Vestal (/Ves-taal/)
History and Government
Vestal is an odd land, with a culture quite distinct from any other in the world. This is partly because humans have always inhabited the hills between the Vestalian Cliffs, unlike the neighboring regions of Kandesh (colonized by the Arberians) and Aedenhal (colonized by the Skolt of ancient Norenth). These humans - the Vestali - practice a matriarchal culture which emphasizes mysticism and magic, and which made up the dominant power in the northern Kcalsbury Continent until the Trinean Liberty War broke it apart. The foundation of the Vestalian government can be traced back to the Age of Creation, when the loose confederation of clans in the Sacred Valley unified under Queen-Mother Kora I. Each clan maintained autonomy (led by a "Mother", or Rahn, who was required to be female), but laws became significantly standardized and centralized with the spread of Vestalian script after Kora's ascension. Previously, this script had been reserved for holy texts and spellbooks, but Kora saw it as a means of establishing a more formal state. Kora's rule was followed by her daughter, Marahn Amara I, who continued her policies while expanding Vestal's territories by colonizing eastwards. This effort at colonization attracted Vestal's minority races, especially Tieflings, which were historically oppressed through the process of Indebtitude. For many years onwards from Amara, the Marahn ruled a stable and peaceful Vestal. They proudly embraced hedonism; spices from all over the world were funneled to Vestal, harems of both men and women catered to the ruling Rahn, and all manner of magic were practiced without limitation. The benefits of this hedonism extended even to the population enserfed by these Rahn, as they arranged public feasts, opened academies to the interested, and promoted lovers out of serfdom regularly. This by no means reduced the stress and hardship that most Vestali labored through under the feudal system, but it did sate many and convince them that a path out existed. Vestal's laissez-faire nature has long made its neighbors weary. While many are put off by the promiscuity and glutton that is perpetually on display, diplomatic tensions primarily arise due to Vestal's openness towards magic. The emergence of Sylla finally brought Vestal to ban the practice of necromancy, but other forms of magic still run free and the Sacred Valley bears their scars. Within it, it is constantly raining, and yet the vegetation itself always appears precariously close to drought. The skies are no reassurance either, as they display an ever-present gloom which wraps around the land - as if the Vestalian Cliffs cast their shadow fully across the wide basin. Tension has also arisen due to Vestal's treatment of its racial minorities. Most obviously, Vestal was dragged into The Trinean Liberty War when the colonies of Trinea broke off and sought their independence. The war was hard-fought and long, though it was not won by the Rahn and the Vestalian lands were practically cut in half as a result. Hostilities remain, especially over logging rights to the Fartree Forest, and a desire to re-annex the Trinean lands persists in much of the Vestalian nobility. Others instead seek expansion north, towards Aedenhal and the Grey Woods, as enmities still persist there from The Northern Wars. Regardless of its struggles and military plots, Vestal remains an attractive location for many scholars and adventurers who seek to see a freer land. The Rahn are known to be insular and distrusting of outsiders, though they can be easily persuaded through gifts and arcane knowledge, and the people of Vestal are quick to ease when a Rahn declares her favor for a traveler.Vestali Spirituality
The Vestali practice the Prime Canon, but they also practice spirituality in ways only loosely connected to its thoughts. They revere Fey as facets of the deities, for example. They do not do this in any way that pulls them to believing in the Green Way, but rather in a strictly physical way: Foxfolk, for example, may be the physical manifestation of Maer, taking on multiple forms so as to have a veil to hide behind. This can make Fey feel tokenized, but it also earns them great respect by the Vestali. Furthermore, the Vestali view certain animals as protected by certain deities. They believe this beyond universal associations (such as the peacock with Ah'yelan), and they have rituals in place for the consumption of animals which must be followed before they are killed. Many Vestali refuse to eat animals entirely. Another quirk of Vestali spirituality is their reverence of ancestors. To the Vestali, ancestors are not only materially tied to everybody's existence, but they are spiritually tied as well. Those who have died manifest themselves in their offspring, and Vestali culture places a great emphasis on reproduction as a result. It also places a great respect upon the young, and Rahn often pass on the title to their youngest daughters (sometimes even stepping down as soon as their youngest daughter has reached maturity). Cults and occultic practices have long existed in Vestal, and they are largely accepted by so long as members do not break any laws. Children whose bloodlines have been influenced by demonic influence, such as Asplings and Tieflings, are not very well viewed despite this.Matriarchalism
