Dear reader, if you’ve just begun Power & the Price, feel free either to skim this chapter or to skip it altogether. The story itself should give you a good idea about the known world and remind you on any important information. However, if you ever are curious about more context, if something is insufficiently clear to you, or desire a bit of a primer on a new character you’ve just met, feel free to look below!
This is a spoiler free zone, as all information is based on the world as it is in Chapter 1. I’ll be editing this as I write P&TP because the world is quite large and I might change or add details here and there. I also am still torn on the names of some characters that appear later in the story, so those won’t be included yet! This also means that, if you’re reading it while it’s coming out, this document is more spoiler free than it will be in the future. Notable places will also be added to when they are mentioned in the story.
I hope that this is comprehensive enough and explains the world quite well. However, if at any point things are unclear, feel free to leave a comment to that effect. I will be sure to respond to any questions.
Intro into the world
Power & the Price takes place in a fantastical world inspired by late medieval and early modern Europe, particularly the countries of England, Scotland, the Low Countries, France, Aragon, Venice, and the Ottoman Empire. The story takes place in the countries of Ilworth, Otterdon Island, Neuhausen, Massouron, the Baradran Kingdom (sometimes referred to as the Baradrans), Argento, and the Sbai Empire.
<h2>Ilworth</h2>
Ilworth is a large island off the coast of Massouron and Neuhausen, and it is the country that the story takes place in most prominently. It is currently ruled by the Courtenay family.
Notable places:
<ul>
<li>Norbury Castle, the seat of power</li>
<li>Norbury Lake, the town around Norbury Castle</li>
<li>Execot, where kings are crowned</li>
<li>Racleigh Hall, where parliament is gathered</li>
<li>Hailstone Stronghold, stronghold towards the north-west</li>
<li>Dolcotshire, duchy where Katherine lived in a convent</li>
<li>Gartham, where Princess Lettice lives</li>
<li>Overleigh, duchy with places such as Gartham and Astwick, towards the north</li>
</ul>
<h2>Otterdon Island</h2>
Otterdon Island is a large island west of Ilworth which is markedly less developed than Ilworth, but still ruled by the same family. In the past, Otterdon Island had its own royal family, namely the Langleys. Otterdon Island is home to many independence factions.
<h2>Neuhausen</h2>
Neuhausen is a satellite state of Ilworth, that borders Massouron to the north. It is a democratic city state with an elected Archduke, but many of the higher-ups are Ilworthians. Also, its birth as a country comes from Ilworthian interference in Massouric border regions.
Notable places:
<ul>
<li>Zuyleburg, the seat of power</li>
</ul>
<h2>Massouron</h2>
Massouron is the most powerful country on the continent, ruled by the Chavanets. The head of their power is in Souchon, which is a very popular court for the elites all over the continent. The Courtenays originate from Massouron and were once their ruling family.
Notable places:
<ul>
<li>Souchon Palace, the seat of power</li>
<li>Souchon, the town of Souchon Palace</li>
<li>Le Roumont, historic site where famous battle took place</li>
<li>Bourrac, notable port city</li>
</ul>
<h2>The Baradran Kingdom</h2>
Also referred to as the Baradrans, the Baradran Kingdom is a country historically ruled by the Ginefort family, though has known many uprisings, most recently being challenged by the De Serra family. Their ruling family is considered to be one of the most prestigious, meaning many characters in other countries are related to one another through Ginefort heritage. They border Massouron’s south, and Argento’s west, and a channel runs to separate their border with the Sbai Empire. They also have a range of islands named the Najan Isles.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
Notable places:
<ul>
<li>Dos Lunas, the seat of power</li>
<li>Najan Isles, famous island group known for its tribal people</li>
</ul>
<h2>Argento</h2>
Argento is a city-state most notable for its civilised culture and strange fashions. Argento is a prominent trading port.
<h2>The Sbai Empire</h2>
The Sbai Empire has about the same size as all of the above countries combined. It is ruled by a sultan, the first of which named in the story is Selim. They have particularly warm trading relations with the Baradrans and Argento.
