Murbal

Template:Duchies of the Kingdom of Bóinbile Infobox

Introduction

Murbal is the northernmost of the three mainland duchies of the Kingdom of Bóinbile, in Central Gosterra. It lies between the Yeege Peninsula to the north and the Odhan to the south, with the sea to the west and Aráinia to the east. Its capital is Cloimheal, one of the oldest cities in Gosterra, and its largest city is Glibhe, the Kingdom's chief seaport and its second-largest city. Murbal covers 8,477 mi² (21,955 km²) and has about 400,000 inhabitants. It is held by a hereditary ducal house under the Crown.

History

Early settlement

After the landing of the Great Migration at Baddaen in 0 ME, settlers spread north along the coast and up the river valleys of Gosterra. From about 90 ME the settlements gathered into small kingdoms. Cloimheal was founded around 95 ME on the north bank of the Odhan and became the seat of the kingdom of Murbal. Glibhe was founded around 110 ME as a fishing and trading port at the mouth of the Odhan on Raos' Bay.

Duchy

In 151 ME Murbal was brought into the Kingdom of Bóinbile, and its royal house became one of the Kingdom's ducal houses. Cloimheal remained the seat of the duchy. Glibhe grew into the largest port of the Kingdom, but the capital was never moved from the older and more central city.

In the War of the Southern Duchies (640–645 ME), Murbal stood with the Crown together with the other northern duchies and the Goirleach Islands.

Geography

Murbal covers 8,477 mi² (21,955 km²). To the north its border with the Yeege Kingdom runs through the Yeege Mountains, past Mount Croan, to Lake Inspi. To the south the Odhan separates it from Uiniac as far as Bóinbile, which stands on the opposite bank. To the east it borders Aráinia, and to the west it meets the sea, from Raos' Bay north to Fort Mys.

The north of the duchy rises into the foothills of the Yeege Mountains, and Mount Disert stands inland above the Duinear valley. Hills run north from Glibhe through the west of the duchy. The south is the farmland of the Odhan valley.

Lake Duinear, below the mountains, is the largest lake; Biltean stands on its western shore and Realt at its southern end. The Duinear River flows from it past Diseart and Natuan to the Odhan at Cloimheal. Smaller lakes include Lake Bealg at Iolborn, Lake Tiomhol at Cairleo, Lake Naghál, Lake Oileach at Ucol, Lake Inspi on the Yeege border, and Lake Cloimheal on the Odhan.

Climate

The climate is oceanic, with mild winters, cool to warm summers and frequent rain. Fog is common on the coast, and the mountains of the north are colder and wetter than the valleys.

Goverment and Politcs

Murbal is governed from Cloimheal by its hereditary ducal house, which holds the duchy under the Crown of the Kingdom of Bóinbile, an absolute monarchy. The duke sits on the council of the four dukes, which advises the monarch.

Fort Mys guards the northwestern coast, and Fort Nean guards the border with Aráinia near Einis. The mouth of the Odhan below Glibhe is guarded by Fort Múnd on the Uiniac shore.

Economy

Glibhe is the Kingdom's chief seaport, with shipbuilding, fishing and sea trade. Goods move up the Odhan by river to Cloimheal and Bóinbile.

The Odhan valley and the land around the lakes support cattle, sheep and grain, and wool is a major product; the uplands below the Yeege Mountains are used for grazing. Mining is important in the east of the duchy, where mining villages lie in the hills above Bilpear, Grantam and Stapl.

Trade with the Zapaha of the Yeege Kingdom passes through Leicin and Eadhon.

Demographics

Murbal has about 400,000 inhabitants, about 47 per square mile (18 per km²), more than the average for the Kingdom because of Glibhe. About 232,000 people live in the duchy's fourteen cities and about 50,000 in its towns, so about a third of the population lives in the countryside.

Most inhabitants are Gostaldi and speak Gostaldi. The Yeparchist branch of Tefar is the main religion.

Cities

Name	Tier	Population
Glibhe	Large city	120,000
Cloimheal	Capital	25,000
Cairleo	Small city	12,000
Iolborn	Small city	10,000
Realt	Small city	9,000
Pointeas	Small city	9,000
Tuireas	Small city	8,000
Rúime	Small city	7,000
Guald	Small city	6,000
Ucol	Small city	6,000
Einis	Small city	5,000
Fort Mys	Small city	5,000
Gath	Small city	5,000
Sanún	Small city	5,000

Transportation

Murbal has no railways; the nearest line begins at Bóinbile, across the Odhan. The main road follows the north bank of the Odhan from Glibhe through Guald and Cloimheal to Tuireas and Oithil. Roads run north from Cloimheal through Natuan, Pairing and Uithean to Realt and Lake Duinear, and east through Milbean and Ucol to Einis and Fort Nean on the Aráinian border.

Two roads, from Leicin and from Eadhon, cross the Yeege Mountains into the Yeege Kingdom. East of them no roads cross the border, which is mountainous and difficult to reach; goods can be carried by river where needed.

The Odhan is navigable from Glibhe to Bóinbile, and coastal shipping links Glibhe with the other ports of Gosterra.