White Orchid Free State

Pre-Founding
The Orchidean Plateau Valley, nowadays known as the home of the Free State of White Orchid was originally home to the Eladari Kingdom, a kingdom of elves and various other species that disappeared during Kylorne's Tribal Phase. The leftmost of the three distinct plateau-esque table mountains in the Orchidean Plateau Valley was originally a private brewery estate owned by Aved of Yagar who would later change his name to Aved of White Orchid.

Founding
Due to the ever-growing complexity of local politics in Wruthos and occasional tensions, the White Orchid Free State was originally founded in September of 2022 as a zone of diplomatic neutrality by Aved of White Orchid, Rys Kiliirgard and Daernal of White Orchid.

Economy
The White Orchid Free State mainly trades with travellers, local companies and by riverboat.

Exports
The most common exports of the White Orchid Free State are, including but not limited to:


 * 1) Alcoholic beverages
 * 2) High-Quality Foods
 * 3) Fresh Produce
 * 4) Adorned Clothing and Weapons (To a lesser degree)
 * 5) Rice

Imports
The White Orchid Free State commonly imports:


 * 1) Sea Salt
 * 2) Spellbooks
 * 3) Rare Minerals and Metals
 * 4) Various Spices

- Geography -
The White Orchid Free State lies in the Orchidean Plateau Valley, a location fairly central to eastern on the continent of Wruthos. It is easily recognized due to its three large Plateau-esque mountains forming a horizontal mountain chain; The leftmost two of which are Free State of White Orchid territory. The territory around the Free State is generally overgrown with thick forests and wide meadows and cold, steep mountains. In addition the blackstone creek, a small stream originating from a spring near blackstone pass, seperates the Free State's territories from the Amaranthine Syndicate's.

Population
The population of White Orchid is not defined by a singular dominant species; Instead it contains a multitide of species including but not limited to: Ancient Draconians, Various Spirits, Fos, Goblins, Humans and more.

Lifestyle
Orchideans are an open people and welcome individuals from all regions, statuses and ethnicities with open arms, even providing refuge for criminals until either they work actively towards righting their past wrongs or until a fair trial can be held against them without bias.

Originally a Brewery Estate, consumption of alcoholic beverages is deeply engrained in their culture, hence why so many festivals are celebrated where large varieties of drinks are served. Apart from the not rare consumption of alcohol, Orchideans live an otherwise healthy lifestyle by excercising often in the local forests and predominantly mountain climbing in the surrounding Hyljaheim territories.

Their usual diet consists of, but is not limited to: Vegetable Stirfries, Fresh Fruits, Low-Fat Chicken, Full-Grain Bread, Vegetable and Mushroom Stews and on occasion Steak and Pork. In a family home the entire family works together, usually the spouses switch household tasks every couple of days, independent of their gender whilst their children assist them with tasks befitting their age. Every few weeks several families usually come together to cook a banquet together.

Arkmarch
An Orchidean is cared for and raised by their parents until their respective species' coming of age, where they form small groups and travel the realms of Kylorne on a pilgrimage from the hottest deserts to the coldest mountains, fending for and defending themselves for one year until their glorious return to White Orchid. This tradition dates back to the original founder of The White Orchid Free State, Lord Aved, who had been travelling for decades before reaching the lands of Kylorne, forced to fend for himself against various creatures and the environment.

Week Fair
Every fifth and sixth day of the current month's last week, Orchideans hold a market fair in which citizens set up small market stalls outside their homes and decorate their borough of the White Orchid Free State; Celebrations involving music, dance and drink are held on the fifth day's evening after all work is done and the main market is opened early in the morning on the sixth day.

Equipment
The everyday Orchidean you meet will usually carry with him a small purse of coins for everday purchases and bartering, a hatchet, shovel, pickaxe, farming hoe, skinning knife or sickle depending on occupation and preferences.

Most Orchideans carry at least a dagger on them as they receive basic education on self-defense and weapon handling at a young age. They generally wear sturdy linen clothes and depending on the weather you may see them wearing thick coats or short pants and loosely buttoned shirts.

Many immigrated orchideans choose to retain their own style of clothing, this however poses no issue with the population since Orchideans generally enjoy the presences of foreign cultures.

Codex Orchidae
Orchideans follow the Codex Orchidae also known as The Way of the Orchid, it is a guide outlining ways by which parents raise their children as well as ethical and moral guidelines for Orchideans.
 * 1) Loyalty towards your Ruler and towards your Homeland.
 * 2) Loyalty and Honouring of your Parents.
 * 3) Loyalty and Truthfulness to oneself.
 * 4) Love
 * 5) Modesty
 * 6) Etiquette
 * 7) Resilience and Cold-Bloodedness
 * 8) Patience and Endurance
 * 9) Quick-Wittedness
 * 10) Honourability
 * 11) Justice
 * 12) Purity

- Architecture -
By far one of the most defining features of the White Orchid Free State is its unique architecture.

Basic House Framing
Architecturally seen, Orchidean houses are a mixture of classical timber framed houses with cobblestone and deepslate rubble wall fillings on the ground floor which is replaced by calcite or diorite filling on upper floors.

Roofing
Orchidean Rooves are a unique design in Kylorne; They are fashioned from hammered, rolled and finely cut copper plating and bolted to the aforementioned timber frames. This style of roofing not only provides sturdy shelter, but also gives Orchidea its unique form of beauty due to the copper's natural oxidation and formation of a patina of predominantly green colour. In addition, the roofing is often steep and shaped convexly as to efficiently deflect rain and other weatherings.