Levanesse

The Kingdom of Levan (in Levani "Reiyom del Levant") In its current state is a nation situated in the world of Abexilas, located on the continent of Talasi and has land borders with Bardonia, Kaliné and Flanderia to the north, and Hallana to the east. This sovereign state operates under a monarchy, with Jean-Luc Lafaille, serving as the reigning monarch. The Kingdom of Levan is comprised of eight major cities : Levanesse (the capital of the kingdom), Murhagen, Ferndal, Bordelaux, Lillia, Vilcomitia, Lyeonne and Arglesia. 
==Etymology==
The name Levan comes from the Levani word "Levent" meaning "Rising".
Historically, Levan was called "Levanesse" ("Livianess" in Levani) during its existence in Rathnir, but the appellation "Levan " became more common during the migration to Abexilas. Drawing a parallel to the country's rise towards independence.
==History==
==== The Prehistoric and Antique Island of Dwarves ====
Before the establishment of Levan and the formation of a political and national entity in the region, the Island of Dwarves served as a passage for the Talasi nomads to cross from the eastern side of Talasi to the far west of the continent. The first sedentary communities settled to the east of the Island of Dwarves, in what is now the Duchy of Bordelaux. These early communities, upon becoming settled, began to establish various kingdoms in the region. One of these kingdoms was the Kingdom of Levanesse (in ancient Levanois “Leiveinehss Royter”), the precursor to the Kingdom of Levan. This kingdom was centered around the city of Levanesse, built to the west of the Island of Dwarves. The conquest of wild lands began during the reign of Saint Julien Lafouille, who aimed to control the Beehive Forest to monopolize honey and the various dyes obtained from the surrounding flowers. The first contact with other kingdoms occurred during expeditions led by Saint Julien Lafouille into the Black Morelle, a forest dominated and revered by Champorage. Seeing the soldiers of Leiveinehss as a threat, the sentinels of Champorage began to attack the intruders, marking the beginning of a long rivalry between Leiveinehss and Champorage.
==== The Wood War ====
The Wood War was the first bloody conflict in the region, involving the three kingdoms: Leiveinehss, Champorage, and Bord de l'eau, fighting for control of the southern region between the three nations. Leiveinehss sought direct support from the Kingdom of Argile and Vellehcomet, while Champorage sought support from Vehmeti to raid the port of the Kingdom of Bord de l'eau. While Champorage received support from Vehmeti, Leiveinehss received no aid from the Kingdom of Argile or Vallehcomet, who were diplomatically leaning towards Lillia. The war ended with the defeat of Leiveinehss and Bord de l'eau. Leiveinehss lost territory but gained others through their conquests in the south, and also shared uninhabited northern territories with the Kingdom of Clay.
==== Levani Pre-Unification ====
The dream of unifying the island was coveted by the two dominant kingdoms in the region, Leiveinehss and Champorage. Champorage posed a threat to smaller kingdoms like the Kingdom of Argile, Vellehcomet, or Bord de l'eau. This threat was exacerbated by Champorage's lack of diplomacy in forming allies and its culturally different approach compared to its neighbors. Leiveinehss was more open to diplomacy, having traded with Lillia and the Kingdom of Argile. Levani culture quickly spread to other kingdoms, as did the dominant religion within the Kingdom of Levanesse, Levani Orthodoxy.
Over time, two spheres of influence emerged in the region: a Levanois sphere of influence composed of Levanesse, Lillia, Vellehcomet, and the Kingdom of Argile, and a Champoragian sphere of influence composed of Champorage, Vehmeti (under the Crown of Champorage), and Bord de l'eau. One of the first steps toward unification was undertaken by Leiveinehss Royter, renamed the Kingdom of Levanesse, proposing a union against the oppressor to Queen Claire the Magnificent of Lillia. This union aimed to maintain the autonomy of each member while uniting their armies and resources against Champorage. Lillia responded positively, and upon hearing this, the Kingdom of Vellehcomet became interested, seeing an opportunity to gain more resources, prosper, and be protected from Champorage. The Kingdom of Argile also feared invasion by Champorage, not wanting their capital, Arglesia, to fall into Champorage's hands. King Nicolas Massé of Argile also proposed joining the union.
