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The nation of Avanne traces its history back hundreds of years to its status as a province of the Vicenan Empire. To be sure, it had long been home to many groups of people, but rarely if ever had these groups ended their warfare with one another long enough to form into a coherent whole before the armies of Vicena marched in and took over. Forced to deal with the more sophisticated Vicenan conquerors, the Avannais gradually became more like their governors. Enough so that as the influence of the Vicenan Empire waned during their struggles in the east against barbarian invaders, the Avannais demanded self-rule. Unable or perhaps simply unwilling to fight wars on both their eastern and western fronts, Vicena began to cede lands to the native Avannais until they became more and more independent. However, it is often more a struggle to overcome one's past.
As independence became more of a reality, the question of who should rule this newly-formed nation turned from a civilized debate quickly into internal warfare, with various men and women with enough power fought viciously with one another to take control of the nation and place themselves on a throne over their countrymen. While one family or another fought their way to the top on several occasions, it was not until Evran, Duke of Chalain, ascended to the throne in the year 916 that any continuity was reached. Evran, the eldest of ten and the only male child, placated his rival houses by marrying off his sisters and putting down potential rebellions -- often ruthlessly -- throughout his life. However, as he passed to the God and Goddess at the advanced age of 71, he delivered a strong throne to his son Evrard.
The throne has remained in the hands of the House of Chalain until the past three years, when King Giraut died without an heir at the age of 62. His lack of a son was certainly not for lack of trying. Giraut had three wives during his life, the first two cast aside for an inability to provide him with an heir, though rumors were whispered that the faul lay in his own seed, not in the fields he sought to sow them in. His health had been failing for several years before his death, but it didn't prevent him from taking a third wife in a final desperate attempt to produce an heir. The woman he chose, the elder daughter of the Duke of Chaveaux, was over forty years younger than he, and no one expected that an heir would come of this marriage either. The Queen Consort, Oriabel, was widely admired throughout Avanne, not only for her beauty and grace, but her promotion of the 'humanita amatora', or culture of love, a budding movement that values music, poetry, and the honoring of women beyond the traditional and conservative Orienite world-view. Imagine the surprise of the nation when it was learned Oriabel was with child. As could be expected, many believed that she had lain with another man, and was pregnant by him. The identity of the potential father was a matter of great debate and speculation for months, with a number of prominent Avannais men linked to the story during that time.
While the nation went in to mourning when Giraut succumbed to a wasting illness shortly before the titular heir to the throne was born, there remained an air of anticipation for the birth, and the people paid greater respect to Oriabel in any case. However, not all went as hoped. The childbirth was difficult, and both Oriabel and the child, a son, died as a result. It soon came out that the child might have been saved had the Vesperan priestess Lydina, a companion of the Queen Consort for several years, been allowed to administer her skills during the birth, but the Primate Avannum o the Orienite Church, Tavarus, a close counsellor to King Giraut barred her from attending to either mother or child. The throne was now empty, and the nation in shock and despair, furious over the intervention of the Orienite church in the matter, and the Vesperan church has been gaining in popularity ever since.
The throne remains empty to this day, with the great families of Avanne vying with one another to gain control of it, much as was the case when the nation became independent of Vicena. It is ever difficult to escape one's past.
Gesarien, the royal city of Avanne, is a city that reflects both the common themes of Avannais culture, society and faith as well as the inherent divisions. As a major seaport, it maintains something of a cosmopolitan air, with all nationalities and faiths represented to some extent, though not always with welcoming arms. It is important to remember that, in the end, Gesarien's -- and indeed Avanne's -- survival depends on trade, and the city caters quite willingly to those that participate in commerce. The manner in which this occurs depends on social class, naturally. While the commoners and to a significant extent the merchant class maintain brothels, taverns and other common forms of entertainment, the nobility follows suit, though in a more discreet and more polished fashion. Those that reside in Gesarien can be characterized above all by a love for life and a fiery independence.
Below you'll find a number of items that are important to know about the city of Gesarien and its environs, including information about the city guard, the governance of the city, and a bit about the major districts.
The City Guard
The city guard, recognizable by their blue and white tunics over simple leather armor, act as the crown's police force. These men are typically commoners and trained in the use of the short sword, though their typical weapon of choice is a club of one sort or another -- a slightly more peaceful resolution to a problem than a sword in the gut. There are constant whispers that the city guard is corrupt, though saying such out loud to a member of the guard is likely to get you at least the club over the head. The guard is loosely organized into patrols of two or three men assigned to various parts of the city, and overseen by an appointee of the crown.
