Balanal

#### The Uprising

In the early days of Balanism the faith was far flung across the Cloridean, followers on the Klienes and Ilian Peninsulas and obvious around the Southern Cloridean Plain. The highest concentration was in southern Ulta, a break away province of the Valantierian Empire. These Balanites would start to be oppressed by the King of Ulta and as such arm bands would be made to protect the Balanites, these *Gilvites* as they would be known would recruit young male Balanites to join their cause and fight against Ulta.

As the years passed and the oppression ramped up the Balanites would eventually declare independence and wage war against Ulta, killing all non Balanites in their new state which they dubbed Balanal. The two sides would fight a bloody war against each other and eventually the Kaljic Empire would join on Ulta’s side. Now fighting a much larger force Balanal would be pushed back, with fortification after fortification falling. Balanites across the Cloridean would begin flooding into Balanal to fight for God and his chosen people. This influx of new arrivals allowed Balanal to fight back. Under the leadership of Jarkin Calmal the Balanite Armies began to win engagements with Ulta and The Kaljic Empire. A truce would be signed and Balanal would be established as an Independent state.

#### The Short Peace

During this short peace hundreds of thousands of Balanites would flood into Balanal, making this state have a true people which could be called up in the case of war which would soon be on them again. The city of Thalita would be founded by the Balanites and would become the Capital of Balanal. For his service in the war Jarkin would be made King of Balanal, while he was a good commander he was however not a good administrator, leaving most of those duties to his brother, Hinil Calaml who had a mind for politics.

### Second Balanal (2660-Present)

Founded in 2660 AFL in the Crisis of Valantierian Succession Balanal is a Balanite state that is in a seemingly permanent state of war with the Valantierian Empire.

#### Founding

After centuries of foreign domination the Balanites finally rose up against there overlords when they had the chance. In 2660 Emperor Lirios II died unexpectidly and many claimants contested the young sons claim to the throne. Seeing their chance the Balanites under Grecal Halkan would rise up in revolt and quickly conquered Ulta, Anfia Halvitch, Ladvitch, and Lidmach. Ladvitch was depopulated after the Ferlancer Genocide carried out by Lirios and as such the already overcrowded Balanites quickly settled the fertile country and with forced conversions the country quickly became majority Balanite. Balanism quickly spread wherever Balanal conquered, the cities were the hold outs against Balanism, holding onto there Valantierian roots fiercely and being the spring boards for future Valantierian counter attacks.

#### The Balanite Diaspora 2660-2737

The rampant population growth in the Balanite home land and overcrowding led to second and third sons to be left little land to start there own families of their own. In the many wars in the Southern Cloridian Plain has left vast regions depopulated and with the Balanite population quickly growing meant that many of them would leave the motherland to explore, settle, and conquer new lands. Ulta, already home to many of the Balanites was quickly settled by them, the original non Balanites were swiftly outnumbered and were forced to convert or be expelled or killed. In Ladcitch the fertile land provided ample space for Balanites to settle, although not initially a majority they would convert and multiply and by 2701 they would be a majority. Many went north to the under populated Philstien Peninsula with Kale Bastion in 2685, making it an enclave of Balanites in a sea of Heathans.

## Culture

It is hard to distinguish the culture of Balanites from the culture of Balanal due to it being the homeland of Balanites and the large influence Balanism has over the Culture.

In the foundational years of Balanites being composed of almost entirely war caused a military culture that never faded away. By religious mandate all men must know how to fight and carry a weapon on them to be able to defend their families or there country. With the Balanite diaspora and the wars with the Valanterian Empire the martial culture is still alive and well. In 2780's the peasants have even started to arm themselves to defend the faithful from the incursions by the Heathens to the North, they have reorganized the Gilvites, now being referred to as the *Black Gilvites* due to the distinctive Black headband many of the leaders use to help distinguish themselves. The Black Gilvites have the support of the Church and are an informal military for the Church. They started training militias in the the provinces but especially in the Provinces on the Valantierian border.

As a small ethno religous group on the Southern Cloridean Plain meant that they had to work hard to not be crushed by there neighboors. This spawned a culture of high work ethic which allowed them to flourish it the hard circumstances and become *merchants* of the Cloridean

## List of Rulers

Jarkin Camal

Grecal Halkon 2660-2684

Celigos Halkan

## Demographics

The population of Second Balanal fluctuates with the amount of territory it controls though it stays within a range of 60,000,000. It is made up of many peoples, but the ones at the top are Balanites, they are the ruling elite and the ones who make up the bulk of the military. Other peoples include Lower Valantierians, Ferlancer and Calastari. Balanites colonized much of the lands they conquered, there execs population forming new towns and intermingling with the locals. The original decedents from Balanal are considered the first among equals, and while others have converted to Balanism the original stock are deemed more worthy and are Balans chosen.

## Religion

#### Origins

Balanism was founded during the Chaos of the 22nd Century in the Province of Ulta. Its founder was a man known as Anastasios Kenilos, claiming to have been spoken to by god he wrote down what he had heard and spoke in public squares to people. The sense of community that it gave people allowed to spread rapidly during that chaotic age. They would gain most following in the southern part of Ulta forming new towns and with even some lords converting.

#### Beliefs

Balanites claim to be gods chosen people, with there faith being forever tested by him to weed out the weak. The world is there birthright and all others are but trespassers on there land, giving them the right to invade and "reconquer" their land.