Laroy

The second largest state in Urgon and is ruled by the Prince of Laroy.

Laroy is an agricultural principality, abutting the mountains, it boasts one city but numerous villages surrounded by farms. The population is separated into four tiers, under the Law of Laroy.

Nobility: The prince of Laroy rules his country with an iron hand. His advisors and court are all family members, all of whom make sure that the nation serves the Royal Family, rather than the other way around. There is often in-fighting between the different family factions, but the prince rules them all with an iron hand.Sheriffs are regional ‘over-seers’, who look after the Prince’s interests in an area. They have a military detachment which they use to hunt down outlaws, collect taxes, escort payments and deliveries, and to keep the local knights in check. Most Sheriffs are related to the prince somehow, or have otherwise shown themselves as loyal supporters.

Chivalry: The land away from the city is governed by the Chivalry. Rural villages are overseen by knights of the realm, who oversee farms in their area, manage the resources and control the peasant population. Many knights keep a few armed retainers in their manor houses to help control the local population and to chase outlaws away. This group is practically immune, under the law, from legal cases bought by those lower down the hierarchy.

The Chivalry of Laroy are fascinated by field sports such as falconry, hare coursing and other similar sports, and the animal trainers of Laroy are famous throughout The Alliance for their hunting birds, hunting dogs and guard dogs.

Intercessors: This ‘class’ consists of the two groups that support and enforce the law: The Military and the Church. Both of these groups get special dispensation under the law, while they do not have all the privileges of The Chivalry, they have many more rights and privileges than the peasants.

While Laroy supports The Temples of the Shrines, the temples are generally run by clerics of St Cuthbert, which gives the temples a very Lawful aspect. The temples are seen as one of the societal pillars that support the Prince in his absolute rule. Indeed you will find a cleric of St Cuthbert at every judicial execution or maiming.

Laroy is one of the few nations that has a standing army of professionally trained soldiers at its disposal. Joining the military is one of the few ways to escape from the land and the rigors of being a peasant in this state. Candidates present themselves at the Academy (in the capital city, Frisney) where they are tested and trained. Trained troops are ‘posted’ to different sheriff’s castle to act as garrison and wardens for the area, where they flush out bandits, apprehend outlaws and escort taxes, local nobles etc.

Peasantry: The lowest social caste the peasants have very few rights or privileges – instead they are often tied to the land by a combination of legal responsibilities and tradition. Just about the only right that peasants have is to demand that ‘their’ knight finds them work to do and provides them with basic sustenance. Because of this, most peasants work on the farms around knights’ manor houses, eating little more than a subsistence diet of porridge with small amounts of meat and vegetable.

The law of the land is harsh, The Chivalry can make many demands of their peasants, and peasants are expected to obey. Those found in breach of the law suffer harsh penalties, with exile, mutilation, beatings and execution as standard punishment. Partly because of this, a number of 'outlaw bands' roam the nation's periphery, they steal from the farms, take game they should not and occasionally rob the wealthy - just to make ends meet. In some areas there is almost a ‘Robin Hood’ feel where outlaws ‘look after’ the locals, who (in turn) quietly support the outlaw bands

The villages in Laroy are surrounded by fields, many of which grow oats, corn and barley, much of which is exported either as grain or ale, and Laroy is known for producing some of the best ale within the alliance. The heath land around the villages is generally grazed by small, mixed, herds of cattle – bullocks provide transport and meat while cow’s provide milk – until they too are slaughtered for their meat. Peasants are ‘paid’ in the cheapest grains, meat off cuts and the occasional pot of milk. The diet is often supplemented by wild vegetable and fruit that they collect.

Main Exports: Grain, Ale, Beef, Trained Animals

Political Structure

Capital City: Frisney

Shires (each managed by a Sheriff) and some of their villages

• Frisney
  • Frisney City
  • Conchery
  • Lawton Marley

• High Reaches
  • Hawk’s Nest
  • High Harum
  • Upper Galham

• Ension
  • Lower Galham
  • Cruxley
  • Tishan

• Tersep
  • Tereton
  • Great Kinden
  • Little Kinden
  • Rookham

• Yadis
  • Sminton
  • Over Hadden
  • Lake Lenton

• Basary
  • Garip
  • Croke on Flinder
  • Hartleburn