THE KINGDOM OF GALEA [DARK BLUE] - Banner - Silver (or
White) Unicorn on a Blue Field

FACTS IN BRIEF - Feudal kingdom that covers much of the southern
portion of the main continent. Ruled by a benevolent monarchy and
influenced by ruling noble Houses. Galea has strong ties with the
Elvish Nation, the Druids, and the Clanhomes. Economically diverse
with strength in agriculture and sea-borne trade. Skilled army and
navy. Racially diverse; humans comprise the vast majority. Humans
are of various physical characteristics (although brown and black
hair and dark eyes are most common)
     Role-playing Notes - This is the "Good Guy" kingdom, the
almost-ideal medieval kingdom.  There are evil, corrupt factions
within to be struggled against, but the core is good and
benevolent.

     As the Warlords began to conquer the northern lands and
enslave all who were not of their people, many tribes fled to the
south of the continent.  The Great Exodus brought literally
hundreds of thousands of refugees streaming into the southern
lands; most of these people were human, but among them were also
Fae, dwarves, brinchie, and even goblinesh.
     Over time, the various tribes began to organize and become
more civilized.  Conflicts over lands and resources erupted
rapidly, and for many years the southlands were beset with warfare
and bloodshed.  The escaped tribes threatened to destroy themsFae
even after they had managed to escape destruction at the hands of
the Kal.
     Finally, just over 600 years ago, one man came forth to unite
the various clans and tribes and try to save them from themsFae. 
Vol Al-daya, Chieftan of the Tribe of the Silver Unicorn, had
managed to bring together numerous tribes in the eastern part of
the southlands and become known as the King of the East.  His
desire for peace brought him the support of the Druids and the
Elvish Nation.  With their assistance, he led a great army forth
from the east and entered into the lands of the other warring
tribes all around.  He did not seek to conquer or enslave, but to
entreat the other chieftains to come to peaceful terms.  He was
forced to crush the more war-like tribes and to conquer those who
refused to negotiate; however, it is generally believed that he was
fair and benevolent in his actions and in his treatment of his
foes.
     Ultimately he brought almost all of the southlands under one
rule and founded the Kingdom of Galea (for his Elvish bride,
Galadrea, whom he married for love as well as to seal the peace
with the Fae).  The most notable exception are the Freelands to
the far south, which he left alone when faced with the valiant and
defiant Freelords of Lone Keep; though they numbered a scant few
hundred, they were willing to defend the autonomy of the Freelands
to the last one of them.  On that day, Vol Al-daya signed a pact in
blood with their commander that pledges Galea to support the
freedom of the Freelands.  That pact stands to this day.

     Galea has become the center of civilization for many people
and stands as the primary opponent to the Empire.  It is a wealthy
and prosperous kingdom with great diversity in its economic makeup.

The populous is generally content and well-treated; there are no
serfs, and only the most crass of the nobility uses the term
"peasants."  The people of Galea are called just that - people, or
else citizens.  The landed nobility "own" the lands around them
only tacitly; they are more governors than lieges.  There are
families that serve the nobility and the lands they actually own,
but they are not slaves.  The arrangement between liege and servant
is one of mutual benefit and is not to be abused (though it often
is in areas far from the capital).
     Galea is divided into fourteen Provinces, headed by the ruling
Houses. Though it is smaller than the Kal Empire, it has the
support of the Elvish Nation, the Druids of Mindoth's Tower, and
the Clanhomes of the Wolfhead Mountains.  The Kings and Queens
since Vol have maintained his precedent for peaceful and benevolent
rule (although there is the stain of corruption and dark plans even
within the very capital).
     Of important note is the Council of Rulers.  This body was
formed by King Evan Argorn and consists of the Dukes of each of the
Provinces as well as the King of the Dwarves, the High One of the
Elvish Nation, and the Arch Druid of Mindoth's Tower.  Normally an
appointed representative sits upon the Council for each Ruler and
acts in their stead, although it is not uncommon for each of the
actual rulers to serve the seat in times of crisis.  Originally a
strictly advisory body, the Council has been given some power to
make judgements and enforce certain laws.  One of their primary
purposes is to oversee the peaceful succession of the Throne.
     On the social scale, Galea is quite progressive and
benevolent.  Women may achieve any rank and status they desire
(though it would be a cruel lie to let anyone believe that they
have it as easy as men).  Galea is the only (human) kingdom in the
history of Shaintar to have a ruling Queen. Additionally, they may
serve in the military (although there are Houses, such as Malakar,
that forbid women in their units).  Non-humans are welcome in
Galea, and there is a wide diversity of species living in the
kingdom.

