The Kingdom of Kalisandria
Kalisandria is a kingdom of sprawling countryside, mountains, bays, forests, and canyons. The largest and most populous of the Bastion Realms, it is named after the royal family which has ruled it for 19 generations. Despite its vast borders, Kalisandria fields a large standing army to keep those within the kingdom safe. This army is the biggest constituent of the Imperium's military. People native to Kalisandria are known as Kalisans.
Structure
Kalisandria is a reformed feudal system with King Rhodes having absolute authority. The King does however heed the advice of his Crown Council which includes priests of the Omnis Ecclesia, high ranking nobility, and the heads of several trades guilds.
Although King Rhodes III has recently abolished serfdom, the majority of Kalisandria's "free" peasants still live in a form of indentured servitude.
Culture
Although the royal family pays homage to Caelumn the Lord of All along with most Kalisans, the kingdom of Kalisandria does not have an official religion and even though Kalisans are free to worship how they see fit. Their culture is more shaped by trade and the state of the monarchy than religion. Residents often share news from the capitol, rumors about places in the kingdom, or local gossip among one another. The monarchy, especially the current king, is held in high regard to the majority of Kalisans, although some nobles are upset by his recent reforms regarding serfdom.
Chivalry is also an important concept to Kalisan nobility, land-owning commoners, and the Kalisan military. The code of chivalry is a moral system which combines a warrior ethos, knightly piety, and courtly manners, all combining to establish a notion of honor and nobility. While most knights are considered at least minor nobility, some interpretations of this chivalric code include a vow of poverty. These knights are called "hedge knights".
One of the hottest games in Kalisandria is Vassylle. Vassylle is played with its own deck of cards, each card a creature assigned a number. Players shuffle and deal the deck, bidding on hands of creature sizes they think can beat other players’ hands. Skilled Vassylle players can be met travelling the cities & towns of Kalisandria, often looking for a match.
Kalisans consider themselves to be hardworking and industrious; however to outsiders, this often comes off as aggressive and uptight.
Major Holidays
- First Feast - Yearly after the first harvest of the season, Kalisan’s join for First Feast. This is a holiday of food and community, entire towns coming together to share a meal in recognition of the gods’ good will towards their harvest. In some portions of Kalisandria First Feast is nothing more than an elaborate meal, while others spend the day in festivals celebrating.
- King’s Rite - Whenever a new king is to be crowned in Griffon’s Crest, the event is called King’s Rite. During King’s Rite, messengers spread the word of the new king’s coronation throughout the kingdom’s borders, and the city opens its arms to all who make the pilgrimage there to witness it. The coronation itself is a grandiose affair, sometimes lasting days.
- King's Day - On the ruling king's birthday a grand tournament is held in Griffon's Crest and other smaller celebrations take place throughout the kingdom.
- Midwinter - Although being a holiday celebrated throughout the Bastion Realms, Midwinter within Kalisandria has been growing ever more dedicated to Caelumn the Lord of All. The Omnis Ecclesia has recently revealed that Caelumn's crusade against the pagan gods began on Midwinter.
Public Agenda
The Kalisandria Kingdom has done well under the Bastion Imperium. The threat of conquest by the Protectorate forced the elves of the Alfwood to open their borders to trade and made sea trade more reliable by subduing raids from the Skeggs and the Red Isles. The former King Rhodes II was also able to leverage its large military force to garner rights and privileges not granted to any of the other nations in the Empire. With the current emperor having no heir, many within the Kingdom including himself see King Rhodes III as the obvious pick to fill the role. Therefore, the Kalisan leadership seeks to do whatever it can to strengthen the Imperium.
