This post is the next in a new series, where I describe the adventures created for a 5th Edition D&D campaign I ran a little while ago, and some of the crazy things that happened during it.
This is the second of the posts outlining the setting, the Principality of Tarak.
It's fair to warn you that there's quite a lot of setting-related material, because this was a semi-sandbox campaign where I created the environment and all the things that were going on in it. The players then chose which leads they would follow up and what they'd do next, although I was generous with hints if they were looking at doing something that wasn't yet within their abilities !
The Arms of Tarak City - created with the Worldspinner Fantasy Heraldry Generator
Economy
Tarak is famed throughout Northern Argull for it’s university. Founded 850 years ago by Prince Bansonn, it is one of the few areas where the factions on the Grand Regency Council work together. Although many of its students (and almost all of its staff) are Tarakian, it draws in students from all over the world, all paying very handsomely for the privilege of a really good multi-disciplinary education. This is such a good (and regular) earner, that it forms a significant part of the economy if you include scholarships and bursaries paid for by foreign governments and private individuals (often former students themselves).
DM note - the University isn't a Hogwart's style magic school. Although it teaches magic, it's a minor part of the curriculum. If it helps, think of the place as more like the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, which work hard to attract lucrative foreign students
In addition to the University, Tarak generates cash by maintaining several highly productive mines in the Vildar mountain range, mainly mining lead, tin, copper and gemstones (primarily malachite and garnet types). There is also a very small orichalcum and mithril mine, although this is plagued by intermittent Sidhiaran and orcish raids.
With huge numbers of sheep, Tarak also exports wool, both raw and woven. Tarakian knitwear and fabrics are highly sought after, being both hardwearing and beautifully made. The textiles made in the Principality are richly decorated with complex intertwined animal and anthropomorphic designs and fetch a high price in foreign markets.
Social Structure
The main feature of Tarak’s social structure is that the ordinary people are proud folk who do their best to avoid giving their notional rulers any significant influence over their daily lives. There is a recognition that taxes need to be collected to maintain the infrastructure of the Principality, but beyond that, most laws are ignored or subverted where possible, and it is considered normal to bribe officers of the law to look the other way on occasions where the various factional police can’t be mis-directed into arguing over jurisdiction.
The countryside is primarily agrarian, and there is still a remnant of the old order there, with local dignitaries from old families being highly influential and providing patronage to the population under their influence.
Political Structure
Tarak is still notionally a Principality. The Green Palace still has a throne room and a throne (The Chariot Throne), but it has not been occupied for many years. Instead, there is a Grand Regency Council, which meets and conducts affairs as if there was still a Prince, but one who is temporarily unavailable for state business. This fiction is fully maintained, to the point where the empty throne is addressed as if there were a prince still seated in it.
The Grand Regency Council is a highly fragmented body at present. It has two main factions, colloquially called the Arcane and the Divine. However, there are several smaller factions as well, most of which work to play the main factions off against each other so that neither can become dominant. Currently the Divine group is considered to have the edge in influence, under the dynamic leadership of High Lady Farhar, the recently appointed High Priestess of Andraste.
The Council consists of 15 members in total, each representing a particular interest group. Within this, they are self-selecting, each represented group determining by their own methods who is to represent them.
To be continued... next time I'll describe Tarak's religions, foreign policy and armed forces.
Previous posts in this series;
The Tarak D&D Campaign - Setting Part 1