Introduction
Greetings. My name is Gregor Lesthin, High Scholar of the Videan Academy. It is my honor to write this brief history and introduction to my home, The Kingdom of Videa. Since the formation of the Order of Caligonauts we have started to receive more and more visitor from other Realms coming to Videa in search of trade, alliances, and a desire for communal understanding of what lies beyond their own Realm’s borders. As such I have been tasked by His Majesty, King Leonis Videa the Fifth of His Name, to write an essay and introduction to our fine kingdom for those who would visit from beyond the Mistwall, for whatever reason they may come. The information contained within is by no means a complete history of Videa, but should serves as a short introduction and reference guide for any traveler who comes to our borders.
Founding of Videa
As we have come to discover is common among the other Realms, what is known about the founding of Videa is rather murky. What we do know, gleaned from ancient writings and oral lore, is that the people who would eventually found Videa were actually refugees from other lands. While many either do not care or do not believe, there was in fact a time before The Mists, when the boundaries of the lands were much larger and the beasts that haunt our borders were not a looming threat. References to prior great cities that now lie consumed by the Mists, and a mass migration of people from them to the land that became current day Videa, have been found in multiple ancient diaries and texts that only through luck have been preserved through time. All signs seem to indicate that the citizens of Videa are all descended from these refugees, and that upon settling within the boundaries of the Mistwall, the villages and encampments that they set up evolved into the kingdom we have today.
Unfortunately, much of the history of what transpired between the time these refugees arrived here and the first documented mention of the Kingdom of Videa is unknown. It is presumed by the scholars who study such matters that the refugee populace's need for survival, shelter, and food outweighed their desire to keep document of their history. This leaves us very few sources for determining how much time passed before the kingdom was founded, and as an extension of that thought, how long ago these refugees were forced from their prior homes.
What we do know for a certain is that, as of the writing of this essay, Videa was founded 1,017 years ago, marking both the beginning of the kingdom, as well as the current calendar. I am not versed in the methods that other Realms use to keep history, but for Videa, that marks this year as 1,017 PVF (Post Videan Founding). As mentioned previously, there is a lack of recorded history prior to the founding of Videa, but what records do exist seem to indicate that during the BVF (Before Videan Founding) era, the people of this land lived in large villages, loosely associated with each other. It is theorized that these villages likely contained refugees from different cities, leading them to be dissociated from each other. It was not until King Malkis Videa the First began a campaign to promote trade between the villages, and bring them all together under one leadership that the Kingdom of Videa was truly born. Since then Videa has flourished and expanded its borders North, East and South to the Mistwall, and West to the edges of the Outlands.
The Mistwall & Spirit Guardian
I would be remiss if I went any further without discussing how Videa stays safe from the Mists and the monsters within it. Surrounding the boundaries of the kingdom, as well as the Outlands, exists the Mistwall. This is not an actual physical wall but rather a magic barrier that holds back the Mists. In addition to this amazing feat, the Mistwall seems to hold similar properties to that of a Warder Glyph, and kills anything that passes through it. Interestingly enough, this only appears to go one way. A person within the Mistwall can pass through it, leaving the area inside, completely unharmed. However, were that same person to turn right around and try to re-enter, the full might of the Mistwall’s magical energies would strike them down. “How then can anyone enter into Videa as I myself did?” you may be asking. In order to explain that, I must first explain about the Spirit Guardian of Videa.
There exists within Videa a being of immense power known only as The Spirit Guardian of Videa. This being is very seclusive, avoiding contact with mortals as it roams around the unpopulated areas of Videa, mainly the Outlands. Descriptions of it from ancient texts and supposed eye witness sightings describe it as capable of taking the form of either a massive elk, or of the race known as the WylderKin. In either case, it always appears to be ethereal in form, lending to its name.
From what we understand of The Spirit Guardian, through the few recorded encounters people have had with it over centuries, it is a protector of the land within the Mistwall. As far as we can tell it considers everything within the Mistwall its domain, and actively keeps others from entering into it, particularly the Mists and the horrors that live within them. This is where the Mistwall comes from. It is an aura projected by The Spirit Guardian to keep The Mists and other beings out of its land. Unfortunately the effort of keeping the Mistwall active drains on the The Spirit Guardian and causes it to go into a form of hibernation for a few days each month. During this time the Mistwall is dispersed, and the Mists begins to press inside its borders. These times pose both a danger and a boon. While the lack of protection allows the Mists and the monsters that lurk within them to seep into our kingdom's borders, it also allows for people of other Realms, as well as Soldiers and Adventurers who previously ventured out into the Mists, to enter as well. After a few days, when The Spirit Guardian awakens from its hibernation, the Mistwall comes back, and cut off from its main body, any Mist that remains within quickly dissipates or recedes. This cycle has been continuing for as far back as our records reach. While there is no continuous pattern to when The Spirit Guardian’s hibernations occur, over the past decade our scholars have devised a method using the Lore Ritual to predict how far apart, and for how long they will happen in any upcoming year.
It should be noted, despite the name that we have given to The Spirit Guardian and the fact that the Mistwall protects us all, The Spirit Guardian is not a benevolent protector of the Kingdom of Videa. It at most shows an indifference to us, and seems only to care for keeping other beings and the Mists from entering its territory. Interestingly, once something is inside the boundaries of the Mistwall The Spirit Guardian chooses to ignore it for the most part. There have been several reliable accounts over the past two decades of recent outsiders stumbling upon The Spirit Guardian by happenstance, and in each case the creature has just stared at the outsider in question, then continued on its way. This indifference seems to even extend to the monsters born from the Mists, sparking a constant debate amongst scholars about the creatures actual relation to the Mists. Some argue that the Mistwall repelling he Mists is just a byproduct of The Spirit Guardian trying to keep all things out, citing these instances of The Spirit Guardian ignoring mistborn monsters upon awakening from its hibernation. Others argue that since the Mists appear to be the only substance that can not seem to even pass through the Mistwall (though living creatures in general die when they do, their bodies will still pass through the barrier) this indicates that the Mistwall’s main purpose must be to hold the Mists back. In either case, we have no way to indicate whether or not the Mistwall existed before the Mists came, or was created after, so both arguments are largely an exercise in philosophy.
Geography of Videa
Before delving into the topic of Videa’s geography I feel it is necessary to clarify a few pieces of nomenclature in regards to the difference between Videa and the Kingdom of Videa. As the only true expansive civilization within the Mistwall is the Kingdom of Videa, when referring to the land that the Mistwall surrounds in its entirety people will often just refer to it as Videa. The phrase “Kingdom of Videa”, on the other hand, is generally used when only referring to the area within the Mistwall that our kingdom occupies. Everything else is considered part of the Outlands.
