Vedea

"Vedea" (vəˌdeɪˈə), officially the "Arcane Republic of Vedea" is a sovereign nation on the south-eastern coast of Solum. Its borders extend from Stagwash Rivers in the north to the Wynwal Reaches in the south and is bound by the Cupric Sea, Bleakwater Sound, and Glass Sea. It has a single vassal state, Qairus, owned by its largest business The Unbound Trading Company.

Vedea's terrain is chiefly uninhabitable desert, however it also possesses sizable savanna in its northern reaches and a number of oases along its coast. Vedea is a democratic meritocracy with significant weight placed on the arcane abilities of its ruling class. Its capital is "Aegomin", the country's main cultural and commercial center; other major urban areas include Valune, Thethas, and [Nameable Town G].

Inhabited since before the Calamity, Vedea was settled by Summum settlers during The Lost Years, and gained its sovereignty after the Sundering of Elyra. Vedea, largely protected from unrest by the insulation of its desert, saw significant development after the downfall of Elyra. Due to the largely inhospitable landscape, Vedea placed a significant emphasis of its society on arcane ability - its usage necessary for water collection. Modern Vedea has developed into a magocracy of sorts, its whirring constructs and desert-spanning thaumaturgic aqueducts having become necessitated for continued life.

Geography

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Landscape and Rivers

Vedea contains only two rivers in its borders - the Stagwash in the north a collection of periodic streams networked across its savannas, and the seasonal Wellwater near Nameable Town G. Vedea's southern region is primarily dominated by the Titan Sands, a red-hued coastal desert pressed against the Wynwal Reaches. Vedea's northern territory is primarily savannas, its rivers and streams typically dry beds until the rain season in the later months of the year.

Climate

Despite little rainfall, Vedea experiences extremely high humidity due to its coastal positioning - the rolling fogs of the Titan Desert a surprising feature for visitors. Vedea's lack of frequent rain but high humidity is the direct cause for the development of the Thaumaturge Aqueduct - large arcane powered pylons capable of pulling moisture out of the air and feeding it through ducts to the cities nearby.

Nature and Wildlife

Unsurprisingly, Vedea’s borders contain a hot and arid climate with scorching long summer days and frigid evenings. The north boasts slightly more rainfall and cooler temperatures, creating a more acceptable climate for the country’s largest population center, Thethas. Vedea’s inhospitality proves itself by its limited selection of terrestrial creatures - its three largest being the Wynwal Roc, the Golden Jackal, and the Sandthresher, all scavengers.

History

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Early History

For much of its history Vedea has played an isolated role, save for periodic interactions with its neighboring state of Copoa. Its coastal cities of Valune and Aegomin have long histories as important port towns for the Elyran Empire during its peak, and the nation's eventual collapse left the cities in acceptable fashion. The northern factions centered around Valune continued Elyran agricultural practices and early trade with the burgeoning Thetlin, though constant incursions from the warring courts in future-Edos proved a consistent thorn in their side. The southern region of Aegomin suffered greatly in its early years, now severed from Elyra's agriculture and entering a water crisis that threatened its early destruction. Discovery of the Titan Ushabti - ancient and long-since defunct magical constructs caused an explosion of artificer led research on the intersection of magic and technology. From the ushabti's defective remains came two of Vedea's most important inventions: the Vedean Construct and the Thaumaturge Aqueduct, as well as the creation of its two most renowned institutions - the Vedican Academy and the Archives of Aegomin.

Vedea saw its official unification in 650 BCE with the Long Drought, when the streams of The Stagwash went dry for some five years. The burgeoning government in Aegomin saw to the creation of Thaumaturge Aqueducts in Valune, Thethas, and Adrienne as well as the deployment of constructs to work the fields in the blistering heat of the day. The end of the drought saw each of the three major cities unify under a single banner in Aegomin and the founding of the High Chamber.

