The Nation State of Vakulara
Structure
The current leader is one Belshr Gozhita. a giant of a human man and an expert general and friend to Jorikberg, he has ruled wisely and made sure that the lands are secure as best he can. Under him is his council of advisors, who in turn are made up of and represent nobles amongst the city. Thus they look over the citizenry, and make sure to keep the ports alive so that pilgrims may arrive in their droves.
Culture
Being a land constantly beset by war, and having been used to living in the harsh lands, the Valakians are a hardy and tough people. Some would call them grim, but this is more along the lines of pragmatism. The Valakians have had to make many hard choices to survive in these harsh lands, and resist the undead menace. All work to support the industry of Vakulara. From the toil of every laborer is the nation able to run, as though it is small it is well fortified. The place is also a sight of religious importance, being relatively nearby a common pilgrimage pathway to the grave of the Pureborn Hero. This means that a frequent stream of pilgrims are arriving in the city, and thus the Church of the Flame has significant power in Vakulara. However, the Tajiran people also have some of their churches there as well, for many Tajiran's gave their lives around this portion of the Deadlands, and so the cities are abuzz with a diverse range of religious preachers and criers. To protext these pilgrams, the rich iron and mineral viens go into the production of weapons and gear for the military. The town guard is always keeping a keen eye on the city streets, and do their best to keep the lands safe.
However, though the might of their arms is great, it is just barely enough. In truth the Valakians fight a losing battle, for every warrior lost is another enemy added to the legions of infinite dead coming at them day in and out. However, the people have refused to move from their homes, marking their line in the sand and swearing that they will drown their homes in flames rather than leave them in shame. Much of their music and their art is of telling the triumphs of their great warriors and military leaders, and joining the army is considered a great honor. Thus the smiths never cease to work, and the hammering of steel into armor and blade can be constantly heard as the people go about their day. Life is hard, but this has made the Valakians a hard people, focused entirely on surviving for even just one more day.
History
Many will say that the history of the free city state of Vakulara began under the fist of undead rule. This is partly true, but there is the history that not many know about. The long dead Vunao kingdom was once a prosperous land, home to many riches and fertile fields. The most minerally wealthy of these cities was that of Vakala, located in the northern region of the land. This land prospered from rich resources and trade, however like with the rest of the kingdom, it fell into despair when the Vunao kingdom fell. As the out of control magic ravaged the land, great pillars of bone and stone encircled the city's borders, effectively completely encircling it. This led to mass panic as the people did not know what was going on.
Sadly much of the history following this event is lost, but what is known is that sometime after, the territory came to be ruled by a great vampire simply known as Ratibor Bauman. Under his rule, he implemented the harshest blood tax in the land, and would grow more decadent by the day. He forced the people to harsh conditions under his iron fist, and through this he earned himself a prestigious position in the Midnight Aristocracy. He ruled for thousands of years, however his undoing came at the hands of one man: Jorikberg. Jorikberg was but a child when his noble house gave him to Ratibor's house as a hostage due to a recent political scandal. Under the watch of Ratibor and his house, young Jorikberg was educated in both scholarly pursuits and in the art of war. So promising was he that he caught the eye of the ever hungry Ratibor, and he made Jorikberg one of his generals. So arrogant was the vampire that he suspected nothing as Jorikberg won victory after victory against rival vampire rulers. However, during a pivotal battle against a rival vampiric house, Jorikberg deserted, taking a few men absolutely loyal to him and made his way discretely to the city of Vakala. There he would rush Ratibor's chambers, and stake the dreaded lord in his sleep.
After displaying the head upon a pike outside the caste walls, Jorikberg declared himself the liberator of these lands, and that no more was man to live under the tyranny of the dead. Though some resisted, this was swiftly put down as many flocked to Jorikberg's cause. No more was the city Vakala, now it was shouted from the streets as "Vakulara". Jorikberg proved to be a wise ruler, and though obviously forming a nation state over night leads to chaos, Jorikberg was able to avoid most of it for the first few years of his rule. When other vampire lords sought to move their armies to suppress this uprising, Jorikberg outmaneuvered them on all fronts, and kept the nation alive long enough to fully form in its small but mighty area of land it now inhabits. However, Jorikberg tragically died of an unknown disease in the year 4130, leaving many to mourn his death. However, his successor, one Belshr Gozhita (a respected friend of Jorikberg in his later years), has proven to be a worthy successor. He helped complete a ritual to remove much of the mountains blocking the wider sea from Vakulara, opening the nation up to the rest of the world. He has also maintained the ever vigilant watch against the dead, and even took part in the Crusade of Light. Though the Crusade failed, the Valakian spirt did not dim in the slightest, for the Valakian's have been at war with vampires their whole lives, and this crusade did not change that. Thus they exist today, a red banner flying over a land of death, with a people who will fight tooth and nail to make the dead pay for every single inch they take, even if it costs them their lives.
Foreign Relations
Due to being an site of religious importance, many other nations try to keep decent trade relations with Vakulara, though the Valakians are a stubborn people indeed. Trade ships flow from the ports, packed with disheveled and poor pilgrims as well as food and other trade goods. They are also a key point of safety in the lands of death, and so many adventures move through their ports to hunt down monsters in the Deadlands. Their bones and strewn corpses dot the lands just outside the borders of Vakulara.
"Duty before Dishonor"
Type
Geopolitical, City-state
Demonym
Valakian
Official State Religion
Location
