Every 5 years, the five Elector-Princes come together to elect amongst themselves to be the respective leader of the entire Vineyard Coast as their own King. This elected Prince-King is known as the Roy du Vin and controls trade of wine in and out of the Principalities, as well as calling the Houses to arms to defend the region or their bordering allies in the independent Kingdom of Mordwynn and Papal States. To elect the next Roy du Vin, the Elector-Princes come together in the seat of the previous Roy du Vin.

A number of five Principalities make up the Vineyard Coast, each noble House (Montague, Aquitaine, Languedoc, Narbonne, Aramon) has a sense of autonomy between each other though united under a common trade and protection. Every year, the Princes of each House (The local culture calling nobility princes rather than syres) come together in their own Principality to agree amongst themselves who will be their House's Elector-Prince. The Elector-Prince acts as the head of the House for that year, much like in noble Houses across the old GWE though it doesn't have to be the eldest member of the family. This allows the leader of the Principality to be headed by the most popular or sound of mind member of the family's Princes for that year.

Part of the Mordwynn, in Elgerlor , southern coastline known as the Vineyard Coast was one of the first of these regions to declare their independence. While having the same Human Hawkii cultural origins as the rest of Mordwynn, the Vineyard Coast developed its own unique sub-culture during the reign of the Golden King and then the Imperial Dynasty, revolving around the land they inhabited and their main economic strength; wine.

The Great Western Empire collapsed in the year 2132EM (The 482nd year of the Third Age) and marked the start of the transition between the Third and Fourth Ages. While lands still loyal to the old throne and the new regime of aristocratic democracy became the Great Western Republic, the majority of once Imperial lands gained their independence.

Territories

The lands of the Vineyard Coast are known as such for a very specific reason. The region is almost completely arable with a few hills, but nothing so steep as to make pastoral farming the only option. The coastline is the gentlest in Elgerlia , with many beaches, few high cliffs, and numerous safe coves. However, there are no suitable locations for a major port, so the largest settlements are fishing (and smuggling) villages. Inland, there are no major rivers bar one, no obvious crossing points through the low hills, and no particularly defensible locations. As a result, no settlements have grown particularly large. Surrounding these urban areas are fields of golden wheat and purple grapes that flourish in the southern climate, creating perfect resources to trade with the outside realms and allowing the Princes to earn massive wealth.

The one major river is the great Brandywine River, with deltas that stretch out and connect every Principality. The Great Imperial Road passes over this river at a very wide and high stone bridge commonly known as just the Brandywine Bridge. This river gains it's name from the wine and brandy trade it supports, and stories that in certain points of the river and its deltas when the sun sets, the river takes the colour of flowing ale or brandy that would make any travelling merchant thirsty for the goods of the Vineyard Coast.

The Princes encourage urban development around their castles so that they can tax the trade and become wealthier. So far, these developments have never taken root due to the process of new Elector-Princes being put in place every year and a new Roy du Vin every half-decade. When a new noble comes into power, interest in a town is lost and the specific settlement shrinks again. Thus, there are a lot of towns with abandoned areas as large as the inhabited. The hovels there quickly collapse, but the more substantial buildings slowly moulder away. A similar effect can be seen in the Prince’s castles. As there are no naturally defensible locations, the Princes of the Vineyard Coast rely on construction to protect their homes. A noble facing attack or possessing extra money extends his castle, and his heirs abandon the parts that are no longer necessary to avoid the expense of upkeep.

Aquitainia

Aquitainia - also known as the Aquitaine Principality - is the largest and most central area of the Vineyard Coast, with the Aquitaine Princes being the hereditary Dukes of the region under Mordwynn over the entire history of the GWE. The land is quite unremarkable but beautiful like most of the region, though next to the Brandywine and it's tributaries the land becomes quite boggy and almost a marshland of sorts. Various causeways cut and cross over these waterways. The main settlement of Castle Aquitaine is the seat of the Princes of Aquitaine.

Narbonne Boleland

The Narbonne Boleland - also known as the Orange Principality and Narbonne Principality - is the only partially wooded portion of the region, rising upland to the coast where the land cuts off into high chalk white sea cliffs. Imported citrus fruits from Sanaros are grown in orchards outside of these woods, which influence the wines and brandies brewed. The main settlement of Despei is the seat of the Princes of Narbonne.

Aramon Downs

The Aramon Downs - also known as the Far Downlands, Fox Downs and Aramon Principality - is the most inland region of the Vineyard Coast, with a strong chalk industry alongside the usual alcoholic production. The geography is relatively unremarkable, with the Brandywine River flowing through the middle. The main settlement of Rossello and Greenhall Castle is the seat of the Princes of Aramon.

Montague Heartlands

The Montague Heartlands - also known as the Olive Island and Montague Principality - is an island surrounded by Aquitainia,The main settlement of Derrevin is seat of the Princes of Montague