Pimevico
National Symbol: Fluer-de-Lis.
National Colors: Lavender and White
78% Human (Italian Ethnic Backgrounds)
18% Halfling
4% Gnome
80% Organized
20% Agnostic
(Monarchy System of Government) Montia is a city state style government ruled by a Grand Duke and Duchess who were the stewards to the former King. When the royal family failed to produce an heir and subsequently passed away from old age, the Duke took control of the state and the Grand Duchy was formed. For all intents and purposes, the country is still governed like a monarchy even though the throne is now more symbolic than actually sat upon. Law and order all stems from the Duke, and is managed by the lesser dukes and duchesses in the outlying provinces.
Badlands: Hostile
Cenovia: Neutral
Commonwealth of Dail: Friendly
Eldarian Union: Neutral
Elven Triumvirate: Neutral
Empire of Grundar: Neutral
Golden Dwarves: Neutral
Granelian Protectorate: Neutral
Hassarian Oligarchy: Neutral
Highlands: Neutral
Ichi Shogunate: Neutral
Idelan Republic: Neutral
Iron Dwarves: Neutral
Kingdom of Aldania: Friendly
Naga’s Landing: Hostile
Orc Horde: Hostile
Sahalan Sultanate: Neutral
Shaneier Elves: Neutral
Steel Dwarves: Neutral
Taisan Khanate: Neutral
The Dark Covenant: Hostile
Theocracy of Vespa: Friendly
Undying Lands: Hostile
Wolven Marches: Hostile
Currency is minted with a Fleur-de-Lis icon on it
Gold (gp) is used to buy luxury goods and high-end services
Silver (sp) is used to buy common quality goods and skilled labor
Copper (cp) is used to buy basic supplies goods and food
Average costs
Basic Food items: 1-3 copper
Luxury Food items: 10-15 copper
Basic Drinks: 1-3 copper
Luxury Drinks: 5-10 copper
Basic clothing: 25-50 copper
Average clothing: 25-50 silver
Luxury/High End clothing: 10-15 gold
Basic Lodging (Common Inn): 5-10 silver per night
Comfortable Lodging (High End Inn): 20-25 silver per night
Luxury Lodging (Private room with bath): 50-100 silver per night
Opulent/Noble Lodging (Private suite with multiple rooms): 10-15 gold per night
Transportation (Rented wagon/carriage): 10-15 silver per km
Weapons and Armor: Use Item costs
Montian architecture is best described as Renaissance era Italy. The style is characterized by ornate decorative facades covered with decorative designs, chandeliers, fantastic creatures and all sorts of configurations. Structures tend to favor Gothic-inspired or Roman style layouts, and are ornate. Towns and villages have heavy use of stone, wood, marble, and terracotta materials to achieve the signature look of Montia.
Montians value high class clothing even amongst those who can’t normally afford it. Almost all of their clothing is either silk, velvet or high-quality leather. Colors can vary and styles also are equally diverse but the most important factor in Montian clothing is the quality, which is meant to both last and impress.
Typical cuisine includes heavy use of wheat based pastas, vegetables, dairy, oils, and herbs. Meal times are a family affair that everyone must attend and food is an extremely prevalent part of Montian culture. Drinks are usually fruit or tea leaf based, and alcohol is dominated by fine wines. Montians are known throughout the world as the best wine makers, and they take special pride and care into the making of their wine.
Music: Montian music heavily favors stringed instruments like violins and lutes. Operatic singing is also highly applauded. Most Montians enjoy sophisticated compositions that involve multiple instruments at the same time and want their music to tell a story without words.
Literature: A highly literate society Montia is home to many libraries and archives. It is not difficult to find books, tomes, and manuscripts on a wide variety of things. Where their literature really shines is in romanticized storytelling. Everything from fictional epics, to sordid romantic affairs the authors in Montia love to pen books that are meant to both inspire and entertain.
Entertainment/Theater: Montian entertainment centers around concerts, operas, and tournaments. The Duchy has at least one of those three things going on at least once a month and it provides a source of national pride that many citizens love to gossip and talk about.
The Grand Duchy of Montia is early renaissance so technology is just in the early stages of steampunk. Citizens of Montia welcome any technology that assists with farming or the trades. Magic is also widely accepted as a form of daily life supplement so long as it is not being used for destructive purposes.
After the great war that wiped out much of the elven and dwarven populations, a large expanse of territory of what would eventually turn into Montia became uninhabited. What started as simple tribal humans that the elves treated like curious savages eventually matured into a thriving farming and textiles civilization. Due to their proximity to High Elven influence, Montia adopted many of the governmental practices and taste for finer things that their elven counterparts were using at the time. Because of the initial tribal nature of Montians, much of their traditions centered around the core concepts of family. To the level that a royal family was eventually accepted as stewards of the realm. For centuries the royals ran the country in peace and prosperity, advancing farming and textile production to unparalleled standards and growing wealthy off the exports. Of which their wines and fine clothing in particular are still coveted worldwide. In recent history, tragedy struck the nation in the form of a plague, that affected the whole nation for several years. The plague also took the lives of the entire royal line, leaving them without a king or queen. Several powerful families vied to become the new ruling power, but to avoid infighting, a council of the most powerful families held a meeting and selected the current Duke and Duchess to assume power. Essentially a king and queen in everything but name, the new ‘royal family’ now spends much of its time arbitrating between the noble families, running the country, and trying to advance magic and technology research. The Grand Duchy of Montia as it stands now, is thriving farming and textiles nation, that centers around family and chivalric traditions.