The Empty Throne
After the tragic death of the Queen Consort, Oriabel, and her child, the throne has been empty. The responsibility for the governing of the nation has fallen to the Regent -- Count Meuran de Gasal, a distant cousin of King Giraut and formerly the head of the city guard. Never considered a particularly dynamic or ambitious man, he has nonetheless maintained a relative peace in Gesarien, even while the duchies of Avanne circle the empty throne waiting for the opportunity to seize it. Rumors have been heard that Meuran intends to take the throne for himself, though he has yet to consolidate enough influence outside the city itself to make a potential stay on the throne longer than a few days.
While the city suffered through a year of unrest after the death of the Queen Consort, it has since settled into the current state of peace, though an undercurrent of tension runs through much of the populace.
The Cecidia, or New City
At the founding of Gesarien by the Vicenan Empire several hundred years ago, the Rive Mirvil ran quite a bit lower than it does now. As a result, the first buildings erected on the islands that span the confluence of the river and sea were eventually destroyed by flooding. Later rebuilt, and again destroyed by flooding and the natural rise in the river, eventually the Cecidia was built to withstand the river's unpredictability. Today, there are no roads in this district -- at least none that one would walk on. The river acts as thoroughfare for those that travel in the area, and riverboats carry traffic from shore to shore and among the buildings of the Cecidia. One can pay a small fee to the ferrymen that operate in the district. Note that there is no set fee, and the ferryman will often charge based on what they think you can pay. Be prepared to be gouged. And if you decide that taking your own riverboat is a good idea, don't be surprised if you find it less than riverworthy when you return to it, and don't expect the powers that be to bear much sympathy for you.
There are countless secrets lurking in the Cecidia. No one -- certainly not the crown and the city guard -- know what all occurs there. Some places are exceptionally difficult to reach, given that the ferrymen control nearly all access to the district's nooks and crannies, and one can easily disappear for good into the Cecidia if one so desires and has the money to keep the secret safe. However, despite this apparent lawlessness, illegal activities remain rather quiet. Periodic forays by the city guard into the more secluded canals are little more than a token effort by the crown, and it's a poorly-kept secret that the "dignitaries" of the Cecidia pay rather hefty bribes to ensure it remains that way.
Montremarche, or the Old City
The valley that Gesarien occupies is tightly surrounded by rolling hills. It is these areas where one will find the estates of the nobility. This district is characterized by winding avenues and the increasingly ostentatious nature of the estates. The farther one gets from the palace at the center of the city, the more opulent the estate and the more powerful the family. It has become a status symbol among the nobility, the distance one must travel in the city to arrive at the palace to attend court, as the longer one is on the roads, the more opportunity one has to be seen. Not to mention the opportunity to see how those "less fortunate" might be gaining. The streets here are not patrolled by the city guard, though the estates themselves are often tightly secured by the noble's own soldiers from their country home.
City Squares
There are two main city squares in Gesarien. The eastern square, Apriciele Square, is primarily noted for the presence of the Cathedral of the Sun, the center of the Orienite Church in Avanne. This square is the older of the two, owing to the long history of Avanne as a traditional Orienite society. While the focus of the square is on the Cathedral, a great many things can be found in the square that are more secular in nature. Fine craftsmen maintain their shops here, and the nobility frequents these establishments on a regular basis. The square is lighted throughout the night, kept so by the Orienite priesthood to keep the night at bay. As a consequence, it is something of a safe region against thieves and others that require darkness to perform their unsavory duties.
Amnicoule Square, on the western bank of the river, by contrast, is where the Vesperan temples can be found. It has been noted by more than one observer that the holy grounds of the two warring faiths are directly opposite each other with the royal palace exactly in the middle. The Vesperan temples are less ostentatious than those of the Orienites, though they have had less time to become entrenched in Gesarien. It is primarily the commonfolk and the merchant class that occupy this square, though one often sees the younger nobility frequenting the inns that ply their trade on Amnicoule Square. One can almost always find music here, out of the disapproving eye of the Cathedral of the Sun and its priesthood.
