Caelondia

Caelondia; The Holy Valley

Caelondia was founded during the Age of the Green sea, when the great Prophet Cainan led his pilgrims to the far north of Asterra to the land promised to them by their Patron, Coras. Cainan watched for any signs that may point him in the right direction, and his pilgrims followed. Cainan happened upon a most peculiar sight deep within the frozen valley, a perfectly spherical boulder the size of a small house. Its perfection grasped him and his followers, who all believed it to be a sign sent directly from Coras, Patron of Order, that this valley was to be their land. From there, the pilgrims dedicated their lives to order and the occupation of the Holy Valley of Caelondia. From this site, the Caelondians founded the holy city of Basilan, the capital of the newly formed Caelondia. The pilgrims wasted no time constructing great works dedicated to their Patron and organizing their streets so that they may become a prosperous city. With the aid of an array of magical talents they were able to make the barren soil around them bend to their will, creating enough fertile fields to sustain a small Kingdom. From there they carefully created what they believed to be a perfect society, one ruled equally by a ladder of checks and balances. Two rulers in Caelondia held absolute power, the Grand Patriarch and the King, who had to work hand in hand to rule the valley.
At first, many peoples and followers of Coras flocked to the holy land, including many residents of Darvgea, though if one were not prepared to lay down everything for the pursuit of perfection one soon found that life in Caelondia was harsh. Those who could not get by in the promised lands fled north, forming the Republic of Zaelondus. Those who remained in Caelondia were set into a strict hierarchy from which they would rarely move up. Each unique class was strict, and the rules and rights of each one were absolute. The Caelondians, being devout followers of Coras, were uniform in all things. All clothes were built for efficiency, armor was uniform, tools were always of the best quality. Caelondia from the outside perspective, was a country ruled with terrifying efficiency.

Laws and Knights

The most well known peoples of Caelondia were its order of knights, the Knights of Coras. These Knights were raised from a young age, often selected for showing unique talent in specific fields, and then raised as the perfect soldiers loyal only to Caelondia. These knights would fight tooth and nail for the holy lands, and were often sent in expeditions to recover great relics of their faith by any means necessary. This often led to the Kingdom being criticized and even denounced by many other realms around Asterra. In particular the Drow of The Drovinu Pericalinus were not fond of the Caelondian Knights. For the last 50 years, the Drow and the Caelondians have warred over a small stretch of land that the Caelondians believe to hold a numerous amount of holy relics to their faith.
In Caelondia, each law is backed with severe consequences. One may break the law in Caelondia only a few times before they face exile or execution. It matters little how severe the law, each person is given a select amount of pardons a lifetime. Those who commit more heinous crimes are often met with immediate retaliation, and those who commit smaller crimes, such as showing up late to work, are punished severely. The law is by far one of the most important aspects of Caelondian life, breaking it is akin to heresy. Something that is absolutely never allowed in Caelondia is worship of Anilvim, the Patron of Chaos, who is seen as the greatest evil in universe to the Caelondians. The Caelondians brand any and all followers of Anilvim as heretics and kill them without hesitation. The Knights of Coras are often referred to as the Butcher Crusaders, for they are often sent on great hunts to destroy any signs of chaos in neighboring nations. Many times, innocent folk wind up being slaughtered in the hundreds by these Crusades.

Courtship and Weddings

All weddings and courtships are done for political gain in Caelondia. Even the lowliest social classes have to get permission to wed one-another from a Bishop or Deacon. Many Lords must ask for permission from the King or Grand Patriarch before beginning to court a lady. The entire process is handled efficiently in a court or Temple where the couple in question make their case for marriage. In the end, the sponsor for whom they seek permission can simply tell the couple no. This is generally used as a tool to keep the peasantry from trying to move up the social ladder.

Type

Geopolitical, Kingdom

Capital

Basilan

Alternative Names

Crusader Country

Demonym

Caelondian

Government System

Theocracy

Neighboring Nations

• Drovinu Pericalinus