Devin

Geography

Devin is situated in the northwestern corner of the continent of Karn, bordered on the north by the mountains along the sea, the west by the -western sea-, east by Sha'Dar, and south by the wild elf lands.

The land is heavily wooded along the eastern and southeastern sides. Significant farmable land in the central, south, and southwest, although this changes to marshes along the seaside. The northwestern coast is the only section of cost viable for ports, although there is only limited trade conducted through the two ports that exist there. The northern mountains are somewhat lower and warmer than the frozen north of Trevas, however still inhospitable. The plentiful ore deposits in the mountains still attract plenty of speculators, however conditions are harsh enough that mass mining has never been set up north of the southern slopes.

Politics

There are seven dutchies in Devin, although only 3 with significant political power. (Chanass, Jaduun, Euna) Devin had been engaged in open hostilities with Koolong for almost 100 years. The war ended the day Ojo Kusanagi defeated Devin decisively in the battle that raised her to Ojo. Rather than pushing Koolong's advantage, she offered terms of peace, and mutual trade between Sha'Dar, Devin, and Koolong. Relations between the two sides are still strained as 100 years of conflict cannot be forgotten overnight, but peace envoys have been sent to normalize relations.

Chanass

(Cha nass) Located on the extreme eastern border of Devin, Chanass has few natural resources. The region provides little in the way of locally grown food, and no substantial mining operations. Despite this, Chanass is one of the major powers in Devin. It's proximity to Sha'Dar means it controls all trade external to Devin. Chanass' primary source of revenue is tolls and tax on the trade passing from other dutchies to Sha'Dar. The income is mostly used to fund an extensive force that spends most of it's time trying to catch smugglers, or protect the eastern border from Koolong incursion. To the other Duchies, Chanass is looked on more as an unpleasant doorman that is a necessary evil to put up with, however the Devin Accords state that each of the Duchies must provide military aid to protect the sovereignty of Devin, which results in Chanass having the most substantial military of the duchies as well as levied soldiers from the other duchies. As such it is the only Duchy to value military service with noble standing. Nobles often hold (or have purchased) commissions in the officer corp and view their military rank as important to their social standing as their family line.

Chanass is second only to Jadoon in magical expertise due to their sharing of magic and technology with factors (legally or illegally) in Sha'Dar as well as unique knowledge from the region itself. Chanassian airships are considered the best in Devin, and magitech weapons were pioneered by Chanassian spellcasters.

Jaduun

(Jad oon) Located in Northeastern Devin, Jaduun is 70% woodland and 30% mountains. Their claim extends to the ocean to the north, however they are incapable of actual enforcing that claim. Jaduun's political climate is perpetually tense. Jaduun is the oldest Duchy in Devin, having been established in the mists of time after the collapse of the Wild Elf Empire. Fleeing wild elves and their human slaves ended up interbreeding forming a race of half-elves. When they fled, they took numerous sorcerous artifacts and books which they used to survive in the difficult environment. The most influential family in the region, the Jaduun, were particularly gifted with Stygian sorcery and the most powerful oligarchs discovered a means to gain immortality through Stygian rituals to transform themselves into Liches. Seeking more power for their family, they began granting the transformation to loyal family members more frequently, until most of the family was being turned at their age of majority. As the family did not age, they began to expand and over the thousands of years have become not a family, but a race. The Lichborne are most commonly found in Jadoon, but they have spread throughout Devin. The Lichborne have confined their travels to Devin, as whatever power lends them immortality seemed located in the region. Traveling out of the area requires them to bring portable magical power sources to sustain their unlife.

Duke Janiri Jadoon and his wife Draveene are the current rulers of Jadoon. They are ancient oligarchs who trace their lineage directly to the original founders of the Duchy. Jadoon is a major force in Devin politics, however the Lichborne spend as much time plotting against each other, or involving themselves in Stygian politics as they do working for control over the Duchies. Jadoon has developed an upper society of intricate maneuvering, machinations, and undead smiles. They are known for elegant, and lavish attire, and have the strongest necromancy in the region. They regularly use Revenants as servants such as porters or butlers, which unnerves the rest of Devin, but has become invaluable in clashes with Koolong.

