Quick Introduction to the Capital District

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Vilhelm Benkern
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Quick Introduction to the Capital District

Post by Vilhelm Benkern »

Welcome. The Capital District consists of two distinct administrative divisions: the County of Kralizec and the County of Musica. Their close proximity represents the entwined history of the Federation, Kralizec being one of the heartlands of Brookshire and Musica being a part of the Yardistani Holy Lands.

County of Kralizec

Kralizec, formerly a part of the Duchy of Brookshire, was for most of its history known as the Barony (later, County) of Alexandretta. The capital city is and always has been the city of Alexandretta on the southern banks of the River Elwynn. Other major settlements include Gatonia, also on the Elwynn, and the costal Kelbia. When a Barony, Alexandretta had Monty Crisco as its feudal subordinate; then, later, they were both under the Baron of Dolor.

The current flag: (larger version below)

The meaning of the symbols in this flag are much discussed among scholars and vexillologists. The general shape is heavily based on the ancient flag of Alexandretta and Dolor, the origins of which are lost. There are two competing mythological theories. The first is the 'Geometry theory'. Those of this school of thought hold that, thousands of years ago, prior to the rule of Raynor I, a grand colloquium was convened by the mathematical sages of the errant Duchy of Straylight. The greatest minds, the quickest wits, the best logicians and the wisest women of the period came from all over the globe to an unknown Sanct in the Shire Sea. Three delegations opted to meet at Nigrad beforehand to discuss their tactics over certain points and vertices. They were from Thule, Melangia and Vey. They took a ship from the port city in Kildare but never arrived at the Sanct. Instead they were shipwrecked a small way up the Elwynn. They found the lands so beautiful compared to their own - ice, rock, and sand - that they decided to lead the local unelightened people. They founded the city of Alexandretta and its library. They transcribed all of their knowledge onto scrolls which are now lost. The Library of Alexandretta is known for its old labyrithine storage beneath its basement levels where precious and valuable tomes are stored, so this gives some credence to the story. The crossed lines and kaleidoscopic stars are representative of the mathematical foundation of local government and civilisation.

The second theory is the 'Bastard theory'. Its proponents observe that the feature common to all of the flags of Kralizec is the pair of sinister black bends that strike out across the flag, two trails of tar. A single band from right to left in heraldic terms is a well-known representation of illegitimacy and this corroborates with an formerly discredited myth about the foundation of Alexandretta. This revolves around the 'Band of Bastards', the focus of a set of folktales aged beyond history. Many are taught to all children in Kralizec, others saved for dark corners in pubs due to their adult content. They are the original anti-heroes of Shirerithian myth: they robbed from the poor and rich alike; they wined and dined; they fornicated; they were murderers and robbers, and always end up the butt of jokes and come-uppance. These moral tales prepare the young of Kralizec never to expect the best from their fellow men, but to be wary. The Band were ten men and two women who were all born in the same Shirekeep brothel but left the city to find easier victims than the savvy merchants and away from Imperial guards. The tales vary from basic fables about intoxication and overindulgence leading to humiliation, to the extraordinary story of Jill Bastard convincing Raynor himself that she was a wisewoman and a medicus, and tricking him into a bizarre sexual ritual to avoid stomach pains after eating too much. The Bastard theorists believe that the last two of the Band married and became the first Mayor and Mayoress of Alexandretta after using their horde of gold saved up over the years to construct the city. Therefore the heraldic device of the city and the county bears the mark of their lack of parentage.

Historic and larger versions of flags:
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This flag was the original flag of Alexandretta County; then of the Barony; then also of the Barony of Dolor.

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Pandora's 'nudist pride' flag from Aug 2006 - ~May 2010.

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Shyriath's attempt at a modern blend.

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The then-Countess' love of hoverkitties overwhelmed.
County of Musica
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"... But there was a weak point in Goldshire's fluvial armor, in the form of the Musican Alliance. Once a small confederation of city-states clustered around the mouth of the Elwynn, and a close ally of Brookshire, it had joined Brookshire a few years previously, and possessed holdings on both sides of the river..."
-Shyriath Bukolos in The Ages of Shireroth, Vol. 1


The modern County of Musica consists of the city of Musica and the territory surrounding it, until it meets the limit of Kralizec. The city is renowned across Shireroth for its ceremonial flames which often occupy much of the city, especially at Boomist holiday periods. The County formerly owned the beautiful Skyla Isles, but they were given as a personal gift to the Kaiser's demense and are now used as zir hunting grounds and summer residence.

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Topographical map of the County's holdings by Malliki

The County has often changed hands between Yardistan and Brookshire - pretty much every time we reset history, with the occasional land deal as well. Its flag, however, clearly shows Yardistani influence in its use of the Novi Nigrad seal; and its status as part of the Holy Lands of Shireroth, the islands protected by the Yardistani right to rebellion due to their special religious and cultural significance, is apt.

It is hard to describe Musica in a short introduction: life focuses on the city, which is one of Shireroth's largest and most populous cities in spite of its chronic housing problems, causes unknown. It dominates the mouth of the Elwynn and boasts a large military and trading port. Seafarers from across the globe stop off at the docks - individual traders might travel up the Elwynn to sell at a higher rate in Shirekeep, or to go further still up to now-lost Eliria and Araxion, but for the wholesale importer of thousands of tonnes of spices from Yardistan, of base metals and tropical wood from Mar Sara, of furs from Hyperborea or wine from Alexandria, for which there is much taste in Musica, a good price and a fair deal can always be reached. It has been the home to some of Shireroth's greatest historians and, perhaps not surprisingly, is host to one of the Imperial Republic's most prestigious conservatoires.

The lands outside Musica are chronically underdeveloped - much of the arable farmland is reserved for efficient grain production to feed the city, which cannot support itself (except after the usual population trough after Fiesta de la Boom).

TO BE CONTINUED, INUED, inued....
Last edited by Vilhelm Benkern on Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Vilhelm Benkern DEOMI, Member of the Order of the Dragon, Silver Swan, Red Dragon
Dirigent of Musica, Count of Mar Sara
In Aryasht Prapta Vrteti, former Prince of Aryasht; Zaila Vrteti, Norfolknath
In Elwynn Benjamin Sebasokrator Timothy Quentin Kern, Duke of Raikoth
In Khalypsil Representative of the Wisdom

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Shyriath
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Re: Quick Introduction to the Capital District

Post by Shyriath »

(Heeeee. I remember that hoverkitty flag. Good times.

Let me know, incidentally, if you'd like to collaborate on a city map of Musica.)
Shyriath Farstrider (aka Shyriath Bukolos), KD MOU OLH XBH
Viscount Farstrider of Erysisceptrum, Count Bukolos of the Condo, Harbinger of Cheese

TOTUS MUNDUS TABULAM RASAM EST

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