Valhain
From Wod
Valhain is a small country in the center of the continent. Due to the plate tectonics, the mountains north and south of Valhain are roughly equivalent to Earth's Himalayas. Valhain is situated in the (relative) lowlands between the great ranges. Thus, Valhain has become the only feasible route for transportation between the east and west.
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Economy
The country itself has limited resources, mostly in the form of farmland in the central valley. It also has access to a number of metal veins hidden here and there through the valleys. The wealth and prosperity the country enjoys is almost exclusively due to the trade routes that are forced to cross the mountains. Spices, silks, and finely crafted goods move from the Arabic lands to the west to the hungry markets in the east. Raw materials - mostly wood and foodstuffs - move from the Germanic / Russian areas of the continent to the west. While both sides could function without the trade, it has become a staple of their economies.
Geography
Valhain is broken up into multiple larger valleys with several small passes and tiny valleys scattered around the central areas. While the small passes make it next to impossible to bring large numbers of troops through Valhain, bandits are a regular problem. There are places where a squad or two of men can sneak through the mountains where an entire unit of infantry or cavalry could not. The kingdom of Valhain maintains several garrisons at the major passes. Most of these garrisons are stationed in large towers at the center of the pass, allowing them clear vision in either direction. These garrisons tend to keep large, man-made boulders handy. A half-ton, rocky ball rolling down the pass tends to discourage invaders..
Regions
Military
Standing Army
Like many semi-feudal states, there is a standing army that is provided with a levy from the major houses. This is the "royal" or King's army. This army is currently stationed at this time in Westgate to provide deterance to the Arab nations.
Garrisons in the passes
There are garrisons in the passes between provinces that work mainly with defense and taxation. Numerically they are small, perhaps as many as two hundred guards at the large posts, but in position they have a strategic advantage that is hard to counter.
Militia
Each Lord is required to provide rudimentary training and weapons to the freemen and peasants in his lands. In practice this means that against bandits and roving Orc bands, each Lord is obligated to defend his own lands. If the Lord is unable to do this, he may call on the King to provide a more substantial force. In practice, this is never done if the Lord can help it. To call the King to defend a particular set of lands ensures a censure from the King and a formal inquiry into the management of the Lord.
The King's Guard
A certain number of special guards is sworn to the royal family, absolving all fealty to other lords and lands and family in the process. These dedicated soldiers typically bodyguard the royal family and do the King's biding. There are a limited number of slots in this elite force, and competition to be considered for the post is fierce.
