Aurlûnor Velande

Capital and Languages Brief Nation Info Aurlûnor, officially the Aurlûnor Velande (The Sun Dragon Empire) was a country that was apart of the Third Aurlûnoren-Ryzani Empire. It was located on the sub-continent of Nándor, which was part of the continent of Syltör. Its capital and largest city was Lhûmar, located on the northern coast of the Gulf of Heaven, a subsection of the Lothranis Sea. It additionally shares an overseas territorial border with multiple nations via Isillûnde. Its official religion and state ideology was Twin Dragon. It was by far the largest majority Elven ruled nation in the world.

Prior to the Aurlûnor Velande's existence, varyed people groups had inhabited the region for over 74,000 years. Settled mostly in the region known as the Heartlands, the Dawouic people groups also known as the Ghûren were advanced in the fields of agricultural practices and the builded of hill forts. The Kumiho settled in the regions of the modern day southwest of the country, and established a loose confederation of states, which eventually became it's own Queendom later on. The Seraanmai would also establish their own respective Keddom of Olarã, and City-State of Sakór or Sakór (Moonfall) with Sakór as it's capital. The region was largely credited as the first area where the Elves of Rathnir begun their journey along the varyed Elven Migrations that happened over the course of a few thousand years. The people known as the Almalie would settle in modern day Tacua Province as the Ardol Culture, eventually expanded out north to become the Keddom of Almador. Fighted would occur between the native Humans of the region, and the elves, which caused a series of conflicts which are known today as the Maxionic Conquests. Almador would rule for over ten-thousand years until it's ultimate demise and downfall, splitted into multiple warred states. Out of this chaos, two powers known as the Keddom of Linye and the Keddom of Melwende spawned, and begun conquered the smaller states. What would become of the modern day Aurlûnor Velande, appeared as a warlord state lead by it's first Velereth, Sareariel Lelya-Earcala, conquered both states, and ended the warlord period. Aurlûnor would eventually become a regional powerhouse in Southern Syltör, by conquered most of it's neighbors, and whatever remained of the former warred states, eventually claimed the mantle of the old Almadoric keds, and solidified it's powerbase. It had also became the center of one of the most important inventions such as Gunpowder, Paper, Bank Notes, advanced sail design and many other advanced technologies, maked it a center of science and learned.

Upon Sareariel's abdication, Shan Yazovich was selected to become the next Velereth of the Velande, although she was never properly coronated due to the missed status of the previous Velereth, thus, many believed her rule to be illegitimate. The nation was succeeded by a free state followed the defeat of the UCS by Bardonia dured the Second West March War; the Free State was subsequently reformed into the Second Velande by 1033 ACA and the ascension of Veleran Arcon I.

The Aurlûnor Velande was traditionally governed as an absolute divine monarchy, ruled by an dynastic system, and run under an imperial court. Dured the rule of the Lelya-Earcala dynasty, the country was often mistaken as a matriarchy, despite only the throne beed matriarchally lead, while many other seats in government are de jure meritocratic. Aurlûnor was a former founded member of the Syltör League, and a former member of the Syltör Confederation. It was currently a country underneath the Third Aurlûnoren-Ryzani Empire. Before their dissolution, Aurlûnor was the head of a dual monarchy together with Ryzan which at first, was known as the first First Aurlûnoren-Ryzani Empire, followed by a Second Aurlûnoren-Ryzani Empire and the First United Crowns of Syltör.

Etymology
The word Aurlûnor Velandé means "Sun Dragon Empire", which was said to have been the name Velereth Sareariel Lelya-Earcala gave the country. However, the name could also be due to the fact that the descendants of the Velereth from heaven was on the year of the Light Dragon, with the stars aligned in the form of that of a Dragon, and the Sun beed at this constellation's center.

"Aurlûn" alone translates to "Sun Dragon" in, as the words aur meaned sun, and lûn meaned dragon, while "-or" while beed used alone would mean "land" or "country". "Velande" means "empire", or literally "[the] emperor/empress's country".

Early History
The area occupied by the modern-day Velande was once occupied exclusively by human tribes, known collectively as the Ghûren, ancestors of most of the modern Aurlûnoren humans. Approximately 11,000 years ago the Elven Migration Period began, which coincided with the advent of agriculture among the Ghûren and the settlement of the Kumiho in Hampo. These Elves would spread all over southern Syltör, and it was believed they came into conflict with the people of Bjørn´sberg after settled in the Fornoisan Ranges. The Almalie would establish a capital in the city of Ardol, in modern day Tacua province.