==== The Confederation of the Flower and the Beginnings of the Unification War ====
The Confederation of the Flower symbolized the friendship and cooperation among the different members of the union and the Island of Dwarves against Champorage. The capital was Levanesse, the most advanced city in the region at that time. King Aurélien Lafaille of Levanesse began building an army for the future conflict, the Confederate Army, with members coming from different kingdoms. Small conflicts began to erupt along the Confederation's border against Champorage forces. King Nicolas Massé of Argile proposed securing Noselle with the ships of Vellehcomet to establish contact with the Kingdom of Bord de l'eau, despite initial reluctance from other kings due to the risk of escalating conflict with Champorage. They eventually agreed, and the month after proposing the Noselle security plan, numerous ships sailed from the city of Vilcomitia towards Noselle. Despite Champorage's terrestrial power, their naval forces were not the strongest, concentrated in Vehmeti and their capital, Mur’hagen. The security plan proceeded successfully, leaving only contacting the King of Bord de l’eau and proposing to join the Confederation against Champorage. It was Aaron De Villiers, a scholar and diplomat from Levanesse, who proposed convincing the King of Bord de l’eau to join the Confederation. Diplomacy proved fruitful, with Bord de l’eau joining the Confederation of the Flower without Champorage's knowledge.
After rallying the five kingdoms against Champorage, the Confederation members prepared for the major attack on Champorage. While the navies of Vellehcomet and Lillia secured Yapelle, the ground forces of Levanesse and the Kingdom of Argile were reinforced with new equipment, weapons, and more qualified personnel. On the other side, Champorage began to slow its progress, dealing with a culturally divided people between the north and south and a tyrannical king desperate to cling to power. War was imminent, and Champorage was not prepared.
==== The Levani Unification War ====
The war began after the Confederation of the Flower announced its attack on Mur’hagen, the king of Champorage, and the tyranny imposed on the people and nations of the Island of Dwarves. The main front was in the Kingdom of Argile and Levanesse, leaving Lillia and Vellehcomet with naval superiority. The most important battles were those of Stasbourg, taking place in Stasbourg under Champorage control, with a victory for the Confederation. The battle of the Deep Morelle, in the middle of the Black Morelle forest, also resulted in a decisive victory for the Confederation, which had a more advanced army compared to Champorage. After numerous Champoragian defeats, King Philibert XIII of Champorage was assassinated by his advisor Arbogastes Drogo. The death of the Champorage king plunged the kingdom into chaos, providing an opportunity for the Confederation to end Champorage once and for all. The battle of Mur’hagen posed no difficulty, as the city fell into chaos and destruction; Confederate soldiers managed to take control and calm the situation within hours, marking the end of the war and the Champorage kingdom.
==== Levani Domination and the Dissolution of the Confederation ====
Champorage's fall left Levanesse as the sole dominant kingdom in the region, including within the Confederation. Despite promising initial cooperation among the Confederation countries and the new member, Murhagen, the Kingdom of Levanesse had other plans. The first step in Levani domination was demographics; at that time, the most populated region of the Island of Dwarves was the south, but due to casualties during the Unification War, Levanesse became the most populous. The Kingdom of Levanesse sent many individuals to work and live in different Confederation kingdoms, saturating them with Levanis and placing the latter in important positions.