Assets
The kingdom is rich in resources, land, and gold. During the negotiations leading to the formation of Imperium, the former king, King Rhodes II, was able to win concessions that saw some of the Imperium's taxes be funneled into Kalisandria's military. This has lead to the largest standing army in the realm. One that almost rivals the Protectorate's
History
The land that makes up modern Kalisandria was originally home to twelve smaller kingdoms. One of these smaller kingdoms, Avalonia, was ruled by the Kalisandrus. The early Kalisandrus kings used an effective strategy of military might and extortionary diplomacy to create a new larger kingdom that they named after themselves creating the modern Kingdom of Kalisandria. This led to many wars of expansion something all of the kingdom’s neighbors are especially wary of. The twelve former kingdoms now make up the twelve provinces of Kalisandria. Eleven are led by a Duke and one, Avalonia, is officially led by the king's heir (in this case Prince Lucas) but is still pretty much ruled directly by the crown.
Still, Kalisandria’s royal army is massive, able to muster scores of thousands of men when fully assembled. Despite the relative peacetime the nation has enjoyed, the army is well-trained and is an intimidating force. Neighboring regions respect Kalisandria’s power, and for the last several decades there has been no call to arms.
Kalisandria sees a good deal of trade. Given its size, neighbors on all of its borders bring tokens of their respective cultures to the kingdom, creating rich selection of items in its cities of commerce.
Territories
Avalonia: Known for its lush landscapes, ancient ruins, and a strong tradition of chivalry, Avalonia boasts the capital city of Camelot, a center of learning and knightly orders.
Eldara: Renowned for its sophisticated culture, courtly manners, and romantic troubadours, Eldara's capital city, Valois, is famous for its grand palaces and is a hub for artists and intellectuals.
Dornheim: A land of decentralized power with numerous independent city-states, Dornheim's capital, Imperialburg, serves as a symbolic center. However, real power lies with various counts and lesser nobles.
Rheinfell: Characterized by dense forests, imposing castles, and a strong martial tradition, Rheinfell's capital, Wulfsburg, is known for its disciplined military and skilled blacksmiths.
Verdantlund: A province with extensive farmlands, windmills, and intricate canal systems, Verdantlund's capital, Havenheim, is a city built around waterways and is known for its agricultural innovations. It serves as a vital breadbasket for the surrounding provinces.
Alenluire: A mountainous region known for its skilled spear mercenaries, Alenluire's capital, Neutrstadt, is a well-fortified city nestled in the Summits of Alenluire, the eponymous mountain range. The province is famous for its cheese, a robust banking industry, and being the only domestic Kalisan source for iron ore.
Istovia: A land of city-states, art, and commerce, Istovia's capital, Venari, is a beautiful coastal city with canals. The province is known for its skilled artists and master craftsmen.
Varangia: A vast, sparsely populated land with dense forests, plains, and a strong warrior culture, Varangia's capital, Varosha, is a formidable fortress city. The province is renowned for its powerful cavalry.
Estragale: A province with diverse landscapes, including rolling hills, vineyards, and coastal cliffs, Estragale's capital, Vinoluna, is renowned for its winemaking and cultural festivals. The province is known for its passionate people, vibrant music, and a tradition of flamboyant bullfighting.
Rhenoria: The northernmost province with a rugged coastline, dense forests, and a seafaring culture, Rhenoria's capital, Amberport, is a major trading hub known for its amber trade and shipbuilding industry.
Prazenhaven: Known for its picturesque landscapes, charming villages, and rich cultural heritage, Prazenhaven boasts the capital city of Pragolith, a city of spires and bridges famous for its scholars, alchemists, and clockmakers. Prazenhaven is at the crossroads of magical and scientific advancements, making it a center for intellectual pursuits.
Gaeloria: More culturally related to the Counties of Gaelndor, Gaeloria was the final "star in Kalisandria's banner." Despite adopting the Kalisan system of governance, it retains much of its Gaelish culture and traditions.
Duty before all!
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Training Level
Professional
Veterancy Level
Experienced
Demonym
Kalisans
Leader
Head of State
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Palace economy
Parent Organization
Location
Official Languages
Neighboring Nations
Comments