The Republic of Vardasta

Cascadian beauty contrasts towering skyward peaks, all contorted by the ever present roar of mighty rivers in Vardasta. Expanses of pine forests coat the hilly southern coast, which is criss-crossed with an array of river systems feeding into the gulf of Valdrose. The east is perforated by the Viel’cala mountains, which had for centuries separated the disparate and separated Vardish Tribes. Meanwhile, the west is home to muggy wetlands and sloping coastal plains. The mountains of legend and myth to the north, the Merkosta mountains, dominate the landscape and drape a rainy veil over the entire nation.

“In Vardasta, even if it doesn’t seem like it’s raining, it’s most definitely raining to some extent if you look hard enough.”

Kalan’va Mosla, "Letters From Vandreta"

Vardasta, as a nation, has had close ties to the LFR even before its official ascension to membership. During the treaty of Lutenia, the Lavennic provisional delegates championed the creation of a unified Vardish republic, of which would be granted upon the partitioning of the Seriphanese Empire in 469 AL. However, Vardasta was never a single unified, cohesive Vardish identity. Instead, its inhabitants swore allegiance to the countless myriad Vardish tribes, descendants from the scattered refugees of the Novostan conquests. In fact, the social, linguistic and religious differences are so stark, a Vard from the port city of Arasta in the east would seem almost entirely alien to a Vard from the manufacturing hub of Laspan in the west. The dialects of Vardish they speak might be almost completely unintelligible to each other. In addition to the division between even the Vards, that doesn’t even mention the significant Druvandi population to the west. Despite all this, however, Vardasta has seemingly succeeded in fostering a sense of national unity amongst its myriad people. A communal living program known as “Caldav’skara” or “Honeycomb living” instituted in the major cities, has led to more inclusiveness and mutual understanding even between groups who were once sworn enemies, such as the mountain tribes of the Merkosta and the Merkald merchant tribes. Less popular are forced intermarriage policies, relocations, and the legal requirement of every citizen to fluently speak the lingua franca dialect of Southern Vardish.

Viil Sav Vard'ka, Nama Sav Vard'ka (For All Vards, By All Värds)

Founding Date

474

Type

Geopolitical, Republic

Demonym

Vardish

Controlled Territories

• Vandreta