Vale of Scyllina

The Vale of Scyllina is a small nation that rests comfortably in grassy, mist-prone hills surrounding an offset inland sea. As the lattice reconnected cultures, the Scyllinari gained a new appreciation of how fortunate they were to live in a place of beauty and safety like the Vale. The soil and grass are ideal for farming and husbandry, the river and salt sea make for good fishing, and the unusually beautiful natural resources have brought good trade and wealth to the nation. The Vale is known across the lattice as the exclusive source of Dapplevein lumber, Vericulum ore, and Marieri filets.

The Vale is infamous for its ferocious, cutthroat, merciless court of nobility. Most of those who become embroiled in the dangerous game of wealth and power do so by choice, with only a few being thrust there by circumstance. The courts are known among the easygoing population as Fraemori Lux, or "Monster Silks." Their ambassadors are known in foreign courts as adept, razor-sharp, and possessed of a discerning talent for finding opportunity.

### Geography, History, and Climate

The Vale of Scyllina is defined on the eastern edge by an inland salt sea, on the southern and western edges by mountains, and on its northern border by impassable volcanic wasteland. Towns in the Vale range languidly over several hillsides with single houses and small clusters connected by dirt paths or pavestone roads. The city of Iliax in the north was built upon the ruins of an old civilization once the remains of a Lattice Node were uncovered and repaired. The city’s expansion exploded upward and outward when the Leaping Hare canal was dug from the sea to the Node, allowing ships to port through to the Myos Islands sea gates.

There are other such old cities scattered around the Vale, though none have risen to contemporary greatness in the same way as Iliax. The only other notable city is Gladior, an industrial hub near the heart of the nation that grew to support the goods coming out of the mines, forests, fields, and waters on their way to the Node in Iliax.

The Vale is commonly understood to have an active spirit population, and most notably they have established relationships with the Vale’s unique regional spirits, often engaging them as allies and protectors. There are twelve widely recognized regional spirits, each with their own territory. A spirit’s territory does not always directly align with manmade political boundaries.

The twelve spirits of the Vale and their regions are shown on the map of the Vale below.

There is no unifying heraldry within the Vale. The closest thing they have is the proprietary trade stamp that features an entwined V and S, surrounded by a fish, a leaf, and a veined stone in honor of their three premium exports. Although there is no national heraldry, there is a dizzying array of guild marks, trade stamps, and house heraldry that are vital to the financial and status games that are played by the elite.

### Politics, Government, and Economy

It is entirely possible for Scyllinari who do not live near a city to go their whole lives without ever seeing a national official. Most of the day-to-day civil functions are tended to by local governors and civil servants, who likely have second careers as millers or coopers. Because the Vale lacks external threats, it has developed a curious system of governance that has tripped up many visitors. All of the trade routes including land, water, and lattice are owned and maintained by members of the court, and the taxes and tolls on these form the greatest share of their income. The powerful trade guilds, some of which have members in the courts and some of which do not, have a monopoly on the ships and caravans necessary for moving the Vale's precious cargo. The natural resources and the rate at which they may be depleted varies greatly, as these may be owned by citizens, courtiers, guilds, or village collectives, each of whom may have absolute say over the disposition of those resources.  All other determinations of what is legal and what is not is made on a regional basis.

This maze-like system seems to only be understood by the courtiers in power, and only fully understood by the twelve mysterious masked courtiers who stand at the apex of the Vale’s dangerous politics. It is their ability to understand and manipulate this writhing mass of etiquette and influence that keeps them in power.

Because the Vale relies heavily on trade to maintain its lifestyle, they put a lot of work into diplomacy and international outreach. They have been the money behind many charity, refugee, and peace operations, though they have been criticized for rarely taking a stand against an oppressor, always looking to make friends without making enemies.

### Everyday Life

Most Scyllinari quietly spend their days at the work of their village or homestead, with occasional flurries of activity when the trade caravan comes through, or when there is a festival. To the average citizen, the ongoing events of the Scyllinari court are so outlandish that they are simply treated as gossip fodder, and it is a rich, neverending buffet.

