Valreach

"The Valrean Realm, reunited once again under a new order, shall prosper and achieve greatness through its people and its leaders. Uchaile Valriege!"

- - Vix Moreau Aulian, King of Valreach Valreach, officially the Valrean Empire, also referred to as Valrieges Imperium in Valriegenschlange, is a nation located on the continents of Elastra, between Valresh and Phoros. It was founded, as Kingdoms of Valreach in by Vix Aulian and Vin Helianthus. It is a absolute monarchy ruled by a Imperator in a feudal aristocracy in which the Imperator wields absolute authority over the realm and the lands are divided into fuedal fiefdoms.

Ancient history
In the chronicles of Valriegesland's ancient history, the tale begins with the celestial arrival of Solaris, the All-Father. His divine essence guided him to choose the fertile and hospitable land known as Valriegesland.

Around 4000 years ago, on the riverbed in Northern Valreach, a group of desperate migrants from the continent of Valresh arrived. Fleeing famine and illness, they found the land's fertility and hospitable nature enticing, prompting them to establish their homes and cultivate the soil. This marked the humble beginnings of the Segres, as small villages and vast farms emerged, expanding the clan's influence. In these early times, the people were far from civilized. Raids and pillaging were common occurrences as clansmen grappled with harsh conditions and a restless hunger for resources.

Migration & Clans
With the passage of time, the Segres faced division and conflict within their own ranks. Many chose to venture southward, seeking refuge in the forests of Vionirein, while others pushed further into the unforgiving terrain of Saafir. Adapting to the challenging climate of Saafir proved a formidable test for the Valreshi migrants. They constructed shade structures, cultivated drought-resistant crops, and devised communal solutions for water scarcity, ultimately acclimating over generations and forming a distinct, thriving culture. In this harsh environment, a unique culture, known as the Hordes, began to take shape, and the Clan of Shianrein emerged as a formidable power in Valriegesland. In central Valreach, frequent raids from the South posed a relentless challenge to the clans. In response, they fortified their villages and developed innovative means to detect approaching threats, creating a division between the south and central-north clans.

Early Ancient States
Around 3000 BTE, Valreach was a patchwork of nomadic and agrarian tribal societies scattered across its vast expanse. While the specifics of this era remain somewhat obscure, it is clear that clans held varying degrees of importance, from reliance on neighbors for resources and security to frequent shifts in alliances and warfare. Despite these differences, a shared culture persisted among the clans, marked by common religious beliefs and deities such as the sun god and the moon. The Early Empire in Valreach marked a significant turning point in the land's history. It was during this period that the term "Valriege" emerged, signifying the unification of "Val" and "Realm." This fusion ultimately gave rise to the name "Valriege," emblematic of the enduring heritage of the land. The Empire of the Val was founded in response to the need for defense against the formidable Shian. Following a decisive victory over the Shianrein, the Empire not only endured but also thrived. This era was characterized by the consolidation of power, cultural assimilation, and territorial expansion, setting the stage for the Valriege's future identity and legacy.

Drakaes colonization
The Drakaen settlers arrived to the land at around 200 BTE, though it is uncertain. The native Valreinians through out this period integrated their culture and ethnicity with the new settlers. Valrean language and culture changed as they slowly became more integrated with Drakaes. Valreans today are direct descendants to the Valrein peoples, but also strongly related to Drakaes.

Kingdoms Period
During the Fall of 98TE, the unification of Nidaros and Nujharia was made official, an ancient people and realm was reunited, with a diarchy as its head, fromed by the monarchs of Vin and Vix. The constituent council, which was created to unify and construct the nation, was still intact and running the internals of the newly formed nation until the constitution was finished. The Nation reaped the benefits of unity and a golden era of many started, with massive improvements to infrastructure and cultural enrichment all across the Realm. Also in this era, the Kingdom of Neo Drakaes, joined the Realm as a ceremonial Kingdom within Valreach, and the Royal House of Aulian took the House Fairfax as vassals.

