Kingdom of Toleria

The **Kingdom of Toleria** is a kingdom located it in the region of Vitolia. The kingdom consists of 12 mainland region and 2 island territory. It shares land borders with the Kingdom of Trosta in the northwest, the Grand Duchy of Grifone in the west, the Kingdom of Trestilia in the southwest, and the Kingdom of Ishtilia to the south. It is the 3rd largest country by area and 2nd largest by population in Vitolia.

## Kingdom of Toleria

### Demographic

Majority: HumansMinorities: Dwarves, Elves

## History

in ancient times, the Tolerii, a Vitolian tribe known to be reclusive, abandoned their ancestral homeland and migrated to the easternmost point of Vitolia in order to escape the tribal conflicts prevalent in the area. They settled in the fertile lands of the Orientale Peninsula in what is now the historical city of Old Syravecchia. The tribal settlement would soon evolve into the City-State of Syravecchia, the first city-state in Toleria. In the following years, adventurous members of the population would go on to found a multitudes of city-states within the region, solidifying the Tolerii's grasp on the region. One of these city-state, Argento, would make contact with the dwarven chiefdom in Krazar. With both parties being generally reclusive, initial interaction would be little more than an acknowledgement of existence. A slow but gradual increase in trade, however, would see the dwarves integrated into the distinctly isolationist interaction of the Tolerii people, with dwarven merchants and Argento being the main contributors to the changing relationship. Dwarven interaction would bring about a major change in Tolerii society, the introduction of a currency system in the form of coins made from copper, silver, and gold.

The isolationism from foreign affairs mean wars and diplomacy were mainly conducted against other Tolerii city-states, with the major players being the current territorial capitals. This status quo would remain unchanged until the year 3000 BCE when an expanding Carmonaian Empire slowly made their way to their region. Anticipating the coming struggle, the city-states would unite into the Tolerii Confederation, allying with the dwarven chiefdom whom also recognizes the threat posed by the empire. As the empire slowly swept through Vitolia, the Tolerii would spend the next 20 years on integrating and organizing the various city-states into a united front. This unprecedented level of cooperation between the Tolerii people contributed greatly towards inevitable war. The result is a 10-year long stalemate against Carmonaian Empire, with the Tolerii supplied by the fertile farmlands and arms from their dwarven allies. The long stalemate served to destabilized the empire as it poured resources into the frontline, giving way to the wave of rebellions from conquered territory, culminating in the collapse of the empire and the final victory for the confederation. The 10-year defence against the Carmonaians would become famed throughout Vitolia as the Fall of Carmonaia.

The pyrrhic victory achieved by the Tolerii Confederation exhausted their resources and population. A combination of increased cooperation, pragmatism, and a newly forged Tolerii identity born from the shared struggle of the previous war led to the founding of the Old Tolerian Kingdom, with its people shedding the tribal name of Tolerii, and adopting the demonym of Tolerians. This would be the youngest kingdom in the region of Vitolia. The new Tolerian identity also spread among the people in the dwarven chiefdom, owing to the millenia old relationship with the Tolerian people. A sentiment soon emerged among the dwarven upper class to unify with the newly founded kingdom. The following year, the dwarven chief Tharba II Maulka, with the support of the dwarven council, would request a unification with the Old Tolerian Kingdom, which was subsequently accepted. The dwarven chiefdom would change into what is now known as the Dwarven Duchy of Krazar with the chief of the dwarves becoming the new Duke, changing their family name to the Tolerian equivalent, Mazza, and earning him the epithet of "The Unifier". The merger would complete the modern border of the kingdom. The Old Tolerian Kingdom would continue the tradition of non-interference in foreign affairs, opting for limited trade with its immediate neighbours. This allowed the kingdom to be relatively peaceful in a region filled with yearly wars.

in the year 1600 BCE, the rapid changes in the environment brought about by the Dark Lord caused massive damages to the kingdom. The bizzare combination of plagues, crop failures, raging storms, and extreme flooding was quickly noticed. The kingdom would order all academics and royal mage to investigate the cause of these catastrophe. They found that the entire region's mana is being drained into the demon continent. Baffled by this finding, the Old Tolerian Kingdom would lift its isolationism in order to communicate with other states in the Vitolia. This erratic and hazardous change would forcefully put a stop in any ongoing conflict between countries. In 1599 BCE, Apostle Marietta would receive a divine revelation from the patron Goddess of the Tolerian people, Elluza, for all races to cooperate in defeating a rising evil. This revelation, reportedly received by every other country in Vitolia, would lead to the Grand Council of Vitolia, called by the Holy Kingdom of Trinita Dea. The extraordinary situation surrounding the problem and the revelation sent to all the countries in Vitolia is unanimously agreed upon by all party to be of utmost importance, for a region-wide truce, and for an alliance focusing on the issue to be created, led by a council of representatives for each country. In 1597 BCE, the alliance was abuzz when an elven envoy was sent from their empire to the far west. The elves would reveal that the demon race, united by the enigmatic personage they call Dark Lord, is responsible for the mana disaster experience by the world. The Vitolian Alliance would agree to join the combined army following the revelation, acting as Rodinia's southeastern shield.

