The Aldorian Crown¶
Locked How the Kingdom of Aldoria was governed before the conquest, and what's left of it now.
The realm¶
Aldoria lies west of a long north–south mountain spine.
| Region | Held by | Character |
|---|---|---|
| The Crownlands | The Crown | The river heartland around Solis. Royal estates, the richest farms outside the north, and the seat of government |
| Thessaly | House Thessaly | The northern wheat plains. Feeds the capital and much of the realm. Cold, flat, patient country |
| The River Provinces | House Morrow | The great river and its trading towns, from Solis down to the sea. Barges, tolls, warehouses |
| The Southern Hills | House Ardent | Hill country between the Crownlands and the Marches. Old timber, sheep, and Marcher-born gentry |
| The Marches | The Lord Protector | The eastern frontier along the mountains: Oakhaven, Thornford, Greyrock, Hollowpass and the port of Blackwater. Poor, tough and strategically vital |
| The Sunstone fields | The Church, by charter | Glowing quarries in the Marches foothills |
The Marches matter more than their size suggests. Any army from the East has to come through them. The only road through the mountains runs through Hollowpass, and the Sunstone the Empire covets comes out of their hills.
The Crown¶
The monarch is the source of law, and alone can:
- grant titles and land;
- consent to royal marriages;
- declare war and make treaties;
- pardon or condemn in matters of treason.
Succession. Aldorian law allows a queen to rule in her own right, but by custom a young, unmarried heir weds before she's crowned. Whoever she marries sits beside the throne, which is why Lyra's hand was the realm's real prize.
Incapacity. When the monarch is incapacitated, the Royal Council governs in their name. If the monarch is formally declared unfit, a Regent may be named. Full authority returns the moment the monarch is shown to be of sound mind. That rule is what made "the one morning" possible.
The Royal Council¶
About a dozen seats. It advises the Crown and runs the realm from day to day.
| Seat | In Campaign One | After Solaris's fall |
|---|---|---|
| The Archon | Solaris, presiding while the King was ill | Seat gone; the title left empty under Father Hollis |
| Lord Chancellor | Bertram Hale, an old courtier who follows the strongest wind | |
| Lord Treasurer | Simon Clery, a Corvane ally | |
| Lord Marshal | Geoffrey Stane, an elderly veteran | Vaelen |
| Captain of the Shield-Guard | Vaelen | |
| House Thessaly | Margery, the Duchess | |
| House Ardent | Lord Gareth Ardent | |
| House Corvane | Lord Ambrose Corvane | |
| House Morrow | Edric's line | Edric Morrow |
| Lord Protector of the Marches | Lord Trevor | The King-Consort |
| Two Church seats | Senior clergy, Solaris's votes | Removed |
In Campaign Two, Master Sallow, the river Warden-General, was exposed as the paid "gentleman from Rivebridge" and then found dead in a locked palace room.
Justice¶
| Court | Tries |
|---|---|
| Royal courts | Crimes against the Crown, including treason |
| Church courts | Clergy, under benefit of clergy |
| Lords' courts | Crimes in a lord's own lands. Marcher lords hold high justice, the right to try and hang |
Armed forces before the war¶
| Force | Size | Loyal to |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Shield-Guard | about 80 | The Crown |
| Paladins of the Order | about 300 (120 in Solis) | The Order, and by oath the Crown |
| Sun-Guards | about 1,500 | The Order |
| City Watch | about 600 | Under Sun-Guard command |
| Hollowpass garrison | about 350 | The Lord Protector, through Captain Dorne |
| Oakhaven militia | about 200 | The Lord Protector, through Captain Vance |
| Thornford wardens | about 60 | The Lord Protector |
| Blackwater | about 300, plus ships | The Lord Protector, through Finch |
| Thessaly levies | about 2,000 | The Duchess |
| Ardent levies | about 800 | Lord Ardent |
| Morrow levies | about 300 | Edric Morrow |
| Royal garrisons | a few thousand, scattered | The Crown |
Now: a crown without a kingdom¶
- Solis fell after a hard siege and lies in ruins.
- Former Aldoria is ruled by Jade Lotus warlords. Order is uneasy and harsh.
- The great houses were tamed. Those who resisted were executed as examples.
- The Crown is now Queen Lyra, the King-Consort, a spymaster in a cellar and a mute locksmith. See The resistance.
Sources¶
- The Aldorian Codex, "The realm", "The Crown", "The Royal Council", "Justice" and "Armed forces"
- Campaign handoff (Campaign Two), §2 and §3
- Campaign Three handoff, §1 and §8
- The Aldorian Codex: Lands Beyond, "State of Meridia"