Land
All land that is used for the support and survival of a settlement is called an Estate. Estates are established by the highest member of the Nobility in that region and are tracked through the Imperial Trusty as well as local Trusty, who are typically but not exclusively Nobility.
The Trusty is a position that oversees Fodges, who are responsible for tax collection, maintenance of property rules, and related aspects. They are often called Fudgies and are also often Nobility.
Each Estate is divided into smaller groupings, and each grouping is variable.
There are Manors, who are self-sufficient entities that could involve many people and are centered around a Manor House, often a location that serves as the ancestral home of whoever is leading a House at that time. Every major realm has a few Houses, and not all Houses still have a Manor in Sibola. Manors often are the central feature of a Town, Village, or Hamlet.
Another division is Freeholds. A Freehold is an area of land that can be used for specific purposes and is also able to support the people living on it.
The next type is a Lienhold. This land is owned by someone who does not live on the property, and instead it is rented out to others. This is the most common form of land around, and rent is limited to 20% of whatever comes to those upon it.
The next type is a Crafthold, which has a specific requirement that it be used by a member of a guild. Craftholds include the Guild buildings, as well as smaller shops and stores.
The next type is a Domicile, which is a portion of housing shared with several other homes, usually found in a City. It is usually an owned sort of space, but some of these larger buildings are used as Lienholds as well, housing folks who often work for some Manor.
By and large, property ownership across the Empire is not based in the nobility owning it. Land is typically owned and tracked through the Trusty and the Fodge. Some land may be owned by the local Lord and worked on by people who live there as part of their wages.
Outside of the Empire, there is Antilia, where all land is held by individuals. Islandia does not really think of land as being owned, it is more about territory of the family. Hyboria and Kahokia see all the people owning all the lands of their region, and property ownership is more focused on the collective and individual belongings.
Taxes
The power of the nobility comes from taxes. Each realm has a tax base that is overseen by the local leadership, usually collected by Fodges. In most of them, nobility is who claims those taxes, and the primary purpose to which that money is put are defense (the walls and the military) and tithes to the Empire. Taxes have a specific purpose, and there is an accounting made to the people, by Fodges, who must post it publicly. The Emperor collects a tax of 5% on all those who would be his, except for Dorado and Antilia. That tax is lain on the nobility, not on the common person. The nobility, in turn, taxes the population they oversee – so Duke Calais could only tax those in Sibola proper.
Taxes are paid on a percentage of goods and objects and can be paid in either coin or in goods. One out of every ten young hens, one out of every twenty suckling pigs, the most luxurious of hides, a measure of fine ore. Taxes for most of the Empire are low. Even Tributes are considered low and are the last vestige of hold the Empire has.
Akadian Tributes are paid from Skyship sales, use, and related functions, a value of at least 25,000 crowns. Dorado pays its Tributes in arms for the military, around 15,000 crowns worth. Aztlan pays exactly 10,000 crowns a year. Not one pence more, not one pence less, and, in the words of the Sultana, “he can kiss my ass for anymore.” Lyonese pays 17,500 crowns, Durango pays 20,000 crowns, and Qivira pays 15,000 crowns. These Tributes go to support the courts, and the Agency is funded from these Tribute.
