Outer Barons

The Outer Barons were a small group of people, specifically Barons and their families, who lived in the outer-most reaches of Uensin land.
These people were characterized by a strong sense of tradition and refusal of change. They were the dominant group in north-western Valumenia, but over the past few decades the overall values of Valumenians moved away from their traditions. This shift forced those that wished to continue following their traditions further away from major cities, eventually resulting in them settling in towns teetering on the edge of Valumenia's borders.

Controversy

One of the main reasons why the Outer Barons were forced to retreat to the edge of society is their insistence on what the Valumenian Government calls 'forced marriages'. In 1362, there was an extreme shift in values after the tragic case of a women's suicide was brought to light. She had written a journal about the true nature of her marriage and what led to the ultimate decision of ending her own life. Following this, the Government passed a law forbidding marriages that the parties involved did not consent to.
Many people decided to leave their traditions behind after the law was passed, but the Outer Barons did not. To avoid being arrested, they employed manipulation and deceit to continue with these marriages, as well as moving away from major social hubs.

Many years later, beginning in 1409, there came another push towards cracking down on forced marriages. The exact nature of these events was recorded in the books When Death Is Better Than Life: A History Of Forced Marriages In Valumenia and Revolution in Paradise: A Look At What Led To The Revolution Of 1418. Simply put, the main groups behind the Revolution of 1418 began a push towards identifying people involved in forced marriages, and of punishing those responsible as well as those who were complicit. After the Revolution, the new Government increased their efforts surrounding forced marriages and brought many perpetrators to justice.
The Outer Barons, however, avoided capture and prosecution due to a stipulation in Uensin law which forces victims to condemn the people who hurt them as well as speak in a court of law, in which their abusers must be present. This resulted in next to no convictions coming out of the region, despite the perpetrators being known.

Disbandment

In 1426 an individual with insiders knowledge on the Outer Barons was involved in meetings with the Valumenian and Uensin Branches of Justice. Days later, with her consent, her experiences were released to the public, who responded with outrage and pain. Within a month, Uensin law was changed to allow victims to distance themselves from their abusers, which led to forced marriage cases that had grown stagnant to be brought to court and resolved. Over 50 Barons were sentenced to imprisonment for the rest of their lives, and 217 more people were sentenced for lesser terms due to their complicity.
With such a large portion of the Outer Barons now imprisoned, the group dissolved. No one wished to continue the group, as most of the people not in prison were victims themselves, and so they let it die; the Baron's toxic views left to rot alongside those who perpetrated them.