Esterhold (Republic of) and Draeh (City-State of)
Location: Large peninsula west of the Jennite lands, north of Minaea, continent of Skothar. SK
Area: Approximately 1,000,000 sq. mi. (2,590,000 sq. km.), including Blackrock 100,000 sq. mi. (259,000 sq. km.) and the "Free City of Draeh" 126,000 sq. mi. (326,340 sq. km.); the rest is mainly wilderness with scattered Alphatian settlements on the southern coast and Jennite tribes in the interior.
Population: 180,000 including Blackrock (pop. 58,000), the territories of Draeh (pop. 103,000), Port Marlin (pop. 10,000 residents and 4,000 refugees), Rock Harbor (pop. 5,000). Cities include Skyfyr (pop. 13,000) in Blackrock and Draeh (pop. 36,000) in what was once Verdan. An unknown number of "free" Jennites also live on the peninsula. The town of Anchorage was destroyed and its population slain or scattered.
Languages: Alphatian (Arogansan dialect) and Jennite.
Coinage: Alphatian Standard: crown (gp), mirror (sp), judge (cp). Barter common among the "free" Jennites.
Taxes: Alphatian-held lands have a 15% income tax and an import/export tax of 2% on magical items and components, and 1% on all other goods (Naycese kingdoms, Karameikos and Thyatis excluded). 20% of tax revenue goes to the imperial treasury. No official taxes among the Jennite tribes, all are expected to serve community interests. Revolutionary Council in Draeh have instituted communal system of exactions, where everything belongs to their state/community, with requisitions "according to means" and dispensations "according to need."
Government Type: Blackrock is a monarchy with nascent republican institutions. Draeh is ruled by a revolutionary council. Rock Harbor and Port Marlin are part of the Republic of Esterhold. The Jennites are governed by tribal councils.
Industries: Military, light agriculture, herding, hunting (free Jennites), fishing, logging (southern coast). Mining (rich) was once a major industry but the strife has closed the mines.
Important Figures: Favian Vern (President), Talin (Jennite Leader).
Flora and Fauna: Scrub bushes, tough grasses, bactrian (two-humped) camels, wild asses, horses, gazelles, antelopes in the uplands; humanoids scattered in the broken hills and mountainous areas. Taiga along the southern coast has deciduous and evergreen forests, moose, elk, bears, wolves, mountain lions and some deer as well as orcs, goblins, trolls, ogres, ettercaps, and especially rabbits, all of which are prey for the feared and legendary Esterhold Devil.
Further Reading: Dawn of the Emperor boxed set, previous almanacs.
Last Year's Events: After many
battles between Alphatian and Jennite forces, Anchorage was razed, like many
smaller settlements of the peninsula, while Faraway and Rock Harbor were
evacuated. The former was occupied by
the Jennites, who did not agree about the city's future; the latter was
deserted as the mines of Southrock were closed. The city of Skyfyr was
under siege for a long time but did not fall, while the Province of Marlin
experienced indecisive skirmishes. The
future of Esterhold remained uncertain.