Alpha (Kingdom of)
Location: Continent of Brun, peninsula on the south shore of the Great Bay. NW
Area: 9,478 sq. mi. (24,550 sq. km.).
Population: 90,000, including 2,000 hin.
Languages: Alphatian, Elvish (Shiye-Lawr dialect), Lalor, Heldannic, Thyatian.
Coinage: Alphatian Standard: crown (gp), mirror (sp), judge (cp). Coins of many other nations are in common circulation here.
Taxes: 20% income tax on everyone of servant status or higher, and an import/export tax of 2% on magical items and components, and 1% on all other goods (Naycese kingdoms, Karameikos and Thyatis excluded). 10% of tax revenue goes to the Naycese treasury, and an additional 10% is spent on military forces in the name of the confederation.
Government Type: Independent monarchy, member of Nayce, member of the Norwold Confederacy.
Industries: Agriculture (grows barely enough for its own use), fishing, logging, mining, and trapping.
Important Figures: Ericall (King), Christina Marie Alanira (Queen), Madiera (Magist).
Flora and Fauna: Alpha features the plants and animals one expects of the northern wilderness. The peninsula claimed by Alpha is devoid of monsters thanks to the Regent Pass, but cold-climate creatures (such as snow apes, white dragons, frost giants, frost salamanders, and sasquatches) fill the rest of Norwold, as well as several scattered goblinoid tribes.
Further Reading: CM1 Test of the Warlords, Dawn of the Emperors boxed set, previous almanacs.
Last Year's Events: The increased
presence of Thyatians was viewed by Ericall with mixed feelings at best, though
there was little he could do but acknowledge their presence and weave the best
relations possible. The power balance
has become uncertain, between not-so-powerful Alpha, the assertive Thyatians
and their Ostlander allies, the retreating Heldannic Knights and their civil
war, and the squabbling petty dominions.
Ericall was also annoyed with the Nayce and actually considered focusing
on his own Norwold Confederation. A
happy event brightened the year for Ericall, though, as Queen Christina Marie
Alanira gave birth to his heir, Prince Barikan.