Valdoran
Area
Valdoran is the ancestral home of the kings and queens of Francalia, their seat of power.
The dominance of Valdoran over the other kingdoms of Francalia has been a fact since the start of the third millenia.
A thousand years ago the kingdoms of Francalia were in a constant fight for supremacy.
It would take one very special family and its incredible thirst for power to unite the kingdoms and proclaim themselves Kings and Queens of all Francalia.
Since then, the countries have been in a fairly settled state with each other which has proved beneficial to all, but especially to the powerful kingdoms of southern Francalia.
Valdoran is an area of contrast: it is said that all the different landscapes of Fancalia can be found in this one kingdom.
In the east, The Ormonts Mountains are as wild and as high as the northern peaks of Francalia.
Pine forests grow on the steep slopes of the high peaks. The highest summits have eternal snows and impassable glaciers.
The country's frontiers in these parts are with the mysterious Encrors in Francalia to the south and the Alevins to the north.
The River Vaillant creates a natural border between those two countries and Valdoran.
Both Rivage and Camarrie have benefited from their geographical situation within Francalia, and have been for centuries the greatest allies of Valdoran and its dynastic kings and queens.
Habitat
- High Valleys
Most of the Ormonts range belongs to the Encrors and the Alevins.
The Alevins are part of the kingdoms of Francalia and serve the Valdorans kings and queens.
The Encrors are not human, but have been able to hold their own against the human invaders for the last three millenia.
There is actually little interaction between the human kingdoms and the Encrors.
The high peaks toward the west are part of Valdoran and the human settlements of the valleys will mainly consist of mining towns.
Many minerals are found in the Ormonts.
Gold veins are abundant in certain areas, as well as sapphires and other crystal stones. The best stones are given annually to the King and Queens of Valdoran in a tribute ceremony dating back centuries.
Valdorans will also keep goats' herds and make a very renowned cheese from the goats' milk.
The Valdorans are also very good cabinet makers and wood artisans. Turning wood is one of the main activities during the long winter months in mountain homes.
- Sunny Valleys and Forested Hills
As we move away further down the mountains, the valleys become much warmer and are ideal to grow the red grapes that will make the famous Valdoran wines. The Valdoran wines are famous all over Francalia, and expensive vintage are to be found in all the courts of Francalia.
Whole hillsides are dedicated to growing the grapes to make the red nectar. The valleys are also ideal to grow cherries, peaches, and apricots - all fruit that cannot grow in the colder parts of Francalia.
Farms and crofts will also keep small herds of pigs and sheep on the wooded summits.
- Rolling Fields and Green Hills
Going down to the coast, the hills become gentler and the valleys wider, giving way to a fertile land where anything is able to grow or just about.
Fields are interspersed by copses and lakes.
Rivers meander lazily through the land.
The keeps of the lords of Valdoran have traditionally been built on heights.
However, more often than not, newer and modern mansions have been built in beauty spots inside walled large parks.
The King's town and capital of the Empire, Valdor is situated not too far from the coast in a vast cuvette surrounded by low hills.
Its population is the highest in Francalia and the city is said to be one of the wonders of the world.
The buildings are all made from the same white stones found in the quarries further south towards the borders with Malory, and the whole city seems to be gleaming on a sunny day.
The market towns of the region have grown very big within the last century or so, creating a housing problem - shanty towns have been sprouting up within the popular quarters of the city.
However, the last two Kings of Francalia recognized the problem and sent their own architect to help out built more decent accommodation for the workers of the ever-expanding artisans quarters.
The Valdoran towns and villages are very proud of their reputation for clean living, and will not have anything disfigure their neat and beautiful towns.
- Coastal Bays
The Valdoran coast is a mixture of rugged coastline, sandy beaches, and sweeping bays.
At the top of the country, the state-city of Longueran occupies the whole of The Longueret Peninsula .
Past Longuet, and Longueran, the Valdoran harbors export the kingdom's goods and in particular the Valdoran fruit (preserved in jars or dried) and wine.
Further down the coast, smugglers have found the coastline propitious for hiding and trafficking goods.
Successive Valdoran Kings and Queens have sent their armies to try to stamp out the illegal trade, but despite some success, it is still a lively market.
This is not helped by the fact that smugglers can quickly disappear in the southern seas and hide in the lawlessness of the Narbonnan wild coasts.
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
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