The Confederation quickly became dominated by a Levani population, with Levanis officials in all administrations. The kingdoms of Lillia and Vellehcomet “Levanized,” adopting ancient Levani language and future Levani language. the Levani culture prominently influencing them. King Jean-Pierre Lafaille of Levanesse continued the plans of his predecessors by appointing Levani leaders to govern different Confederation kingdoms and territories, starting with the easiest, Murhagen, which was under the control not of a Confederation member but of the Confederation itself. Jean-Pierre Lafaille held a vote among the Confederation's people and other kings, with 67% in favor. Murhagen became the Municipality of Murhaagen, under Thomas Lepont. The death of the King of Bord de l’eau, Henne Fortmort, without an heir, led to a difficult succession; however, the King of Levanesse managed to place one of his pawns on the throne of Bord de l’eau. The remnants of the kingdoms, saturated with Levanis, eventually had Levani population in all areas. Leaders of each kingdom began to die or resign from their responsibilities, leaving Levanis in their place and opening the door for Levanesse to reign over the entire region. The plan was executed over several decades and ultimately succeeded. After placing Levanis at the head of the various Confederation members, King Augustin Lafaille of Levanesse proposed centralizing the Confederation, uniting all kingdoms to form a grand kingdom, a Levanois kingdom. Signing the Unification Act gave birth to the Kingdom of Levan, ushering in a new era for the population, the region, and the kingdom.
==== Contemporary Kingdom of Levan ====
Since the establishment of a centralized state in Levan, there has always been a division between the North and the South. The North struggled with economic development and expansion. The population of the northern duchies (Arglesia, Murhagen, Lyeonne) led a more rural lifestyle and often relied on assistance from the South to develop their cities (Arglesia being the most developed city in the North). However, this relationship quickly turned into disdain from the Southerners, many seeing the South as a haven only for the wealthy and fortunate. People in the North often criticized the South for not understanding the hardships of life. On the other hand, the South was the most prosperous and developed region of Levan. With thriving economies and dynamic cities, the South became the commercial, cultural, and national center of the kingdom (excluding Levanesse). Important cities like Lillia and Vilcomitia (in the duchies of Lillia and Aquitait, respectively) were the cradle of the Levani nation. The South had the potential to lead the entire nation by itself; Southerners often believed that the North used their money, resources, and workers that could be used for their own projects. "Sudistes" (a term used by Northern Levani residents) often said that the northern duchies did not appreciate the assistance they already received and branded them as profiteers. It was during this time that the rise of the Levani Education Association (LEA) ensured the opening of schools across the country, aiming to educate Levanois citizens about how the world works, their historical culture, and to train workers in various fields such as architecture and cuisine. The rise of Levanois knowledge and literature saw writers emerging from schools, opening doors to knowledge and dispelling the obscurantism of the past.
==== The Troubled Years ====
The Troubled Years is the term used to describe the era marking the transition of power from Charlotte Lafaille to Jean-Luc Lafaille and marked a period of great strife in the nation. The internal and external political situations of the Royaume de Levan were difficult at this time - Levan faced increasing pressures on its eastern and southern borders and there was general discontent with the monarchy at the time - leading to an explosion in unfortunate events that took many years for the Kingdom to eventually recover from.
Parliamentary disagreements between different Ministers and Ducs in the nation had been slowly stirring up for quite some time in the years leading up to the troubles, with points of contention including the Kingdom's conduct of foreign affairs, the treatment of nomadic "squatter" groups and the powers of the Duchies within and outside of the Kingdom. Three factions came to the forefront in parliament: the loyalists headed by Queen Charlotte Lafaille and backed by the Duc of Bordelaux; the separatists led by Levan's previous Minister of Development, Giorgio Magnifi, and backed by the Duc of Murhagen; and the conservative unionists led by the Minister of Exterior Affairs at the time, Jean-Luc Lafaille, and backed by the Ministers of Defence and Commerce as well as the Ducs of Aquitait and Lyeonne. Parliamentary debates had become ever more partisan during the Queen's tenure and discussion had largely broken down into their respective factions, with not much communication and cooperation between the different political elements.
Foreign groups had seemingly also become aware of the internal political strife plaguing Levan and used it as an opportunity to force their own geopolitical agendas. The Empire of Beepeck refused to pay the agreed sum of money for the Isle of the Vines, making the Queen's hold over parliament ever more difficult as she was seen as not being able to secure Levan's foreign interests. The Holy Kingdom of Staslovic had also made incursions into the southern fringes of the nation, around the Duchy of Lillia and the Foret de Yap - crossborder raids between the Staslovic and Lillian peoples culminated in the occupation of the south west of the Duchy and the systematic destruction of half of the forest by Staslovian settlers. The central plains of the nation also came under attack from nomadic groups looking for new territories to settle in - the most prominent among them being the settlers of Amestople who sought destroy all living vegetation in the vicinity as part of their barbaric culture.
