Valleon

"One of the only things keep Veret from conquering Czerelan, is us angry folk in the valleys and mountains."
Valleon, also known as the Kingdom of Valleon, Third Kingdom of Valleon, or Vallais Kingdom, is a sprawling kingdom that occupies the large valley between the Aderic and Zikos mountain ranges. Recently united once more during the Ruination. What was previously many independent states and tribes, were facing a common threat in the armies of Dwarves invading and pillaging the valley for resources. To combat the Beardling menace, many armies joined together under a charismatic leader. The Elven Duke, Kaironis Artoiles II had his home and city burned to the ground by the Dwarven army. The only survivors of his family being him and his son. He rallied forces, bringing the peoples of Valleon together, the roaming Giant-kin in the mountains, the reclusive Drakiza clans, and other Elven and Human states. Making and army that could defeat the Dwarven forces and keep their homeland safe. This army did so well, they even ventured into the Dwarven mountainkeeps and occupy the city of Thermosa to this day. Now, it is one of The Empire of Veret's greatest rivals and is an industrail and economic powerhouse. However, they are not as centralized as Veret, and often infighting can be witnessed between the autonomous city-states and provinces. The king did a great job unifying his land, now he must fight to keep it together.

Structure

At the head of the Vallais Monarchy reigns the King of Valleon. A presitigious and noble title throughout the realm and respected by the citizens of Valleon. Beneath the King of Valleon are the various Dukes and Barons. The king rules very little of his own kingdom directly, with most of the land split up between various nobles belonging to royal houses that predate the Ruination. In return for keeping their land and are offered protection by the crown, they are held accountable for military service and taxation. In some ways, the kingdom feels more like a federation of states, but each province swears fealty and falls behind the edicts of the King.

Culture

The Vallais people treasure liberty and unity. They believe that each group of the kingdom should have their own autonomy and each man is their own. However, in the face of a greater threat, many among the Vallais will trade their individual liberties to stand as one force against an incoming threat. Due to their strong sense of liberty and individualism, they often fight between each other from power and resources in the grander scheme of the country.
They are also a very mercantile people, valuing economics and trade in high regard. While the valley they call home is rich in resources and arable land, there are many resources they lack. Good quality iron, sources of fuel, and various agricultural products from the south. In order to acquire these goods, they often trade many of their own resources. Vallais merchant vessels ferry goods across the Eberan Sea and caravans of traders peddle their goods in distant towns.

Demography and Population

The people of Valleon and quite diverse in species and ethnicity.
The species with the highest population is that of the Humans. Most of the cities and settlements in the Kingdom of Valleon are built by the human settlers who arrived thousands of years ago. Whether they are early Vallais like the city of Fuerdonne, or Levanian like Sabonvalle, most of the standing settlements today are human built. Although, other species who have assimilated and moved in have added their own architecture and style to the cities.
Secondly is the Elves. Being so close to Dy Pwud, Elves made their way to modern day Valleon quite early after their arrival. Some of their settlements of the early settlement still remain, retaining the early Elvish culture that found itself so close with nature. However, instead of living in towering Redwoods, they mainly live in Alpine forests and upon the shores of Lake Sudore. Most of the Elves in Valleon, live among the humans in cities built of wood and stone, intermingling with their culture and living by their laws. Their integration has been so successful that many of the noble houses of Valleon contain elven blood in the form of Half-Elves, or are entirely Elven such as the Artoiles Line.
Thirdly, is the Giant-Kin. Also known as Fjallbairnir by Giants and Tenro by each other. The Giant-Kin of Valleon are often found in roaming tribes of nomadic hunters and gatherers. While many may look at them from the outside as savages who refuse to enter cities, they have a vibrant culture and rich oral traditions. They are also the fiercest warriors of Valleon. Due to their giant blood, they are towering compared to the average sized species like humans, outgrowing them by anywhere from mere inches to a couple feet.
Fourthly is that of the Drakiza. A proud and noble people who reside in clan-like structures surrounding keeps and fortresses in the hills and mountains. These reptillian folk with scaled hides share some relation with dragons. Their scales match the colors of dragons, and many even being able to breath fire or frost like the beasts of old. They have lived in the valley for a long time, some of their keeps being millenia old.

