The Nine City Alliance of Valleterna

"Valleterna, my dear, fickle Valleterna! A valley of love, laughter, and yes, a fair bit of heartbreak—most of it caused by yours truly, I fear. But what can a fox do when the wine flows sweet, the señoritas smile brighter than stars, and the nights are alive with music? Still, beneath her beauty lies trouble aplenty. Peace here is no sturdy stone; it’s a thread worn thin by greedy hands playing their little games of power. I say let them play! Tonight we drink, we dance, and we charm. For the future is a stranger; and the present our only friend."

— From: "A Fox’s Chronicle of Valleterna" by Reynardo de Verdanza

  The Nine City Alliance is a loose diplomatic coalition formed by the major cities of the Valleterna Valley to protect shared interests and secure their borders. Like the Witchrealm of Morvathia and the Kingdom of Demenore, Valleterna was once a territory of the Galdoric Empire. However, during its rebellion and eventual liberation, the leaders of the uprising could not agree on a unified form of governance. Instead, they forged a coalition pact, allowing each city to remain independent while pledging mutual support. This alliance is overseen by the Concordance of Nine, an assembly composed of the lords and ladies who govern each member city.   While the rebellion’s success granted full autonomy to the largest cities that participated, many smaller settlements chose different paths. Some remained loyal to the Galdoric Empire, while others remained neutral throughout the conflict. These smaller entities were ultimately forced into the role of “vassal wards”—a feudal-like arrangement where a settlement pledges loyalty to a patron city in exchange for protection and governance. In return, the vassal ward supplies its patron with resources such as taxes, trade goods, or manpower, ensuring its survival in an otherwise fragmented political landscape.

The Nine Cities of the Alliance

  While other realms possess regional disparities in culture and custom, Valleterna stands out for the extreme differences between its major cities. Each city in the valley has developed a distinct identity, with unique beliefs, traditions, and ideas that often clash rather than blend. This lack of cultural overlap stems from Valleterna's fractured history. Much like the Free Realm of Bittermarsh, Valleterna was never a unified kingdom but rather a patchwork of settlements formed by outsiders and refugees seeking shelter during the chaos of the Age of Silence.   Under the occupation of the Galdoric Empire, Valleterna functioned like any other vassal realm, ruled by imperial authority through the High Divine’s proxies. However, following the rebellion and the establishment of the Concordance of Nine, Valleterna came to define itself as a unified political entity for the first time. Though its stability remains precarious even at the best of times.   The Nine Cities of Valleterna are the backbone of this alliance, each offering its own distinct strengths and challenges to the realm:


  Verdanza is perhaps the most unusual city in the entire Nine City Alliance. Situated on the edge of the Sagewood, it borders one of Netherdyn’s most mysterious regions—a forest where animals, known collectively as Faunlings, possess the ability to speak and communicate. The city’s origins are equally unique, having been founded by an owl, a wolf, and a squirrel who sought to bring animalkind into the larger fold of civilization. This bold and unconventional mission led to centuries of struggle, marked by hostility, prejudice, and even outright violence from its neighboring cities.   Verdanza has been razed to the ground and rebuilt twice in its history. The first destruction came at the hands of neighboring cities determined to drive the Faunlings back into the Sagewood. The second occurred during the Galdoric Empire’s reign, when imperial agents sought to eliminate what they viewed as an unnatural aberration. Despite this repeated devastation, Verdanza’s resilience ensured its survival, and during the rebellion against the Galdoric Empire, its citizens were offered formal recognition as an independent city in exchange for their support in the war.   After liberation, Verdanza became one of the strongest advocates for maintaining independence within the Alliance, refusing to sacrifice its sovereignty after so many years of struggle. However, this hard-won autonomy left a lasting wariness. Even now, the Faunlings of Verdanza remain deeply mistrustful of the other cities, fearing the day when history might repeat itself.   Verdanza is governed by the Triune, a council composed of an elected owl, wolf, and squirrel, chosen to honor the city’s legendary founders.

