Valencia

Overview

Valencia is an ancient forest-bound nation occupying a peninsular region along the North-Western reaches of Tavrus. Its power is shaped not by expansion or population, but by longevity, magical stewardship, and absolute control of its homeland. The nation’s influence radiates outward from Sylvaen’thir, the vast living forest that defines every aspect of Valencian life.

While royal authority is absolute in law, governance in Valencia is measured through tradition, consensus, and consequence rather than decree alone. Time and memory carry greater weight than urgency, and decisions are made with centuries in mind. Change occurs slowly, but once enacted, it endures.

Valencia is overwhelmingly elven. Other peoples are rarely permitted permanent presence, and those who are allowed remain tightly regulated by custom and law. Cultural identity is inseparable from land and lineage, shaped by duty to the forest, the crown, and the balance between the Material Realm and the Fey influence that permeates the nation.

State & Governance

Geographic Position
Valencia occupies a forest-dominated peninsula in the Southern (New World) of Tavrus. Its position isolates it naturally from continental powers, with land access limited to a small border region. The surrounding seas and the forest itself serve as both defense and boundary, reinforcing Valencia’s inward-facing nature.

Government and Authority
Valencia is ruled by a dual monarchy, an elven King and Queen who govern jointly. Their authority is absolute in law but restrained by tradition, precedent, and responsibility to the land. They are not viewed as rulers above the forest, but as its foremost stewards, bound to preserve balance between elven society, Sylvaen’thir, and the Fey influence that permeates the realm.

Administrative Structure
Beneath the crown exists a layered governance system composed of elder councils, wardens, and noble houses. Elder councils advise on long-term consequence and precedent, wardens oversee regions and borders, and noble houses administer population centers and specialized duties. Authority is distributed deliberately to prevent rapid or reckless decision-making.

Law and Justice
Valencian law is customary rather than codified. Legal decisions rely heavily on precedent, intent, and long-term impact rather than strict written statute. Punishments prioritize restoration of balance, whether social, environmental, or spiritual, over punitive measures. Crimes against the forest are treated as crimes against the state itself.

Capital and Seats of Power
The capital of Valencia exists within the Great Pillar, the colossal world-tree at the heart of Sylvaen’thir. Rather than a single city, the capital is a vertical network of councils, courts, and sacred spaces grown into the tree itself. Other regional seats exist throughout the forest, embedded within Elder Pillars and canopy networks, all directly subordinate to the crown.

Society, Economy & Power

Population and Culture
Valencia is overwhelmingly elven. Permanent non-elven populations are virtually nonexistent, limited to sanctioned envoys, oathbound individuals, or those under exceptional circumstance. Valencian culture is defined by patience, continuity, and memory. Time is viewed as a resource rather than a constraint, and cultural change occurs slowly but deliberately.

Relationship to the Land
The forest of Sylvaen’thir is inseparable from Valencian identity. The land is not owned, exploited, or reshaped at will. Instead, it is managed through stewardship, ritual obligation, and negotiated coexistence. Elves are raised with the understanding that survival depends on cooperation with the forest rather than dominance over it.

Economy and Trade
Valencia maintains a tightly controlled economy. Resource extraction is minimal and highly regulated, with little emphasis on surplus production. Trade with external nations exists but is limited to high-value, low-volume goods such as enchanted materials, Fey-touched artifacts, and rare alchemical components. Imports focus on metals, worked stone, and specialized manufactured goods not produced within the forest.

Military Doctrine
Valencian military forces are defensive by nature and optimized for forest warfare. Emphasis is placed on concealment, mobility, precision strikes, and denial of movement rather than open battle. Permanent fortifications are rare; instead, terrain manipulation, warding, and rapid-response units form the backbone of defense. Invading forces are typically disoriented and weakened long before direct engagement.

Foreign Relations
Valencia maintains formally peaceful but strained relations with neighboring powers, most notably the Republic of Tardev. Diplomatic contact is permitted only through designated routes and representatives. Cultural exchange is limited, and misunderstandings are common due to radically different views on land use, authority, and time. Peace persists not through trust, but through mutual recognition of the cost of war.