Fiction:The Firmament/Waldland

"My father, and his father before him, and his own father before him, all have dedicated their lives to ensuring the word of the gods is understood and the path of the children of Lechner is clear of doubts. That is the mission of Waldland, and that will never change."

- Wilmar Arnfried, the Gruff, current lord of Waldland

Waldland is a country located in the central portions of Dryadala. One of the four great human nations which make up the Confederation of Lechner, Waldland is most known for its knightly culture and emphasis on mounted warfare.

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 the tribe of Wold was reformed into a duchy known as Waldland, pledging itself to the Emperor. Through the years, the nation became the religious capital of the Lechnerlands after the Church of Lechner was founded there, leading the pantheon of men to be accepted across the new duchies.

Geography
Waldland is the smallest of the Lechnerian territories, being made of dense woodland and being doted by the largest mountains outside of the fallen duchy of Natchland. Located at the center of Dryadala, it borders Volkland and Ritterland to the north, Eondrassana to the east, Duskwood to the west and Meerland 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
Waldland, like the rest of the Confederation of Lechner, follows the religion of their tribal ancestors; the Lechner Pantheon, established by the Waldlander Church of Lechner, is the official religion of the nations of man in Dryadala. 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. Due to the very strong presence of the pantheon there, other deities are rarer than in other regions, though worship of the likes of Aether, Eondrassla, Kumyus and Skasdrumri is known to occur; such religions generally coexist peacefully, though by giving each other a wide berth.

Inhabitants
The Waldlanders possess a distinct copper complexion and dark shades of hair. Among them are the most staunch followers of the Lechnerian gods, leading many of them to become priests and clerics which spread the divine word across the Confederation. The Waldlanders are also well known for their druids, no doubt due to being the Human culture who most interacts with the wood elves, who are believed to have taught them the arts of druidism long ago. Waldlanders are often stereotyped as joyless grumblers, but their duty to their families and communities are undeniable.

Waldland is also inhabited by dwarves, gnomes, lizardfolk, with a very small population of wood elves being present, overseeing the works of the Waldlander druids. The wilderness of Waldland is heavily populated by fey, as well as creatures like goblins and crocodilians.

Relations
Due to their monetary interests, Meerland is open to most nations, as they always seek profit from trade and to have allies to back them up in the event of a conflict. That is not to say Meerland has no teeth of its own; it holds the largest navy of the Lechnerlands and is not afraid to use it if needed.


 * Positive relations
 * Confederation of Lechner - The men of the Lechnerlands are united under their great confederation.
 * Meerland - Waldland trades constantly for food and other such commodities with Waldland.
 * Ritterland - The feats of strength displayed by Ritterland are well appreciated by Waldlanders.
 * Volkland - Volkland's strong sense of tradition leads it to be the closest to the traditionalist Waldland.
 * Aynach - Though they are seen as friends of the Lechnerlands, many Waldlanders also consider Aynach misguided.
 * Eondrassana - The wood elves taught the Waldlanders the arts of druidism, and they are the closest human nation to them by extension..
 * Khargramnir - The dwarves are among the strongest strongest trading partners of Waldland.
 * Merovaren - Merovaren caravans make good profit by trading with Waldland.


 * Ambivalent relations
 * Eryliana - While acknowledged as allies of mankind, Eryliana's contact with Waldland is generally limited.


 * Negative relations
 * Duskwood - The priests of Waldland see the undead as an affront to the gods who must be purged from the land.

Notable inhabitants

 * Royals and nobles
 * Wilmar Arnfried - Current duke of Waldland