Layor (nation)

National Overview

A regional grouping of peoples neighbouring Kythus, residing on the north-western cape of Anexea. The Layor do not have a unified government or singular national identity.

Dominant Culture

Layor:The Layor practice a similar cultural pattern despite not being unified as a larger nation.

Geographic Area

The Layor occupy a large region of Northwestern Anexea.

Population

The great majority of the population occupying the Layor territories are of Layor) stock, with additional Krolayoran (people)|Krolayoran]] or Kythan persons existing mostly as thralls. More exotic foreigners are rare, but do exist.

Castes

Nobles

The great clans of Layor rule over the rest of their society based on merit through martial strength and a complex web of fealty. Such status is inheritable, but can be taken by force and often is.

Sworn Vassals

A declaration of fealty sworn before the would be liege. Doing so is a public act showing ones loyalty and desire to serve the chosen liege. Sometimes refered to as Axe Sworn, such chosen loyalty is a matter of honour and pride amongst the Layor.

Blood Vassal

A term for inherited feudal relationship. The child of a sworn or blood vassal becomes a vassal to the same liege by default. While one could swear fealty to another liege, the term indicates the vassalage of their birth, which holds strong legal implications.

Thralls

Unfree Layorans or captured foreign persons are treated as chattel slaves. They have no rights amongst the Layor and are expected to serve until death or formally released from bondage.

Government

The Layor follow a loose feudal clan system. The have no central government ruling over the entire nation, but exist as a collection of clan held territories which fight and trade with each other in equal measure. The clan heads and their families are mostly warriors, whom rule over the rest much like other feudal nations. The majority of the Layor are simple farmers, hunters, or fishers, making their living off the land.

Fief

Strong warlords hold control over one or more settlements, and may have subjugated others through conquest or oaths of fealty. The largest holdings rarely number more than five fiefs collected together.

Town

There are only a few holds that support populations large enough to be considered proper towns. These settlements are run as any other fief, but have become important trade hubs and often are long held by some of the more powerful clans in the region.

Law Making

The laws of the Layor are a matter of local customs, and rulings by the head of the clan who holds the fief. There is no higher court of appeal, and the word of the local lord is final.

Enforcement

Laws are enforced by the community at large, supported by the local lords axesworn, who act as the nearest thing to a police force.

Taxation

The local liege can impose taxes to generate funds for personal or public projects as they see fit. Duties on trade goods and head taxes are the primary means of such measures.

Public Works

Any public works are funded by the local liege, they may utilize forced labour or paid workers depending on the type of project and the specialist skills required.

Roads

There are few roads in the region, mostly just common cart and wagon tracks linking nearby settlements. For long established fiefs under a single clans rule, these roads may be upgraded with permanent bridges, or regular repair and maintenance.

Canals

In some river or wetland areas, canals providing both fresh water to crops, and water borne transportation are dug.

Religion

Dominant Religion

The Layor practice a form of ancestor worship, where the spirits of one’s predecessors are believed to watch and guide the living. They also believe in a handful of hero-ancestors, held up as exemplars regarding various aspects of the Layor way of life.

Minor Religions

Some Layor have adopted the Twinned Goddess religion, but still hold to their belief in the ancestors.

See Also

Layor Culture

Layor People