Age of Piracy

Vedea's later years would see a drastic change in its relationship with neighboring Copoa, once a loose collection of islands inside the Cupric Sea had now been united under Oyibo Nina. Starting with the sacking of Ryseden and Braunleigh, Vedea spent nearly two hundred years dealing with the near-constant plundering of its shores and the ransacking of its trade ships. Vedea, a historically peaceful nation, stationed very few military units across its holdings. What little forces it retained were primarily trained in magic and were wholly overwhelmed by the brutality of a raid from the Copoan fleet, ultimately resulting in Vedea's research into weaponizing constructs.

In 221 EC the Vedean High Chamber officially approved the mobilization of the Cutlass - weapon wielding and highly mobile constructs based off of an ushabti design. Two ships bearing the fifty Cutlass arrived on the shores of Vallenset Isle, the "pirate capital" of Copoa, and purportedly within a week not a single beating heart remained on Vallenset. Horrified by the brazen and heinous usage of Constructs the people of Vedea went into uproar, the High Chamber representatives openly attacked on the streets until their removal from office nearly two years later. The constructs were dismantled and the creation of the Vedean Laws of Automata was adopted some years later, outright banning the design or usage of Vedean Constructs for violent means.

The Seven Ranks

In 338 High Arcanum Tamas Slezak developed the Seven Ranks, an aptitude test for ranking Vedican Academy students (and graduates) on their arcane ability and Construct Mandates (loosely defined as 'administration'). The ranks sought to organize its students into three tiers to better place them in post-graduate positions in the ever-growing arcane sector of Vedea. Those in ranks one and two were considered highly capable arcanists and construct administrators; those in Ranks three, four, and five were capable of moderate to high arcane ability with low administrative ability, and those of rank six and seven possessed little arcane ability but a (possibly) good head for construct administration. The system was ultimately designed to help students find their arcane niche, whether it be in construct designing, enchanting, or relegation to purely academical pursuits in the Archivists.

The Seven Ranks, however, induced a rather unintended effect on the Vedean propensity for meritocracy. Some thirty years after its creation the Seven Ranks had been implemented in nearly every school across Vedea, and saw its continued usage outside of academia as a bureaucratic gauge. In 370, Vedican Academy Graduate Breixo Doppler was elected to the High Chamber, and subsequently High Arcanum after his election campaign in Aegomin focused heavily on his Rank One positioning in the Seven Ranks. Within twelve years (and two subsequent wins from Doppler) the positions of High Artisan and High Archivist were held by twins Amara and Zosimus Conri - rank one and two, respectively. The High Chamber officially passed a law requiring the Seven Ranks test be performed on all High Chamber potentials before taking office, and the system became fully baked into Vedea's political landscape.

The Restructuring and the Settling of Summum

In 393 EC, the High Chamber now possessing a vast majority of Vedean academics of high ranks, implemented the Restructuring. The High Arcanum would now act as the sole head of state and was given veto powers on meritocracy appointments by the High Archivist and High Artisan. The years following saw the position of High Archivist and Artisan slip further into inefficacy, the former fully relinquishing control of the Scribes to the High Arcanum's appointment, and the latter handing over full control to the Vault of Aegomin to the High Chamber. Officially the High Archivist would oversee the Aegmoin Archives and act in an advisory role, and the High Artisan would continue to act as a liaison to the guilds and companies acting within Vedean borders.

Vedea, its political crisis now over, looked east to the shores of Summum now open for settling as the Great Stormseal of Almyst came online and settled the Unbound Seas into passable waters. Edos and the Brassics had spent the last twenty years brute forcing their way across the waters and had ample settlements in Aerilon and Kraytholm. Vedea formally entered the ring by settling Fort Ophelian on the Qairic Peninsula, but saw little early success in fully settling the territory. Qairus' dry airs were unsuitable for Thaumaturge Aqueducts and the transport of Constructs was an extremely high risk to Elyran piracy, their metallic forms only just appearing in Edos and Thetlin for trade. While never formally quit claiming Qairus, Vedea officially severed support and further settling of the region in 464 EC.

