Kingdom of Chatillion

• Capital: Perim (Huge City, ~19,672) 
• Climate/Terrain Type: Temperate Plains
• Size: ~57,000 sqr. miles
• Population: ~1,720,000; 76% Human
• Military: ~10,000
  • ~3,000 militia light calvary
  • ~2,500 professional heavy calvalry
  • ~2,800 militia light infantry
  • ~1,200 professional light infantry
  • ~300 professional heavy infantry
  • ~200 elite professional heavy infantry (royal guard)
• Government: Feudal Monarchy
  • Ruler: King Charles Chatil VII
• Religions: Hieroneous, Jascar, Mayaheine, Phaulkon, Pholtus, Wenta, Ye’Cind
• Imports: Fruits, textiles, wine, jewels, weapons
• Exports: Horses, lumber, adamantine, fish, wheat
• Alignment: LG, CG, NG
• Crime: Medium (2.3)
• Medium of Exchange: Maddock's Gate sanctioned coinage

     Chatillion is a nation of proud knights, noble kings, chivalry and honor. Its armies take the field atop the fastest horses in Southern Therra and are clad in shinning suits of mail. Chatillion’s monarchy is wealthy and benevolent however it is under siege. In the wake of the recent Orcish Wars, the kingdom has become weak, it's armies spread thin and a host of potential usurpers on their doorstep.  The treachery of the Eastern Kingdoms was fully realized when Haltiok invaded and seized many of Chatillion's most lucrative farm lands.  To make matters worse, greedy nobles have sided with the Eastern Kingdoms assaulting the kingdom from the inside. As civil war threatens to tear it apart, Chatillion’s loyal nobility and chivalric knights fight to defend the kingdom’s rich traditions and historic borders.

Geography

• High Hills: Running parallel to the coast, the High Hills cut off mainland Chatallion from the Golden Gulf. The northern coastline is characterized by steep cliff faces and sharp rock formations. South of the hills however, is lush green grassland with many fresh rivers created from melting snow from the Therran Spine. Mountain Trolls and Hill Giants favor the peaks and mountain caves of the High Hills and only skilled knights and adventures make the journey through the mountains.

• Therran Spine (Peaks of Caras):  The branch of the great mountain range which runs through Chatillion is refered to as the Peaks of Caras, named after Sir Caras of Amdur who build an impresive castle upon them. 

• Eastern Gate: For centuries, this has been the only land route connecting the Western Kingdoms to the desert kingdoms of the East. The Eastern Gate is the valley in between the Peaks of Caras and the Desert's Gate mountains in the east. Chatallion has historically guarded this passage keeping the Western Kingdoms safe from Eastern invaders.

• Kingswood: The Kingswood forest is home to many of Chatillion's most heavily populated cities. It is guarded by a ranger sect of the Knights Chatil; specially trained to fight on foot within the oaks of Kingswood.

• The March: West of Kingswood lies a wide expanse of grassland. This broad area makes up Chatillion's boarders with the rest of the west. It is patrolled by the Knights Chatil and is home to Chatillion's famed steeds, the fastest horses in all of Therra.