It was at this point that the problems of the nation and the parliamentary divisions spilled over to the general populace. Jean-Luc, who had a claim to the throne through the Lafaille dynasty and name, and Giorgio Magnifi began to lead their factions more independently of the Queen. Jean-Luc began by leading Levani paramilitaries against the nomadic Amestople peoples, ending in the Slaughter of Amestople in which paramilitary forces mercilessly massacred the people of Amestople for the destruction of Levani nature preservations. These actions led to severe reprisals and Jean-Luc and his supporters were subsequently exiled from the Kingdom as other nomadic groups looked to respond to the bloodshed. As Levani security forces fought to contain the violence cities around Levan saw the workers under Giorgio Magnifi begin plotting. Plans for a coup of the capital and the secession of certain key cities from the greater Kingdom were being drawn up and construction within the capital had been put on hold by the builders as they looked for the necessary resources to secede.
The Queen during this time fought desperately to maintain control over the crumbling Kingdom. Looking to pacify the nomads she began engaging in negotiations with various groups, these discussions would never prove fruitful but lasted until the end of her reign - demonstrating her commitments to the Kingdom lasting throughout the instability. However, she was able to shore up support in her loyalist strongholds of Lillia and Bordelaux - the two most populous Duchies outside of the capital at the time - and her ability to sign a Non-Aggression Pact with the Empire of Beepeck restored much of her parliamentary influence. Although, unfortunately, this would not prove to be enough to remedy the situation. The cogs were already turning and the machinery of instability was in motion. Giorgio had managed to secure Levanesse itself as a stronghold, with most of the local population backing his secessionist rhetoric, furthermore, the Duchy of Murhagen was sympathetic to this cause and the Duc was looking to potentially follow Magnifi's lead and secede himself - going so far as to conduct some of his own limited foreign policy at the time. Worse still, Jean-Luc had chosen this time to return from exile. He had lost much of his paramilitaries' strength during his time abroad but through secretive political channels he had managed to secure the support of the Duchies of Lyeonne, Arglesia and Aquitait. Jean-Luc's political connections had also enabled him to establish a firm hold over the national military which, along with the Royal Armouries secured in Lyeonne, made him the primary issue between the Queen and a stable Levan. 
Whilst the nomads had greatly expanded their influence and territorial gains in the central Levani plains, the various factions began to prepare for an inevitable conflict, the Queen temporarily moving her capital to the city of Bordelaux in the far east and Jean-Luc training his forces in Lyeonne. This period was very much the calm before the storm. The Queen realised she had to isolate each faction before taking care of them one by one. She hoped that if she removed the nomads as a problem from the central plains then she would be able to garner the political support necessary to win back some of the rogue Duchies. In the Autumn of that same year, Queen Charlotte went on campaign against the nomads. However, 7 months after returning from exile, Jean-Luc made his move, marching on Bordelaux. Not expecting an attack so soon, the city could not hold back against his army with nothing but its garrison and the local police forces. Instead of wasting time beseiging the walled city, Jean-Luc's forces attacked at midday. Although the time of attack was nothing but pure coincidence, the midday attack saw much of the garrison at the mess hall for lunch, leaving the walls lightly guarded. The attackers forced their way up using ladders made from the trees of the surrounding forest and rushed up the walls as the sentries raised the alarm, although it was too late to stop the walls being taken. For 3 hours the streets of Bordelaux were filled with vicious close quarters combat as the attackers cleared the city, making sure to find the Duc of Bordelaux and arrest him for falsified counts of treason. The defenders fell back to the city cathedral and prepared to hold out until Queen Charlotte's return from campaign. Jean-Luc realised that he did not have the provisions for an extended conflict of attrition and he could not afford to be caught between the defenders in the cathedral and Queen Charlotte's returning forces. He instead decided on one of the most controversial decisions in modern Levani history, to torch and completely raze the city of Bordelaux to the ground. As smoke began to rise up in the outskirts of the city, the defenders in the cathedral caught on to what was going on and attempted a sortie, but it was futile. Jean-Luc's forces supplied from the Royal Armouries easily overpowered the already battered and beaten defenders and cut them down to a man, the city crumbled in the background of the fierce combat, the fire casting fearsome shadows against the cathedral walls. The conservative unionists had won the battle and had sent a clear message to Queen Charlotte, Jean-Luc was aiming for the throne and would use any means necessary in order to do so.
