'The Princess'

[RogetThesaurii]

[RogetThesaurii]

Fifi's family are the rulers of the Duchy of Mendoza, once an independent kingdom folded into the old Lisezian Empire and now comprising one of the great Duchies of the West, the 'Old Empire' as most now call it. Mendoza is a lot like real world Poland, but also encompassing some of the Czech and Slavic states and the ruling family, the Villa-Lopéz Reals, are based on the Magyars of Hungary. There's some mountains as one closes on Fretania and the arctic circle but it's mostly broad plains and random light forests with a couple old-growth stands at the heart of the larger forest spaces. Mendoza is pretty big, too, in terms of size in comparison to the other Duchies. Its top 3 (behind Medecicci and Gaulta), and the largest of the easternmost Original Eight duchies.

In terms of being encompassed, Lisezia began in Salacia, and they conquered Medecicci and Gaulta before turning themselves on the rest and calling themselves the Lisezian Empire. Mendoza's addition was bloody, and long. Corbitti's was first, nastier and bloodier. It was capturing Mendoza that secured the rest of the west for the Empire. Mendoza blocked in Fretania and made Cordoba easily threatened. Secessini was a nothing, a quick addition once Cordoba was acquired. Technically, Cordoba 'acquired' Secessini and then it was merged into the Empire as part of Cordoba. Secessini regained their full autonomy during the dissolution of the Empire.

The Ruler of Mendoza is Fifi's aunt, her father's older sister. She has a 'consort' who is technically a Count himself, but he has more prestige as the ruler's arm candy than as his own head of House (He is the great nephew of the head, and was groomed for the marriage from an early age). Her aunt has three children, Fifi's cousins. These three and her own father are the four people between Fifi and the Seat (the 'throne' of Mendoza).

Mendoza is the breadbasket of the west so it ships a bunch of agricultural goods. Its always been traditionally close to Gaulta politically, as both have similar terrain and traditions and peoples. Cordoba was always focused on the sea, but Gaulta and Mendoza rely on the land. Mendoza has the second highest total population of the Eight Duchies, behind Medeccici (also the largest Duchy).

The Villa-Lopéz Real family has ruled Mendoza for the past eight centuries, from a couple centuries before the Empire's collapse through current year. They seized power from the previous ruling family, the Peréz-Hidakoski clan, by exposing the reigning duke to be plotting against the Imperial Throne. The duke and his three children, two brothers and their children and his wife were all executed once exposed. The duke's minor sister was spared and her descendants still hold a grudge to this day against Fifi's family. They are not well-liked in court, but they are still strong, a constant thorn in the side, a pebble in the shoe.

In general, Fifi's family are well-liked by both their subjects as well as citizens of other duchies. Mendoza did not foster any rivalries with other duchies, like Cordoba has with Medecicci and Salacia and Corbitti does with Salacia and Fretania does with everyone. Think of Fretania as Germany/Switzerland/Austria/Romania. Mendoza is their one real neighbor. Technically they touch on both Cordoba and Secessini, but both are deep in the mountains and thinly crossed. You can still find orcs in places like those borders, so most traffic to and from Fretania and the East comes through Mendoza And Mendoza reaches the world through Cordoba, mostly.

PicturedCenter - Fifi's Aunt, Caterina
Red Shirt - Auntie's eldest child, heir to Mendozan Seat
Older Girl - Fifi
Younger Girl - Cousin Yelena, Auntie's middle child
Young Boy - Cousin Eldin, Auntie's youngest child
Spectacles - Fifi's dad, Auntie's younger brother, Aruvel
Moustache - Auntie's Husband, the Count
Red Sash - Auntie's Youngest brother, Eidgar

Edited May 6 by RogetThesaurii (see edit history)

[RogetThesaurii]

Mendoza's northern border is the western arm of the Wolves Fang Mountains, just south of the arctic circle. These same mountains swing north and west into the arctic as they leave the north-western borders of Mendoza and enter Corbitti. South of the mountains, Mendoza's roads swing westward towards Gaulta, Vestre Fel and the western duchies. Straight south, Cordoba's northern borders abut Mendoza and lead trade down the coast of the Cordoban peninsula to the city and the sea.

The capital of Mendoza is Malacioni, a sprawling city of more than two hundred thousand souls abutting the foothills of northeastern Mendoza, far from the borders of the western duchies. Once a wooden city, fires plagued the location four times in the first twelve centuries and when the predecessors of the current ruling family seized power, they began a campaign of replacing the city's wooden structures with stone, quarried from the mountains and brought down from Fretania. The bulk of Macioni is now stone buildings, including all government structures, from a small tax office to the Duchess' palace itself.

The palace, known as Rimeshadows, sits on a hill overlooking the city around it. Originally the site of a fort-turned castle, the Rimeshadows sits in the northeastern corner of the city and overlooks the Mountain Road to Fretania...