Waltens

**History**

## Waltens Region

The Heartland

Due to its central location, it has
long played a key role throughout most of Echain's history. Although
it was mostly ignored by early Portugese colonists, it became the
home of English and Welsh privateers in the late 16th
century, who established a pirate republic in present-day Waltens.
The influx of British colonists and sailors eventually led to the
foundation of the first Kingdom of Echain (also known as the
quasi-kingdom). Although this kingdom was quickly brought back to the
fold by the Luso-Spanish monarchy, it remained mostly autonomous in
practice and was confirmed as the autonomous Margraviate of Waltens
in 1668. In the following two centuries, Waltens expanded north,
south and east. It also gave birth to the League houses, who would
increasingly establish themselves as the true ruling class of Echain.
These Anglophone families often clashed with the Lusophone Camoes
kings. The Waltensian colonies of Eastport and Lurem eventually
became provinces in their own right. In the nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries, Waltens slowly began to loose prominence as
northern Echain began to develop economically and Plainsdale's large
government-backed farmsteads began to transplant the Waltensian
freeholder farms of the Heartland as the breadbasket of Echain. The
League houses still remained attached to their ancestral homeland,
though, often keeping large manors in the pitoresque Waltensian
countryside. Waltens' lack of strategic resources also spared it the
worst excessed of the Japanese Occupation, and aparts from the theft
of most of the League's wealth, it entered the post-world are mostly
unscathed.

**Present-day Waltens**

Waltens is the largest province of
Echain in term of size as well as population – nearly a third of
Echani call Waltens their home. Unlike most other provinces, it is
largely cultivated, and it is arguably the most urbanised province –
75% lives in one of the 33 towns with a population over 10.000.
Waltens is widely known for its wooded hills and scenic rolling green
plains. Historically the home of many of the old League families, the
province is dotted with manors, mansions and villa's. These two
factors made the province a prime tourist attraction and a popular
real estate market.

**Regions**

*West Waltens (Old Waltens)*

The area west of Crossings is often
considered to be the most typical of Waltensian landscapes,
consisting mostly of rolling hills, forests and manorial estates.
Many League houses had their roots here, and since it has long been
considered the first area of Waltens to be colonised by Europeans, it's commonly referred to as Old Waltens. It has long been popular with
tourists, and more have been attracted by the establishment of
Echain's first national park in early 1946.

Main town: Orford (32.000)

*Heartland*

As the name implies, historically the
heart of Waltens. It has long been considered the grain basket of
Echain, and although this title has since been lost to Plainsdale, it
is still a major agricultural region that harbours almost half of the
province's population in its many towns and cities. Like Old Waltens,
its hill country, vineyards and manors still attract plenty of
tourists and wealthy Echaini alike.

Main towns: Waltens City (112.000),
Crossings (68.000), Zoar (55.000)

*South Waltens (The Colony)*

The southern coast of Waltens has long
been the domain of fishermen and ranchers, as well as Waltensians
looking to get away from the League-dominated inlands. Ironically,
the coast became a popular retreat for League families from
mid-ninteenth century on, who were drawn by its relatively temperate
climate and beautiful coves and seaside cliffs. Resort towns like
Edgeton and Obank had popped up during the interbellum, housing
League members, nouveau-riche and tourists alike. During the same
time, the area also underwent a strong influx of Australian
immigrants. South Waltens currently holds the largest Australian
diaspora in the world, leading to its contemporary nickname, '*The*
Colony*'.*

Main towns: Edgetown (50.000), Midway
(35.000)

*East Waltens*

Historically the poorest and most
desolate part of the province, East Waltens includes both the western
part of the Dry Basin as well as the rocky Central Massif. The
latter's remote and inaccessable terrain has long result to it being
a harbor for bandits and rebels alike, resulting in the population
maintaining a survivalist world view warry of strangers. Ranging and
herding in the Dry Basin has been of limited success, but has
recently been revitalised with the influx of Australian immigrants.

Main town: Lacock (28.000)

*Azure Bay Region*

The second of Waltens' main
agricultural regions, this one has traditionally been dominated by
freeholder farmers rather than noble estates. From the early
ninteenth century on, it also became the refuse of many small farmers
who could no longer pay high rents in the south. It has long been
considered less developed and poorer than the Heartland, resulting in
a persistant rivalry. More recent attempts at industrialisation have
generally been very successful, though, resulting in a revitalisation
of the region into the province's industrial (and economic) center.

Main towns: Guildford (80.000), Cerne
(62.000), Carnavon (45.000)

*North Waltens*

North Waltens is dominated by the
mostly-undeveloped Cape Jungle. With its presence being considered a
nuisance rather than an actual limitation, there had never really
been any impetus to exploit the Cape until recently. The rest of the
region has likewise been of little economic consequence and has
therefore been attracting both those seeking a quiet retreat as well
as those awaiting to tackle the region as the 'last frontier', to be
developed by their bare hands.

Main town: Pershore (20.000)

**Player Citizens**

Cecasander