Svěnost

## Land of the Setting Sun

The **Kingdom of Svěnost** (meaning Land of the Setting Sun, or Sunset land more literally) is a young nation located currently on a small island in a taiga region, near the northern area of the Frozen Wastes. It is a continuation of the nation of Vědagost, but the settlement on the land they reside on was unofficially created on 01/03/2023.

It enjoys a politically calm region near its trade partners of Aeterna and Fitene and may be a central trading hub in the near future for N.A.M.B.U. It is also a protectorate and close ally of Fitene, since King Radigas is married to Queen Vaniita and prior to her ascension to the Fitenean throne, Radigas was already a member of the Fitenean clergy.

## Government

The government of Svěnost is a continuation of the previous government of Vědagost, although it is now independent. It is still mostly primitive, as it is a West Sudrlander nation, but it resembles a normal monarchy with a developing feudal system.

Within the nation, there is little difference between the common people and the "nobility", as the people were all living in tents and yurts near each other until a few years ago. The king views himself as the true leader of his people and the nation, as leaders within Sudrlander society are regarded as being chosen by the divinities and spirits within the faith and he retains full control over the nation's politics as of now.

The nation is also a protectorate of their close friend and ally, Fitene. Fitene offers them protection in return for practically nothing, as they simply wish to protect the nation of their prince-consort.

## Culture

The culture of Svěnost is the same as their other Western Sudrlander brethren that live slightly more south, but the current monarch is encouraging the creation of a new 'North Sudrlander' culture in order to better regarded by other nations on the global stage, and in order to promote some aspects of the Ancient Sudrlander culture that existed within the Frozen Wastes before the cataclysm.

### Education

As customary with all West Sudrlander children, boys and girls are raised by their mothers until they are thirteen, with both genders not cutting their and growing long and fair. They are taught basic household needs, how to prepare food, what herbs and mushrooms they can and can't eat and more. When the children reach age thirteen, the daughters are continued to be raised by their mothers and are further taught how to be a proper wife, whereas the sons are start their educations with their fathers, though this does not mean that the father is not present for the education of either gender of his children, and their hair being cut short as a mark of adolescence.

Boys are also taught how to use weapons from a young age, meaning they can start to specialise certain weapons early, with axes and swords being the most common choice amongst West Sudrlander boys. Within some larger and richer clans, the boys are also taught how to ride horses, though not many clans are able to train the hardy horses of Sudrland.

### Hygiene

Although Sudrlanders are mostly seen as filthy barbarians by most other cultures, many of them do in fact dress in nice clothing with fine silk and other expensive materials. Sudrlanders also maintain a good personal hygiene by bathing quite regularly, hygiene is quite an important thing within Sudrlander culture and exposure to Lothrosian bathhouses has piqued their interest.

## History

### Prehistory

#### The People

The Rydani Tribe was a fairly large West Sudrlander clan that was part of a confederation of various clans. Although not everyone was related within the clan, they fought in battle together as brothers. There is almost nothing known about the clan prior to them being part of the confederation, this is due to the fact that most West Sudrlanders are illiterate and the language possesses no writing script.

Prior to their migration to the Synkrassos, the Rydani Tribe raided other clans and federations across Sudrland and very often raided various southern kingdoms, some clan members claim that their ancestors used to go on raiding parties on large ships and sailed around the southern continent, though there is no proof of the Rydani ever possessing any ships.

#### The Land

According to the wisemen of different West Sudrlander tribes, a relatively powerful tribe had inhabited the region with the support of a powerful deity, whose name is now forgotten. Not much is known about this tribe other than that it appeared shortly after The Cataclysm and that it existed for a long while. Unfortunately, the reason that not much is known is due to the fact that West Sudrlanders are an oral society, unable to write or read.

More recently, a short-lived city state named the "Kingdom of Corland" existed near the centre of the taiga region. Although it wasn't a West Sudrlander nation, not much is known about this nation as well. Some minor diplomatic actions are recorded between them and Lothros but not much else. However, the castle of Corland still stands to this day.

## Diplomatic History

### N.A.M.B.U

Shortly after the founding of Svěnost, the king quickly reconnected with diplomats from Fitene and was invited to join their new trade league that consisted of several other nations. The king quickly accepted this proposal as he wanted to join the local trade networks, and to further improve relations between Svěnost and Fitene.

### Aeterna Border Agreement

Radigas, being the ambitious leader that he is, decided to plan his future borders with his neighbours in order to prevent any border conflicts in the future. He desired the snow region west of the mountain that is north of Aeterna, but Aeterna did not agree to this. Svěnost decided to bring Fitene into the discussions as a third party in order to help discuss the borders. The three nations discussed for a long period of time but eventually agreed to have the border follow a hilltop down to the coast.

### Itilian Border Disagreement

The relative peace of the border agreement was short lived, after the border agreement, Itilia decided to build a "trade outpost" within the snow area claimed by Svěnost. The conflict escalated rather fast and Svěnost decided to bring in Fitene once more to help with the discussions.