AROGANSA (Kingdom of)
Location: South central rim of the floating continent of Alphatia, south of Theranderol, east of Greenspur and west of Eadrin. HW
Area: 135,183 sq. mi. (350,125 sq. km.).
Population: 138,000, including Bluenose (pop. 45,000). [Population figures are tentative, pending census. Ed.]
Languages: Alphatian (Arogansan dialect).
Coinage: Alphatian Standard: crown (gp), mirror (sp), judge (cp). Arogansa also mints platinum argers worth 50 gp each and electrum porpoises (ep).
Taxes: 15% income tax on everyone of servant status or higher. Slaves are counted as the property of the owner and the product of their labour is taxed as income for the owner. Hospitality industries catering to tourists have additional taxes-lodging taxes per diem are imposed, as are meal taxes at restaurants. These are low as a percentage of the total cost, but due to the volume of tourism used to bring in much revenue. With tourism sluggish lately, the revenue has declined, and the queen is said to be interested in finding means of making up the shortfall.
Government Type: Monarchy, member of the Alphatian Empire.
Industries: Agriculture, tourism, exploitation of magic.
Important Figures: Detteria Scarback (Queen, human, female, M19).
Flora and Fauna: See Alphatia.
Further Reading: Dawn of the Emperor boxed set, previous almanacs.
Description by Zweibelterm.
Arogansa is a true and proper Alphatian kingdom, second only to my own fatherland of Haven in refinement and taste. Arogansa places almost too firm a hand upon the servile masses, but at least they know to keep them in their proper place, unlike uncouth Stonewall. Still, I find the punishments a bit too harsh, but at least the commoners know to take them as their due, and do not express any of the unbecoming insolence that is sometimes tolerated elsewhere by less vigilant aristocrats.
This
proper, enthusiastic application of the norms has made this kingdom one of the
richest in all Alphatia. Its fine
forests and rich plantations are cultivated by suitably submissive slaves and
servants. The beaches overlook the vast
span of the Hollow World as it spins beneath us, a vision kept to the gaze of
those with the taste to appreciate it, because the untalented, who aren't able
to protect themselves with levitation
or flight, may plummet to a deserved
death if they get too ardent in looking upon this vista. Estates and villas of the aristocrats dot
the scenic countryside, abodes of the prosperous elites and keeping watch over
their dependent minions. Qinn of Arkan
has failed to see the tourism possibilities inherent in his kingdom around
Crystal Lake and develop them for those with discerning tastes, but even now
the more visionary and insightful Arogansans are contemplating how to revive
tourism in their nation, which has fallen off considerably on account of the
sudden disappearance of the azure seas.
While the queen is more interested in military matters, others in
Arogansa have turned their attentions to solving the problem of slumping
trade. Truly, with such leadership,
Arogansa will continue to prosper for the foreseeable future. [Unless
one is an Alphatian wizard, Arogansa is probably a place to avoid. It used to have beautiful beaches, but I've
always found that Arogansa's harsh treatment of those already punished by lack
of magic to be too extreme. The lower
classes are already disadvantaged enough without rules like these adding to
their misery, and the aristocracy of Arogansa really show no mercy for the less
fortunate, I think. Now that those
beaches are gone, there really is no reason to go there, except if one wishes
to witness just how extreme Alphatian wizards can sadly become. Aritmanes.]