Herlundy

Herlundy, also referred to as The Herlundy (Herlundian: I Herlondenza), is a landlocked country within the Empire of Ischanor in a union with the Kingdom of Blomach. The Herlundy is located in the very southeast of Ischanor in Kejafros, bordering Kalkenstein to the north, Lachawaka to the west and Zilatra to the south and east. 
The Herlundy is believed to have been first settled by Proto-Baszku peoples around 8000-3000 years ago. Around 2500-2000 years ago pigmen from the west migrated to contemporary Herlundy and came to form the ruling class of the are for the following millennium. During this time the Herlundy was a politically fragmented region, with various feuding rural clans and few major settlements. The introduction of bronze and writing enabled the establishment of more permanent polities, eventually resulting in the rise of the Harkaitz Kingdom in the Harkentine Valley. Tensions and disputes with the nearby post-Thondean Onquior Kingdom resulted in the conquest of the Herlundy by the latter around 850 years ago. The Herlundy would then be under Onquiorian and Baszku rule with a period of temporary independence inbetween for the following 600 years. Foreign rule ended with the 'Bloody Century, which was charactarised by various revolts and feuds that eventually led to a political landscape dominated by sovereign landowners and mercenaries. An attempted invasion by Herlundian mercenaries into Lovvia resulted in the virtual extinction of the Herlundian mercenary class and allowed Loedry to exert its dominance across the rest of the Herlundy, which resulted in the unification of the Herlundy through the Herlundine Confederation. The Herlundy fell into a period of civil war following a republican coup by Aurelius Rovardor, which concluded with the establishment of the Herlundine Commonwealth. Another coup was attempted by Fouzvyn Harpennyck, which resulted in the centralisation of the Herlundine Commonwealth. 
The Herlundine Commonwealth is a de facto unitary Parliamentary Monarchy where the Herlundine Parliament is considered as the supreme institution of state checked only by the Constitution and the Herlundines' King. 
==Etymology==
The term "Herlundy" is an anglicisation of the Herlundian name for the country, Herlondentza, which roughly means "Homeland", or more literally "Homelandery".
== History ==
===Prehistory ===
The Herlundy was settled around 8000-5000 years ago by Proto-Baszku hunter gatherers. It is believed that pastoralism and animal husbandry was adopted by the Proto-Baszku hunter gatherers already by 5000 years ago, though became widespread by the first arrivals of the pigmen into the region around 3500 years ago. The pigmen, who themselves were being expelled from their native regions by agricultural Aysaris, eventually began to adopt agriculture from the Aysari who replaced them. The arrival of the agricultural pigmen threatened the proto-Baszku pastoralists, likely leading to great conflict that ultimately led to the former assuming dominance over the latter by around 2500 years ago, though it is also likely that many proto-Baszkus willingly worked and lived under the agricultural pigmen.
===Ancient Herlundy===
The population growth of the pigmen following their establishment in the Herlundy allowed for greater degrees of specialisation and the formation of the first towns in the Herlundy. These towns eventually became centres of trade and contributed to the partial dissolution of the clan system of the pigmen, albeit many clans continued to exist until the Onquiorian Conquest. Clans that hosted major towns evolved into petty Kingdoms which received tribute from nearby clans that sought its protection. The various centres of power of the time and increased need for metals gave rise to a number of diplomatic clans that paid tribute to multiple clans and became natural diplomats between the clans they paid tribute to.
The rise of the Thondean Empire enabled the centrally located Harkaitz Kingdom to rise and become the suzerain and protector of most of the Herlundine lands thanks to their wealth and the military power they could accrue with it. As the dominant Kingdom in the Herlundine lands the Harkaitz Kingdom consolidated the various militias and mercenaries into a single army and allowed the diplomatic clans to collectively determine the common foreign policy on behalf of all clans.
The Harkaitz Kingdom became a tributary of Thondeum throughout its existence and acquiesced to many of its demands for human emancipation, in part driven by a greater abolitionist movement among the diplomatic clans. After the fall of Thondeum, the Harkaitz Kingdom ceased to pay tribute to Thondeum, which led to war with Onquior. Despite initial successes, the war eventually stalled and ultimately led to the defeat and complete conquest of the Harkaiz Kingdom. Onquior would conquer the rest of the Herlundine lands shortly thereafter.
===Onquior ===
The Onquiorian conquest of the Herlundy meant a complete revolution of Herlundine society. All polities and clans were dissolved with their lands redistributed to Onquiorian soldiers as reward for their service and all towns emptied of pigmen to make room for Thondean settlement. All Herlundine laws, institutions, and customs were replaced with Thondean ones. The pigmen ceased to be considered as persons and became slaves and livestock, eventually diminishing their population to near-extinction. Existing human slaves were however recognised as persons by the new regime, though remained tied to the land as serfs.
A failed revolt against Onquiorian rule a couple of generations following the conquest prompted Onquior to grant greater liberties and rights to the Baszku majority of the Herlundy, which was accompanied by a campaign of forced conversion of the Herlundines. The Baszku majority became loyal to Onquior following this, which ensured stability in the Herlundy for the next couple of centuries.