Videa itself, the whole area within the Mistwall, is a circle approximately seventy-five miles in radius. The Kingdom of Videa comprises approximately half of that, on the Eastern side. The terrain of the kingdom is a mixture of open fields, largely used for farming, dotted with large patches of forest, and cut across by interconnecting rivers. To the North and East the kingdom is protected by the Spikeback Mountains, and to the east and south we are bordered by Lake Arguan, with the Mistwalls perimeter cutting through the middle of both of them. This lends extra protection for us as, when the Mistwall does drop, anything from outside its borders has limited entry points into the Kingdom of Videa. It is for this reason as well that the Kingdom of Videa only extends westward to the rough ending points of both the Spikeback Mountains and Lake Arguan. There have been multiple times in the Kingdom of Videa’s history where we have tried to expand further westward into the Outlands, but each time has met with disaster. Without the natural borders of the Spikeback Mountains and Lake Arguan settlements west of our current territory became too difficult to protect when the Mistwall dropped each month, as troops would have to spread too thin. Ultimately these settlements would be overrun by either creatures from the Mists or the various monstrous races that live in the Outlands, These Videan Citizens would be forced to flee back eastward for fear for their safety. So it is that the borders of the Kingdom of Videa have largely remained unchanged for the past several centuries.
As for the Outlands, the lands themselves are largely similar to the Kingdom of Videa’s; open plains with pockets of forest, lakes and rivers. The most notable feature of the land is the range of mountains known as Talon’s Run, named for its appearance on a map resembling that of a talon stabbing through the Mistwall. Other than that there is not much to say on the geography of the land. A breakdown of the various tribes of monstrous creatures, and the few more civilized races recognized by the crown, would do better as another essay in and of itself.
The Shires of Videa
Socially and economically the Kingdom of Videa is split into six segments referred to as Shires. These Shires are each governed over by an Earl who runs the day to day business of the Shire, but is still beholden to the crown. Each Shire houses its own capital city and contributes to the prosperity of the kingdom through a variety of means depending on the resources available to them. In fact, the breakdown of where a Shire’s border ends largely has more to do with natural geography than a responsibility for a particular resource. Of course due to this natural geography certain Shires tend to produce more of a certain resource than others, but this is more a reflection of happenstance than any particular Shire being created for the express purpose of, say for example, being a ‘Mining Shire’.
Below is a list of the Shires, their capitals and notable resources and features.
Malkais: Named after the first king of Videa, Malkis Videa the First, the Shire of Malkais is located in the center of the Kingdom of Videa, and is the heart of the kingdom itself. Malkais is notably different from the other Shires as its capital Demeron, located along the Temperan River, is also the capital of the Kingdom of Videa itself. Despite Demeron being home to the king himself, the economical happenings of the Shire are still overseen by the Earl of Malkais, Earl Lenore Estwin.
Containing the capital of the Kingdom of Videa, Malkais is the central hub of trade for the kingdom. Its expansive grasslands have allowed for extensive farms to be set up, and the many rivers that pass through its boundaries allow for quick transport of goods. In addition Malkais holds the kingdom's only Earth Circle, inside of Demeron. This has made it the main destination for anyone in the kingdom looking to become an Earth Scholar or healer.
Demeron is also home to the kingdoms library, housing relics and tomes from the past, as well as the main military barracks, though the majority of training for soldiers is done in Feric.
Aster: Run by Earl Lindsay Pandrin, Aster is currently the second most notable Shire. The northernmost Shire, it is almost completely shrouded in forest, and bordered on the north and east by the Spikebacks, and on the west by the Outlands. The capital of Timbel is most notable for its craftsman. Skilled woodworkers and smiths make Timbel their home, largely due to Aster’s ready supply of lumber from the forest, and ore mined from the Spikeback Mountains, second in production only to the Shire of Wistlow.
The main reasons, however, that Aster is the second most notable Shire is Derrin’s Pass. While the majority of the north and east of the Kingdom of Videa is protected by the Spikeback Mountains, there are many passes that run through it that allow for Mistborn monsters to enter into the kingdom’s territory. While most of these passes are small and only allow for minimal passage, Derrin’s Pass spans several miles wide, making it the largest pass in the Spikebacks. When the Mistwall drops, this gap allows large quantities of monsters from the Mists to enter into the Kingdom of Videa. To combat this a fortified outpost of soldiers was set up and stationed in the pass to defend it. Over time this outpost has grown into a town unto itself, taking on the name of the pass it guards. While the danger of living in Derrin’s Pass during the time that the Mistwall is not active is great, it is not much different than a normal city otherwise. It houses not just soldiers, but their families and a number of other non-combatants. Many have found that soldiers who risk gruesome death a few days each month tend to be more loose with their coin during the rest of the month, and it is very common to find craftsmen and entertainers living in Derrin’s Pass as well. Derrin’s Pass isn’t just the easiest point of ingress into the Kingdom of Videa for creatures from the Mists however. It also is the easiest point of entry for those who would visit from other Realms. As such when the Mistwall drops, Derrin’s Pass often sees a number of travelers looking for either adventure, or transit further into the kingdom.
Finally, Derrin’s Pass plays host to one other group worth mentioning. As it is the easiest path in from the Mists, it is also the easiest path out. When the Order of the Caligonauts was founded by King Leonis Videa the Fifth, it was determined that its base of operations should be situated in Derrin’s Pass as well.
Wistlow: Governed by Earl Edmond Belar, the Shire of Wistlow is the primary source of lumber and ore production in the Kingdom of Videa. It’s capital of Temperan sits along the river named for it, providing easy transport of these goods to Demeron for distribution throughout the kingdom. While the area of the Shire is limited, a particular quirk about the land itself allows for Wistlow to provide an almost unending supply of lumber. For reasons not fully understood, the trees in the forest Wistlow encompases grow at an exceptional rate. Studies have been done and the closest our scholars can come to identifying the cause, is some sort of tie to the Spirit Guardian. While we may not fully understand the cause of this phenomenon, the denizens of Wistlow have learned to accommodate it. They have developed a system almost akin to crop rotation that allows them to log in a series of areas so that by the time they reach the first one again the trees there are almost fully grown. Paired with the many access points to mines in the Spikeback mountains this allows Wistlow and it’s hard working citizens to be the largest supplier of material goods in the kingdom.
Feric: Feric has the largest border with the Outlands of all the Shires. For this reason there are many military outposts stationed within Feric along this border. This has lead Feric, under the watchful eye of Earl Maria Kensright, to be the primary training grounds for the Kingdom of Videa’s military. The capital, West Wall, doubles as both a fortification against the uncivilized denizens of the Outlands, and a military academy. Several more military academies can be found interspersed amongst the farmlands away from the Outlands border. As all citizens are required to spend a minimum of five years in the Videan military upon turning sixteen, almost every citizen within the Kingdom of Videa has spent time in Feric.
