Province of Tilbury

The Province of TIlbury is a large kingdom in the northernmost part of the former Halfling region. With the liberation of Bru'Donu in 4741 the Council of Five Mayors started meeting again in Old Capital.

With hardly any resistance at all, Lycans take control of Bru'Donu by taking over the great house in 4550. In the next few years, they established very strict rules to enter or exit the city and used the halflings as slave labor. By 4551 the council of mayors was completely suspended.

100 years later, in 4650, the Astigani a nomic people group, which traveled between the Province of Tilbury and the Duchy of Coterii started a petition to be recognized as a sovereign group with rights. This triggered the Astigani War, which was the first of many disputes along this border. These wars existed between Bru'donu and the Duchy of Coterii. This cut the Provence of Tilbury off from kingdoms to the west.

The Astigani War ended with a peace agreement that lasted until 4693, the Massacre of Coterii, when the werewolf army of Bru'donu stormed into the Duchy of Coterii. The werewolf army had been betrayed and slaughtered by Lord Coterii. This kept tensions very high. Because the Barony of Liefen did not interfere they kept a more open agreement of travel into the Province of Tilbury.

The next conflict took place in 4714, and was a short-lived incursion called Domgee's Coronation. The Lycans of Bru-Donu perceived weakness in the new monarch of Duchy of Coterii. With the help from the Barony of Liefen and the assistance from a small elven army from Kingdom Ir'isi the Duchy of Coterii quickly and clearly repelled the Bru'Donu troops.

In 4740 Bru'Donu again began moving their army close to the borders with the Duchy of Coterii and Barony of Liefen. This never resulted in a full-fledge attack because of the destruction of one of the city's three great houses. This destabilized the government and resulted in the withdrawal of the army. With the help of the local druids of the moon, the Blackbolts, and a division of the Gnome army, the city was completely liberated and returned to the control of the Halflings.

While the most significant political events took place between Bru'Donu and its neighbors, other events took place in the other cities of the province. In 4551, when the council of mayors was suspended, Old Capitol shifted from a political focus to an interest in wine and brandy production. The brandy of Patchwork Spirit became quite popular, elevating Grasshill and Burrowbright families. The lower-class residents of Berryhill suffered an outbreak of mysterious illness, which caused rashes, brain fog, and eventually death, in 4575. The next year, the Berryhill Pox appeared in Glanling, which allowed the agents of Tehana, who had been trying to help the victims, to narrow down the cause to an infection in local fish. Grinvale and Dundraken became the two cities that became the home to the Gnome Mechanocorps and tinker's guild, in 4600. While this group was not the first of its kind, it made a significant change in both of these cities. In 4652, the Gladdenstone Trading Company, was established by the affluent Budding, Cloudgazer, and Dewmont families. Since that time, it has been a significant source of business and diversity in the city.

Government

The Province of Tilbury is led by a federation of mayors called the Council of Mayors. This same council has a history all the way back to the days of the emperor when the Council of Mayors oversaw the whole Halfling Patchwork. The "leader" of this kingdom has always had the title of President, which they carry for life, although the post shifts every 5 years. The President is less over the city rulers and more a face of the Province of Tilbury in international issues and overseeing the military. The mayors of each city are elected by the residents of that city according to that city's laws. Each city has a large amount of autonomy.

Nearly every major or influential family in the province has had at least one president. Additionally, the title of mayor, from which the president is appointed, is often given to a patriarch or matriarch of a family that has contributed to the livelihood of the city. Many, don't actually want it but consider it their duty to serve.

Military

The military of the Province of TIlbury reports up to the President, who takes residence in Old Capitol for the time of his service. The generals of the army and the Mechanocorps report to the President, and they each have several colonels who report to them.

The military handles international defense, and when requested can assist in the policing of cities. The make-up of the army is mostly stealthy infantry, but also includes, agents of Tehana, Illusionists, and recently gnomish mechanical cavalry. Soldiers in the military are paid and are a voluntary force. Recruits are usually trained and stationed by their family unless they request otherwise.