The Unbound Archives and the Unbound Trading Company

The settling of the Unbound Seas centered around Celenis enabled expeditious and relatively safe travel to Summum, but it also opened up unexpected trade routes between Vedea and The Brassics, as well as safer sea-faring to Edos. In 458 EC the High Chamber of Vedea announced a unique joint-venture between the Aegomin Archives and current High Artisan Volos Egnatius - the Unbound Archives and its supporting Unbound Trading Company. With the population of Vedea quickly radiating across the world, Vedea sought to formalize a system of interconnected libraries to enable the free-flow of knowledge. Initially an unpopular venture for its capital requirements, the Unbound Archives received little early support. Volos Egnatius' proposal of the Unbound Trading Company as a "support system" for the Unbound Archives that would co-act as Vedea's official mercantile guild saw its popularity skyrocket. Within fifteen years the Unbound Archives could be found in nearly every major settlement on Solum, and more than half of Summum's. The Unbound Trading Company exploded in assets after the support of the Bastion Banking Houses and became Vedea's golden pig.

In 473 EC the Unbound Trading Company officially proposed its company-rule of the long since sidelined Qairus, its interests primarily lying in the blossoming of The First Age of Adventuring erupting out of nearby Solana. The Unbound Trading Company's rule of Qairus saw its popularity explode under the discoveries of the Jopayk and Hijlakin Ruins, the vassal nation becoming a primary southern tradeport for the extraction of artifacts and adventuring treasure. Luan Mai, Qairus' capital, became a hotspot for aristocratic homes and the creation of the Hijlakin College and the Luan Libai, the two largest education establishments on Summum.

The Edos Civil War and the Brass Accords

The Edos Civil War saw Summum's waters become a nightmarish hotspot of piracy and privateering, practically severing Qairus' connection to its homeland and sending the Vedean economy spiraling. The Unbound Trading Company made a hasty and unofficial departure from Qairus, leaving only the Ophelian Counting House as its remaining asset. Edos, its Summum colonies, and the Brassics acted as the primary importers of Vedean goods and the war saw little to no allowance for naval travel north of Dawnward and crossing the Stagwash a practical death sentence. While Vedea made no formal alliances with either the Triumvirate or the Royalists, its proximity to Dawnward saw its continued trade and supply with rebel generals and admirals stationed there.

The end of the civil war saw a spark of hope for Vedea as a potential return to normal, officially recognizing the Triumvirate as the rulers of Edos in 517 EC. Vedea, and by extension the Unbound Trading Company began early plans to return to Summum to stabilize Qairus, who had rapidly fallen to criminal rule and the aristocracy of Luan Mai having cloistered their city. The outbreak of the "Crisis of the Seventh Jarl" became an additional blockade for Vedea's return, the impending war between the Brassics and Edos a looming nightmare of further economic depression. Volos Egnatius, famed for his original founding of the Unbound Trading Company, began the process of the Brass Accords, a guaranteed five year armistice between the two nations with Celenis and Vedea burdening themselves to ensure its success.

Governance

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The government of Vedea is somewhat of a convoluted one. Though it appears well-structured (and well-meaning) on the surface, recent events have put unease in the hearts of many in Vedea as the gaps in checks and balances become apparent. At its core, each Vedean population center elects a number of representatives (officially one per twenty-five thousand citizens, though these numbers have changed over time) to appear in the High Chamber in the capital of Aegomin for three years. Every six years the High Chamber elects three of its own to fill the roles of High Arcanum, High Archivist, and High Artisan. The three are placed in charge of their relevant sections of the city - the High Arcanum over the magical needs of the nation as well as the Vedican Academy, the High Archivist over the Scribes and Archivists, and the High Artisan over the Guilds and the Vault of Aegomin.

When an issue arises requiring a response, the three elect one amongst them to represent the entirety of Vedea - historically this has been the Archivist for political matters, the Artisan for economic matters, and the Arcanum in matters of conflict. Within their own domains they are given appointment powers to fill roles as needed for Vedea to remain functional, though these appointments may be challenged by any member of the High Chamber and voted on. In 393 the High Chamber, now possessing a vast majority of Vedican academics, implemented the Restructuring. The High Archivist would now be the sole head of state and would be given veto powers on the two other High leader’s appointment positions. Since then, the powers of the High Archivist and High Artisan have slipped further. The former relinquished control of the Scribes to the High Arcanist and now acts in a purely advisory role to the High Arcanist and overseer of the Archivists. The latter relinquished control of the Vault of Aegomin to the High Chamber, and their remaining duty is as a liaison between the Guilds and the High Archivist.

