Vilstrung
The Free State of Vilstrung is one of the three major human Kingdoms of Tregaron.
Home to the Villish people, Vilstrung is known for its spacious wilds and sparsely placed, yet densely packed cities.
This is due to the inhospitable environment. Vilstrung is filled with Fae, dangerous monsters, and gigantic beasts that prove far too dangerous for connecting infrastructure to leave the established towns across the continent.
Though it is uniquely isolationist, Vilstrung is known for being the main country under the jurisdiction of the Huntsman's Court.
Geography
Vilstrung is dominated by dense pine forests and coastal highlands that stretch across the west and east Coast. Western Vilstrung is known for its massive cliffsides and rocky grasslands, and is often seen as the cradle of Villish civilization. Far Eastern Vilstrung is generally avoided; it is the inhosptiable tundra, filled with ice, permafrost, and cold so fierce that boiling water freezes the moment it touches the air.Climate
The Villish climate is known for being relatively cold by human standards. While it holds modest summers and temperate springs, the winters are known for being harsh to its inhabitants; especially in the east.Government
Villish politics are heavily fractured due to their societies being separate from town to town. Each city and hold carries its own separate political belief that's different from the next town over. Your average Villish citizen likely cares little for the outside politics of the state, and more for their immediate surroundings rather than the entire free state.Court Politics
Vilstrung is governed by the Huntsman's Court; the Grandmaster of the Court serves as the head of state for life and directs funds and levies taxes from the Burgomeisters that are elected by their citizens.Burgomeisters
Cities are widely separate from each other in terms of policy and belief; each city is controlled by a Burgomeister, an elected official that's given the power to create and execute laws upheld by lawmen supplied by the Huntsman's Court. Burgomeisters are elected by their local village or town and are kept in power until they either pass or until the Court deems them unworthy of their position of power; often done by petitioning their abdication.Villish Laws
Villish laws are very vague and their laws are upheld by the people as much as the Judges of the court. They are interpreted on a basis of what the Villish people call Verstoß; that is, the belief that laws only exist to ensure the rights of men aren't infringed on for the sake of another. Cities are given Judges to settle disputes and draft contracts between two parties. These contracts and disputes allow settlements to be made without bloodshed and uphold fairness and tolerance within their society on the spot; a Court from the Huntsman is always free to call upon in a time of need. There is no jury in a Villish dispute. Instead, the Court serves as Judge, Jury, and Executioner of Verstoß.Culture
The Villish have very close communities that are separate from one another in culture and belief. While they have a few unifying things that bring their people together, these communes are very distrustful to outsiders -- and even unwelcoming to lone travelers. Strangers that walk alone are seen as an ill omen, with some superstitions labelling it as a sign of a potential Doppelganger.
While hard working and stubborn to a fault, the Villish have a very jovial side with parties and festivities that frequently erupt throughout their towns. They are well known for their ingenuity in packing as many people into one space and providing the infrastructure necessary to give them a comfortable living. Villish homes are often generational, and can sometimes hold a family of twenty separate relatives.
Vilstrung is the only human Kingdom whose official language isn't Common; while many cities have adopted this language through trade over the years, smaller towns or villages often speak exclusively in fluent Villish.
