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Most of us can name the provinces of the Known Lands, but how many of us know the rulers? For your enlightenment I have compiled a list of the current rulers of the Known Lands, along with a brief description of their philosophy and world influence.

Let us begin with the most familiar.

With a newly established and forcefully taken reign, Queen Lillian is the most debated and probably the most influential ruler in today’s world. She is widely feared by the rulers of established lands, primarily Moraithe and Masalla, both of whom have voiced consternation at the manner in which she ‘usurped’ King Goddard. Still, Queen Lillian remains beloved by the people, and is carefully watched by other rulers who are waiting to see if her new system of government proves effective.

Her belief is that each person should be given an environment where they have the potential to grow or stagnate under their own power. She has attempted to blur the lines between social classes and provide opportunity through education and freedom of expression.

There is a darker side to her reign, however, and  rumors still abound that she is of demonic blood, or that she is in league with the mysterious Eldritch. In this time, when the presence of the Eldritch seems to be re-establishing itself in the world, such rumors are gaining momentum.

The embattled frontier of the New World has long been ruled by the combined Niall/Sheridaan line. They formerly held reign from the city of Antara, but upon the fall of that city moved north to Rilhaven. Officially, Lord Niall rules over all of the New World excluding Maelmuire, but many of the territories, such as Auralay, Cuan, Faol, and Casara stand effectively as unique political entities. The present rule (as well as the historical rule) is characterized by a stable, just government that is constantly distracted by the rigors of frontier life and seemingly endless border disputes with Maelmuire.

Laws are clearly writ down, and are enforced by methods that some of us would consider barbaric, such as hangings or whippings. This is not necessarily due to cruelty, but to a political situation in which most of the energy must be focused outward in order to keep Rilhaven alive. A drawn-out system of judgment and punishment would simply take too much energy.

Lord Tavian Niall has expressed interest in allying himself with Queen Lillian and supporting the Renaissance, but is now, more than ever, being beset with new strife. Unless things improve, it is doubtful that Lord Niall will accomplish much more than any of his ancestors – simply keeping the New World safe from its own internal demands. After all, the wilderness of the New World is famous for Sereg, fae, harsh weather, and strange happenings.

Though not officially a province, and though the Kaelus family does not call themselves nobility, Auralay is clearly ruled by this influential family. Descendants of the founders of Auralay, the Kaelus family are an illustrious and eccentric people, and have created a society of high artistic expression. Their line includes the Latallan family, famed for their particular breed of cattle, and the Kaelus’ command most of the trade in Eldritch artifacts.

Their rule is intelligent and thought-out, and they have the gold to afford an effective military to protect them from outside harm. Laws are lax, and it is said that Queen Lillian modeled her rule after the example of Auralay, where social classes are discarded in favor of individual fame. The current head of the household is Lord Terrin Kaelus, who is married to Amatara Kaelus, a pureblood Japuran.

Cuan and Nirha are famed as a prime example of how a society can flourish with the presence of strong social class boundaries. The Tavelles acknowledge Lord Niall’s rulership in name (hence their use of the baronic titles), but it has been over a century since they have paid taxes or given other homage to their ‘King’. In effect the Tavelles, the current Baroness Karalynn and the Baron Tendrik, have their own little self-sufficient province.

They hold to rather strict ways, but enforce those ways more through social mores than laws. They keep a smooth-running society that does not encourage public dissent. Utilizing tradition, they stress the delicate balance that allows their society to work so well, and people who don’t ‘fit in’ are often ‘nudged out’ simply by being made unwelcome. It is said that they have a respectful relationship with the Lambrodegh line in Maelmuire, and thus have little need to keep a large military.

Faol is another example of a city that has effectively established itself as its own province. Although the Lord and Lady do not claim the official title of King and Queen (an act which would put them in direct defiance of Lord Niall’s rule and thus make them a rogue province in the eyes of the other rulers of the Known Lands), within Faol they are commonly addressed with the royal titles.

The rule of the Tirlaan line, both historically and presently, is defined by a strong favoritism shown toward the elite of Faol. A place of great wealth, Faol defines its rigid social classes by assuring that gold is directed only toward the already wealthy high class. Lord Adreus Tirlaan and Lady Mara Tirlaan restrict the practice of magic, tax selectively, and maintain a force of guards who answer directly to their wishes.