Titles and Ranks
     Although there is no caste system (as is found in the Empire),
Galea still has recognized ranks and titles, as well as an
established nobility.  The following are notable titles and ranks
in order of precedence:

King and Queen - The ruling entities of Galea.  The Queen only
assumes the throne when there is no heir and she is judged
competent to rule by the Council of Rulers.

Crown Prince - The established heir to the Throne of Galea. 
Traditionally, he will sit as Regent over the Ruling House if he is
old enough.

Prince and Princess - Titles given to siblings of the Crown Prince.

This is also the title given to whomever stands as the 
Heir Apparent, the individual deemed most likely to take the Throne
if something should happen to the King.  The Heir Apparent is
designated by the King, but they still must pass the Judgement of
Succession administered by the Council if and when the time comes.

Duke and Duchess - Title of the heads of each of the ruling Houses
and, therefore, each of the Provinces of Galea.  Often considered
"minor kings" in that they hold command and control over large
areas and populations.

Chancellor - The highest non-ruling title given by the King. 
Although it normally is bestowed upon an heir, no post is
intrinsically hereditary.  The King may therefore appoint and
remove Chancellors at will.  The posts served by Chancellors are
very highly-placed, such as important advisors and Chief Diplomats.

The Head of the Royal Staff is the High Chancellor.  When
necessary, the High Chancellor has stood as Regent over Galea.

Baron and Baroness - Titles of ruling landowners within the
Provinces.  Barons usually rule from a central municipality (such
as a township of keep).  A Baron is usually served by various Lords
and either a Commander (if his realm is of strategic value) or a
Sheriff.

Lord and Lady - Titles that stand as the proper address for any
nobility lesser than Prince or Princess.  This is also the standing
title of honor granted to any appointed official in the service to
the Throne.  Note that the title of Lord confers nobility upon the
family of its owner; it is therefore more than possible to achieve
nobility without having to be "born to it."

Master and Mistress - Titles of address for most non-nobility
persons of status, such as guild masters, highly-placed merchants,
bureaucrats, mages, and teachers.  It is also in common usage as a
title of address for anyone not of nobility (which sometimes grates
upon the nerves of those who bear the actual title).

Knight - Special military title awarded to soldiers who meet
stringent requirements of training, service, valor, and character. 
This title can be awarded by any nobility of the ranking of Duke or
above.  The King may choose to grant Knighthood to anyone at his
leisure.  A Knight, in turn, may appoint a number of Squires (who
are considered to be viable candidates for Knighthood).

The Nobility and Houses of Galea

King Argon Aladay(House Aladay) 
     Queen Grenia (of the Olaran family)
          Heir Apparent, Prince Kale Aladay
          Royal Regent, Lord High Chancellor Rembroke Lyonn
          Chief Advisor, Lady Chancellor Paridia Vai’tior

House Aladay –Argon Aladay, King of Galea (Aladay is regented by
Urik, Duke of Gryphon)
     Aladay holds control over Gryphon, Clayton, Dwyer, and the
capital Galadrea.  Aladay is the ruling house of the kingdom and
has been since the beginning of the kingdom.  The house has a
reputation for benevolence and a reluctance for war.  They are
quite wealthy with high interests in shipping and trade. 
Unfortunately, their house is also the target of much anger,
jealousy, and spite.  They have long been criticized for their
"more-than-friendly" relations with the Elvish Nation and other
outside influences (enemies often refer to them as "Fae-Lovers" due
to the high number of elvish-human relationships common to their
line, including Vol himsFae).