Politics

Politics has become a center point of much of Vedea's governing; the election campaigning, Echelonis results, and politicking for High Arcanum a near endless cycle of day-to-day frustration for many of Aegomin's residents. The current High Arcanum, Felix Voight, has been in power for some twenty-four years and has seen his popularity grow as relations between Copoa and Vedea reach an all-time high with the marriage between his daughter and the Sailing Prince. Recent years has seen an explosion of support in Volos Egantius, his former position as the High Artificer, creation of the Unbound Trading Company, and recent authoring of the Brass Accords seem to suggest in all likelihood his ascension to High Arcanum in the Chambering of 523. Critics have pointed to the Unbound Trading Company as a rogue actor and accusations of Elyran piracy towards Volos' brother and current Governor of the UTC Ulric Egnatius have become a hotspot of debate in the High Chambers. Ulric has appeared in the High Chambers three times since the outbreak of the Edos Civil War and has been staunchly defended by Volos each time, walking away with few sanctions on himself or the UTC.

Law

Crime in Vedea is much like crime everywhere - it can be found in the nooks and crannies of society where hushed trades and violent acts can be performed. Due to Vedea’s relationship to sand and sea those places are usually either in the middle of the desert or far out into the sea Regardless, the screams of victims rarely reach sympathetic ears. Copoan piracy was once a primary issue for Vedea, the island chain off their coast boasted superior ships and at the time constructs were far too heavy to be seaborne and so losses were great. As time progressed and the Copoans were eventually brought to peace with Vedea, organized crime dwindled to minor syndicates who mostly operated out of Elyra. These days crime is mainly street level and primarily handled by enforcement sourcerers of the Scribes. Punishment for crime in Vedea has changed drastically over time - punishments of servitude, death, and banishment to the Copoan Isles gave way to banishment to Qairus or forced adventuring in Solana, and these days usually revolves around fines and exile.

Military

The military of Vedea has undergone two grand upheavals over time - the first was done in 221 EC with the creation of the Cutlass. The second came only a year later after the Slaughter of Vallensport during the Copoan Campaign, where the Cutlass (and all violent Constructs) were banned by High Archivist Vidmantas. Since that time, a small navy, the Unbound Trading Company’s privateers, and a small army split between Castle Thanas and Scythas act as the only military force in Vedea’s command.

Nearly a hundred years of relative peace for the Vedeans, as well as the renowned ability of their advisors has certainly softened the Vedeans military to a mostly peacekeeping force. In 513 at the start of the Edos Civil War, some in the High Chamber called for further expansions of Vedean ground forces should the Edoic Triumvirs seek to claim Vedean lands or plunder the deserts further. Brassic entry into the conflict after its conclusion sparked the Vedeans instead to reform the core Vedean Fleet and fully integrated the Sailing Prince’s warfleet into their own - some suggesting its ability to contend with the Brassic navy.

Notable Treaties

The Swan Song Marriage

In the hundred years since the Slaughter of Vallensport, Vedea has tried in earnest to repair the relationship it has with the neighboring island nation of Copoa. Wounds were slow to heal at first, and the Copoans met Vedean attempts at reconciliation with uncharacteristic coldness. The newly crowned Sailing Prince refused the Isle of Swan’s annual visit to [Nameable Town G] for some thirty years before his untimely demise in a storm off the coast of [Nameable Town F]. His heir, Sovanna Tusveld, inherited the Isle of the Swan and the march towards friendship between the two nations began as Vedea assisted in her repairs. For the last fifty years the two nations have grown ever closer, Sovanna even going so far as to add Braunleigh onto the Swan’s route.

It was there that Sebastian Tusveld met Lily Voight, and their relationship blossomed into one of romance. In 519, the Sailing Prince and Lily were married on the deck of the Isle of Swan just off the coast of Vallensport. Recent rumors suggest the final vassalizing of Copoa to Vedea, garnering it the name of the Swan Song Marriage.