In 1590 BCE, 10 years since the Mana Drain reached Rodinia, words of the eventual arrival of the Black Army reached the ears of the alliance, Led by General Axyon the Anuller. Rodinia would soon be surrounded on all sides, and the Vitolians will be the frontline of the southeastern landing with Toleria expected to take the brunt of enemy attack. Additionally, the combined army have learnt that a corrupted Dragon Lord Tesephon and its brood would accompany the already numerous army of the Dark Lord. Hearing news of her close kin's involvement in the southeast, Dragon Lord Zydra would direct her own brood to challenge them and to finally lay her corrupted kin to rest. The following year would mark the coming of the Black Army on the shores of Vitolia.

The invasion of Vitolia in 1589 BCE would start with small scale battles on the coast of the east ending in success at repelling the invaders. This would soon change as the main forces arrived, and the Tolerian capital, and the regions surrounding it was quickly overrun. the Vitolian army would continue fighting desperately against the invading army, failing to capitalize on any chance due to heavy casualties. In the Twin Battle of The Pass, the Tolerians would be part of the northern army, facing against an army led by the Axyon himself. The battle was a disaster for the Vitolian army, with the southern army suffering a crushing defeat, the 2 dragon lords mutually killing each other atop the Bianca Mountains, and the northern army losing more than a quarter of its fighting ability. The battle marks a turning point in the Vitolian campaign, culminating in the final desperate retreat in the Battle of The Sovereigns. The Vitolian army would ultimately succeed in retreating to rejoin the combined army, at the cost of the death of the kings of Toleria, Carmonaia, Savaria, and the hero of Orisia, who succeeded in holding off the Black Army, and landing a crippling blow to Axyon himself. The wounding of the general would temporarily halt the invaders, giving time for the Vitolian army, now joined with another contingent of the combined army, to reorganize and fortify their defences. The demoralized Tolerian army would be led by the 3 heads of the marquisates while the duke council will lead the government-in-exile. The Tolerians would spend the remainder of the war participating in the Great Siege of Rodinia, taking part in the final battle with the rest of the continent.

Like the rest of Vitolia, the Tolerian army returned to their homeland after the end of the war, greeted by a devastated and depopulated land. With insufficient resources for any one country to rebuild, Toleria, along with the other members of the Vitolian Alliance founded the Vitolian Union of Kingdoms with the intention of combining efforts into restoration. The Union would slowly morph into something akin to a federation over time, with the emperorship being rotated between the differing royal houses. This period of shared Vitolian history would be last for 1,230 years, split into 3 eras.

The first of these era, the TImes of Restoration would last from 0 CE until the year 700 CE. This era is marked by the rebuilding of cities and infrastructure, the restoration of farmland, trade, and artisanship, and the rediscovery of lost knowledge such as the creation of paper, construction material, and forgotten magical research. It is the longest and most influential era for contemporary Vitolia. In this age, the system of governance, culture, and religious belief would become more homogenized among the Vitolian states, though still sharing some distinction.

The Era of Serenity that started in 701 CE to 1100 CE is most often split into 3 stages: Post-Reconstruction, The Golden Age, and Age of Peace. The Post-Reconstruction age takes place in 701-839 CE. It is the period of stabilization within Toleria and the differing states in Vitolia as they slowly transition back towards the way of life familiar to them before the outbreak of the Black War. It is noted by the increase in trade between members of the Union, displaying the slowly recovering economy of each country. The Golden Age of Vitolia lasted from 840 CE to 990 CE. Known as the Great Resurgence or the Renaissance, this age is distinguished by a dramatic increase in the fields of science, technology, architecture, and the arts. Notably, Toleria is reponsible for the rediscovery of the old Vitolian brick and concrete, the unification of Vitolian currency, and the expansion of basic education for commoners through temple schools. The final stage of the era is the Age of Peace, also known as the hundred year of peace, taking place in 991 CE to 1100 CE. It is famous for being uneventful and unremarkable.