Geralt: The forests surrounding Umbrin, the capital of Geralt, are home to many rare herbs and plants, useful in alchemy and medicine. As such many apothecaries and alchemists make their home in Geralt studying these plants and trying to find new ways to process and use them. Under the guidance of Earl Matthew McGregor, the citizens of Geralt endeavor to cultivate and harvest these precious plants for distribution throughout the kingdom. Geralt also houses a large number of hunters. With the Forest of Geralt extending past the border of the Kingdom of Videa into the Outlands, many hunters will make expeditions there, bringing back larger game that are not as easily found in the more populated areas of the kingdom.
Arguan: No one can quite recall if the Shire of Arguan gets its name from the lake that covers most of its territory, or vice-versa. Earl Persephone Lemont governs over this Shire, ensuring that the kingdom is supplied with food from both the farmlands irrigated by the freshwater of Lake Arguan, and the several fishing towns along the lake’s shore. The capital of Portown is the largest of these towns, capable of harboring numerous ships used for both fishing, and patrolling Lake Arguan for Mistborn monsters while the Mistwall is down.
Videan Structure of Nobility
The structure of nobility in the Kingdom of Videa has less to do with familial birth or social standing in the kingdom, and more to do with duty. Anyone who holds any of the following titles are considered to be a Kingdom Official, each with their own purview and set of duties.
Monarch- This title is held by the ruler of the Kingdom of Videa, and is passed down the Videan family line. King Malkis Videa the First was the original Monarch of Videa, and the title has passed down, always to the oldest child regardless of gender. While there are stipulations in place on the succession of the crown in the event the current ruler has no child, it has not happened within our history so bears little merit for explanation. Within Videa, the monarch’s word is law, and no person can question it. The Monarch spends their time in the capital, working with their Seneschals to ensure the future prosperity of Videa. Currently the title is held by King Leonis Videa the Fifth.
On the topic of family of the Monarch, while any prince, princess or life partner of the king or queen are given full respect, their relation does not afford them any official title. It is however common for a prince, princess, or life partner of the Monarch to function as a kingdom official in some capacity. It is quite common for them to take on the mantel of a Seneschal, or sometimes a Magistrate. In our history there have even been a few princes and princesses that spent time as a Sheriff. In fact the current life partner of the King, Peony Videa, functions as Seneschal of Agriculture, while their only son Prince Malkis Videa the Seventh functions as one of the six Magistrates.
The Monarch is the highest level of Kingdom Official and all are expected to follow any commands given by them.
Seneschal- The title of Seneschal is granted by the Monarch them-self, and has no one specific duty. Essentially a Seneschal is an advisor to the Monarch and focuses on a specific purview of the kingdom as deemed by the Monarch. What that purview contains is a reflection of both the Seneschal’s expertise and abilities, as well as how the Monarch believes they can best serve the crown. As such a Seneschal’s responsibilities may shift over time as the Monarch asks them to take on more tasks, or redistributes responsibilities to balance out a Seneschal’s duties. While this may mean that the duties of a Seneschal of Finance, for example, may differ from those of the Seneschal of Finance before or after them, they would share a majority of what their duties were. In fact there are several different Seneschal titles that occur regularly. Common ones are Seneschal of Finance, Agriculture, Defense, Civics, and Education.
As the primary advisors to the Monarch, it is the job of the Seneschals to be acutely aware of the status of the kingdom, working with both other Kingdom Officials and commoners alike. Most information that goes to the Monarch is filtered through a Seneschal first to ensure that only matters that truly merit the Monarch’s attention are brought before them. While this does not mean that it is impossible for a citizen of Videa or even a visitor from another land to seek an audience with the Monarch, it does mean that one of their Seneschals will be the first point of contact for doing so.
A Seneschal’s primary purpose is to gather and track information on behalf of the Monarch. As such they do not hold “rank” over any other Kingdom Officials and can not issue any commands that do not come from the Monarch. That being said, as a Seneschal often holds the Monarch’s ear, it is unwise to refuse them a request when asked.
Magistrate- The position of Magistrate is the second highest ranking Kingdom Official in Videa. While other Kingdom Officials may speak on behalf of the Monarch, conveying the crown’s orders, a Magistrate’s voice is that of the Monarch. Chosen from only the most capable and loyal of subjects, Magistrates are hand selected by the Monarch to function as their proxy throughout the Kingdom of Videa. With the amount of civil power that Earls and their Sheriffs hold there is always a chance for corruption, or individuals placing their own personal benefit above that of the kingdom. To ensure this does not happen Magistrates travel through the Kingdom of Videa, taking in the condition of the populace, and personally reviewing the actions of Sheriff, Earl and Seneschal alike. It is for this reason that the decisions and commands of a Magistrate hold the same weight as those of the Monarch.
There are always a total of six Magistrates, one for each Shire, and though their job requires them to travel throughout the kingdom, they are based out of the capital. Their expeditions out into the Shires may be lengthy when they happen, but occur infrequently, maybe once a year, and always at a random time. The rest of their time is spent at the capital aiding the Monarch, or performing specific tasks elsewhere as requested by the Monarch. While a Magistrate outranks every Kingdom Official, save for the Monarch, they generally do not exert this power over others. Their role is mainly to observe and ensure that other Kingdom Officials are following the word of the Monarch. Unless no other Kingdom Official is present, or the Magistrate feels a Kingdom Official is not acting appropriately for their station, they will generally not make decisions that would fall under the purview of another Kingdom Official. When they do however, their word is final. The only way a decision or order from a Magistrate can be overturned is by either the conjoined decision of two or more Magistrates, or the Monarch themself.
Earl- With a Kingdom the size of the Kingdom of Videa it is impossible for any Monarch to keep everything running smoothly on their own, even with the help of their Seneschals. It is for this reason that each Shire is governed over by a single person chosen by the Monarch, known as an Earl. It is an Earl’s responsibility to ensure that their Shire is following the word of the Monarch, and dealing with the day to day issues that arise within. As such the list of duties that an Earl must attend to is quite long, but includes a few notable ones such as passing judgement on criminals, settling disputes amongst citizens, the collection of taxes and resources for the capital, maintaining the integrity of buildings and roads, and ensuring the wellbeing of citizens within their Shire. Notably all criminals accused of capital crimes, with the exception of Treason, must be brought before an Earl for judgment. An Earl is the lowest level of Kingdom Official that can sentence a criminal to execution.
