Vulperium

The Vulperium, a multi-ethnic nation located primarily in the Serrona region of Eldham, is the main successor state and result of the union between the two mighty Kingdoms of Notos and Vulpinia. The Empire is lead by the Grand Valar (Valar meaning King) who is tasked with guiding the nation's diplomatic relations, military readiness, and growth, alongside many other matters. The nation's capital is the City of Aroforn; named after the historic last Emperor of the Vulpur species.

The capital Aroforn is the seat of power for the Grand Valar and is where all Royal Courts are held. The Foundation for the Vulperium was set in motion by the Second Valar of Vulpinia, Westeros Durradayne, with the help of his Vierl (chosen heir) and eventual first Grand Valar of the Vulperium, Brock Yolcotl-Durradayne.

Background of the two Valardoms
Vulpinia was a nation built to serve as a home for all the native Vulpur people of Eldham. It had it's origins in Rathnir before the colonization period, in which it served as a small vassal of nation under the Emirate of Najer. In Serrona, the Vulpinian state grew to encompass lands beyond the original range of the Vulpur people as they annexed and secured the western half of the Batu Khaganate following that country's collapse.

Notos on the other hand was a relatively new creation historically. It was preceded by 2 kingdoms, Elduria and Dejuria. Elduria has it's origins in a religious colonist group known as the "Campfire Society" which started out with rocky relations from it's neighbors in Vulpinia and the Bai Federation, The state of Elduria was created and it's borders defined as the fledgling Campfire colonists formed settlements with the other powers in the interests of peace. Dejuria wasn't settled by people from Rathnir or Eldham, but rather by a large group of experienced statemakers from an entirely separate world also known by Dejuria. It's population would later grow exponentially with religious immigrants from other nations, such as the Rasterians and the Ratist cult.

The kingdoms of Elduria and Dejuria were friendly neighbors in the Federation of Southern Stars, but after that organization's dissolution, they saw fit to better continue their cooperation through a union of their own: the new name of it being the Federation of Notos, "The Southern Wind", ruled by a high council.

Both nations, Vulpinia and Notos, underwent great changes before their final union with eachother. The growing Vulpinian state was officially declared as the Valardom of Vulpinia by Nuncio in September of 2021, and in January of 2022 the Federation of Notos was renamed to the Kingdom of Eros, ruled by Regulus.

Valar Westeros' Retirement
On 6th January 2022 Valar Westeros of Vulpinia, successor of the Valar Nuncio, declared that he was stepping down from the role to become Duke of Mournalor. His own successor was to be Vierl Shib, but she respectfully refused the role, nominating her husband and elected Vice of Vulpinia Brock for the position instead, as he thusly accepted the responsibility.

On 13th January 2022, after talks with King Regulus and the Erosian council, Westeros and Brock made an announcement that they were unifying the Valardom of Vulpinia and Eros into one grand empire - the Vulperium.

A new government is formed
A new constitution for the Vulperium was put into effect after this union, being one of the finer examples of legal writing & statecraft in Eldham. Many Vulpinian institutions and ranks were carried over wholesale, including the Nabu religious hierarchy of the Grand Bothiv and their priests, and the Ducal system where the subdivisions & major towns of each Valardom is led by a noble Duke, assisted by a count of their choice. As part of the unification process, House Regulus was recognized as one of the empire's Great Noble Houses, and the other leaders of Eros were recognized as nobility and rulers of each of their own respective duchies.

A key part of this new government system is the "Valar's Trinity". Under this system, the Vulperium state is split into 2 Valardoms, Vulpinia and Eros, each ruled by their own respective Valars. Ruling over both of these valardoms though is the Grand Valar, who has full reign and can designate a Vierl, or "designated heir".

Another interesting institution inherited from Vulpinia is the position of Vice Valar. The Vice Valar is second in power to the Grand Valar and is democratically elected by the citizens of the Vulperium, serving a 2-month term and aiding in the rule of the nation.

The Coronation of Brock Yolcotl & the Creation of Aroforn
In the Westerosi Palace at the old capital of Vulpinia Tildivul on Sunday, January 16th 2022, Valar Westeros crowned Brock Yolcotl-Durradayne as Grand Valar of the Vulperium.

