Western Czaikow Hills, Free Province of
by Michael Berry
Area:
2184 sq. miles
Population:
AC 1000 – 10,220
AC 1014 – 9,198
Ethnic Groups:
Boldavian 67%, Flaem 32%, Other 1%
Selected Villages: (population values are given for AC 1000 and AC 1014)
Arsenyev: (1476/1189) is located approximately 24 miles southwest of the Tower of Palatinsk. This walled town is heavily fortified with gates, dry moat, and towers. It is the administrative center of the Free Territory but also a secondary defensive point in the defense of Boldavia and Glantri in case of invasion.
Cheboksary: (576/511) is a farming village sitting on the Dol-Anur River approximately 24 miles north southwest of Kutchevki.
Velikiye Luki: (275/259) is a small village in the hills 16 miles northeast of Rymskigrad. The village is a major collection point of the areas many salt mines and offers goods and services to those mines and their workers.
Government:
Propraetor appointed by the Council of Princes, for seven year renewable terms. Seat in Arsenyev.
Administrator:
AC1000: Propraetor Vasiley Chuikov (born AC 928, F15, AL-N) appointed AC 990, passed away AC 1003.
AC1014: Propraetor Anatoly Borzakovsky (born AC 948, M19, Fire Elementalist 3rd Circle, AL-Neutral, strong background as a military wizard) Appointed in 1010
The Free Territory is authorized by the Council to maintain a defense force independent of the Grand Army, though it often trains with and works in conjunction with Morphail's Divisions. In times of mobilization it would serve as the basis for the Glantrian 21st Reserve Division and be its 3rd and 4th Banners, as they were during the Great War. The cost of maintaining and paying the force is paid by the Free Dominion. The two banners are funded by a special sales tax on Vodka.
The 'Raven' Banner - 240 heavy Foot (F1) with long swords, daggers shields and chain mail; 8 sergeants (F2); 2 Lieutenants (F4) 1 captain (F5)
The 'Tornado' Banner - 240 mounted infantries (F1) with bows, long swords, daggers, banded armor; 8 sergeants (F2); 2 Lieutenants (F4) 1 captain (F5) riding normal horses.
House:
AC 1000: Igorov AC 1014: Igorov and Linden
The Propraetor of the Western Czaikow Hills Free Province (WCFP) has historically required strong close ties to House Igorov as Prince Morphail takes a very strong interest in the economic and military aspects of the lands around his Principality. A propraetor of the WCFP must be able to work closely with Prince Morphail both in peacetime and especially in times of war to coordinate defense of the Dol-Anur River valley. Propraetor Borzakovsky also maintains close ties with House Linden due to his half-Flaem parentage and being a fire mage.
Territory:
The WCFP is located east of Boldavia, running east to a point in the Czaikow Hills to the south of Vladimirov. It is bordered on the north by the mountains of the Eastern Wendarian Free Province and by the various dominions; and on the south by Ethengar and the river Dol-Anur.
Food:
Surplus. Generally sold to the nearby dominions, and exported to other parts of Glantri.
Trails/Roads/Rivers:
One trail of note runs through the WCFP: the Czaikow Roads leaving Rymskigrad and runs east through the WCFP through Arsenyev and into Palatinsk. After coming back into the WCFP from Palatinsk it skirts the mountins and continues into the Eastern Czaikow FP and eventually all the way to the border with Heldann. The trail is rated fair by Glantrian AAA but is considered a dangerous road to travel as its proximity to the border with the Ethengar makes it suspect to contact with Ethengarian raiders. Other poor trails radiate from Arsenyev: one goes to Ft. Tchernovodsk, another up towards Kutchevski, and another towards Pavlova. The Dol-Anur River is navigable to all river traffic up to Rymskigrad and is navigable to river boat traffic up to Cheboksary. It is not navigable to any river traffic upriver from Cheboksary.