An Earl is the third highest ranking Kingdom Official, and with the exception of orders coming from the Monarch or a Magistrate, their word is law within their Shire. While it may seem like an Earl can easily skirt around decisions made by the crown, they are still responsible for reporting on the happenings of their Shire to the capital; their decisions being reviewed and relayed to the Monarch by various Seneschals. If the Monarch does not agree with how an Earl is running their Shire, that Earl may find that they are soon replaced with someone the Monarch feels is more capable.
Sheriff- Sheriff is a position granted by an Earl. It is a Sheriff’s primary responsibility to maintain the peace within the Shire which their Earl controls. Most notably a Sheriff has the ability the arrest citizens accused of crimes, as well as pass sentencing on criminals of low and high crimes. A Sheriff functions largely as the eyes, ears, and hand of their Earl dealing with the various petty problems that do not need to be brought before the Earl specifically, but do need to be handled by a Kingdom Official. As such all citizens are expected to obey the commands of a Sheriff, and a Sheriff must deliver frequent reports to their Earl on anything they have had to deal with in an official capacity. One such capacity is military defense. In military encampments and combat Sheriffs are considered to be the highest ranking soldier present, and their orders are expected to be followed. The only Kingdom Officials that outrank a Sheriff in this regard are Earls, Magistrates, and the Monarch.
The number of Sheriffs that exist is entirely up the Earl of that Shire. In general there is usually one per town in the Shire, and a few per city. It is also common for an Earl to name Sheriffs for specific purposes instead of for specific regions, for example leading a military company or tracking down criminals. Usually if multiple Sheriffs are present in an area it is at the command of the Earl, in which case the Earl will usually dictate which Sheriff is in charge. In the event where this is not the case most Sheriffs will defer judgment to the most senior amongst them.
A Sheriff only functions as a Kingdom Official inside the Shire of their Earl. This is usually not an issue as Sheriffs usually don’t leave their Shire. In the event that they do, it is up the the Earl of the Shire they are entering whether they retain the title of Sheriff for their stay. If they do, they retain all of the duties and powers of a Sheriff, but are always outranked by Sheriffs of that actual Shire.
Deputy- In the event a Sheriff has to arrest a criminal that is sufficiently dangerous or on the run they can deputize any citizen that they deem fit. These Deputies are considered Kingdom Officials solely for the purposes of catching and arresting said criminal, and lose this title upon the criminal’s arrest and delivery to a holding station. A Sheriff is responsible for any actions taken by a citizen that they have deputized.
Laws of Videa
The laws of Videa are broken into three tiers with each tier separated by the severity of its minimum punishment. Below is an itemized list of each tier, the laws that lie within it, and their respective punishments.
Capital Crimes
Any criminal sentenced to service to the crown who refuses to perform their service to the crown shall be executed. Upon resurrection they will be expected to resume their sentence of service.
While stated previously, it bears repeating that while Sheriffs hold both the power to arrest and fine individuals, they are not allowed to sentence an accused criminal to death or perform an execution without direct orders from their Earl. As such, unless an Earl has given an official decree on a case by case basis, a Sheriff can not pass judgment on a person accused of a Capital Crime. They may only make an arrest and hold the person in custody for pending judgment of an Earl.
It should also be noted that a Sheriff, and any whom the Sheriff has deputized, may use any form of force deemed necessary by the Sheriff to apprehend a person wanted for arrest. The one exception to this is that the Sheriff may not use any form of force that results in the subject requiring resurrection. While this may seem excessive, keep in mind that a Sheriff ultimately must answer to their Earl on any matters of why an act was necessary to perform an arrest, including any acts undertaken by those a Sheriff has deputized. A Sheriff that uses an overabundance of force or unscrupulous methods may find themselves no longer holding the position of Sheriff, or worse, under the scrutiny of a Magistrate.
Contact with other Races and Realms
While the Kingdom of Videa is comprised of almost all Humans, the crown recognizes that Humans are not the only race that lives within Videa. The Chaosborn who primarily live in the Outlands, despite their views on laws in general, have shown that they are capable of peaceable, if not cold, relations and are considered a protected race with the same rights as a Videan citizen. This protection also applies to the various High Orc tribes that live along the Mistwall throughout Videa. Though some of their customs can seem a bit ferocious or violent, as a whole they are a reasonable race, and are welcome and protected within the kingdom, as long as they do not break the laws. The Beastmen tribes of Goblins, Gnolls, Trolls and the like that dwell in the Outlands however are not extended protection, and by no means are tolerated near the kingdom’s border, let alone in the kingdom itself. Centuries of aggression on their part and a refusal to avoid necromancy, and its degrading effects on the mind, have solidified their position as enemies of the kingdom.
As we come in contact with more Realms and the denizens of those Realms begin to travel here, the Monarch also extends the rights of protection to them as well. Any sentient being or race that travels to Videa can rest assured that as long as they obey the laws of the crown, they will be treated with dignity and respect. It is the Monarch's solemn wish to build a peaceable community with the Realms that exist through the Mists, and begin a dialogue of mutual understanding and trade.
Greetings. My name is Gregor Lesthin, High Scholar of the Videan Academy. It is my honor to write this brief history and introduction to my home, The Kingdom of Videa. Since the formation of the Order of Caligonauts we have started to receive more and more visitor from other Realms coming to Videa in search of trade, alliances, and a desire for communal understanding of what lies beyond their own Realm’s borders. As such I have been tasked by His Majesty, King Leonis Videa the Fifth of His Name, to write an essay and introduction to our fine kingdom for those who would visit from beyond the Mistwall, for whatever reason they may come. The information contained within is by no means a complete history of Videa, but should serves as a short introduction and reference guide for any traveler who comes to our borders.
Founding of Videa
As we have come to discover is common among the other Realms, what is known about the founding of Videa is rather murky. What we do know, gleaned from ancient writings and oral lore, is that the people who would eventually found Videa were actually refugees from other lands. While many either do not care or do not believe, there was in fact a time before The Mists, when the boundaries of the lands were much larger and the beasts that haunt our borders were not a looming threat. References to prior great cities that now lie consumed by the Mists, and a mass migration of people from them to the land that became current day Videa, have been found in multiple ancient diaries and texts that only through luck have been preserved through time. All signs seem to indicate that the citizens of Videa are all descended from these refugees, and that upon settling within the boundaries of the Mistwall, the villages and encampments that they set up evolved into the kingdom we have today.
Unfortunately, much of the history of what transpired between the time these refugees arrived here and the first documented mention of the Kingdom of Videa is unknown. It is presumed by the scholars who study such matters that the refugee populace's need for survival, shelter, and food outweighed their desire to keep document of their history. This leaves us very few sources for determining how much time passed before the kingdom was founded, and as an extension of that thought, how long ago these refugees were forced from their prior homes.