The Battlefield of Political Powers

  The greatest strength of the Nine City Alliance lies in its diversity, but this is also its greatest weakness. Each city maintains its own form of government, yet all elect a City Lord or City Lady to represent them in the Concordance of Nine, the assembly where decisions affecting the alliance are made. These gatherings often devolve into heated debates, where the independent cities struggle to find common ground. Requiring a supermajority vote of seven out of nine to pass any decision fosters collaboration but also leads to frustrating delays and gridlock.

  Despite their many differences, the cities of Valleterna have found ways to coexist and cooperate, ensuring the valley remains both functional and protected. Beyond the political machinations of the Concordance of Nine, various organizations operate on a valley-wide scale, funded collectively by the cities to serve shared needs. Among these, the Nomadic Guilds stand as a cornerstone of unity and survival.   Maintaining Valleterna’s vast roadways and infrastructure is no simple task, given the constant threats posed by bandits, hostile fae, and the strange phenomena that plague the valley. The Nomadic Guilds are a network of traders, mercenaries, thresholders, craftsmen, and engineers who traverse these routes, ensuring the flow of trade and the safety of travelers. They repair damaged roads, investigate disturbances, and provide protection to merchants and citizens alike.   The Nomadic Guilds draw their members from every city in Valleterna. Their ranks are funded partly through tax contributions, partly by volunteers, and occasionally through outside hires. It is not uncommon to see a Verdanzan owl faunling scouting ahead alongside Cobaltière knights, while Agualumbre artisans repair bridges and Nivreluna wizards deal with lingering magical anomalies. These mixed traveling groups serve not only as practical solutions to the valley’s problems but also as visible symbols of the cooperation Valleterna is capable of achieving.   However, the valley is vast, and the Nomadic Guilds are stretched thin. To supplement their efforts, the Guilds frequently hire mercenaries and adventurers to handle specific threats and problems that arise, particularly in remote regions or troubled vassal wards.   Many Valleternans regard the Nomadic Guilds as the true backbone of the Alliance. Unlike the Concordance, which is often paralyzed by political infighting, the Guilds are known for their smooth cooperation and pragmatic approach to problems. This effectiveness has led to a common belief among the valley’s citizens: without the Nomadic Guilds, the Nine City Alliance would have fallen apart long ago.

The Pillars of the Concordance: Political Factions

  The member cities of the Alliance often align themselves with one of three dominant political camps: the Unifiers, the Autonomists, and the Reformists. Each faction reflects a different vision for Valleterna’s future, and their competing priorities fuel much of the tension within the Concordance of Nine.

 

The Vassal Crisis - An Ongoing Conflict

  The Vassal Crisis remains one of the most persistent and volatile conflicts within Valleterna, steadily worsening with each passing year. While the Concordance of Nine represents the unity of the major cities, the vassal wards—smaller settlements bound to the patronage of the cities—live under the shadow of their protectors’ ambitions. The relationship is feudal in nature, with vassals pledging tithes, labor, and loyalty in exchange for protection, but tensions simmer beneath this arrangement as grievances continue to mount.   At the heart of the issue lies the Vallestern Compact, a recurring proposal within the Concordance that aims to codify the rights and obligations of vassal wards. The Compact seeks to guarantee fair treatment, proper protection, and limits on taxation, addressing growing resentment in regions where vassals feel overburdened, neglected, or exploited as pawns in their patrons' political rivalries. While Caudaluna and Cobaltière support the Compact, viewing their vassals as essential allies in maintaining the valley’s stability, cities like Puerto Opalino and Brillamarque fiercely resist it. Opponents argue that the Compact threatens their economic dominance and undermines their authority over dependent settlements.   In some cases, the tensions have erupted into outright rebellion. Several vassal wards have refused to send tithes or declared independence under the principles outlined in the Compact. These uprisings have often ended in bloodshed, as patron cities respond with force to crush dissent. Cities such as Brillamarque, Rosaflor, and Nivreluna have faced particular criticism for their heavy-handed suppression of riots, with reports of brutality that further embittered the vassals. Yet, despite mounting unrest and growing calls for reform, the Vallestern Compact has repeatedly failed to secure the supermajority vote required to pass in the Concordance, though it has come dangerously close on several occasions.   Many believe the Vassal Crisis is a powder keg waiting to explode, its tensions exacerbated by political infighting and the cities’ unwillingness to cede control.