Velenu

Velenu, officially the Mercantile Republic of Velenu is a city and region, formerly a nation, located within the Southwest Drakaesland. The city and nation eventually merged with Eastern Skjoldrbrodir to become Gardenia.

Velenitian Culture stemmed from its multiculturalism, split between many different ethnic groups that migrated to the island over the years.

City under Velenu
Before the Mercantile Republic of Velenu, the city of Velenu was founded on the 3rd of August, 2021

During its time as a city, it had mainly been used as Kash's personal island paradise, before eventually being expanded to first a grand library and then to a large city encompassing it and by December the city grew to the second largest in the nation, behind Pokitaru, growing a culture all of it's own and a population that valued peace and theocracy, seperating itself culturally from the rest of Aquatos.

December Schism
Two weeks before Christmas of 2021, toxicity began to build up within Aquatos as high ranking officials began breaking or outright disregarding laws and rules in order to gain more power. This would begin to divide Velenu from Aquatos as the city's leaders began to grow tired of Aquatos and it's issues. With it's physical seperation from the mainland they saw independence innevitable.

On the 20th of December, Kash Ven Rosthorn attempted to declare his independnece and negotiate terms with the leaders of Aquatos. Although Fropik supported his move, GOjayson did not, and rejected the idea. Kash would persuade both of them to meet him in private to negotiate with both of them together. However the two were surpised when Pipo of Alfuna and BalloonDwarf718, both Jarls of Skjoldrbrodir were in attendence, planning to act as a third party to the negotiations. However in the heat of the moment, both Fropik and Jayson saw the move as an insult to Aquatos and the negotiations at large, and so they stormed from the building and refused to speak further of negotiations.

In retaliation, Kash would begin bringing support to his side, discussing again with the Skjold leadership and officially gaining their support. He would approach Emmerman14 and Neurion58 of Taernsbia, gaining the support of the Mafia State of Taernsbia and by assocation, Goondium.

On the morning of the 21st of December, Kash was kicked from his position in the nation. This sparked him to form the Mercantile Republic of Velenu and further discussions between Kash and Aquatos deteriorated. This would lead to Kash leaking highly sensitive information regarding plans to invade the northern kingdom of Falsoria to the Nation Committee of the League of Vircon in order to refute the claims that Aquatos was in the right to refute him from leaving. By the night of the 21st, two leaders of Aquatos, Fropik and ExtremeJedi had plans to declare war upon Kash and Velenu, speaking of it to members of Aquatos, however they were overheard by spies. Leading to Kash to starve Aquatos of allies and Jayson to lock himself away for the night to rest. By the 22nd Velenu had officially declared it's independence, backed by its allies, in an official announcement to the world stage.

"Just three days ago, I first contacted the Aquatosi leadership to arrange the independence of my town, Velenu.

They refused.

Just two days ago, I came with peaceful resolution, with Skjold acting as a third party.

They refused.

Just a day ago, I went into discussion, as the leadership of Aquatos stepped down, in order to safeguard the nation in order to keep it from foreign hands.

Not 15 minutes later I hear plans to declare war upon my nation once the peace period is over, then backtrack on it and ask for 500k.

Now I refuse them.

Aquatos claims us to be squatters but we built this land ourselves and we will hold to the position that the land we claim to be a nation is in fact a nation.

So in this light, the territories of Velenu, Beachmarch and New Crystalis. Supported by it's allies of the Goons, Skjoldbrodir, Taernsbia, and Falsoria, declare full independence from Aquatos. We are not recognized by Aquatos so we no longer recognize it. We are not obligated to pay for freedom that is already secured.

And if Aquatos believes they are capable of retaking this land, then they will be met with fire and blood and anguish in their attempts.

Ave Velenu!" Afterwards, while both Fropik and Jedi slept, Kash approached GOJayson, showing him the odds stacked against Aquatos if a war were to come, and demanded the removal of Fropik and ExtremeJedi from power. They further demanded that Kash should be permitted to view Aquatosi documents and transcriptions in order to finish his investigation into Fropik for the League of Vircon and Falsoria.

Weighing the odds stacked against him and Aquatos, GOJayson accepted, and Kash began formalizing Velenu. However with the new agreement came a sudden end to the dream that GOJayson and the people of Aquatos had sought to upkeep.

December 22nd marked the dissolvement of Aquatos, and with it all territories became independent. Pokitaru becoming the Free City of Pokitaru for a brief moment, encompassing the nations core western territories, before Pokitaru would merge with the Mercantile Republic of Velenu. By the end of the day, three nations laid claim to former Aquatosi territory, that being Velenu, New Crystalis and a town often derogatorily referred to as Aqua-Toes.

Aqua-Toes conflict
With Velenu succeeding in it's plan of independence, with the unintended consequence of Aquatos dissolving, it came to the issue of incorporating the former territories of Aquatos into it. Though in the announcement of Aquatos' dissolvement only Pokitaru and the other northwestern terrritories became The Free City of Pokitaru, subsequently joining Velenu, unofficially many of the territitories within the nation had been left derelict and abandoned, the populations leaving for elsewhere in the aftermath of the Schism.

However within a weeks time, most cities and territories joined the Republic, save one. During the dissolvement, the town referred to as Aqua-Toes had declared its independence under the name 'Aqua-Toes', it had been forgotten during the week as the new government was set up, however by the weeks end it became apparent to those in the council, as well as to the Doge, that Aqua-Toes could not stay independent.

Early discussions on having Aqua-Toes join Velenu had started during the Schism but went cold, that was until the day of Aquatos' dissolvement when both Kash and Runningman, the leader of Aqua-Toes discussed the future of the region. In which Runningman told Kash that he'd think about it.

Government
Currently held still by the First Doge, Kash, the role of the Doge is to lead the nation and its people. The Council is made up of trusted members of the city by the Doge, elected to their positions by the people. The council is entrusted with upholding Velenu and the Republic.