Vilka

Vilka is an absolute monarchy with a king at the top and noble vassals below. Vilka is a feudal state, with vassals and lords serving the monarch. With peasants and serfs at the bottom working for their lords.

Absolutist, elitist, Vilka's culture is souly focused on the decadence and glory of the ruling monarch. The monarch sets the trends for courtly conduct, dress, food, etc. The lords and ladys of Vilka are expected to follow suit, and they do for fear of displeasing the despot in power. Arts and theater flourish in Vilkan society as the current king is obsessed with such displays. The culture of the nobility is one of archaic honor codes and chivalric knighthood, more in name than in practice.

Large fortresses, coffers of gold and jewels, some of the best horses in Aeris, Vilka looks as stong as ever.

Claiming their independence in the year -987 BGC, the wealthy Vilkan leaders flooded the revolutionary armies with money and resources. Vilka fought off the Praetorans for many many years up to the end of the war in -900 BGC. The Vilkans established their monarchy, and instantly tried to establish trade. Sadly these laid plans were dashed when the Great Collapse devastated the globe. In the post-collapse world the diplomacy between Vilka and Anglica ended, sparking war in 67 AGC. The Vilka-Anglica War lasted four years, and while there was no necessarily clear winner, Anglica took small gains from Vilka. This would begin their lasting rivalry that lasts into modern times. For the rest of the century Vilka focused on it's own internal business, suring up their fortress system in order to guard from possible Praetoran or Anglicai attack. Rumors spread in 90 AGC after the Shyrland independence movement was successful that it was the Vilkans that influenced it. These rumors were unfounded, but that didn't stop Anglica from resenting the Vilkans further. Some say that in order to one up Vilka for this possible subterfuge, the Anglicai navy led a coalition of nations against The Chorus. The Vilkans had tried fighting off the pirates after they'd been preyed off of for years. But these attempts at curtailing Captain Rydon Wavewalker's rise to power were ineffective. The early parts of the Century of Glass were peaceful till the Val'Kara Wars erupted in 119 AGC. The Praetoran Empire discounted Vilka as a lesser threat. Thinking conquest of Vilka would be fast, the legions of the empire marched to the northern border where they were met by the Vilkan fortress system. The fortress system proved harder to overcome than the Praetorans had expected, and the Vilkans grinded the imperials down before finally beating them in a final battle that saw the death of the emperor. Between the Val'Kara Wars and the Great Alliance War Vilka improved it's military, infrastructure, and especially cavalry. So when the Great Alliance War came to Val'Kara, the Vilkan armies were ready to fight. Again they proved that their cavalry could roll over near any force, hitting extremely hard and equally fast. This military might would be put to the test again in the 2nd Vilka-Anglica War. Shockingly the grand cavalry was bested by Anglica's longbowmen. This loss was avenged when the Vilkans won the war in 326 AGC. The territorial losses by the Vilkans in the first war were reclaimed. The War of Falling Stars in 349 AGC saw the DVT conquered by the Praetoran Empire, and then invasion of both Anor-Gotha and Vilka quickly afterward. Uneasy cooperation between the two free states began, but mistrust between the two nations caused there to be disorganization. Due to this flaw, both nations fell to the empire. Finally in 388 AGC Vilka and the other nations were freed again. The Vilkans gladly joined the the Defensive Pact formed after the Val'karan Unity Conference. But as the Long Freeze and Shadow Wars began, all concept of continental unity fell apart. The Vilkans retreated to the coasts and major cities. There they held out till the end of the Freeze in 718 AGC. The Great Leap saw a rise in new technology and ways of thinking rising. But the Long Freeze also hardened the monarchy's grasp on absolute power, absolutism became an easy philosophy to follow after years of uncertainty. Following the In Regeneratione the Age of Empires began. Over the century the Vilkan desire for preeminence on the continent grew. Seeing Anor-Gotha as the prime target for proving themselves as the strongest nation in Val'Kara, they crossed the Silver Mountains and invaded Anor-Gotha. The Great Midlander War would last seven years, and see Vilka cracked by Anor-Gotha. The victors would take part of Vilka's coast, but more than that it broke Vilka on the inside as well. The coffers of Vilka were dried up, and after 10 years of increased cruelty by the king, and starvation, the Vilkan Civil War began in 995 with the death of the old King Petain Le Gerrec XIII. His weak and decadent son Loic Le Gerrec was crowned. With this coronation Vilka broke into a hundred independent factions, over the last 5 years these factions have lessened to about 20 different warring factions vying for dominance over the kingdom.

The population is mostly human, with other common peoples being half elves, elves, and dwarves. The coastal towns and villages are far more diverse than the inland regions.

Vilka sits on the west coast of Val'Kara, holding many important warm water ports. Their eastern lands are cut off by the Silver Mountains, and the north and south is divided by the Fracyan Alps.

Vilka's military is made up of the nobles and their levies, as well as the royal private army. The Vilkan cavalry is well known across the world for it's dominance and effectiveness on the battlefield. Legions of light footmen provide support to the cavalry, and archers are used en masse to soften the enemy for attack.

Technologically advanced as most kingdoms go, with the most advancements held to the major cities and ports of Vilka. Their fortresses are some of the largets and most advanced in the world as well. And although comparing these fortresses to similar ones in the Khaja Sultanate or Zen-Tsu's Wall in Alea, they are the most advanced of their kind in Val'Kara.

Only the High Gods can be worshipped in Vilka, worship of the Low Gods is punishable sometimes by death.

Vilka has just left a war with Anor-Gotha, leaving them in a period of unrest culminating in the current civil war. Due to this, they've turned inwards. But Vilkan diplomats can be found in states such as the DVT, the Norsean Empire or Krazkow.

Vilka is an agricultural feudal state, relying on it's fertile fields to provide for the land. Industry in Vilka is similar to that of Anglica, there's some but it isn't as prevalent as in Anor-Gotha or the Dwem'vera Triumvirate.

Vilka has a massive trade network, trading with nations across the known world from Kari to the Khaja Sultanate. But this trade has decreased as the rebellions within Vilka have crippled the economy further.

Only the upper classes are fully educated, this is strictly enforced. The only upwards mobility is for those who prove excellent commanders in the army, though this is rare as nepotism usually wins out.

Vilka boasts massive keeps that guard her borders. And the capital city holds grand cathedrals and palaces for the royal family. Outside these military or noble buildings, the peasants live in squalor comparatively.