This event was well attended with upwards of 20 people arriving for the festivities. Caden handled the distribution of drinks and Kk5288 sold plushies. The ceremony was marred by a bandit incursion from Mayynophobia and her companions. In the ensuing scuffle, people's items that were left in angel chests were rescued by Kk5288 and stored safely by Aza for their return to guests later.

One of the first acts taken by Brock after his coronation as Grand Valar was to merge the capital city of Tildivul and it's northern city in Sparport together to form the new capital of Aroforn, with the plan being that the middle land inbetween these cities would be constructed into a great metropolis connecting them together. To commemorate this occasion, one of the first steam-powered vessels in Serrona was built by the Vulperium Oceanic Steamer Company in a drydock outside of Sparport.

The Cheese Guild's Wager
The leader of the Cheese Guild, Moyye, agreed to a bet with Grand Valar Brock in late January that if Brock won a certain challenge, then the Cheese Guild would join the Vulperium. To win, Brock had to wear a Cheese Guild banner with curse of binding and curse of vanishing for 3 days. Within 3 hours Brock fell into a hole and died, losing the banner and the bet, but pitying the unfortunate circumstance Moyye allowed one more attempt at the bet and offered Brock the option to nominate a champion to attempt it on his behalf. Brock nominated Kk5288 and she successfully avoided death whilst wearing the banner for three days. On 29th January Brock announced that the Cheese Guild was joining the Vulperium. In a separate instance, the eastern Serronan country of Vanshire also entered the Vulperium as a duchy after many talks were held.

Participation in the war against Merkonis
In the lands of Onthukhan to the north, conflict once again arose between the old enemies of The Pale and Merconis. The Vulperium was still consolidating it's own territory within Serrona and the Valar of Notos, Regulus, sought to settle an old issue of his nation in the enclave territory of Bluestone, once given away by his government to a fledgling power but then sold to the nation of Wolfingrad, which he claims had neglected the territory. After many months, Notos stepped in and moved to occupy the region once more. Merkonis subsequently took this as an act of war as there were negotiations going on at the time by them to purchase the territory of Bluestone from Wolfingrad. And so the Vulperium, which had fought besides The Pale before in the 1st Sand War as Vulpinia, went to it's ally nation's aid once again as a coalition partner in the Second Sand War. This was one of the first wars in which Notos and Vulpinia's soldiers had been organized into one cohesive national military, with Vulperium forces providing heavy support and kills in the first Battle of Perria. The war ended in a victory for the coalition forces as the nation of Merconis was dissolved as a state after.

1st Vice Election of the Vulperium
With the nation finding success and victory in war a month after it's creation, and it's population having now skyrocketed to rival that of the biggest empire of Uraka, there was much excitement to be had throughout the land for it's first Vice Valar election. There had been two before in the nation of Vulpinia but the dynamics would prove much different this time around as campaigns would have less of a personal touch, focusing instead on the nationwide community instead of their local regions.The main candidates in the running were: -Jesus, duke of the prosperous eastern Vulpinian enclave of Vulthalla, seeking to capitalize on the success of the nation and to bring it's new regions cultures and lore closer together. -E, a duke from the Old Batu region who had founded one of the more successful upcoming cities in the nation, Earnside, and who sought to bring more events and activity to the nation such as the creation of a national Sports League. -Gepple, soldier and leader of a city-state known as Dablüza-Yalonska which had only recently joined the nation, sought to improve the military, provide more events, and increase the nation's economy and population. -Meltan, entertainer and leader of the Vulpinian town of Pastel. -Scrollock, a soldier and local leader within the duchy of Dejuria in eastern Eros, sought to be a unity candidate.

Debates and speeches between the candidates were held in the nascent city of Aroforn with many citizens in attendance, though no transcript exists.

Troubles in the East
Although the nation of the Vulperium had found prosperity, it's neighbors to the east were faring worse as pirates from the once-dead nation of Barbossa had invaded and set up a nascent state in the form of the D.V.R. within the Kaladinia region of the U.S.S.E., drawing condemnation from the peoples of Serrona. The U.S.S.E. would go on to be defeated and lose territory in war against the pirates and would join the nation of Uraka for protection, changing the power dynamics of the region as the two largest empires in Eldham now shared a border.