Economics:
The WCFP is one of the most prominent, important, and prestigious assignments in the Glantrian government. Not only it is an important military assignment, Propaetors have traditionally been military-minded as well as being able administrators, but it is an economically vital and vibrant area even with its relative low population. The area has a high concentration of salt mines. The mines are primarily worked by convicts and slaves, the slaves usually being Ethengarians who were caught on the wrong side of the border. The Province provides a bounty of livestock, goats and cattle primarily. The main products of the WCFP are agricultural; potatoes, wheat, barley, cabbage, carrots, and rye are just the most important of many different products that come from the productive hills east of Boldavia. The forests of the northern hills provide a good supply of lumber and surplus lumber is often sent through the Scotch Breech to Klantyre.
Notable People:
Propraetor Anatoly Borzakovsky is of mixed Traladoran/Flaemish ancestory. After retiring from the Glantrian Army he was retained as a 'problem solver' by the Council of Princes where his talent as an administrator was noticed. He has previously served as the Propraetor of the Three Fires Free Province before being given a commission in the Glantrian Army as a Reserve Division Commander during the Great War. With the seemingly unstoppable advance of the Alphatians and the prospects of a showdown on Glantrian soil approaching his division was assigned to the Western Czaikow Hills to help Morphail defend the Dol-Anur River valley. An approach into Glantri expected to be taken by the Alphatians. Since the Great War and the demobilization of Glantri's Reserves the Anatoly was transferred back to the Glantrian Civil Service and assigned to the WCFP as Propraetor. The Province is relatively peaceful and the crime rate is low compared to the rest of Glantri. Much of that can be attributed to the harsh punishment for crime in the Province. There are no jails or penitentiaries in this region. Convicts are sentenced to work off their sentences in the salt mines, which can be taken to be a death sentence. The latest figures from the Commission of Public Safety in Glantri City estimate 1 of every 12 Salt mine workers dies in an average year.
Though administering the Province has been his primary duty, the Propraetor never loses sight of the fact that their traditional blood enemy is no more than a day and half's hard ride from Arsenyev and might strike at any time. Regular emergency drills among the towns able body citizens happen on the first Saturday of each month. Keeping the outlying militias active and trained in the rest of the rural Territories has also been a policy the Propraetor has made sure to have enforced. Borzakovsky has seen one thing in his Territory that concerns him, an apparent grass-roots movement against Prince Morphail. Posters have been found posted on walls in Arsenyev trying to stir people up and turn them against Prince Morphail. Not long after this campaign started the Propraetor received an official dispatch from Prince Morphail telling him that any of these 'terrorists' that were caught were to be sent directly to the Tower of Igorov for 'interrogation’. Borzakovsky has no real personal feelings on the matter but even if he did, his hands are tied anyway. His bound to serve the Prince, and Council of Princes, and suspects Prince Morphail is the ONE person in Glantri one does not want to anger or attempt to dupe.
Notable Sites:
Arsenyev is the center of administrative, economic and social life in the WCFP. Arsenyev is a strongly fortified village and is a centerpiece of the eastern half of Glantri’s 2nd line of defense in case of invasion up the Dol-Anur River valley. Inside the village is a large lively market where much of the goods produced in the WCFP pass through on their way to Rymskigrad. In case of war or emergency all men between 16 and 45 are required to serve in the militia. Many women also have volunteered for militia service as well. The village would be evacuated of anyone not serving in the militia noncombatants thus allowing the village to support a military force far exceeding its normal population.
The idea of exploring a salt mine might not strike some as being the best idea for a fun outing, but then, this isn’t just any salt mine that we are talking about here. The Wieliczka Salt Mine is a Mystaran UNESCO-listed site and it takes you on a journey that showcases what man and magic can achieve in 3 uninterrupted centuries of mining. In this case, the results are nothing short of amazing as this mining museum features lakes, statues, chambers, concert halls, corridors, sanatorium, caverns, and galleries totaling over 200 kilometers in length – all under the ground! The most remarkable structure here is a shrine to Prince Morphail, carved entirely from salt, which includes even the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.
Useful Links:
none...as of now.