Regions of Enelis
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Verdant Kingdom of Verland
Divided Feudal Kingdom of Knights and Chivalry
Banner: White horse on a green flag.
Capital: Verdemont (34,450)
Notable Settlements: Sourdun (20,110), Varanne (13,210), Vialas (12,310), Luneray (10,430), Virton (8,030), Cervon (7,930), Monferran (6,540), and many smaller market towns.
Ruler: King Piden Urgomen III
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Military: Moderate. Holds 135 defensive fortifications.
Languages: Nomen (Common), Toldan.
Religion: Eastern pantheon.
Primary Exports: Grains (wheat, barley, oats), Beer, Cattle, Mercenaries.
Detailed Map of the Eastern Coasts
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History
The lands of Verland have been in relative conflict since the Toldrie humans expanded into the region. Between the Verestes and Amadea rivers, Verland has always been composed of prime farmland with verdant fields easily irrigated by nearby streams. When the Nomen Empire expanded into the territory, they quickly developed the region into the one of the primary bread-baskets of the empire. With the horses brought by the Nomenir, the people were able to tame the fields and hills into perfect fertile fields. As the Empire began to fall apart, the coveted lands of Verland fell into internal conflicts. At first, the lands were part of the Southern Nomen Empire, but the lords of Astonia were unable to maintain control over the region. Provincial lords would command authority, but eventually the lands would dissolve into numerous small chiefdoms and city-states.
The lands of Verland would face great devastation and ruin when the armies of the Dohkan landed on its eastern shores in 130 G.R. The Dohkan razed and destroyed every settlement and field as they pushed through the land, heading north into Astonia. Many of the mercenaries and knightly orders fought in the Last War, returning home to a ruined land. War, plague, and famine followed, sending Verland through some of its harshest years. Each knightly order and mercenary company fought among themselves for control of the region, known as the War of the Tattered Banners. The war finally ended in 268 G.R., when Lord Veron Urgomen, leader of the Knights of the White Mare, defeated his chief rival, Baron Halan Daucourt of the Order of the Black Dragon’s Claw. With the gathered fealty of the other regional leaders, Veron became the first monarch of the new united kingdom of Verland.
Verland was able to redevelop its lands in peace and prosperity, spending the next couple centuries in a period of rapid population growth and development. But, over time, internal politics weakened the cohesion of the kingdom. In 625 G.R., the War of the Devils began, and the united Baronies of Kalrua declared war on Verland. A great army of soldiers, undead, and devils marched into Verland. The war devasted much of the farmlands and Kalrua conquered and controlled the southern portions of the kingdom. It took a joint effort of the Astonia Imperium, Loyolla, and northern Verland to repel Kalrua from their borders and end the war.
In the years since the War of the Devils, Verland has rebuilt, but its internal cohesion has greatly weakened. The regional dukes and barons are not as supportive of the king and many suspect civil war is in the near future. In the meantime, the regional leaders fund and conduct a shadow-war of mercenaries and orders of knights, fighting over resources and land in unofficial conflicts.
Government
Verland is a true feudal monarchy, with the heir of House Urgomen as the definitive monarch of the realm. Regional barons and dukes are granted land by their liege, who in turn grant land to lesser vassals and so forth. While the word of the King is law, the barons and dukes hold considerable power and militaries of their own, thus an organized betrayal by two or more of them would greatly weaken the king’s hold over the realm. It is thus that Verland finds itself in a politically tense situation. Many barons and dukes openly question the king’s ability to rule. However, most vassals are usually too engaged in their own conflict with other lords to allow any of them to garner the support they’d need to overthrow the king. While the law of Verland forbids direct in-fighting among the vassals of the King, the King does not expressly forbid the shadow-war, where the lords hire mercenaries and knights to fight for them over lands and resources. Many believe that the King encourages this shadow-war to keep the crown out of reach for the more ambitious lords.
Military
It was once the responsibility of each vassal to don armor and bring their militias to join their lord in battle. However, these days most vassals hire out that responsibility, granting the right of arms to mercenary knights of one of the grand knightly orders or mercenary companies. Over time, the number of mercenary groups and knightly orders has exploded, with each order under contract by one or more lords. When lords call their men to arms, they soon have a hired army of very well-experienced soldiers at the ready.
Economy
The economy of Verland is quite strong and profitable, since it is still one of the main bread-baskets of the eastern coasts. Grain and beer flow from Verland to throughout the known world from its trade routes and sea-ports. Verlanders are also prominent cattle breeders, with some of the highest quality beef for those that can afford it. Oxen and plow-cattle are also common exports. Mercenaries are also a common commodity out of Verland. When mercenary groups and knights are not under a contract for a local lord, they will hire themselves out to missions in other parts of the world. Some of the best soldiers-for-hire can be found in Verland.
Culture
The feudal culture of Verland depicts a very typical medieval setting. The society of Verland is very orderly and courteous, but also highly divided between three branches. The aristocracy of the lord and ladies of the court, who enjoy a life of chivalry, honor, and comfort. They often organize tournaments and jousts for regional knights and lords to compete with one another. The second branch is the churches and knightly orders, who hold some lands in the name of their order with local parishes and offices to recruit citizens into their religious and military ranks. And the third branch, the serfs, who work their fields and their lord’s manor in the name of a local vassal to the king.
The people from Verland are extremely devoted, whether that is to the local church, a knightly order, their local lord, or to the realm as a whole. They also tend to be quite courteous and polite, even if they have bad things to say about you in private. They are hard-working and tend to believe that everyone should be in service to something greater than themselves. They tend to be very religious and devout to one of the deities of the Eastern pantheon (particularly Korrond, Solarus, Hermaen, Numenor, and Demater).
Adventure
There are plenty of adventures to be had in the Land of Knights. Verland is filled with political intrigue, feudal strife, and conflict between mercenary groups. It is not uncommon for travelers to come across a battle between two orders of knights or mercenary companies, whether they represent local lords or are fighting for rights to a contract. The western border of Verland does host rumors of monstrous hags kidnapping children and wandering bands of goblins and orcs roaming the hills. Local lords pay quite well for adventurers to deal with these threats, and such contracts could lead to more lucrative commissions in the future.