Hi Petra,
Hope I'm not too late to offer some input. Here's some information regarding the Baronship Of Cove (BoC) of Europa.
Location:
The player run town sprawls along the coast from Cove town both northwards as far as the Altmere and south eastwards as far as the border with Vesper and eastwards into the Shire and Baronship Household.
Guild Contacts:
Raiden Morana - Commander >205-754-768 (GM)
Octiovus - Baron >284-429-275
Aliryl Trefynwyd - Scout Corporal > 291-981-640
Elizabeth Martin - Officer Cadet> 494-172-386
Hoagie - Captain > 236-058-634
Torrak Keres - Grenarier Sergeant > 396231451
Penny Freckletip - Steward > 587-158-358
The Covian Encyclopedia:
Brought to you by the Covetowne Gazette.
Official Name: The Baronship of Cove
Coat of Arms:
Head of State: Baron Octiovus Von Richter
Governing Body: The Baron's Court
State Motto: A posse ad esse - From possibility to actuality.
State Religion: Northern Avatarianism
Official Currency: The Covian Shilling
Official Language: Britannian Common
Total Population: 150,000
Ethnic Groups: 40% Covian, 30% Altmerian, 15% Non-Covian Northern, 10% Britannian, 5% Other
Map of the Baronship of Cove:
1. Cove Proper:
Cove Proper is a mostly residential area, housing the working class. It features many large business opportunities with the mineral rich Glenmore mountains looming over, and the equally lucrative docks. The residents of Cove proper tend to be common folk, speaking quickly, clearly and most of all, loudly. They are the stereotypical hardy commoners, and something about the tight packed residential area inspires a sense of opportunism within them. If there's a coin to be made, a resident of Cove proper won't be far from it.
2. The Baronship Household:
The Household is the nerve centre of the Covian empire. It houses all the highly important headquarters of government and is also where the Baron resides. It is the epicenter of culture and politics; and the place from where all major decisions are taken. People who are born within the Household are few, but those that are tend to be high born nobles or merchants. The people of the Household have a generally disdainful attitude towards the Covian peasantry and especially outsiders. Household residents tend to speak with a clear cut high born accent, usually using full words and a vibrant vocabulary, much to the irritation of other Covians. The Baronship Household is home to many important buildings such as the Army Barracks, Grenadier Headquarters, Green Goblin Tavern, Dead Man's Hand Casino, Northern Chapter Avatarian Church and the Memorial Square.
3. The Glenmore Highlands:
The Glenmore mountains are bleak, dominating, Craggy rock spires. The jut out from the ground and claim the Covian skyline as their own. On their flank dwells the Covian orc fort, and this in combination with the poor soil and harsh weather mean that Glenmorians are few and far between. Since the demise of the 4th Glenmore Highlanders, the place has been all but abandoned. Only a handful of hard faced humorless mountainmen (and, it is rumored, a clan of Dwarves living within the bowels of the mountains) remain to try and carve out a living. They face a bleak existence, and their style of speech reflects that. Their words are guttural, and they make many odd sounds. In fashion, it is easy to tell a highlander as they are often clad in animal furs and adorned with numerous orc heads.
4. Covianshire
Covianshire is a rural place, sparesly populated, and what few people are there tend to interest themselves in cultivating the land by either farming or lumberjacking. They are country folk with country ways, and despise new technology and innovations. They are usually devout Avatarians and deeply distrust foreigners and anyone who isn't human. Ironically, Covianshire is also home to most of Cove's Elven population - the source of a great deal of conflict. They are certainly not an arcane folk, and often take it upon themselves to outcast anyone who has such a 'gift'. The people of Covianshire have a thick accent, speaking slowly and often emphasising certain parts of words, giving them a drawl.
5. Avaricia/The Mountains of Avarice
Avaricia is rugged, mountainous region, populated chiefly by Minocian immigrants and natives of neighboring Covianshire. Avaricians are a tough folk, hardened by generations of mining. However, there is also a great deal of fear amongst the Avaricians - many years ago a disaster killed dozens of miners and left the caves now known as Covetous unusable. Folk tales tell of a buried citadel whose inhabitants were damned for eternity for their avaricious and proud ways.
6. East Altmere
The wide and fertile plains of East Altmere provide a staggering 70% of Cove's agriculture, and contain at least a quarter of the population. The farmlands of the regions nearer to West Altmere are juxtaposed with the almost urban regions closer to the Covian Bay and Covianshire, and the inhabitants vary from roughneck Altmerian farmers and Covian nobility to Yewish and Britannian immigrant workers.
7. West Altmere
West and East Altmere could scarcely be any more different. Indeed, it seems to many that the only thing they share is their name. While East Altmere is more densely populated, West Altmere has one of the lowest populations in the Baronship. This is, perhaps, because of the terrors that swarm out of the desert with alarming regularity, and the all-too-frequent Royalist incursions from across the river. West Altmere might at some time have had the potential to share in its Eastern sister's prosperity, but decades of near constant battering have left it a sparsely populated, impoverished, war-scorched wilderness.
8. The Desert of Compassion
Perhaps the most ironically named Province in the known world, the Desert of Compassion is home only to scorpions, swirling vortexes of living sand, and a large number of assorted Guardian Spawn. Perhaps more alarming is the tendency of these inhabitants to periodically migrate North into West Altmere and inflict a variety of unspeakable horrors upon the already limited population. Needless to say, the Desert lacks any significant human (or Elven, Dwarven, Gnomish, Halfling, etc.) population.
9. The Desolate Bog
It has often been asked of the Desert of Compassion; "What could be worse than this sweltering pit?". The answer is the Desolate Bog. As the name suggests, the desolate bog is both desolate and a bog. It is an uninhabitable hostile area, filled with many odd creatures and occasionally odder folk. Many enemies of Cove and indeed mankind linger here, haunting the area, killing all they encounter. The people of Altmere say that in winter, a strange mist emits from the bog, and that the sky there becomes ever twilight. Few dare to venture there, and even fewer come back to tell the tale. Luckily for Cove, the bog sits along its border with Britain - a fact that has crushed the dreams of many an ambitious Royalist.
Government & Politics (Continued):
While the Baron retains the final say and supreme power in all matters, the execution of the Covian administration is conducted by a number of officials. Each province of Cove has an assigned governor, representing his or her respective people at the Baron's Court. The Baron's Court also entails the following roles:
Minister of defence: A role usually fulfilled by the current commander and overall leader of the army, but can be held by a high ranking Covian officer in his absence. The minister of defence is in charge of all military matters and the security of the realm, advising against threats which may trouble Cove as well as making sure the army functions correctly.
Prime minister: The man charged with overall leadership of day-to-day running of Covian affairs. It his his job to ensure trade is conducted, laws are passed, taxes are being collected and so on. His power is only exceeded by the Baron himself, and as such the prime minister is usually treated with respect.
Treasurer: The treasurer is in charge of Covian funds and allocating them to projects. He ensures the continued wealth of Cove, and is often sent to finalise trade deals.
Religious advisor: The religious advisor is a senior member of the clergy, making sure that all decisions taken are in accordance with Cove's Avatarian ways. He is also responsible for counsel during emergencies such as floods or disease.
Crime:
Cove, like any other City, suffers from a significant crime problem. It is rumored that most crime within Cove is organised by a council of thieves who break the law for their own profits. The leader of this council is unknown, but he and his hoodlums wreak havoc throughout the city.