In the meantime, the Vulperium also found itself at the center of a diplomatic incident involving Nova Azcoria. Whilst a protectorate deal with the Vulperium was under vote by their parliament because of encroachment by the D.V.R., important actors within the nation began plotting a coup and kidnapping against the then chancellor Fio and her administration. During this plot, messages were leaked showing the Grand Valar of the Vulperium, Brock, providing verbal support to the planners of the coup. Fearing a turn for the worse, the Chancellor initiated a move that Nova Azcoria would instead be annexed by Uraka. This was an unpopular decision as it was taken without approval by the rest of the government, and so it led to Fio's sacking and replacement by interrim chancellor Millie. Faced with empires of questionable motives on both sides, the once cosmopolitan neighboring nation of Nova Azcoria would then enter into a period of isolation.

Consolidation of the West
Though there was much conflict, there were also smaller celebrations as the diplomatic team of Eros would secure a deal annexing the last inactive enclave in their lands known as New Erðvald. The nation of New Domatia which held the lands previously belonging to the old allies of the Bai Federation would also join as one of the newest duchies of the Vulperium in the signing of a vassalization treaty. Like the D.V.R. in the east, another new belligerent former-Uraki colony known as Duruk Kunar was also created in the islands of the Aquinterran sea west of Vulpinia, immediately setting out to war against it's neighbors in Falholt. This war declaration would fizzle into nothingness though as the Vulperium and The Pale in an act of containment declared their full military support for Falholt against the aggression of this new state.

With tension growing in the west, the Vulperium would also secure a vassalization and protectorship deal with the nation of Ahalia which was under threat of invasion from it's neighbors in Atlechia. This act would become a prelude to a greater conflict known as the Atlechian-Vulperium War.

War with Atlechia
In the chaos of civil war, Wambold, a noble who was favored by his kingdom's rivals the Atlechians, had emerged victorious and become the king of Ahalia. He rejected though the Atlechian king Swen's idea that Ahalia would be annexed into Atlechia with the closing of the conflict. The angry Swen would then declare war against the Ahalians to try and replace the government once again. In the midst of this, Wambold would sign a treaty vassalizing Ahalia under the Vulperium for protection, drawing them into the conflict. (Though it would be revealed that Atlechia had been planning a war of conquest against the core territories of the Vulperium even before this deal)

The Atlechian king Swen responded to this deal with rage and an ultimatum demanding the Vulperium hand over Ahalia, apologize, and pay a fine of 1 million. This blustering message drew international condemnation and even the allies of Atlechia sought to remain neutral in the conflict, with it's biggest military ally in Duruk Kunar remaining neutral aswell because of it's signing of a non-agression pact with the Vulperium in the weeks before. With these demands being fully rejected and Atlechia turning to mercenary groups in the absence of allies, the stage was then set for war.

Heeding to their defense pacts and historic alliances, nations in the Onthukhan region to the north mobilized their militaries in defense of their longtime ally in the Vulperium, now under threat by an imperialist kingdom seeking to divide and portion up the populous land in payment to it's mercenary fighters. These military allies included The Pale, Anglunia, Oceanum, Vladigrad, and Sylvania. Mercenaries would also arive from nations across Eldham and even Rathnir to fight for the Vulperium's cause. Notable allies that remained neutral in the conflict were the U.S.S.E. and the vassal duchy of New Domatia.

Before the first battle, Atlechian-supported rebels who had once fought New Domatia's government began squatting once again in southern Vulpinian territory, though this settlement would become abandoned after the conflict would end.

With support from a gigantic population, some of the greatest architects and veterans of wars past, and the wealth of the vale Shib, the targeted city for the war Lazodi would become one of the greatest military fortresses ever constructed for such a conflict. Once the birthplace of Batu, the wealthiest and most populated nation in the early days of Eldham, it would now become a grave for those who sought to destroy it, with the walls becoming titanic in height and large spanning snow-pits being dug up to serve as traps for enemies to fall to their deaths in. (though many historic buildings were demolished for this purpose)

War doesn't stop the wheels of a nation from turning though, and in the middle of this conflict the nation held a royal ball at it's grand palace of Vetervul, just outside the city of Aroforn. Many important Eldham leaders would attend this gathering bringing even more prestige to the nation. To add onto it's enemies woes, regions and towns in Atlechia would also begin clamoring for independence under the banner of Aima Percivia.

