The Kingdom of Kovàl

Kovàl is a feudal monarchy. The current king is Jamie FinFarland, 7th in the FinFarland dynasty. The hero of my stories will be Andrew FinKaerin, the eldest son of one of the 12 feudal barons. Andrew is approaching his 18th birthday. Following tradition, Andrew will spend a year exploring the kingdom, getting to know the people, and living by his own wits. Having grown up in the lowlands, Andrew has decided to begin his journey in the rugged Highlands, which produce the bravest and most hardy warriors of Kovàl.

GEOGRAPHY
The western portion of the Kingdom of Kovàl, the "lowlands", is mostly composed of broad meadows and rolling hills. Rivers fed by snow melt punctuate the gentle landscape with lakes, stands of trees, and the occasional gorge. Most of the largest cities and commercial centers, along with 7 of the feudal Baronies, are located in the lowlands. The remaining 5 Baronies are located in the eastern portion of the kingdom, the "highlands". The mountain ranges and moors of the highlands provide ideal grazing grounds for the nimble Kovàl sheep, which form the basis of the highland agricultural economy.

GRIFFINS
The most unique feature of Kovàl is the Griffin. Griffins were first domesticated about 2000 years ago, and through the generations have become very loving and loyal animals, though their wild cousins are wary of humans, and can be very dangerous if not approached carefully. The Griffin has the head, forelegs, and wings of an eagle, and the hindquarters, hind legs, and tail of a lion. The Griffin is native to the Highlands of Kovàl, where its wings, tail, and talons make it perfect for negotiating the precarious rocky slopes high up in the mountains.

The Griffin is almost sacred in Kovàl society. Although about a third of the households in Kovàl own a Griffin, they are treated with the utmost dignity and respect. Mistreating one's Griffin is a crime on the level of beating one's child, and killing a Griffin can be a capital offense.

Though Griffins are naturally flightless, using their wings only for display and balance, generations of selective breeding have produced a rare line of flying Griffins. All known flying Griffins are the property of the King. Each of the 12 Kovàl barons, as a symbol of the favor bestowed upon him by the King, is given a griffin for his own personal use. These griffins are considered to be borrowed from the crown, and do not become the property of the baron. The King also maintains an elite bodyguard: the King's Griffins. This band is composed of 50 highly trained archers mounted on flying Griffins. Under ideal conditions, these remarkable archers are able to shoot a man on the ground from the back of a Griffin flying 500 feet in the air.

HISTORY
Almost 150 years ago, one of the many Kovàl civil wars ended in the slaughter of the reigning monarch and all his family, thus ending the FinFlannigan dynasty. This power vacuum was filled by a stranger to the land, Andrew Farland. When he became king, he added the traditional honorific, becoming Andrew FinFarland, first of the FinFarland dynasty. Andrew FinFarland brought peace to the warring baronies, a peace which has been maintained to this day despite significant inter-baronial tension.

MILITARY
The military culture is still a major part of Kovàl society. All young men are expected to be able to wield a sword and a bow, and those of good family always learn to ride a Griffin in battle. Fierce codes of loyalty and chivalry are ingrained at an early age. The king has the authority to raise an army, typically composed of over 20,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 Griffin cavalry. Kovàl is at peace with its neighbors, but ready to defend itself if need be.

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