The Kingdom of the Swadians
The Swadian kingdom, named after the early warlord Palantir the Bold (Valandion, in Calradic), began as a large number of elven hosts, who migrated into former Battanian lands during the waning period of the Calradic Empire. The Empire was at war on all sides, so it offered these new conquerers land grants in exchange for mercenary work. Unfortunately, this gave Swadian nobility a taste for Empire lands, and they united under King Thranduil Iron-Arm to conquer the far west of the Empire and declare themselves an independent nation. Few understand why they came, and even fewer know of the land from whence they came. only the Swadians themselves can tell stories of the lands beyond the sea.
The war for their independance was quick and brutal. the elves subjegated the human, dwarvish, and gnomish populations of the Western continent. This was not, despite conceptions from the imperial capital, a resisted subjugation. The Swadians promised peace, protection, and prosperity, in exchange for serfdom, and this was provided. While the other peoples of the continent and the waning empire suffered bandits, raiders, turmoil, and creeping monsters, the people of the west were protected by a skilled warrior caste to protect them (not to mention a not insubstantial number of monster hunters). The peasants' lives are hard and full of toil, but their work arms the greatest soldiers on the continent, and so far has protected them from the evils of the darkness.
The Kingdom is currently ruled by King Rhuiden Dey Meroc of House Dey Meroc.
Demography and Population
The population of The Kingdom of Swadia is divided by race as follows:
- 51% Human 17% Dwarven 21% Elvish 7% Gnomish 4% Halfling
Military
Militarily, the Vlandians are best known for their powerful, well-armoured heavy cavalry units who charge with couched lances. They also field well-trained crossbowmen, supported by ranks of armoured spearmen. They have a long history of lesser nobles forming mercenary companies, and fighting for the other powers. Previously this would have been for the empire, but since independance they have largely fought for the other major powers (though the Southern Empire still hires them from time to time).
Their disparate but strong mercenary companies and retinues have guarded their lands well, but they find it difficult to consolidate into a single larger army, as noble captains will begin squabbling over who is owed what and who is in charge.
Worship
The nobility of The Kingdom of the Swadians are not particularly concerned with the religious practices of their subjects, as long as the stay subservient to the crown (with the exception of daemon worship). It is for this reason that Swadia has come the closest to religious tolerance compared to the other nations of Calradia.
This should not be mistaken for a modern conception of tolerance though, in fact this has caused divides in many areas. However, fey worshippers are generally the most accepted here compared to any other nation outside of Battania. In addition, there are some areas, such as along the The River Pelorus, where the peasants have hybrid religious practices, worshipping both Fey and orderly deities alike.
However, the vast majority of the nation are still devout followers of the saints of order, as these fringe cases of hybrid worship are quite rare.
We Know No Equal
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Demonym
Swadian
Related Traditions
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Peaceful cooperation
The Swadians and the Battanians, though viewing each other as future rivals, both are mutual beneficial in their conflicts with the Empire.
Vlandia is happy to aid the battanians with supplies and mercenaries in exchange for minerals from the mountains. In this way, both are on friendly terms while they have a mutual enemy.
Peace
The Vaegirs occasionally hire Swadian mercenaries in their conflicts with the empire. Their heavy cavalry makes an excellent supplement to the Vaegir infantry shieldwall.
Tentative Peace
The Imperial nations generally dislike the Swadians for the pure fact that they occupy a portion of the old empire.
However, compared to the other invader states, their feudal ways make them the most like the Imperials themselves, and the Swadians tend to be seen as "a problem for a later time" by Imperial leaders. They are seen as a significantly less present threat than the Battanians, Vaegirs, and Aserai.
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