Still, despite the obvious corruption, the Tirlaans have continued to make visitors, especially traders and wealthy people on holiday, welcome within their city.  They also value their common class enough to ensure that there is little abuse dealt to that class. Those who work in the mines, however, are considered a lower class than the commoners, and since many mines are worked by criminals, almost all miners are treated with little respect and courtesy.

Casara is famous for its corrupt elite, but to blame the government on any one ruler is quite impossible, since the province is ruled by a Baronic Council, consisting (at present) of 83 representatives from each of the Baronies of Casara. The Baronic Council, for the most part, upholds the traditional values of Casara, which include the delineation of class boundaries, bestowment of privileges to people who please the council, and the restriction of magical practice, mining, trade, and marriage between classes, to list a few.

While there are no official ‘heads’ of the council, there is definitely a distinction between levels of power. Among the most powerful on the council are Baron Eldrin Janar, Baron Jonathon Eradon, Baron Aelin Semira, Baron Koriak Adraan, and Baron Sarid Laradae, each of whom holds a large barony connected with mining.

The Lambrodegh line has been in power since the arrival of Old Worlders to the New World. Founded under the context of war, the line has never quite escaped its roots, and King Lambrodegh continues to honor the warrior caste to a high degree. The current King succeeded his father’s rule just after the former King's death half a year after the Founding of Aranor.  He is only thirteen years old, but already he has established a name for himself in the history texts by making official the ‘Aragaad’, a caste of warriors who are trained from birth and who have been affected by the strange disease now plaguing the province.

Lambrodegh's line is renowned for its warlike nature and its desire to reclaim the Maelmuirian lands from the ‘Old World invaders’-- meaning the residents of almost all the other settlements of the New World, including Faol, Casara, Auralay, and especially Rilhaven. But the new King has not yet made clear how he will relate to the rest of the world – there have been no official visitations to the rulers of other provinces, and no official statement as to his intentions. We can only judge him by his two major actions thus far – the first was to make official the Aragaad, and the second was to offer leave to anyone who wanted to give up their Maelmuirian residency. After the leave was granted, and the small exodus that followed, he made it illegal for any residents to leave the province. For now, then, Maelmuire remains a closed port.

We will wait, then, to see how the new King Lambrodegh will govern his rule.

For a treatise of this nature, I shall tend toward brevity in describing what will, doubtless, soon require its very own treatise. Gwynned continues to grow and thrive as the summer moves on, and each of the provinces will doubtless embrace its own flavour. Many sages insist that the entire concept of Gwynned is a mistake, as history clearly shows that provinces which share an island tend toward hostilities. But perhaps Gwynned will be unique in that it is an intentional community, grown out of pre-existing civilizations. The hope is that Gwynned will retain the spirit of its origin, which was based on the Founding Declaration –

Gwynned shall be a land where the rulers shall stand for the enlightenment and growth of the people, where opportunity shall be made available to all, where magic shall be practiced freely and responsibly, and where the spirit of each individual shall be allowed to fully blossom. All these ideals shall be met without treading upon the rights of others to achieve them, and all laws shall be writ with these ideals embraced.

As Gwynned grows, we shall see how this Declaration is interpreted. The watching will no doubt prove interesting.

King Mark has ruled Rel Morde for eighteen years, since the death of his father. At the age of 38, he is still unwed, and claims only his sister as family (who is famous for setting him up with potential brides). His rule contrasts with his father’s which was characterized by very favoritistic dealings with outside provinces. There was a time when Rel Morde steel was nearly unavailable, and gems were much more difficult to come by. King Mark opened the markets and has a reputation as being amiable with all other provinces. Even, incidentally, Maelmuire. (Excluding Japura, however, who deals with no one.)

His openness was vividly made clear during the famous Gathering in Aranor, a meeting between the then-rogue Queen Lillian, the late Baron Gerard of Jalpa, the late King Goddard of Selarum, the late Lord Ryland of Kern, and King Mark of Rel Morde. King Mark was the only one who suggested an openness in dealing with Queen Lillian. And, as you might have noticed, is the only one of the above listed whose name needn’t be prefixed with a ‘late’.

He has thus brought much wealth to the world, and dwells in wealth himself – Rel Morde is thriving greatly, and the only concern with his rule is that he won’t leave an heir.