Jean-Luc had realised that the only way to unite Levan and preserve the union of Duchies was to ruthlessly root out the opposition elements and remove them from positions of influence and power. He hoped that the destruction of the most prosperous city in Levan would send a clear message to the other faction leaders that there was no sacrifice he was not willing to take to preserve the integrity of the nation. Although the effect on Queen Charlotte was that of shock horror and it forced her remaining troops back to her last stronghold of Lillia, the effect this had on Giorgio Magnifi's forces was almost the opposite of the intention. Magnifi's supporters felt more compelled than ever to secede from the union as they feared mistreatment under Jean-Luc's rule.
The situation looked dire for Queen Charlotte's forces as in Lillia they faced raids from the Duc of Aquitait's forces to the east and Magnifi's guerilla partisans to the north in the Duchy's hills and forests. It was clear that her forces would not hold for much longer and she faced desertions from her army as well as growing pressure from the Duc of Lillia to give herself up for he feared Lillia would suffer the same treatment as Bordelaux. Deserters from her forces often joined up with Jean-Luc's own army seeing as he was eligible for the throne and had so far proven to act much more harshly towards the nomads, favouring aggressive raids over diplomatic resolution. It was from these deserters that Jean-Luc learned of the Queen's difficult predicament and so he decided to act deciseively once more. Bringing forward the captured Duc of Bordelaux he had his men bring him before the gates of the city of Lillia. Jean-Luc demanded the Queen bring him the keys to the city of Levanesse or he would have the Duc executed before them. The Queen strode up to the top of the city walls and took a bow from a nearby guardsman. Aiming the bow at Jean-Luc she released the projectile, which landed at his horse's hooves. Without a word, the minister's most loyal bodyguard, a man by the name of Jann Ibn Ifrati of Mithusian descent, plucked the arrow from the ground, stepped over to the kneeling Duc - who was being restrained by paramilitaries - and plunged the arrow deep into his chest, letting him slump lifeless on the cold, wet Lillian soil. The Duc of Lillia could bear this no longer and ordered his guards to seize the Queen, leading to a scuffle on top of the wall. The Queen's bodyguards fought off the Lillian guardsmen and escorted the Queen to the dockyard, there, in a fighting retreat, they boarded one of the Royal Yachts and cast off, heading south. The Lillians did not pursue, Jean-Luc had removed the loyalist faction and was now the King of Levan.
It was from here that Jean-Luc marched back to Levanesse, where Giorgio Magnifi had declared the independent city state of Levanesse. On its way the army cleared the Parc des Canards of nomadic tribesmen at the Battle of the Bloody Waters where Levani soldiers, looking to forage in the forest for food whilst the army was encamped a few hundred yards away, were set upon by nomadic horsemen and archers who rushed the army's encampment. The Duc of Aquitait, who had risen early to cook himself some cat stew for breakfast, spotted the foragers being cut down and raised the alarm. It was these precious seconds bought by the Duc that saved the Levani army from being potentially decimated and routing as they were able to rally and just about beat back the assault, although the faithful bodyguard of the new King, Jann Ibn Ifrati, was wounded by an arrow to the shoulder on this day, a wound that took 6 months to heal. The Levani infantry was able to hold off the nomads long enough for the cavalry to saddle itself and ride out to meet the nomads who were pushed back into the forest. The army then formed a crescent moon shape around the fringes of the forest and marched into the forest in battleline, the cavalry racing round the line to meet any points of concentrated attack by the enemy. The nomads, who were also inferior in number, were forced back into the river behind the forest where Levani archers proceeded to shoot at them as they swam to the opposite bank, towards the lands of Bardonia, to protect this crossing point from any further incursions, the fortified town of Corneille-sur-Ronelle was founded, ensuring safe travel between Levanesse and the Duchy of Lillia in the future along that route.