The Docks
Seaports have docks. A lot of them. Gesarien is no different. Most of the southern edge of the city is dominated by them, where the Rive Mirvil meets the sea. There are places for the massive seagoing vessels as well as the smaller river trading boats, and the docks are a hive of activity almost constantly. Like certain parts of the Cecidia, less-than-legal activities often occur here, away from the central docks that are patrolled often by the city guard.
There are several levels of government in Avanne. The King or Queen, when one occupies the throne, rules from the capital city of Gesarien, though the power of the monarch's decrees fades the farther one gets from the capital. During times of a strong King or Queen, the court at the royal palace is the center of both political and cultural power, but in recent times with the vacant throne, that power has become diffuse, spread across the duchies.
The nation of Avanne is divided into five duchies, and the dukes and duchesses constitute the primary political powers at present. As such, they function something like five separate nations, though each maintains a strong presence in the capital city and at the royal court, as each vies for control of the throne. While the duchies are not technically at war, they are not technically friendly either, and the state of agreement or disagreement waxes and wanes often. The duke/duchess is typically more concerned with matters of importance to the nation as a whole and the duchy's place in it, while leaving more mundane day-to-day matters to their liegemen.
Each duchy is comprised of several counties, which are responsible for such matters as overseeing tax collection, agricultural production and military strength within their domains. Often, the count or countess will appoint nobles without lands to take care of these matters specifically, while he or she will take care of organizational details within the county as a whole and report to the duke or duchess. The counties are responsible for developing and maintaining the ducal military as well.
The governmental hierarchy, then, is as follows:
King or Queen, Duke or Duchess (duchy), Count or Countess (county), Marquis (typically has no land of one's own, commonly appointed to jobs within the county), Lord or Lady (of noble birth, but lacking land or specific job or title).
Beneath these are village councils, for those settlements too small to be of major importance. They are subject to the rule of the count or countess, but are often left to their own devices in minor matters.
The laws of the nation are enforced by the marquis assigned to the area first, for minor matters such as petty theft, assault, and so on. Capital crimes such as murder are dealt with by the count, unless the duke wishes to take a specific role in the matter. Crimes committed by or against a noble in relation to a commoner are always overseen by the count or duke, and are almost always decided in the noble's favor. Crimes committed by or against a noble in relation to another noble are overseen by the rank above the highest ranking man or woman involved.
Commoners are often punished by physical means: minor crimes -- between one commoner and another -- earn one a lashing, repeat offenses often punishable by branding or loss of a hand for theft. Major crimes -- commoner against a noble -- can be punished in the same manner, or by death if deemed severe enough, and the count or duke is the final arbiter on severity. Crimes between nobles are typically punished by jailing, and rarely ever by physical means except in unique or severe cases.
The Avannais tend toward dark hair, though those from the northern regions of the nation can be blond as well. Red hair is unusual, but not unheard of, and suggests some amount of northern blood somewhere in the person's lineage. Eye color is widely varied, though again it tends away from the lighter blues and greys toward browns and hazels. By contrast, skin tones are usually pale, though the commoners are often tanned from time spent outdoors, and tanned skin is considered a sign of common birth. As such, noblewomen often have the palest of skin, and frequently cover or shade themselves as much as possible when out of doors. The stigma of tanned skin does not hold as strongly for noblemen, but it does remain.
Introduction to Clothing
A difference in the social classes is most apparent in clothing and hair, both men's and women's Styles vary somewhat between the classes, but fabric and dyes are the most telling variations. Clothing for women covers arms and legs no matter the weather - the glimpse of a wrist or ankle is a rare and pleasant thing - while men of rank will show nothing beyond hands in public. The hair of a wedded noblewoman is either pinned up or covered with a veil, wimple, and gorget, with the associated hats and hairpins
Fabrics
The wealthy can afford anything and, therefore, their clothing is made of the more suptuous cloths: silks, brocades, velvets, linen...even cotton imported from Castana. By contrast, the rougher weaves of cloth - wool, roughly woven linen, and more rustic furs - are left to the lower classes. Merchants, most especially those who travel widely, can at times be seen with silks and cottons as well as finer weaves of wool and linen.
Colors
For colors, brilliant hues, particularly gemtones and metallic fabrics, are popular with the wealthy and nobility, from ruby red to emerald green and pearl white. Blue, of course, is the most difficult color to afford and is therefore reserved for the upper eschelon of nobility. Purple is restricted to royalty and those of ducal rank. The lower classes' clothing thus comprises the more muted colors, hues that are derived from common plants: sage greens, safflower yellow, pale berry reds, and the natural color of unbleached cloth. When practical and possible, clothing is embroidered to add color and texture, from blackwork on white undertunics to broad floral patterns on a gown's hem.