Then arrived the day of battle: The Battle of Lazodi. With fighters from all across Eldham and the main mercenary groups of The Hands and The Goons showing up to oppose eachother, this small war would be the cause of one of the greatest battles in Eldham's history. With the leadership of the Atlechian military force being headless, it was decided last minute that Tylics would be their organizer. With defenders stationed around the city, the Atlechians would attack from the northwest and occupy the empty walls, then moving into a skirmish within the inner city while defenders mobilized to clear the occupied half of the wall. There were many back and forth fights as the death numbers rose on both sides. Finally, the Atlechians had gotten close to capturing and creating an opening within the walls but were swarmed and knocked down off the ramparts by the soldiers of the Vulperium, the aftermath of which they fell into a general retreat, their force facing a full defeat in battle.

The war would come to a close after this as the mercenary forces under Atlechia would abandon king Swen because of the poor organization and humiliation under his leadership. Atlechia, though it stated it would continue the war, would then try to ignore and push off any talks on another battle while also dealing with rebellions and civil war in his own land. King Swen would then die in these conflicts with his son Block_Summoner assuming the leadership of Atlechia and beginning peace talks.Peace discussions would continue on at a grueling pace with Atlechia refusing the demands of the Ahalians for weeks and suddenly announcing Atlechia's annexation into Aristios-Zamotz, throwing the Vulperium's efforts out the window. Talks would continue for even more weeks between the two states until in a final foolish act Atlechia would declare independence from Aristios-Zamotz and try to unite with Duruk Kunar, further frustrating both sides and leaving the nation with no friends left. Atlechia's territory would then subsequently be divided in a treaty between the Vulperium, Aristios-Zamotz, and Duruk Kunar. As a nod to the help it's allies in the Onthukhan region had provided in the past, the Vulperium would also join The Onthukhan Pact to help provide defense to those who had fought so hard for it at Lazodi.

The terms of the final treaty were that Atlechia alter it's government and ban Swen from any government positions in it, $600,000 eventually be paid to the Vulperium, and the territory of Atlechia be split under the 3 powers of Duruk Kunar, Zamotz-Aristios, and the Vulperium. Ahalia through this treaty made many long-sought after land gains for itself.

In celebration for the end of the war, a party was also planned for the entire nation in Dinas being known as the "Tour de Ahalia". In beachwear people would come to the colliseum of the desert city to drink, listen to speeches, trade, and celebrate the end of a month-long conflict, with a special treasure hunt hosted by Octieus Keriocs in the western residential district of the city.

The Vulpinia-Erosian Spring
There were many other events within the nation of Vulperium besides fighting during the time of the war. The Vulperium's population would reach 98 citizens according to the census supplanted by the duchy of Old Batu's "Earnside Ambassador Program" which provided cash rewards for citizens of the city who recruited new members. City planning practices would also spread across the nation as the Dejurian towns of Frostguard and Forgeguard would unite into one city known as Winterose greatly increasing their population and standing within the nation, Aroforn too would begin to redevelop it's barren city center to create a connected metropolis under a newly-appointed city planner, fostered by a nationwide initiative by the Vice Valar Jesus that would see that new city government positions be made open for every duchy.

A new foreign diplomatic ministry would be established with one crowning achievement being the reestablishment of relations with Nova Azcoria in the form of a MDP, though in later months there would be problems with the sheer amount of people given authority by this ministry to conduct treaties with foreign nations. In the planning stages during this time was also an independent international trade hub between Vulpinia and Nova Azcoria known as "Freeport".

Events would then transpire in Rathnir with the Republic of Carvay, once the jewel of Vastallos, having fallen under hard times as it was still recovering from looting in months past and had struggled with development. The princess of Carvay, Sknow, sought to then give up her ownership of the historic state to an outsider figure she trusted and worked with, Kk5288. Carvay would now be accepted into the fold of the Vulperium as Kk5288 was a prominent member of it's imperial family, with this also giving her landed title and subsequently power in the greater nation according to nobility laws. The acquisition of the Abbadyyenau exclave led by SeniorCaution in Eldham was also made soon after, with plans for an international map guild hall to be built there, although this task would be left forgotten and unfulfilled by the nation.

