♚ Valena : Country of Scholars ♚

[Sey]

♚ Valena : Country of Scholars ♚



Valena's Provinces

Reference Pictures for Valanista and Valanista's Canals - By James Gurney

General Description

A typically flat, plateaued country, Valena has a temperate climate like that of Lyaeus and receives rainfall adequate enough to sustain the particularly rich harvests that come from the Runsas and Joki Provinces.

Spring in Valena is a period of great celebration as the winter cold thaws and the land begins its rebirth. Many of the Illeu farming techniques and beliefs have been incorporated within the Valenan calender and the first plantings occur during the rainy months of April to the first weeks of June, the water-loving crops of March burst into life and are harvested by the summer solstice; the last day for Valena's main crops to be planted in time for harvest before winter.

These months are also very dangerous, as many severe thunderstorms pass through the entire country. The heavy rains have, in the past, created terrible floods throughout the Joki and Valanista Provinces. However, most Royal Mages are dispatched to areas of the greatest threat as soon as the Air Magi sense that there are storm patterns in the area. The average temperatures for the Spring months are in the 60-70F/16-21C range.

Summer in Valena has seen heights of 100+ Degrees Fahrenheit (37+ Degrees Celsius) but has a typical average of 80F/26C. The summer months range from June - September with September being the start of Autumn.

Autumn begins in September and is relatively short to the middle of November. The temperature begins to drop and the Autumn average is in the 50F/10C , with the lows hitting in mid November of the 40F/4C range.

The harsh Winters of Valena begin at the end of November and end in February. Heavy snow in the Vuori Province brings the Peddik herdsmen to the plains of Kalio, Runsas and Joki and during years of extreme cold, even the Ibaean River freezes over, encasing Valena's northern border and the area around Valanista in ice. The Average temperature in Winter is in the 30-40F/-1-4C.

Valena's Provinces

The Provinces of Valena are filled with all the races and ethnicity of Selant and is one of the main reasons why the Country is described as "The Mixing Bowl".

*more information for the demographic breakdown of the Provinces is found within Demographics - 3 posts down!*

Main Landmarks:

Capital City: Valanista, on the Ibaean River Delta and the fall line to the Sea of Halledus

Ibaea River, marking the northern border of Valena and Ebur

The Isle of Kalinth, Valena's lone Isle which shelters her bay



Valena's Flag consists of the Coat of Arms of the Royal House of Valen at it's center with the country's colors of Blue and White as a backdrop.  

[Sey]

History:

Valena, while a Country known for being a center of trade and education across the continent of Selant, is relatively new to economic success. After the collapse of the Eindorian Empire, the Valenese monarchs took advantage of the chaos and pulled territory after territory into it's fold, eventually expanding into land traditionally considered to be under Lyaeus control.

The region of Valena under the Empire was a far cry from that of the present. Once Valena was brought into the Imperial fold, the Royal House of Valen was given power of the lands surrounding Valenisita and segments of the coast. Despite having little territory the region was still known as a center of learning with the great Yiisaus University at its crown jewel. By then, Valena was already a mixing bowl nation, due to the many people who came seeking education and knowledge.

Over 70 years ago when the Empire collapsed Prince Adrian Valen was still a babe, his parents King Basik and Queen Fynil Valen began their expansion of the country until their natural deaths. Taking up the task of his late parents and receiving his birthright at the age of 24, Adrian first secured Valena's borders to the Ibea River then began the annexation of territories along the Valena - Lyaeum Plains.

Through negotiations, treaties and war, King Adrian achieved full control over the Bay of Valena and it was then he gave his armies rest. Ruling for 49 years, King Adrian has brought unprecedented prosperity to the Valenese people.

With the addition of the new land filled with peoples from different walks of life, Valena's status as a Mixing Bowl of Selant was solidified and traders flocked to its capital not only for the sake of selling their wares, but selling in peace - the capital city of Valenista having never been touched by an enemy army's hands.

One year after marrying the eldest daughter of the Dodge of Arrosent, Adrian was graced with two children - the first, his Daughter Seyrin Phaedra Valen during his 52nd year of life and the second, two years later, his Son Cyril Takoto Valen. His wife and mother of his children died after complications with Cyril's birth. Adrian never remarried, having said that his wife was his one true love.