House Lyonn - Reneau Lyonn, Duke of Vale
     Lyonn commands only the strongholds of Vale and Deridius, yet they 
also command one of the largest tracts of land of any house.  Lyonn is
a very traditional agricultural house.  It follows the "old ways"
more than most houses and has a reputation for stuffiness and
arrogance. However, Lyonn has ever been loyal to the Throne.

House Avanon – Thomas Avanon, Duke of Lakehold
     Avanon commands the north border with Camon, and they hold
Lakehold, Eagle Watch, and Northwatch in their sway.  Avanon has always
been strongly allied with Aladay and very loyal, and their power is
considerable with extensive trading, mining, and agricultural
interests.

House Furrel - Olivia Descane, Duchess of Riverend
     Furrel has always been dominated by merchant lords and trader
barons, and Duchess Olivia is the craftiest businesswoman in the
realm.  In addition to Riverend, the house controls the agricultural 
area around Tierny and the additional riverport called Halfway.

House Danatar - Shaunnessy Danatar, Duke of Avalar
     Danatar, which controls the seaports of Aradar, Enor, Falcrest, and Northpoint, and the landlocked Oakwood, has always borne the reputation of
being a house of scoundrels and adventurers.  This is not entirely
undeserved, as many a famous pirate or privateer has Danatarian
blood.  Oddly enough, there seems to be a bond between their House
and that of Aladay (something else that provides ammunition to
Aladay’s enemies).  To their credit, House Danatar boasts some of
the greatest sailors in history, including the current Grand
Admiral of Galea. They are also one of the wealthiest families in all of Galea.

House Saldar - Ander Venere, Duke of Volstead
     This house is one of the most unremarkable of the noble clans,
ever plagued with rulers bereft of ambition.  Commanding the ports
of Volstead and Fendwyr’s Point, and the agriculture center of Eristead, it could be a quite influential and wealthy house, except that making do has
always been enough.  This is highly ironic in that Volstead was the
original home of Vol Al-daya.

House Kahnar - Tolin Kahnar, Duke of Karas
     The House of Kahnar has ever stood as the symbol of pragmatism
and sFae-reliance within the noble houses of Galea.  When times are
good, the Kahnars prepare for the worst.  When they are bad, Khanar
stands firm to help hold the kingdom together.  The nobles of
Kahnar are the epitome of gentlemen farmers.  Their holdings
include Karas, Douly, and the legendary crossroads town of Five Cross. Not surprisingly, this house has strong relations with the Kingdom of Olara.

Other Elements of Note

The Army of Galea
     Galea's army has ever been impressive in its structure and
capabilities.  For all their faults, the Olarians have produced
some of the finest generals in the history of Shaintar, which in
part explains why the Empire has never been able to successfully
invade Galea.  Ranks of lieutenant or higher are considered a kind
of nobility in Galea and are afforded certain considerations as
such.  A Lieutenant or Captain is roughly equivalent to a Master,
Colonels and Commanders are on par with Lords, and a General is of
a status with a Baron.  The titles are not conferred, however.  An
officer is addressed by their rank, not by "Lord" or "Master."  The
honorific of their rank is retained even after retirement or
mustering out.

