This Bloody, Broken Land of Mine

The recent hexcrawl posted by Phlox inspired by Renaissance Italy and Sweetwater County, Wyoming reminded me of the experimental random map procedure for generating a politically divided region that I've had in my drafts for some time. Here it is, along with an example including names inspired by the region of western Minnesota I was staying in while I was working on it.

Broken Region Procedure

A region historically, religiously, and culturally united, but woefully, ruinously, hoplessly divided. Focused on building the setting for the political drama of a setting.

1.    Write a list of the 10 most important dynasties of the region. 

2.    Invent the name for two sides of a bitter feud. At first these sides coalesced around a real political or religious controversy, but now they are merely the twin faces of a violent cycle.

3.    Take 5d4, 6d6, 4d8, 4d10, 2d12, and 2d20.

4.    Open a shoebox or board game lid. Place a hexgrid inside. Gather up your dice in a cup, roll them into the box.

5.    Pick up any dice that landed out of the box or off the paper. Toss them back in one by one, aiming at groups of dice

6.    Note the results and positions of the dice on the paper. If dice are touching, combine.

Each number is a city or town. Multiply the numbers by 10,000 to determine population.

7.    Draw coastlines, rivers, roads, and other terrain as feels appropriate.

8.    All cities of sufficient strength will necessarily seek to invade or coerce at least a few of their neighbors to establish strategic depth. The largest city brings the two nearest independent cities under their hegemony. Continue assigning cities two at a time, going down the list of independent cities from most populous to least populous. If adding a city would make the population of the hegemon’s empire exceed their own, the hegemon stops expanding and that city will not submit to hegemony (their civic virtue has been consummated by defeating aggression)

9.    Compare the ones place of each number to your list of 10 families. This family rules this city. The families assigned even numbers are on one side of the feud, while families assigned odd numbers are on the other.

10.    For each city, roll thrice on the Iapheia d86 Volatile City-State Government table. All three systems coexist uncomfortably. The first might be the Ancient form of government, the second a long overdue attempt to Reform the problems with the original constitution, and the third could be an Emergency government recently and hastily formed to confront a crisis that the new government had been too corrupt and incompetent to face. 

11.    Rationalize.

Some notes:

-Cities are not easy to maintain, there must be some reason people are willing to pack together. Usually it's some combination of a ready supply of water and good trade routes, but plenty of cities are in places for unusual reasons (defensive ground, the whim of a rich founder, settled by invaders to keep an eye on a local settlement, etc)

-Every family "belongs" to one side of the bitter feud. It will be an essential raison d'etre to some, and a fashion statement to others. Switching sides of affecting occasional neutrality are likely in the mix.

-Shifty's Volatile City-State Government generator is for a setting reminiscent of the post WWI era, when the Old World had died and the New World has yet to be born. For this reason, some entries may need adaptation or be totally inappropriate. When this happens, or whenever you feel like, substitute the result with some form of monarchy or otherwise feudal government. This injects some of the "Old World" back into the results.

Example Region: Slaetin

In this bloody, broken land of Slaetin, most power is held by the…

1. 1.Paters

2. 2.Umbaer

3. 3.Numdin, Isanderist faction leader

4. 4.Faepaters

5. 5.Lilden, playing both sides

6. 6.Olbecbaer, currently minor players

7. 7.Silbend

8. 8.Kar, currently minor players

9. 9.Dimus, currently minor players

10. 10.Lildaer, Localist faction leader

Slaetin was once conquered by aristocrats from the kingdom of Alroma. When the Alromish king died and was succeeded by his son, Isander, most Slaetain cities took the opportunity to rebel from Islander’s distant hand. It became common for rebels and opportunists to appeal to the (nominal) regal authority to justify their causes, knowledgeable that in any case their loyalty to the Alromish throne would never really be put to the test. Now a century later, the country is divided by the feud between the Isanderista and the Localist factions, propelled by a thirst for vengeance for the atrocities committed by both sides.

After rolling for the map, we see that the Isanderista faction is in an apparently stronger position (we rolled way more odd numbers than even numbers). As a result, the Isanderistas will probably end up being more divided as disputes arise on how to distribute the advantages of past successes and the urgency of confronting a strong foe dissipates. In contrast, the Localists will be eager to work together to avoid their mutual slaughter. The Olbecbaer and Dimus, Localist families who do not currently control any cities, have likely been disenfranchised in recent generations and will want to stir the pot wherever they can.

Following the good advice of evocative worldbuilding, I’ve fleshed out the most important places with the full procedure and stopped when it started to feel tiresome. In contrast to the procedure above, in this example I had each hegemon take over one city at a time in step 8 instead of two. This resulted in a more fragmented region, but I think slightly less fragmentation might be more generally desirable (hence the change to procedure).

Rio Cervidae (130,000)

Beware the Trophy!