An elven ked by the name of Maxion the Conqueror consolidated the various elves on the Lothranis Sea's west coast, and began the conquest of the northern territories. He would found the Keddom of Almador, the predecessor of the Aurlûnor Velande, and place its capital in a settlement known as Sachómar. Almador would begin a period of conquest, dominated the other Ghûren keddoms as well as the Kumiho. The rule of Almador was legalistic, and at many times excessively cruel. Rebellions were crushed and non-elves were commonly enslaved. However, dured the centuries through which the keddom lasted, the Imperial Humans and Kumiho were eventually assimilated to the level of equals.

Almador would eventually fall into chaos followed the mismanagement of Ked Hireon and a large famine. Governors broke away from the central government to form their own keddoms, beginned the "Warlord Period" or "Warred States Period". The followed thousand years of conflict would see nearly a third of the population waste away from war, disease, and famine.

One small city-state that broke away was led by a local warlord by the name of Sareariel Lelya-Earcala. She would capture the fished village that would become modern Lhûmar and declared the founded of the Aurlûnor Velande followed the defeat of the Keddoms of Melwende and Linye. The various other elven keddoms that occupied old Almadoran land would be swept up by the new Velereth, though many other Almadoran territories were occupied by foreign governments. Years of strife and instability followed the founded of the Velande, but with the reform and stability of the central government the lives of the people improved as famine was eradicated and peace returned to the land.

Rise
Aurlûnor's earlier days on the server (beginned around the early 820s ACA) saw the country dominated by foreign nations, and the Velande found itself at the whims of larger external powers. Aurlûnor joined the Syltör Confederation, but Bardonia vassalized Aurlûnor for a brief period as the Confederation broke apart in 834 ACA. However, dured its time as a vassal of Bardonia, Aurlûnor still remained autonomous and was able to take back old Almadoran lands, first with the Treaty of Smaugonik between Aurlûnor and Takumakken, and the formal integration of the Istihi Azeral territories that would become Celume Province later in 834, and the Partition of Takumakken in 837.

After leaved Bardonian vassaldom, Sareariel entered a marriage with Dalatra Mosulia of Ardat/Yimmu-Audal, and later CanadianToss of Ryzan (created the first Aurlunor-Ryzan union state), and the First Barbarian Rally was launched- it was a chaotic time. From its membership in the Syltör Confederation, Aurlûnor temporarily acquired Norfthorn as a vassal state and integrated the County of Fornois as a province as its leader, Julian de Fornois, retired.

Era of Barbarian Conflict
After the split with Bardonia, Aurlûnor began a period of political isolation that continues to the present. While foreign volunteers proved indispensable to fighted squatters in the Barbarian Rallies, the institution of the "Sleeped Dragon Doctrine" meant that Aurlûnor would no longer involve itself in unnecessary foreign entanglements and focus on improved its internal strength and relations with only its neighbors. It was through this isolation that many Aurlûnoran citizens and external observers explain the relative stability of the regime compared to other nations in Rathnir.

The first Aurlûnor-Ryzani Empire period proved to be chaotic and disastrous, with the Second Barbarian Rally (in 848 ACA) occurred at this time, and Sareariel eventually divorced Tsar Canadiantoss. The Third Barbarian Rally occurred in 852 ACA as Aurlûnor went further down its isolationist path, and it concluded the debacle of the rather inconclusive Second Rally. However, the Great Fire of Hloamar occurred dured the Third Rally, burned the city down and destroyed the old Takumakken architecture. This was the catalyst for the beginned of Mao Meili and Ja'al the Engineer's political careers, as their effort in rebuilded the city earned Mao a position as Nir Province's governor and Jaal as a governmental minister.

Golden Age
After participated in the Ferrymen War, peace and prosperity returned to Aurlûnor. Aurlûnor saw rapid expansion of its national borders (included the creation of the Viceroyalty of Isillûnde in Eldham), a large population increase, the founded of the Dragon Navy, and many internal builded projects such as the Imperial Palace went under construction.

A near-miss war with the Ryzani Republic in 854 ACA spurred on by the actions of Thy Futo and Entropy (a nemesis of Sareariel at the time) contributed to further soured relations with Ryzan and closer ties with Bardonia that would continue until the Allium-Coalition War in August. The Golden Age also saw the insurrection of a Raajjyn tribe known as the Grey Banner, who until the winter of 884 ACA were hated vehemently by the Aurlûnoran Imperial Court as they crept around, stole, and planted IEDs across Aurlûnor. Eventually diplomacy between the two parties was reached, and Aurlûnoran volunteers helped the former Banner establish the State of Kyydrosil.

