The Realm of Femphrey

Femphrey's soil is moderately fertile, although not as great as that of Gallantaria or Analand. It is primarily grassy plains interspersed with rivers and old woodland, wherein many of the nation's Elves make their home, living independent of the Femphreyan government. The mountains in the north are an excellent source of mineral wealth for the nation, which has helped it become the most powerful kingdom on the continent. With lumber from the forests, bounty from Lake Eerie, mineral wealth from the Witchtooth Line and Lake Cauldron, the land of Femphrey is currently the richest in the Old World.

There is almost no class system in Femphrey. After being repressed by the Lendlemen for a long time, we have established a peculiar form of government similar to that of Shabak, wherein we have an elected "parliament" that handles legislative matters. We have divided our nation into a number of small areas where elections are held to determine members of parliament to be sent to Chalanna's Courts in Chalannabrad. These grand buildings were built by Chalanna the Reformer, the first king to reform our once purely monarchistic system. The judicial system is handled by elected judges, who handle all such matters. Executive power is held by a hereditary monarch who rules in (general) harmony with the senators and members of parliament in Chalanna's Courts. Our current monarch, King Fre-delric II, has proven to be a wise and just monarch, smoothing out relations with the Lendlemen and their stubborn fool of a Kha-Khan, Adessios Ryogax.

Femphrey's legal systems, put in place by Chalanna the Reformer and modified as needed, have abolished the death penalty in most cases except for capital murder, with heavy fines and imprisonment favored instead. Mass murder is punished by death by axe blow and Rape by castration and a minimum of 30 years imprisonment and hard labor.

The following crimes are punishable by imprisonment: Arson (5-20 years), Assault (3-10 years), Assault of Crown official (20 years minimum), Banditry (10 years minimum), Burglary (1-10 years), Murder (life), Piracy (life) and Robbery (5-25 years, depending on severity of crime). Hard Labour is used in the following cases: Banned religious worship (one year minimum, plus fine), Counterfeiting (5-30 years), Home invasion (10 years, plus 20 years imprisonment, minimum), Kidnapping (ten years, minimum), Sedition (ten years minimum), Smuggling (three years minimum, plus fine).

Fines are applied for Fraud (50-100 chalannas), Tax evasion (all taxes due, plus 100 chalannas minimum), Rioting (1-20 chalannas) and Minor crimes (20 chalannas minimum) such as drawing a weapon in a public place, disturbance of the peace, sneaking into a city, unlawful entry into a city, vandalism, public intoxication, slander, etc. Banned religious worship and smuggling also attract fines of at least 300 and 200 chalannas respectively.

Our military is not the biggest in the Old World, but we are one of the few nations wealthy enough to maintain a proper, if small, navy. Our troops are blooded and well-trained by border clashes with the Lendlemen, raids from Mauristatian barbarians, and raids from the Chaotic races in the Witchtooth Line and the mountains thereabouts.

We trade extensively with all our neighbours, with the obvious exception of Kakhabad, and we have benefited very much from this trade. Gold standard (Chalanna) equals 10 silver pieces, or stars. Coins from other Old World nations are converted at a 95% exchange rate, so for every 10 gold pieces worth of foreign currency given, 9 chalannas and five stars are given in return. Coins from other continents are accepted at an 85% exchange rate.

Femphrey has one of the lightest tax systems in the Old World today, as so much of its prosperity is accounted for in trade, allowing the common folk a high amount of personal income for their disposal. King Fre-delric, however, does not feel the same way about taxing adventurers.

Property taxes: About three percent of the entire worth, and six percent for a business. For the purposes of all taxation in the Old World, the entire worth consists of furniture, livestock, personal art objects, etc.

Income taxes: Four percent of a personal income of a Registered Citizen of Femphrey and anyone not of Femphreyan citizenship and living in the nation must pay seven percent in income tax. Adventurers pay a fifteen percent tax on all loot found in Femprheyan territory.

Trading duties: A rate of two percent of the total value of any shipment of goods entering the port of Chalannabrad or through the borders of Femphrey must be paid before a trading permit is granted. Mooring fees in Chalannabrad are fifty chalannas for one year.

Guild fees: Up to five percent of an individual's earnings are paid to a guild, under legal agreement with the Crown.

We pray to many gods in Femprhey - fishermen pray to Hydana, warriors pray to Telak and Courga, miners pray to Throff, and so forth. The only outlawed religions, obviously, are those of Death, Disease, Decay, and the other Chaotic gods. Church tithes: All religions registered with the Crown must pay a tax of five percent of their total earnings per year, based on the maintenance of their temple, their support from adventuring priests, etc.

The common man is free to travel wherever he wishes, and it must be said that even the common farmer always has his stomach and his purse both full.

Femphrale is the Femphreyan counterpart to Lendale, this brew was produced in response to Lendale when Gallantarian brewers attempted to flood the Femphreyan market, taking advantage of low trading duties. Femphrale is obviously more popular in Femphrey, and it does not provide a kick like an iron-shot mule, as Benedous is so fond of saying. One can drink more of this brew before passing out and/or vomiting, thankfully. It costs two chalannas a mug.