Vyalia (County of)
Location: Southeastern corner of the continent of Brun, along the eastern border of Karameikos and the Kerenda River, north of Machetos and south of the Altan Tepes Mountains. OW
Area: 5,268 sq. mi. (11,853 sq. km.).
Population: 30,500 (60% human, 40% elven, some hin) including the towns of Foreston (pop. 5,100) and Greenheight (pop. 1,000).
Languages: Thyatian (Thyatian dialect), Elvish (Vyalia dialect).
Coinage: Thyatian Standard: emperor (pp), lucin (gp), justiciar (ep), asterius (sp), denarius (cp).
Taxes: 20% income tax collected quarterly on the aristocracy, nobility, and wealthy; 15% income tax collected quarterly on everyone else (Va. 1, Ya. 1, Fy. 3, and Ei. 1). Thyatians abroad must still pay their taxes. Expensive and magical items are also taxed 25% of their worth. 10% imperial commercia sales tax on all goods except food, clothing, and fixed assets; levied on imports, rebated on exports. Tax on slave owning equal to 50% of the slave's value annually. Property tax levied based on quality of land, roughly 6% of its value annually.
Government Type: Dominion, member of the Thyatian Empire.
Industries: Light agriculture, crafts (especially woodworking, carving), fishing, magic, military, shipbuilding, textiles
Important Figures: Yldysyl Greenheight (Count), Larandia Lymianoporus (Lady, Head of the Order of Foresters), Alexiana Hierydyl (Loremistress), Formosos Treeshield (Warden Marshal).
Flora and Fauna: The majority of Vyalia's territory consists of rolling hills, but the southern, settled portion is based in the forested valley around the Kerenda River. These consist mainly of immense, ancient redwood groves, but also of cedar, mahogany, and teak carefully cultivated for woodworking use, and peach, pear, orange, and cherry fruit trees in cultivated orchards. The woods are filled with many animal species, both game and predators; wolves, boars, deer, elk, and other forest creatures roam the area. Pegasi, griffons, rocs, ruby, gold, and white dragons as well as other aerial creatures are used as mounts occasionally.
Further Reading: Dawn of the Emperors boxed set, DDA1 Arena of Thyatis, DDA2 Legions of Thyatis, previous almanacs.
Last Year's Events: None to report.