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Life and Society

• Humans from Chatillion tend to be tall with brown or blonde hair. They are typically a hardy people. They often grow facial hair which they groom extensively. Good hygiene and grooming is considered a mark of honor and nobility. Like the dwarves, beard and mustache length is highly prized. Although typically a Knight's beard is cut at about 6 inches to avoid obstruction in battle. Nobles, however will allow theirs to grow to obscene lengths (King Charles' beard is over five feet in length.) Beards are excessively groomed and maintained.
• The highest honor for a man of Chatillion is to be counted among the Knights Chatil. Chatillion's knights are known for their extreme proficiency in the saddle. The Knights are world renowned for their martial skill and horsemanship. They are very well trained and fight according to a strict code of honor, much like chivalry or bushido.
• Knights is typically armed with a large spear, long sword and a round wooden shield. Their shields are painted with varying patterns of crimson, black and white. They wear chain shirts or scale mail and carry a short bow. Their helms are open faced and pointed with a long nose guard extending down to the top lip. A Knight's beard is placed into a braid as is his mustache. They wear long black cloaks with crimson lining, gold accenting is added to officers and those of higher status..
• The majority of Chatillion's population are peasants who work the land. They raise horses for the nobility and fight in times of war. The peasantry is scattered all across the Kingdom living in small cottages and working small plots of land. A peasant typically owns both a horse and an ass. The horse he will use for battle, never labor.
• Most of the nobility lives within Perim, Chatillion's historic capital city.  The various towns and cities are governed by Chatilion’s nobility.
• The nation a Chatillion is under constant siege by its Eastern neighbors. It is not uncommon for travelers to be attacked by Easterling raiders while traveling through the Kingdom. Chatillion’s courageous knights try valiantly to contain the threat, but the order is shrinking as more and more of its Knights fall in battle.
• The people of Chatillion are generally friendly to outsiders.
• They distrust magic, but do not forsake it.
• Religion is important to them, but not state enforced. The people primarily pay homage to the god of horses and farming, the two staples of their existence.

The Arts

• Visual Art: The people of the realm enjoy colorfully paintings of everyday life. Chatillion has a rich heritage and paintings of its history are quite popular. The courts of Nobles are often decorated with vibrant tapestries and furs. Fur is the raiment of the Nobility, the more exotic the better.
• Music: Pieces involving flutes, lutes, and fiddles are the most commonly enjoyed forms of music. The people enjoy hearing a good tale from a bard in the local tavern after a hard days work.
• Dance: Those wishing to dance in Chatillion should make sure they know a good jig or two. The people enjoy lively dancing to the beat of stomping and fiddle.

Important Sites 

• Perim (Huge City, 19,672): Perim is the largest city in Chatillion. It is not only the Capital city but it is also the kingdom's largest trading port. Located on the coast of the Golden Gulf, Perim is the northern gateway to the West. Perim is also the most well fortified city East of Three Rivers. In the recent past, Chatillion has been the subject of numerous orcish attacks, pirate raids, and attacks from the Easterlings. To that end, the people of Chatillion have taken great steps to defend themselves. Perim is a walled city, protected by the greatest knights of the Order.
• Chatil (Small City): Chatil is the royal city of the Chatil monarchy. It is home mainly to wealthy aristocats ans retired knights.  It trades mainly in luxury goods and is relatively peacefull.  Chatil is picturesque and is located on a cliff face on the banks of the calm flowing Chatil River.  While there exists slums and lower income districts of the city, it is best known for its high society.
• The White Citadel (Large Castle): The ancient fortress was built by Lord Bernard Ashford in the 1st century. It stands on the edge of a rocky precipice nearly three thousand feet tall over looking the Eastern Gate. The castle is the home of the Knight’s Chatil, and is the greatest fortification to ever be build by the men of Chatillion. Over eight hundred knights guard the venerable structure and more than one hundred thousand lie in its catacombs, eternally watching over the structure. It is by the lives of the Knigths of Chatillion that the West is kept safe, and it is upon the white walls of the castle that their lives are tested. If the White Citadel is ever to fall, the world of the West will fall with it.
• The High Watch (Small Castle): The High Watch is a large tower located on the coast of the Golden Gulf. Like the White Citadel, High Watch is an ancient fortress of the Knights Chatil. Its purpose is to guard the shores of Chatillion, Perim in particular from invaders. Atop its high walls sit half a dozen battle ready ballistae and two trebuchet. Below the tower is a large harbor that houses a small fleet of warships. High Watch is guarded by roughly two hundred knights. The High Watch as been under siege many times and its bruised walls show it. However, it has never been occupied by any other force than the armies of Chatillion.
• The March Ward (Small Castle): Like High Watch and the White Citadel, the March Ward is an aged castle built long ago in the early days of the Kingdom. It was built by Sir Haldin, Lord of the March in the year 1350, and has stood as the first line of defense against Western invaders.