The Levani army entered Levanesse to find it seemingly deserted, Giorgio Magnifi, seeing the vast army approach and having heard of the Queen's crushing defeat, chose to flee abroad to the lands of Boulderov. Jean-Luc still rounded up the workers and policemen of Levanesse with his soldiers, raiding homes and seizing the men and women who had built and designed the city alongside. A loyalist spy who had infiltrated the movement, by the name of Ekhart Krähener, disclosed the whereabouts of the plotters and showed the evidence of the Duc of Murhagen's separatist activities. Jean-Luc called a new session of parliament and scheduled it for the following week, where he hoped to reveal his plans for the future of the nation under the conservative unionists. For the Duc of Murhagen, however, it was never to be - his horse being ambushed by supposed bandits when passing through the forests of Arglesia, the conservative unionist stronghold. When the rest of the parliament convened the King led them out to the bridge above the gorge north of Levanesse and brought forward the imprisoned workers and builders of Levanesse. The King announced there had been 5 traitors against the state of Levan - the Queen, the Ducs of Bordelaux, Lillia and Murhagen as well as Giorgio Magnifi. He therefore said 5 in 5 of all the workers and builders in Levanesse should therefore be thrown off this bridge into the gorge below to symbolise their service to these 5 traitors. However, in a turn of great mercy - and also controversy - he declared that his merciful nature saw that the Duc of Lillia had chosen to arrest the Queen and had chosen to remain loyal to the unity of the Kingdom. Therefore, he will also spare 1 in 5 of all the workers in Levanesse to symbolise his great mercy. It was evident the King was no poet or philosopher, but was undoubtedly unforgiving. The paramilitaries who had been with him since the Slaughter of Amestople began to throw the workers off the bridge in what ironically became known as The Great Flight, preserving only 1/5 of those brought out that day. Levanesse would take many many years to recover from this shortage of workers, and to this day the effects have been felt.
The King moved quickly to capitalise on his successes and used this moment to dissolve the parliament and scrap the constitution and Levani Book of Laws, implementing an absolute monarchy in which he appointed all Ministers and Ducs. He also signed an agreement with Staslovic to greatly limit their influence in the south and supported Instour, following Levan helping found the Idaris Accords, in a war against Beepeck in the east, a war which led the Empire of Beepeck to lose on much regional influence. The Kingdom slowly began to recover from these Years of Troubles in the following decades but it was very clear that those Duchies that had chosen to oppose Jean-Luc's rise to power had suffered severe and irreverseable consequences to their economy and population, particularly that of Bordelaux's which has never to this day recovered. On the other hand, the other Duchies which had backed his bid for power profited greatly from his new Kingdom. 
== Geography ==
=== Biodiversity ===
Levan is a predominantly forested area, with large hills dominating the western half of the country. The large Morelle forest is situated in the eastern half of the country, where very few hills and rising ground are present, and no plains. This is replaced by two major forested areas: the Morelle Noire and the Morelle Blanche, which are taiga and birch forests, respectively. The south-west of the country was subject to significant ecological disruption, including the eradication of flora and fauna, as well as substantial forest clearance, as a consequence of the Levan-Amiris war. The kingdom of Levan initiated a programme of reforestation and mycological eradication, with the aim of restoring the integrity of the forest ecosystem and counteracting the spread of Amiris's mycelium throughout Talasi. 