History
Kin-Clans
Villish heritage traces back to the many different city-states that held an uneasy alliance across what is now Eastern Vilstrung; these were called Familie der Familien, or Kin-Clans; villages that were lead by leading families trained in battle. The Kin-Clans were small, but many, and while they would frequently find themselves in petty disputes, they held together against the dangerous rival Kingdoms that could be found rising and falling around them during the The Cruel Age. The Kin-Clans eventually settled their differences and formed Vilstrung out of necessity; during this, Vilstrung was much smaller and only covered the eastern half of the continent.The Hagen Dynasty
During Aine's pilgrimmage, King of a very powerful Kin-Clan named Alaric Hagen began to unify the Villish people under one banner. Aine's belief that humanity was stronger as one had influenced the minds of every Kin-Clan, and the warrior King, Alaric von Hagen, was eventually recognised as the father of all Kin-Clans. Incensed by Aine's death, King Alaric later lead a violent crusade across the West. He lead his people to both unify believers and execute those that would not unify under one rule, which lead to the creation of the Hagen dynasty. King Alaric found peace with Ignan and Mordencrast, and he was ordained a saint by the Church for his heroic charge. The Hagen dynasty continued to rule for centuries after until its eventual collapse. Much of Villish society during this time was not too dissimilar from where it is today; the royal family of Vilstrung served the role of the Huntsman's Court.Collapse and Fall
The Hagen dynasty collapsed shortly after Vampirism infected the family; one of the vampiric bloodlines is named after the Hagen family, now seen as a stain among their lineage. Rumours were the first that spread; tales of the then-king Alaric V worshiping ancient Gods and drinking the blood of his people from cups carved out from skulls. The state fractured. Loyalists to the Hagen family, and loyalists to the Church, which lead to civil war waging between the East and West of Vilstrung. In time, Alaric V died in battle alongside his army, and the loyalists to the Hagen dynasty were forced cede their power to the Church, which established the rule of the free states across Vilstrung. Many Villish people hold a deep resentment towards the concept of monarchies and find a callous hatred for Kings or rulers. This battle later lead to the conditions necessary to spark The Crusades; wherein the Church ventured into Mordencrast to begin their purge of vampirism and, subsequently, blaming Elven kind for cursing humanity with Vampirism. The Church would also fall later after suffering crippling losses from the The Blood Curse ravaging it during the crusades. These losses eventually lead to the Huntsman's Court's current position of power.Demography and Population
Vilstrung is inhabited by native Villish humans; most of the East however is sparsely populated by Snow Elves due to it being far too inhospitable for humans to reasonable live in.
Valmastre, the Villish capital, is a major adventuring hub that is much more of a melting pot compared to the surrounding cities and villages found dotting the state.
Technological Level
While isolated from the outside world, the Villish people have grown to innovate alongside each other. This has lead to a lot of technological breakthroughs; many firearms can often be hearkened to Villish manufacturers, especially heavier weapons like cannons or high caliber rifles.
They are also known for the creation of the most advanced railway system in the world, known as Eisenstraus.
In spite of that, modern conveniences in Vilstrung are usually left solely to the larger cities, while villages and towns are often far more rural, tight-knit, and seldom interact with anything or anyone outside of their enclave.
Agriculture & Industry
Common plants to expect in a Villish climate is sturdy barley, oats, and beet roots. Much of their agriculture is generally made to feed the community rather than serve as exports, as larger farms are generally very expensive -- and sometimes even dangerous, to maintain outside of a city's walls.
The Hunting Industry
Perhaps the most well-known part of Villish culture is their culture being so heavily centered around hunting. Meat makes up a major part of the Villish diet; and almost every village has a specialised meat market known as a Metzgereien, designed to process the massive beasts and megafauna that can be found throughout the Villish wilds. Monsters the size of houses hang from hooks while skilled butchers carefully dismantle them down to the bone. Every part of the beast has its use; bone can be shaped into supports for buildings, while thick hides make for clothing. In coastal towns, fishing is a massive part of Villish import and trade; particularly the pearl and whaling industries.Infrastructure
Settlements are spaced far and few between in Vilstrung. Roads are incredibly uncommon and usually never connect other settlements that haven't been established into massive cities; while villages and smaller towns are generally left isolated from the rest of the world. Most Villish settlements are self-reliant, yet contained and focus upon their community.
Roads are mostly uncommon due to the dangers that comes from travelling in the Villish wilderness, and merchants that rely on travelling through Vilstrung often need specialised vehicles to handle the rough terrain or dangerous wildlife.
Electrical grids and radio stations are a fresh development in Villish society, but are usually reserved within those settlements.
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Demonym
Villish
Ruling Organization
Government System
Kritarchy
Currency
Gold or Zhanne.
Official State Religion
Deities
Location
Official Languages
Related Ranks & Titles
Controlled Territories
Related Species
Related Ethnicities
Comments