Euna

(Ee oo na) Located in south central Devin, Euna has extensive farmlands, and is thus the breadbasket of the country. Euna is one of the primary powers in Devin, generating the bulk of the food, and goods enjoyed by the other Duchies. Dutchess Tiada gained her seat through her marriage, thanks to her beauty that is starting to fade with age. Her much older husband died of old age long since, leaving her to rule with her surprisingly clever grasp of economics. Tradesmen prosper under her rule, and the effect on the whole populous is substantial, so the only significant threat to her is from exterior sources.

Euna has somewhat less high society than Chanass or Jaduun, embroiling itself largely in internal economic squabbles between noble families. The currency of power in Euna is information, with the right word leaked at the right time changing the fortunes of entire lineages for generations. Perhaps the only region in Devin that values a gala more than Chanass is Euna, for it provides the best opportunity to negotiate valuable mercantile arrangements, or spy on the arrangements being made by others.

Dutchess Tiada never bore any children, and the succession is something that is quietly talked about in libraries and studies, although no one believes that it will come to an open break, or that it is going to come soon. The general consensus is that she will provide appoint an appropriate heir that can manage the economic power she developed. Indeed, there is some relief that she has the freedom to do that instead of being forced to pass it to a child that might be incapable. Upper society is more lower crust than other dutchies, with money being more important than bloodlines, and as the fortunes of tradesmen come and go, the players change frequently. They put up with her petty whims in social events. Her economic skills is really the only thing that they evaluate in her.

Kuuln

(Kuln) Located in northwestern Devin, Kuuln is a mix of woodlands, farmland, and part of the northern mountains. Kuuln is ruled through force of will by Duke Sundast. The people generally accept him as their sovereign, with fear more than respect being the social mood toward him. However, the political power of Kuuln is low, as it's primary advantage isn't that valuable to the area: port access to the ocean to the west. If shipping trade were ever to begin regularly reaching this side of the continent from elsewhere in the world, Kuuln would rapidly gain in power.

Duke Sundast is the oldest of the sovereigns, however only his third and last wife was able to bear him an heir, Singress, a young man just coming of age. None of Sundast's wives have survived marriage long, each succumbing to a sickness that is rumored to be lingering in the stones of his castle. Most upper society avoids him, politely declining invitations where they can get away with it. The men are superstitious of the rumors, but not frightened since only women have seemed to die from the illness. The pressure of their spouses however, is significant.

Vast

Located in the southwestern edges of the farmland, Vast, or Devin Vast as they like to call themselves, has few established towns and only a single city, thanks to extremely limited resources. Their farmland is more high desert, and they have virtually no forestry. The name of the dutchy is usually spoken ironically, but they are mostly left alone. Lacking resources, they have turned mostly to knowledge, although what knowledge is something formed of more rumor than fact. The Duke of Vast is a reclusive sort with limited control over his region, and an honorary title at best.

High Lanav

Located in the northern mountains, this is a dutchy in name only, formed by miners and prospectors that felt that since claims on the mountains could not be enforced, they were free to establish themselves. None of the other dutchies recognize it as legitimate, and they have no power to correct that. Miners tend to be reclusive in nature, and even getting a group of them to meet is difficult. High Lanav ends up being the name for a geographical area, rather than a political entity. There is no established Duke or Duchess of Lanav.

Economy

• Euna is the strongest of the dutchies economically, as they provide almost half the food to Chanass and Jaduun, and almost all of the food to the others, plus a substantial amount of food to Sha'Dar.
• Jaduun's primary exports are crafted goods (magical mechanical), mineral and woods, both raw and crafted. Much of the metals and valuable ores end up going to Sha'Dar, with the price gouging to the other dutchies in limited quantities being the only real exception.
• Kuuln's best resource is also unfortunately the least desired. Fishing ends up being their biggest revenue source, as the only seafood source for Devin, and much of Sha'Dar, however the distance from Sha'Dar makes getting fresh fish there very difficult and costly.