Ruler: Lady Gnarbor Numdin

Faction: Isanderista

State: Cervidaen Republic

Governing Bodies

-Ancient. Representative Plutocracy (A nominal republic where votes are for sale)

-Reform. Fifth Estate Tripartisan Entente (Power is mostly controlled by two main parties, but printers have the ability to sway public opinion, serving as kingmakers.

-Emergency. Corporate State (Rule by a powerful corporation)

Description: Rio Cervidae is the sparkling gem of Slaetin, a cosmopolitan city that performs brisk commerce throughout the sea, and with excellent land trade routes to Carborro to the West. From her bustling streets, the now aged Gnarbor Numdin has led his city to greatness, smashing the Localists and placing family members in command of key towns throughout the country. She was able to accomplish this by coopting the normally fractious government of Rio Cervidae, establishing a mercantile consortium to buy out the independent printing presses that had become so central to civic life. Taking advantage of concerns of a coup, Gnarbor rallied the government to chase out the Kar family, neatly filling the vacuum they left behind. Despite her success, there are tremendous risks to any of her kin who might hope to succeed her. Local nobles, accustomed to consultation, have been sidelined and many whisper they conspire to bring back the Kars. There is some talk of new printers setting up shop and circulating treasonous pamphlets. And who can sustain the rate of expansion necessary to keep the consortium happy?

Ricovilla (110,000)

None Better!

Ruler: Signor Petyr Paters

Faction: Isanderista

State: Association of Ricovilla

Governing Bodies

-Ancient. Hyperagorism (an-cap)

-Reform. Microfeudalism (individual wards are run by rulers with hereditary vassals)

-Emergency. Syndicalism (All power held by trade unions)

Description: A rich land beside an abundant and picturesque lake. Known as a lawless place, a conspiracy by a dedicated group of rich drinking buddies attempted to take over the city. While many grumbled at this, it was not confronted in a serious way until The War of the Sebekan League, when the cabal’s declaration of support for Sebeka led to a Pircasan army marching on Ricovilla. So hated was the cabal that none turned out to defend them, and in the end it was the city’s powerful guilds that organized a successful resistance to the invasion. Although “Lord Miguel Faepater” is still nominally the head of government, Signor Petyr Paters has the ear of the Guilders and calls most of the shots in town.

Pircasa (100,000)

Liberty!

Ruler: First Citizen Laerin Lildaer

Faction: Localists

State: Serene Republic of Pircasa

Governing Bodies

-Ancient. Multi-Camarel Republic

-Reform. Timocracy (Rule by the propertied)

-Emergency. Philosopher-Tyranny

Description: After increasing frustration at the gridlock typical of the Pircasan system, many of Pircasa’s elites agreed to simply meet in private before public votes, hold a ballot amongst themselves, then force through legislation unopposed. This went well for them until an overconfident and poorly run campaign led to disastrous defeat in the war of the Sebekan League. Seizing on a groundswell of anger, Laerin Lildaer challenged the oligarchs and led a slate of lowborn candidates to successful election. Having established herself as the only independently powerful member of the government, she built herself a cult of personality strong enough to halt any attempt to remove her. Facing pressure from the ascendent Isanderistas, it remains unclear how long that may last.

Denahua (70,000)

Free is the Spirit of the Land!

Ruler: Governor Phryco Silbend

Faction: Isanderista

State: Cervidaen Republic

Governing Bodies

-Ancient. Rule of Beauty (Artists rule, aesthetics and politics are tightly linked)

-Reform. Tripartisan Entente Republic (Two major parties, and a smaller kingmaker party)

-Emergency. One-and-a-Half Party System (two parties, one of which has a deeply entrenched majority)

Description: Though the days when poetry was the required form for addresses before the Senate are long gone, many still long for them. Following a deep economic slump due to the cratering price of olive oil, the Denahuana decided that they must become more practical, adopting a more typical republican style. Several years ago, the Denahuan Senate chose to shelter the Kar family as they fled proscription in Rio Cervidae. But in doing so they underestimated the wroth of the typically non-confrontational city, which promptly invaded them, and set up an occupation government under the Silbend family. Widely hated, Phryco Silbend knows it is only the threat of Cervidaen military force that preserves his rule.

Vinino (70,000)

Drown, ye blackguards!

Ruler: Serene Doge Sagittio Silbend

Faction: Isanderista

State: Vinini Republic

Governing Bodies

-Ancient. Representative Plutocracy

-Reform. Multi-camaral 

-Emergency. Bureaucratic Mire

Description: Traditionally a republic run by the bald bribery of her loftiest citizens, Vinino suffered one too many family feud that bloodied her streets. Attempting to set aside their differences, the great dynasties formalized rules meant to end political violence. But after an eruption of bloodshed threatened civil war, a mob seized the reins of power. Eager barristers took the chance to write what they reverently call “The Perfect Constitution”, whose subarticles and addendums will finally, they say, make corruption of the state impossible. The bloodthirsty mob waits for the hew and cry of the barristers to alert them to any fresh violation so that they can finally eat the rich.

