Pozemskory

House Perko governs from its capital, Fiolova, a short trip from Volod's primary space port. The peasant class speaks the native Volic but the gentry are expected to learn Galach, too.

Economics

With the exception of Bielemest, the whole of the continent is considered to be the property of House Perko and more specifically the current head of the family. Vassals and serfs alike are considered to be tenants and must pay rent. A system of letting and sub-letting exists that has led to a complex economy of landlords collecting and paying rent in a chain.

History

Vladimir III Perko wanted to style himself as Vlad the Invader. He had ambitions of elevating his House to major status. The first step in his plan was the invasion of Dopin-Nam. Initially the invasion went well with the defenders falling back and civilian populations evacuating. Vlad enjoyed unparalleled popularity.
It did not last long. With Pozemskorite troops deep in Dopin-Nam and supply lines stretched, Dopin-Nam counter-attacked. They attacked supply lines and depots mercilessly, cutting off Pozemskorite troops. The most infamous incident of the war was when hungry soldiers happened on an abandoned village. They looted the village. Unfortunately for them, the food was poisoned and all of the soldiers died. The Dopinese did not want to put poisoned flesh into the ground, so the bodies were cremated. After news of this reached Pozemskory, many felt insulted and stirred up resentment towards the Dopinese. Some still carry that resentment to this day.
The invasion ended with an embarrassing failure with a high casualty rate. Vlad fell victim to an assassin and his progeny removed from the succession. His younger brother succeeded him and became Lech XII.

Lech XII inherited a broken and humiliated Pozemskory. He embarked on a major rebuilding exercise. His House was vulnerable so he reached out seeking powerful off-world allies. He negotiated an alliance with House Harkonnen. However, the partnership did not go the way Lech anticipated. Rather than putting House Perko in sole control of Volod, the status quo was maintained. The Harkonnens took control of Bielemest and installed an ambassador. From here, taxes on the local Houses were administered. This was the price the Harkonnens enacted to allow the other Houses to continue to rule their respective continents. In more recent times, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen enacted a tax of soldiers.

Pozemskory accepted refugees during the Heresy War in Basat. In response to Basatine persecution of Ecclesiastic Qabbalism, the religion was officially recognised much to the annoyance of House Melech.

Geography

Illaria

Illaria is located on the West side of Pozemskory. It is known for its large country estates owned by the continent's wealthy elite. The largest and grandest estate is owned by House Perko. The estates are not just for pleasure, they are working farms that support their owners and the staff living and working there. A local economy is maintained with trade between the estates and with Bielemest. Some produce is sold to other regions of Pozemskory but this is only a small percentage of the region's output.

Bielemest

The Harkonnen siridar-ambassador's palace is in Bielemest. It is a small city notable for its ancient white buildings (Bielemest means "White City" in Volic), situated in the heart of Illaria. It is considered to be part of Giedi Prime, or more correctly a suburb of the city of Barony, and not under the authority and ownership of House Perko.  It is considered neutral and safe territory. It is traditional for the incoming siridar-ambassador to throw a lavish party to meet the leaders of Volod's four minor houses.
Bielemest imports most of its food from Illaria but some luxury items are imported from off-world and comes in via Bielemest Transport Hub. It makes a lot of money from tourism and by selling off-world luxuries. There is a black market for melange, maintained and supported by the Harkonnens, but the prices are much higher than official market monopolized by House Perko. The Daughters of the Wise Women send agents to buy spice on their behalf.
Bielemest is known for its wealth and its decadence. The dazzling white palace of the Harkonnens dominates the sky line. The next most impressive building is the White Arena. It hosts gladiatorial bouts and other blood sports. Sometimes referred to as Harkonnen Arena, it is popular with visiting dignitaries.
Wars of Assassins between Volod's houses is strictly forbidden on Bielemite soil. Kanly is permitted but only in the gladiatorial arena.

Bielemest Transport Hub

Located just beyond the city of Bielemest is its namesake transport hub. This is a small space port cum airport used exclusively by the inhabitants of Illaria and Bielemest. There is a train station next to it providing transport links to the rest of Pozemskory.
There are hotels for the wealthy customers and basic accommodation for their servants and staff.
Security is very tight.
Despite the name, Bielemest Transport Hub is not part is not part of the city, Bielemest. It, therefore, is legally part of Pozemskory and is ruled over and owned by House Perko. The Perkos exploit this to control access to the Harkonnen ambassador.