Tirané is loosely divided into territories held by various clans. The fluidity of territories and rulership of these clans makes it pointless to highlight any individual as a ruler, but it is certainly true that the Madahr Clan has the most contact with the outside world. Although lifestyles vary widely, Tirané, in general, can be considered to favor males, to be governed by mores and ideals rather than laws, and to judge the individual by merit of their deeds and wealth.

Politically, Tirané is isolated, although it does relate to the other provinces of the Known Lands through limited trade.

Japura is an example of a province ruled by numerous groups and individuals. In effect, what we think of as a single province is, in fact, many. The Siva family in Siva Taren serves as our only link to this otherwise isolated province, so if one was forced to name a ‘ruler’ of Japura, it would be Rajah Siva Kohlaan, who rules over this powerful Taren (or province).

Like Tirané, we can only generalize when describing the flavour of the ‘average’ Japuran rulership. Based heavily on castes, this is a land where the rulers are believed to possess the blood of the deities, and thus their desires override the ‘rights’ of the populace. Slavery is common throughout the lands, and rulers have the power to claim almost anyone as an addition to their harems or households.

The caste system serves as a powerful tool, and dictates that individuals will work and live within the rules of their caste – there is very little tolerance for aberrant behavior.

Japura is an ancient society, predating Masallan civilization by many thousands of years. Its lifeways are steeped in long-held tradition, and the rulership supports the continuation of these ways.

Whether the current rulership will be challenged by Queen Lillian’s Renaissance remains to be seen. Japura has certainly weathered extensive contact with other provinces, but its citizens have never before left to make a new life in another province. Although we must note that the numbers still remain relatively small, the trend of Japuran immigration to Aranor has not been ignored.

The Duke and Duchess Amasay (the Duchess prefers to utilize her first name as her official title) continue to rule over Moraithe using the codes and traditions handed down through the Amasay family for over 470 years. Since Moraithe declared independence from Masalla, the Amasay family has held to strict codes that have served the province well. Although the public is not privy to these codes, we see them in action when we observe Moraithe’s interesting political structure.

Having set itself up as a hub of trade throughout the lands, and a favorite holiday spot, Moraithe has embraced a loose, easy-going system which, in essence, observes three social classes – the common class, the nobility, and the slave. The common class enjoys loosely enforced laws and few restrictions on their behavior, although magicians are required to be licensed by the government of their city and can lose their license if they use their magic to cause harm to others. Otherwise, commoners in Moraithe enjoy an open and free market, and can sell and purchase at will. As the Amasays only charge a flat tax per resident, Moraithe is a place where it is famously easy to get rich.

Slavery is an official practice on the isle, and it is probably the presence of slaves which accounts for Moraithe’s prosperity.

Nobles, interestingly enough, are held to much higher standards, preserving the old Masallan practice of abstinence out of wedlock, refined dress and mannerisms, and standards of honor. This serves to set the nobles apart from the commoners, and probably keeps Moraithe from degrading into one giant party.

Thus the Duke and Duchess continue a tradition of open freedom, at least for the common class, where life is easy and opportunity abounds.

The rulership of Lantrielle passes back and forth between different names as bloodlines shift, for they have a complex system of tracing royal and noble blood. An ancient culture, probably a contemporary of Jedda and Japura, Lantrielle has deeply ingrained traditions which sharply define the boundaries between royalty, nobility, and the ‘artisan’ class. Estimates suggest that nearly twenty percent of the population is considered royalty, while another forty percent is nobility. The remaining forty percent are ‘artisans’, since Lantrielle has little place for the concept of ‘commoners’. Whether the ‘artisan’ is a server at a restaurant, a peasant, a chef, or a jewelry maker, they are treated and paid well by the higher classes, especially if they excel at their art. However, they are also strictly bound into their role, and such practices as marrying outside the artisan class, leaving Lantrielle, or aspiring to great wealth are nearly impossible in Lantrielle.

Slaves, unlike the situation in Moraithe, are bred and traced by bloodlines, and are highly valued prizes.

The nobles and royalty of Lantrielle enjoy great wealth and freedom, and although their outward behavior may seem to approximate the restrictive mores of old Masallan nobility, the Lantrielle nobles definitely take advantage of their positions and relish the breaking of moral codes, especially when it comes to the issues of sexuality and trade.

Overall, King and Queen L’Aridanne continue a tradition of excluding the outside world, giving great privileges to royalty and nobility, and treating the artisans and slaves with respect, as long as the artisans and slaves perform well in their roles.

