Government of Padwell
Monarch of Padwell
Rulership of Padwell is passed on through primogeniture to either a child of the previous Monarch, or when no such heir exists, their grandchildren or siblings. All known rulers of Padwell have been from the Padwell family.
It is believed that, long ago, the Marsh King himself chose the Padwell family as the caretakers of his lands and people. As such the royal family, queen and aristocracy are unique in that they exist to serve their people; leaders are judged by the health and happiness of those they rule over, not by their own individual wealth or accomplishments. Padwell is currently ruled by Queen Tuonetar Padwell; she has been in power since the death of her older brother, King Maddox Padwell, in 460 A.E.D. She has focused her efforts on rebuilding her country and family following the end of the war, as well as forming new alliances to strengthen Padwell against reconquer. She has encouraged her citizens, especially her icauhtli and the Redwings, to travel to places like Ironbrook and the Republic of the Spire to study their uses of magic and technology. Tuonetar's royal court is court is extraordinarily diverse. She has dignitaries from the Tyr Kingdom, the Land of Rivers, the darklings, Meros, and Dutoria. Noteworthy members of her court include: Alta, a powerful heir from Meros; Inno, a disgraced stormherald inventor always covered in soot; Venus, a shadowy sundrake; Toivo Aalto, a middle-aged man who helped found the Redwings; and a representative of the Empress of High Heart. |
A portrait of the Queen. Art by J-Haskell. |
The Royal Family
Anyone who can trace their blood to the current monarch within three generations can use the title prince/princess. The spouse of a prince/princess may also use that title.
The current members of the royal family are:
- Queen Tuonetar Padwell & her husband, King-Consort Valterri Coyol.
- Rutinas Aava Padwell, her husband, Prince Rhys Bauldry, and their children.
- Prince Percy Padwell, his wife, Princess Yaotl Rhydderch, and their children.
- Princess Adain Padwell, her husband, Prince Elo Merrick, and their children.
- Princess Eleuia Padwell, her husband, Prince Erkki Järvinen, and their children.
The Redwings
Padwell’s military and internal security force is known as the Redwings, named after the group of warriors who fought with Prince Ohtli Padwell and later Toivo Aalto during the rebellion against Xocrium.
Their duties include keeping the peace, protecting the border from Xocrian attacks, as well as assisting the citizens of Padwell in times of crisis and everyday life. While they have a reputation in Xocrium as assassins and spies, Redwings actually never leave the border. After all, leaving the shelter of the marshes and heading into the enemy nation is usually either deadly or results in a lifetime stay in Emberrock’s prison for a citizen of Padwell. |
The Aateli, Padwell’s Nobility
The role of the aristocracy in Padwell is unique. All members of the Aateli are judged by the well-being of their people and are expected to spend most of their time and money on eradicating poverty and improving the town/city they rule. A member of the Aateli with a significantly more lavish and beautiful home than the rest of their people is viewed as a poor leader, and they may even lose their rank if their people suffer while they thrive.
The provinces of Padwell have had no designated rulers since the overthrowal of Xocrian rule: the groupings exist today only as a way to officially name and divide up regions of Padwell with distinct peoples and geography.
The region of High Heart is an exception to all of this. It is inhabited by the ‘hill tribes’, a cultural group distinct from the Padwellans famous for their skill in the riding and taming of griffons. They were also treated very poorly by the Xocrians and fought alongside the Padwellans for freedom, and are only loosely bound to them by law. They have their own government structure with their own methods of rulership, although have close ties to the current Queen of Padwell. They are currently led by Empress Usva Kesätuuli of Ilma.
Title | Description |
---|---|
Greve (m), Kreivi (f) |
Greve (m) or kreivi (f) are titles held by the head of each family in the Aateli. The greve/kreivi themselves are responsible for governing towns and cities within Padwell. While the title of greve or kreivi is traditionally passed on through blood, the Queen or King can and have removed incompetent or greedy people from power should they fail to care for their people. It is also very common for any common folk who do something suitably impressive to be elevated along with their family to the ranks of the Aateli. |
Friherre (m), Vapaaherra (f) |
The heirs of greve/kreivi. They are responsible for assisting their relative in governing and to learn all the needs of their people before their time comes to take full power themself. |
Herr (m), Herra (f) |
All Padwellan nobility, whether or not they have one of the other titles, also have the title of herr (m) or herra (f). (Essentially the Padwellan equivalent of lord/lady or sir/ma’am) (For example; the current Queen would be addressed, formally, as Herra Tuonetar, kreivi of the Padwell and Virtanen families and Queen of Padwell.) |
Icutli (m), Icauhtli (f) |
Any member of the Aateli can name someone their icutli (f) or icauhtli (m) - essentially a brother/sister and an adopted member of their family. It is a great honour to be an icutli or icauhtli. While it does not officially grant any authority, those dealing with the icauhtli of a powerful nobleman know to treat them with respect, lest they anger someone with a lot of influence. While the icauhtli are viewed as close to being adopted family members, it would be an error to refer to them as literally the brother or sister of the Aateli member that honoured them with the title. The meaning has a little more nuance than that, and it is unfortunately a common error or translation that can lead to awkward miscommunications in foreign lands. |