Fiolova

Fiolova is the capital city of Pozemskory and the seat of power of House Perko. It lacks the grandeur and prestige of Bielemest but is still an impressive city.
Volod's other houses minor must travel here to buy their allocation of melange. Off-world customers come here to buy spice, too. Even with the relatively paltry volumes, the spice trade has brought wealth and prestige to House Perko and it is not shy about displaying it.
Security is tight and policing strict, however corruption runs rampant below a veneer of respectability.

Fiolova Spaceport

Near to the city is the Volod's primary space port. It is called Fiolova Spaceport by the locals and Volod Spaceport by foreigners. The spaceport also acts as an airport with flights to all major destinations globally.

Spacing Guild

The Spacing Guild maintains its only official presence on the planet, here. There is a larger guild presence than might expected for Volod's stature. This has not gone unnoticed by other groups and organisations leading to speculation about what they are doing here.
The Guild is interested in the Perkos' activities on Hulit and supplies resources and personnel to aid in the research there.
The Guild makes no official comment about its presence on Volod and its activities in the Bethedash system.

Grudibard

Grudibard is Pozemskory's second city. It is the largest city in Volod that lacks a significant, visible presence of off-worlders. Grudibarders are a xenophobic lot who resent the presence of extra-Volite immigrants and visitors.

Religion

The most popular religion is Orange Catholicism but Eccesiastic Qabbalism grew in popularity with the influx of refugees during Basat's Heresy War. The stereotypical qabbalist is a fortune teller.
The Daughters of the Wise Women are outlawed in Pozemskory. It is considered a terrorist organisation. If a member of the sisterhood is discovered, she is put to death.

Security

There are two organisations that serve to protect Pozemskory. The Internal Security Bureau, or ISB, and the Peregrine Intelligence Agency, or PIA.

 

Internal Security Bureau 

The ISB is tasked with keeping the Perko family safe. It is a ruthless organisation with an act first ask questions later attitude. Its main focus is rooting out Basatine spies, saboteurs and terrorists. This can blindside it against other threats.

 

Its headquarters are located in Grudibard. "Sent to Grudibard" has come figuritively to mean in deep trouble.

 

There is an unsubstantiated rumour that the ISB maintains a central archive of information. It may exist at an unknown location (some things cannot be kept totally secret) or it maybe misinformation deliberately allowed to leak out.

 

Peregrine Intelligence Agency

 

The PIA is a shadowy organisation. Few outside of its ranks know anything about it and its activities. Its main focus is to monitor Basat, though it has spies in place throughout Volod.

 

There is an extra-Volod branch. The activities of this part of the organisation are even more secret than the rest of it. It is assumed that it has officers in place on Geidi Prime and throughout the Small Sagittarius Cloud where the Perkos ply their spice business.

 

There is little doubt that the PIA has a permanent presence on Arrakis.

 

The location of its headquarters is a closely guarded secret.

 

Naming Conventions

The upper classes use patronymics. Lineages are very important and consequently equally important to be identified with a parent. It is customary to address an adult of equal or greater rank with the given name followed by the patronymic. The notable exception to this is the ruler of the continent who is addressed only by given name or more properly by his or her title. To include a patronymic is considered insulting; to do so would be to address the leader as a subject.

Example Names

Female

Anastasia, Anya, Bogda, Daria, Daska, Ekaterina, Elena, Hana, Jarmila, Katya, Lejla, Lizaveta, Lucia, Ludmila, Marina, Mila, Mira, Nadia, Natasha, Olga, Radmila, Sonia, Stanislava, Viera, Wanda, Xenia, Zlata, Zora

Male

Bogdan, Borimir, Boris, Casimir, Dmitri, Drago, Fiodor, Georg, Goran, Igor, Ivan, Jaromir, Jaroslav, Kirril, Laszlo, Lev, Milan, Mykola, Nenad, Neven, Nicholai, Oleg, Plamen, Radim, Rodan, Sambor, Slako, Stanimir, Stojan, Svetislav, Taras, Tomislav, Vadim, Vladimir

Surnames

Andronic, Babics, Balaban, Banich, Bilak, Bogdan, Czerny, Dedic, Dvorak, Erben, Glavan, Gospod, Hanak, Hubik, Klima, Korbel, Kulik, Larina, Lenart, Litvin, Perun, Reznik, Sabina, Sadowsky, Sedlak, Sirota, Sobol, Sorokin, Spivac, Tichy, Tolstoy, Topol, Verba, Zeman