Most people outside Estalia refer to the lands southwest of Bretonnia simply by this name. The people living in these lands however have quite a different perspective. They will not only refer to the city they live or were born in, but often to the quarter of the city and sometimes to the street. Putting people from Bilbali and Magritta in one basket may be acceptable elsewhere, but it certainly is not in either of the two cities. This is not a never-ending source of argument, but also a good way to start physical confrontation with even the more peace loving people.

The Land

What we call Estalia is a region fragmented into a few dozens small kingdoms. Some consisting only of a single crumpling stronghold, whose ruler relies on the levying of taxes (others may call this ambushing), while others take more than a week to cross by horse. The most important cities of Estalia are Magritta and Bilbali. Other major cities can be found along the coastline of the Estalian peninsula. The heart of Estalia is only scarcely populated. The people living there try to plough the sandy soil. Only the hills west of Magritta and along the border to Bretonnia promises a productive agriculture.
As most parts of the Old World Estalia is dominated by agriculture. Although not very productive, the peasants do their best to get at least the most basic food. Very little of the corn is exported from Estalia. The only noteworthy products that are shipped out of Estalia are wine, which is grown mainly in the hills near the west coast of Estalia, and leather. Especially Bilbali and Magritta got rich through trade which is done with Tilea and Araby. Although the relations with Araby are strained, at best, this has not stopped the merchants to import silk, herbs and perfumes from these distant lands.
One speciality of Estalia is its bulls. Although also used as food, they play a great role in Estalian tradition. Twice every year bullfights take place in all towns and cities of the peninsula. The two biggest events are, of course, in Bilbali and Magritta. In most towns the bulls are taken out of the normal stock of cattle and the toreros are just young men eager to prove their manhood. In the cities, however, bulls are especially raised for these events and the toreros are professionals who, when victorious, enjoy great popularity among the nobility of the region.

The People

Social Classes

On top of the food chain is the nobility. The most important is of course the local king or queen. No matter how small the kingdom may be, the king/queen has any right he wants to have. He can kill discretionally without fearing prosecution and take without justifying himself. Of course, this does not mean that the rulers are very popular among the citizens. In practise these powers vary very much. Theoretically King Felipe III of Magritta has the right of the first night, but he is good advised not to use it. In general the bigger the town, the less direct is the presence of the ruler. His presence is mostly reduced to levying high taxes.
Below the ruler are often a great number of lords and ladies. These have a fief that, depending on its size, guarantees for a more or less regular income. These noblemen and noblewomen can hardly ever be found on their fiefs. Instead they prefer to spend most of their time at the king's court. When they do not appear on some festivity, scheming seems to be their favourite pastime. Trying to further their influence or bring rivals into discredit. Such a live of luxury requires large sums of money. This means that their serfs have to work harder.
The mayor part of the nobility is formed of the Hidalgos, who stand on the lowest step of the nobility and are mocked upon by other noblemen. These are noblemen who received their title for some outstanding achievement. The status as a Hidalgo is not connected with a fief. It can take centuries for a Hidalgo to gain enough influence to get a fief, although clever assassination also has played a role in the past. Those that have not been granted a fief often have to work for other noblemen (e.g. as heralds or equerry) or serve in the military. Most of there is spend to differentiate themselves against the richer merchants and artisans.
The priests of Estalia are not very much different from those in the Empire or elsewhere in the Old World. They curch of Myrmidia has the biggest influence and its main temple is in Magritta. Priests can often be found to work as advisors for the rulers. Although this is also practised in the Empire, the influence of the Real Consejero is much bigger. Some priests resemble more politicians and have lost touch with their cult a little bit. They can rarely be found in the churches, but are willing to use all of their influence to further the aims of their church, since they know that their power is just borrowed. Although most cults can also be found in Estalia, the churches and temples are often made for a saint and the god itself steps somewhat in the background. Many people have small shrines where they pray to a saint and ask for guidance or protection.

Below the priests stand the merchants and artisans. Some of these have as much influence as noblemen, but they are cautious to overuse this influence for fearing to attract the attention of the higher classes.