Women's Clothing and Hair Styles
Noblewomen wear gowns, period. A white chemise is requisite in winter but at times omitted, for the tight-sleeved style of the gowns presently in fashion allow no glimpse of flesh above the hand. Laces on the back or sides allow a close fit to the waist, which may be bound by a belt of fine leather or polished metal; the skirts below are full and fit to the ground. Most lower-class women also wear gowns, though tunics and skirts are not uncommon in villages, particularly with tavern workers. Footwear - if it is afforded - is a pair of ankle-high boots, rawhide for peasants and lambskin and doeskin for nobility. Unmarried women may wear their hair in braids or, for the more daring commoners, totally unfettered; the braids may be twined with lines of pearls or metallic cord. Married women, especially those of noble birth, always wear their hair confined in some manner when in public. Noblewomen typically arrange their hair atop their head or beneath a hat or veil, while those of more common birth often braid their hair. Like a bare wrist or ankle, unconfined hair is considered an incitement to desire.
Men's Clothing and Hair Styles
Tunics and breeches are the norm for noblemen and peasants. Short tunics, roughcut breeches, and heavy rawhide boots are for the common man. His hair is trimmed, though unevenly, and typically any post-pubescent has a beard. Currently noblemen in southern Avanne keep their hair short and faces clean-shaven, for such is the style, while those hailing from the northern duchies often sport a beard or goatee. While some older nobles wear the traditional knee-length tunic, breeches, belt and boots, younger ones have started a newer tradition of blousier tunics and woven leggings: tights. Caps are tricornered, sometimes sharply pointed to the front, and decorated with pins, feathers, and fur depending on what is affordable.
The Culture of Love
The 'humanita amatora', or 'culture of love', as practiced in Avanne, is an outgrowth of the nation's increasing independence of the rigid strictures of the Vicenan Empire and the Orienite Church, as well as cultural influences from Castana and their Lumite conquerors. So while the origins of this movement are not strictly Avannais in and of themselves, the Avannais people, specifically the nobility, have created something almost entirely of their own.
The Origins
The Orienite Church has, traditionally, had a dim view of relations between man and woman save for the purpose of procreation. As with the heavens, states Orienite doctrine, man is the primary earthly power, with woman subject to his rule. Marriage is by no means an product of love between a man and woman -- in fact, such things are commonly frowned upon -- but rather a method by which a man can produce children. A practicality, in essence.
Avanne has been, and for the large part remains, an Orienite nation, though distance from the holy city and stubborn inborn independence has long made the relationship between state and church a contentious one. While the Lumite invasion and occupation of Castana was prevented from continuing across the Mondrein Mountains into Avanne, the influence of both the Vesperan Church and the Lumite faith and their promotion of poetry, music and the arts has not been so easy to turn back.
The assimilation of these values into the Avannais consciousness began with not longer after the Lumite people tightened their hold on Castana, but it was not until about 45 years ago, when Prince Gerant, the heir to the throne of Avanne, was fostered in the Castanan court for two years at the age of 18, that they truly began to take hold. Finding the Lumite court in Castana to be a far more vibrant place, with poetry and song filling the air, the young prince grew to become a poet and musician in his own right. As he returned to his native land, he soon became known as a patron of the arts, encouraging musicians from across the nation to visit the court. As expected of him, the Prince soon took a wife, the Countess Galienne de Ambraud, and her presence in the court is arguably what brought about the explosion in this new culture. She was undeniably a beautiful woman, but in addition she possessed a keen wit and sharp intelligence, qualities her husband both valued and encouraged. The thirty-year reign of King Gerant and his Queen Consort Galienne cemented the place of the 'humanita amatora' in Avannais culture, continuing through the short reign of their son King Giraut and the tragic death of his young Queen Consort Oriabel.
The Tenets
Strictly applied, the culture of love applies to a romantic relationship between a man and a woman. By its nature and origins, this culture of love is practiced mostly by the nobility, though there are elements of it throughout Avannais society. Because it runs counter to Orienite doctrine, it is less prevalent in the more conservative regions, these being the rural areas and among the commoners.
