Editing Journey of the Strange (section)

==Pherencia==
Pherencia is a fairly old kingdom. If you count the multiple dynasties that have ruled roughly the same portion of land and have a few familial ties to each other, Pherencia has existed under one name or another for several hundred years. Some would tell you that this is because Pherencia is made up of honest, hard working people and wise kings. Others would tell you that this is because Pherencia is so boring no one feels like trying to take it away.

Located in the central region of Peregrine, Pherencia stretches over an area of vast plains, rolling hills and gentle coutryside. Plentiful stone and occasional forests mean that small towers and castles are fairly common sights, all with small villages nestled around their walls for protection. Amazingly, for an area of land as vast as Pherencia- only the Heral and Mari Empires are larger then it for sheer landmass- it has almost no land anyone would describe as 'dramatic'. It lacks mountains, canyons of any type, even rivers too large to ford are unheard of. The only forest of any significant size lays around the capital city of Kirksat.

All in all, the country is more or less completely undefensable against an invading force. And considering the land is known for well maintained farmland and productive summers and falls, it's a little bit amazing the kings of Pherencia aren't fighting off constant invaders. The reasons for this relative peace are many, however. First, Pherencia's reputation for wise kings isn't just a reputation. The nation has invested heavily in a series of castles, towers, walls and other defensive structures. Invading armies find themselves constantly mired in sieges of well supplied defensive hard points, all simply buying time until the notoriously harsh winters roll in. Few armies maintain morale long enough to maintain a siege once the first foot of snow hits the ground.

Pherencian generals have a reputation for winning a war by losing every battle. They simply loose well, shedding few men, and retreat to the next strong hold. Winter comes, and every one goes home. Next summer, they rebuild the fortress and the invader is taught an important lesson about strategy.

Second, most nobles think of Pherencia as a dull place. This is because of it's almost total lack of palaces, opera houses or vast state sponsored art works. There's only one statue in the entirety of Kirksat. The only thing the nobility seems to construct are fortresses. Why this frugal building policy? Well, that's simple. Pherencia has the most well feed peasants in the world. Low taxes means more peasants keep more of their crops. The division of wealth is minute compared to the Heral Imperiate or even the Trader League.

This means that the peasants are not only willing to fight for their local lord, but they're actually capable of it. Between being well fed and constant labor in fields, Pherencia is able to boost one of the best supplied, and most capable militia forces in the world. Not that a Perencian would boost. It's not in their nature. Just ask. They'll tell you. At length.

Finally, Pherencia keeps itself peaceful by not making enemies. It is a vast haven of stability in a chaotic political landscape. The King embraces the Marian Way as the offical religion, but there's hardly mention of the faith on the law books. It keeps it's doors and diplomats open as negoiators and arbitraiters in political disputes. Smaller, less stable kingdoms boarder it on all sides. Attempts to invade are quickly put down by trouble at home. Pherencians step in, accept a quick apology, and offer a few men to help put down the resistance.

The only place of note in Pherencia is the Library of Kirksat. It is, as befits the kingdom it lays in, a largely boring place. This library collects and archives the many histories and laws happening through the Old World. Technically a portion of the Lizpeg College of the Arcane, it's usually only sought out by people with need for some unreasonably obscure piece of lore. The Pherencian rulers, with their quiet cunning, have found it an immensely useful resource.

Pherencians have something of a bad reputation when traveling alone. Traditional wisdom holds that a Pherencian traveling alone is some one who couldn't take the idyllic boredom of home any more. And that means trouble. Bad luck follows them close, or maybe it's just they're too curious. And that's before getting into Pherencian 'entertainment'. Two things are considered fun, to the average mind of the Old World. The first is particularly long winded, overly detailed stories. The kind of story that starts with one funny event a few generations back and ends with the telling of the story. Second is a particularly wicked brand of practical joke. No one really knows why, but Pherencians seem to have an overly developed sense of schadenfraude.

The government in Pherencia is a simple monarchy, with feudal aspects remaining. The King holds absolute authority, but each noble under him owns a portion of land and may raise an army to defend that land. Technically, armies only consist of other nobles banded together to fight. Since most of Pherencia's fighting force is of common stock, this means even relatively low ranking nobles can put together a respectible fighting force without stepping on anyone's toes. Thanks in large part to this relatively loose system of rank, there hasn't been a civil war in Pherencia for generations.

Pherencia: Keep Your Head Down.