Economy and trade

The principal export of the Province of Tilbury is fine leathers which come from their numerous flocks of sheep. This leather is noted for the combination of its softness and durability. Clothing made out of Tilbury leather can sometimes double the value of the goods. In addition to leather, these flocks also give lamb, fleece, candles and parchment, all of which are exported to neighboring kingdoms. The cotton fields near Bru'Donu and Berryhill produce string, thread, rope, yarn, and fabric. This cotton fabric is made into shirts and leather is made into a kind of loose work pants, making what is considered the Tilbury suit. The other things Tilbury is known for is its food and drink exports. These exports include barley bread, tarts, sugar, molasses, stout, rum, wine, and brandy. The center part of the kingdom has many vineyards, while barely and sugar beets are harvested around and south of Glanling. As for the famous Tilbury tarts, which are imported to nearly every festival and holiday in the area, they are a simple barely and sugar tart, which is also uniquely delicious. The grassy hills and many fields of the province happen to provide two other exports, which are snakes, at least their skin and tongues, and grasshoppers, which magic users make use of the legs.

The province produces plenty of food and items for clothing, so their imports largely consist of construction materials and luxury items. They import black steel and pink marble from Atharada Peaks, diamonds and birch from Thol Caverns, horses from State of Chardon, iron and grey feldspar from O'lory Entitlement, emerald ironwood and white marble from Duchy of Coterii, and horses, silver, quartz, mirrors, and white oak lumber from the Barony of Liefen.

Society and Culture

The majority of humanoids in the Province of Tilbury are Halflings, but it also has a fairly high level of diversity. There are populations of nearly all other humanoid types in the province. Gladdenstone, because it is on the dwarven highway, has populations of Mountain Dwarfs, Hill Dwarfs, and Rock Gnomes. Berryhill features an enclave of Aaracokra and Fairys. Grinvale, what might be the technological center, has both Rock Gnomes and Forest Gnomes.

Bru'Donu, because of it being taken by Lycans has a pretty distinct culture from the other places. The halfings that remain are distrustful of outsiders and sometimes appear cold, even locking rather than answering their door for visitors. Outside of Bru'Donu some Lycans still remain, but they are connected to the druids of the moon and are trying to repair the damage that was done. There is also a fairly high human population that resides in the city.

The homes in the Province of Tilbury vary from city to city, each favoring the most local materials. Bru'Donu has homes of White Oak and White marble producing a very bright and clean look, although some have described the city as looking like teeth or tombstones. Grinvale makes use of red cedar lumber and grey feldspar, giving it a subdued cozy feel. The rustic homes of Glanling are mostly wood, with staining or painting on the local red cedar wood to create some artistic variations. Gladdenstone is built into the side of a large hill, which houses half the city. The homes not dug into the hill there are made of birch and grey feldspar.

In addition to barley sugar tarts and Patchwork Spirit brandy, those visiting the Province of Tilbury are likely to be served sweet braised lamb shank, rum-soaked raisins, and knotted barley rolls. The taverns, which are very popular, serve high-quality locally crafted, porters, stouts, rums, wines, and brandies. Outside of Bru'Donu the people of the province are very friendly, giving high importance to hospitality and being quite jolly.

Religion

The Province of Tilbury is a fairly religious society. While the loose political structure does not have a state religion, nor have positions that are tied to religious practice, but nearly every person openly worships. Homes sometimes have home shrines and harvest festivals have a heavy religious component. The church of Tehana is represented at building festivals, offered at the completion of any building, and new years festivals. The church of Ktisis is represented at planting and harvest festivals. Hoofshaw is probably the most important God of Bru'Donu, and hosts the liberation festival. The church of Charese hosts the Birth Festival, which wish luck on babies born at the end of each month, and the Military Festival, which celebrates luck and glory in battle. There are also small celebrations to nearly every God and Goddess, even the better elements of those that are less savory. There is no single official religion, and none really push to join their faith, but anyone declaring they don't worship any of the gods would be considered odd.

Education and Magic

Classroom education is not really part of the consciousness of the people of the Province of Tilbury. This does not mean that they are uneducated, but rather it is almost all gained by experience. So in the home, before they are of age to gain a practical skill, they will learn to read, write, tend plants, basic math, and some basic reasoning. Once they are considered old enough to work they enter the fields, work in the family business, or become the apprentice of one of the many guilds. The society has a pretty elaborate apprentice system, which allows young citizens to find an occupation that suits them.

The place where education has been more intense is with the Gnome lead tinker guilds and the illusionist guilds, which have a very specialized and deeply educational training. They are often selective on who they will admit and don't easily let an apprentice leave. There are also rumors of secretive guilds, which may have some special rules for admission.

Outside of guilds devoted to specific schools of magic, there are no major magic institutions. Even the temples to Kawfshafa are not especially significant.