With the help of a genius engineer, the Vinini divided the mighty Veraenus river, and as a result the land beyond the city floods for half the year, making a siege essentially impossible. Tthe Vinini maintain a forceful navy and consider themselves outsiders to the wider politics of Slaetin.

Acontilado (50,000)

In Honor, Unrestrained!

Ruler: First Citizen Numbos Lilden

Faction: Isanderista

State: Republic of Acontilado

Governing Bodies

-Ancient. Necrocracy

-Reform. Timocracy (rule by the propertied)

-Emergency. Pseudo-Revolution

Description: Vacillating wildly between Rio Cervidae and Vinino, trying to win bribes from both and constantly risking their anger. Formerly this was carefully done.

Molino d’Paris (50,000)

Isander and vim!

Ruler: Governor Yrza Lilden

Faction: Isanderista

State: Vinini Republic

Description: Despite local friction, the family bonds between Molino d'Paris and Acontilado have defused local conflict. The city was given as payment to Yrza Lilden for his work as an accomplished condottiero.

Sebeka (50,000)

Fear and fear not, Sebeka comes!

Ruler: Count Antonio Lilden

Faction: Isanderista

State: County of Arlos

Description: An ancient city swollen with a pride that dwarfs its merit. Often quarreling with its neighbors, Sebeka was decimated during the War of the Sebekan League.

Coladenutria (50,000)

Plenty unbounded!

Ruler: Prefect Gnarbor Lilden

Faction: Isanderista

State: Serene Republic of Pircasa

Description: They hate, hate, hate their overlord, Pircasa, having been badly punished when they rebelled during the War of the Sebekan League.

Clarisa (40,000)

Bald truth!

Ruler:  Baron Yaemor Faepaters

Faction: Localists

State: Association of Ricovilla

Description: A surprisingly well-preserved holdout of the pre-invasion religion of Slaetin.

Berta (30,000)

See our smile!

Ruler: King Delegor Numdin

Faction: Isanderista

State: Baergan Confederacy

Description: Remote and peopled by a hardy folk.

Saqueano (30,000)

In victory the eagle flies!

Ruler: Prince Numdino Numdin

Faction: Isanderista

State: Saquenan Prefecture

Description: Granted to a vile condottiero, unspeakable crimes are heaped on the people. Implicitly protected by Rio Cervidae.

Abigarrada (30,000)

Girded!

Ruler: Baroness Salvardora Numdin

Faction: Isanderista

State: County of Arlos

Description: Baroness Salvadora Numdin is close friends with Count Antonio Lilden. The city and the surroundig environs are exceptionally well fortified and extract a stiff fee for any merchants or armies that seek to pass through.

Grapas (30,000)

We hold fast!

Ruler: President Aesidor Numdin

Faction: Isanderists

State: Numdinar Confederacy

Description: Exceptionally cordial. They would be a model republic if the actively engaged populace would stop casting votes based on the hottness of the candidates.

Aldrico (20,000)

Never have we born ignominy!

Ruler: Baron Baerum Umbaer

Faction: Localists

State: Saquenan Prefecture

Description: The town feels caught in the middle, and is desperately engaged in the "we're just a little guy" strategy of seeming to be such a cute little spot that no one wants to destroy them. They owe homage to a monster of a man.

Randallo (20,000)

Here flows the blood of Randallo!

Ruler: King Gnaeo Umbaer

Faction: Localists

State: Huevo Confederacy

Description: Claims to be the rightful capital of this entire country. Randallo contains the ancient plaza where chiefs of old would meet to pick a chief in a time of war.

Upsala (20,000)

Don’t mess with us, buddy!

Ruler: Governor Rodrigo Umbaer

Faction: Localists

State: Numdinar Confederacy

Description: Actually settled by foreigners from the east, Upsala was originally intended as a trading post that would open new markets. But after the government that sent the settlers collapsed, they made the fateful decision to make the best of it. A harried and paranoid people, insidious cults fester beneath the surface.

Nisswa (10,000)

God loves this country!

Ruler: Duke Petyr Paters the Foreigner

Faction: Isanderists

State: Baergan Confederacy

Description: A mining town.

Castel Riplano (10,000)

Faultless!

Ruler: Duke Gnaeus Paters

Faction: Isanderista

State: Huevo Confederacy

Description: A mighty fortress built to protect a gold mine that has long since been totally stripped.

San Nimblo (10,000)

Devoted!

Ruler: Elora Paters

Faction: Isanderista

State: Republic of Acontilado

Description: Given to the church to administer. A dedicated center of peace and parley.

Curva del Aguila (10,000)

A pleasant place to be!

Ruler: Prelate Lelthin Paters

Faction: Isanderista

State: Oxbow Theocracy

Description: Another religious preserve, set aside for contemplation.