====== Aberfoyle ====== * [[#tab-lore|Overview]] * [[#tab-history|History]] * [[#tab-religion|Religion]] | **Nation Profile** || | {{:dm_resources:s2:nations:aberfoyle.jpg?nolink&600x400|aberfoyle.jpg}} || |**Description** |//The unconquered highlands.// | |**Government** |Constitutional Monarchy| |**Real World Inspiration** |Scotland| |**Other Names** |The Old Hills| | **Geography** || |**Location** |Western Sea| |**Largest City** |Am Baile Mòr| |**Relative Distance \\ From the Basin** |Distant| | **Demography** || |**Demonym** |Aberflannish| |**Population** |800 thousand| |**Languages** |Aldan | |**Races and Ethnicities** |Aberflannish Human, Aldan Human | |**Religion** |Druidry| |**Currency** |Starling| ===== Nation Overview ===== ==== Society ==== === Culture === "Liberty or Death" is less a motto and more a way of life for the Aberflannish. The Aberflannish Lords are fiercely independent. They have fought off countless invasions both from Alda and the nations across the waves, and are always ready for the next one. Their subjects share this ethos; while they want nothing more than to tend to their hill farms and pastures, they keep their spears with their ploughs and crooks, prepared to be levied for war at any moment. No one in Aberfoyle wants to be invaded, of course, but they hold a deep pride in their ongoing sovereignty in the face of so much opposition. They are tough as nails, and will stand free forever. Within this paradigm, Aberfoyle is an extremely pastoral society. The people deeply revere their highlands, both as a bulwark against the many invasions they've faced, and as a provider for their herds and limited farming. This has led to an abiding tradition of druidry and worship of the natural world rather than higher powers. There is no organized religion in Aberfoyle, but each community usually has at least one druid, and larger settlements will have conclaves which give counsel to the local lords. === Government === There is virtually no stratification among the landed nobility of Aberfoyle, for nobility in Aberfoyle has only three ranks: The ruler is a king or queen, anyone with land is an earl, and anyone else of noble lineage is simply a lord or lady. The monarch rules with the consent of the earls, who form a council that advises and, when necessary, controls the monarch. Among the earls, there is very little difference in status. While some are more prominent thanks to the larger territories they control or the richness of their territories, an earl is an earl. Each hold an equal voice on the council, and they treat each other with respect. There is no open warfare between earls, since this is seen as culturally taboo and other earls will come to the defense of the attacked party to right the perceived injustice. The monarch of Aberfoyle is not heriditary. When the previous monarch dies or abdicates, the council convenes and elects a new monarch from among their ranks. The role of the monarch is mostly administrative, presiding over the council. The council decides on matters of national importance such as common law and international trade, but for the most part, the administration of each earl's land is left up to them. The only exception to this is during times of war, during which all earls must levy a portion of their peasants and the monarch becomes the absolute ruler of the united army. But once the threat is eliminated, the peasants return to their territories and the monarch returns to their usual role === Inhabitants === The majority of Aberflannish work in some sort of agricultural role, most serving as shepherds or farmers. Craftsmanship and refining is not looked down on per se, and there is certainly no shortage of mining and metallurgy thanks to the need for arms, but a shepherd is thought of as a much more noble profession than a blacksmith. Aberflannish have fair skin and usually brown or red hair. Most Aberflannish wear warm woolen clothing to fight the highland chill, with leather being used for sturdier outfits. Nobility keeps to this trend as well, with status and wealth generally being demonstrated by wearing fur instead of wool for warmth. ==== Geography ==== === Climate === Aberfyole has a temperate oceanic climate with mild summers and cold winters. The weather is rarely extreme, but there is frequent rain and snow thanks to its island nature. === Ecology === Aberfoyle consists mostly of rugged terrain with few forests. The local ecosystem has been severely impacted by centuries of deforestation and the clearing of terrain for use as pastures and farms. What little natural wildlife remains is often at the highest peaks. === Landscape === Aside from some lowlands near the coasts, virtually all of Aberfoyle consists of highlands, ranging from large hills to mountains. ===== History ===== //To be discovered.// ===== Religion ===== ==== Deities and Philosophies ==== ^Philosophy^ ^Type^Alignment (allowed)^Domains^Symbol^Favored Weapon| |Aberflannish Druidry|Druids|Philosophy|TN (NG, LN, CN, NE)|Nature|Thistle|Club| === Druidry === While not an organized religion, the practice of druidry is widespread in Aberfoyle. The average person knows as much about druidic practices as the average people of other nations know about the religious practices of their pantheons, and the holidays of Aberfoyle center on natural events like the beginnings of seasons. Druids are as respected in Aberfyole as priests are in other areas, though druid circles are highly localized and have no national presence within Aberfoyle. During rare times where there is an Archdruid, though, the disparate druids become united towards a common goal, usually the repulsion of an invasion (it was the Archdruid Deòiridh who finally ended the Renazzan occupation of Aberfyole 600 years ago, for example). ==== Trivia ==== Despite the frequent invasions of Aberfoyle by Alda, the two nations are closely linked diplomatically and economically. Alda imports a large amount of wool from Aberfoyle, and most specialty goods in Aberfoyle are imported from Alda rather than manufactured locally. Political marriages between Aberflannish and Aldan lords near the border of the two nations are also not uncommon.