Vel

**Vel,** also known as Veland, is one of the six continents located on Ara and has for much of its history been divided into ten provinces of Ardor, Cassia, Faragale, Graete, Harburne, Kinshire, Lordath, Moorewood, the Renwood Forest and Vaerland. It is located in the northwest on a map of Ara and borders the Luzian Ocean to the north and the Draywick Ocean to the south.

## History

*Main article: Timeline(Vel)*

The recorded history of Vel began with the Aerdori around the year -2300 AE. History is divided into five distinct ages: the Age of Velerose, The Age of Humanity, the Age of the Shadow Sun, the Age of Vanquish, and The Age of the New Dawn. Starting dates and ending dates of ages can be disputed and generally revolve around the effects of politics and war.

### The Age of Velerose

The first major event that begins the recorded history of Vel is the Aerdori sharing their knowledge of communication, language, and other scholarly pursuits with their three neighboring peoples: The Graetes, The Laers, and the Vaeri. While this is done with good intentions the Aerdori inevitably end up triggering a war between the four groups of aer people. The war between the aer would lead to an alliance known as the "Velerose agreement" however the Laer would be so devastated and left without hospitable land due to the Aerdori spell plague that what few remained were forced to leave Vel.

The Graetes were the first to make contact with the Faratae of Faragale who proved to be territorial and isolationist. A short war between the two in -1995 AE which led to Ardor getting involved. The war was short-lived and ended with the Renwood forest being named a neutral yet protected area and for the Velerose to respect the Faragale's territory and privacy. Minor trade between the groups was also a result of the conflict.

A minor bout between the mage academies of Ardor and Vaeri led to the War of the Mages however the governments did not back their schools and left them to their own dispute-- which was fought in the ruined land of Laer. Ultimately the war led to Vaerland's magic academy being disbanded but they in turn got ahold of the artifacts that started the dispute.

A council between the races of aer, including the faratae, was held after the human clanspeople made contact with the Graetes. It was ruled that they shouldn't get too heavily involved in human affairs while they are still developing.

### The Age of Humanity

In -1344 AE the first human kingdom was formed: Harfolk. Despite the Velerose deciding not to get too involved with humans, it proved impossible to ignore the curious being,s and ironically it was Ardor that influenced them the most after introducing them to basic stories of their people. Humans managed to proficiency in steelworks faster than the aer did and were advancing at a quick pace.

While the Vaeri were aggressive towards humanity and Faragale was cautious; Ardor and Graete were friendly with them. Humans didn't spend time waring with the aer people but instead with themselves.

By -550 AE humanity had developed from dozens of clans into seven differing provinces, most of which called themselves a kingdom.

### The Age of the Shadow Sun

In -670 AE Vaerland harassed Kinshire by taxing them for being too close to the Vaerland border, stealing livestock, and unfair trading. The Graetes advised Kinshire to not put up with it and while they acknowledged the Velerose agreement they still trained the Kin and guided them as they marched to the Vaeri border. Vaerland stopped harassing Kinshire but not without holding grudges.

Faragale found Vadoma too close to their border and gave them a year to leave. Vadoma refused which led their kingdom to be overturned by the Faratae and survivors were forced to move north.

In -633 AE King Gilosa of Vaerland would be one of the most tyrannical kings Vel would ever see during the first few centuries. He would seek vengeance on the Graetes; claiming they "Made a fool of my father's kingdom." Gilosa would spend time making alliances and coercing his allies to start conflicts hoping to never truly break the Velerose agreement. Gilosa would start an eight-year war that would involve nearly every province of Vel at the time and would lead to the devastation of Harfolk, making the once most powerful human kingdom the poorest. Gilosa was exiled from Vel as a result.

However, it was Gilosa's war that would influence Old King Aldwin or Lorshire to begin planning an alliance of the humans. While most kingdoms were favorable of an alliance none wanted to forgive power to be a united kingdom. King Aldwin knew that the unification was already in the works as his granddaughter the heir to the throne in Nordath and was betrothed to the prince of Laxford. While Aldwin would never see it his great-grandson King Aeson would eventually be named the first King of the Shadow Sun Kingdom.