Territories

Their territory includes everything between the Aderic and Zikos Mountains. From Lake Rallacard to the north, all the way down to the Sea of Eberus in the south. Along the Quastere River that runs through the center of their country and reaching the edges of the Everstorm Fields. They even keep some territory surrounding the Mountain Keep of Thermosa, claiming the mountaintops and underground cave systems and Vallais land.
Most of their land is ancestral and ethnic homelands of the people who call them home. The Vallais have always lived in The Ardese Valley, sometimes they were united, sometimes they were conquered. In recent history they were disunited and at each other's throats, but still Vallais. Before they came to be known as the Vallais, they were the Ardicans. The Ardicans shared a common faith and tongue. Tribal squabbles kept them from founding a singular state. That was until, the Levanian Empire entered the valley. Conquering the southern valley, they looked northward and saw a fertile land to bring into the empire. The Ardicans in response, formed the First Kingdom of Valleon. The Ardicans would keep the Levanians at bay for half a decade of conflict. However, they would be conquered and genocide would wipe their culture and people from their home. However, the Rallac tribe of Lake Rallacard remained. The Rallac invaded the empire and pushed their way south. After a long campaign they took the Levanian city of Sabniria, modern day Sabonvalle. The Second Kingdom of Valleon would be founded by the Rallac people after their conquest and a Vallais renaissance would occur. The Second Kingdom would fall to corruption and a weak economy and the independent warlords period would begin. Those warlords would go to found independent states and form most of the border of the current kingdom. However, with the Ruination and The Dwarven Invasions, the Third Kingdom of Valleon was formed of their ancestral lands, and now included Drakiza and the Giant-Kin.
Thermosa was won during the war, and is currently forcefully held by the Kingdomg of Valleon under military occupation. Some Dwarven elements still offer stiff resistance against the Vallais occupiers, but no large scale rebellion has sprung up yet to free the city.

Foreign Relations

Valleon has great relations with other nations, especially The Haskanian Empire. Their greatest rival is their nextdoor neighbor to the east, The Empire of Veret, which is the largest empire on the continent of Czerelan. The rivalry runs deep between the two countries as Veret's expansionist ambitions have soured Valleons trading ventures, and has also brought the two countries to blow with each other. The Sudorean War, a conflict fought between Veret and Valleon over the territory around Lake Sudore was a bitter conflict, despite it only lasting two years. They sought trade and friendship in the Haskanians, another rival of Veret, which only soured relations between the two Czerelani countries further.
Outside of larger empires, The Kingdom of Valleon tries to maintain and open and mercentile way of relations. promoting trade between themselves and other lands, especially those on the Oracesi and Malurian Peninsulas. Their greatest allies on the Oracesi Peninsula are the City of Ciore, The Kingdom of Chorvo, and the Duchy of Cavada. The latter two attempt to keep good relations with Valleon, due to their close proximity with the Kingdomf of Ardocia, an Oracesi powerhouse and ally of Veret.

Unity, Prosperity, Liberty

Founding Date

23rd of Fosrenary, 4201 AS

Type

Geopolitical, Kingdom

Alternative Names

The Kingdom of Valleon, The Third Kingdom of Valleon, Vallais Kingdom

Demonym

Vallais

Power Structure

Feudal state

Currency

The main currency of Valleon is the copper Siln, a small copper coin that is roughly the size of a thumbnail. Upon the front face of the coin is a pair of swan's wings and the face of a Vallais hero, Cimaradus. Upon the back is the date in which it was printed with the motto, Unity beside Artoiles.
There is also the Silver Reluor, an oval shaped coin twice the size of the Siln. Depicting the King, Kaironis Artoiles upon the front with the motto stamped above his head. On the back sits the Valleon coat of arms, depicting the bird of the country, the swan with wings outstretched.
They also have been producing a new coin made from gold. The Vallais Suol, which is often depicted as being a golden coin with a hole in the center. Circling around the outside of the coin is a dragon.