Biesen

Official Name	Kingdom of Biesen
Capital	Biesen
Government	Monarchy
Population	3,016,000
Dominant Race	human
Dominant Culture	Shwazen
Dominant religion	Faith of Nesra
Flag

Biesen is the 2nd largest realm in Auseka, and the only one still formally at war with Vericum. It has a short border with the empire, which has been frozen in a standoff for years now.

The realm is a double-monarchy with two kings of equal authority, represented by the two two crowns on its flag.

Biesen is also famous for having completely outlawed the use of magic by private citizens or foreigners. Only mages sworn to the king may legally use magic in Biesen, and the penalties for even the smallest unsanctioned spells are harsh.

These are not the only things that Biesen has in common with its eastern neighbour, the theocracy of Schap. Both are of the same cultural heritage, the Shwazen culture, with Biesen having a slightly stronger northern influence. Like Grasalia to the west, Biesen is a northern country with long and cold winters, and especially its northern coast is relatively cold even in summer.

Population

The humans of Biesen are a rough, northern but very friendly type of people, and welcoming of most outsiders. With borders towards both elven Afarwaha and dwarven Alheimia realms, the people of Biesen are considerably less racistic than most humans, and considerable minorities of both elves and dwarves as well as gnomes have settled within the realm. In fact, these foreign races even get seats in guilds and city councils as if they were humans, something not common in all realms of Auseka.

The standing of elves in Biesen is somewhat dependent on the current diplomatic relations to Afarwaha, and the recent century has been one of warfare and standoffs, greatly reducing both the number and reputation of elves within Biesen in consequence. This is most clearly felt in the western regions, but even in the south and east, elves are viewed with some suspicion at the current time. This has not always been the case, and historic records, folk songs and tales are all evidence of a more friendly general attitude towards the pointy-eared.

Economy

Biesen is a prosperous realm, and what it does not have on its own territory, it imports. Especially high-quality metal from its dwarven neighbours in Alheimia is very common in Biesen, and along the border are many villages with excellent blacksmiths.

Only the north-west of Biesen is a poor, backwater and mostly rural area, as the treacherous seas do not allow for large trading ships and the distance by land is considerable, with the roads frozen in winter and muddy throughout most of the rest of the year.

One unusual fact of economy within Biesen is that for reasons lost to history, anything related to fish enjoys a reduced tax rate. This has led to a few unusual trade practices - for example, almost every ship made is officially a fishing boat, even if it has three masts and a compartment for soldiers and horses.

Politics

Unlike its neighbour to the south, Fonticia, Biesen has a fairly simple feudal hierarchy.

• At the top are its two Kings, ruling over all of the realm.
• Answering only to the kings are the Earls, who govern one or more of the 59 provinces of the kingdom.
• Most earls have several Barons under them, who rule parts of their provinces, often one or two towns or castles and the surrounding villages.
• Village Elders and Town Majors form the local administration and answer to the barons.
• Barons occasionally appoint Vogts either to rule a small area of their domain in their name, such as when a part of their lands are difficult to reach or need special attention.
• Localized or travelling Sheriffs and Judges enforce the law and hold minor court, while the barons themselves typically hold court every few weeks.

History

History in Biesen is not counted by the kings, as the double monarchy would make such counting difficult and confusing. Instead, Biesen has a unified calendar counting from the founding of the monarchy in 212 BV. So in the Biesen calendar, the current (67 AV) year is 279.

In all other things, Biesen timekeeping follows the Tallian timekeeping (10 hours of day, 10 hours of night) and the Shwazen calendar of 13 months, 4 weeks to a month and 7 days to a week, though in Biesen weeks are rarely given much consideration and dates are given only with the day of month and the month (plus year, if needed).

This page is still incomplete and missing content or details that are planned, but have not been added yet.

Foreign Relations

Biesen has a long-standing feud with its western neighbour, the elven realm of Afarwaha, and for centuries there have been wars between the realms. With the elven insistance on magic and traditional elven ways, it is unlikely that a reconciliation is in the near future. At the moment, the relations are cold, with troops stationed along the borders and minor battles, but few large-scale engagements. The elves are especially fond of launching raids into Biesen territory, and they are feared for their cruelty among the population.

Laws

Among other things, dark blue and red colors in clothing are reserved for the nobility. Anyone not a noble found wearing such colors will be stripped of all clothes and other possessions and thrown from a boat into the middle of the nearest river or lake, or near the coast a good 50m from the shore. As not everyone knows how to swim, and especially in winter, this can be a death sentence. If rivers or lakes are frozen over, a hole at least 3-4 m wide will be made and the perpetrator thrown into that. Again, depending on thickness of ice and personal ability, not everyone survives.

This page is still incomplete and missing content or details that are planned, but have not been added yet.

Current Events

A political crisis is on the verge of emerging in Biesen in 67 AV. One of the two kings, King Amartad is a widower with two daughters. The laws of the monarchy and succession were set down in writing in 19 BV, after having existed in unwritten form for much longer. When they were put down, the wording says that the oldest male heir inherits the crown, then his brothers, then the "closest other kin in the line of the late king". But King Amartad has no living male relatives who qualify for this. No sons and no brothers could claim the throne. His oldest daughter Dauphina has on several occasions dropped hints that she considers herself eligable, given that the words of the law do not specify that this "other kin" has to be male. Rumours have it that she did so on the advise of her husband Prince Korborino, who to make matter worse, is a Fontician, and thus a foreigner. Even worse, she would not be a "late king", and thus leave the succession again in troubled waters upon her death. Needless to say, the courtiers are worried. Many are now asking the king to marry again, despite his age of 61 summers, and hope for a son. So far, the king himself has been silent on the matter, as has the second king of Biesen.

Provinces

	Capital	Population	Area	Ruled by
Basco	Perne	139,600	8,556	Krosin
Colle	Colle	203,000	15,660
Eviklopen Island	Eviklopen	10,200	1,032
Thinvipia		2,500	148