The peasantry is a social class that seems to be very similar throughout the Old World. They work hard and are poor.

Outsiders almost form a class of their own. Due to their exaggerated sense of origin, Estalians regard people from other parts of Estalia and especially from outside Estalia, to be untrustworthy, dishonourable and of bad character. They are looked down upon by almost any Estalia. It has happened more than once that a beggar who asked for a few coins scoffed his donator afterwards. On the other hand Estalians can prove to be friendly when the see any chances that they have get some advantages.

The people of Arabian descendant or people born in Araby form a group of their own. Social classes are by definition almost impervious, this group however is virtually closed to any outsider and what is an outsider is in the discretion of those who are not. The contacts between Estalians and those of Arabian origin remain superfluous and mostly on a professional basis. Personal contacts are extremely rare and no one, from either side, would allow intermarriages between the two groups. The reasons for this separation can be found in the time when the south of Estalia was under Arabian rule and the reconquista. The northern regions of Estalia have only very, if any, people of Arabian descendant. The biggest community can be found in Magritta and its Arabian Quarter. Easily identifiable as it is the most run down part of the city, since the King has forbidden any kind of structural repair in this part of the town. Of course there are contacts on another level society. Various "herbs" can only be found in small shops and dens of the Arabian Quarters and there are enough people who have interest beyond the law that are willing to deal with their Arabian counterparts.

Professions

The professions in Estalia generally resemble those in other parts of the Old World. Here are only some peculiarities and a new profession detailed.

Thieves & Criminals

Crime is not less a problem in Estalia, as it is elsewhere in the world. Some criminals form almost a parallel society, with their own jurisdiction, markets, taxes, temples et c. The most famous of these groups is "Orm's Court" in Magritta. The watch tries to ignore the problem at best and will only interfere when the criminals carry their problems out of their quarters. As long as they do not worry the nobility and influential merchants, they are tolerated.
Criminals have a strong sense of community. The worst crime in their eyes is treason and cooperation with the watch. This is because jurisdiction in Estalia in general is swift and harsh. Even misdemeanours are often punished by death or forced labour in the silver mines, which is nothing but an extended death sentence. Of course the nobility enjoys great privileges and is seldom prosecuted, left alone sentenced.

Almost any criminal native to the city can lean on a great number of connections, helpers, fences and similar trades. However any outsider is considered to be a rival and can soon be found in the nearest river, should he act suspicious. And the definition of the word suspicious in this context is very broad.

An Estalian specialty is fraud. This crime is probably more widespread than anywhere else in the Old World. Nobody knows where the borders of the various kingdoms exactly are and often foreigners have to pay tariffs for kingdoms that do not exist or are stopped at borders that do not exist. In the cities people identifiable as become from elsewhere are asked to pay dubious taxes. Others offer the help in the bureaucracy or arrange meetings with people at the local courts. Although few may be able to do so, most are never seen again after they received their advance payment.

Merchants

Estalia, or more precisely, Bilbali and Magritta are a good place for merchants. They can find most goods available in other parts of the Old World. Additionally the markets offer a wide range of Arabian goods. Most of these are very expensive outside Magritta and Bilbali and some cannot be found at all.

Merchants in Estalia do not form guilds as the merchants of the Empire do. Instead many merchants have a monopoly on certain goods. This ensures great wealth for those that enjoy this privilege. The trade with perfumes in Magritta for example is in the hand of Jorge Bastos and his family in the sixth generation. The trade with less lucrative goods is left to the ordinary merchants. They vigorously competent against other merchants this has prevented any cooperation in the past.

Bullfighter

Bullfighting is a sport almost exclusively found in Estalia. Only the most southwestern parts of Bretonnia know bullfighting, but this is done in a non official fashion.
Towns and cities have an area, often outside the town, which is used for the corrida, as bullfighting is called in Estalia. When no corrida takes place, the arena is often used to sell cattle. Very few cities are rich enough to have an arena that is only used for the corrida.
The corridas generally take place twice a year on the days of the equinox. Other corridas take place on important date, like the birth of son or daughter to the king. On the death of King Felipe II of Magritta a corrida took place, although this was not officially sanctioned and watch had to end the fight.