The following centuries saw a period of peace and prosperity in the Herlundy as it integrated into the wider Thondean world. A distinct Herlundine identity began to emerge in the Basckovy, and with it a renewed interest in pre-Onquiorian Herlundy which ultimately led to the Herlundine Renaissance.
==Geography==
===Physical geography===
The territory of the Herlundy encompasses the entirety of the Herlundian plains, which makes up the vast majority of Herlundian territory and is the country's heartland, as well as slivers of the Sek Anqe swamp to the west and part of the river bank sand dunes to the east. Two major hill chains run north to south along the periphery of the plains, the larger of which separates the plains from the swamps in the west while the other lies along the river to the east. Other hills exist in-between these chains, separating the Herlundian lowlands into three valleys. These three valleys, from south to north are: the Loedran valley, the middle valley and the Central valley, which is also the largest of the three. To the north lies a cliff on which the Herlundy's highest point stands and is also the northernmost area of the Herlundy.
===Flora and fauna===
Outside the peripheral swamps, few trees can be found in the Herlundy, most of which are southern beech and various conifers. Herlundian flora for the most part consists of grasses and various flowers, primarily dandelions, bluets, cornflowers and poppies. The fauna of the Herlundy equally diverse, featuring primarily livestock but also frogs who inhabit the south of the plains. The most common wild animals in the Herlundy are frogs and feral sheep, while pigs, horses and cows can also be found roaming the Herlundian countryside.
===Climate===
The Herlundy has a hemiboreal continental climate as it is a region where the temperate climate of the north turns into the polar climate of the south. Winters in the Herlundian north tend to be fairly mild and average around freezing point while winters in the south are always below freezing. Consequently, summers in the south tend to be mild and slightly warm, whereas summers in the north are always warm and occasionally hot. The winds in the Herlundy tend to be cold as much of it comes from the polar south. The country receives moderate annual precipitation, with snow being common in the winter while rain is common during the summer. Otherwise, precipitation of hail and graupel are also common, regardless of season.
== Politics ==
The Herlundy is a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy, with a strong parliament and a passive monarchy. Herlundine Parliamentarism was established following Herlundine Unification as a way to establish a balance between the Harkentine landowners and the burghers of Loedry, though has since come to establish its position and legitimacy as the supreme institution of the Commonwealth through its continued existence and ability to represent the Herlundine people since Herlundine Unification.
==Culture==
===Architecture===
A building of Herlundine style refers to a coloured building, usually of warm colour, with bright (usually white) trims and a black roof. It is usually built with bricks or stone covered by coloured plaster. Roofs tend to be constructed using wood or metal, but are almost always black and never flat. Herlundine buildings tend to be modest in size and ornamentation, though some ornamentation is common for most larger buildings. Colour contrast without saturation is considered as important within Herlundine culture as a whole and the same applies to its architecture.
===Clothing===
Herlundine clothing tends to be simplistic, with predominantly plain flannel garments of various colours being worn.
For their upper body Herlundine men usually wear a plain flannel shirt with a coloured woollen jacket and a cravat around their neck. For the lower body kilts are usually worn with knitted socks and shoes out of leather and wood. During colder periods sweaters and longer socks are common. Waistcoats are commonly worn on formal occasions, along with a flowery badge traditionally attached to their cravat, but now more commonly attached to the jacket.
Herlundine women usually wear a shirt with puffy sleeves underneath a simple dress with a sash and a short jacket of fitting colour. Like their male counterparts, Herlundine women also wear cravats, knitted socks, and shoes out of leather and wood, with longer socks being common during colder periods. Cloaks are also commonly worn in colder periods instead of a short jacket, as well as during formal occasions. It is customary for women to attach a badge to their cravat or their cloak unless they seek a partner, in which case the badge should be skipped.
Headwear is universally worn outdoors by Herlundines, with the Herlundine Cap, a round feathered hat with a wide brim that is turned up and lined with fur, being by far the most common type of headwear. It’s considered highly taboo and immodest to not wear proper headwear when outside.
===Cuisine===
Hearty dishes of various meats with potatoes are typical for Herlundian cuisine. The most common meats served in Herlundian cuisine are beef and mutton, although poultry, venison, fish, and frog meat are also commonly served and eaten. Pork is entirely absent from Herlundian cuisine as the consumption of pork is considered highly taboo amongst Herlundians. The meats are in turn almost always served with fried potatoes, prepared in various ways, various greens, as well as various spiced sauces and gravies. It is customary for dishes to be served with a bread bun and soup or stew, in which the bread can be dipped. Bread buns and soup/stews are also commonly eaten as small meals throughout the day and are commonly served to guests at home.
Meals are commonly accompanied by alcohol due to the poor access to clean water, which is a luxury in the Herlundy. Milk is also commonly consumed alongside meals, especially for children. Alcohol is first served to children at the age of nine and is then gradually introduced to them over a period of five to ten years. Homemade alcohol is commonly gifted to guests by the host, with imported alcohol being gifted at more exclusive occasions.
Category:Abexilas
Category:Ischanor
Category:Kejafros