In 1101 CE, after centuries of relative peace, instability would begin with massive crop failures in southern Vitolia, a problem further exacerbated by a plague originating from the westward Empire of Aszensia. As a result, the states in southern Vitolia would enter a period of internal strife that crippled the union. Then Union Emperor Ottavio I who was also the king of a southern kingdom, would redirect Union resources from the northern states to his own domain, causing friction against both the southern members that did not receive aid and the northern members who were using the resource to protect the border from the constant skirmishes and raids from across the border. In 1103 CE, finally fed up with Ottavio I's self-centered policy, the south would declare war against the Ottavio in his capacity as king. This means that technically speaking, the other member states could not intervene as it is not a war declared against the Union. Toleria would not participate in the conflict despite the request from the emperor.

The following year, the war would end from the unexpected death of Ottavio I in the field of battle. The southern states emerged victorious, however the Union would enter into a crisis from the death of the emperor. Because the south technically caused the death of a reigning emperor, some states argued that the south would need to be punished in some form. Others would argue that the emperor died in his authority as king, not as emperor, therefore the south legally did not kill the emperor. The rift would over the years become a larger factional dispute among those for centralization of power made up of the western states, the Centros, and those favouring decentralization made up of the southern states, the Decentros. The divison would widen to the point that it culminated in the assassination of Emperor Giove I in 1165 CE, who would be known as the final emperor of the Vitolian Union.

The assassination of Giove I, who was the leader of the centralization faction, caused an uproar among the states backing him. The Decentro faction, led by the Kingdom of Aquilas was believed to be behind the murder, and, despite their denial, Aquilas would be subjugated on the orders of Prime Consul Avitus d'Bylemia. However evidence soon emerged proving that the assassination was instead committed by the prime consul himself, who was next in line for emperorship as the king of Bylemia. The consul planned to crush the decentralization faction in order to transform the Union into a dynastic empire under the his rulership. With this plot brought to light, the Decentro faction declared war on the Centros, who by now is under firm control of Avitus, triggering the largest war in VItolia since the Black War. The start of the war marks the beginning of the Age of Strife.

in the year 1190 CE, Toleria, who stayed neutral throughout this dispute would secede from the Union and declared the reformation of the kingdom, the contemporary Kingdom of Toleria, with the Grand Duchy of Grifone following suit. As the war between the south and the west rages on, many states would soon secede from the Union, effectively causing the dissolution of the a united Vitolia. The region would quickly see outbreaks of wars between states as they seek to settle old disputes. Toleria, together with its ally, will enter into constant warfare with both Trosta to its north and the twin kingdoms to its south, with both seeking to expand into the fertile northeast. The Age of Strife will ultimately end with and exhausted Toleria successfully protecting its territorial integrity.

For the next 200 years, the kingdom would experience peace, with the exception of occasional small-scale skirmishes with its neighbours.

## Politics

The Kingdom of Toleria is a Feudal Monarchy with the monarch serving as the embodiment of the state. The feudal lords are allowed autonomy in the governance of the land. However the recruitment of soldiers and foreign relations are directly managed by the crown, giving them exceptional power and influence over their vassals. The Prime Consul of the kingdom is personally selected by the monarch among the landed nobility.

For the nobility system; see: Vitolian Nobility

The Kingdom also has an existing alliance with its neighbour, The Grand Duchy of Grifone.

## Geography

The most notable geological feature of the kingdom is the massive East Bianca River and it's many tributaries flowing throughout its territory, becoming the main reason for its fertile lands. The country primarily consists of flat plains, hills and forested areas. To the north, settlements dote the river valleys, which leads to the Krazar mountain range, home of the Tolerian dwarven population. The mountain range splits the territory in 2, however tunnels have been built by the local population to connect both sides.

## Economy

Toleria is an agrarian economy with a focus on farming and animal husbandry. Coastal cities and towns also engage in fishing. Metalworkers and artisans are also common in large cities, dwarven arms in particular makes the kingdom have some of the best equipped soldiers in Vitolia. Notably, the kingdom bans the trading of slaves in any form since 498 CE with the punishment of death, making it one of the few nations in Vitolia without slavery.

Toleria is the main source of paper and construction material in eastern Vitolia. It is also one of the minters of the Vitolian ducats, the unified currency of the region to which it spearheaded the creation of during the Union era. The kingdom's port cities participates in trading with foreign realms for essential and luxury goods, most notably being salt and silk.

## Demographic

Humans make up the majority of the states and is prevalent in every settlement. They occupy various jobs in the kingdom from farmers, soldiers and government officials. Humans lead the kingdom in terms of cultural, societal, and political advancements. They are also the ones most responsible for improvements in technology and science.