What we do know for a certain is that, as of the writing of this essay, Videa was founded 1,017 years ago, marking both the beginning of the kingdom, as well as the current calendar. I am not versed in the methods that other Realms use to keep history, but for Videa, that marks this year as 1,017 PVF (Post Videan Founding). As mentioned previously, there is a lack of recorded history prior to the founding of Videa, but what records do exist seem to indicate that during the BVF (Before Videan Founding) era, the people of this land lived in large villages, loosely associated with each other. It is theorized that these villages likely contained refugees from different cities, leading them to be dissociated from each other. It was not until King Malkis Videa the First began a campaign to promote trade between the villages, and bring them all together under one leadership that the Kingdom of Videa was truly born. Since then Videa has flourished and expanded its borders North, East and South to the Mistwall, and West to the edges of the Outlands.
The Mistwall & Spirit Guardian
I would be remiss if I went any further without discussing how Videa stays safe from the Mists and the monsters within it. Surrounding the boundaries of the kingdom, as well as the Outlands, exists the Mistwall. This is not an actual physical wall but rather a magic barrier that holds back the Mists. In addition to this amazing feat, the Mistwall seems to hold similar properties to that of a Warder Glyph, and kills anything that passes through it. Interestingly enough, this only appears to go one way. A person within the Mistwall can pass through it, leaving the area inside, completely unharmed. However, were that same person to turn right around and try to re-enter, the full might of the Mistwall’s magical energies would strike them down. “How then can anyone enter into Videa as I myself did?” you may be asking. In order to explain that, I must first explain about the Spirit Guardian of Videa.
There exists within Videa a being of immense power known only as The Spirit Guardian of Videa. This being is very seclusive, avoiding contact with mortals as it roams around the unpopulated areas of Videa, mainly the Outlands. Descriptions of it from ancient texts and supposed eye witness sightings describe it as capable of taking the form of either a massive elk, or of the race known as the WylderKin. In either case, it always appears to be ethereal in form, lending to its name.
From what we understand of The Spirit Guardian, through the few recorded encounters people have had with it over centuries, it is a protector of the land within the Mistwall. As far as we can tell it considers everything within the Mistwall its domain, and actively keeps others from entering into it, particularly the Mists and the horrors that live within them. This is where the Mistwall comes from. It is an aura projected by The Spirit Guardian to keep The Mists and other beings out of its land. Unfortunately the effort of keeping the Mistwall active drains on the The Spirit Guardian and causes it to go into a form of hibernation for a few days each month. During this time the Mistwall is dispersed, and the Mists begins to press inside its borders. These times pose both a danger and a boon. While the lack of protection allows the Mists and the monsters that lurk within them to seep into our kingdom's borders, it also allows for people of other Realms, as well as Soldiers and Adventurers who previously ventured out into the Mists, to enter as well. After a few days, when The Spirit Guardian awakens from its hibernation, the Mistwall comes back, and cut off from its main body, any Mist that remains within quickly dissipates or recedes. This cycle has been continuing for as far back as our records reach. While there is no continuous pattern to when The Spirit Guardian’s hibernations occur, over the past decade our scholars have devised a method using the Lore Ritual to predict how far apart, and for how long they will happen in any upcoming year.
It should be noted, despite the name that we have given to The Spirit Guardian and the fact that the Mistwall protects us all, The Spirit Guardian is not a benevolent protector of the Kingdom of Videa. It at most shows an indifference to us, and seems only to care for keeping other beings and the Mists from entering its territory. Interestingly, once something is inside the boundaries of the Mistwall The Spirit Guardian chooses to ignore it for the most part. There have been several reliable accounts over the past two decades of recent outsiders stumbling upon The Spirit Guardian by happenstance, and in each case the creature has just stared at the outsider in question, then continued on its way. This indifference seems to even extend to the monsters born from the Mists, sparking a constant debate amongst scholars about the creatures actual relation to the Mists. Some argue that the Mistwall repelling he Mists is just a byproduct of The Spirit Guardian trying to keep all things out, citing these instances of The Spirit Guardian ignoring mistborn monsters upon awakening from its hibernation. Others argue that since the Mists appear to be the only substance that can not seem to even pass through the Mistwall (though living creatures in general die when they do, their bodies will still pass through the barrier) this indicates that the Mistwall’s main purpose must be to hold the Mists back. In either case, we have no way to indicate whether or not the Mistwall existed before the Mists came, or was created after, so both arguments are largely an exercise in philosophy.
Geography of Videa
Before delving into the topic of Videa’s geography I feel it is necessary to clarify a few pieces of nomenclature in regards to the difference between Videa and the Kingdom of Videa. As the only true expansive civilization within the Mistwall is the Kingdom of Videa, when referring to the land that the Mistwall surrounds in its entirety people will often just refer to it as Videa. The phrase “Kingdom of Videa”, on the other hand, is generally used when only referring to the area within the Mistwall that our kingdom occupies. Everything else is considered part of the Outlands.
Videa itself, the whole area within the Mistwall, is a circle approximately seventy-five miles in radius. The Kingdom of Videa comprises approximately half of that, on the Eastern side. The terrain of the kingdom is a mixture of open fields, largely used for farming, dotted with large patches of forest, and cut across by interconnecting rivers. To the North and East the kingdom is protected by the Spikeback Mountains, and to the east and south we are bordered by Lake Arguan, with the Mistwalls perimeter cutting through the middle of both of them. This lends extra protection for us as, when the Mistwall does drop, anything from outside its borders has limited entry points into the Kingdom of Videa. It is for this reason as well that the Kingdom of Videa only extends westward to the rough ending points of both the Spikeback Mountains and Lake Arguan. There have been multiple times in the Kingdom of Videa’s history where we have tried to expand further westward into the Outlands, but each time has met with disaster. Without the natural borders of the Spikeback Mountains and Lake Arguan settlements west of our current territory became too difficult to protect when the Mistwall dropped each month, as troops would have to spread too thin. Ultimately these settlements would be overrun by either creatures from the Mists or the various monstrous races that live in the Outlands, These Videan Citizens would be forced to flee back eastward for fear for their safety. So it is that the borders of the Kingdom of Videa have largely remained unchanged for the past several centuries.
As for the Outlands, the lands themselves are largely similar to the Kingdom of Videa’s; open plains with pockets of forest, lakes and rivers. The most notable feature of the land is the range of mountains known as Talon’s Run, named for its appearance on a map resembling that of a talon stabbing through the Mistwall. Other than that there is not much to say on the geography of the land. A breakdown of the various tribes of monstrous creatures, and the few more civilized races recognized by the crown, would do better as another essay in and of itself.