After the Holy Drakaen Empire rebellion and exile of the traitor King Vin Helianthus, the Diarchy was still intact and consisted of now Lagertha Moreau and Vix Aulian, Lagertha being chosen to become Diarch to continue the union of the Kingdoms. In this period, the Valrean-Catanian Commonwealth was founded by the Kingdoms of Valreach and Catania.

Holy Drakaen Empire
On December 27th, a day before the start of the HDE rebellion, High King Vin's legitimacy and loyalty towards Valreach was in question between Vix and Delta. Vin had just won elections for Prime Minister as High King, which caused multiple issues between the two diarchs in the Diarchy and the Nation. Vin had gained absolute power of the nation and on December 28th, he declared a Holy Drakaen Empire, attempting to seize 75% of Valrean land, calling it a Holy Empire under the Goddess Juni of Junicism. Legitimacy over Vin's claims were scarce, the towns who supported him were either threatened or joined out of fear. The rebellion fell apart on the 29th of December and Vin was exiled to his manor. It would be later revealed that the rebellion was a attempt of the Uraki imperium to expand itself and that Vin had gained support within the high command to rebel from Valreach.

High Kingdom Period
On 5th of March, the two Diarchs Vix Aulian and Lagertha Moreau officially married in Nidaros, unifying the two past rival houses of Moreau (Reformed Helianthus) and Aulian into Moreau Aulian. This resulted in the formation of the High Kingdom of Valreach on the 16th of April, after a decision was made within the now married Diarchy, to unify the entire nation and it's Kingdoms into a single Kingdom. Following it, a reformation of the constitution was passed by the Parliament and Valreach became a singular Kingdom, ruled by King Vix M. Aulian and his wife, Queen Lagertha M. Aulian.

This was a golden period for Valreach, and a period of cultural enrichment and stability. Through this period, Valreach adopted Soleviel as state religion in request of the King, for it was the foundation the pillars of culture in Valreach stood upon, and that the majority of Valreans believed in Soleviel in one way, shape or form.

Civil War
"In all the fire and ashes, a Injured lion lifted upon the rubble by an black Eagle, look towards new reaches. For so long, a nation failing, only dependent on a few, and those few, gone to become traitors to their own country. It is time for change, order, and a stronger state!"

- - Vix Moreau Aulian, King of Valreach In this period came the darkest hours for Valreach ever since the days of HDE. The Valreach Civil War was a conflict fought in Valreach between the High Kingdom of Valreach, including the parent nation, Simulami Empire, against the seceding rebel state of Kingdom of Nidaros, and Smegan Shogunate. It was a monumental turning of tables that resulted in todays Valreach.

After the Battle of Nidaros on the 9th of June, King Vix M. Aulian declared the Imperial Realm of Valreach, and sought to achieve a stronger Valrean state, proud of it's identity and culture. Which was the start of the Imperial Era of Valreach, a golden era still in continuation for the Imperial domain and progress of Valreach.

King Vix M. Aulian passed away after sixty years ruling. The entire nation raised their flags half way and buried the late King under the Athelric Cathedral crypts after a Soleviel Ceremony. In his honor, Imperator Yorg M. Aulian inherited the throne of his father, and his titles.

Great Territorial Expansions
Around the last decades of the 2nd century of the Traveller's Era (175-200 TE), Valreach doubled its size through successful diplomacy and conquests. It obsorbed Jorvheimr (former Katania and Vionir) after a declaration of war, in which the nation began to crumble and ended up collapsing. In that process, first, the Province of Vionir seceded and joined Valreach willingly. Following that event, Jorvheimr collapsed with a complete integration treaty known as the "Treaty of the Divine Lands".

After the annexation of Jorvheimr, the tensions between the Natchenreich and Valreach, present since the formation of Regnum Yoake, grew. The latest crisis began after Imperina Kurai of the Nachtenreich left the nation and their Imperial Council had chosen Delta Canalopin, fallen forfather of Valreach who was ressurrected by Alfric Canalopin. Valreach considered that acion broke a previous agreement, which stated that Delta wouldn't be able to be in a position of power in the Night's Realm. However, such treaty was never signed by the Nachtenreich.

