Ballardan
Ballardan is a kingdom just to the north of the Thundering Peaks of Khavica It has a rather varied, but mild climate that often changes from Duchy to Duchy. Ballardan is the oldest human kingdom on Lamera , if not one of the oldest in all of Vuria, with its royal lineage spanning back over 1,000 years. Ballardinians feel that their nation is above the intrigue, political instability, and treachery that have long since been a staple of Southern Lamera , but they perhaps embody it more strongly than most of the southern nations.
In the past, Ballardan was a hotbed of racial prejudice and its scars can still be felt today by many of its elven population.
The current monarch, Queen Nolwenn Thoraval is rather young and inexperienced in statecraft. Her father, Caradec Thoraval still lives, but in a self-imposed exile after he could no longer hide the skin lesions and scarring that a strange disease wrought all over his body. There are whispers among the Dukes whether or not the young queen is fit to rule and if Caradec's disease was a sign that the royal family had fallen out of the good graces of the gods. This brewing unease has not gone unnoticed, especially by the scheming Merchant Lords of Khavica who are all too eager to begin capitalizing on the situation.
Structure
Ballardan is a feudal nation. The common folk are ruled by counts, who appoint local sheriffs from among the commoners to administer laws, collect taxes, muster militias and so forth. The counts answer to the dukes, who in turn answer to the Queen. The monarch was once advised by the Royal Council of Barons, however the Council was suspended indefinitely following the Ballardinian Civil War.
History
Ballardan was founded in 313 CY, following a successful rebellion against the rule of the Mardin Empire. Its first king was Haelmoren Garandel.
In 663 CY, Ballardan was invaded by many dragons from the Thundering Peaks.
In 1290 CY following a call for aid to protect Ballarand settlers to the Zhathair Isles, much of the Zhathair Isles become territories of Ballardan in the Forty Years War. Many of the islands' inhabitants revolt and eventually drive out the Ballardinian occupiers. In 1331 CY, the Kingdom of Ballardan cedes its control on the isles and the Zhathair Enclave is founded.
In 1489 CY, the Jade Hawk Tribe lead a series of fast and devastating raids into Ballardan. The Jade Hawk Tribe turn northern Ballardan into a semi-colonized landscape of extraction from which they could mine resources with little cost. Thousands of livestock are taken and numerous rural villages are forced to produce manufactured goods before the Jade Hawk Tribe lays siege on Castle Besannau. While eventually driven back, many Ballardinians accuse the crown of being incompetent.
In 1494 CY, racial tensions in Ballardan come to head following the massacre of an elvish commune homesteading on a noble's land. Clashes between elves and human supremacists become more frequent as whispers of an elvish revolt spread quickly, drawing the attention of the crown. The King decides to put down the revolt while his son, Prince Caradec takes the bold stance against his father. The Ballardinian nobility is split between siding with the King or the Prince and civil war erupts across Ballardan. Gaulwen Le Tallec, then only a general under Prince Caradec, plays a major role in the war and is granted a title and the province of Levaroux (now the Grand Duchy of Levaroux.)
Demography and Population
~ 3,500,000; 76% Humans (Ballarand overwhelmingly dominate,) 13% Elves (High Elves dominate), 10% Halfling
Military
The Ballardinian military is a powerful force formed around a core of highly-trained knights supported by scores of low-born peasants. They are a warlike and valiant people who willingly seek out battles as a way of securing personal honor and pride.
Religion
The people of Ballardan care greatly about their land. Land is often equated with status, and thus the gods associated with bountiful land, such as The Earthmother and The Treefather are widely worshiped, while gods associated with destroying the land (such as The Fury) are reviled.
Gods that promote knightly or honorable virtues (such as The Unbroken, The Serene, or even Hretha) are also widely worshiped. However, all of the gods of the Vurian Pantheon are worshiped to some extent within Ballardan, even if they're only prayed to out of fear.
More recently, followers of The Scourge and The Defiler have been on the rise, most likely in response to the rising unrest following Duke Gaulwen Le Tallec's declaration of sovereignty from the Queen. These churches generally work on feeding people's anger and fear.
Education
Education in Ballardan is considered a responsibility of the family. While the nobility may hire tutors and the various churches teach their clergy to read scripture, the overwhelming majority of the peasantry is barely literate if not totally illiterate. There are few schools for the arcane arts which are often far too costly for those not born into nobility to attend. However, some churches, such as the church of The Serene and the church of The Liberator that offer basic educations to the peasantry.
Founding Date
313 CY
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Demonym
Ballardinian
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Traditional
Currency
Scepters (pp,) Crown (gp,) Noble (ep,) Lance (sp,) Common (cp)
Major Exports
Tobacco, cheese, fish, grain, fruit, livestock, cloth, beer, lumber
Major Imports
Magic items, mercenaries, spices, weapons
Location
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
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