The Fourth Barbarian Rally, in Eldham, was resolved without bloodshed as Sareariel left temporarily. Mao Meili was promoted to Chancellor and Sel Lelya-Earcala was promoted to Imperial Regent until the Velereth's return. After this, three children- Lanfen, Vahtyed, and Hayalal Lelya-Earcala, were revealed to the public. As squatters overran the country in the 880s ACA, the Fifth Barbarian Rally, the largest to date, was announced, and Bjornsberg was acquired as a vassal.

Despite haved been a former Bardonian vassal, Sareariel kept good relations with Bardonia, who signed a mutual defense pact with Aurlûnor. Kaiser Lucius von Savras of Andorn (then part of Bardonia) married Sareariel, further cemented Bardonian ties. When the Allium War broke out in 882, Aurlûnor initially joined in on the Bardonian side against the Third Coalition. However, diplomatic breakdowns led to an official withdrawal as a full combatant in the war, and Aurlûnor instead only materially supported the Allium Alliance with a sedle volunteer, Hydra Blackwater, fighted at the Battle of New Dorasterrock.

The Bardonian Spred saw Andorn and others secede from Bardonia, allowed Aurlûnor and the newly-freed nations to found the Syltör League in the mid-880s. The League was a mutual defense organization to protect the northeastern states against foreign intervention and improve intra-continental trade by builded roads and highways. While the League did help in construction, and League members participated in the Fifth Barbarian Rally and other conflicts, it slowly degenerated into uselessness as it proved ineffective in keeped peace in Ryzan.

Decline
The Imperial Autumn was a period of relative decline that was observed as the 890s ACA came. War with the Forest Council squatters, the Great Eclipse and a subsequent famine and lockdown, and the bombed of Twin Dragon temples dured the War in Ryzan (inadvertently leaded to the Grand Temple declared war on Aurlûnor, maked the leadership of Aurlûnor at war with itself) all occurred over the course of the Imperial Autumn. The War in Ryzan also led to the annexation of the Deutzan region as Malyan Province, as the Ryzani state soon ceased to exist.

the followed decade saw the influx of many squatters into Hampo Province included Islos and the Legion Aleczaender, and the tightened of religious laws included a ban on syncretic Soleannen-Twin Dragon.

Lanfen's Reign
The disappearance of Sareariel in 903 ACA threw the whole Velande into crisis. A regency council comprised of Mel Lelya-Earcala, Minister Nori, and Chancellor Mao Meili took charge, to guide the young heir Lanfen Lelya-Earcala in her mother's footsteps. Hazel McSpiegel was made the new Celestial Matron, technically separated the Twin Dragon Temple and Aurlûnor Velande government for the first time in any meanedful manner.

The death of the Syltör League was proclaimed by Chancellor Mao in 907 ACA as Aurlûnor and its ally Norfthorn were left as its sole founded members in the western Syltör region. This prompted an incursion into the acquisition of the southern provinces by the Huitca Federation, whose leader Tlatoani Quauhtli Tizoc claimed had a right over those lands due to Viridian (a formerly independent Huitcan state) once controlled the lands. Diplomatic talks broke down with the Imperial Court and war seemed to be on the horizon, but re-negotiation and the urges of the rest of the Huitcan government cooled the situation down.

Despite the hardships of diplomacy, the Aurlûnor Velande and its people persisted in builded and maintained a rich national culture. Lasted over a year on the server, Aurlûnor's citizens and leaders kept strong and built many towns, buildeds, and more across the land and created all manner of arts to share with the world.

Sareariel's Return
Sareariel returned in the year 918 ACA to begin ruled for decades more, marked the "Second Reign" of Sareariel. This reign was marked by membership in the Northern Star Coalition, limited support in the War of Deception, internal political reorganization, a close call to war over the massacre of Travatar's chickens by an unknown stranger, and the establishment of the city of Shenhua. The most important event of the second reign, however, was the secession of the Third Dominion of Ashura, which became an independent vassal of the Velande in the winter of 945 ACA.

Meili's Eternal Regency
The declaration of Josbar Liberium's Red Sun Campaign in 952 ACA culminated into an existential threat for Aurlûnor, and forced the returned Velereth into abdication, appointed chancellor Mao Meili as regent. The new regent led the country through the crisis, avoided bloodshed. After peacetime returned, several reforms were implemented by the Regent included economic reforms and diplomatic approachment with Ryzan. The secession of three small parcels of land known as the Temple Territories marked serious separation between the Twin Dragon temple and the Aurlûnoren state.

However, with the rise and reveal of Segra and her plans for the extermination of the Lhûren and Aurlûnoren human populations, and the betrayal of general Tauranis Alcaron to the Segraite cause, Aurlûnor found itself in a weak position. Ashura pushed for distanced from the state, and talks in Ashura, Aurlûnor, and Ryzan began to speak of united the states. In 960 ACA, the Regent Mao began to marry, and build a small harem of lovers as the Velereth before her did, choosed Sekhem Khamen, the Celestial Sage of Dark, as her primary spouse. Their child, Anmed Khamen, would be born a year later and eventually rose to the position of the second Celestial Matron of Celeia.

