Faloriand
Faloriand is a theocratic kingdom on the western coast of Allethra. Once a part of the Allesend Empire, Faloriand was the first nation to declare its independence and led the Independence War. In the century since, it has been one of the most influential nations in the region.
Followers of a once-heretical belief that God-Emperor Alles-Taluus was little more than a prophet of another, higher power, Falorians worship the Unseen God. This religion is tied intrinsically to their everyday life, with priests and lavish chapels in even the smallest villages. The church leads the nation, the Archbishop serving as king. Nobles across the country constantly vie for the attention and favor of the archbishop, occasionally warring with one another.
Faloriand's only port of trade is its capital, Erminster, located on the Iron Bay. Despite its wealth of intra-continental trade, Faloriand currently has little trade with the rest of the world ever since its northern neighbor Hiladhel declared independence.
Faloriand is bordered by the Pliscian Wastes to the south. An order of knights known as Vigil patrols that border, repelling unnatural incursions from the horrors that wander the Wastes.
Geography
As such a large nation, Faloriand's geography differs vastly from place to place. The highlands to the east are relatively uninhabited, as are the steppes and desert to the south. Its western coast is almost entirely made up of steep cliffs. Only the Iron Bay serves as an access point to the ocean. Wetlands along the Malto river bordering with Hiladhel are used to grow rice and sugarcane. A large freshwater lake also separates the two nations The drier interior of the country is mostly made up of untamed wilderness of flat plains of grass.Structure
Faloriand is broken up into dozens of fiefdoms, ruled by noble families who trace their heritage back for hundreds of years. These noble families are the legal owners of the land, and they rent or lend it out to private citizens. These lords are constantly vying with one another for power, often to the point of military conflict. Land constantly changes hands in this competitive nation, and has for generations. In the past, under periods of peace or during times of external threats, the fiefdoms elect a Monarch from amongst the strongest nobles. During the reign of the Allesend Empire, this practice was abolished.
The church of the Unseen God gained control of the centralized government in the years leading to the Independence War. Today, it is intertwined with every facet of government. A bishop is attached to every fiefdom, and the nation is headed by the Archbishop of the church. Things like international trade, development of new settlements, and upkeep of highways are all overseen by the church. Thus, the competition of the fiefdoms has transitioned to gaining favor from the church. Chapels and temples are plentiful in even the poorest backwater villages.
Culture
Competition is pervasive in Falorian culture. From the highest lord to the lowest farmer, there is an unstated law to strive for greatness. Alliances are common among families, both peasant and noble, though an inevitable betrayal is always expected. On the surface, honor seems to be an important trait to Falorians, but the reality says otherwise. A common saying among other nations is, "Only trust a Falorian if you have nothing they can take."
Despite this, Falorians developed a strange sense of national unity during their war with the Allesend Empire. It didn't matter who rules a particular fiefdom as long as Faloriand was free from outside influence. Likewise, their fervent belief in the Unseen God unites them in a way that no lord could ever achieve. Their loyalty to the Archbishop overrules any loyalty to a local lord, and the only way the whole nation would go to war is if the church demanded it.
History
The fiefdoms of Faloriand slowly rose to power over the hundreds of years following the Pliscian Winter. As their power and wealth grew, the city of Erminster was established to arbitrate the constant warring between lords. During times of internal peace or external threat, it was common to elect one lord to a position of dictatorship over all the fiefdoms, kept only in check by the will of the constituent lords. At some point in time, the princedoms of the northern provinces of Hiladhel joined the confederation of lords.
When Alles-Taluus came to power in neighboring Allesend and was declared God-Emperor over the whole continent, the lords banded together and elected Anstruda Killend to the throne. She fielded the whole might of Faloriand against the armies of Allesend, but in the end the Empire emerged victorious, and Anstruda returned to her lordship.
In the beginning of imperial rule, Faloriand's people were difficult to subjugate. To bring its citizens under control, the Empire withheld food for months at a time, burning local crops and grain stores. In sharp contrast, its northern provinces of Hiladhel flourished as trade hubs with the rest of the world. As Faloriand slowly bowed to the Empire, tensions between the two cultures grew.
After the death of Alles-Taluus and the waning influence of the Empire, a heretical belief arose amongst the Falorian people that the Emperor had not been a god himself, but rather a prophet of a higher power, the Unseen God. It was believed that Alles-Taluus only died due to the sins of the Imperial Holy Council, and that the corrupt priests did not truly speak in his name. They claimed that the magical plague sweeping through Edrana was punishment for their evil. Faloriand declared its independence in 302 AE.
For a bitter 18 years, Faloriand fought the armies of the Empire for its indepenence. Slowly, as other nations did the same, Faloriand gained the upper hand until 320 AE when the Treaty of Celestina was signed, officially ending imperial rule and giving Faloriand its independence.
After the war, Faloriand reasserted control of the northern provinces, much to the displeasure of the Hilan citizens, who had enjoyed unfettered freedom and wealth under the Empire. This lasted until 412 AE, when the Hilan people rebelled and elected the first Council of Princes. Hiladhel won its independence in an essentially bloodless war. As the church slowly assembled its armies for a land war, the Hilan Princes blockaded the Iron Bay and threatened Erminster with imminent destruction. After only a year, the Archbishop granted Hiladhel its independence.
Without its northern trade ports, Faloriand has floundered a bit. The capital has seen growth, but much of the rest of the nation has remained stagnant. Rumors have spread that the church's supply of silver is growing thin. After the disappearance of the Third Moon, whispers of discontent with the church's rule have begun in taverns across the continent.
Founding Date
320 AE
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Predecessor Organization
Successor Organization
Demonym
Falorian
Government System
Theocracy
Subsidiary Organizations
Official Languages
Notable Members
14th and 15th century England and France, Game of Thrones