Bevany

Capital City: Montbury
Population: Approx. 23,000,000
Religion: The Fayth
Ruler: Lord Protector Edward Wetherby Dean Higham
Demonyms: Bevanies, Bevanish
Emblem: A falcon clutching a periwinkle 

Pronounced: Beh-vah-nee

Bevany is a small coastal country west of the Verdant mountain range. On the other side of the mountains is The Verda Empire, and this proximity has meant that in the past Bevany has been part of the empire. Currently, it is an independent nation led by the Lord Protector, following a long rule of several centuries by a monarchy.

The Lord Protectorship is Bevany's first attempt at democracy, where noble families may petition for a member of their family to become Lord Protector. This creates much intrigue among the nobility, but if you were to ask most commoners, they could not care less who was in charge so long as the country functions.

Due to Bevany's rocky geography, the population is concentrated into large cities in the few places where such feats of architecture are possible. Most people live in the cities, and beyond that civilisation is scarce. Some areas are decreed to only be used for agriculture in order to feed the cities, but even this can be difficult and imports from Calcera are critical as a result.

Rural Bevany is truly, truly rural. Even in Verda's vast countryside, people are more evenly settled. In Bevany, you can travel for days on end and not meet another soul - a surreal experience, when Bevany is a fraction of the size of the current Verda Empire. When you do finally encounter a homestead or village, you may find that their way of life is... Peculiar. Rumours in the cities say that those who live rurally are too far from The Fayth, and strange stories sometimes make their way back of bizarre superstitions and an archaic way of life that many would deem uncouth compared to the more sophisticated lifestyle of the cities. 

There is a buzz about Bevany at present, as if there is anticipation of a great revelation. 

The Bevanish Flag

The majestic Grey Falcon is a staple in the skies above Bevany. It represents strength and determination above all, adapting to the sometimes inhospitable landscape of the nation to make a practical home where it can flourish. 

Grasped in its claw is a Periwinkle, the national flower. 

Recent History

Coup D'etat (1736)

Bevany overthrew its monarchy in a swift and bloody revolt, led by the now Lord Protector. Peasants had grown tired of the lavish lifestyles of the aristocracy, and decided that enough was enough. Many noble families were wiped out in the revolt, but many still remain and govern Bevany. However, the involvement of the proletariat has significantly increased, and noble houses are watched with close scrutiny. 

Notable Places

There are three main cities where a heavy concentration of the population live:

Montbury

The capital city of Bevany. A severe but grand city carved into the Verdant mountainside, looking over into Verdan land. This city was once named after an ancient king, but when Bevany revolted against the monarchy and installed the Lord Protector, evidence of the royals of the past were scrubbed from history. An extravagant hall was built for the Lord Protector on the highest peak of the mountain. 

Montbury's main industry is coal mining, which is sent off to Coaleigh for refining. The bottom of the mountain is where most of the common populace live and where most of the many mineshafts can be found. Higher up is where the wealthier folk and nobility live, and this is clearly reflected in the quality of the architecture and grand estates. 

Oxton-On-Sea

An enormous port city that has a vast trading network and the only paved route direct to Montbury, courtesy of when Bevany was a member state of the Verda Empire centuries ago. The city is even larger than Montbury, as it has historically had more room to expand. However, it is still only a small spit of land on the coast compared to elsewhere in Aynca. Nowadays, the city is at its limits for expansion and therefore, it is an interestingly cobbled together plethora of old and new architecture slapped side by side, erected quickly and not always efficiently to house the growing populace. Twisting streets weave confusingly through the city, and even locals are known to quickly become lost after a wrong turn. 

For those who can’t stomach the claustrophobic streets, some have even taken to living on boats in the bay. Fishing vessels and other boats are often racked together to form homes with permanent moorings off shore, and it is estimated that soon the city will reach the nearby unoccupied island of Iath and continue there. 

Coaleigh

A large city, but insignificant compared to Montbury and Oxton-On-Sea. This city lay in the far north of Bevany and is known as a central processing plant for the surrounding mining region along the River Pincent. Travelling via river to sea, and the abandoned royal estate following the deposition of the monarchy, Coaleigh's royal remnants have been repurposed as Bevany's primary Jaegerhaus as a gesture of good will by the Lord Protector.

Ley-On-The-Low

The noble house of Ley presides over this pasture. Originally from Verda during colonial times, the Leys introduced a delicate Verdan breed of cow to the sturdy Bevanish breeding line that went on to produce a hardy auroch with tender, delicious meat. Ley-On-The-Low is a proud farming town, maximising their agricultural output in spite of the limited space. 

Like most of Bevany, the weather is unpredictable. It is often wet with harsh wind, and thus the people here are as hardy as their cattle, working regardless of the conditions. 

Blue Hills

A picturesque sequence of basalt cliffs, Blue Hills is easily one of the most beautiful landscapes of Bevany. The weather here is harsh, with extreme winds and crushing ocean constantly slamming against them. However, the high cliffs offer some shelter down its hills, so long as you can cope with vertical living among the periwinkles. 

Sure footed cattle farming, such as goats, mountain sheep and oxen, are the primary focus of Blue Hills' time. However, for its beauty, it is a little distance away from The Fayth. 

Towns and Villages

A selection of known towns and villages throughout Bevany:

• Dunnehampton - Primarily a trading town on the southern border, a flourishing town that acts as the gateway to Calcera through Peublo de Cuero. 

• Johnstowyn - Construction and mining, once ruled by an iron fist which has since shattered following the coup d'etat and experiencing teething issues with authority since.

• Little Hightop - Little Hightop is a place of interest rather than a village, not that there's much of interest there other than being the most northerly and tallest point in Bevany

• Marsher's Punt - A collection of fishing villages in the shallow marshes on this little island, sheltered from the outside world. 

• Steepford Lynn - This area of outstanding beauty houses this village in a unique lake formed from run off water from the steep cliffside.