These relationships are typically initiated by the man toward the woman of his desire, in the manner of a worshipful servant who pines for his love from afar. Gifts are sent, poems and songs composed to her beauty and grace, and other respects are lavished upon the woman as well. However, these efforts -- at least at the outset -- are done in secret. That is to say, the public aspects of this courtship, the poems and songs, are composed to an anonymous subject, so as to further enhance the excitement both for the lovers as well as those observing. The guessing games played to ascertain the subject of a song are profound entertainment among Avannais nobility.
These affairs, in addition, are often -- though are not required to be -- adulterous in nature. The Orienite view of marriage practically prohibits love between husband and wife, running directly contrary to the concepts of the culture of love. As such, many Avannais believe it improper to love one's spouse, that it is possible only to love one supposedly unattainable for moral reasons. However, the example set by Gerant and Galienne and their mutual love and respect for one another means that hardly all Avannais follow that particular belief.
Music and Poetry
The initial and continuing inspiration for this cultural movement was through the arts of music and poetry. As such, courtly love between a man and woman is not the only aspect of 'humanita amatora'. This 'love' extends to love of home, family and country, as well as the more abstract love of music and the spoken and written word. King Gerant's patronage of musicians initiated a now-widespread community of troubadours -- composers -- and joglars -- performers of those compositions. These men -- and some women -- often travel from court to court where they are treated quite favorably. Indeed, to deny the comforts of one's court, no matter how modest, to a travelling troubadour and joglar, is considered the basest of things among contemporary Avannais nobility, and very damaging to one's reputation.
Tournaments
It is a long-standing tradition for each duchy to hold an annual tournament at the town that surrounds their ducal capital. These tournaments are open not only to the knights of Avanne, but mercenaries and soldiers from all the nations as well. All tournaments, by order of the throne, have a requirement of peace -- in other words, fighting is okay on the tournament grounds, but outside of it, you're subject to the law of the crown, and that law is notoriously strict.
The tournament itself typically lasts over several days to a week, and events are held to test the prowess of the competitor in hand-to-hand combat, skill at archery, strength, agility, mounted combat (typically with the lance) and other events that are specific to one tournament or another. In times of peace, a fighting man's reputation is often made solely by his performance at tournaments. There is nothing requiring a knight or soldier of any nation to attend a given tournament, and the absence of a certain group or nation is often used to send a pointed message of tension in relations between that group and the host.
However, tournaments are not simply for the militarily minded. There are also prizes awarded to troubadours and their joglars, recognition from the duke or duchess as a testament to the artists' skill and talent. These are typically awards of money as well as some more abstract award. And, of course, where the soldiers of a nation go, there are often political matters to be discussed as well,between countrymen or between foreign dignitaries. More than one treaty has been signed or broken at the tournaments of Avanne.
The Common Class
The common folk outside villages and cities typically live in what is commonly called wattle and daub: a frame of timber that was filled with wattle (sticks and hay) that was then sealed with daub - mud - to form hard walls. These two- and three-room buildings dot the countryside outside of manors and the lower-class areas of the cities. Animals live in stick and mud stables or, on larger farms, in wattle and daub buildings. The poorest of folks have to live with their animals. And flooring is packed dirt. Always.
Servants that live within a castle or manor house sleep on the kitchen floor or other similar chambers, although such a living space is often better than their less fortunate cousins in the country.
Furniture is rough-hewn, often poorly made tables and chairs if any are actually evidenced. Beds are collections of furs and other coverings piled together on the floor. Though the structures are sound and keep out most of the weather, the environment is decidedly rustic.
The Privileged Class
Stone cottages with thatched roofs are the norm for those with money; the more money, of course, the larger the house, but the contents of the house likewise mark the degree of success of the owner. These cottages are well-constructed and heated with hearths that are vented by chimneys. Single-story cottages are the norm, but two-story houses have begun to emerge in the cities, owned by the very wealthiest of individuals who may also afford wooden flooring. Furniture is padded and more comfortable by far, better-made and decorated, sometimes carved - elaborately so. Wall hangings help keep heat inside in winter and, like other items in the house, are intended to show the comfortable state of the residents' lifestyle.
