[hider=WIP: The Kingdom of Xandria] [hr][hr][center][img]http://i.imgur.com/qVVvL2D.png?1[/img][/center] [hr][hr] [color=0076a3][b]House Name:[/b][/color] [indent]Valian[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Head of House:[/b][/color] [indent]Alexander III Valian [i][b][sub]King of Xandria Keeper of Xanditharima High Magistrate of The Expanse[/sub][/b][/i][/indent] [color=0076a3][b]House Specialty:[/b][/color] [indent]The ancestors of House Valian were scouts and trackers. The specialty units of the Kingdom of Xandria descend from that lineage— they are known as Xandrian Rangers. Unlike other specialty troops in neighboring countries, Xandrian Rangers are not brute front-line soldiers but rather the ones supporting them. Equipped with mid-range bows and a short sword, they are doubled as support troops as well as scouts. It has been once said that, “whilst they do not have the range of long-bowmen, they are the most accurate and tenacious archers that one could come across in the continent”.[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]House Ancestral Artifact:[/b][/color] [indent][b]Hyperion[/b] - The origins of the bow called Hyperion are many, but what is known that the heirloom of House Valian is old indeed. Crafted over two thousand years ago, Hyperion is one of the oldest artifacts in imperial history. For all of the myths and legends of the weapon, imperial scholars have claimed that however ridiculous the legends may dictate there is some truth to the stories claiming the indestructibility of the weapon. The timber Hyperion is crafted from is strangely impervious to fire and the wood’s endurance has been tested in battle when the strongest of steel and iron could not even lay a [i]scratch[/i] on the weapon. However this is possible has been buried by history as the royal family, scholars, and mystics all have no wisdom or knowledge about it. [/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Ruling Members:[/b][/color] [indent][u][b]Royalty[/b][/u] Lord Alexander III Valian, [i]51[/i] Lady Caprica Valian, [i]44[/i] [u][b]Royal Heirs[/b][/u] Alexander IV Valian, [i]25[/i] William Valian, [i]21[/i] Elias Valian, [i]17[/i] Alexia Valian, [i]17[/i] Emilia Valian, [i]14[/i] Mathias Valian, [i]10[/i] [u][b]Courtiers & Retainers[/b][/u] Chancellor Alester Valian High Priest Tristram Marshal Virgil Hawke Sentinel Egon Vayle Spymaster Ramsay Heartspire Steward Gregor Blackwater[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Nation/Realms Name:[/b][/color] [indent]The Kingdom of Xandria, AKA The Expanse[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Flag:[/b][/color] [indent]The Kingdom of Xandria flies the colors of blue, silver, and ivory. The stripes bound by a quiver of arrows joined by a kite shield. This stands for the unity of the four original provinces of Xandria and how they were and are still to this day bound by the arrow and shield. It symbolizes protection of the weak, caution from a distance, and tenacity through unity. [/indent] [color=0076a3][b]House Motto:[/b][/color] [indent]“We Shield the Weak.”[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Region/Color on Map:[/b][/color] [indent]Blue[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Race Name:[/b][/color] [indent]Xandir ([i]Xandrians[/i])[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Racial Appearance:[/b][/color] [indent]Xandrian have a look about them that make them approachable and trustworthy yet also makes a normal individual stop in their tracks in hesitation. The standard individual in the racial group bears a dark yet piercing appearance with hair akin to the blackest night with eyes that represent the deadly calm of the ocean that lies on the coast of their homeland. They are not particularly large or boxy people which is clear as the tallest height on record in the last century for a Xandrian is 5’8”. Their skin isn’t too different than their neighbors though at times is a tint paler in comparison. [/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Racial Traits:[/b][/color] [indent]The people of Xandria have honed their skills for centuries that it has become an art. From their early beginnings as petty kingdoms and territories Xandrian’s have mastered the bow and light blade, stalking the forests with a combination of speed and stealth. There are countless myths and legends telling tales of the ghostly rangers of Xanditharima (the ancient name of the region). Beyond the bow and the hunt, Xandrian’s are masterful fletchers and survivalists thus giving them a wisdom of the creatures of the forest and marsh that others do not have. However, their skills in mounted combat and shipcrafting had never really developed until late into the Imperial Era and whilst their style of unarmed and light-blade combat has been developed greatly there are better riders, sailors, and swordsmen in the realm.[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Capital:[/b][/color] [indent]Ebonheart[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Capital Population:[/b][/color] [indent]78,000[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Other Major Settlements:[/b][/color] [indent]Moonholt Oldcliffe Skyhaven Westport[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Population:[/b][/color] [indent]10,500 21,000 17,400 6,500[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Culture:[/b][/color] [indent]The four major noble houses of Xandria are House Valian of Ebonheart, House Hawke of Skyhaven, House Vayle of Moonholt, and House Heartspire of Oldcliffe. These “great houses” have been ruling the Xanditharima Expanse longer than the Imperial Empire has existed. Though perhaps it is in partly due to the fact that the ancient petty Kings swore allegiance to Lalaifia Valarien in the unification of the realm that they persevered past their humble beginnings. Regardless, these royal houses have large populations of citizens under their rule and are all valuable in the grand scheme of the realm. The smallfolk of Xandria are the backbone of the demesne and they know it… yet for whatever reason their pride never becomes arrogance. Perhaps it is the ideals of ancient Xanditharima that leads people to be honest, hardworking, and loyal or perhaps it is the sort of societal bliss that they hold as citizens of Xandria. Whichever the case, the smallfolk is known on average to value honor, loyalty, and value of one-self over other virtues. However this is not to say it is an entire society of unending utopic ideals— there is grit and darkness underneath; especially as one ventures deeper into the Xandrian woodlands and hollows. The people in these parts of Xandria are more jagged, cautious, and unflinching as they deal with all manners of monsters and banditry. “A full quiver.” is an idiom that comes from these places in the province, roughly meaning “Always be prepared for the worst.”[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Type of Government:[/b][/color] [indent]Constitutional Monarchy[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Influence & Relations:[/b][/color] [indent][u]Erayis[/u] Text.[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Military:[/b][/color] [indent]NAME[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Unit Demographics:[/b][/color] [indent]NAME[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Landscape:[/b][/color] [indent]TEXT[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Wildlife:[/b][/color] [indent]NAME[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Economy:[/b][/color] [indent]NAME[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Religion:[/b][/color] [indent]The state religion is unsurprisingly, The Kamthein Faith, though most of Xandria’s citizens connect more with Lyriel and as such have put a focus on the creation goddess over the more centrally worshipped Kammeth. However, Xandrian scholars and priests are not seen as heretics as they value both creation gods. To summarize it, Lyriel is a caring and nurturing god who is responsible for the flora and harvest that the Xandrians owe their way of life to. Additionally, many of the population still follow the old ways alongside their imperial religious beliefs. This of course is a philosophical following that dictates the sins and virtues of life, the consequences of being sinful, and the reward for being of virtue. [/indent] [color=0076a3][b]History:[/b][/color] [indent]NAME[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Strengths:[/b][/color] [indent]NAME[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Weaknesses:[/b][/color] [indent]NAME[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Exports:[/b][/color] [indent]Herbs Hops Metals Stone Timber Wheat[/indent] [color=0076a3][b]Imports:[/b][/color] [indent]NAME[/indent] [/hider]