Winterwend

Winterwend
Government	Elected Monarchy
Ruler	Eavanette DeAmbergris
Capital	The Free City of Winterwend
Location	The Wildered North
Demonym	Winterwender

Winterwend was a city-state in The Lands of the Highpriest.

Government

The ruler of Winterwend held the title of Marquess and traditionally stepped into their role with the popular support of the noble families. They ruled alongside their royal diet which was assembled from local thanes and governors. Marquesses served for life, but could volunteer to resign and nominate their successor. The duty of the Marquess was to manage the city, the military, law and foreign policy of the crown. The responsibility of ruling their subjects, collecting homage and settling local disputes instead fell to the vassal families, who managed the smaller fiefs and thanedoms outside the city walls.

Society

Winterwenders believed in the value of free thinking, courtly love and feudalism. They preferred to dress in colorful, patterned garments and dresses topped with feathered bonnets and fur caps. Many Winterwenders practiced slavery as a form of penalization for especially egregious crimes or as ransom for prisoners of war. Freedom, it was said, was something to be earned and not something to be given.

Districts

The Bazaar

A market plaza where local produce, artisans goods and exotic wares were plied. The area was traditionally managed by the Guilds, the foremost of which were the glaziers and pulp-makers guild. Every Frithday a market fair was held by the Royal Caravan Company which was traditionally attended by the marquess and their diet.

The Diplomats Quarter

An enclave district which housed foreign delegates and visiting nobles. It contained chanceries, forums, embassies and courts as well as inns and other places of hospitality catering to foreign visitors. The centerpiece of the district was the Pantheon, a temple complex which housed icons of all major and minor deities as well as reliquaries belonging to numerous saints.

The Environs

The main living space of Winterwend located at and around the rim of the city walls. It was divided into a trio of boroughs: The Hill, where the wealthy or ennobled citizens reside, the Yard, home of the clergy and priest-class and the Acres which housed the free churls and enslaved thralls.

The Inner City

Winterwends seat of power. It contained the Capitol, residence of the Marchioness along with her court and royal diet. The Campaigners had their headquarters here.

The Patches

A group of agricultural fiefs which stretched far beyond the city walls. It was ruled by the Armiger Syndicates, a collective of crooked^{[citation needed]} yeomen families and manor lords who enjoyed a great deal of freedom from their lieges in the city.