their own (there are land disputes), and the gnomes because it's part of the LAW.
Records of the following areas are available in the main Sanctuary archives and the Royal archives:
The Ridgeway - home of the Ridgeway Highlanders (barbarian group).
Sanctuary - the town and the region of small villages that welcomes outsiders if they are willing to live by the area's rules.
The Old Ones - barbarian remnant of the Old Human population. They are elusive and generally hostile to outsiders. They live in the swampy woods and swamps north of the Coum River.
The Duchy of the Foredeck - an area governed by a 'junior' branch of the Royal Family.
The rest of this page and the connected material will concentrate on Prealith....
Prealith's physical geography has not changed over the centuries of the kingdom's existence. The above map is available in the royal archives and in Sanctuary. The present state of its cultural geography is a much different matter as time and repeated conflict has reshaped it many times.
Widely Known Facts about Prealith's Cultural Geography
Prealith occupies a wide strip of land on the east coast. It stretches from Prealith's capital city, Bannerlith, in the south to its 2nd largest city, Danalith, at the mouth of the Honnorgat River (the river is Prealith's northern boundary). Both cities are extremely well known, even to people from outside Prealith. In between these two cities, there are scattered coastal settlements and patches of civilization. These places range from a few well known places - such as the widely known region of Sanctuary- to most places which have limited factual information and lots of rumours to places almost no one outside the immediate area is aware of their existence. Prealith's inland territory is extremely hazardous - even the most skilled wilderness travelers have a substantial chance of being killed and possibly eaten or worse... This hostile territory has both limited Prealith's development and protected it from outside incursions.
Prealith's power depends on the sea. Almost all trade from the western continent to the eastern continent goes through Prealith's ports. Prealith's navy is a reactive force, anyone or anything that attacks Prealith ships is hunted down. However, they still lose ships to pirates (who take the view, 'If there aren't any witnesses....). A sea college has been established in Bannerlith by a branch of the royal family; but, it lacks official royal patronage. As a result, while there is a developing cadre of highly skilled and educated naval officers; impact remains limited on both the navy and merchant marine. Still there is interest as trade is Prealith's lifeblood. As a result, Bannerlith and Danalith are wealthy and cosmopolitan cities and the two home ports of Prealith's royal navy.
Prealith's population is, unsurprisingly, extremely diverse. Every racial group can be found in Prealith's borders - including all human racial groups. In the cities and their nearby communities, these human groups have mixed and produced a 'Prealith population'. The average person has tanned/light brown skin, a lithe build, dark hair, brown or dark eyes, and fairly sharp facial features. Of course, this 'average' appearance is not the rule as different genes assert themselves differently in individuals. It is not unusual for individuals in a family to have radically different skin,eye, or hair colours or builds. Residents in Bannerlith tend to be confident to the point of arrogance with a firm belief they live in the best place in the world. They also tend to be very hardworking and focused on getting ahead. Danalith residents share this view though they tend to tone the attitude slightly (more exposure to the other kingdom's residents). In the more isolated communities or the frontiers, the population in a community may be almost all of one human racial group with minor influences from other groups. In addition, many of these isolated communities have very distinct cultures, beliefs, and practices. While almost all communities know their ruler is the Sea Prince, many of these isolated communities may not know the name of the current Sea Prince.
The Sea Prince is the head of Prealith's government. While it is a hereditary monarchy, it has several key features that set it apart from the other kingdoms. First, the title of Sea Prince does not automatically go to the eldest child; the Fleet Council may insist on a more capable member of the family. Second, Prealith has a Fleet Council. This is an elected/selected council of advisors/administrators that represent the significant groups within Prealith. Among the groups that have representation on the Fleet Council are: Royal Navy, the merchants, craftsmen, farmers, land military, .... Councillors are elected/selected by the groups they represent. Councillors and their underlings are expected to follow orders once a course of action is decided; however, they are also expected to question that course of action, directly and forcefully, if it is the wrong decision for the country. Other kingdoms find this attitude ... disconcerting... Thus, those with actual experience with Prealith's government refer to it as 'more of a fleet that happens to have a country rather than a country that has a fleet.'
Prealith's relations with other kingdoms is interesting. On one hand, many other kingdoms covet Prealith's wealth. On the other hand, Prealith has a long standing and acknowledged policy of not interfering in other kingdoms. As a result, while other kingdoms would like to have Prealith's wealth, that desire is far outweighed by not wanting any other kingdom to take control of that wealth and influence. In addition, Prealith's naval strength versus the almost total lack of sea power in the other kingdoms makes Prealith a difficult target. It is also obvious from Prealith's lack of progress with its own inland territory that Prealith is not about to be able to invade any other people's land (nor is that land a viable option). Finally, the other races prefer Prealith's sovereignty as well - the dwarves for trade, the elves as Prealith's territory borders their own (there are land disputes), and the gnomes because it's part of the LAW.
Records of the following areas are available in the main Sanctuary archives and the Royal archives:
The Ridgeway - home of the Ridgeway Highlanders (barbarian group).
Sanctuary - the town and the region of small villages that welcomes outsiders if they are willing to live by the area's rules.
The Old Ones - barbarian remnant of the Old Human population. They are elusive and generally hostile to outsiders. They live in the swampy woods and swamps north of the Coum River.
The Duchy of the Foredeck - an area governed by a 'junior' branch of the Royal Family.