Fiction:The Firmament/Volkland

"Like our fathers before us, and their own fathers before them, we must fulfill our duty in defending the lands that rightfully belong to mankind from the evil and the monstrous. For so long as Volkland stands, the Confederation which unites us all as siblings will stand strong against any tide thrown at us."

- Emmerich Feigenbaum, the Esteemed, current lord of Volkland and Emperor

Volkland is a country located in the northwestern shore of Dryadala. One of the four great human nations which make up the Confederation of Lechner, Volkland is most known for its warrior culture and for being the ancestral seat of the Emperor of the Lechnerlands.

History
The men of the Lechnerlands all share the same history; arising into prominence following the end of the Great Eondrassana War, tribes of primitive men begun to inhabit the ruined former lands of the elves, eventually becoming five great tribes: Vuk, Mar, Natch, Wold, and Riet. Led by ancestral chieftains, these tribes founded permanent towns, which became villages, and then true cities. By 4,000 years ago, these five tribes were now five nations, ruled by monarchs who sought to expand their influence.

Decades of territorial conflicts raged in the region, with no side ever being truly victorious over their rivals. However, all changed when a new force attacked from the sea; tribes of men unknown to these Dryadalans, calling themselves the Ruscs, arrived to raid and pillage the weak southlanders, leading to decades of bloodshed. It continued until the rise of Wolfram Lechner, king of the Vuk, whose military genius served as a banner for all forces to unite against the Rusc threat. After thirty years of war, the northlanders returned back to whence they came, and the monarchs, believing Wolfram Lechner to be a vessel of the gods themselves, all bowed to him, accepting him as their new ruler.

Wolfram became the first Emperor of the Confederation of Lechner, named after him and his feats, while his tribe of Vuk was reformed into a duchy known as Volkland. Through the years, the nation remained staunch warriors and loyal companions to their fellow men, with its links to the first Emperor making it the arguable heart of mankind in Dryadala.

Geography
Volkland is a lush territory made up of large grasslands, hills and great extensions of untouched forest. Located at the western shores of Dryadala, it borders Ritterland to the east, Waldland to the southeast and Duskwood to the south.

Government
The great nations of the Lechnerlands, as per the treaty which declared the rise of the Confederation, adhere to a similar form of government among themselves. Each is led by a duke, who is followed by a number of counts who serve as local governors across their land. Among these dukes, alongside other important figures such as the Grand Priest of the Church of Lechner, is chosen an Emperor to serve as the highest authority of the Confederation through a vote every generation; this Emperor's duty is to seek the counsel of each duke and ensure the Confederation's interests are being properly followed.

Religion
Volkland, like the rest of the Confederation of Lechner, follows the religion of their tribal ancestors; the Lechner Pantheon. This collection of deities, with most being cultural gods led by the greater goddess Aldirei, serves as the main religious focus of the humans of the Lechnerlands. Other deities found in the region include Aether, Eondrassla, Kumyus and Skasdrumri.

Inhabitants
The Volklanders are often described as the heart of the Confederacy of Lechner, for they are the children of Lord Wolfram Lechner himself. They are light-skinned and often sport shades of brown or black hair. They are known as the greatest warriors of the Lechnerians; militant since their tribal days, their skill in arms is rivalled only by Ritterland and Aynach's knights among mankind. Volklanders are often stereotyped as humourless and easily angered by their neighbours, though they are also considered fiercely loyal friends; call for their aid, and they will be there, no matter the circumstances.

Volkland is also inhabited by dwarves, gnomes, lizardfolk and a handful of high elves, who are typically travelers or merchants. Goblins exist both in the wilderness and as second-class citizens in Volklander cities, while ogre mercenaries are becoming a more common occurrence in recent years.

Relations
Volkland is known to be difficult to approach, but staunch supporters of those who earn their trust. While independent enough to have diplomatic ties which do not necessarily equal those of the greater Confederation, Volkland's relations with foreign powers are generally the same as those dictated by the Emperor.


 * Positive relations
 * Confederation of Lechner - The men of the Lechnerlands are united under their great confederation.
 * Meerland - Volkland sees great profit in working alongside their southern siblings.
 * Ritterland - Volkland and Ritterland are both the military heads of the Confederation, leading to equal brotherhood and rivalry.
 * Waldland - As they value the sayings of their elders, Volkland and Waldland are very close.
 * Aynach - Many Volklanders consider the Aynachians somewhat odd and flamboyant, but value them as friends nonetheless.
 * Eryliana - As they protect the Lechnerlands from northern threats, the ashen elves are seen as good friends of the Volklanders.
 * Khargramnir - The dwarves are valuable friends of Volkland, being one of their strongest trading partners.
 * Merovaren - Lizardfolk caravans pass through all Lechnerlands with exotic goods, providing good trade.


 * Ambivalent relations
 * Aelvana - While diplomatic ties between the Volklanders and the high elves exist, the distance between them leads them to not interact often.
 * Eondrassana - The wood elves' isolated demeanor leads many Volklanders to consider suspicious.


 * Negative relations
 * Duskwood - Volkland is the most constant foe of the vampires of Duskwood, as they fight off their undead hordes more often than anybody else.
 * Ruscland - Raiders of the arctic still plague Volkland's shores to this day.
 * Skitterfall - Volkland's underground holds the largest population of rakash in the Lechnerlands, and their offensives are growing more bold.

Notable inhabitants

 * Royals and nobles
 * Emmerich Feigenbaum - Current duke of Volkland and Emperor of the Lechnerlands


 * Historical figures
 * Wolfram Lechner - Founder and first Emperor of the Confederation of Lechner