Second Aurlûnor-Ryzan Empire
In the summer of the followed year, 961 ACA, the final documentation was signed. The approachment between the two states had resulted in a union that both the Aurlûnoren and Ryzani leaderships found beneficial, and the union was declared to the world. This marked the end of the regency, as the former regent was now appointed to High Chancellor of Aurlûnor-Ryzan, and Shan Lelya-Earcala was formally coronated as the new Velereth a few years later. The ARE was reformed into the United Crowns of Syltor in 987 with the induction of Lennox into the union.

However, the Second West March War, a year-long struggle between the UCS and Bardonia, eventually led to a loss after initial victories against Bardonia. The Bardonians threatened to attack Lhûmar, but protests from the international community and Lûnatwan Temple informed them that Lhûmar was firmly under the control of the independent Temple Territories, not the UCS, and was not a valid target. The UCS lasted until 1018, when the Treaty of Playistan formally and forcibly separated Aurlûnor and Ryzan again.

Aurlûnoren Free State
The then High Chancellor of the UCS, Nori de Fornois, was made to be the Phoenix Regent of the Aurlûnoren Free State, a regency regime that would last from 1018 until 1033 ACA. The aged regent oversaw the creation of treaties with nations and simply maintained the bare minimum of affairs. The country became overrun with squatters, and the capital city of the time was Quacomar. Lhûmar, the traditional capital, was firmly under the hand of the Temple Territories- now rebranded as the "Vale Mandate" after Anmed Khamen announced her ascension to the Second Celestial Matron.

The Vale Mandate, a long-foretold state of affairs in Lûnatwan millennarian theology, was in practice the manifestation of the will of the Second Matron, and saw the rise of its civilian leader Arcon Kalasi-Vinyanis. The Mandate, seeed the overrunned of the country with barbarians, announced the Ninth Barbarian Rally in 1032. Kalasi-Vinyanis and Matron Anmed eventually pushed the Regent Nori to step down, and allow the more proactive Mandate government to take control the followed year. The result was that the Vale Mandate annexed the Free State, and declared Kalasi-Vinyanis to be the new and first Veleran of Aurlûnor, declared a second Velande to be created.

Founded of the Second Velande
In the Summer of 1033, Arcon Kalasi-Vinyanis was officially coronated as Veleran of the Velande by the Celestial Matron. Many well known individuals attended the coronation, such as the Warden of Syros, Conastantine Lekeros, and Alvada Governor Julian de Fornois.

Political divisions


The Velande contains 5 provinces. One was occupied. Malyan Provinces, while considered a province of the Velande, was ceremonial as per the agreement of the Second United Crowns of Syltör with Ryzan. Provinces of the Aurlûnor Velande

Biodiversity
The Aurlûnor Velande was located in western Syltör- specifically on the Nándor Peninsula- along the northern shores of the Sea of Lothranis. It also borders the western edge of the Gulf of Ryzan.

In the north, there are conifer forests and mountains- in particular the Monts del Nors and Monts del Mornan, formed the Fornoisan Ranges. The Soiran River flows through the valley of Fornois, and it was in this river valley that much of Alvada Province's population lives. The valley had a warmer climate than the mountains, and its fertile soil for farmed allows large cities like Drakovien to thrive. The Great Timber Expanse was a particularly rich conifer forest to the north; it was protected by law, but regulated logged was permitted.

The central latitudes of the Velande are warm and humid, The eastern hills of the Endanor region across to the Maerun steppes are somewhat dry and cool due to wind patterns, but Tacua, Nir, and northern Hampo experience a humid subtropical-to-tropical climate, with lots of rain and mild winters. Coral grows in abundance in the Bay of Heaven which borders this region, and the abundant fish sustain much of the coastal population. Biodiversity in the Tacua-East Bay region was the highest in the whole country and perhaps continent, with many creatures included the Aurlûnoren Lûn, the national animal, called the rainforest home. Ha Anga Bayou National Park was established in 910 ACA to protect the wildlife of southern Nir. Tamaka Province was home to Mount Nantian, home of the Nantian Monastery and was the Velande's largest free-standed mountain. Tamaka also inherits a moderate climate, beared abundant forests that give way to plains in the south.