The Nobility
Castles and manor houses are the mark of nobility, handsomely made buildings constructed to endure for generations...and often requiring generations for completion. Those homes in the countryside are fortified, surrounded by walls and, at times, moats, and have cottages and huts for servants and support staff nearby. Ducal manors and castles also have their own temples for the family's chosen faith. In the city, nobility lives in the sprawling ducal or royal residences: in fact, the locations of a family's assigned rooms in the castles was a show of favor and importance. To be moved to larger rooms nearer the those of the lord of the castle was to be blessed, and a move to smaller accommodations was a certain sign of social and political downfall.
These castles are routinely wood-floored and, at times, have fresh rushes strewn across them for cleanliness. All large rooms have hearths, while the smaller rooms are heated with braziers.
Away from the seacoast, Avanne is a pastoral realm, so many of the goods produced reflect the abundance of farmland. The midlands are most especially known for expanses of grapevines, and as such one of the most popular and profitable enterprises is in the production of wine. The rich fields of those rolling hills are also known to produce high-quality grains; cloth woven from the flax grown in the realm is another quality product, and the mountain sheep along the western borders are known to grow some of the softest wools available.
The southernmost points of Avanne are dominated by groves that can, from certain vistas, stretch as far as the eye may see. In the warm climates of Duchy Bastine, olives are plentiful and exported across the realm and, indeed, to other kingdoms. Nuts, especially almonds, may also be found in this region. Farther north, where the groves meet the foothills of the Eranesse Mountains, veins of silver and copper have been discovered in several easily accessible places. The iron mines, by contrast, are few and far between, found in the Sielle Mountains in the far north, and much of the iron used in Avanne must be imported.
Fish is amply available along the coast, and Rive Mirvil, the river that carves through the center of the kingdom, is known for trout. Game animals such as deer are more easily found in the northwest, but much of the north is dedicated to cattle and dairy cows: cheese is of exceptional quality, and its consumption is almost a requisite for living in Avanne.
Given the wealth of agricultural products they produce, it is little surprise that the Avannais are connisseurs of food. Even the most basic of meals is considered an occasion for gathering friends and family. Nearly every meal includes bread, cheese and wine, and many also include beef of some fashion. The Avannais are also fond of rich sauces, often based on cream or cheese or both. The ability to cook well is highly prized in Avannais society, and talented chefs are highly sought after by noble families.
The currency of Avanne is similar to that of Vicena, at least in name. Coins are round and stamped with the Avannais crown on the front and back. The coins are produced at the royal treasury in Gesarien. Local currency can also be found, marked with the device of the local duchy or the image of the Duke or Duchess. However, these coins are rarely, if ever, accepted outside the locality in which they are produced.
The coins are as follows:
Hemicupret: The smallest denomination of coin, made of copper.
Cupret: Worth about 10 hemicuprets, this is the most common denomination found among commoners. In a roadside village inn, one can expect to pay up to 5 cuprets for a meal and a bed for the night. In a city, a cupret does not go as far, and you can expect to pay 10 to 20 cuprets for the same thing.
Argent: A silver coin worth about 50 cuprets.
Auret: A gold coin worth about 10 argents.
Thus, 1 auret = 10 argents = 500 cuprets = 5000 hemicuprets.
Most Avannais outside the nobility rarely ever deal in aurets and not often in argents.
Avannais society is considered to have three ranks, described below.
The Common Class
These are the men and women who make up the body of the nation -- the working class. Commoners make up a wide range of occupations, from farmers to beggars to smiths to shopowners and many many more. They are united more by the fact that they are neither among the privileged class or the nobility than they are by what they have in common with one another. They are expected to be deferential to higher classes, especially the nobility, but often the privileged class as well. However, it is not often that the nobility associates with the commoners, and so this does not come in to play that often, unless one works among them. Amongst one another, rank is typically defined by personality and reputation rather than birth or wealth.
The Privileged Class
The privileged class is defined mostly by money and a lack of noble title. Members of this class include merchants, bankers, owners of property within a city, as well as those considered privileged by cultural consequences such as troubadours and joglars, as well as members of the priesthood. Members of this class are in a peculiar limbo between commoners and the nobility, as they mix with both on a regular basis. They can walk amongst the nobility, but are not expected to be completely subservient, often maintaining friendships with members of the nobility, but are expected to be deferential in manner to those they are unacquainted with. As well, they often maintain friendships with commoners, as many of them -- or their recent ancestors -- were a member of that class. Among other members of this class, rank is typically defined by money and reputation and ties to the nobility, though the priesthood is a special case, as all members of society hold them in high regard.
