Maelstrom Campaign - Major Nations: Freiboden

The Freiboden League (formerly the Golden Nation of Mill-en) has recently enjoyed the many benefits of a popular uprising. This revolution has seen the venal and corrupt aristocracy swept away, to be replaced by an enlightened republic ably led by the educated minds of the League of Free Merchants. Although reactionary sympathisers and collaborators of the old regime are still active, within the loyal towns and cities of the Freiboden League the rule of law is now firmly in place and trade is beginning to return to normal.

The Freiboden League has always been a land of learning and civilisation. The home of several universities and establishments of study and experimentation, the League leads the world in developing new thinking. The countryside is rich and temperate and is famed for its food, although travellers are advised to avoid the sausages.

First Meeting
As a result of recent legal developments, foreigners are now only permitted to trade with a member of the Free Merchants. This useful ruling ensures that whoever you are dealing with will have a full and certain knowledge of any new laws, allowing you to deal confidently and ensuring that you get a fair price for your goods. Unfortunately there is a habit in some parts of preying on unwary visitor, therefore it is vital to ascertain that anyone you deal with is a fully licensed Free Merchant.

Free Merchants are hardworking and industrious men who disdain the trappings of the decadent and idle aristocracies of other lands. Whilst it is fine to dress well, it does not do to be over-dressed, and undue displays of pomp or privilege may cause offence. Weapons are frowned upon and generally only the Pietkrieg, who now serve as soldiers and constables in the cities, usually go armed.

Fashion
In former times, styles amongst the nobility tended to the elaborate and impressive, to a point where they rivalled the tastes of the Flembic high-born. Since the revolution, ostentatious garb has come to be seen as a gesture of support for the ousted Majeste and is frowned upon. Current tastes run to the smartly dressed but understated. Thus the average Frieboden merchant will wear a simple tailored doublet or coat, with similar boots and trousers. Most of the Pietkreig have a plain but smart uniform consisting of a greatcoat, jacket, shirt, trousers and high boots.

Religion
It is wise to be discreet about certain religious affiliations whilst in the territories of the Freiboden League as the role played by some churches during the recent revolution mean that offence can be unwittingly caused. The Majeste was a prominent devotee of the Teacher and that Church wielded considerable power before the revolution. Some of the Teacher’s clergy were outspoken in their criticism of the revolution when it occurred. Despite their arrest and execution, considerable stigma remains attached to their devotees in the eyes of the current establishment.

Worship of the Merchant is widespread amongst the Free Merchants and anyone who holds to His tenets should find themselves well received. Priests of the Huntress were active in promoting the revolution and there are now churches to the Huntress in most towns. The largest cities all have at least a shrine to the Weaver and anyone who wishes to make an offering or speak to a priest of that faith should be able to find one with little problem.

Trade
Due to acts of sabotage by royalists and counter-revolutionaries, some areas of the Freiboden League are currently suffering from major shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs. This means that excellent prices are available for such items. However, in the last year members of several Trading Houses have been found guilty and fined heavily for deliberate profiteering. Consequently it is wise to make sure that the prices you charge for your goods are considered fair and reasonable by the Free Merchant you are dealing with.

Until recently, the Freiboden League was the only source of reliable muskets in the Known World. These extraordinary darkpowder weapons are capable of unhorsing a rider at a hundred paces in the hands of a marksman and are in great demand throughout the world. However, trade in both muskets and pistols is now prohibited under the Defence of the League Act and you will need to plan accordingly. Nevertheles the League remains the single largest market for darkpowder, and barrels stamped with a respected device always fetch an excellent price. All transactions must be carried out using the League Florin as it is illegal to conduct trade in any other form of currency.

And so it began......

Dawn breaks, war looms, the evil Lord is gathering his armies to wage a campaign of destruction upon the free peoples of the world. It is up to I, Sir Maximilan Pegasus to stop him, with my trusted band of adventurers we must gather the enchanted sword of Tek, the Shield of Way-Lem and the amulet of Subsidence and together we shall slay this abomination! “TIME FREEZE” And bam, the fantasy world fades away, the enchanted sword of Tek in my hand is a rubber sword smothered in coloured ribbons with a laminated card cable tied to the hilt, I look down and I’m wearing plastic armour and unflattering heropants, and the magical world of my imagination washes away to reveal a field in Wigan, but you know what? It’s larp and I’m a larper, it’s what I do.
I started larping when I was 17, I’d never role-played before, I’d never played D&D or Warhammer, never played WoW or any form of online game, I’d never even read Lord of the Rings, I feel somewhat privileged that I hadn’t done any of those things, I think it gave me an untainted attitude towards what larp could be, I had no preconceptions about saving the maiden fair, slaying the dragon or smiting the liche, to me it was just a new thing to try.
It was cold, really cold, 10am on a September morning, the rain was battering down and I’d been given a faux fur tunic, a mouldy old sword and been pointed towards a man and told, “You’re monstering, there’s the ref he’ll tell you what to do.” I obeyed, I played wave after wave of zombies, orcs and various line monsters and to be honest, was cold, bored and hungry. That is, until lunchtime, the teams switched sides, I got into the kit I’d scrounged up, as with most first timers, a black trenchcoat. I took the mouldy old sword, stood with my fellow adventurers and it hit me, I’m a god damn hero!
Pow, there it was, a new larper was born.