Valreach and Simulami, waited until the Nachtenreich and The Kingdom of Amarillo had merged into the Twilight Empire of Amarillo to send an ultimatum to the Empire to dissolve the union and secede the Natchenreich lands to Valreach, breaking their NaP they had with Amarillo. In the declaration, Valreach accused Nachtenreich, as well, of organising a coup against the previous Imperina, who willingly left the position and took her lands with her, out of the Nachtenreich. The T.E. of Amarillo answered that they wouldn't be "blackmailed". Kurai, former ruler of the Nachtenreich, had revealed information and reports from private meetings. This information was used by Valreach to push for the dissolution of the T.E. A year and a half after the ultimatum was sent, in 204 TE, Amarillo and Valreach signed the "Treaty of Varaspolis", ending the conflict.

Valreach gained, as well, more territory after the handing of Aerie from the Eleanor Realms and the Ariefell exclave, Aerie being a religious and holy ground to the Valreans and the population in major favor of integration. Aerie was also the home of the Imperator, and the Monastary of Meruvia's Isle had been his lifework before inheriting the throne.

National anthem
Originally, The Kingdoms of Valreach had their own anthem, "My Dear, Bright and Great Land", however, decades into the Imperial Era, it was changed to, "All-Father bless our Emperor and Fatherland!". This one is both a prayer and song for the Emperor and people, and a story of fighting for love of country and Solaris. |-|Traveler's Tongue= "Hail the Emperor! Strong and prevailing, In Honor and Glory. Solaris and his drott. Protector of the Valrean people. Protector of the Fatherland. Solen Emperor! All-Father bless our Emperor! To give our noble one long days Give on this World, Give on this World! All-Father bless our faithful people! To give life to our divine land. Give on this World, Give on this World! Axes of our Valrean warriors, brought down the walls. Down the wicked went. Up rose the Realm! Upon the hills stood the Soldiers. Saviors of the divine lands. For their country they fought, for Solaris and his drott. Failures of Caligo’s control. Plagued our great people. But through the darkness, we prevailed! Fallen brothers and suffering mothers. Fields of grain on fire. But with death came its glory, and we fought on!"

Sterk anz Beseigen, In Ehre anz Ruhmeh. Beschyter zie Valrieges folkes. Beschyter zie Fadterland, Solen Imperator. Imperator bon Valriege! All-Fadter signe auhren Imperator! Gebe auhren Edahl lange dager. Gebe in dethe Welten, Gebe in dethe Welten! All-vater segne auhren treues Folk! Gebe auhren godtlichen land lebes. Gebe in dethe Welten, Gebe in dethe Welten! Uchaile zie Imperator! Sterk anz Beseigen, In Ehre anz Ruhmeh. Beschyter zie Valrieges folkes. Beschyter zie Fadterland. Imperator bon Valriege! All-Fadter signe auhren Imperator! Gebe auhren Edahl lange dager. Gebe in dethe Welten! All-vater segne auhren treues Folk! Gebe auhren godtlichen land lebes. Godtlichen landes zie Valrieges!"
 * -|Valriegeschlange="Uchaile zie Imperator!

Etymology and Heraldry
"Valriege" is a combination of two words: "Val" and "Riege." Val is the name of the people of Valreach, while Riege is the Valrean term for Realm which signifies unity. Historically, Valreach wasn't called Valreach, it held names like Realm of the Val, which would translate into Val Rieges, which as the kingdoms of the region merged, Val and Riege eventually transformed into Valriege.

The Imperial Flag of Valreach, also known as the Valrean Flag is the National Flag of Valreach and was adopted around 164 TE, after the declaration of the Valrean Empire (Imperial Realm). Valreach has always represented itself in black and goldish yellow ever since the ancient times of the Empire of the Val.

