Herlundy

The Herlundy (Herlundian: I Herlondentza), officially the Herlundine Confederation, is a landlocked country within the Empire of Ischanor and a member of the Lovvian Confederation. The Herlundy is located in the very southeast of Ischanor in Kejafros, bordering Kalkenstein to the north, Lachawaka to the west and Zilatra to the south and east.

The Herlundy has been inhabited by sentient pigmen since ancient times. The first permanent human population in the Herlundy came with the arrival of the Proto-Aysari to the area, who largely adopted the ways and tongue of the natives. Proto-Herlundian society was one of multiple feuding agricultural clans that were conquered by the Viniticans through a series of wars. Vinitican rule saw the influx of humans from all across the Empire into the Herlundy, with the area being largely Viniticanised. Vinitican rule ended with the Herlundian Revolt, which saw the Herlundian Fury that destroyed most settlements in the Herlundy and nearby regions. The post-Vinitican era saw the resurgence of Herlundian culture and tongue, as well as the political fragmentation of the Herlundy into feuding micropolities, and eventually the establishment of military lordships. Growing conflicts with nearby states prompted the creation of the Tosckanoelan League and led to the outbreak of the Herlundian War, which resulted in the Battle of the Swamp where almost all Herlundian military lords and most landowners were killed.

The Herlundy was unified in the aftermath of the Herlundian War by Dosxe Harpennyck, who became the first Hoviesta of the Herlundy. The Herlundy has since existed as a unified state, founding the Confederation of Lovvia together with Kalkenstein, Lachawaka and Swiftkeep as well as becoming a part of Ischanor together with the rest of Lovvia. Despite its official name, the Herlundy is a unitary parliamentary monarchy which employs a system of two recognised estates: the Landowners and the Townsfolk; with both holding equal say in the Parliament.'

Etymology
The term "Herlundy" is an anglicisation of the Herlundian name for the country, Herlondentza, which roughly means "Homeland", or more literally "Homelandery".

Pre-Vinitican Period
It is unknown when the Herlundy became inhabited by sentient pigmen, but the Herlundy is believed to not have been inhabited by Humans until around 6000 years ago, with the arrival of the Proto-Aysari to the lands of the Herlundy, though yet in insignificant amounts. The pigmen of the plains were by that point semi-nomadic pastoral clansfolk who herded and lived off various livestock native to the area. Although the Proto-Aysari replaced the pigmen everywhere else, few Proto-Aysaris settled in the plains, alloweing the pigmen to remain dominant there. The introduction of agriculture in the Herlundy turned the pastoral clans into agricultural clans with permanent territory, a process which resulted in many deaths, mostly from murder and starvation. This period also coincided with the institution of slavery in the Herlundy, with those of defeated clans being brought into the winning clan as slave labour.

Another, more significant wave of human migration began around 4000 years ago, though this was primarily caused by the need for manpower amongst the feuding clans. Many humans were enlisted into military service under these clans but the vast majority were kidnapped as slaves from youth. The enslavement of humans led to the establishment of a racial caste system dominated by the pigmen, who in many cases were forbidden from becoming slaves, while the humans were restricted to a position of servitude to the pigmen, whether as fighters, advisers or, most commonly, slaves. It is estimated that by the time of the Vinitican conquest, roughly one third of the population in the Herlundy were Humans, three-fourths of whom were enslaved.

Bronze was introduced to the Herlundian plains around 2500 years ago, which initiated a gradual dissolution of the clan system. A proto-Herlundian civilisation began forming around 2000 years ago as the clans evolved into established polities. Various writing systems were invented, paving the way for codified laws and the end of various eternal feuds. This era further saw the growth of cities and the introduction of meritocratic practices in government and commerce, which contributed to the gradual dissolution of the clan system. Major polities emerged in the lowlands of the Herlundy around 1250 to 1000 years ago, while the highland polities remained as minor tributaries to the various lowland polities.

Vinitican Period
According to legend, the Vinitican conquest of the Herlundy was provoked by the abduction of a Vinitican citizen into slavery by a highland polity. The Vinitican government demanded the emancipation of the enslaved citizen, to which the highland polity agreed. However, their suzerains saw the possession of an enslaved Vinitican as an object of prestige and thus kidnapped the citizen before he could return, greatly angering the Viniticans. The Viniticans would yet again demand emancipation, which the suzerain refused to do without payment. Although the Vinitican consuls agreed to pay, the Senate voted against the payment which frustrated the suzerain who ultimately decided to emancipate the enslaved mere moments before beheading him and sending the head to Vinitica. The following year the Viniticans invaded, sparking the Vinitican conquest of the Herlundy.

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Physical Geography
The territory of the Herlundy encompasses the entirety of the Herlundian plains, which makes up the vast majority of Herlundian territory and is the country's heartland, as well as slivers of the Sek Anqe swamp to the west and part of the river bank sand dunes to the east. Two major hill chains run north to south along the periphery of the plains, the larger of which separates the plains from the swamps in the west while the other lies along the river to the east. Other hills exist in-between these chains, separating the Herlundian lowlands into three valleys. These three valleys, from south to north are: the Loedran valley, the middle valley and the Central valley, which is also the largest of the three. To the north lies a cliff on which the Herlundy's highest point stands and is also the northernmost area of the Herlundy.

Flora and Fauna
Outside the peripheral swamps, few trees can be found in the Herlundy, most of which are oaks. Herlundian flora for the most part consists of grass and various flowers, primarily dandelions, bluets, cornflowers and poppies. The fauna of the Herlundy equally diverse, featuring primarily livestock but also frogs who inhabit the south of the plains. The most common wild animals in the Herlundy are frogs and sheep, while pigs, horses and cows can also be found roaming the Herlundian countryside.

Climate
The Herlundy has a hemiboreal climate as it is a region where the temperate climate of the north turns into the polar climate of the south. Winters in the Herlundian north tend to be fairly mild and average around freezing point while winters in the south are always below freezing. Consequently, summers in the south tend to be mild and slightly warm, whereas summers in the north are always warm and occasionally hot. The winds in the Herlundy tend to be cold as much of it comes from the polar south. The country receives moderate annual precipitation, with snow being common in the winter while rain is common during the summer. Otherwise, precipitation of hail and graupel are also common, regardless of season.