The Nobility
The nobility, first and foremost, is defined by birth. Ranks within the noble class are very specific, and all nobles are expected to know precisely where they fit among those ranks at all times and be properly deferential toward those above them while in a public setting. Maintaining relationships with commoners is frowned upon by 'proper' society, and relationships with the privileged class are expected to retain the element of deference to a higher rank. Becoming too close -- especially a romantic relationship -- to anyone of a lower class is fodder for tremendous scandal and the transgressor runs the risk of being disinherited or otherwise publically humiliated.
Relations Between Classes
Commoners and the privileged are expected to, at the minimum, bow or curtsey to the nobility. Commoners keep their eyes lowered to the ground to counts or countesses or anyone of higher rank, unless otherwise instructed, and if one wants to make sure and show proper respect, men typically go down to one knee, while the women curtsey very deeply. Commoners should always be very careful to show the proper respect to the nobility, as a noble can have a commoner jailed or worse for the smallest of transgressions, and there is little that the commoner can do.
The same possibility exists for one of the privileged class, but it is a less common occurrence. As there are often relationships of a sort between the privileged and the nobility, summarily ordering the jailing or execution of a member of the privileged class runs the risk of offending a fellow noble.
Relations between commoner and privileged are more simple -- privilege allows for a certain superiority, but day-to-day relations are typically far more relaxed. The difference in rank (and wealth), however, is still something that is typically in the back of both parties' minds.
Titles and Forms of Address
Nobles are formally referred to by their title, if known. For example, when speaking to the Countess Marie de Iravel in a formal setting, you would address her as "Countess" or "Countess de Iravel". If the title is unknown, it is suitable to refer to a noble as "my Lord" or "my Lady". Exceptions to this are Dukes and Duchesses, addressed as "your Grace", and the royal family. Both King and Queen (or their respective spouses) are addressed as "your Majesty", while their sons and daughters are addressed as "your Highness". All others outside the nobility are referred to by name, if known. It is polite to refer to commoners or the privileged as "Master" for men and "Mistress" for unmarried or young women, and "Madame" for married women. A final form of address is given to knights, who are addressed by their noble title if known, and otherwise by "Sir Knight".
Methods of addressing members of the priesthood are covered under the pages on religion.
Each county builds and maintains its own army, to be used at the discretion of the duke or duchess. The bulk of these armies is made up of commoners, commanded by a nobleman with rank equivalent to one step below Marquis -- men that are typically the younger sons of a Marquis but are not knights (see below) themselves. These armies are made up of foot soldiers that typically fight with pike or spear and shield and archers that bear either longbow or crossbow. While these men are of common birth, they are often well-trained, and count soldier as their primary occupation, though in times of peace some may follow other vocations as well. This is rare, however.
A county also maintains a faction of knights, the members of which must be of noble birth. These are the elite fighting men of the duchy, mounted warriors that fight with broadsword, mace or great axe and shield. A knight will never use distance weapons in personal combat, seeing them as cowardly and the weapon of a commoner. These men have rank equivalent to Marquis at the least, and some Counts are or have been knights at some point in their lives in addition to their political duties.
In many cases, in times of peace, knights will travel from duchy to duchy attending tournaments, where they will compete in tests of arms against knights from other duchies. These will include tournaments of single combat, feats of archery -- as a sport only, or other games of strength and agility. A knight's reputation is often made more through tournaments than in battle, and a talented knight is often a highly reknowned member of Avannais culture and society.
All noblemen receive some sort of martial training, but unless one is a member of the formal military, it is typically not pursued past adolescence. While many nobles, typically younger sons, do find a permanent place in the military, the formal military has little concrete role in the political landscape of Avanne, save as a tool to enforce political decrees.
A King or Queen has the power to call on the combined armies of the nation when necessary, though without a monarch on the throne, those duties fall to the duchies. There are few, if any, real battles between duchies. Confrontations typically take place between border counties of opposing duchies, and these are typically small skirmishes akin to a tavern brawl, save with steel as well as fists.
The Avannais are vaguely Franco-Italian, so their names should reflect the flavor of medieval and Renaissance France and Italy. Surnames for commoners also indicate something of the person himself or herself, or something in familial history, such as profession or physical characteristic, or something associated with an ancestor. Nobles are named for their land holdings or have family names of a unique flavor; e.g., Aris de Lasanne for the count of Lasanne.