Characters introduced in Arc 1
<h2>A</h2>
Azeline: Massouric courtier
<h2>B</h2>
Bayezid of Amouas: previously Freyza’s assistant, promoted to Sword of the Treasury
<h2>C</h2>
Charles (Charlie) Archambeau: knight and lover of Prince Henri
Cuthbert Harcourt, Lord Overleigh: secretary of state in Ilworth, husband of Lettice of Courtenay
Constance Sherrington: Duchess of Tillygate, lady-in-waiting to Katherine
<h2>D</h2>
De Vere: Ilworthian adviser
Diane Neville: heiress of Le Roumont, marriage prospect of Henri de Chavanet
Domenico de Serra: father of Johanna de Serra, erstwhile suitor to Queen Katherine
Dorothy Abell: treasurer in Ilworth
E
? Edward of Courtenay: previous heir to the Ilworthian and Otterdon throne, who passed away just before his father King Richard
Eleanor of Courtenay: Katherine’s younger sister, archduchess of Neuhausen
<h2>F</h2>
Falcona: Bayezid’s Baradran wife
Ferdinand de Ginefort: King of the Baradrans
Francis of Langley: Prince of the North (heir of the old Otterdon Island dynasty)
Freyza, Duke of Tougaf: previously slaver and Sword of the Treasury in the Sbai Empire, just beginning his career as Sbaian ambassador in Massouron
<h2>G</h2>
George Marbury: Archduke of Neuhausen, married to Eleanor of Courtenay
Grace of Langley: Princess of the North (heiress of the old Otterdon Island dynasty), potential challenger of Katherine when it comes to the crown of Otterdon Island
Gregory Vale: Duke of Dolcotshire
<h2>H</h2>
Henry (later: Henri) de Chavanet: crown prince of Massouron
Henry de Vega: knight from Dolcotshire
<h2>I</h2>
Iskander: Freyza’s servant
J
? Joan de Ginefort: Richard of Courtenay’s wife, mother of Edward, Katherine, Eleanor and Thomas of Courtenay
Johanna de Serra / of Courtenay: Princess of Ilworth and Otterdon Island, bastard daughter of Katherine of Courtenay
<h2>K</h2>
Katherine of Courtenay: Queen of Ilworth and Otterdon Island
<h2>L</h2>
Leonora: slave girl captured by Freyza in the Najan isles
Lettice of Courtenay: Princess of Ilworth and Otterdon Island, Richard’s sister, who is married to the secretary of state Harcourt
Louise de Chavanet: Queen of Massouron
<h2>R</h2>
? Richard of Courtenay: late King of Ilworth and Otterdon Island, father of Edward, Katherine, Eleanor and Thomas
Richard Dauncey: Baron of Milden Cross, guildmaster of the Innkeepers’ Guild
<h2>S</h2>
Scemena de Ginefort: sister of Silouane and Joan de Ginefort
Selim: Sultan of the Sbai Empire
Silouane de Ginefort: Louise’s husband, consort king of Massouron
Sophie de Chavanet: Princess of Massouron, twin sister of Henri de Chavanet (in earlier chapters called Henry)
<h2>T</h2>
Theo de Sainte-Vallac: secretary of state of Massouron
Thomas: notable in the innkeepers’ guild
<h2>W</h2>
Walter: William’s footman
William Lennard: Duke of Astwick, administrator to Lettice of Courtenay
<h2>Y</h2>
Yusra: Freyza’s former wife
Characters introduced in arc 2 and 3
<h2>C</h2>
Camelia: Argentan marriage prospect for King Henri
<h2>I</h2>
Isabella de Ginefort: Henri’s marriage prospect after Katherine
<h2>J</h2>
Jamesina (Jaime) Aldesgate: squire to Henry de Vega
<h2>L</h2>
Louis de Chavanet: Henri’s younger brother, Lord Bourrac
<h2>R</h2>
Robert Fairfax: famous Ilworthian rake living in Massouron
<h2>T</h2>
Theophania: Norbury Lake-based prostitute
<h2>Z</h2>
Zahya: Freyza’s son with Yusra