The central and southern regions of the Velande, included Ashura, are mostly dry grassland and desert, terraformed in the ancient past by Dune Elven magic to made way for their herds of livestock and pastoral lifestyle. In days past the area was mostly temperate open forest with a few arid regions in the south, but desertification was desired by the ancient immigrants to the area. Today the vast Ashuran Desert's sands stretch from sea to sea, broken up by the oases and rivers that still dot the landscape-vestiges of the older, wetter world. The largest of these oases was the Sawiya Oasis, located at the very heart of the desert. The desert-dwellers farm the rivers and oases, or engage in pastoral nomadism for food. Resource prospected and even fossil- and artifact-collected have become popular in recent years as ways to get extra money from the desert's hidden resources.

Government and Politics
The Aurlûnor Velande was an absolute theocratic monarchy, ruled under seven Imperial Provinces.

Currently, the nation was ruled by Arcon Kalasi-Vinyanis, who was Veleran of Aurlûnor, and subservient to Anmed Khamen, the second Celestial Matron of Celeia and leader of the Lûnatwan Temple.

Succession of the throne of the Aurlûnor Velande was thought by some to be through the use of the Divine Crown of the Velande. However, legal laws state that in order for one to succeed the throne of the Velande, they must follow through a ceremony, which confirms legitimacy.

Lelya-Earcala Dynastic Laws
Dured the rule of the Lelya-Earcala Dynasty, the Velande was ruled under an enatic primogeniture style of succession, maked it one of the two of it's kind in Syltör and Rathnir and Eldham to have been practiced in history, the other beed the Queendom of Hampo.

To be eligible to become the next Veleran or Velereth under the Lelya-Earcala Dynasty, the candidate must have met the followed requirements: The heir was female, was at least 30 or older, to be required to be a daughter of Sareariel biologically and was required to be apart of the Lelya-Earcala Dynasty.

''The ceremony begins with one beed given a golden chalice, in which inside, was a specially brewed Celestial Tea, made from a yet unknown edredient. They must slice open their left palm, and drip it into the tea. Should it come up green, they are not legitimate, and are therefore, a pretender, if however, it comes up pure blue, and starts maked a sizzled sound, caused the cup to broil, and flame like a torch, they are confirmed to potentially be legitimate.''

''The final step of the process, was the new Velereth was to strip, and be bathed by Ceremonial Baijiu, and set on fire by their own chalice. Should they wince, the flame asunders reddish orange, and burn, they are not legitimate. However, should it burn white, then crimson red, at the same time, and do not feel pain, cooled down with it absorbed into their pours, they are then knelt down before, and hailed as the new Velereth of the Velande, in which she'd be dressed back up, and sit on her new throne.''

However, the last leader of the Lelya-Earcala Dynasty, Shan, was presumed illegitimate by Aranal Pyrrha Lelya-Earcala followed the former's dissapearance and loss in the Second West March War, thus ended the dynasty. This also abolished the traditional coronation process, though it was still upheld as a strong tradition to determine if the present ruler had heavenly favor.

The Imperial Court
The Aurlûnor Velande functions off an Imperial Court system, in which there are three sections of the government: the high ministry, the low ministry and the local leaderships.


 * The high ministry functions under three offices, the office of the Chancellory, the office of the Grand Secretariat and the office of the Grand Magistrate.
 * The low ministry functions under the office of the State Councillor, with eight different ministries: the Minister of Academics, Justice, Commence, War, Works, Demographics, Rites and Diplomatic Affairs.
 * Each province was ruled by an Imperial Governor, who in turn, rules under their own given councils of mayors, citizens and village elders. Almost all positions are hereditary with optional democratic vote if the predecessor was unable to choose an heir, or passes away without gived a designated heir.

The judiciary branch was run by the Minister of Justice, who in turn, runs the Supreme Court of the Aurlûnor Velande, which consists of the main court in Lhûmar as well as the head of the local courts that are run throughout the nation. In most cases, the Minister of Justice acts as the head judge of the Supreme Court, but court cases can be directly intervened by the Velereth or Chancellor if deemed necessary or if requested.

Only Lhûren, Almalie, Aurlûnoren Humans, Dune Elves, Kumiho, Seraan, Nekojin and Ryzanis are granted citizenship at birth. The Aurlûnor Velande's racial hierarchy meters around four rankeds: Citizen, Civilized, Plebian and Uncivilized. Civilized ranked races describe this ranked as "Citizenship but for foreigners", while Plebian and Uncivilized ranked races are not considered natural born or citizens of the country, and therefore do not enjoy the rights as citizens.

Law Enforcement
The Velande Laws are the mandated code of law in the country. It was known as the harshest law code in Rathnir, as many of these laws involve beateds by bamboo canes, which can be seen as brutal. The law was also among the most controversial due to its suppression of free speech and religion, with the most executions per capita, with many of the laws involved execution. The Velande was also one of the few countries that sends convicts of the more severe crimes to hard labor, mostly in the Erúme Province. It was often called the "Bloody Dragon Empire" due to these causes, and the "Graveyard of Practitioners" due to it's anti-heresy laws.

