The city of Raskot lies on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Bazón, in a broad, fertile coastal plain that is the agricultural engine and envy of the region. A land that was once merely the delta of the River Ormur has been significantly reshaped through an extensive network of roads and navigable canals, extending up to fifty miles inland in places.

To the east and south the forested foothills of the Grobo Mountains mark the rough edges of the realm. At their closest, they are eighty miles approximately due east of the city, but they fall further away towards the south. Raskot claims lands as far as the River Tazieu one hundred miles to the south, to where it emerges from the Gennelon Hills some forty miles inland from there.

Almost one hundred miles to the north, the northernmost branch of the Ormur delta, forms something of a natural border. The edges of the Kihanshik Jungle and its neighboring mangrove swamps are not far beyond.

Few Raskotians venture into the eastern foothills or northern jungles and swamps without force of arms.

The eastern shore of the Gulf of Bazón occupied by the Duchy of Raskot and its supporting lands is known for its humid climate, with plenty of rain throughout the year. Winters in the area are mild and relatively dry, with freezing temperatures are only briefly experienced on a handful of nights per year. Summers tend to be hot and muggy, with brief rainstorms common in the afternoon. Spring and autumn are temperate. The most severe weather events are rainstorms which can bring widespread flooding from mid-summer to mid-autumn. The seasons generally appear to bleed into each other over the course of the year. The locals say that if you don’t like the weather today, it will change its mind tomorrow.

Thanks to the humid climate, frequently changing weather, and frequent floods, Raskotians enjoy year-round abundant fresh water.

In its own affairs, the Duchy of Raskot is a hereditary monarchy with strict birth-order and family line rules governing succession. (Though the ruling family has been known to change those rules if they belive it suits their aims.) Traditionally the Duke or Duchess has a consort who is at most a trusted advisor, and at least an avenue to perpetuating the bloodline. A ruler has shared power with their spouse or consort in the past, but such an occurrence is mostly a historical exception that is discouraged. The monarchy is meant to be absolute, and absolute monarchs do not willingly share power. But they may grant whatever title they see fit to their spouse or consort, if they take one.

Rank	Address
Duke / Duchess / Ducal	Your Grace
Count / Countess / Palatine	Your Excellency
Baron / Baroness / Magnate	Your Lordship / Ladyship / Greatness

Many monarchies like to keep histories of prior rulers. The royal historian of the current era believes this is the most true and correct record of the last few changes in power, but the royal historian is also careful to point out that the position receives considerable direction from the crown in terms of what to publish.

Years	House	Ruler(s)
1-46 E.P.	Gabarretta	Duke Porziano Sgarlata
46-83 E.P.	Palamas	Ducal Idas Kleo & Royal Consort Baukis Lotos
83-102 E.P.	Palamas	Duke Ixion Thestios & Prince Consort Obelos Meleagor
102-133 E.P.	Turel	Duke Naazmi
133-165 E.P.	Zamorano	Duchess Esmeralda Ramos Fonseca
165-191 E.P.	Zamorano	Duchess Apolonia Vieira & Duke Ivo
191-248 E.P.	Zamorano	Duchess Camila Almeida
248-285 E.P.	Zamorano	Duchess Tania Tereza & Duke Nicodemo
285-307 E.P.	Zamorano	Ducal Luisin
307-350 E.P.	Zamorano	Ducal Floren & Royal Consort Casi Freitas
350-398 E.P.	Zamorano	Duke Adalberto & Duchess Calista Pilar Branca
398-427 E.P.	Gabarretta	Duke Gervasio
427-431 E.P.	Turel	Duke Asrat & Princess Consort Shirin
431-474 E.P.	Turel	Duke Armoun & Princess Consort Farnaza
474-542 E.P.	Deniau	Duke Gaël & Prince Consort Jean-Michel
542-558 E.P.	Deniau	Duchess Hélène
558-574 E.P.	Deniau	Duchess Lucrèce-Isabelle
574-598 E.P.	Vesnia	Duchess Ateia & Duke Herius
598-620 E.P.	Vesnia	Duchess Petellia & Prince Consort Julianus
620-656 E.P.	Idrissi	Duke Zaren Saraga
656-665 E.P.	Idrissi	Ducal Ganni Rosselli
665-713 E.P.	Idrissi	Duchess Pina Biasini & Duke Zazu Desain
713-740 E.P.	Idrissi	Duke Xandru Stefanin
740-779 E.P.	Palamas	Duchess Hesperia Alisia & Royal Consort Baltas Euno
779-806 E.P.	Palamas	Duke Leo Saurakius & Prince Consort Beatus Zonaras
806-834 E.P.	Palamas	Duke Georgios Melodus
834- E.P.	Palamas	Duke Volusian Gregoras & Duchess Valeria Psella

Below the nobility are some regional governors, who typically have offices in small cities or large towns. Some governors recruit satraps who typically serve a handful of towns and their associated villages. Requests from individuals rarely make it to the nobility unless going through all the appropriate levels of government first. Of course knowing the right people and dropping some coin in the right places can make certain requests much more (or less) likely to be heard than others…

Raskot conscripts its military from the population of serfs. How well-trained and equipped they are varies widely, depending on the particular noble family who employs them. Officers are always drawn from the ranks of the nobility, and they seldom lead from the front. It has been said more than once that the best defense of Raskot is their considerable agricultural prosperity, shared with neighboring realms.

Some may debate that Raskot has stagnated culturally, though they would be wise not to make the argument publicly unless they were of noble blood. They would cite that Raskot demands a certain homogeneity of culture from its native children and its immigrants, willing and otherwise. The customs found in the city of Raskot do not differ so much from those in the outlying villages; indeed, the rulers expect even their most distant subjects to be perfectly assimilated into their society.