     There are 16 standing legions in the Galean Army; one for each
of the Houses, as well as one that serves the Throne directly
(there are those that grumble about this giving Aladay control over
two legions) and the Legion of Silverthorne, the army of Fae
dedicated to preserving the Kingdom (yet others complain that this
means Aladay essentially controls three legions).
     Each legion has anywhere between two and six brigades (units
of between 5000 to 8000 troops).  Each brigade consists normally of
four or five battalions.  A battalion has a normal compliment of
four combat companies and a support company.  Each company usually
has four platoons, and each platoon normally has 40 to 50 men in
it, divided evenly into squads.
     Some of the more famous units in the Army include the 3rd
Dwarvish Mountaineer Battalion (serving in the Legion of Aladay),
the Blue Feather Battalion (the elite archer unit in the Grand
Legion of Galea), the 7th Lyonnese Infantry Battalion, the Lance of
the Shining Gauntlet (a company of the Legion of Olar), the Knights
of the Black Pegasus (a company within the Legion of Avanon), and
the King's Shield (a special company directly attached to the Royal
Family).

Rank Structure

*Grand Marshall - The highest military leader (below the King) in
Galea.  The Grand Marshall is normally given the status of a
Chancellor, although in times of active warfare, he is elevated to
the same level as the High Chancellor.  

*General - Rank given to those who command one of the legions of
the kingdom.  It is also the rank of  the Grand Marshall's Chief of
Staff.

*Commander - Rank of those who command brigade-level units within
the legions.

*Colonel - Rank of those commanding battalion-level units.

*Captain - Rank of those commanding companies.

*Lieutenant - Command platoons and serve as staff officers.

*Master Sergeant - Highest ranking non-officer rank in the army. 
Master Sergeants normally serve in staff positions, training posts,
or as the ranking sergeant at the battalion level.

*Sergeant - Field leader for small units or assistant commanders
for Captains and below.

*Corporal - Lowest rank of distinction; achieved for duration and
meritorious service.  Normally only accrues a raise in pay and
privileges, although corporals can often be assigned temporary
command of a squad

The Galean Navy
     Although most combat takes place on dry land, no one may
discount the importance of Galean Navy to the continued survival
and prosperity of the Kingdom.  It is because of the skill,
prowess, and valor of the men and women of  the "Blue Sails" that
the Empire cannot launch a full-scale naval assault against Galea
(the "Blue Sails" refers to the expensive but traditional
convention of raising blue cloth sails on all Galean warships and
ships of state).
     The whole of the navy is commanded by the Grand Admiral.  There are 
three fleets - the Southern Fleet (or "Southfleet" as it is often called), 
which patrols the southern coasts and protects merchants from pirates and raiders; the Northern Fleet (or "Northfleet") that protects the northeastern
shores as well as Caldor Bay and serves as the Fleet of the Throne; and the Western Fleet (or "Westfleet") that dominates the waters of western Galea. Each fleet is commanded by an Admiral.
     The Navy utilizes three main craft types - sloops (fast, light
craft), the mid-sized galleys', and the dramatic and enormous
galleons.  The commander of each craft is a Captain (although
unofficial status is accrued towards the captains of larger craft).

There is only one type of unit within a fleet - a Wing (to this
day, no one is quite certain why they are called this, although it
is speculated that early sailing ships gave their pilots the
sensation of a kind of flight).  Wings are commanded by Commodores.
     There are four ranks in the Galean Navy below that of Captain.

The First Officer serves as a captain's second-in-command and
handles the administrative operations of a ship.  The Second
Officer is the third-in-command and handles the night watch aboard
the ship.  The First Mate is the highest non-officer aboard and is
in charge of the daytime operations; the Second Mate handles the
same job at night.

Mindoth's Tower
     Two-hundred miles due east of the town of Syvan, at the head
of the Green River, lies the gargantuan dormant volcano known as
Mindoth's Tower.  It's spire reaches into the very heavens, and it
is the largest enclave of Druids on Shaintar.
     Although there is no official "church" of the Kingdom, there
has always been a strong bond between the Throne and the Tower. 
Druids can be found throughout the Kingdom of Galea, and they are
highly respected and revered.  There are few places where a Druid
cannot expect hospitality.
     The Tower is a place of peace, tranquility, and study. 
However, it is far from undefended.  In addition to the Druids
themsFae (whose powers are not inconsiderable), entire clans of
Fae, dwarves, brinchie, and humans live and serve in the Tower.