Deoria: Stand against the Darkness/Ascour
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Ascour is an oligarchic nation located in Deoria's middle east. The land consists mostly of plains and grasslands, broken up by vast forests. Ascour shares a border with Ras Rufour in the north-east and with Epymna along its south-west to west.
The most common among the populace are simple workers and farmers, who make up a vast majority of the nations people.
Ascour is known to due to its governmental style often be very level-headed in its leadership. They often take on the role of the mediator between nations that are at odds.
While almost all races can be found in Ascour, though halflings, humans and tieflings are most common, along with half-elves becoming more present the closer one gets to the epymnan border. Marquesian is spoken as national language.
Society
Faith
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Ascour is a monotheistic nation. The state religion praises a benevolent goddess by the name of Intégralita. She is said to have seven arms, each of which holds one virtue that the people should live by. These virtues are faith, wisdom, perseverance, hope, love, justice and providence.
While most religious praise is bound to institutions of the clergy and the high priest as religious head of state, the religion also ties into the government, as each of the seven council members is to represent one virtue of Intégralita. |
Administration and Social Classes
Ascour is goverened by a council of seven knights, the chevaliers de la virtu. These positions, once elected into them, are held until one of three events vacates them. The first of events is the council members death, the second a vote to be removed by a majority of the remaining council. In these cases, the successor will be selected via a tournament. All eligible knights may participate, the winner gaining the position.
Lastly, all eligible knights may challenge any council member to a trial. While it is not stated that this trial must be combat, it is stated that a council member may deny any non-combative challenge. To ensure a trails legitimacy, it must be held publicly and in presence of the high priest and at least three non-participating council members. Should the challenger win the trial, they will replace the defeated member in the council.
The social structure of Ascour is divided into three estates, made up by the nobility (First Estate), clergy (Second Estate) and commoners (Third Estate).
The first estate is made up by nobilit, a title which can be earned in various ways. Aside from inheritance and marriage, a noble title can be awarded by the council to acknowledge extraordinary actions, most often on the battlefield. In addition, the title of "Noblesse de l'argent" may be purchased by any citizen that can afford it. Members of the first estate, no matter by what means that title was acquired, are eligible to become knights by joining the military. Any knight may further become eligble to strive for a council position, as long as they are endorsed by a member of the upper clergy. The first estate makes up about 6% of the population.
The second estate consists of all members of Ascours religious aparatus, from rural priests to the high priest himself. All members of the second estate are employed directly by the state, as such being free of any taxation. The clergy is divided into a lower and upper bracket, with the upper clergy encompassing all those with or above the position of archbishop. Besides pay and influence, the only difference is the ability to endorse knights for council positions. The second estate makes up about 13% of the population.
The third estate is made up by all those that do not fall into either of the above, making up the remaining 81%. They are taxed heavier than the nobility, bearing about 70% of the nations tax load. They are split into two groups, the peasents and the villeins. Peasents are free citizens, that while often destined to a life of labour have clear and defined rights as members of the nation. Villein are often former peasents who have fallen into debt and thus made a villeinage contract with a land owner. Such a contract sees the land owner pay the villeins remaining debts and granting them lodge on their land. In return, the villein is bound to work on said land for miniscule pay. A villein may further not leave their lords land without permission. A villein may relieve themselves of their serfdom by paying back the amount that the lord had when the contract was made. Further, a lord may grant their villeins manumission.
History
Ascour was founded in the land that was reclaimed from the darklings after the great war. Founded on many ideals after such terrifying times, it quickly became a nation of virtue. Being quite central, the oppinion and ambitions of Ascour were viewed as meaningful to many nations. This, combined with their virtous nature, had the nation quickly grow to be well respected and relied upon as mediator in various conflicts. Many view Ascour as the counterweight to Ithilien nowadays, although there are no records of a rivalry between the nations.
Military
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Ascour has a rather small standing military, consisting of the knights and a certain amount of occupational soldiers, which are often cavalry or archers.
However, that does not mean its military strength is equally small. Its strength lies in the incredible amount of levies, able to errect large armies in relatively small time. Most of these levies are simple light infantry, supported by the fewer, yet very skilled occupational soldiers and knights. |
Foreign Relations
Ascour is well respected within Deoria. The thoughtful and virtuous nature of the council and the nations central location make it a large trading post.
Ascour holds active trade with Epymna, Ras Rufour, Ithilien and Ferratum.
It further holds a defensive treaty with Epymna.
Locations
| Vateaux | |
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The capital of Ascour is only one of many larger cities in the nation. The only thing that truly differentiates it from the rest is the seat of the council and the cathedral which houses the high priest.
These two things aside, Vateaux is no different than other large cities in Ascour. A variety of walks of life, large trading markets, it is your average metropolis. |
Notable People
| Claire Périer, Chevalier de la prudence | |
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Claire Périer, holding the virtue of providence, is a human woman known for her intelligence and strategic thinking. Her words and thoughts hold great value in the council, so much that she may sway some of her fellow knights without even trying. She holds her spot since 19 years. |
| Baptiste Édouard, Chevalier de la vaillance | |
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Baptiste Édouard is an orc knight, who currently holds the virtue of perseverance. He is known to be very silent during many discussions, only chiming in when he either asks for clarification on something he feels to be ambiguous or when certain about something he has to say. He holds his spot since 26 years. |
| Adrianne Chardin, Chevalier de la justice | |
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Adrianne Chardin is a tiefling knight who holds the virtue of justice. She is known as a steady thinker, trying to understand both sides of every coin. Her thoughrough nature is of great help to make proper decisions, but she tends to overthink in the name of balance. She holds her spot since 9 years. |
| Raymond Bethune, Chevalier de la foi | |
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Raymond Bethune, holder of the virtue of faith, is a middle-aged halfling. He is known for his bluntness and strong will. While his steadfast nature is an anchor to the council, his stubbornness can hinder decisions at certain points. He holds his spot for 14 years. |
| Guenevere Vaiton, Chevalier de l'espoir | |
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Guenevere Vaiton is a human and the youngest member of the council. She holds the virtue of hope. She is an upbeat, optimistic person with a large amount of empathy toward any creature, no matter who she faces. Her eagerness to act is a great addition to the council, though must be moderated, as she often overlooks consequences in the long run. She has claimed her spot seven months ago. |
| Amelie Cuvoir, Chevalier de la sagesse | |
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Amelie Cuvoir is a high-elf and the oldest and longest standing member of the council, holding the virtue of wisdom. She is known to be as honest as she is cautious. Though her caution may hamper action in some cases, it is also held with high regard by her peers. She holds her spot for over two centuries. |
| Jean Deroit, Chevalier de l'amour | |
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Jean Deroit is an aasimar knight who currently holds a council position for the virtue of love. A very empathetic man, he is known to listen to his heart more often than not. His compassion is both, his biggest strength and weakness. He holds his position on the council since 7 years. |
| High Priest Jacobus IV. | |
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Jacobus IV., an elderly human, is the current high priest of the ascourian church. A man of strong faith, he holds each of the seven virtues in his heart and is known to expect the very same of each member of his insitution. Strict, yet fair, that is how he is often described. |