Kronlordan
Kronlordan is located on a terrace high in the foothills of the Three Mountain Sisters. Its economy is primarily based on wool production and it is famous for the quality of its wool and the locally produced brightly-dyed cloth. There are many sheep and goat farms in the hinterland, with some mining and vug hunting. Agriculturally it is self sufficient, but luxury goods are mostly imported. The people are mainly of Anhui stock with some Nekuu/Ashara influence.
The steep and hilly country means that rice is not much grown and the basic crops are oats and barley. A sheepskin version of the pentesh jacket is common and the local style of dress is close fitting trousers, over which is worn either a long tunic top, coming down to mid thigh level, or a shirt with a short kilt.
The town of Kronlordan is a steep and hilly one, full of steps and winding alleyways. Near the head of the city stands the grand Emporium, an arch-roofed marketplace home to permanent merchant stores and temporary traders.
Being neither very rich nor strategically vital Kronlordan was never a great prize in the Empire's crown, however when the other Anhuin states where revolting a force was sent led by one Colonel Qinu Fzaib to strengthen their hold on the area. Unfortunately Colonel Fzaib, seeing a nice little corner of the world that nobody else would be very desperate to get back, conspired with the local rebels and declared independence from the Empire.
He named himself Shogun (an ancient Imperial word meaning military ruler that has long been out of use) of Kronlordan, and created a nobility out of the most amenable bureaucrats and landowners of the area. The transition passed fairly smoothly with only a few beheadings and some minor riots. With the Empire itself rather more concerned with places like Llaza and the Ashoyin Protectorate, Kronlordan was pretty much ignored.
For many generations now Kronlordan has enjoyed peace and an adequate level of prosperity. The current ruler is Shogun Lana Fzaib, a women in her fifties. Much of the original Imperial bureaucracy remains but the highest posts are hereditary positions passed down through the family. Kronlordan enjoys quite friendly relations with the Magistracy of Nirhamsa, and a sort of friendly rivalry with Tibrafes - based on a wool vs. leather, sheep vs. cattle argument - and even shares a common currency with that city state. The area is generally well governed, with little banditry and while not as rich as Nirhamsa few go hungry in winter.
Mountain Tlaxu are present on the edges of human occupied areas, and sightings are usually taken as a sign of good luck. Local people believe them to be spirits that guard the mountains and do not mind if the occasional sheep goes missing in the night.