The Brass Accords

See Also: The Brass Accords

Guilds and Organizations

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The Vedican Academy

Considered by and large across both Solum and Summum to be the most prestigious school of the arcane arts. The history of the Vedican Academy is the history of Vedea itself - the original researchers of Titans creators of Vedea's critical technology has blossomed into the backbone of the country. To be accepted into the Vedican Academy is to practically guarantee a seat at most political tables across Solum, and barring that, wealth is still but an enchanting specialization away. The school has operated on the Seven Ranks for just under a century and uses it to categorize its students into specializations. The aforementioned political capture of Vedea’s governing system has propelled the Academy into incredible power amongst its alum. Other schools of arcane exist within Vedea, though by now all have followed suit with the Seven Rank system and most have positioned themselves as auxiliary schools for Vedican overflow. The academy itself is overseen by the High Archivist, though its day to day runnings are done by an immense administrative staff and headed by the Vedican Director.

The Scribes

Originally under the supervision of the High Archivist and now directly reporting to the High Arcanum, the Scribes are Vedea’s bureaucratic backbone and by far its largest organization. Scribes typically pursue one of three paths: Magistrate, Artificer, or Clerk. Magistrates perform the bulk of Vedea’s legal work, typically handling minor offenses and overseeing hearings - more senior magistrates may be elevated by the High Arcanum to chancellors to act as judges. Artificers are in charge of the creation, maintenance, and administration-writing for the constructs that outnumber Vedea’s population 2:1, large population centers can expect at least one High Artificer and hundreds of artificers. Clerks are by and large considered the least glamorous of the Scribes, though more often than not the most wealthy. The Clerks handle the monumental amount of trade Vedea performs with its neighbors, act as political envoys, as well as perform the execution of Vedea’s taxation policies. The position of High Clerk is often created for each individual trade region, and frequently acts as ambassador to those countries which they are assigned.

The Archivists (Unbound Archives)

One of Vedea’s quietest claims to fame - the Archives of Aegomin is the largest collection of historical recordkeeping in all of Solum. The Archivists themselves now function as a secondary-school for many Vedican Academy graduates with more academic goals in mind. Vedea takes great pride in its collection of freely accessible knowledge, and though early concerns of the Academy’s capture of the High Chamber were apparent, no action has ever been made by the Vedean government to prevent, hide, or destroy histories or artifacts in the Archives. The creation of the Unbound Archives, an open invitation for scholars of any nation to gain access to the Archives of Aegomin accelerated it to becoming the foremost historical society on either continent. Over time the Archivists have extended their reach far beyond the walls of Aegomin, and the creation of the Unbound Archives has placed a study, library, or university in every major city on Solum and Summum. While overseen by the High Archivist, many within the guild itself pay little recognition to their authority and internal fame precedes any government affiliation.

Seekers of the Titans

Once a highly illegal operation of ruin-robbers and treasure seekers made up of Vedean nationals and Elyran vagrants, the Seekers of the Titans were officially recognized by the Vedean government in 498 EC after a looting of Titan ruins by Edosians. The recognition formally allowed the Seekers to claim magical artifacts from the desert’s ruins under the agreement that they also vehemently defend it from others who attempted to plunder its treasure. Considered a hotly contested decision that narrowly passed through the High Chamber, critics would at least agree to its benefit in finally answering the question “what is the difference between a grave-robber and an archaeologist?”

Despite its rocky history, the Seekers have performed exceptionally well and with guidance from the Archivists have created a renaissance of new Constructs flooding into the streets of Vedean cities. Many a Vedean adventurer have found their start with the Seekers and learned valuable lessons about ancient ruins. Seekers were a primary driving force during the First Age of Adventuring, though the dwindling of artifacts from both Summum and Solum have seen their popularity wane.