Current Flag and Coat of Arms
The Imperial Flag of Valreach consists of a tricolor black-yellow-black, with a crowned eagle with the Lions' sigil on top. The colors are those of the Valreans and the eagle is a symbol of country and the mythical black Eagle of Valreach, and supports the shield of Valreach and scepteres of sovereignty and justice.

The golden yellow and black colors represents the Valrean people, and the two colors have been used through out the history of the Valriegesland. Black represents the anscestors of the Valrean people and the heritage they inherited. Golden yellow represents the homeland, commonly referred as the Land of Gold and or the Valriegesland.

The Eagle of Valreach is a symbol of country and the Valrean "Edenheim Imperial Eagle" which is a large bird of prey from the mountains of Edenheim, the Eagle is also representive of the Imperator and the mythical colossal Eagle of Valreach. The Eagle wears the Crown of Valreach, consisting of a black soft material inside, and gold yellow hard material outside. The Eagle supports the Shield of Valreach sorrounded by a royal necklace with the Lion of Valreach. The Shield of Valreach originally represented the reunification of The Kingdoms of Nidaros and Nujh, both having a lion in their heraldy. Nowadays, it symbolises the union of Moreau and Aulian supporting each other. On their feet, the Valrean axes in a position of unity, symbolizing a united monarchy. The Eagle holds the scepteres of sovereignty and justice in its claws.

Holidays
On July 9th, Valreach observes the Imperial Victory Day, celebrating the victory in the Valreach Civil War. Unification Day is celebrated on October 25th, the day of the unification of Ashenrein (former Kingdom of Nujh) and the Kingdom of Nidaros. From December 23rd to 25th, Valreach observes the Lazy Days, encouraging its citizens to reduce activity and engagement with the nation. December 28th, the day of the H.D.E. Rebellion, is celebrated as The Realm Stands Day, to remember that the Realm of Valreach still stands.

Culture
Valrean Culture derives from two sources, Valreinian, and Drakaen. The first, native, the second, arrived with expansion of the Drakaen state brought along the Drakaesland. In modern-day Valreach, the tales and records of the foundation of the Valrean Realm are seen, in a way, as a unification of the old and the new, a back and fourth between either embracing the native Valrein culture or the Drakaen colonial culture. The Valrean culture today stands partially separated from the classical Drakaen culture, with major differences in tradition or religion, while keeping a closer language.

Homeland and Honor stand as two of the most important values to the modern Valrean. A lot of enforcement of different cultures and values have been rampant through out the lastest days of the Valrean Realm. Though, it wasn't until the Fall of the Drakaen Commonwealth Valrean culture wouldn't be rewritten and reborn. Then, honoring homeland and ancestry would become a tradition and value to the Valreans.

Valreach hosts a range of different types of food across it's lands, a lot of it being fish, from special pufferfishes fished from the river of Segrespent, known as Nidaros' Special, and dried whitefish from the Myrkira sea, along with cod from the Nujharian river, cursed with a blackstone molted deformation, making them cooked finished after leaving the river waters.

Folklore
Soledom, current main religion in Valreach, has a set of traditions and beliefs that, added to the base Soleannen Pantheon, form the Soledom Doctrine.

These are the main additions the Valrean people embrace:

Reincarnation of Akheras
The Solen followers in Valreach believe that Akheras, the draconic spirt of the Ultimare, would be trying to get reencarnated to a mortal being in the Hemnerei. That would be achieved through some regions of access between the Immerium and the Hemnerei. Regions such as the Tunnels of Nidaros. Little shrines in honour to Akheras can be found all across the Valriegesland to pray for the spirit.

This believe is very related to the legend of the reencarnation of The Autarch and the symbolic Dragon of the leader of the fallen Regnum Drakaes. Prayers of Akheras in the region ued to pray for the spirit to be reencarnated into the soul of The Autarch, Tiffany Canalopin or her descendants, Delta Drake and Maria Canalopin. Some of them even believe that Tiffany was born already as a reencarnation of this spirit or that the spirit entered her through the Nidarosean Tunnels.