Some possible men's names include:
Abelard, Adelmo, Albizzo, Aldighieri, Aleaume, Amannito, Amélien, Amiel, Ario, Aris, Arnaud, Astore, Aubry, Aurel, Avito, Baiardo, Baldewyn, Banchello, Bardo, Bassanio, Benghi, Bertacchin, Berthomieu, Bindello, Boccaccio, Brantome, Bretonnet, Bruyant, Calderino, Cambino, Caroccio, Caschin, Casino, Castellano, Castello, Cavalcante, Cecca, Chiaramont, Ciapo, Ciolo, Cione, Cipolla, Corsino, Dego, Dolfo, Dreu, Durand, Elie, Ernaut, Ersilio, Eustache, Evio, Fallard, Fantino, Figlio, Fileno, Forsard, Fouchier, Fouqueret, Frosino, Gahariet, Gaidon, Gaillard, Galeazzo, Galeotto, Galien, Galileo, Gallo, Geoffroi, Gerner, Ghelere, Ghino, Giasone, Gilles, Girars, Guardi, Guarnier, Guelfo, Guichard, Guilhabert, Guinnozzo, Helgot, Herluin, Hernaudin, Hernaut, Hervisse, Hugues, Iginio, Isore, Jehan, Jourdain, Julien, Lappino, Lapuccio, Larione, Lidano, Lutozzo, Madore, Maestrino, Mainet, Malbert, Marsiglio, Mercadier, Migliore, Milon, Mimmo, Miniato, Mino, Montuccio, More, Morello, Moreno, Naimerio, Naimes, Namus, Navanzato, Neso, Noldo, Nuccino, Nuzzio, Oderigo, Orable, Oriabel, Ovidio, Palla, Pannuzzo, Pantaleone, Pazzino, Piccardo, Piccolet, Piramo, Ponce, Prades, Priano, Puccino, Rabel, Renier, Renouart, Renzo, Rinieri, Ristoro, Schiatta, Signorello, Spinello, Talento, Tamerighi, Tedesco, Tegno, Tieri, Tribaldo, Turino, Varocher, Venere, Ventura, Vezio, Viaro, Vieri, Wigayn, Zanobi, Zelone
Possible women's names include:
Adeline, Aelis, Aiglante, Abriana, Agalina, Ambra, Amina, Alais, Alazaïs, Alesta, Aliz, Allemande, Amalone, Ameline, Andreva, Ansere, Arnaude, Armida, Chola, Ciecherella, Ciosa, Ava, Aye, Bartholomette, Bellisente, Bérengère, Bernadette, Bonassias, Brune, Brunehaut, Brunisente, Brunissende, Clarisse, Condors, Eglantine, Citha, Ciuta, Cosetta, Diletta, Dina, Dolce, Druda, Emerenzia, Fina, Fotina, Emersende, Ermengart, Ermessenda, Esclamonde, Esperte, Esquiva, Fabrisse, Flore, Florence, Gaillarde, Galienne, Gaude, Gauzia, Genevieve, Grazide, Helissente, Ghita, Giada, Gilia, Lagia, Lapa, Letta, Letteria, Hermengart, Honors, Huguette, Ide, Jacotte, Joie, Josiane, Louve, Lizia, Lola, Luana, Mara, Marquise, Mathena, Maura, Mea, Mella, Mengarde, Mirabelle, Montagne, Meloria, Mena, Milena, Mina, Morena, Nanna, Nedda, Nencia, Nina, Ninuccia, Nucca, Oriabel, Papera, Prada, Prasede, Rina, Passerose, Pernelle, Petronille, Rixende, Roese, Roheis, Rosemonde, Rousse, Rubea, Serena, Savia, Selvaggia, Sveva, Sybille, Thomassa, Thomassia, Vuissance, Willelma, Tanina, Teglia, Vanna, Vanozza, Zaira, Zuanna
Players are not required to use names from this list, these are simply suggestions, though you are more than welcome to do so if you see one you like. If you have any questions as to whether a name is suitable for your character, don't hesitate to ask a staff member.
Names of PC factions in the nation and a contact PC (IC or OOC) who is in charge of that faction. For further information on the various Duchies click on its link.
Duchy Bastine - Duke Lourein de Bastine
Duchy Chaveaux - Duchess Joanna de Chaveaux
Duchy Mirvil - Duke Durand de Mirvil
Duchy Racaille - Julien de Racaille, Heir apparent.