The Unbound Trading Company

When the Archivists began to construct their web of information across Solum the question of infrastructure became central to its longevity. With support from the High Artificer the Vault of Aegomin was opened to the Archivists with the agreement that they would allow Clerks to oversee the usage of the coin. High Artificer Volos Egnatius, now of Brass Accords fame, was placed in charge of this task. Volos quickly realized the immensity of support a long distance information network would require, and set about the creation of the Unbound Trading Company. The Archivists would have free and limitless access to the UTC’s ships and the needs of Unbound Archive locations would be first and foremost. The UTC would also act as a trading service for lesser merchants in Vedea, and for a premium their goods could appear in any port city with an Unbound Archive. Backed by Vedean coin and a well timed agreement with the Sailing Prince, the Unbound Trading Company has become one of the most popular guilds in the Unbound Sea. In recent years it has begun to turn the screws on Vedean traders, more often than not taking 60% margins on traded goods - and supposedly directing those funds to Elyran smuggling operations.

Economy

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The economy of Vedea has historically been something of a powerhouse. While it has typically required the import of a large portion of its food from Thetlin or Ayoric sources, Vedea's production of luxury goods is known the world over. The explosion of artifact trade during the First Age of Adventuring saw Vedean Artificers a hot commodity in the identification, appraising, and selling of Summum artifacts. Recent troubles as a result of the Edos Civil War and Crisis of the Seventh Jarl saw the Vedean economy stumble into troubles, only recently beginning its rehabilitation in the wake of the Brass Accords.

Major Exports

Vedea's economy is backed by three primary luxury goods - the massive dye trade produced by the north, the Construct export of the south, and the export of Vedean Enchanters to cities all over the world. Vedean Constructs can be found in nearly every labor-center of the world, working as silent supporters alongside Hjalmoric guild operations, or endlessly working the Thetlin agricultural fields. Vedean dyes are extremely popular in aristocratic circles, their extravagant colors well known by many a socialite. The Enchanters of Vedeea occupy a specialized role, while their expertise in enchanting is obviously well sought after many a high ranking Vedican Academy graduates find work as advisors in political and business roles. A Vedean artificer.

Technology

Vedea's claim to fame has long since been the Vedean Construct - hulking automatons given life by intricate arcane instructions that detail every decision it must make. Originally the Construct purposes were simple, usually repairing Vedea's thamaturgic aqueducts in the heat of the day or carrying quarried stone back and forth across the Titan Desert. Modern iterations have seen all shapes, sizes, materials and tasks for the automata that populate Vedea - though most are no larger than your average dog. The calming of the Unbound Seas into the Glass has enabled Vedea to ship its constructs the world over, and most towns, farms, and smiths have an automata somewhere nearby to assist.

People and Society

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The nature of Vedean society is to give oneself to their craft: whether this be arcane tinkering, the flourishing of blades, or even the focused hand of a scribe. While Vedea might not be able to boast that it always contains the “best” of any skilled trade, it can certainly boast its particularly high concentration of mastercrafters. The people themselves are often considered something of an odd sort, prying their focus away from their task at hand can be irksome to some not accustomed to their ways. Due to this razor edged focus (and certainly the climate) most Vedean cities settle into long stretches of silence throughout the days as the population disappears into cooled cellars to focus on their work. If one were to wander the streets at noon they would be hard to find a face not born by a construct repairing the city’s infrastructure or sweeping the roads.

The nights of Vedean cities, however, are the muse of bards all across Solum. The overbearing heat now stripped away by the ocean’s breeze breathes life into the streets of Vedea. The crafting performed during the day is now turned outward into the night markets that explode across the city; minor constructs, enchanted cloth, and whirring artifacts dug up from the Titan Desert exchange hands between wealthy merchants and foreign sailors. Citizens and long term residents of Vedean cities can usually be found at the docks, trading for grain and fish imported from the more arable nations of Solum and Summum.