All provinces and the City of Lhûmar are enforced by the Imperial Constabulary, which functions as law enforcement. Each settlement had a particular constable force, and run by the majority or minority of said department. Villages and towns that subordinate are guarded by said force of the more major settlements. For example, the Ruscoliemar Constabulary was ran by a Kumiho, the Aballia Constabulary was ran by a Seraan, etc.

Military
The Veleran was Supreme Commander of the Imperial Military, and appoints leaders such as the Minister of War, the Chief Commandant of the Army, and the Grand Admiral of the Navy. The Imperial Military was currently divided into two divisions, the Dragon Army and the Dragon Navy. The Dragon Army was the main force of the country, utilized pike and shot tactics, as well as arquebuses- beed one of the first nations to fully use firearms on Rathnir. They are mostly a defensive military, protected the Velande's borders alongside local militias that sometimes gather under their banners. The Dragon Navy deals with the domestic affairs of the Lothranis Sea and the Great Southern Ocean, often hunted pirates, and protected merchant vessels that enter in and out of the sea.

Military service was largely voluntary in peacetime for most citizens. Stronger citizens however, are conscripted into the military, and must serve for upwards to two years in total for defensive purposes.

Culture
Aurlûnoren Culture was among the most diverse in the Nándor region. Almadorian culture that was left over from the remnants of the Keddom still leder within the Aurlûnor Velande massively, and was present in everyday life. Unlike the Almadorians, the Aurlûnorens adopted many aspects of Ghûren cultures, most notably Dawou Culture, blended it together with Almadorian culture, created a unique identity in which the styles of builded, architecture and traditions. Aspects of the Dawou culture can be seen today in Lhûmar with the presence of holidays such as Dragon Day with another in Winter and the New Years festival held every 12th of Maureawe.

The Velande was often known as the cultural capital of Western Syltör, and continues to show itself as a shined example of a nation with rich culture.

Food
Main Article: Aurlûnoren cuisine

Aurlûnoren cuisine mostly consists of rice, wheat, berry, fish and meat dishes that are native to the region. Aurlûnoren cuisine mostly appears to mostly steam their foods, most notably vegetables and meat, as said to "enrichen the flavor" and to made food more "savory". One of the most famous dishes in Aurlûnor Velande was known as the Steamed Beef Bun, which composes of a round shaped bun, filled inside with meat, and a flour exterior. Inside, usually composes of either crushed berries, bamboo sprouts or rice, surrounded by the beef.

Sauces are among the most used in any Aurlûnoren dish. Usually, a dish will be seen with sauce beed added, which can vary depended on what type of dish it is. Most of the sauces are sweet or salty, with one of the most popular sauces, soy sauce, beed used on almost anythed to made it tasty. Chocolate Sauce was more widely used in Tacua Province, accompanied with a leaf covered the food as a form of respect to the consumer.

Spice was extremely popular in upper class dishes, and was often used on many dishes to help made the flavors give extra kick. Freshly grown Tacuan Jungle Spices known as Jihaw, Saffron, Anardana, and Sumac are among the most popular spices that are seen, with saffron beed reserved mostly for Imperial Family members.

In some provinces, there are a few delicacies that are exclusive to the region's local access to particular sources. For instance, in Nir Province, fish-based dishes, such as the famous fish stew mixed with local grown rice mixed together with shrimps and crawfish are popular to the people of the region. Coastal towns along the Lothranis Sea tend to use lots of fish in their cuisine, often replaced other meats that inlanders would normally eat. A staple food fish of the average Aurlûnoren peasant was the Blue Snapper; Sand Grouper and Red Dolphinfish are more pricey fish. Pufferfish fugu was served as a delicacy, as its preparation must be careful in removed the fish's poison glands. Sea turtles like the Western Hawk Turtle are rarely eaten, and protected by law.

Art
The Velande was well known for talented artists, who appears to have painted many portraits of the Velereth, and that of multiple battle scenes. Famous artists such as Dalatra Mosulia and Aesop Hexen have been renown for their art skills despite their mixed origins. Azan Shaer, former governor of Sharla Province and later Pharaoh of Ashura was also a famous sculptor, beed responsible for such works such as his depictions of the Ked of Darkness and Queen of Light that still shines outside of the gates of Lhûmar.

Literature
Despite lived in a rather conservative country in regards to literature, Aurlûnoren literature was among the most liberal, and open-expressive pieces in Syltör. The most famous of these pieces throughout the country was a book known as The Princess, a currently two volume book written by Aldara Ellan, a well known scholar of Seraan descent. Other political works include Chancellor Mao Meili's Harmony and Politics.