Outside of the courts, there is very little attention paid to social status. Scyllinari citizens are more than happy to leave that tedium to the Fraemori Lux and to spend their own time on their family, hobby, and communities. There is a bit more of a status show in Iliax and Gladior, but beyond their boundaries even the Vale’s other cities have more of a small-town disposition toward community and neighbors, generally up to lend a hand toward a friend or the betterment of the town.

Due to the regional governments and generally peaceful lifestyle, problems and issues in a citizen’s life tend to be local ones. Overly ambitious courtiers, cheating traders, spoiled wine, and poor weather dominate the short list of Scyllinari complaints. With education available to all and enough wealth to allow for free time, there is a great deal of art produced in the Vale, most notably mosaic and painting. Many inhabitants inside the courts and out will make or commission vibrant murals on the walls of their buildings.

Within the courts, social status is the entirety of a person’s existence, and those with experience in the courts seem to have the ability to sense one another’s social value, even to fractional degrees. While most courtiers are as merciless as their reputation suggests, they do follow a certain set of unspoken rules in their pursuit of power and wealth.

Assasination, kidnapping, and other criminal acts are a known and accepted part of the race, but no true master of the courts would wield them against those who are not associated with the game. By the strange rules of the elite, it would be acceptable to target a rival’s spouse for kidnapping, but not the foreman of their village. While the first act might be ignored as a fair play, the second would be pursued by all applicable laws because the foreman had no choice in his association, and it was considered a breach of etiquette.

If there is any one thing that unites the courtiers and the commoners of Scyllinari, it is the lively spirit population. Spirits within the Vale are remarkably visible and extroverted. Some are minor, attached to a popular bakery or pub. Other spirits may attach themselves to a particular family through its generations. And all citizens know their regional spirit, be it through shady deals they make in pursuit of power, or because of its carousing appearance at the festivals in its honor.

### Current events

As the chronicle begins, the Vale of Scyllina has just undergone the greatest turnover of its elite twelve in the history of the nation. Six of the twelve have turned, and no one is yet certain who is behind those six masks. Even those outside the courts are whispering about what changes this may bring as they cement their place at the top.

In the west, there is great concern as the starfly migration is late, and the Dapplevein lumber that is the area’s lifeblood is in peril awaiting their arrival. Several towns are beginning to feel the unusual press of hardship and insecurity. The local governor is pleading for aid, but the land belongs to a missing courtier, and no other has come to offer aid.

In the north, in the foothills of the volcanic wasteland, a small city has begun to feel tremors and rumblings within the earth, and have reported that the ground his falling away, revealing the roofs of long-buried buildings.

### Cultural Plot Themes

Players from the Vale should choose if they wish to be involved with courtier plot, by their character’s choice or unwilling involvement.

Courtier plot will be full of back-alley plots, two-faced NPCs, dangerous allegiances, and most importantly, a handful of people trying to use a bad system to do something good. Those who enjoy working behind the scenes to make big things happen, espionage, and conversational wargames will likely enjoy courtier plot.

There is much more to the Vale though, and other plots will involve the mystery of the ancient cities, the helping of good people in need, and the wild world of spirits who want to be involved with mortal affairs.

### Costume and RP Themes

The typical Scyllinari citizen changes outfits during the day, having a different set of clothing for work and for relaxation. They also boast of being the first civilization to wear pajamas or sleepclothes to bed, as they were the first to be able to afford such luxury. Players who wish to represent their culture through their costume may choose rich or patterned fabrics in comfortable but beautiful design. Corsets, bodices, and suits are commonplace even among the Scyllinari commoners.

Vericulum Ore comes in a range of green to clear,and can be represented with stones that look like malachite, mossy agate, moonstone, quartz, aventurine, chlorite, jade, etc. Vericulum ore is unique to the Vale, and while it is an opulent purchase for outsiders,  many citizens have items and accessories made from it.

Those who work in trade and export may sport the stamp somewhere on their items. It is a V and S intertwined, surrounded by a fish, a veined stone, and a leaf.

If you are a courtier in the Vale, then you are accustomed to being judged by every aspect of your outfit at all times. Courtiers are often accused of being vain, but one button out of place may be the reason they fall from power. Court fashion changes with the times, but costumes are expensive! No player would be expected to provide multiple fancy costumes in a weekend. If you’d like to represent a courtier look, consider silky sheens, lots of buttons, over-the-top jewelry, fabulous hats, parasols, and canes.