From Vestal's government, it is clear that matriarchy is the norm. This is also the case in families. The eldest woman is considered to be the leader of a family, though they often delegate their decision-making to other women and may even step down from the role if they desire to. The Rahn are merely a natural extension of this family structure, stemming from particularly influential families within a village. Throughout Vestal, the number of Rahn is in the low thousands, as there was initially about one Rahn for every ten families. The Marahn stems from the bloodline of the original Queen-Mother. Men typically take on roles related to manual labor, while women (who are not matriarchs) hold artisanal roles. They are expected to take care of the home; this includes all cooking, creation of clothing, and design. They are also expected to choose their husbands, of whom they can have many. Most women still only take one, though Rahn tend to have whole harems, and the heads of families typically take up to ten depending on the size of their land and its needs. Marriages are largely arranged; women are given the choice, but the man's matriarch must consent, and this deal is often worked out between the two families' matriarchs. The Vestali would insist that men are degraded at no point in this process. They are revered in their own ways for their strengths, and they often make excellent aides and advisors to the ruling Rahn and Marahn. Most seem content with the culture they live within, though in recent years many men have begun to go abroad rather than live in their serf-like and family-bound conditions. To depart from a family without permission (a matriarch will almost never give permission to leave the home) is considered worthy of disowning, and so most Vestali men abroad have no families to call their own.Cities
Avhn Vestali
Avhn Vestali is the capital of Vestal and the home of the Marahn. It boasts a population of about 150,000, and contains most of the nation's universities and magical colleges. These are famous across the Kcalsbury Continent, but they pale in comparison to those of Rhowyn. They do, however, place an emphasiss upon divination magic which attracts cosmological occultists. Such occultists are beloved by the Rahn, and often make Vestali their permanent home. Perhaps the greatest attraction of Avhn Vestali are its bathhouses, which often feature extravagant interior waterfalls and pleasantly-circulating jets of water within them. The Rahn who live near Avhn Vestali - and the Marahn herself - are said to frequent these bathhouses, and they are a prime opportunity to speak with the matriarchs since they do not otherwise hold court.Geography
The heartlands of Vestal exist within the Sacred Valley between the Vestalian Cliffs, from which the Muru River flows and fuels the native clans. The valley itsself is a little odd, as its center is filled with low hills and plateaus while the space between these hills and mountains is entirely flattened. This style of landform has been described as wave-like spawning rumors about the valley once being an in-land sea (this connection, of course, is absurd). A more "realistic" association of Vestal with water exists within occultic cosmology; Vestal represents the element of water upon Eashavar, and its Rahn embrace this reputation. Water is viewed as sacred and revered by the Vestali people, especially the waters of the Muru River. Beyond the heartlands lie largely flat grasslands which have become Vestal's bread-basket. Staple foods are grown there, while spices and luxury herbs viewed as more sacred are primarily planted within the valley. Vestal still lays claims upon the Fartree Forest, leading to battles between Vestali and Trinean lumberjacks.Resources
The primary exports of Vestal are spices. Basil, cumin, fenugreek, turmeric, sumac, chamomile, goldenseal, pistachios, dates, and rice flow plentifully out of the Sacred Valley, and Vestal grows the bulk of much of the world's supply of these goods. Religious and magical trinkets are often crafted by the females of each household, and these can sometimes catch a pretty profit abroad, establishing a market for Vestali artisanship. The legality of magic within Vestal makes its markets for enchanted artifacts especially lucrative, though their transport to other nations is often suppressed. Outside of the valley, Vestali farmers grow all manner of staple foods, though rice remains the most popular grain in Vestal. Historically, the Vestali have had an ample supply of lumber from their Trinean colonies; since these have broken off, lumber has become a primary import of the Vestalian government. Most lumber comes from Zaral, providing plenty of lumberjack jobs for the former nomads who lived within the territory.Ethnicities
Vestal is home to the Vestali people, whose origins aren't tied to any other ethnic cluster. The Vestali themselves claim to stem from The Rainy Country, but this has not been proven. The nation has also sported a host of other racial minorities throughout its history, most notably Tieflings and Asplings. While the Vestali have a reputation of racial hatred because of their attitude towards Tieflings, this attitude does not replicate itself as harshly against other races, and they can be remarkably tolerant of some (such as Fey) compared to other nations. All of the clans of Vestal were integrated into the Vestalian state upon its establishment, and the blurring of cultural lines between these clans has faded over time. Perhaps notably, a tribe of Orcs known as the Vestorcs exists within Vestal's actual mountains. The Vestorcs have close ties with the Vestali clans, though they do not consider themselves to be part of the greater Vestalian state. Still, the relationship between the two groups is symbiotic, and the Vestalians make no efforts to trespass upon their autonomy. Vestorcs have even aided the Vestalians in wars - though always voluntarily and for good pay.Diplomacy
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"The Valley of Love and Magic"
Adjectives: Vestalian
National Animal: Kirin
National Instrument: Shehnai
Ethnicities: Vestali
Languages: Vestali, Human Common (Modern Gultic)
Capital: Avhn Vestali
Ruler: Marahn Adja-Khatja
Government: Feudal Matriarchy
Hallmarks: Matriarchalism, hedonism, mysticism, spices
Characteristics: Libertine, insular, spiritual, intellectual
National Animal: Kirin
National Instrument: Shehnai
Ethnicities: Vestali
Languages: Vestali, Human Common (Modern Gultic)
Capital: Avhn Vestali
Ruler: Marahn Adja-Khatja
Government: Feudal Matriarchy
Hallmarks: Matriarchalism, hedonism, mysticism, spices
Characteristics: Libertine, insular, spiritual, intellectual