Organization

Cairnwater is a Grand County, roughly the size of three other counties. Much of it is left overgrown and wild, so that it may be used to test the mettle of aspiring adventurers. That said, it still takes a deal of work to maintain. As the count is often either abroad or in the ducal seat, the government relies on the Council of Masters to maintain and govern the land.

The Count

"Divide and rule, a sound motto. Unite and lead, a better one." The count of Cairnwater's role is to ride forth and cast the county's eyes towards the horizon. Although he holds the same control over his bannermen as any count, the Fanes prefer to heed the voices of those who serve. Historically, their preferred strategy is one of deliberate and measured strategy, which favors righteousness over profit, when it can afford to. It is important, in the eyes of a Fane, to work your forge, and to strike only when the iron is hot.

Current Count: Eber Fane

The Council of Masters

In addition to maintaining and protecting their settlements, barons and mayors within Cairnwater are given the duty of holding a position in the Council of Masters along with a select few of those honoured by the Lustrata. This council serves to safeguard the county's borders, collect taxes, and to advise Count Fane. They are also called on to head diplomatic, military, and economic expeditions when the Count is held elsewhere.

Current Positions:

Baron Schiebel of Schoneu

Mayor Sieraen of TBD

Mayor Poleon of Ambreaux

Mayor Distant of TBD

OPEN

The Renowned

Although some who perform well in the Lustrata are invited into the Council of Masters, the majority are rewarded with an official title, "The Renowned." Those such honored are invited into the Count's court and can call upon the official support of Cairnwater. Artisans and Builders might have their goods carried by the county's ships to be sold overseas. Soldiers are given command of troops, warriors are given special missions for which they are richly rewarded, and tournament fighters are offered purses of gold for winning glory in the name of Cairnwater and House Fane.

Current Positions:

Corpious

Ojibawon

Nadz

Coolhand

OPEN

The Lustrata

At the end of Spring on each third year, a great festival is held in Stoneharbor called the Lustrata. It is a celebration of both failure and triumph for the people of Cairnwater. There are lively competitions scattered through the city and its surrounding areas, and the centrepiece of the festival is a large market. Dignitaries from neighbouring counties are treated to a feast in the count's manor, bards recite tales from exotic lands, and fighters pit their skills against one another.

The festival opens with a ceremony of cleansing and ends with a ceremony of bonding, in which a select few are granted the titles of Renowned and Master, based on their performance in the festivities.

Adventurers

<Information forthcoming>

Crafters

<Information forthcoming>

THE SELLSPEARS

In the aftermath of the Dawn Rebellion, Cairnwater's military has maintained a cautious stance. Although the events of the rebellion are faded from living memory, the desperation of their conflict bred an alertness and preparedness in the people of Cairnwater. The military is less organized than is typical and prefers to keep its opponent at spearpoint while harassing them in skirmishes to throw them into disarray.

The Geas, unlike the more common codes of chivalric honour, consider a knife in the dark to be practical, rather than cowardly. If it means safeguarding Cairnwater or her allies, the bannermen and women of House Fane would not shy away from poison, assassination, or other forms of sabotage and subterfuge. And, in times of peace, they even sell their loyalty to allies and partners of Cairnwater.

Studies

In addition to map making, the CGS oversees the study of history, law and literature. Classes are offered to any who might like to learn these more scholarly skills, but survival and combat training are also offered. After studying at least one of these skills to an adequate level, students may apply for membership into the society. From there, the majority of their work will be done in the field. In order to progress through the ranks, members are expected to specialize in one or two skills to the point of mastery.

Ranks

Spear: Spears are the core of the county's army. Armed with dagger, spear and either a bow or a shield, they fight in large bands to safeguard the people of the realm. When not at war, spears patrol the roads, towns, and wilderness to root out bandits and protect tax collectors.

Champion Veteran spearmen and women who prefer to fight in pitched battles and not to pursue the path of the ranger can become champions. They fight together, as the hammer to the spears' anvil, and serve no captain. Instead, champions are beholden only to orders from the Count and to the Brave Master who oversees them.

Ranger: Some more experienced spears train to survive in the wild lands of Cairnwater without food or shelter, and in the more delicate arts of war. Small bands of rangers ride out to raid enemy supply lines and to scout for enemy movements.

Captain: Each band of spears or rangers is led by a captain. The captains issue commands in the field and are drawn from the champions or more experienced rangers.

Brave Master: Select members of the Council of Masters are chosen to serve as generals to Cairnwaters armies. Called the Brave Masters, they are given command of a company of captains and champions, and is instructed to enact the count's will.

Services

When not engaged in war, the Sellspears, led by the Brave Masters act as free companies and mercenaries. More often, they are hired out by other Ashland counts to help put down insurrection and revolts, or to assist House Grey. But, occassionaly the Sellspears are sent overseas, in great fleets, to exchange their blood for coin.

Affiliations

<More information forthcoming>

PHILOSOPHY

Priorities

Growth

Foremost among the concerns of Cairnwater is the economic security of the county. The artisan cannot excel at their craft if they cannot afford the materials to do so, and cannot focus on perfecting themselves if they must also focus on finding their next meal. My first actions as count, upon launch, will be to secure primary resources and the infrastructure required to properly gather them.

