Ethnic groups: Flaems 70%, Aalbanese 15%, Lupin (Flaemish Shepherds) 5%, Kaelics 5%,others 5%.

Government: Burgemeester, named by the Prince of Bergdhoven, in charge for seven years.

Ruler: Burgemeester Egbert Rjevens (born 946) (OD&D: Mage 9^th, Al N) (AD&D: Wizard 9^th, Al N). Cousin of Wilhelmine Vlaardoen.

Kopstar was one of the first villages founded by Flaemish settlers. It was the seat of Duke Veerbyn, first, and then of Duke Rjevens. The more Flaems were forced North, the more Kopstar became the center of Flaemish culture and economy. When the Republic of Highlands was founded, Kopstar was made a County, ruled by Leopold Rjevens, a scholar. The Viscount of Linden and Flaemish member of the Council, Frederick Vlaardoen, used the County to give Kaelics rebels of Tavish shelter against their Ethengarian oppressor, Bogdo Khan. This is why a fair amount of Kopstar population comes from Klantyre, they’re actually mainly employed as carpenters. After the Light of Rad declaration, Kopstar was annexed to the newly formed Principality of Bergdhoven, and Prince Vlaardoen tried to convince Count Leopold to move to Ostbruck, but the studious refused. Leopold Rjevens was made the first Burgemeester of Kopstar and since then, this charge has been de-facto hereditary.

Trails The River is navigable, and the Port of Kopstar thrives, his hegemony contended by Willemsbrug’s one. A good, very travelled, trail departs from Kopstar to Willemsbrug. A fair trail follows the river upward, until the village of Spoorvork where it bifurcates, West to Linden-Grejs and North to Ostbruck. A bridge, Oostenrand, connects with the southern hills of Klantyre, where a fair trail leads to Tavish. This bridge was built to provide a faster connection for those wishing to travel to Klantyre and Boldavia avoiding passage from Krondahar.

Average tolls are exacted on the bridge from people entering the Principality.

Passage fees to Willemsbrug are four ducats for 1^st class passage, one for 2^nd, and one sovereign for 3^rd class.

Economics: Kopstar is the kingdom of Bergdhovese merchants, home to various activities, the most important is gemcutting (a "Kopstar cut" gem means it’s very well cut). Due to the proximity to Klantyre, a great amount of lumbers is imported providing raw material for the Ducal Shipyards, carpentry, and woodcraft (furniture).

Weaving has always had a discreet importance (advantaged by the proximity to wool producing centres of Klantyre, Bergen, and Fort Nordling FP), but after Isaac’s tool Affaire, the main center became Ostbruck. Fishmongers abound in the Port quarter but every other typical Bergdhovese product can be found as well. Lumbers imported from Klantyre and Bergen Ardjes embarked in Ostbruck give the majority of Kopstar houses a peculiar look. Every kind of goods makes their way to Willemsbrug then to the Capital.

The Flaemish Library of Kopstar generates an income of 50 ducats per month, for consulting fees and maps selling.

The Ducal Shipyards are property of the Prince of Bergdhoven.

Notable sites: SteenHuijs, the Gemcutters Guild House, is one of the most popular building in the town, and a source of pride for the whole populace. It’s not that impressive when looked at, resembling a heavily guarded petty noble Palace with the Coat of Arms of the Guild (two crossed pentangles surmounted by a lijsk leaf) in bas-relief over the main door. Those lucky enough to gain access to it (that is few Flaems and very few foreign merchants) and to remember what they’ve seen (memory is erased by magical means when leaving the palace) tell tales of unthinkable wonders. The Palace keeps some significant samples of Flaemish art and a vast amount of written knowledge (mundane and magical) gathered during centuries of study. Needless to say the Palace is considered impregnable by the most skilled thief, those who tried were caught and immediately sentenced to death.

Krjilen’s is the most famous Bergdhovese tailor. The "Dressing Advisor" of Baron Pieter Vandehaar, represents the new frontier of Bergdhovese business, as Flaemish fashion, previously devoted to traditional style only, is now trying to conquer Glantrian Market.

Rjevens Raadpalijs is Rjevens Family City mansion as well as the Town Hall and Temple of Rad. Rjevens are considered as nobles close to the population, therefore they are loved very much. At the end of the Lofsprijken, Wilhelmine Vlaardoen’s parade through the street of the town, the Princess arrives in her Palace where she finds a footbridge entirely made of tulip’s petals that leads her in. Then from the Klijraam, a balcony with glassteel windows-pane, she sends farewell to the celebrating populace gathered in the Grote Markt (Main Square).

Another source of pride for Kopstar population is the Flaemish Library of Kopstar, another heavily guarded place, where evidence of the glorious past of the Flaems is stored for the population to read. The Library is open from middle morning to late afternoon and it is divided in two parts: the Flaemish section, which can be accessed by Flaems only (cost 1 sovereign) and a General section (access is free for Flaems, 1 ducat for non-Flaems). Books are carefully checked before allowing the public to read information … politically incorrect. Head of the library is the Keeper, Johann Madhorsen (…ahem…), distant relative of Viscountess Rowena Krollnar, but the most famous scholar is Thijb Meerker (born 968) (OD&D: Al L) (AD&D: Cartographer* 14^th level, Al LG), head of the Kaartstak (Map Section). One of the greatest cartographer the whole Principalities have ever seen, he devised a personal and innovative system which seems to grant a higher degree of precision. Unfortunately, this method is unknown outside the library since Thijb is bound to exclusively serve the Flaemish Library by a decree personally enforced by Prince Vanserie.

Goudenbank is a money-lending business started by Pieter Vandehaar some 25 years ago, in the heart of the Koopmangouw (Merchants District). Born to imitate the business that made Klantyre famous to merchants in the whole Principalities, it improved Bergdhovese economy thus causing some other to rise as well.

Veerverstraat is the painters’ district. Now a well-to-do quarter of the town, it’s named after the once common sight of artists painting the portraits of people along the street. Little remains of this, since this quarter is now

where only the most famous Bergdhovese painters have their town study-mansion.

Personalities: Burgemeester Egbert Rjevens (born 946) (OD&D: Mage 9^th, Al N) (AD&D: Wizard 9^th, Al N). Cousin of Wilhelmine Vlaardoen.

Visantia Verlien ( born ???, Fire Elementalist of the 2^nd Circle) (OD&D: Mage 9^th, Al ?) (AD&D: Wizard 9^th, Al?), wife and oldest daughter of Countess Sinaria Verlien.

Thijb Meerker (born 968) (OD&D: Al L) (AD&D: Cartographer* 14^th level, Al LG).

Coat of Arms: Two crossed or pentangles surmounted by an or lijsk leaf, on gules background.

*Details on the Cartographer NPC’s Class can be found in "Sages and Specialists", a TSR’s supplement for AD&D.

Thibault Sarlat, Giovanni Porpora, Agathokles.

January 2001, All rights reserved.