[img]http://i.imgur.com/Rg9eJE9.png[/img]

[u]Country Name:[/u] Veden

[u]Government type:[/u] Loose Feudal Confederation

[u]Ruler:[/u] Lord Dragan Haalenstern

[u]Location:[/u] Northernmost Region 6, in the mountains.

[u]Capital City:[/u] Ersthaal

[u]Language:[/u] Middle Getic

[u]Species:[/u] Human

[u]Army:[/u] Lord's retinue - 800 men. Buoyant mercenaries - 1,400 

[u]History:[/u] The people of Veden are a hardy, enterprising people that hail from the mountainous spine of the realm. Descendants of the of the ferocious Getic "hillfolk" of the Eastern Hill Country, the progenitors of Veden migrated to the western banks of the River Istrid some 400-500 years ago. Like their ancestors, these people were primarily foragers and hunters and lived in semi-nomadic clans. However after several generations of inhabiting the region, the early Vedic tribes took to the indigenous custom of living in permanent settlements surrounded by palisades for most or all of the year. Relatively quickly, a trade system was established with neighboring peoples where cattle and horses served as a form of currency. As the Getic people had no tradition of horsemanship and cavalry were of limited use in the rugged forests on the bank of the Istrid, horses were seen primarily as a food item and horses are still eaten with gusto in Veden to this day.

Specialized societies quickly gathered around charismatic strongmen of the Vedic tribes. In order to assert their right to rule their walled compounds and the hunting lands beyond, the Vedic chieftans led bands of armed warriors into neighboring territories to steal livestock and foodstuffs in early summer. Raiding in autumn was seen as a craven, dishonorable act as it left the victim with no time to replenish their stores before the long, brutal winter, whereas the summer raiding season took on an almost festive air where warriors did battle with one another and feasted heartily on the spoils. Vedic warriors earned reknown throughout the region as skilled fighters and regional lords payed handsomely for their services in times of war. In many parts of the world today, the word "Vedic" is synonymous with the boisterous, axe-toting mercenaries that hold that demonym.

A century and a half ago, the modern nation of Veden was institutionalized when Karlus Geltenval took up residence upon the rocky summit of Mount Erst and constructed the beginnings of the modern fortress of Ersthaal from whence he declared himself the "Lord of All Vayden". As the self-proclaimed Lord of Veden, Geltenval invited the disparate clans of the Vedic lands into a nebulous confederation. While few chieftains thought particularly highly of Geltenval, relief from the disruptive raiding season was alluring enough to convince most of the tribes to join for the assurance of peace between all of Geltenval's subjects. And so, under surprisingly unceremonious circumstances, the Realm of Veden was born.

With the annual summer raiding time effectively outlawed among the confederation, Veden's population of restless young warriors went abroad to continue their tradition of raiding. Across the River Istrid on the Steppes, the nomadic horsemen proved too mobile to effectively plunder. Downstream and on the banks of the great inland sea, the resident lords were often well entrenched and organized, making most military forays into the southern lands too costly and time-consuming. With most raiding excursions proving unsuccessful, the young warriors of Veden evolved into migratory mercenaries who sold their skill with an axe or sword to any lord willing to meet their price. Following the mercenaries down the River Istrid, Vedic merchants sailed southward on their characteristic low-draught boats and traded iron and meat for the refined goods in the southern reaches of the rivers. Vedic adventurer-merchants traveled far beyond their homeland - sometimes reaching to the Grand Fork and even into the open seas beyond that. Respected for their skill at arms and the sail, Vedic adventurers can be found as far away as the Eastern Delta and beyond. The second son of Lord Dragan Haalenstern himself - Prince Theodocis Haalenstern - is a regular in the Court of King Malius Enywyr and has lent the services of his entourage to the Kingdom of Alysfyn on several occasions.

[u]Religion:[/u] The Vedic people revere the Gods of the Getic pantheon - especially Krammeg - Goddess of Audacity and Fortune.

[u]Population:[/u] 63,400