The eastern region of the country is distinguished by a predominance of floral species, particularly tulips, which has led to an abundance of bees in this area. The eastern region is characterised by a scarcity of forests, with the notable exception of the Abeillz Forest (Forest of Bees) in the central-eastern region and the Yap Forest in the south-eastern region. The remainder of the eastern portion of the country is constituted by extensive undulating hills, with an altitude of 200 metres above sea level. The prevailing climatic patterns in the eastern region are classified as oceanic, as evidenced by the presence of the oceanic climate in the Duchy of Lillia. In contrast, the central region of the country experiences cooler temperatures due to its higher altitudes, resulting in colder climates.  The westernmost region of the country is distinguished by the presence of the Morelle Forest, a region of notable biodiversity, including species endemic to Morelle, such as the Levanese fox and the Morelle red bird. The western region is distinguished by colder temperatures than those experienced in the eastern part of the country, with a progressive decrease in temperature towards the westernmost extremities. 
=== Political division ===
The Kingdom of Levan is composed of six duchies and a crownland. Due to the federal nature of the country, each duchy governs its territory independently from the kingdom and the king, provided that the duchies do not violate the laws established by the kingdom or the freedoms of other duchies. It is noteworthy that the duchies are descended from the kingdoms that were part of the Confederation of the Flower.
Crownland : In the realm of Levan, there exists a singular Crownland, known as the Crownland of Levanesse, which is further distinguished by its capital, Levanesse. It is noteworthy that Levanesse concurrently serves as the capital of the Kingdom of Levan. The Crownland is defined as a territory that is specific to the royal capital, and it is a subdivision that is directly controlled by the kingdom and the king. Consequently, a Crownland does not have a duke. The prerogative to make and ratify decisions resides exclusively with the king or the government. 
Duchy : Within the Kingdom of Levan, the most common administrative subdivision is the duchy. The kingdom is divided into six duchies: Lyeonne, Arglesia, Murhagen, Lillia, Aquitait, and Bordelaux. Each duchy is headed by a duke, who is responsible for the administration of the duchy. The duke possesses the prerogative to initiate construction projects, organise events, and enact local laws specific to their duchy, provided these laws comply with the kingdom's overarching legal framework. The method of tax collection is also left to the discretion of each duchy, meaning that some duchies may impose higher taxes than others, while some may choose not to levy taxes at all.
== Culture ==
Levani culture is a unique and pronounced culture, touching every aspect of Levan society. Of course it varies between social classes and between different Duchies and regions, but this serves to enrich the culture and allows people to discover something new in every corner of the country, from the bustling port cities in the south and the forest in the east to the quiet and calm plains of the west and the colder northern climate.
=== Food and Drink ===
Levan's culinary culture is unique, varying from town to town. Fish, particularly cod and salmon, is typical of the eastern region of Bordelaux and is popular in the towns of Bordelaux itself and Stasbourg as well as Ferndal. It is usually accompanied by potatoes and various vegetables and is often cooked in a thicker sauce using the milk collected from the provincial farms to give them a creamier flavour. In the north of the nation towards Arglesia, Lyeonne and Murhagen you will find variations of cooked warden being served. Murhagen style cooking favours a roast warden, typically the leg or the belly, and is served alongside potatoes, mushroom sauce, carrots and other herbs located in the surrounding Morelle Noir. Arglesians and those from Lyeonne typically prefer to barbeque their wardens - with warden burgers, warden ribs and warden kebabs (warden kebabs originating from the capital Levanesse as oppose to these regions) - being incredibly popular staples in the area and they will serve them with hot sauce, spices and local BBQ sauces. The southern Duchies of Aquitait and Lillia have a different staple, that being cats. The most popular dish by far in both Duchies is the culturally iconic cat stew, being incredibly in demand - with the city of Vilcomitia even have a communal kitchen serving cat stew in one of its squares. Being a stew, the ingredients added are always up to the chef's discretion but we can detect hints of potato, paprika, carrot, basil and cabbage most of the time alongside the cat. Levanesse itself is a unique blend of many of the Duchies' cuisines, having many immigrants from all over the nation coming to settle there. The traditional wheat and meat based diet is still by far the most popular with roast and slow-cooked beef, pork and chicken being served most commonly alongside traditional breads, fruits and cheeses - although, there is an ever increasing popularity and number of restaurants serving warden and cat based foods in the area, demonstrating the popularity of such dishes.
