Vatrachia

The Kingdom Of Vatrachia is a fairly dominant nation in the world of Ciedalsa, located in Central Phainfara, bordering the two inland seas that dominate that portion of the continent, dubbed the Twin Seas of Vatrach and Iluren after the two mythical founders of the kingdom. Vatrachia sprang up from the ruins of the Kingdom of Islasol, formerly a small vassal state of the kingdom that was quick to invade and conquer a large portion of Islasol's former land on Phainfara, quickly becoming one of the new dominant powers following it's collapse. The kingdom has a population of about 20 million people, with the fertile ground surrounding the Twin Seas providing plentiful resources for the kingdom to grow and expand. Vatrach is known for its large population, along with its prolific scientific advancements in the last ten years, with many of the world's most proficient scientists flocking to the capital city, Iluria, which is also known as the Jewel of Phainfara.
Vatrachia does not have the most impressive of militaries, but they keep a large force of reserves to protect the kingdom in case of attack from neighbouring nations, although not enough to conquer others without significant difficulty, instead focusing on enhancing their understanding of the sciences and the words of the prophets. Most of the state budget goes toward infrastructure and science, a heavy pivot from the previous religious zealotry that was brought about following an internal power struggle in which the old king, Ilus III, was ousted in favour of his niece and the current queen, Nila I. The kingdom's political landscape is still fairly unstable, and within the queen's court a multitude of factions fight for power and influence over the young queen, doubtful of her merits as a ruler.
As of several years ago, Vatrachia has formed an alliance with the nearby nation of Sokida, the two pledging to not attack one another and defend each other if one of them faced aggression. The alliance was determined in a three day conference with Vatrachian and Sokidan diplomats, and was made official during a state visit to Sokida, where Nila I and the Sokidan leader signed the treaty in a lavish ceremony. Vatrachia has generally peaceful relations with the majority of its neighbours, the kingdom keeping to itself following decades of vast expansionism, intent on not pushing their luck and risking losing territory to rivals.
Vatrachia is somewhat religious, with the vast majority of its citizens following the teachings of the Prophets, a trio of former gods of Islasol that are said to rule over the seasons, with the royalty of the kingdom adopting them as their own following the fall of Islasol. Their faith has brought them into conflict with neighbouring Tesserroki, who follow their own faith devoutly, and a series of wars were fought between the two nations decades ago.
The Vatrachian economy is one of the most prosperous of recent times, the prosperous and fertile fields coupled with a multitude of technological advances leading to a recent economic boom, along with trade routes to neighbouring Sokida and Sednys providing the kingdom with various commodities not found within its boundaries in return for the plentiful crops and wealth contained within the kingdom.
==Provinces==
Vatrachia is made up of sixteen provinces, which are as follows:
#West Iluris is an agriculture oriented district that provides a vast majority of the food for the capital, situated between the Twin Seas and made up of vast, fertile grasslands that make it ideal for large scale crop production
#East Iluris is the capital province and core of the kingdom, a mostly flat region that surrounds a crater where a meteor fell long ago, in which the capital city of Iluria is situated
#Varmal is the northernmost province of Vatrachia, and is dominated by the great mountain range that stretches into the territory of neighbouring nation Tesserroki, and due to this defensive position this is where a sizeable portion of the active Vatrachian military is housed
#South Varmal is a small, sparsely inhabited province significant only for its large mineral deposits below the surface, although they have been yielded mostly inaccessible due to the salt flats that cover a large portion of the region, and are considered sacred ground by the teachings of the prophets.
#Lailuk is the smallest province in the Vatrachian core territories, primarily made up of lush, fertile ground created by the Sea of Vatrachis and the network of rivers that flow through the province, and thus a major farming hub
#Nimblam is home to the third largest city in Vatrachia, Ilasuk, renowned for being a centre of the arts and culture, as well as its political autonomy in Vatrachia, serving as a microstate with neighbouring province Zilna within the larger nation
#Zilna is the other half of the southern microstate, a fairly mundane province known for the ancient ruins that dot the landscape, the remnants of a civilization that's only remains are the Zilnaki ethnic group that inhabit Zilna and its neighbouring regions
#Kura was once a centre of Islasol's power in the west, a bastion of military strength that kept nearby nations in check. However, with the fall of the empire it was ransacked by Vatrachia and quickly became a cornerstone of the nation's power, housing the second largest city in the kingdom, Kuranis
#Vast grasslands cover the majority of Solis, with sparse population found in the relatively arid landscape, and the ground not amenable to farming, leaving it primarily empty, although there has been talk of establishing settlement on the edge of the Sea of Vatrachis
#Jakzi is one of the largest provinces in Vatrachia and a major bastion of military might along the border with Tesserroki, flanked by a mountain range that begins in Varmal and passes into neighbouring nations, with many troops stationed there to defend against aggression
#Umai is almost entirely mountainous, covered head to toe with high, snow capped peaks, making entry into the kingdom through the province near impossible with current technology
#Qa is a major centre of trade and development in Vatrachia, one of its few accesses to the ocean and thus an avenue of access not barricaded in by neighbours such as Sokida and Tesserroki, making it a fast growing centre of the empire, with the fourth largest city, Taroka.
#Xa is split in two by mountains, and is often considered the last of the "loyalist" provinces when put into the order displayed here, with the province a mix between idyllic seaside and alpine heights, making it a popular tourist destination for those willing to make the trek to the remote locale
#Yan is a centre for Islasolian resurgence groups and nationalism, with a special force of troops stationed in the province to prevent any more riots or rebellions starting due to the rampant anti-state fervor that racks the area
#Krista is similar to it's neighbour in terms of government sentiment, if not even more extreme, with a rebel force located within the province that has taken several cities and is currently combating Vatrachian troops, leaving the area incredibly unstable.
#Terriere is in an unfortunate position, cut off from the rest of the kingdom by a mountain range and left defenseless against any potential Tesserroki advances, with the province only barely held onto by Vatrachia after the collapse of Islasol, and with many independence movements starting in the province.
Category:Ciedalsa