In the midst of all the chaos of the Atlechian war too, tragedy struck as Ixtab Yolcotl, member of the Imperial family and daughter of Vulpinia's founder Nuncio Yolcotl, was declared missing with the halls of her home Vetervul found mysteriously empty & barren, an international search then being conducted afterwards by her brother Brock to try and locate her (to no avail).

The Zeta Protocol
Things would mellow out for the nation in the following month of April, as cities across the Vulperium continued to grow and develop and the first national library was created in the large capital city of Aroforn. (It's first collection coming at the size of 100 books gathered by the librarian Akko Soleth from communities in Batu, Vulpinia, and the neighboring nation of Manzland) The Vulperium would offer military support to it's ally Rodinnbrok in the north to defend it against Arktania's threats of annexation but their forces would see no major battles as the situation dragged on.

In a sudden unfortunate turn of events for the continent though, tragedy would strike at the heart of the Vulperium's northern neighbor of Nova Azcoria. The nation was under the leadership of a new chancellor, Korulein, who's ministers included Millie and Con Allevatori. In a gambit for wealth though, these 3 figures had tampered with a portal to the void obtaining expensive goods enriching their personal coffers, after many trips though it would be one last trip in which they were trapped on the void side of the portal, leaving the entire government of Nova Azcoria at the time decapitated in a period where it was also struggling with the loss of much of it's citizenry to inactivity.

In this period of crisis, one of the remaining government officials, Stepasound, would become the interrim chancellor of the nation and with the support given by his old government leaders, he would initiate "Protocol Zeta", which was an Azcorian Intelligence Center directive stating that in the event of a sudden fall of the nation, elections and parliament would be suspended (section 1), the vassal-states of Novius Abbadon and Hagusaki would be released (section 2), and Azcoria would begin a merger with the nation of the Vulperium (section 3). This protocol was looked at with suspicion by other foreign powers and it would be rebelled against by Gunk, an insurgent leader who had also come to blows with the previous chancellor's government.

Stepasound would remain as chancellor of Nova Azcoria for the next several months with imperial family member Kk5288 promising to advocate for the preservation of it's institutions and it's autonomy in the Vulperium's national government, as she also became steward over the claim of the regional capital of Horizonte. Nova Azcoria as a result would obtain special territory status within the nation, maintain it's democratic chancellor and parliament institutions, and not be under the authority of a valardom, as other annexed and vassalized regions before had been with them all integrating into the ducal system of government.

2nd Vice Elections
-Details on the campaigns that were run -Second vice election results.

Vulpinian Anniversary
-charity event

The Long Summer
-ratist crusade -shakumagu and manzland joins vulperium -montrium civil war affair -rural town resettlements -coffee war -third sand war -atlechia again

New Constitution
-government mixup -heir to grand valar chosen -third vice valar election

Maps
National maps courtesy of the Westeros Mapping Guild.



Geography of the Vulperium
The Vulperium as a nation is located primarily within the western half of the continent Serrona, though it also has small exclave regions throughout both Eldham and Rathnir. The highest unit of political organization is the Valardom under which are duchies.

The Valardom of Batu in north Serrona has fertile plains to the south upon which lie the cities of Earnside and Novius Abaddon. In it's north lies a great spruce forest transitioning into a snowy tundra with developed island cities in Lazodi and Zerdea. The Valardom is bisected down the middle by the great Aput river. Many old Shamanist temples and ruins of past kingdoms scatter the land here.