Though sages are apt to make guesses at the number of tribes in Shavay, they are guesses only, and almost all of our knowledge concerns the northern Shavay tribes. In truth, there are probably many hundreds of Shavay tribes, always shifting their territories and, perhaps, their rulers. Our contact with Shavay moves through a single portal – the city of Alann, ruled by Lord Tukulakaela, who is commonly known as Lord Tu. A jovial and spirited man, Lord Tu follows the path of his grandfather, the legendary Shavay warrior and pirate, Lord Kaeko. Lord Kaeko ‘civilized’ the Alannta tribe when he stole a ship from Masallan explorers and began to learn of the outside world. He eventually founded the village of Alann, which has served as the trade-center for Shavay ever since. Lord Tu welcomes visitors (who are few), and is very open to helping people to explore northern Shavay. Still, his powers extend only to the few tribes he has direct contact with, and outside that sphere Shavay is totally untamed and unpredictable.

Lord Tu grants his villagers with a life dominated by open trade, and the ancient traditions of the Alannta tribe are mostly lost to Alann’s modernization. If fault can be found with Lord Tu, it is in his eagerness to bring knowledge of Shavay to the outside world, which, his critics suggest, has led to the exploitation of certain Shavay tribes.

Nedarn and Anabelle Avorine came into power after the death of Nedarn’s father, during the Plowing Moon of the Second Year After the Founding of Aranor. They have promised to ‘continue and enhance the traditions of the Avorine Renaissance’, making it quite clear that the Avorine rule promised a ‘renaissance of ideas and lifeways’ after their defeat of King Mor’Duraan more than 450 years ago. Long before, it is tacitly pointed out, Queen Lillian ever thought of the idea.

In spite of that tiny jab, the new Avorine rulership has reached out to the world with open arms, encouraging renewed trade relationships and encouraging the Masallan people to ‘pursue education and exploration’. Still, King and Queen Avorine have done nothing in their year of rule to weaken the strong social class boundaries present in Masalla, nor have they ceased the practice of ‘dispension’, in which excess tax monies are given, as allowances, to members of the noble class.

Masalla remains a male-dominated society where title and bloodlines have more to do with a person’s success than hard work or skill.

Soon after Queen Lillian founded Aranor, Velsuna, a settlement island far to the north of Tirané, was overrun by Sereg.

Few people even knew of the territory, which was so isolated that almost no trade or communication with the isle existed. After the massive Sereg attack, Queen Lillian sent a force to reclaim the isle. This, of course, added to the fear of other provincial rulers – that the new Queen was intent on taking the world as her own.

Queen Lillian cleared the island of Sereg, but much damage had already been done, with great loss of life and property.

Since that time, little has been heard from the island. Queen Lillian opened the territory for resettlement, and the rumors state that she carefully selected ‘people of reputation and potency’ to live there. Some sages suggest that many of the ‘missing’ people from Antara now live in Velsuna.

Officially a territory of Queen Lillian, I was still unable to find out anything regarding the government or rulers of present-day Velsuna. I was simply informed that ‘there is a colony there, of exceptional people who can keep the Sereg threat at bay.’

Doubtless there is much more to be told, but until further research can be done, Velsuna will have to remain a mystery.

The ancient tradition of rulership in Jedda states that the Empress and Emperor are immortals, reborn again and again to rule over their islands. Thus the methods of ruling are highly bound by tradition.

Upon being titled as the Emperor or Empress, the current ruler forsakes their name, and thus they are known only by their respective titles.

The Emperor believes in the power of men, and holds rather strictly to class delineations and the practice of apprenticeship within the family. Thus, women are limited to being wives or to a small number of professions.

The Empress treats the sexes equally, and although class delineations are present, movement between them is more fluid, and professions are chosen based on talent and desire.

Both rulers utilize written laws to moderate behavior, although the presence of strong social pressures keep most people within the bounds of reasonable action. Punishments for breaking the laws range from fines to imprisonment to hanging, and are often applied rather unjustly in favor of higher classes.

Both rulers welcome outsiders to their lands for visitation, but they regulate trade so that only the purchase of small quantities of goods is allowed unless you are licensed.

This shall serve as a brief explanation of the rulers of the Known Lands, three years after the Founding of Aranor. Next time someone asks you who rules over Cuan, you’ll know!

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