The Mahr
General
The Mahr [ma:ɐ̯] is an ancient cultural region and a member of the High Reich of Luyieverian Estates. The entire Mahr is ruled by the Royal House of Sereuth until the capital city is destroyed in 7011 A.I.D.
Geography
The Mahr averages 900 to 1500 meters in elevation, higher than the surrounding land to the east. Generally, the boundary of the region is described as "the slope," a long rolling declivity that separates the Mahr from the northern foothills of the grasslands.
Wide rolling hills, barren rocky terrain, low vegetation and rivers characterize the landscape.
Climate
The climate in the region is maritime, as the region is upwind of the larger wind streams coming from the sea.
Culture
The Marish (or Mahric) culture is the predominant Luyieverian culture.
Fiefdom and Lehners
Fiefdom plays an important role in modern Mahr. From the upper social classes to the lower classes, the entire society is enclosed in a hierarchy.
The royal house in Steynmaar demonstrates its own power by enfeoffing other noble families with possessions. These in turn lease their possessions to peasants, who often become serfs or unfree farmers as a result. Anyone who owns land is a "Lehner" in the Mahrish conception, no matter how small it is. Being a Lehner comes with privileges, depending on the mass of land available. For this reason, the nobles take great care never to make their subjects Lehners, but only to lend them land.
Most land on the Mahr is therefore only granted, even if in some cases some feuds have been granted for decades or centuries and cannot be reclaimed arbitrarily. Not many properties remain in original possession.
Religion
The Circle of Saints
A kind of state religion is the belief in the Circle of Saints. This religion is cultivated and taught mainly by well-endowed monasteries and monastic orders. It is therefore the dominant religion, to which most nobles and members of the upper class also adhere.
Spirits
In contrast to the circle of saints, the rural population has a tendency to worship various nature gods, known as spirits, for aid. The belief in the spirits takes different forms locally. Sometimes people worship different spirits or call them by different names.
The belief in the spirits goes back to the various crafts. Farmers, weavers, builders and so on each had their own spirit to whom they turned for protection and good luck.
Intersections
The orders tolerate the faith in spirits, and over time the spirits have even become incorporated into the Holy Circle religion as lower-ranking powers. Nevertheless, the orders actively try to convince people of the circle of saints and present it as the true religion.
Cities
The capital of the Mahr is the coastal city of Steynmaar, also called Steynmahr.
Other towns worth mentioning are Dannislehn, Lavislehn Mahr's Hand and Sonnenlehn.
History
The Mahrish culture began to emerge from the old Hersian culture from 10 B.I.D. onwards, mostly in the Eastern Mahr.
The Lehner Wars
The Lehner Wars were decisive for the development of the Mahr. They started 6920 A.I.D. by the rebellion of the town of Lavislehn against the Royal House of Sereuth.