Most recently, Valena was involved in warfare with Lyaeus over the lands annexed by Valena at the time of the Empire's collapse. While Lyaeus has always scrimmaged with Valenan forces ever since their land was annexed, official war was never declared until then. 2 years of fighting occurred across Valena's western borders and ended 3 years ago with a cease fire agreed upon by both sides.

Now on the cusp of his 50th year as King and the 74th year of the collapse of the Empire, Adrian is preparing to celebrate his 75th birthday. His people, while joyous, are also eagerly awaiting him to name his heir.  

[Sey]

Politics:

Within Valena itself, the politics between the Council of Advisors, the Lyceum and the King/Queen is a precarious balance though the power is absolute within the Valen Monarchy. Knowing full well of the concept of Popular Sovereignty, the Valens listen quite a bit to their people and work towards their well being and happiness.

Most recently as a result of the mixed demographics within Valena's provinces and the result of a mixed Lyceum, different cultures and ideals have been introduced to Valenan government and while the Valens listen, the precarious job of pleasing everyone is not as easy as it seems especially when the clash of cultures drives people to violence; not only within the political spectrum, but within the country's provinces as well.

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Relations between Valena and her neighboring Countries have ranged from quite friendly to quite deadly. Recently, these trends have been seen under King Adrian's rule:


Green: Alliance
Orange: Trade Partners
Blue: Neutrality
Dark Blue: Some sort of Trade/Travel Restriction
Red: War/I'm going to slaughter you and your people; scream ALL OF THEM



Lyaeus: Currently involved in a shaky truce.
All-Out war broke out 5 years ago between the two nations and lasted for two years before the subsequent 3 years of 'peace' fell between the two nations.

Valenan Citizens are not allowed to cross over into Lyaeus and the same goes for Citizens of Lyaeus. Because of the martial law that the country has been under, many refugees have sought freedom within Valena and some - not all - have gotten through the border guards.

Ebur Good Terms - Trading Partners
Eburs lands are some of the most fertile within Selant but Valena's ports are much more active. In order to escape some of the higher fees that comes along with trading within their homeland, many established Eburan Farmers send their wares across the Ibaean River to be shipped across Selant from Valanista and the other ports.

It also has helped the two nations relationship that many Eburan families send their children to the Universities in Valena.

Tirinithos Trade Rivals
Tirinithos has always been a center of trade and commerce having been used as a central trade hub by the Eindorian Empire. Now under it's own rule, Tirinithos has maintained it's head of the trading hierarchy while Valena has risen to rival it's position.

Eindor: Neutrality
The Old Empire still sends their best and brightest to Yiisaus, but Valena sees no reason to give tribute to their once ruler. Apathy rules this relationship; Eindor has what Eindor needs and Valena has what Valena needs. No involvement necessary.

Jaqar Neutrality
Business with the Permians has always been quick - mercenaries for hire, receiving the occasional diplomat for study at Yiisaus - but never has it turned sour. Probably because the Permians view Illeu as book worm nerds who aren't worth their time in a fight, but they have a completely neutral relationship.

The Mountains of Fjell keep the two Nations pretty cloistered, but communication is still possible just not quite frequent.

Arrosent Alliance & Trade Partners
On the complete opposite of the country lies the rolling plains of Arrosent who, like Ebur, is rich in agriculture. One of the other nations in which an Illeu majority exists, the Arrosent people are adamant in sending their children to the Universities within Valena if they are accepted and can afford to do so.
The Valens are closely related to several families of Dodges, as the Valens have taken many husbands and wives from the Arrosent nobility.

Trade between the two nations exists from their symbiotic relationship: Valena supplies Arrosent with its artisan crafts and Arrosent supplies Valena with the materials to create them.

Mitania Neutral Trade Buddies
The Peddiks of Mitania find a rich market within Valena for their herds and the raw materials that come from them. Valena is content with recieving these raw materials from Mitania as they incorporate much of the materials needed for many of their artisan products.

Caelestus Neutral Trade Buddies
As Caelestus is the major supplier of Air Elemental Stones, Valena relies heavily upon them to harvest their airships power source.

Caelestus does so and welcomes Valena's money happily.

Halledus Neutrality
As Halledus' role is that of complete Neutrality within the nations of Selant, Valena and Halledus connect on terms of education and learning with their exchange of knowledge enriching their exchanges.  

