The Dominion of Brem
There truly is no land with more honor, and pride, than the Dominion of Brem. For there is no one other thing that means as much to the people of the Dominion. Of course, honor for a citizen of Brem isn't quite the same as it is everywhere else. In Brem, one earns honor by performing great deeds. These deeds must display a certain amount of power and more often than not involves violence to some extent. These deeds frequently earn the performer a moniker. Another important part of this system of honor is that, while honor is inherited through blood, honor must also be proven. This means that every descendant must do similarly impressive feats to show that they are comparative or greater to their ancestor.
There are an uncountable number of these Lines spread throughout Brem, all of which are practically minor nobility given their ability to hold honor over multiple generations. There is no specific number for how long a family must hold honor to become a Line, but it is generally accepted that at least three generations have to prove themselves for it to happen, with the exception being if the first member of the Line did something especially noteworthy.
Though there are the aforementioned uncountable numbers of Lesser Lines within Brem, with the ranking system between them being unclear at best, there are six Lines that have become nothing short of rulers of their respective lands. These Greater Lines have been around for at least centuries and sometimes millennia and are the most influential of lines, with a council of the heads of the Greater Lines serving as the ruling body for Brem overall.
There are however times when there is a need for something more expedient than a group of six nobbles. In these times, a Warlord is chosen from one of the many Lines, to lead Brem with near-absolute power. These Warlords are all temporary and do not need to be called on in times of war alone, as the name is merely the translation from orcish to common, a more proper name for the rule being "strife-leader". This tradition stems from the original Warlord, Jatull Realmbiter, who disappeared after he was no longer needed, and left his land of Kacculd to be ruled over by the council of great line heads or the current Warlord.
Structure
The Dominion is usually ruled by a council of heads or chosen representatives from the Great Lines of Brem, with each Great Line forming the Lesser Lines under them into an almost everchanging hierarchy. This is of course overturned if a Warlord has been elected, in which case they lead with near-absolute power.
Culture
The culture of Brem is centered around earning and maintaining honor. This is done through great feats, often feats of violence, which has made many see Brem as little more than brutal savages. This is untrue, of course, as this system has also made honesty, loyalty, and integrity core tenants of Brem culture. There are of course tales of betrayal and subterfuge within Brem, but these are much rarer than in other nations.
Public Agenda
The public agenda of Brem is the preservation of the nation and the accumulation of honor among its people.
History
While the history of the individual Lines within Brem goes back far longer than the Dominion itself, Brem first came into being by the actions of one man specifically. For near the end of the second millennium, the Great Lines of what would become Brem were at war on all sides. From the south, the kingdom of Raric, as well as some giant tribes, was attacking, and from the west, the Free Cities of Lakeda, Dorion and Lakeda had allied to attack. It was a losing fight, until a formerly unknown man, from a formerly unknown Line, stepped forth. This was Jatull Realmbiter, who managed to persuade the Great Lines to ally, with him as the Warlord to lead them.
The war was turned, which also resulted in Raric later integrating into the Lichan Empire as well as setting conditions up for the League to be formed, and Jatull was celebrated as a hero amongst the Lines, his home of Kacculd becoming the seat of power. We would remain Warlord for another decade with a council of the Great Lines directly under him, as he ruled as a king. When he eventually disappeared, likely to another plane, he left no heirs, and the Great Lines decided that they would only appoint another Warlord in situations dire enough to need one.
Demography and Population
Most people living in Brem are orcs, given that it is their ancestral homeland. There are however a noticeable amount of humans, mainly in the west, some half-giants in the south, and quite a few elves in the far east.
Military
The Dominion has no one formal army, with each Great Line instead drawing warriors from the Lesser Lines and peasantry to form their own forces. These warriors have little formal training, preferring duels, and therefore fight less like an army than a particularly large warband. This does not make them any less feeble, as an orcish warrior can often best any other in one-to-one combat.
Technological Level
The technological level of Brem is widely different depending on the territory. Some have been very welcoming of the new inventions while others prefer to stick to traditions.
Religion
As with many others things in Brem, religion there is mostly about power and loyalty. Loyalty in the sense that Lines will usually stick to a single God that they pray to over generations, and power in the sense that they usually prey to the God that will grant them the most, such as the seafarers of Varkan often praying to the God of the Ocean. There is also no formal priesthood in Brem, with acolyletes and particularly devout worshipers instead wandering the land, spreading the word and showing the power of their God.
Foreign Relations
Each Great Line has their own take on foreign policies, but the Dominion overall does have a few truths. Though loved by few, the Lichan Empire is usually treated well by Brem, and the Dominion does a formal alliance with the Republic of Slek. On the other hand, there is a lingering suspicion of the League, as they are known to suddenly get greedy with the borders, and with the Theocracy for their general insufferability and radical tendencies.
With Death, Glory. With Glory, Honor.
Founding Date
1959
Type
Political, Federation
Capital
Alternative Names
The Dominion
Demonym
Brem
Leader Title
Government System
Oligarchy
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
Gold, Silver, and Copper.
Legislative Body
The Council of the Great make the laws of Brem as a whole, but the respective Great Lines can make their own laws for their territories as long as they do not explicilativly go against a law laid down by the Council.
Judicial Body
The Great Lines are responsible for their respective territories.
Executive Body
The Great Lines are technically in charge of enforcing the laws of their respective territories, but this responsibility is usually given to Lesser Lines over the respective territories.
Official State Religion
Subsidiary Organizations
Location
Neighboring Nations
Related Species
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments