Tardesche

THE PLACE

Quick Background
Founded and established by a group of five adventurers, Tardesche began as a humble country guided by a parliamentary government. The parliament only lasted a generation as the the last of the five adventurers declared himself monarch once his companions died. Two generations later ancestors of the original five came forward and demanded power and recognition. Instead of disassembling the government, the monarch granted four baronies. Growing from four to seven baronies over time, frivolous bickering and fighting over property lines, honor, and self-declared authority and prestige became normal behavior among the nobility. The Deschan monarchs constantly struggled with keeping the barons in line in so much that the role of the king was reduced to that of an arbiter or referee.

Recently a baron in the south died without siring a child and thus, on his deathbed, left his estate and transferred power to his chief military advisor, a position found in every barony of Tardesche. This particular advisor, a man named William Cromwell, felt Tardesche was long overdue for a strong monarch and national unity, and so he amassed an army conscripted of both Deschans and hired mercenaries. Tardesche became engulfed in civil war as Cromwell marched north to Amber, his eyes and heart set on overthrowing the government and establishing a new nation. Finally reaching Amber after five years of conflict, Cromwell camped outside the capital in hopes the king would surrender the nation. On the eve of Cromwell's siege a large meteor struck north of Amber, destroying the city and all participating armies. Since then Tardechse has become an anarchist's paradise.

Environment
Tardesche is a basin predominantly made up of plains with rolling hills in the north and south. The climate is temperate with a tendency to shift drastically at times. Residing in the heart of Doa'Dane, Tardesche is the converging point of storm systems from all over the continent. Precipitation occurs year round but on occasion Deschans experience prolonged droughts. Years with heavy rainfall result in flooding as runoff from hill country moves toward the basin's center.

Politics
Tardesche was originally governed by a parliamentary government, but that system only lasted a generation. Afterward a true monarchy was installed and only blood descendants assumed the throne, most of the time those descendants children of the monarch. The monarchy was unrivaled for two generations until ancestors of the original parliament demanded a piece of the nation and after which a number of baronies were established all over Tardesche. Politically speaking, the country was run by the monarch whilst the barons throughout were responsible for controlling their subjects. Feudalism never existed in Tardesche, though as the baronies were established an attempt was made with no success. The current state of Tardesche is anarchy but somehow is contained within her borders.

Religion
Deschans have been true to the Daylic faith since the original political borders were established. At one time, although short-lived, the country even had a chapter of the Knights Sacellum (among the original Triumvirate). Before the impact most Deschans were Daylic, yet a number of agnostics and even atheists scattered the countryside.

THE PEOPLE

Physical Characteristics
Deschans are mostly related to the Keshe, therefore their physical traits are practically identical. Tardesche, however, has been a source of mercenary work, thus it is not uncommon to see people from all parts of Doa'Dane traveling through the land.

Culture
The people of Tardesche can hardly be recognized for their culture. Much of Deschan society mirrors that of the Keshe. Economically speaking, Tardesche never capitalized on anything as a whole, therefore mercantilism never claimed a foothold in the region, or at least in no way that would benefit the nation. Although entrepreneurs with capital have been free to establish businesses anywhere in the country, by and large the wealth has been owned by the aristocracy. (Entrepreneurs require permission to establish businesses from the barons and not the monarch because the barons own the land on which a business is to be built.) This socioeconomic gap between the classes has cultivated animosity toward the wealthy elite and especially the Crown. Before the impact, Tardesche became a haven for brigands and mercenaries, all seeking wealth attainable by working for the elite. With little law to keep these seedier types in check, they themselves became the law as hired henchmen of local barons.

What was once lawless became law, and the Deschans were forced to accommodate their new local authority, most of whom were villains from neighboring countries. With local officials easily bribable, a number of underworld organizations moved their headquarters to Tardesche. When thinking of seedy taverns and underhanded dealings, think Tardesche.

Native Tongue: Keshe

Origins: Enoja / Kedesh

Usage: Keshe is the Danic trade language, thus it permeates every culture on Doa'Dane. Most countries long ago neglected their native tongues and focused on learning Keshe, ergo more than 85% of Danic countries use it as their national language. Keshe is considered the "Common" tongue by nearly every country, so in most cases it is the first language of any given people.

Kinship: Keshe is a daughter language of Classical Enojan, hence it is related to both Enojan and Sartan. However, once Kedesh became independent, and also after long exposure to the Sali language, the Keshe tongue changed significantly. With a growing population of Sali in the country during its infancy, a flood of elvish loanwords entered the Keshe lexicon. Because the two languages differed greatly, to simplify communication the Keshe language dropped most of its case forms and nearly all inflectional properties. The same occurred in the Sali language. The Keshe language is now partially Enojan and partially Sali in so much that the Sali and Keshe languages are mutually understandable.

Restrictions: None. Keshe is the first language of most people.