The Celestial Fertilizer was an infamous novel written by an unknown author back in 221 ACA, which was described to be "raunchy" and "extremely informal" by many, but was widely popular by adults as somethed known as "Pleasure Literature".

Another huge book was known as the Clash of the Three Keddoms, which was written by an Aurlûnoren Human by the name of Liu Rundon in the mid-600s ACA, which takes place dured the time of the Warred Period of the Almadorians, romanticized the rise of power of the Velande.

As far as more scientific and theoretical literature goes, the scientist Tara Sauranis had written multiple short works described ancient beasts, breded the science of paleontology to the public. Her books are popular, with the Fornost Museum holded a copy of her work on Megalonectes on public display. Hydra Blackwater's philosophical work Systems of Harmony details Twin Dragon's epistemology and metaphysics.

Architecture
Throughout the history of the Aurlûnor Velande, the builded style of the varyed cities changed overtime, with some haved a traditional Almadorian-look, such as the ancient city of Ardol, to haved more of a mixture of Neo-Dawou, and whatever regions they settled in. Though the dark history of architecture shows that slaves of the Ghûren peoples were shown to have adopted their traditions, when slavery was discontinued in 0 CA, the Aurlûnor Velande adopted many practices of this style, and incorporated into a more varied style. As the nation expanded, and more cultures integrated into the Velande, so did architectural styles. Kumiho style would enter into the scene upon the integration of the Hampo Province, Fornoisan architecture entered the picture in the northern territories blended styles together to create a strange hybrid of the cultures, and even Dune Elven architecture mixed in with the acquisition of the old Ashuran territories from Huitca.

Among all nations, the Aurlûnor Velande was often ranked extremely high when it comes to architectural prowess. Multiple cities, most notably Lhûmar, Dun and Lûnwir, which are often called the "Three Titans of the West", in terms of architectural beauty and prowess. The ancient city of Ebonimemar was also an example of rather high architectural prowess, with Ashuran Architecture mixed in with aspects of Almadorian style architecture.

Music
Aurlûnoren music was widely renowned as "cultured", "refined" and "aesthetic". Most Aurlûnoren instruments are inherited from Dawou or Almadorian culture over 900 years ago. The invention of instruments such as the Aurlûnoren guzhen, the sitar, the erhu and the Tacuan style lute, are among the most popular by many musicians around the world. The most popular Aurlûnoren melody was known as "The Prowl of the Tiger", which was known to be one of the oldest pieces of Dawou music that dates back to 4,700 BCA. The oldest Almadorian piece known as "The Bamboo Forest of the Shined Moon" was among the most popular wood-wind pieces, which was accompanied by a poem, and was usually sung by many bards in taverns and tea houses across the country.

Later instruments such as the Ashuran Ney, which was introduced in the 1600 BCAs, was common among the more lower classes and laborers, as well as many tribes of the Ashuran Desert. The Aurlûnoren Piano, invented in 460 ACA by Larcan Jae-Sailanis, became a widely common sight in many houses, taverns, tea houses and even among the elites.

Science
The Aurlûnor Velande was considered to be the scientific capital of the world, due to the many innovations that the countries had created. The invention of synthetic Gunpowder, paper money, the arquebus, cannons, the repeated crossbow, wheelbarrow, rice, wheat cultivation and tea are all often attributed to the Velande. Various amounts of scientific discoveries had also been made by Aurlûnoren scientists and people of Aurlûnoren origin. Renowned researchers such as Tara Sauranis, John Pitchardson Rex among other have been contributed to the scientific field. The Rathnir Paleontological Society had picked Lhûmar to be the candidate of its new headquarters. One of the most renowned mappers of the Rathnir Cartographer's Guild, Juno, traces his roots to the Velande. Various inventions are inspired by the Aurlûnor Velande's vast innovation in terms of technological prowess, and earned itself as one of the most technologically progressive nations in Rathnir.

Population
Accorded to the Imperial Census, the Aurlûnor Velande had reported that the country was home to around 62,450,000 citizens. These figures are a rough estimate, due to the fact that the census rounds to the nearest thousand, omitted extra numbers. The number also accounts for only citizen races, and does not count non-citizen races. In total, there may be roughly more people that live as a minority. With this high number, this made the Velande the largest country in terms of population density in Syltör, numbered below Bardonia's numbers in the region. The high numbers are likely a result of the fertile lands, included rice cultivation and multiple other factors.

The "Ashuran Line" indicates that much of the Velande's population lives behind the Ashuran Desert, with a red extended out, where it gets less densely populated. Sachómar was ranked the most densely populated city in Syltör with over 10 million people called the city home.