The Shires of Videa
Socially and economically the Kingdom of Videa is split into six segments referred to as Shires. These Shires are each governed over by an Earl who runs the day to day business of the Shire, but is still beholden to the crown. Each Shire houses its own capital city and contributes to the prosperity of the kingdom through a variety of means depending on the resources available to them. In fact, the breakdown of where a Shire’s border ends largely has more to do with natural geography than a responsibility for a particular resource. Of course due to this natural geography certain Shires tend to produce more of a certain resource than others, but this is more a reflection of happenstance than any particular Shire being created for the express purpose of, say for example, being a ‘Mining Shire’.
Below is a list of the Shires, their capitals and notable resources and features.
Malkais: Named after the first king of Videa, Malkis Videa the First, the Shire of Malkais is located in the center of the Kingdom of Videa, and is the heart of the kingdom itself. Malkais is notably different from the other Shires as its capital Demeron, located along the Temperan River, is also the capital of the Kingdom of Videa itself. Despite Demeron being home to the king himself, the economical happenings of the Shire are still overseen by the Earl of Malkais, Earl Lenore Estwin.
Containing the capital of the Kingdom of Videa, Malkais is the central hub of trade for the kingdom. Its expansive grasslands have allowed for extensive farms to be set up, and the many rivers that pass through its boundaries allow for quick transport of goods. In addition Malkais holds the kingdom's only Earth Circle, inside of Demeron. This has made it the main destination for anyone in the kingdom looking to become an Earth Scholar or healer.
Demeron is also home to the kingdoms library, housing relics and tomes from the past, as well as the main military barracks, though the majority of training for soldiers is done in Feric.
Aster: Run by Earl Lindsay Pandrin, Aster is currently the second most notable Shire. The northernmost Shire, it is almost completely shrouded in forest, and bordered on the north and east by the Spikebacks, and on the west by the Outlands. The capital of Timbel is most notable for its craftsman. Skilled woodworkers and smiths make Timbel their home, largely due to Aster’s ready supply of lumber from the forest, and ore mined from the Spikeback Mountains, second in production only to the Shire of Wistlow.
The main reasons, however, that Aster is the second most notable Shire is Derrin’s Pass. While the majority of the north and east of the Kingdom of Videa is protected by the Spikeback Mountains, there are many passes that run through it that allow for Mistborn monsters to enter into the kingdom’s territory. While most of these passes are small and only allow for minimal passage, Derrin’s Pass spans several miles wide, making it the largest pass in the Spikebacks. When the Mistwall drops, this gap allows large quantities of monsters from the Mists to enter into the Kingdom of Videa. To combat this a fortified outpost of soldiers was set up and stationed in the pass to defend it. Over time this outpost has grown into a town unto itself, taking on the name of the pass it guards. While the danger of living in Derrin’s Pass during the time that the Mistwall is not active is great, it is not much different than a normal city otherwise. It houses not just soldiers, but their families and a number of other non-combatants. Many have found that soldiers who risk gruesome death a few days each month tend to be more loose with their coin during the rest of the month, and it is very common to find craftsmen and entertainers living in Derrin’s Pass as well. Derrin’s Pass isn’t just the easiest point of ingress into the Kingdom of Videa for creatures from the Mists however. It also is the easiest point of entry for those who would visit from other Realms. As such when the Mistwall drops, Derrin’s Pass often sees a number of travelers looking for either adventure, or transit further into the kingdom.
Finally, Derrin’s Pass plays host to one other group worth mentioning. As it is the easiest path in from the Mists, it is also the easiest path out. When the Order of the Caligonauts was founded by King Leonis Videa the Fifth, it was determined that its base of operations should be situated in Derrin’s Pass as well.
Wistlow: Governed by Earl Edmond Belar, the Shire of Wistlow is the primary source of lumber and ore production in the Kingdom of Videa. It’s capital of Temperan sits along the river named for it, providing easy transport of these goods to Demeron for distribution throughout the kingdom. While the area of the Shire is limited, a particular quirk about the land itself allows for Wistlow to provide an almost unending supply of lumber. For reasons not fully understood, the trees in the forest Wistlow encompases grow at an exceptional rate. Studies have been done and the closest our scholars can come to identifying the cause, is some sort of tie to the Spirit Guardian. While we may not fully understand the cause of this phenomenon, the denizens of Wistlow have learned to accommodate it. They have developed a system almost akin to crop rotation that allows them to log in a series of areas so that by the time they reach the first one again the trees there are almost fully grown. Paired with the many access points to mines in the Spikeback mountains this allows Wistlow and it’s hard working citizens to be the largest supplier of material goods in the kingdom.
Feric: Feric has the largest border with the Outlands of all the Shires. For this reason there are many military outposts stationed within Feric along this border. This has lead Feric, under the watchful eye of Earl Maria Kensright, to be the primary training grounds for the Kingdom of Videa’s military. The capital, West Wall, doubles as both a fortification against the uncivilized denizens of the Outlands, and a military academy. Several more military academies can be found interspersed amongst the farmlands away from the Outlands border. As all citizens are required to spend a minimum of five years in the Videan military upon turning sixteen, almost every citizen within the Kingdom of Videa has spent time in Feric.
Geralt: The forests surrounding Umbrin, the capital of Geralt, are home to many rare herbs and plants, useful in alchemy and medicine. As such many apothecaries and alchemists make their home in Geralt studying these plants and trying to find new ways to process and use them. Under the guidance of Earl Matthew McGregor, the citizens of Geralt endeavor to cultivate and harvest these precious plants for distribution throughout the kingdom. Geralt also houses a large number of hunters. With the Forest of Geralt extending past the border of the Kingdom of Videa into the Outlands, many hunters will make expeditions there, bringing back larger game that are not as easily found in the more populated areas of the kingdom.
Arguan: No one can quite recall if the Shire of Arguan gets its name from the lake that covers most of its territory, or vice-versa. Earl Persephone Lemont governs over this Shire, ensuring that the kingdom is supplied with food from both the farmlands irrigated by the freshwater of Lake Arguan, and the several fishing towns along the lake’s shore. The capital of Portown is the largest of these towns, capable of harboring numerous ships used for both fishing, and patrolling Lake Arguan for Mistborn monsters while the Mistwall is down.
Videan Structure of Nobility
The structure of nobility in the Kingdom of Videa has less to do with familial birth or social standing in the kingdom, and more to do with duty. Anyone who holds any of the following titles are considered to be a Kingdom Official, each with their own purview and set of duties.
