Proclain's Mighty History

"this duchy [Proclain] is famous for it's many goats and sheep, which herders herd in the mountains and hills. Their textile industry provides the finest clothes in Wermania."

Proclain is a Southeastern Christain Duchy in Wermania. It has a long ancient history with standing ethnic tensions.

Sheep Economy and Currency
Sheep herding and cloths are a large part of Proclain's culture. The currency of Proclain is measured in Sheep. One wealthy household may have several thousand sheep. Sheep are used as an item of stable value in bartering. One sheep is rumored to get you a whore, a full night of drinking, or a weeks worth of bread for your family.

History
On the Claine Rivers, settlers from an ancient "boat people" create colonies. Large plantations and cities stretched up the navigable river. Raids from Northern warlords - the sheep herding planesmen who lay at the basin of the Great Divide Mountains.

Over time, the Claine River trade empires have golden ages. Their wealth and knowledge becomes unrivaled in this age. But, the northern hill warlords unified and sacked everything. The potential to become one of the most wise and powerful nations was arguably lost. The northern herders migrated into the large cities and farmland along the Claine River en mass. Soon, the Boat People were a small minority who owned lots of businesses due to the long-standing presence in the communities. Tension exists between the wealthy minority and invader majority.

Several Hundred Years later, the descendets of ancient conquerers seat Proclain as a duke.

Goverment
The Duke/Prince: Controls the money, can amend all legislature, pretty much just complete total power if they want to play that way.

The Council of Lords: The major earls/lords who hold lands or large amount of goats or sheep. 9 Members. Have the power to propose legislature and advise the king. Populated by the Northern Hearders and Warlords.

The Council of Wealthy: Merchants and artisans who are very wealthy but own no land or livestock. They're not viewed as well. 15 Members. Same powers as the Council of Lords. Populated by the wealthy "Boat-People" minority.

* this form of government allows the politics of the king to seep into business and the inner workings of smaller pieces of territory. While also pulling together the resources of each faction inside Proclain.

Culture and Religion
Prior to the invasion of Broockzell, Proclain was a proud and isolated land. The culturally dominant northern section developed as a raiding and warrior culture. Honor and fighting skill was important to tribes which populated the northern hills of Proclain. Fights to the death were a common occurence. Many early warlords were simply the strongest Proclainese because they fought their way to the top. Ambition is measured in strength in traditional Proclaiense culture, power is measured in sheep and goats.

Prior to the Fen'rack-ization of Proclain, it had a very disorganized animistic religion. The religion was connected to nature and human aura. After the invasion, the Duke made paganism outlawed in public practice. Many Proclainese secretly still practice their traditional spiritual beliefs (some even rumor that Duke Brickhead does as well). There are hundreds of variations on Proclainese animism, but many were adapted to fit the warrior code.

There is also extensive folklore of giants and shamans living in the Southern section of the Great Divide Mountains. But these remain myths, as the mighty range is too tall and inhospitable to explore.