Valleian Fiefdoms

Description

The Valleian Fiefdoms are a group of small factions who rule a central portion of The Broken Plains. Their name is derived from the lands they inhabit, for this is where the Valleian Empire once stood millennia ago. While they are grouped under the same name, they are not allied in any way, they do however tend to leave each other alone. Like most undead in the region, they originate from the Catastrophe that reanimated nearly all interred dead of the region. Among these reanimated undead however were also many powerful figures of eons past, great chieftains, enigmatic sorcerers and other such individuals. Their strong-willed minds still cling onto their past life and in their undead madness they believe that they are still the same beautiful and powerful people they once were. These are also referred to as the Ghoul Regents. When they look around themselves at the broken lands, they see plentiful farmlands. When they look at the ruined buildings and shattered caverns, they see thriving villages and tall castles. And when they look at their new rotting servants, they see eager soldiers and loyal subjects bursting with life.
Combined with their regained power, this madness would be dangerous enough by itself. What is worse however, is that they passively affect the perception of nearby intelligent undead to see and believe the same lies they do. Undead monstrosities that would normally hide in the dark, now stand tall and proud in their magnanimous ruler's supposed court. This natural control of other undead is why the Duskwald Clanholds of the region fear them so much.
By the sheer will of the Regents do the undead congregate in their realm, where they mercilessly hunt down any outsider they come across, both the living and the dead. They rend apart their flesh and use it to prepare grand feasts for their lord's pleasure, but in their minds these are beautiful banquets of the finest delicacies of the realm.

Politics

All of the Ghoul Regents are unique in their madness, each trying to recreate the societies and organizations they knew in life. This means each Valleian fiefdom is different in how they act and in their self-image, although they are all equally dangerous to outsiders. These different values and perspectives also color their interactions with different fiefdoms. While politics are simplistic among the Regents, they get along better with those of similar values. Regardless, all Regents tend to keep some distance from each other and rarely intrude upon each other's lands, as the overlapping auras of madness can horribly confuse their undead servants who are now split between two different perspectives.

Military

The armies of Valleia consist of a variety of undead servants that possess the required intelligence to be affected by the change of perception brought about by the delusions of the Regents. This means that weaker reanimations such as Zombies and some Skeletons are unaffected, but Ghouls, Ghast and Wights can be found aplenty within the Valleian realms. There are also Ogroid Ghouls that function as effective shock troops that can tear down structures. The elite troops are often supplied with scavenged arms and armor, the Regent's honor guard may even possess magical weaponry.

By themselves the lower ranks of Valleia tend to fight as a ravenous horde, each individual charging in at their own pace. In the presence of their Regent however they regain some of their imagined soldier's composure. The honor guard and other elite troops however are far more organized, behaving like a well-oiled war machine.

We will retake our lands. For glory!

Founding Date

Shortly after the Catastrophe

Government System

Monarchy, Absolute

Location

Broken Plains