The Valardom of Vulpinia, the westernmost in Serrona, has a transition zone of plains and of the "Rynwood" oak forest coming down from Batu, after which it meets a great taiga forest, the northern part which has been cut down and upon which has been built the largest city in Eldham, Aroforn. This city is the combined metroplex of the old settlements of Tildivul, Sparport, and Vetervul. South of that metropolis is the bulk of Vulpinia's rural communities in Nea Captainia, Magdalena, and the city of New Brownwich which is boasted as having the largest area of wheat farmland in Eldham. Further south surrounding a huge lake are the more recently founded cities of Pastel, Oakendale, and Waywood. East of that lake going towards Eros is a jungle transition zone and west of that going towards New Domatia is a transition zone of savannah and then open desert, around which lay the Domatian towns of Savan Dur, Taernsby, and Baicalite. The Valardom of Vulpinia has 2 great oceans: the peaceful Celestial sea to it's east across which lay the mountainous peninsula city of Vulthalla, and the tumultuous Aquinterran sea to it's west across which lay the island town of Keylon and the desert cities of Ahalia.

The Valardom of Eros, the easternmost in Serrona, is more sparsely populated, as it consists of hot plains, desert, and jungles in the lands of Elduria, forest in the middle lands of Emberguard and Ravka, and spruce forests in the lands of Dejuria. The Vespir-filled mountain fortress of Salac in the west overlooks the old campfireist settlements of Port Eldur and Moruko, the city of Emberguard lies in a great artificially constructed peninsula to the north, Nea-Ravka is an underground city built underneath an uplifted portion of the land, Ost-Helm stands as a fortress nestled in the easternmost mountains, and finally Winterose stands as the united cities of Frostguard located on the face of Mount Nerva in the south and Forgeguard located in a nature-cleared island to the north. There also lies ruins of many old Dejurian and Eldurian settlements as those lands dealt with population loss over the years. Newly added to the Valardom is the duchy of Manzland, which consists mainly of plains and forest in the south alongside desert and swamps in it's north, also containing the nation's only other foreign-connection land border to the U.S.S.E. besides Hagusaki.

The Valardom of the Forgotten contains the duchy of Nova Azcoria and all of the nation's overseas regions. Nova Azcoria in it's east is a forested taiga upon which lies the famous canal city of Horizonte, host to "The Cube". The farming town of Prosede lies to it's south and to it's west lies the dormant mountain city of Dahkmir. The extraterritorial Eldham regions of the Valardom currently includes the vassal-state of Durlian and the tiny duchy of the Cheese Guild north of Anglunia. The Rathnir regions of the Valardom includes the historic pirate duchy of Carvay located on an island at the mouth of a jungle river and the cityport duchy of Westreach located on the edge of Tortugan lands.

Statistics
 * Active Population: 163 (July 2022 internal census)
 * National Population: 441 (August 31 2022)

Valardom of Eros
 * Duchies: Dejuria, Ravka, Perravul, Emberguard, Elduria, Manzland
 * Cities: Winterose, Ost-Helm, Nea Ravka, Emberguard, Bluestone, Salac, Inazuma, Aleria, Manzig, Astranza, St. Nilsburg
 * Towns: Moruko, Port Eldur, Rondmarr, The Academy, Fao Fortress

Valardom of Vulpinia
 * Duchies: Rynwood, Mournalor, Vulperia, Meiddasia, New Domatia, Ahalia
 * Cities: Aroforn, Vulthalla, New Brownwich, Pastel, Waywood, Oakendale, Taernsby, Savan Dur, Baicalite, Dinas, Je Pola, Kekrifalia
 * Towns: Undervul, Nea Captainia, Magdalena, Florinth, Velumver, Vernal Manor, Bozborsk, Mayaro, Keylon, Rochdale, Navarino, Cadia

Valardom of Batu
 * Duchies: Old Batu, Shamania
 * Cities: Lazodi, Earnside, Novius Abbadon, Zune Kerkut, Zerdea

Valardom of the Forgotten
 * Duchies: Nova Azcoria, Carvay, Westreach
 * Cities: Horizonte, Prosede, Dahkmir, Cheese Guild, Westport, Durlian, Carvay, Port Ravenus

Defunct Settlements
 * Fropsia, Sparport, Tildivul, Vetervul, Adnan, Candeus Hill, Goldfell, Lycaon-On-Sea, Narmer, Floptopia, Port Celestial, Carglahtor, Forgeguard, Frostguard, Vaenor, Mount Lara, Initrus, Plaines Agreables, Amavos, Solus, Sprucetown