Guilds of Aesteria

World

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Kingdom of Aesteria

  • Land of adventuring guilds Adventuring Guilds

  • Controls the main land mass (1/3 the size of Europe)

  • Large mountain range on the western border keeps it isolated from the rest of the continent

  • Feudal system with duchies, counties, and baronies

Duchy of Tileri

  • Controls the large peninsula in the northwest

  • Duke of Tileri is a vassal of the King of Aesteria

  • Very powerful duchy known for industry and supplying of military arms (could be arcanotech)

  • Lord is arch-duke or non-royal prince

Duchy of Aesteria

  • The capital duchy of the Kingdom of Aesteria

  • Duke of Aesteria title is held by the King of Aesteria

Other realms

  • Free cities (i.e., city-states) to the south

  • Raiders to the north (Vikings)

  • Nomads to the east (steppe people)

History of the Kingdom of Aesteria

Pre-1037

  • Northern region were broken into multiple petty kingdoms

  • Sothern region more tribal and run by nobel houses

  • Tileri and Aesteria are two of the more powerful kingdoms in the north

  • “Balance of powers” kept region and power divided in the smaller kingdoms

1037 - 1039 (War of the Tileri Succession)

  • The last of the ruling family of Tileri dies leaving no dynastic heir

  • The King of Aesteria has the strongest claim on the Tileri crown and presses his claim

  • An apprehensive coalition of northen kingdoms forms to counter the power imbalance of a combined Aesterian/Tileri crown

  • The War of the Tileri Succession begins

  • Due to weak initial response and in-fighting in the coalition forces, the King of Aesteria was able to consolidate power in the region

  • After not being able to make ground against Aesteria the coalition surrended and quickly fragmented

  • The Kingdoms of Tileri and Aesteria became duchies under the new Aesteria crown

1041 - 1051 (War of Northern Unification)

  • Actually a series of smaller wars

  • Seen by some historians as an extension of the War of Tileri Succession

  • The Kingdom of Aesteria subjugated the other northern petty kingdoms as duchies

1051 - 1068 (Interbellum Period)

  • King of Aesteria dies in 1053 and his eldest son takes the crown

  • A succession war was avoided by the new king granting his brother title of the Prince of Tileri

  • Kingdom of Aesteria consolidates and integrates

1068 - 1075 (War of Southern Unification)

  • King of Aesteria begins conquest of southern tribes

  • The decentralized nature of the tribes begins to open many fronts

  • King begins signing treaties with some tribes to join him in exchange for more autonomy in the kingdom

  • After several successful treaties the Kingdom of Aesteria extends an open invitation to any tribes/houses wishing to join the kingdom in exchange for autonomy

  • War ends and the Guild System (Adventuring Guilds) is formalized in the Treaty of ???

  • At this point, the Guild System is only for previous noble houses/tribes that sided with the Kingdom of Aesteria

1129 (A new guild system)

  • The Guild System is revamped to allow anyone with sufficient funding to start a guild

1180 (Now)

  • “Current day”

Adventuring Guilds

Overview

  • Result of treaty so nobles could retain power in exchange for aid in unification war

  • “Old world” guilds are former noble houses

  • “New world” guilds are those formed after the treaty

  • Guilds do not swear fealty to local lords, but life is easier if they respect them

  • Organization and management of guilds and leagues are up to their respective heads

    • Leagues may influence how member guilds are run

    • “Old world” guilds/leagues tend to be run by descendant of the former noble houses (e.g., leadership is hereditary)

Leagues

  • Guilds can join leagues for support

  • League to help new guilds

    • Despite relatively weak member guilds, this guild holds a far amount of influence and respect

    • Most view it as a noble endeavor to train new-comers and help perpetuate the guild system

    • Others see new guilds as unfit and see the league as diluting prestige of the guild system

      • People with this view tend to be descendants of the former noble houses (i.e., “old world’)

  • One or two leagues closely tied with former noble houses

  • Specialist leagues (e.g., for certain job types)?

Titles

  • Prince of the Guilds - head of the guild system, non-royal prince, elected by electors

  • League Lords - head of a league of guilds, duke-level title, electors come from this group

  • Guild Master - head of a guild, count- or baron-level title depending on guild prestige

  • Guild Knight - a member of a sanctioned guild

  • Titles are not hereditary

  • Titles are not formally retained upon leaving a position, but may be used out of respect (e.g., for former league heads)

    • May want to consider more official emeritus titles