Bullfighters, called toreros, can be professionals or amateurs. Professional toreros are very rare outside cities. They often come from the class of the Hidalgos, where the young men try to earn respect and money by this sport. Amateurs are often peasants, farmers and other people of these classes. Should be prove to be skilled in the sport, they can become professional toreros. Professional toreros spend most of their time practising and showing off. Successful toreros do not need to worry about money (or women). They can find enough sponsors that pay just to be seen with them.

Toreros have to fight only with a rapier. Professional toreros fight on horses, while amateurs have to fight on foot. The horses have thick leather armour that protects them against the worse injuries. The toreros however have no armour. Should they be thrown out of the saddle, they have to continue fighting on foot.

Most of the time they fight against bulls, but sometimes rhinoceros or Lustrian buffaloes are used as opponents. Basically any wild beast that attacks by charging can be used for bullfighting.

New Career: the Torero


Character

The people of Estalia are very proud of their origin. Even peasants can sometimes trace back their family to the time before the reconquista (although not everything may be true). They are also much more connected to their birthplace than people in other parts of the Old World. Even large families continue to live in one house or in houses next to each other long after the children married and have their own children. Some streets of the cities are inhabited by members of the same families and one quarter of Bilbali is called Cuarto Borgeos, from an exceptionally large family.

The importance of the birthplace and regional pride has led to much prejudice against gypsies and travelling circus.

Besides the family and place of birth, Estalians have a very rigorous view on honour, pride and courage. These character traits are held in high esteem. Questioning someone's honour is almost as bad as questioning his mother's sexual preference. Both can lead to duels or a knife in the back. Someone who behaves dishonourably is socially dead and even ignored by his former friends. In this they resemble the dwarves.

A strong part of honour is representation. Physical labour on the other hand is not considered to appropriate for an Estalian, even among those that plough their fields. Abilities are not so important, as flamboyant lifestyle. Even ordinary artisans and merchants spend most money on clothes, servants and festivities than reasonable. During noon many leave their work, not only because of the heat, but also to saunter through the streets.

Another way to earn honour is to buy titles. Many noblemen are poor enough to be forced to accept such proposals. However this way is left only to the richest citizens. Others try to bring in some irrelevant document to the king which they sign with the prefix Don. They hope to receive an answer, even if it is just an insult to stop such correspondence, which is addressed to a Don Soandso. Then there are those that use bribery or blackmailing to get a title. This may be the reason why some influential criminals have titles.

The importance of courage and honour of course means that many people are willing to go on any adventure. Dropping words like "dangerous", "great foe" and alike is likely to raise the interest of some people. They will be enthusiastical to join any adventuring party and will arrive in the most fashionable adventuring gear the next morning. However they are likely to lose interest very soon, generally as soon as they find out that adventuring means hiking, climbing and sweating, while carrying large packs of equipment.

Although Estalians generally look down upon foreigners, they are honest and reliable towards their friends. Should a foreigner become the friend of an Estalian, he will get all support he wants to. The biggest compliment that can be made to foreigner is that he is worth to be Estalian.

The Hidalgos represent the Estalian characteristics more than any other groups. They are especially sensitive on their honour and will often behave in an exaggerated way. More than one Hidalgo has committed suicide because he felt that he lost his honour. A Hidalgo who wants to further his fame and fortune is a never ending source of adventure for his friends.

National interests

The "national interests" of Estalians revolve around presenting themselves. The cities present themselves on their festivities, the people in theatres. To be seen is often more important than to do.

Estalians can be found in taverns where they spend their free time. These are crowded well after midnight and the people start to go out when the citizens of Altdorf are long in bed.
The corridas are of course the most important social event of the year. It is the chance for farmers and peasants to earn some respect. They have to fight on foot and often die during the fight. Should they be victorious, they are carried through the streets on the hands of the people. Even in cities that have professional toreros, amateurs are given the chance to fight before professional toreros fight.