### The Age of Vanquish

Despite the prosperity of the Kingdom of the Shadow Sun leading to peaceful times the royal family and nobility grew less interested in maintaining peace the further the line was from King Aeson. Eventually, problems of unfair taxing, bandits, thievery, and the like became seldom handled by the authorities and often left in the hands of wandering mercenaries and hired swords.

One particular group of adventurers known as the Company of the Raven's Field was renowned among the people but disliked by many members of the royal family and the line of nobility. The Company eventually warned various dukes and earls of a coming disaster and were looking for aid, but no one in the kingdom believed them and they began looking for an assistant from neighboring provinces. No one had heard from the Company of the Raven's Field again and they were said to have all died attempting to prevent a "looming evil."

In -93 Harfolk would begin to experience disease and famine. Many became worried about the Company of the Raven's Field's warnings but ultimately they were ignored. Three years later the Grand Harfolk Cathedral collapses and is engulfed by a crack in Ara's soils. The crack was the host to many horrors including demonic monsters, undead, and other fiends. The attack devastated Harfolk within a year's time. Other provinces would hear rumors of the attack and would have time to raise defenses but the publically named "Army of Vanquish" was spreading throughout Vel.

Graete would suffer next as it's vast wildlands would decay and have poisonous toxins in the air. Laxford would be destroyed by demonic entities and the citizens of Barset would become immensely paranoid of traitors and slowly turn on each other; destroying themselves. While the spread of the Army of Vanquish was slowing down, most other provinces were distraught when they heard the powerful Aerdori fell and Ardor was flooded and abandoned.

After the disappearance of the Aerdori the other provinces would struggle to defend their borders, most of which were slowly shrinking. Desperate changes were made and the Cosmonious was abandoned by what remained of the Kingdom fo the Shadow Sun. A new belief called "The New Dawn" was set in place, believing that the descendants of the Cosmonious were better equipped to protect Vel. Kinshire built a wall around their border and seceded from the kingdom, leaving only Nordath and Lorshire.

### The Age of the New Kingdom

Nordath and Lorshire joined forces to become Lordath. The new kingdom aligns itself with Faragale to strengthen the forces of the south and despite being able to relatively maintain their border they never truly break into the region known as Harburne either.

Despite a crack appearing in Vaerland the north has less trouble defending themselves. The Vaeri rely on technology to defend themselves and the Kin rely on their "worry wall" and the spirits of Aelinity. The Graetes, while never truly becoming a kingdom again, are still active and have adapted to their new environment.

It is currently 538 ND and has been nearly 200 years since the New Kingdom was founded. Queen Clarissa is the current monarch and seems more hopeful than some of her predecessors.

## Geography

    Vel is typically divided into ten provinces outlined below. These have fluctuated throughout Vel's history and most have been renamed depending on the prominent rulers. These are the current forms of reference.

* Ardor
* Cassia
* Faragale
* Graete
* Harburne
* Kinshire
* Lordath
* Moorewood
* The Renwood Forest
* Vaerland

## Governments

### The Graete Council

After the fall of Graete they remaining people banded together and tried to survive and adapt to the changes in their land. Since the Graetes always believed in things taking their natural course they viewed this as what was supposed to happen. Ultimately when they were "reborn" they elected not to have a king but instead have a council. Each council member may represent a specific area or idea.

### The Kin Oligarchy

Like the Graetes the Kin no longer have a monarch and instead have elected officials reign over seperate lands on Kinshire.

## Culture

### Religion

*Main article: The New Dawn*

The New Dawn is a belief formed from the old belief in the Cosmonious. Lathander leads four other gods; Cedros, Ottuna, Thyien and Zinnia with hopes of saving the people of Vel. The belief was formed due to the harsh living conditions the demonic invasion of Vel created and expected the descendants to be more successful as they were said to be able to walk the material plane.

Other religions include:

* Estra
* Kelinity
* The Cosmonious
* The Saeriser
* The Three Sisters of Mellith

### Demographics

*Main article: Races of Vel*

The main races of Waesyn are the Cassian, Faratae, Gaete, Kin, Lordathian, Moore and Vaeri.

Other races in Waesyn include the following:

* The Aerdori
* The Kelia
* The Ren