Kingdom of Vesterlands

**Population**: 96% Westrasi Human, 4% Treant Vassal Tribesmen Capital : Vesterland bay

##### **Goverment**

Constitutional Monarchy. A high king, chosen from an extended family claiming lineage back to Lahailain. A constitution protects the people's rights to personal autonomy and private property, as well as other basic rights, with some restrictions on how much new laws made by the kingship can actually contradict the constitution.

##### **Culture**

The modern Vesterlanders value, freedom and autonomy like the Lahailans, but value tradition much more than their Southern Cousins. Although their culture also embraces the rugged individualism that comes with being an outlander, there is no emphasis placed on business and entrepreneurship. In fact, The Vesterlanders feel that having a constitutional monarchy makes them freer than their southern kin. They do not feel the pressure to engage so actively in global trade, and don't feel a threat of being exploited by large business ventures, Most Vesterlanders are happy to have a small simple home in the countryside or wilderness, and farm, hunt, or fish for what they need. They come together with their neighbors to share food in times of strife, or brew alcohol together, or build boats and fish together for those living by the sea. However, those Vesterlanders that do live in the only large city, and the ceremonial capital: Vesternland Bay, often work loading and unloading freight for Morlouxian and Lahailan trade ships. Some even take a trip or two as merchant sailors. Mostly for the experience. There is a small population of Treant Vassal Tribesmen, who emigrated to Vesterland for it's undeveloped wilds after being freed from Morloux. They were decidedly welcomed for their proficiency with crop growth.

##### **Organization**

There is a High King who rules from the only major city, and ceremonial capital: Vesterland Bay. All citizens are protected with basic rights by their constitution. Other than some renter-tenant relationships in the capital, most Vesterlanders are communities and extended families occupying farms and woodlands. The operate as immediate family units for many matters, but also come together as extended family or community for many others.

##### **Origin**

The origins of the Kingdom of Vesterland and the Lahaila Merchant Republic, are intrinsically tied. During the expansion of Ancient Westrasi culture, there was a prominent zeitgeist of moving northward. Lahailain, a warlord of one of the more powerful Westrasi warbands, disgruntled that many of the new fiefs and lordships of the north were becoming so quickly occupied, and that the dishonesty and politics of courtliness were beginning to permeate Westrasi culture; decided to instead move westward, into largely unoccupied lands. Him, and his people, settled along the westernmost shores of the continent, the site of the modern day nations of The Kingdom of Vesterland, and The Lahaila Merchant Republic. They named it simply Vesterland or the Western Lands, in their toungue. Lahailain declared himself the king of these lands, and declared them sovereign from the greater Vestrassian Kingdom. After the Vestrassian Kingdom split into Voros, and Vestlaria; Vestlaria, invaded the Vesterlands. Having become significantly larger and more advanced, compared to the outlanders of Vesterland, Vestlaria easily defeated the Vesterlanders, despite their prowess and valor in battle. Vesterland became the Vesterland colonies of Vestlaria, which overtime became Belara. After the Split of Belara, Morloux controlled the former Vesterland colonies. These colonies were largely regarded as outlands, and were all but neglected by the rulers of Morloux. The inhabitants of these colonies saw an oppurtunity to restore the Vesterlands to glory and sovereignty. Morloux busy with it's Revolution, and subsequent aftermath, was powerless to expend the resources far southwest to stop this secession. The organizers of this secession were split amongst themselves. One half wished not to be under the thumb of any monarchy, but create a new and freer government based on the old Vesterland values; the other half wished to return completely to their old kingdom. The former took the southern shores, and named this new country Lahaila, in honor of their original founder, and hero Lahailain. The latter took the northern peninsula, and named their country The Kingdom of Vesterland, as it was in the glorious times of old.

##### **Diplomacy**

Although they split from their southern kin, they view The Lahaila Merchant Republic as their greatest allies, and have a fair arrangement with them over the use of their bay for trade purposes. They also have a cautious relationship with Morloux, on the good word of their Lahailan allies. There is a small Belaran occupation in the rocky coastal wastleands of Vesterlands northernmost tip. They Belarans use this occupation as point for sailing to the other side of the world, and have promised no further encroachment for the use of this otherwise uninhabited area. Because this area is otherwise uninhabited, and because the small and mostly unorganized nation of Vesterland can not afford to take military action over a small and to them useless part of their land.

##### **Geography**

The Vesterlands is a peninsula, with dense deciduous forest in it's center. There are steep ocean cliffs to the west, and some rocky shores to the east, tapering into a calm and pleasant beach in and around their Vesterland Bay. To the north, rocky hills roll into jagged and rocky, coastal scrub wastelands.

##### **Economy**

The Vesterlands do not have much of a centralized economy, however they do receive some national wealth through the use of their bay by Lahaila and Morloux. In the Vesterlands bay many Vesterlanders also take some part in working for these international trade businesses.