Kingdom of Kalisandria

The Kingdom of Kalisandria operates under a feudal monarchy, with power centralized in the House of Kalisandrus, the ruling dynasty for the past eight generations. While the king holds ultimate authority, day-to-day governance is delegated through a layered system of nobility, military command, and advisory bodies.  

The Crown

• The King - Serves as the supreme ruler, military commander, and final arbiter of law. The current monarch, King Rhodes Kalisandrus III ("The Old Boy King"), known for his reformist policies and conflicts with the gentry.
• The King's Council - A body of advisors appointed by the monarch, handling administration, justice, and taxation. Includes high-ranking nobles, military commanders, and—recently—two elected commoner representatives.

 

Provincial Governance

Kalisandria is divided into twelve provinces, or dukedoms, each governed by a duke (or, in the case of Avalonia, the crown prince). These provinces retain significant autonomy but are bound by feudal oaths to the Crown.  

Military Structure

• The Royal Army - A standing force, the largest in the Bastion Imperium, funded by wartime taxes on the nobility. Veterans are granted land (but not titles, except in special cases) after service, creating a semi-professional warrior class loyal to the crown.
• Gryphon Knights - Elite aerial cavalry based in Avalonia, symbolizing royal power.

Religious and Judicial Systems

• The Arthurian Church - State religion, deeply intertwined with governance. Local Justicars with more loyalty to their faith than the Crown still often enforce heresy laws despite the Crown’s Edict of Tolerance. The King, not wanting to lose the backing of the Church is not willing to press the issue, creating tension with minority faiths, specifically the moon worshipers indigenous to the province of Luminara.
• Justicars - Crown-appointed judges who arbitrate disputes, often clashing with noble courts. Also acts as the secular arm, where Crown authorities carry out punishments on behalf of the Church.

Arts and Entertainment The arts in Kalisandria thrive under noble patronage, with the royal court and aristocracy serving as primary sponsors of poets, playwrights, painters, and musicians. A distinctive performance tradition known as diseurism—dramatic monologues delivered by solo performers (diseurs and diseuses)—originated in the kingdom and remains culturally significant. These performances often depict heroic or tragic narratives drawn from Arthurian legends or contemporary events. Traveling minstrels and bardic troupes further contribute to cultural life, performing in courts, taverns, and public squares.   Sports and Games Martial competitions hold significant cultural importance, reflecting Kalisandria’s chivalric traditions. Saber dueling, governed by strict codes of honor, is practiced by nobles and commoners alike, with formal schools dedicated to its mastery. Jousting tournaments are frequent during festivals, drawing knights from across the realm to compete for prestige. Board games such as "King’s War" (a local variant of chess) and dice games are common tavern pastimes, though gambling is discouraged by the clergy.   Architecture Kalisandrian architecture displays distinct urban and rural styles. Urban centers feature monumental stone constructions - fortified castles with tall towers, cathedrals with copper-clad spires, and guildhalls with ornate facades, all incorporating Arthurian motifs. Rural areas consist of carefully villages with timber-framed cottages using local stone and thatch, organized around central shrines. Both styles emphasize skilled craftsmanship, though urban buildings project power and permanence while rural structures demonstrate harmony with the natural landscape.   Gender Roles Kalisandrian society observes traditional gender divisions rooted in custom rather than codified law. Men predominantly fill military, governance, and clerical roles, with inheritance following strict agnatic primogeniture—titles and lands passing exclusively to the eldest male heir. While responsible for child-rearing, textile work, and domestic duties, women exercise influence through household governance, artistic patronage, and the rare sanctioned orders of women warriors. While commoner women may manage trades, noble succession excludes daughters, creating political instability in dynasties lacking sons. The Arthurian code’s veneration of women as "wards of chivalry" reinforces protectionist attitudes that both constrain autonomy and enable indirect power.   Love & Marriage The concept of courtly love is deeply ingrained in Kalisandrian culture, with nobles engaging in romantic—and sometimes scandalous—affairs, often expressed through poetry and secret gestures. Marriages among the aristocracy primarily serve dynastic interests, though companionate marriages occur across social strata particularly among the commoners. Adultery, though officially condemned by the Church of the Lady, is quietly tolerated if discreet.   Fashion Noble attire serves as heraldic display, with men wearing tailored doublets, hose, and cloaks in their house or charter-company's colors, while women don fitted gowns with intricate sleeves and jeweled headpieces. Charter-company members adorn garments with corporate insignias through enameled pins or metal badges. Commoners wear practical wool tunics, leather aprons, and sturdy boots. Women often tie their hair back by wearing kerchiefs, while men favor broad-brimmed straw hats in sunnier provinces. Footwear ranges from wooden clogs for farmers to calf-height boots for artisans.