Cairnwater’s initial goal is to build a strong, sensible economy which does not focus too much of it’s support on any one industry, so as not to open itself to unforeseen economic disasters. But, over time the economic focus will shift towards the development of industries that produce valuable, high-quality trade goods as well as towards the promotion of individuals who have mastered said industries.

Excellence

The Geas promotes the pursuit of perfection. All followers of the Geas seek to root out the imperfections in their physicality, in their skills, and in their ethics. We set our goals beyond our reach so that we never stop striving to be better.

To promote adherence to the Geas, those who prove their progress in the Lustrata will be rewarded titles, gold, and/or the active support of the county. These positions are rewarded based on individual efforts, and not by larger businesses, organizations, or families. Even non-citizens may be rewarded this way.

Community

The Geas also is meant to interconnect the citizens of Cairnwater. Community is based around three principles: interdependence, interface and character. By instituting a chain of command to the Sellspears, but allowing commanders and select members to pursue their own interests, we strengthen all links in this chain.

Likewise, the Lustrata lifts the artisan into the Count's court, connects them with other honoured citizens, and grants them the support of the Sellspears, and of county trade expeditions. This process respects and acknowledges the character of the artisan, interfaces them with other active members of the community and makes them all economically interdependent.

Inspiration

The Republic

Plato’s analysis of a just city-state and a just man are reflected in the governance of Cairnwater. Plato stressed the value of philosophy in society, which has been translated into Cairnwater’s focus on the Geas. There is also a thread of legacy that runs through Plato's work, and he recommended that people "practice dying," and look at their life in its entirety, as though it were already over. The Geas itself is a mish-mash of Plato, Confucius, and the Night's Watch. Plato’s idea of the philosopher king is also ideally present in the role of Count Fane.

Guangji Bridge

In Chaozhou, China, there is a bridge over the Han River, which was built in the 12th century. It is a long bridge, built across a number of covered piers. Because of the breadth and depth of the Han River, and a relative shortage of bridges across at the time, travellers were forced across the Guangji Bridge when travelling between Canton and Fujian.

Each of the piers was large enough to hold a couple of market stalls which merchants would have to pass through in order to cross the river. While travelers crossed the bridge, merchants sold them food, supplies, and souvenirs.

Given a choice, Cairnwater will be placed along a long, broad river, where it meets the ocean, to mimic the effect of Guangji Bridge. Also, the festivities of the Lustrata are designed as a secondary way to draw in travellers so that local craftsmen can sell their goods to them as they pass through the county.

Youxia

In Chinese folklore, youxia were heroes who wandered the land, coming to the aid of those in need. Roughly translated, the term means knight-errant though, unlike their European counterparts, youxia were not always soldiers. Many were poets, monks, or even farmers.

The Sellspears, its champions specifically, are a western interpretation of the youxia. They travel the kingdom when needed, although they do so to profit Cairnwater and its people. It is not to be said that they are simple mercenaries, though. They may be ruthless as a common sellsword, but they are led by the Geas through their Brave Masters.

Shokunin

Shokunin is a Japanese term for one who has mastered their craft. The term shokunin isn’t given for just having achieved great skill, but also requires one to develop an attitude of social consciousness. The term regards the spirit as much as it regards one’s material proficiency. One must dedicate their life, and demonstrate a reverence to their craft.

Unlike the shokunin of Japan, the role in Cairnwater is formalized by the granting of titles and wealth to those who achieve shokunin status. Pursuing the path of the artisan is considered as honourable any other in the eyes of the Geas.

Recruiting/Partnerships

The Sellspears

Many Elyrians are looking to lead a life of adventure, but the Sellspears offer something unique. Entirely independent adventurers will likely lead a life where paid work is sparse, and where one’s efforts often go unrewarded. Members of stricter militaristic orders, on the other hand, will likely lead a life spent slogging up through the ranks, being told where not to go more often than they are given actual work to do.

As a component of the county government, however, the Sellspears will rarely be short of work and members will have a steady stream of income. Also, senior members will be free to pursue whichever studies they choose, so long as it is in line with the Brave Master's commands.

Mayors/Barons

The fear that most mayors and barons have is that they will not be given the opportunity to pursue their unique plans to develop their settlement or that, perhaps, they will be ousted from power without the support of their neighbours or their count.

The government ensures that the concerns of each member of the aristocracy will be heard, and that each mayor and baron will have a say in the development of the county as a whole. All mayors or barons within Cairnwater will be offered a chance to swear the Geas, and join the Court of Masters.

Furthermore, aside from being willing to partake in county politics, the only other requirement we have of new mayors/barons is that they choose to pursue a unique industry which produces a trade good. Achieving diverse yet specialized economy is one of our foremost goals at launch.

Craftspeople

Similar to adventurers, many craftspeople are leery of joining a large guild. Without the support of a guild, access to work orders may be limited, but that work comes at a cost. Independent crafters do not need to worry about being commanded to do menial unfulfilling tasks, or having to scrounge for work passed over by senior members.

Cairnwater’s Lustrata is designed to support independent artisans as well as small companies of explorers. Any are free to ply their trade in Cairnwater, and if they perform well in the Lustrata, they are offered official recognition. Once recognized, artisans will have the official support of the county government behind them.

Cairnwater Discord

Haverlands Discord

Ashland Discord

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