Editing Falconhead (section)

==Government:==

Falconhead is theoretically a monarchy, but its territory is much reduced from back when it was a vassal nation of the Nantic Empire, and these days foreigners find the idea of such a small state being ruled by a king or queen as mildly ridiculous. Away from the core region around Falconburg, the nation is split up into sub districts known as shires, of which only four remain.

The current queen of Falconhead is Henrietta Creighton, an amateur alchemist and bastard daughter of the old king, who disinherited his incompetent and eccentric son, and irresponsible granddaughter while on his deathbed. Despite having no real interest in politics, she is fairly popular due to her charming personality, good relations with the Spartician Amazons, and the fact that it is widely believed that her half-brother and half-niece would have done a disastrously poor job.

Real power (what little can be found anyways) in Falconhead lies with the senior appointed officials in each town and shire. Essentially a meritocratic oligarchy, they select new members based on perceived aptitudes and treat each other as equals for the most part. Each shire has a sheriff, which was once an appointed position, but is now hereditary and mostly ceremonial unless the individual in the position is unusually competent. Likewise mayors and reeves are elected, but those who are seen as difficult or naive are usually sidelined from any important decisions.

Senior officials in each shire and town include the Treasurer, Head Magistrate, Militia Captain, and Chief of Public Works. Lacking any meaningful military strength, the officials are skilled at monitoring the situations in neighboring countries, and keeping in the good graces of anyone seen as being on the rise.

Foreign interference is common in Falconhead, usually by Westphallica and Sparticia, but sometimes by Afrozil or Gabaet. Falconhead officials are always on the lookout for wealthy and powerful patrons in Westphallica who will pay for mercenaries and infrastructure projects in the name of Pan-Nantic Unity. The Spartician Mountain Clans are too fractured and small in number to maintain control of foreign territory for long, but periodically stronger clans will band together and put one or more areas of Falconhead "under their protection". This is generally tolerated until the Amazons cross enough lines that Westphallican nobles hire mercenaries to drive them out.