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Government & Military:

Valena is governed by the Hereditary Monarchy of the Valen family. While the Monarch is limited to this bloodline, traditionally, the power of rule is given to the most educated and intellectually gifted child which follows Illeuean tradition of the high value of education. The symbol for the Royal Family of Valena is the Swan.

The King or Queen of Valena has a Council of Advisors which come from the different provinces of the country and from each University. This Council consists of 9 members who advise their sovereign and assist him/her with their responsibilities. These Advisers are nominated by the Lyceum then are elected to the Council through a public election within their province or university which is held every 4 years.

The law-creating body of Valena is called the Lyceum which consists of 55 Valenean citizens who are from all walks of life - Scholars, Farmers, Mages, Warriors, Rangers, Nobility - all are equally represented and elections for the Lyceum are organized by the Council of Advisiors and elected by the people. While the Lyceum is the legislative body of Valena, the Monarch has the true final say in all affairs of state.

Historically, Valena is not known for a strong army. However under King Adrian's rule, both the Valenian Guard and the Cygnet Knights have bolstered their numbers.

Both the military and the law enforcement power of Valena, the Valenian Guard are under the control of the monarch and their three generals whose appointment is approved by the Monarch themselves. The Guard has two branches, one the country's army and the other the country's navy (also including it's Airship fleet), which has it's own three admirals whose appointment is also approved by the monarch and are under his direct command.

Valena's Army employs many methods of combat, just like any other nation. Valena's point of interest, however, is that of their magical abilities. Containing so many people who are gifted in the Magical arts and a center for learning them, Valena has it's fabled Mage Corps that were a main force in allowing the Country to expand.

The Cygnet Knights are the elite group of Knights that have the responsibility of protecting the Royal Family of Valen. These warriors are mainly Paladins whose strength is known throughout Selant.  

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Demographics:

Valena has an Ethnic Majority of Illeu, as Illeuean tradition drives this people to learn, and there is no better place in all Selant then Valena to do so. The draw of Valena's Universities has called many Illeu and other peoples from their homelands to quench their thirst for knowlege. The universities accept Gaians from all walks of life and the schools provide the highest quality education available in all Selant - though the price of tuition is relatively steep, many, many of the alumni and alumna provide money available to students to offset the price of knowledge.

Not only the Illeu but Permians, Peddik and Nulians alike along with the numerous ethnic minorities find themselves shoulder to shoulder in Valenista, listening to the constant thunder of the Ibaean Falls.

Many rulers of the various Countries of Selant send their children to Valena to be educated by the best and most learned, which has been beneficial to the city as their safety is ensured while so many heirs reside within her walls.

The complete breakdown of Valena's Demographics is best seen within her Provinces:

Valena's Provinces

The Provinces of Valena are filled with all the races and ethnicity of Selant and is one of the main reasons why the Country is described as "The Mixing Bowl".

Joki, the River Province, houses primarily Nulian farmers & herders from Ebur who migrated from their homeland to be closer to the port cities that their goods are shipped to then sent throughout Selant.

Runsas holds the heart of the Illeu population and the highest concentration of traditional Illeu Farmer Scholars on Selant's east coast. This province is the agricultural heartland of the Country.

The Vuori Province are where the Valenan Peddiks roam, herding their cattle and elk throughout the high plateau at the rolling foothills of the Fjell Mountains.

Kalio is the home of the proud Valenan Permians. Their population was created originally from the Permian Mercenaries that Valena hired from Jaqar at the initial fall of the Eindorian Empire. Now a fertile land for their herds to lay at pasture, Kalio is the textile heart of Valena's industry with the Permian's goats and sheep skin and wool providing the raw materials for the artisan fabrics.

Etnia is the home of the Valenan Ferolans who dwell along the peninsulas rocky cliffs. Also, the majority of Valenan's Ports where airships and sea vessels alike gather, fortunes in gold trading daily throughout the region. The cities here are also very famous for their Smithies within the port cities.

The lands surrounding Valanista is the province where the scholars are represented - the best known universities of Selant located here. Artisans live, work and thrive within this region and it is also the home of the headquarters of the Merchant and Artisan Guilds which rule over all established Smithies and Artisans (Glassblowers, painters, carpenters, etc.) that make up Valena's thriving consumer economy.

This land is also the oldest of the lands claimed under Valena, stretching back through the Eindorian Empire, and the ancestral home of the Valens who founded the city of Valanista centuries ago.