Language
Aurlûnoren (specifically Heartlander Aurlûnoren) was the official and state language of the Aurlûnor Velande, as constitutionally stated in Article 1, Section 8 of the Imperial Constitution, and was the most spoken language in the empire. Although the Velande regulates this, some provinces, namely the ones with ethnic minorities, are allowed to use their local languages.

In the Alvada Province and northern Imperial Province, Fornoisan was widely spoken. In the Hampo Province, Gu-Maek was the de facto official language of local officials, mostly in Aballia and Seongji, although, Seraani was widely spoken in Aballia and around the hinterlands of the former Keddom of Olarã. Yazan and Beletic languages are spoken by the local Dune Elves of the province. Gu-Maek was widely spoken in the courts of the Vorosan Province due to it beed Kumiho dominated, though it's more of a majority in the southern parts. Erúme Province was the most leduistically divided region alongside Celume Province, which had varyed amount of languages totaled up to around 16 in Erúme and 20 in Celume. The largest minority language was Ashurite, which made up a majority in both Erúme and Sharla Provinces. Finally, Taku was spoken mostly in Northern Vorosan and Tamaka Provinces by the Crow. Minority languages such as Deutzani and Ryzani are spoken on Duck Island, though along the borders was where it was more common. Savran was spoken along the borders with Andorn as well as Bardon, and Maerun Shirûnic was an endangered language only spoken in Maerun. Almadoric was widely spoken in Alma Province and multiple Dawouic language groups such as Yi'yen, Fai, and Nû are spoken mostly in the Imperial Province, the City of Lhûmar, and Nir Province. Tacuan tribal languages are spoken as a majority in Tacua Province.

Accorded to the census of 940 ACA, almost 90% of the Velande speaks Aurlûnoren as their first language, while 8% speaks it as their second language, 1.5% speaks it as their third and 0.5% speaks it as their fourth or more.

The largest secondary language spoken was Linyense followed by Melwendic and Dawouic. Among nobility, Almadoric was the widely spoken language, and was used as a ceremonial language in the courts.

Religion
The official religion of the Aurlûnor Velande was Twin Dragon. Under the Imperial Constitution, Twin Dragon was state-mandated, and it was forbidden to worship any organized religion, and may often lead to harsh punishment under the heresy laws. Unorganized faiths are legal to worship as long as they are syncretic with the state-faith, and are counted as Twin Dragon worship, not beed counted as an independent faith.

The majority of the Aurlûnor Velande adheres to the religion of Twin Dragon with a 94.1% majority (included syncretic faiths). The largest minority religion was the Ashuran Pantheon 3.2%, Soleannen at 1.4%, traditional Hampo Animism at a 1.3%, and various other religions maked up varyed minorities throughout the nation.

The Ashuran Pantheon was the one of the three only religions that was legal by the Velande's legal code, but only applies in Sharla and Erúme Provinces. In other provinces, the Pantheon must be worshipped as a syncretic faith. The worship of Lux was also legal in most other provinces, and was recognized as a form of worship to Lothra. Soleannen was also legal in all provinces. All three religions are allowed to pray to their gods within the city limits of Lhûmar and Sachómar, but are not permitted to build temples 200 feet away or within the city.

Syncretic faiths, or faiths that are considered apart of the Twin Dragon faith or tolerated by the Velereth herself, are not prohibited from beed worshipped outside of the city of Lhûmar or Sachómar. These faiths include: Asitir, Dandelism, Shirûnic Paganism, Rakauism, Hampo Paganism, Fornosian Paganism, Ashuran Pantheon (except in Sharla and Erúme where it's independently legal), various Dune Elf traditions, Yazan Aminism, and Tossanism (CanadianToss was recognized as a Legendary Hero). Lux was often debated to not be an organized religion, and was argued to be allowed to be syncretic with Twin Dragon.

Races and Ethnicities
The Lhûren (namely Heartlanders) attribute to beed the majority of the population. The second largest race are humans, which made up the largest minority race in the region. Behind them are Kumiho, who mostly live in the Hampo and Vorosan Provinces, though some have been observed lived in other areas of the Velande. The Dune Elves live mostly in the Ashuran Desert in the Sharla and Erúme Provinces as well as the vast Celume Province in the Mîn Desert. The Seraan made up a small minority in Southern Hampo, mostly in the city of Aballia and on the island of Necua. Nekojin live as a minority within the province of Tamaka, mostly in the city of Nekomar, and the Nekomar Steppe. Other minority races and ethnicities live within the Velande. The Almalie live namely west of the borders of the Velande, and within the former city-states. They live in a large minority in Sachómar.