Monarch- This title is held by the ruler of the Kingdom of Videa, and is passed down the Videan family line. King Malkis Videa the First was the original Monarch of Videa, and the title has passed down, always to the oldest child regardless of gender. While there are stipulations in place on the succession of the crown in the event the current ruler has no child, it has not happened within our history so bears little merit for explanation. Within Videa, the monarch’s word is law, and no person can question it. The Monarch spends their time in the capital, working with their Seneschals to ensure the future prosperity of Videa. Currently the title is held by King Leonis Videa the Fifth.
On the topic of family of the Monarch, while any prince, princess or life partner of the king or queen are given full respect, their relation does not afford them any official title. It is however common for a prince, princess, or life partner of the Monarch to function as a kingdom official in some capacity. It is quite common for them to take on the mantel of a Seneschal, or sometimes a Magistrate. In our history there have even been a few princes and princesses that spent time as a Sheriff. In fact the current life partner of the King, Peony Videa, functions as Seneschal of Agriculture, while their only son Prince Malkis Videa the Seventh functions as one of the six Magistrates.
The Monarch is the highest level of Kingdom Official and all are expected to follow any commands given by them.
Seneschal- The title of Seneschal is granted by the Monarch them-self, and has no one specific duty. Essentially a Seneschal is an advisor to the Monarch and focuses on a specific purview of the kingdom as deemed by the Monarch. What that purview contains is a reflection of both the Seneschal’s expertise and abilities, as well as how the Monarch believes they can best serve the crown. As such a Seneschal’s responsibilities may shift over time as the Monarch asks them to take on more tasks, or redistributes responsibilities to balance out a Seneschal’s duties. While this may mean that the duties of a Seneschal of Finance, for example, may differ from those of the Seneschal of Finance before or after them, they would share a majority of what their duties were. In fact there are several different Seneschal titles that occur regularly. Common ones are Seneschal of Finance, Agriculture, Defense, Civics, and Education.
As the primary advisors to the Monarch, it is the job of the Seneschals to be acutely aware of the status of the kingdom, working with both other Kingdom Officials and commoners alike. Most information that goes to the Monarch is filtered through a Seneschal first to ensure that only matters that truly merit the Monarch’s attention are brought before them. While this does not mean that it is impossible for a citizen of Videa or even a visitor from another land to seek an audience with the Monarch, it does mean that one of their Seneschals will be the first point of contact for doing so.
A Seneschal’s primary purpose is to gather and track information on behalf of the Monarch. As such they do not hold “rank” over any other Kingdom Officials and can not issue any commands that do not come from the Monarch. That being said, as a Seneschal often holds the Monarch’s ear, it is unwise to refuse them a request when asked.
Magistrate- The position of Magistrate is the second highest ranking Kingdom Official in Videa. While other Kingdom Officials may speak on behalf of the Monarch, conveying the crown’s orders, a Magistrate’s voice is that of the Monarch. Chosen from only the most capable and loyal of subjects, Magistrates are hand selected by the Monarch to function as their proxy throughout the Kingdom of Videa. With the amount of civil power that Earls and their Sheriffs hold there is always a chance for corruption, or individuals placing their own personal benefit above that of the kingdom. To ensure this does not happen Magistrates travel through the Kingdom of Videa, taking in the condition of the populace, and personally reviewing the actions of Sheriff, Earl and Seneschal alike. It is for this reason that the decisions and commands of a Magistrate hold the same weight as those of the Monarch.
There are always a total of six Magistrates, one for each Shire, and though their job requires them to travel throughout the kingdom, they are based out of the capital. Their expeditions out into the Shires may be lengthy when they happen, but occur infrequently, maybe once a year, and always at a random time. The rest of their time is spent at the capital aiding the Monarch, or performing specific tasks elsewhere as requested by the Monarch. While a Magistrate outranks every Kingdom Official, save for the Monarch, they generally do not exert this power over others. Their role is mainly to observe and ensure that other Kingdom Officials are following the word of the Monarch. Unless no other Kingdom Official is present, or the Magistrate feels a Kingdom Official is not acting appropriately for their station, they will generally not make decisions that would fall under the purview of another Kingdom Official. When they do however, their word is final. The only way a decision or order from a Magistrate can be overturned is by either the conjoined decision of two or more Magistrates, or the Monarch themself.
Earl- With a Kingdom the size of the Kingdom of Videa it is impossible for any Monarch to keep everything running smoothly on their own, even with the help of their Seneschals. It is for this reason that each Shire is governed over by a single person chosen by the Monarch, known as an Earl. It is an Earl’s responsibility to ensure that their Shire is following the word of the Monarch, and dealing with the day to day issues that arise within. As such the list of duties that an Earl must attend to is quite long, but includes a few notable ones such as passing judgement on criminals, settling disputes amongst citizens, the collection of taxes and resources for the capital, maintaining the integrity of buildings and roads, and ensuring the wellbeing of citizens within their Shire. Notably all criminals accused of capital crimes, with the exception of Treason, must be brought before an Earl for judgment. An Earl is the lowest level of Kingdom Official that can sentence a criminal to execution.
An Earl is the third highest ranking Kingdom Official, and with the exception of orders coming from the Monarch or a Magistrate, their word is law within their Shire. While it may seem like an Earl can easily skirt around decisions made by the crown, they are still responsible for reporting on the happenings of their Shire to the capital; their decisions being reviewed and relayed to the Monarch by various Seneschals. If the Monarch does not agree with how an Earl is running their Shire, that Earl may find that they are soon replaced with someone the Monarch feels is more capable.
Sheriff- Sheriff is a position granted by an Earl. It is a Sheriff’s primary responsibility to maintain the peace within the Shire which their Earl controls. Most notably a Sheriff has the ability the arrest citizens accused of crimes, as well as pass sentencing on criminals of low and high crimes. A Sheriff functions largely as the eyes, ears, and hand of their Earl dealing with the various petty problems that do not need to be brought before the Earl specifically, but do need to be handled by a Kingdom Official. As such all citizens are expected to obey the commands of a Sheriff, and a Sheriff must deliver frequent reports to their Earl on anything they have had to deal with in an official capacity. One such capacity is military defense. In military encampments and combat Sheriffs are considered to be the highest ranking soldier present, and their orders are expected to be followed. The only Kingdom Officials that outrank a Sheriff in this regard are Earls, Magistrates, and the Monarch.
The number of Sheriffs that exist is entirely up the Earl of that Shire. In general there is usually one per town in the Shire, and a few per city. It is also common for an Earl to name Sheriffs for specific purposes instead of for specific regions, for example leading a military company or tracking down criminals. Usually if multiple Sheriffs are present in an area it is at the command of the Earl, in which case the Earl will usually dictate which Sheriff is in charge. In the event where this is not the case most Sheriffs will defer judgment to the most senior amongst them.
