Folan Hegemony

Folan Hegemony

Fola is a land where magic rules. Founded by the infamous Blood King, the land was originally divided into 18 baronies whose borders are enforced by magical oaths sworn to their rulers. No changes may be made to this structure without the explicit permission of the king. Although no one has seen him in nearly 50 years, the Blood King’s magic lives on, binding the baronies to their current borders–and ruling families. The baronies struggle to fit the structure forced upon them in the king’s absence. Many chafe under the status quo and long to fill the gaps left behind by fallen houses and the missing king. At the time of the Blood King’s Peace, the great houses of Fola were well known and boasted full rosters. Whether from political machinations, magical experiments gone wrong, or simply a lack of heirs, many of them died out or consolidated over the course of time, either unable or unwilling to take the necessary steps to preserve their legacies. Now, the houses have become stagnant while they await the return of the Blood King, heavily restricted by the laws he enacted. While the hegemony’s leaders keep the horrors of the post-Sundering landscape at bay, they play chess with mortal lives. The power of the great houses and the magic of the Blood King’s Peace maintain the borders of the hegemony and its citizens. Those with magic occupy the highest echelons of society; those without it, known as “Inerts” or “Nerts,” toil in the fields outside of the capital city and within the estates of the nobility. Not that Hightower takes much notice; the plight of the Nerts persists well beneath their gaze, and any ugliness of life is well hidden from the comforts of their lofty studies. Everyone knows that those who are worthy will rise on Proving Day, and those who do not are exactly where they belong.

Culture

There is one thing upon which the baronies of Fola agree: greatness is found only through the arcane arts. All things are possible through the gift of their mastery. Why hammer at the forge when the careful manipulation of power can cut through your enemies? Why lay brick when you can command the earth to form a desired shape? Those born without affinity deserve nothing more than pity and charity. Fola is a kingdom where class and social politics frequently rule the day. As such, the concerns and lives of the various classes can differ greatly. The nobles share a love for high fashion, often setting trends or drawing upon borrowed customs that are exaggerated to extreme levels. Social standing is derived primarily from a person’s house, as displayed prominently upon their cowl, capelet, elaborate brooches, or other jewelry. These sigils on their person denote both their house and rank therein. It is a common gesture among the Duke and Barons to throw lavish social gatherings each season, signaling to the lesser-born that those in the Hegemony want for nothing, are safe, and can live in excess. Political ambition and pursuit of magical power are the driving forces for the upper crust of Fola. The aristocratic society is vicious and marked by fawning envy to the powerful. Nobility welcome entertainers and traveling caravans with the full knowledge that any could be a threat; the thrill of outwitting a spy is a notion that the Folan aristocracy can hardly resist. Though trust between houses is exceedingly rare, there is a strong bond between members within the same great house. The success of one member is the success of all. When they join, the oath taken by house members connects them to one another and, by extension, to the King.

Appearance

There is a distinct contrast in clothing between the members of the great houses and the peasantry. The aristocracy takes care to show the luxury they can afford, sporting heavy makeup, embroidered runes, and decorative patterns or adornments that hint at magical specialties. Robes or layers of loose-fitting cloth are staples of the various seasons of fashion; while presentation is important, magic comes first, and so fashion always accounts for the practicalities of spellcasting. The further down the ranks a person is, the more plain their clothing. Peasants make due with whatever rags or woolen cloth they can stitch together, often in patchwork to make full garb.

Territories

Superstitions & Taboos

• Eyes Down Your betters are always above you in Hightower; it’s impolite to look an authority figure in the eye.
• Bound by Blood Citizens of the Hegemony exist and persist at the pleasure of the Blood King. All members of the Great Houses are bound to him, and his magic is absolute within their borders. To defy the King would mean accepting a horrific fate for yourself and those you are connected to.
• Funerary Rain Many died to establish Fola. It’s said that after the last great battle to clear the Ashtouched from the area around Hightower, it rained for nearly three months without end. Today, rain during a funeral service or a burial is considered good luck for the mourners.
• Stamp of Approval All written contracts in Fola are 100% binding as long as they bear the personal stamps or seals of the parties therein and are often used to force trust between the houses. Great house members above a certain rank have a personal stamp to mark contract agreements on each page so that additions can't be made.