Kyvan, and its capital Pskev, have a long history which dates back to the Age of Conquest, and is the birthplace of Velgan culture although the Kingdom of Maskeva are loathed to admit it. Kyvan is a fierce defender of history and culture in spite of being under the authority of the
Velgan Empire, so fierce is Kyvan that it enjoys a special status that only imperial and free cities possess.
Geography
The landscape of Kyvan consists of large and fertile plains, and vast and dark forests. The river Velnieper runs through part of its easten frontier. In the west and north the Icy Spines, save for Summer Pass, mark the end of Kyvan’s influence.
Level of Autonomy
Unlike most of the other Povitz (Provinces) of the
Velgan Empire the Kyvan is ruled by its own nobles and the former Princes of Kyvan who have been officially reduced to the status of the other nobles, although they still hold power in the eyes of the Kyvan nobles. Broadly speaking Kyvan must conform to the laws of the
Velgan Empire, and the
Velgan Empire’s tax collectors have a stranglehold over trade and common tax in the Povitz. Kyvan, however, has some autonomy, it is not subject to the Velganisation of culture and language where practices and language are destroyed and replaced by Velgan ones.
Race Relations
The
Velgan Empire has remarkably and notoriously bad relations between races. The Elder Races have a long history of being opposed, abused, and conquered, a feature that is firmly still the case. Discrimination against nonhumans is entrenched in the legal system of the
Velgan Empire, as they are official second class citizens, who are restricted in terms of employment, ownership, and even where they are permitted to live. Additionally, nonhumans have fewer and worse legal recourses when a crime is committed against them by a
Human. The majority nonhuman provinces also face much greater taxes and restrictions against them.
Views on Arcane Magic
The
Velgan Empire believes that magic is an unpredictable risk, but its use is more than justified in service to the Tsar. The
Velgan Empire is a signature to the
Toc’vastil Accords, but only tacitly conforms to it, allowing various leniencies; providing
Bastille Mages prove their loyalty to the Tsar and Empire they are given more freedom that mages in virtually any other
Human kingdom save for
Aarelan, they are permitted to leave the
Arcane Bastille for pre approved amounts of time, and some are even freed from the confines of the
Arcane Bastille system itself. Mages who are not loyal can be subject to the same abuses seen in other kingdoms.
History
Kyvan has a long but broken history and was the source of Velgan culture and language.
The city state of Kyvan was founded by the Velgans peoples during the Age of Conquest when humanity clashed with the Elder Races for control of the lands. It was in this context that Kyvan was created and throughout the Age of Conquest Kyvan grew from a city state to a grand kingdom encompassing much of the the Velgan people and took its name after them, Kyvan Velg. Within the Golden Age of Kyvan Velg the Kingdom encompassed much of the north of
Taunas, including the young city state of Maskeva which was greatly influenced by the culture and language of Kyvan Velg.
All golden ages come to an end, Kyvan Velg was no different. From the South of
Taunas and
Talduras the Runemanic, also known as the Palemen, a
Human ethnicity, rose to power in the region with their Fylkes. Kyvan was subjugated and reduced to but a regional power. It was only after the chaos and destruction that the
Age of Blood brought that Kyvan Velg became resurgent and independent once more.
The resurgence and independent Kyvan Velg was short-lived, as the Kingdom was conquered by the Kingdom of Maskeva. Kyvan was able to retain more independence than the other conquests of Maskeva, as result of cultural and religious connections, but was reorganised into the Grand Duchy of Kyvan under the control of the Tsar of the
Velgan Empire.
Religion
The official state religion of the
Velgan Empire is the
Ebon Flame , a sect of worship to the
Radiant Lady , it is the popular religion within the Empire, and the only one that can be legally worshipped. The dogma of the
Ebon Flame is based upon a hatred of the nonhumans, as well as the belief that the
Radiant Lady is the only true faith. The
Ebon Flame believe that those who are born with magic or learn its arts are cursed, but can be redeemed through devout faith and service to the country.
Despite the illegality, there are other deities and faiths worshipped within the
Velgan Empire, some of these are the
Seldarine is the most popular pantheon among forest gnomes and elves, and the
Morndinsamman among dwarves and rock gnomes. Likewise the
Draconic Pantheon are favoured among the draconic races.
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