A Sheriff only functions as a Kingdom Official inside the Shire of their Earl. This is usually not an issue as Sheriffs usually don’t leave their Shire. In the event that they do, it is up the the Earl of the Shire they are entering whether they retain the title of Sheriff for their stay. If they do, they retain all of the duties and powers of a Sheriff, but are always outranked by Sheriffs of that actual Shire.
Deputy- In the event a Sheriff has to arrest a criminal that is sufficiently dangerous or on the run they can deputize any citizen that they deem fit. These Deputies are considered Kingdom Officials solely for the purposes of catching and arresting said criminal, and lose this title upon the criminal’s arrest and delivery to a holding station. A Sheriff is responsible for any actions taken by a citizen that they have deputized.
Laws of Videa
The laws of Videa are broken into three tiers with each tier separated by the severity of its minimum punishment. Below is an itemized list of each tier, the laws that lie within it, and their respective punishments.
Capital Crimes
- Treason- The criminal that has committed treason has taken action that has endangered the Kingdom of Videa as a whole, or the Monarch themselves. The only Kingdom Officials capable of passing a sentence of treason are the Monarch, or a Magistrate. (Execution and Exile from the Kingdom)
- Enslaving- The use of an enslavement elixir on a protected race (Execution & Upon Resurrection Service to the Crown for no less than 3 Years)
- Murder- Harming a protected race to a degree that the victim required resurrection (Execution & Upon Resurrection Service to the Crown for no less than 2 Years)
- Kidnapping- Forcefully holding a protected race against their will (Execution & Upon Resurrection Service to the Crown for no less than 1 Year)
- Collusion with an enemy of the kingdom- Providing sensitive information or resources to an enemy of the kingdom. (Execution)
- Repeated offense of a high crime- Committing the same High Crime two or more times. (Punishment of High Crime and Execution)
- Major Destruction of property- The intentional destruction of another's belongings totaling a value greater than 5 silver (Restitution, 20 gold fine)
- Battery with lethal intent- Harming a protected race to the degree that the victim was either dying or dead, and their body did not dissipate. (15 gold fine, Payment for healing services for the victim)
- Inciting a riot- The purposeful instigation or provocation of a group of people leading to that group committing any crime against the kingdom or its citizens (12 gold fine)
- Necromancy- The casting of any necromantic spell or ritual. Also the activation of or creation of any necromantic items including potions (10 gold fine)
- Perjury/Obstruction of justice- Lying to a Kingdom Official, or actively preventing a Kingdom Official from carrying out their duty (10 gold fine)
- Extortion and Racketeering- Compelling, either through magical or mundane means, a protected race into taking an action against their will. (Restitution, 6 gold fine, If extortion was used to force someone to commit a crime the extortionist will also be held accountable for that crime)
- Unauthorized administration or possession of Amnesia- The holding of or usage of an Amnesia elixir without documentation from a Kingdom Official explaining the reason (5 gold fine)
- Major Theft- The taking of an item(s) that do not belong to you in which the value of item(s) taken is over 5 silver (Restitution & 5 Gold Fine)
- Repeated offense of a low crime- Committing a low crime for a third time (Punishment of Low Crime & 5 gold fine)
- Collusion with a necromancer- Willfully failing to report the use of necromancy by an individual to a Kingdom Official (4 gold fine)
- Battery with non-lethal intent- Harming a protected race to a degree that the victim did not require healing to prevent death (3 gold fine, Payment for healing services for the victim)
- Minor Destruction of property- The intentional destruction of another's belongings not totaling a value greater than 5 silver. (Restitution, 2 Gold fine)
- Trade of Fraudulently Represented Goods- The sale or trade of any good in which you directly misrepresent your product for self gain (Restitution, 1 gold fine)
- Petty Theft- The taking of an item(s) that do not belong to you in which the value of item(s) taken is equal to or under 5 silver (Restitution, 5 silver fine)
- Incidental Destruction of property- The unintentional or accidental destruction of another's belongings (Restitution, A sheriff may deem that the cause of the unintentional destruction merits further punishment, in which case the criminal will be arrested and brought before their Earl for judgment)
- Insubordination to an official order- Disobeying an order by a Kingdom Official (2 silver fine
Any criminal sentenced to service to the crown who refuses to perform their service to the crown shall be executed. Upon resurrection they will be expected to resume their sentence of service.
While stated previously, it bears repeating that while Sheriffs hold both the power to arrest and fine individuals, they are not allowed to sentence an accused criminal to death or perform an execution without direct orders from their Earl. As such, unless an Earl has given an official decree on a case by case basis, a Sheriff can not pass judgment on a person accused of a Capital Crime. They may only make an arrest and hold the person in custody for pending judgment of an Earl.
It should also be noted that a Sheriff, and any whom the Sheriff has deputized, may use any form of force deemed necessary by the Sheriff to apprehend a person wanted for arrest. The one exception to this is that the Sheriff may not use any form of force that results in the subject requiring resurrection. While this may seem excessive, keep in mind that a Sheriff ultimately must answer to their Earl on any matters of why an act was necessary to perform an arrest, including any acts undertaken by those a Sheriff has deputized. A Sheriff that uses an overabundance of force or unscrupulous methods may find themselves no longer holding the position of Sheriff, or worse, under the scrutiny of a Magistrate.
Contact with other Races and Realms
While the Kingdom of Videa is comprised of almost all Humans, the crown recognizes that Humans are not the only race that lives within Videa. The Chaosborn who primarily live in the Outlands, despite their views on laws in general, have shown that they are capable of peaceable, if not cold, relations and are considered a protected race with the same rights as a Videan citizen. This protection also applies to the various High Orc tribes that live along the Mistwall throughout Videa. Though some of their customs can seem a bit ferocious or violent, as a whole they are a reasonable race, and are welcome and protected within the kingdom, as long as they do not break the laws. The Beastmen tribes of Goblins, Gnolls, Trolls and the like that dwell in the Outlands however are not extended protection, and by no means are tolerated near the kingdom’s border, let alone in the kingdom itself. Centuries of aggression on their part and a refusal to avoid necromancy, and its degrading effects on the mind, have solidified their position as enemies of the kingdom.
As we come in contact with more Realms and the denizens of those Realms begin to travel here, the Monarch also extends the rights of protection to them as well. Any sentient being or race that travels to Videa can rest assured that as long as they obey the laws of the crown, they will be treated with dignity and respect. It is the Monarch's solemn wish to build a peaceable community with the Realms that exist through the Mists, and begin a dialogue of mutual understanding and trade.
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