Norms

The people of Vedea believe honestly and truly in the idea of personal autonomy. The craft one pursues and their decision on how to pursue it is entirely a personal choice that is very rarely questioned. However, the deep relationship that Vedea has with magic has given rise to something of a complex political system. It’s not necessarily that the average Vedean believes magic wielders to be superior to those who had no interest in the arcane, it’s just a normalized belief that the non-magical probably shouldn’t be in charge of cities that rely so heavily on magic to exist. The magical institutions of Vedea have swelled in recent times, and the implementation of the Seven Ranks has created something of an magocracy within the desert nation

The dueling culture of the Vedeans can be complex, particularly to outsiders, as each community has their own variations on what is acceptable, allowed and discouraged. What is common across all variations is that once the duel is complete, the matter is settled and the outcome accepted by all.

Hailing from a coastland nation, with sailing deeply ingrained in the nearby Copoans, virtually every Vedean knows how to swim, and how to chart a basic course through the waters of their homelands’ often choppy waters.

Education

See: The Vedican Academy

Language

The nature of Vedean language is somewhat of a confusing duality to scholars outside of its sandy borders. A conversation with the average Vedean seems abrupt and short, the language is shaped around the concept of exchange - and so a conversation seems somewhat transactional in nature. Old Vedean possessed no idioms and the language itself was constructed in a way that seems to avoid any possibility of misinterpretation: a result of the early adoption of construct and magic usage in Vedean society. Early scholars believed this transactional and blunt language, paired with the overwhelming use of arcana in Vedean cities to be a result of interactions with the Fae (and more probably, Djinn), a misattributed rumor that has stuck to Vedeans.

Culture

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Clothing

As a culture commonly exposed to the sun for long periods, loose fitting clothing with an eye towards avoiding extended exposure to the sun is common. In addition, colorful patterned parasols have recently become fashionable among the elite and younger generations. Jewelry and ornamentation of the Vedeans commonly features glass and other crystals, matched with materials from the sea: mother of pearl, shells, and so on. Northern Vedeans, and the more urbane, tend towards gems and semiprecious stones embedded directly into their clothing, tending towards silver and opaque stones like obsidian, turquoise, and malachite.

Holidays

The Shimmering Night

The shimmering night is an annual festival held at the edges of the Titan Desert, usually held on the hottest day of the year. As the sun sets over the Wynwall Reach the heat rising from the desert causes the starlit sky to shimmer and shame. The nightlife of Vedean cities explodes into life, with festivals appearing all across the city. Fireworks let off to shimmer in the hot air, sweet cold foods, and the thrum of music are common sights across all of Vedea.

Echelonis and Commencement

On the third weekend of August, examinations for the Seven Ranks are held across the country (and more recently, in Qairus). The second weekend of September celebrates the graduation of those from the Vedican Academy, as well as the income of new students. Primarily celebrated in Aegomin, the graduates are carried by construct-held palanquins to the High Chamber where they receive their graduation ceremony and Echelonis results.

The Chambering

Three day event in the third week of September - with the results of the Echelonis now public, voting is performed for local representation in the High Chamber. When the results are tallied a festival is held across the city celebrating their ascension - if it is the sixth-year cycle the High Chamber immediately convenes to vote on the three High Positions.

Folklore

Vedea is highly critical of folklore, believing it to be errant nonsense for scaring children. A little talked about piece of folklore in Vedea is The Spark, the act of a construct gaining some semblance of morality. While this is widely considered childish, the folklore is incredibly common amongst Scribes and tongue-in-cheek Simulacrum.

Vedea is highly critical of folklore, believing it to be errant nonsense for scaring children. A little talked about piece of folklore in Vedea is The Spark, the act of a construct gaining some semblance of morality. While this is widely considered childish, the folklore is incredibly common amongst Scribes and tongue-in-cheek Simulacrum.

Nation Info

Official Name: Arcane Republic of Vedea
Capital: Aegomin
Population: ~750,000
Government: Magocratic Meritocracy
Leader: Felix Voight
Leader Title: High Arcanum
Demonym: Vedean, Vedic
Major Exports:

• Enchantments
• Constructs
• Dyes

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Military

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• 60,000 Combatants
• Warships: 60 Warships

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Breed Distribution

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• 60% - Aelthen
• 25% - Human
• 14% - Chimera

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Religion Distribution

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• 60% - The Tower
• 20% - The Highlord
• 10% - The Ember Light
• 5% - The Ascendant
• 5% - Other