The noble families are quite happy with the current feudal system in general, and see no reason to let reform-minded merchants or bands of feisty serfs disrupt that. Still, the noble families must grudgingly admit that allowing some degree of free enterprise within their realm is generally beneficial for the morale and well-being of their subjects. Some of the nobles even dabble in it themselves, for an amusement on the side.

Raskot has made agriculture the largest pillar in its economy, with associated industries and services largely serving to support that. Fishing and aquaculture are the next biggest sector of the economy, followed by industries supporting the small boats frequently found along the shore and inland waterways.

Raskotian farmers are consistently the most productive on the continent for their selection of crops, thanks in no small part to abundant rainfall and technical advances to ensure the long-term health of the soil. The residents see significant competitive advantage in keeping these methods to themselves, and only nobles acting in official capacity may share the land’s agricultural secrets beyond their borders without fear of punishment. More industrialized societies on the continent may be pursuing and actively implementing mechanized methods for agriculture, but the nobles see no need for mechanization given copious cheap labor in the form of livestock and serfs.

The most significant food crops grown in Raskot are rice, wheat, sugarcane, soybeans, and alfalfa. By total produced tonnage, no single fruit or vegetable comes close to any of those food crops, but many farms reserve up to 10% of their area for produce. Of these, the most popular tend to be ground nuts, tomatoes, peppers, melons, leafy greens, and squashes. Closer to the mountains, the eastern orchards produce particularly celebrated varieties of olives and stone fruit. Further south, apples and almonds are produced. Cuisine is most often enhanced through herbs and home-grown aromatics. Though some small spice-growing operations can be found on the fringes of the Raskotian realm, spices are more often acquired by trade.

The most significant fiber crops grown in Raskot are cotton and jute. These are combined with treated reeds and grasses, such as bamboo, to build watercraft, land vehicles, and small buildings. For those who can’t afford wood and stone, clay and mud composites make the most plausible construction materials for structures.

The noble families of the area have taken it upon themselves to speak for their realm in all matters dealing with outsiders. They see no reason to pursue such frivolities as deep-water ports to encourage trade, when they deem their network of roads and inland canals perfectly adequate for any manner of beast-drawn cart or small sailboat.

The nobles are well aware of the Raskotian reputation for abundant (if thirsty) crops, considerable expertise in agriculture, irrigation, sailing, wind power, fishing, and aquaculture. These assets and associated reputation form the backbone of the trade relations they pursue with neighbors and allies. Official Raskotian diplomacy is, at its heart, based around the preservation of reputation, and possibly the associated practices and expertise.

The Counties of the Duchy bear the names of the noble families to which they are granted. The Duke and Duchess can rearrange who owns what as they see fit, but very few rulers have used such authority flagrantly, knowing that their vassals have considerable power to raise and direct armies.

• Belounis
• Camagás
• Deniau
• Gabarretta
• Idrissi
• Lourens
• Palamas
• Sardar
• Turel
• Vesnia
• Zamorano

The southeastern portions of the Duchy’s lands have been granted to the Count of Camagás to administer as he sees fit.

On the western border of the county, with its northwestern corner on the Gulf of Bazón.

The easternmost portions of the County have been granted to the Baron Vouniki, who resides at Kalevouniki. The estate is less than a league from a critical crossroads. From there one can travel north to the other counties, and east or west to the two largest towns in the barony.

A more arid county in the southwest of the duchy, with ports on both the Gulf of Bazón and the Bay of Tredica.

On the northern edge of the county, and the southern coast of the Gulf of Bazón.

The heart of the duchy, both physically and economically, on the eastern shores of the Gulf of Bazón. Covers the towns and villages that built their prosperity upon farming that fertile land.

Technically not part of the county but surrounded on three sides by it. Contains the capital city, perched upon the delta of the biggest river system in the southwest of the continent.

This town of almost 2,000 people on the northern bank of the River Tazieu is the second-largest population center within the Barony of Vouniki.

This village of less than 200 is on the eastern branch of the road south from Yuplad, about a half-day’s ride away. The road through this village is only nominally maintained.

This village of over 300 is on the tolerable western branch of the road south from Yuplad, about a half-day’s ride away. Animal tracks and unmaintained cart paths cut through the woods for those who want to travel the few hours to neighboring Fedrid.

The two branch roads from Yuplad converge again at the fringes of this village, which has the dubious distinction of being the most southeasterly population center in the Barony, the County, and the Duchy. It also sits on the northern bank of the River Tazieu, which is significantly narrower than it is at Abrén.

With favorable winds, the sail barge journey southeast and upriver from Abrén takes only one day. Those who ply their trade on the river know that it becomes extremely narrow and difficult to navigate beyond Segobria, as the Gennelon Hills and even the Grobo Mountains encroach upon it.

The overland journey to or from Yuplad is consistently one day in length.

The Vrothian Republic claims the lands on the other side of the River Tazieu. Its capital city, Milashur, is physically much closer to Segobria than the city of Raskot. The journey to Milashur may be more difficult, but it is still shorter.

copper kadi

A copper coin. The smallest recognized denomination within the Duchy.

golden raja

A gold coin, worth ten silver sultans. The standard unit of wealth within the Duchy.

Millie

An insult towards someone believed to be from Milashur, the capital of the Vrothian Republic, often uttered by Raskotians

padishah

A platinum coin, worth ten golden raja. Rarely observed even by wealthy merchants.

Raskotian

The proper demonym for a resident of the Duchy of Raskot

Raskotnik

An insult towards a Raskotian, often uttered by people from the Vrothian Republic

silver sultan

A silver coin, worth ten copper kadi.

Names of places and people in both the city and Duchy of Raskot will tend to sound Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, Greek, Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or South Asian. Guttural sounds in these names are rare.