Dwarves are the second largest group of race within the kingdom. The majority of their population are concentrated in the Dwarven Duchy of Krazar, while a significant minorities of them can be found in many important cities across the state. They are primarily smiths and artisans, the traditional occupation of the dwarves. They are behind the development of metallurgy, smithing, mining, infrastructure. The printing press was invented within dwarven territory.

Elves make up a very tiny minority and can only be find in the Marquisate of Assia's Zonza Forest Range. They are descended from the elven people who lost their family and homes during the Black War and migrated to other regions to start anew. They are responsible for the culling of corrupted monster in the forest range and for overseeing logging activities.

## Culture

Tolerian culture is one of the many regional variants of a greater shared culture within Vitolia. Tolerian cuisine culture follows the typical Vitolian diet, which usually consists of meat, fish, fruits, vegetable, olive oil and pasta cooked with relatively few ingredients. As such, Tolerian cuisine focuses mainly on the quality of the ingredients instead of the preparatory steps. Tolerian desserts are often, though not always, consumed after the meal or during breaks. The most well-known regional specialties are Gelato, a type of frozen dessert with a rich texture made using ice magic. The fairly recent opening of the kingdom to foreign trade has also introduced a variety of different ingredients to local dishes such as potatoes, tomatoes, and spices.

Tolerian art and architecture has a strong memorialist culture which can be seen in the design of many governmental and noble-owned buildings. These buildings would often have depictions of the kingdoms past or the personal history of the family. Memorial statues for many historical figures and events can be seen adorning the various cities within the kingdom and are even incorporated into amenities such as parks and fountains.

Influential nobles are typically assigned their own personal servants at a young age, and are often their most trusted servants. Scions of the nobility are also enrolled at the royal academy at the age of 13 and for a period of 5 years. Their personal servants will also enroll with them, and will either enter the same class as them in case of nobility, or in the commoner class if not. 15 is the most common marriage age so it is not strange to see students who are engaged or even married roaming the halls of the academy.

Notably, the Nobles in the Kingdom of Toleria is infamously known as some of the most lax and lenient overall both inside and outside Vitolia. This is commonly believed to be because of the relative closeness the people are to the noble class due to the long period of isolationist policy.

## Military

Contrary to the expectations of a feudal state, the military system used by the Kingdom of Toleria is quite well-defined in comparison to its fellow Vitolians. For regular lords, they would keep a retinue of knights as guards and enforcers of public order. In the event of war, they would recruit able-bodied residents from within their territory into their army. The recruitment and organization of these soldiers fall under the responsibilities of the vassal knights under the lord. The amount of knight retinues allowed by each territorial lord is defined by the monarchy, giving them a large influence over their vassals.

Marquisates have a unique system afforded to them as border territories. Representatives, usually knights of the marquis, would annually recruit volunteers into the soldiery. Recruits will then undergo a proficiency test and are seperated into melee or ranged combatants based on their results. In the very rare circumstances of discovering magic users, they would be sent to army mages to be trained as disciples, or in the case of children, the royal academy. During peacetime, the soldiers would be used as helpers for builders, going around the territory to build, fix, and maintain buildings and infrastructure or they are used to patrol and guard settlements against criminals and monsters or participate in border skirmishes. They also may be sent out to assist other lords on their request. During times of war, they will be called upon to fulfill their duty. In exchange for this unique standing army, they are limited to at most 10 thousand men.

The monarch would have access to a retinue of palace guards in addition to their territorial knights. In addition, they also possess the same system as that of the Marquisates while also having the ability to call upon levies like those of regular lords. As a result, the monarch is the most powerful feudal lord within the kingdom which has helped keep the balance between the monarch and their vassals.

### Tolerian Army Organization

* 5 man = Squad
* 3 squad = Platoon
* 100 platoon = Regiment
* 3 Regiment = Division
* An Army consists of an undetermined number of Divisons

### Military Culture

* Placing the right hand on the chest in a downward palm at an angle is the traditional Vitolian salute originating from a gesture of respect to the tribe leader or the strongest warrior.

## Notable Places

1. Tolerian Capital Region
2. Crownland of Altazia
3. Crownland of Casomare
4. Dwarven Duchy of Krazar
5. Duchy of Argento
6. Duchy of Araneo
7. Duchy of Voronia
8. Duchy of Bergati
9. Marquisate of Assia
10. Marquisate of Renano
11. Marquisate of Palatino
12. Gallasettian Region