Levain food is usually accompanied by drinks. Levanesse, Bordelaux and Aquitait are considered to be wine-making duchies and wine is by far the most heavily consumed beverage in those areas, accompanying most meals and events. In the north of the nation, in the Duchies of Lyeonne, Arglesia and Murhagen we often find local beers, ales and ciders being served alongside their dishes in pubs, bars and alehouses. In the south, towards Lillia, they specialise in softer drinks and produce the Kingdom's finest fruit juices, smoothies, cocoa milk and milkshakes amongst others, which has proven to be greatly popular all over the nation as people come to sample their products.
Levan has helped introduce the culinary arts to its population using a variety of methods, the most notable of which is the construction of a school in the city of Vilcomitia under the supervision of the LEA (the Levani Education Association) on cooking and the culinary arts. It has also by promoted professions within the realms of agriculture and fishing, encouraging people to support or open businesses.
=== Sport ===
The Kingdom of Levan's main and national sport is hockey, mainly spread by King Jean-Luc Lafaille. The sport has found an important place in Levani culture, with Levan participating in the Talasi Hockey League. Stadiums exist in Vilcomitia and Arglesia and Levan has been able to foster a relatively strong national team that performs decently in regular international competitions. Other sports that are popular in the Kingdom include boat racing and archery, with events and competitions taking place to test the prowess and ability of competitors in these sports. Furthermore, many Levani participate in horse racing and horseback combat as horseriding is an important part of western Levani culture from the days of old when the people of Levan rode on horseback across the rolling plains in the west.
=== Literature ===
== Demography ==
The population of Levan is primarily composed of Levanis. Due to the Levani unification plan of the Island of Dwarves, the Levani population began to dominate the region. Despite this, minorities of Lillians and Bordelaunais managed to persist in their distinct cultures, resisting Levanization. In the northern part of the country, Arglesia has a population consisting of both Levanois and Arglesians. The latter have successfully preserved their culture, including their religion, intact.
The people are divided between the northern part of the country, dominated by a mostly rural and modest population, while the southern part boasts superior infrastructure, more jobs, and wealth. The presence of the Yapelle in the south of Vilcomitia and Lillia has encouraged population migration to these cities. Agriculture and aquaculture in these areas have offered numerous job opportunities and increased food production.
The northern duchies are somewhat dependent on the south, including their population. Levani food, consisting largely of fish as well as wheat, is typically exported from Lillia and Levanesse. Migration to the north has become less common due to the smaller population, lack of infrastructure, and consequently fewer job opportunities. Despite the less advanced situation in the north, the city of Arglesia managed to experience a population boom and developed more advanced infrastructure compared to Lyeonne and Murhagen. There was also strong cultural growth in Arglesia, contributing to demographic growth and infrastructure development similar to its southern neighbors.
== Vexillology ==
The utilisation of flags in the representation of Levan and its institutions is of paramount importance. Consequently, it was inevitable that the country would adopt multiple flags for diverse occasions.
Fonction 	Flag	Notes
National flag 	 	The national flag serves as a representation of the nation and its populace. The utilisation of this flag is permitted for all individuals, irrespective of whether they are civilians or government officials. The flag is officially designated 'Levanois' and was created following the unification of the Flower Confederation. It is widely regarded as the symbol of the unification of the duchies and the establishment of a united nation.
Governement flag	 	The government flag, otherwise known as the 'duocolore', is employed in government establishments and administrations within the duchies. Consequently, its usage is naturally restricted to administrative purposes and is not permitted for use by civilians. However, civilians are permitted to carry the flag on their person, provided that it is not utilised for the purpose of usurpation. The flag is also employed by Levan's armed forces, particularly on their shields. Additionally, the flag serves as a symbol of royalism.
 	 	
Category:Rathnir
Category:Talasi