Pale Horse
The Pale Horse, commonly known as the cum horse, is a mythical creature, which spirit remains on the Hemnerei. It was a equine creature at the service of Arose. Blessing the world with fertility. Arose is commonly represented riding the Pale Horse in the Drakesland and Valriegesland.

The spirit of the Pale Horse is worshipped specially on the Eldhamite region of the Valriegesland. The local worshippers, even the ones not followers of Soledom, usually pray for the resurrection of the horses they rode in life. If the prays are heard by Erose, they revive the horses into skeleton creatures.

The spirit of the Pale Horse could be found in every single one of this specimens, reincarnated to give them a second life.

Mole King and his kin
The Mole King is a twisted spirit of the Immerium, serf of Caligo. One of the many creatures that comes from the Immerium. The Mole King uses the Tunnels of Nidaros to find more souls to dominate and add to his horde. It is believed that the Mole King is the one responsible for the construction of the Tunnels.

Ashen People of Ignium
Ashen is another word for what many refer to as fire, and the Ashen people are the main creatures of the dimension Ignium, represented as burning humanoid people of magma and Blackstone, who entered the Hemnerei through the Ancient Solen circle rituals, known to wander in the Isle of Nujh. Guided by Hypervoras, a major god that split from Solaris in his creation, representing wrath, impurity, and raw emotion, who is known to wander ignium and channel the flames of the people, and the dimension, causing changes to worlds and its people.

A Corrupted Ashen is a curse of Hypervoras upon creatures of Hemnerei, changing the creatures’ physical form and flames to a dark purple, and changing the mind, becoming controlled by Hypervoras, often causing wrath and despair for the one cursed. A case of this is Vix Aulian, becoming bloodlust and insane.

Fiddle Mountain Goat
The Fiddle Mountain Goat is a spirit of music, poetry, and art, known to have played his fiddle on the Mountain of Heidrun. He is known for grabbing the attention of two explorers, whom heard sounds of eerie fiddle strings playing upon the mountain ranges. It is also said that the explorers traveled further up the mountain, making the music the goat played more clear and pleasing, and when approaching the spirit, the travelers felt a sense of euphoria and desire to dance. They learnt from the goat and how to play his music, and that he is playing his fiddle as a call to seek new protectors of his music and spiritual mountain. It's said that he told the young explorers that he must travel to another realm to adjoin the gods, and that he may soon return to continue his play.

Eagle of Valreach
The Eagle of Valreach is a spirit which is believed to be a colossal black Eagle, represented as a Edenheim Highland Imperial Eagle. The ruler of the Valrean lands is believed to be connected and in control of this spirit. It is also believed that the Eagle is connected to Solaris. It has been spotted soaring through the clouds of the Edenheim valleys and other places in the Valrean realm, as well in times of war. It is represented in the Valrean flag and Coat of Arms, holding Imperial scepters and the Valrean Shield and Crown. Symbolism of the Eagle represents the unity of the Valrean lands and loyalty to the Emperor of Valreach.

The Edenheim Highland Imperial Eagle is a large bird of prey, 80 cm in width and 220 cm in wingspan. All black feather with a dark gold-orange beak and legs and talons. It breeds in the mountains of Edenheim and migrates to the Saafir deserts in the winter.

Valreans
Valreans, referred to as Valriegen in Valrean, are an ethnic group in the regions of Elastra, between Phoros and Valresh, descendants of the Valrein and Drakaen. Most of the Valreans share common culture, language, homeland, and ancestry. Valreans are descendants to both the Drakaen and the native Valrein peoples that primarly lived and harvested the land in tribes and small clans for hundreds of years. The Drakaen arrived to the land around 200 BTE abd both peoples lived and reshaped together throughout a span of hundreds of years.

Throughout the history of the lands that form the Valriegesland, the native population the Valrein lived and endured for ages, forming tribes, clans, and ancient Empires. Decedants of the Segres settlers whom discovered the lands thousands of years ago.