The Kingdom of Valonde
Valonde, the Kingdom of Colors, is a warm land filled with life. From the rocky cliffs of its coasts to the rolling hills of its center, no corner of Valonde is not covered with groves and vineyards hued with all the colors of the rainbow. Even the villas and castles that spring up from the center of Valonde’s cities are lavishly dyed and painted.
Alone among the Four Kingdoms, Valonde’s monarch is but a figurehead, kept in place by the Valondish Parliament as a nod to the kingdom’s storied history. Though Her Majesty, Queen Nala Verthisa Thurgiesh III, is nearly universally loved by the Valondish peoples, the true power lies in the hands of the nobles who are elected to parliament.
Valonde is the foremost exporter of fruits, wine, instruments, dyes, fine clothes and all manner of liquors. Certain rare Valondish wines have been known to start or end bloody feuds between noble families across the Four Kingdoms and the sound of a Valondish lyre is unrivaled in all the lands of Edras.
The peoples of Valonde are a passionate and joyous people, quick to celebrate even the smallest of things with an evening of drinking and song. The grande parades of Asprossia are famous across the entire world, as are the week long festivals during which all work stops. The Valondish value art and beauty above all else, save for perhaps their passion for dueling. The most common professions in Valonde are farmers, brewers, painters, clothiers, woodworkers, and metalworkers.
The Valondish Parliament
The third part of Parliament is the monarch. This role is mainly ceremonial these days. They meet the Prime Minister once a week to hear what's going on in Parliament and sign every new law.- The House of Colors: The House of Colors is the upper house of the Valondish Parliament. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Songs, it meets in the Palace of Torrescay in Asprossia. Representatives of the House of Colors are drawn from the peerage, made up of Artistes Spiritual and Artistes Temporal. The Artistes Spiritual are 26 archbishops and bishops in the established Church of the Brisingelion. Most Artistes Temporal are life peers, appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister or House of Colors Appointments Commission, but they also include hereditary peers. While the House of Songs has a defined number of members, the number of members in the House of Colors is not fixed. Currently, it has 790 sitting artistes. The House of Colors scrutinizes bills that have been approved by the House of Songs, reviewing and amending them. While it is unable to prevent bills passing into law, except in certain limited circumstances, it can delay bills and force the minstrels of the House of Songs to reconsider their decisions. In this capacity, the House of Colors acts as a check on the House of Songs that is independent from the electoral process. Bills can be introduced into either the House of Colors or the House of Songs. While artistes of the Colors may also take on roles as government ministers, high-ranking officials such as cabinet ministers are usually drawn from the minstrels of the Songs. In addition to its role as the upper house, the House of Colors, through the Artisan Judges, acts as the final court of appeal in the Kingdom of Valonde's judicial system.
- The House of Songs: The House of Songs is the lower house and de facto primary chamber of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Valonde. Like the upper house, the House of Colors, it meets in the Palace of Torrescay in Asprossia. The Songs is an elected body consisting of 650 members known as representatives of parliament (commonly referred to as minstrels). Minstrels are elected to represent constituencies through universal, free, equal, direct and secret suffrage, and hold their seats until Parliament is dissolved - usually every four to eight years. Although the House of Songs does not formally elect the prime minister, by convention and in practice, the prime minister is answerable to the House, and therefore must maintain its support. In this way, the position of the parties in the House is of overriding importance. The government of Valonde is solely responsible to the House of Songs and the prime minister stays in office only as long as they retain the confidence of a majority of the minstrels. Bills may be introduced in either house, though bills of importance generally originate in the House of Songs. The supremacy of the Songs in legislative matters is assured by the Parliament Acts, under which certain types of bills may be presented to the Queen for Royal Assent without the consent of the House of Colors.
- The Monarch: The third part of Parliament is the monarch. This role is primarily ceremonial in modern Valonde, though still holds some some minor power. They meet the Prime Minister once a week to hear what's going on in Parliament and sign every new law with a mark of Royal Assent.
The Laws of Magic
- Arcane and Divine Magic are both generally legal.
- Natural Magic is viewed with great suspicion and sometimes fear.
- Necromancy requires special licensure from the Circle of 12 Seals and is restricted in use.
- Aberrant magic that comes from pledging oneself to Outsiders or agents of the Primordials is strictly illegal.
- Sorcerers are viewed with distrust and fear by some, though like most cullic nations licensure can be obtained for such unnatural abilities through the Church of the Brisingelion or the Circle of 12 Seals.
Structure
Secular Hierarchy
- Prime Minister
- Ministers of the Cabinet
- Speaker of the House (House of Colors/House of Songs)
- Representative (House of Colors/House of Songs)
- King/Queen
- Prince/Princes
Demography and Population
Population: approx. 3,300,000
Demographics
- Dragonborn 22%
- Leonin 20%
- Halflings 18%
- Loxodon 14%
- Aasimar 11%
- Kenku 9%
- Misc. 6%
Territories
- Asprossia: The capital of Valonde.
Religion
The Kingdom of Valonde maintains a special devotion to Sielach, Duchess of Trumpets.
Foreign Relations
Valonde is joined to Eglarest, Tiriath, and Dorwine in a loose confederation of kingdoms through the Treaty of Four Kingdoms. There is frequent tension with Dorwine over shipping lanes. Valonde has also entered into an alliance with the Grande Duchy of Orlia through marriage.
Priesthood
Religious Hierarchy
- Holy Regent of Valonde
- Archbishop
- Bishop
- Priest/Priestess/Abbot/Abbess
- Nun/Prioress/Monk/Friar
Maps
-
The Kingdom of Valonde - Samanca
Founding Date
2656
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Demonym
Valondish
Head of State
Government System
Democracy, Parliamentary
Power Structure
Unitary state
Economic System
Traditional
Currency
The standard currency of Valonde is a series of colorfully designed paper notes printed by Parliament, commonly referred to as 'oriflammes'.
Official State Religion
Location
Official Languages
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Comments