Lesser Velutaria

Lesser Velutarian Empire Īmārivshen di Lejannō Rygālie
Flag
Capital	Volustia
Largest city	Vynāle
Official languages	Rygālic
Ethnic groups	Rygālic, Udkaan
Demonym(s)	Velutarian
Government	Absolute Monarchy
• Military Governor	Rho den Aēl
• Empress	Atēro den Blessi
Legislature	Rygālic Assembly
Establishment
• Unification of Rygālic Kingdoms	23.10.1906
Area
• Total	484,903 km2 (187,222 sq mi)
Population
• 2018 estimate	54,233,619
Currency	ini
Date format	dd.mm.yyyy

Lesser Velutaria, officially the Lesser Velutarian Empire (Rygālic: Īmārivshen di Lejannō Rygālie) is a country in Eastern Meredonne. Bordering Udkaal to the west, Dohyo-no-Deshi and Southern Velutaria to the south and the Ādecho Ocean to the East. Consisting of thirteen High queendoms, two capitals, the administrative city of Volustia and the Imperial city of Vellun, and three port-enclaves Lesser Velutaria covers 484,903 square kilometers (187,222 sq mi), and is home to approximately 54,233,619 citizens. Lesser Velutaria is one of the most unique countries in the world, nicknamed the 'Hermit Kingdom' by outsiders, it has never industrialized, and maintains an antiquated look of the world continuing into the modern day.

The area of Lesser Velutaria has been inhabited as far as 12,000 years ago in the Neolithic period. Since the majority of Lesser Velutaria is dense jungle forests, early human populations remained relatively low as grains were domesticated. Farming gave rise to the precursor of modern Syldāen culture around 8900 BC and populations began to grow rapidly. Around 7500 BC the first signs of Rygālic migrations into the region appear, which began displacing native proto-Syldāen populations. This trend of displacement would continue until around 2300 BC, when the first Rygālic kingdoms appeared.

Early Rygālic cultures continued to be divided and often went to war with each other. By the end of the fourth century BC, a majority of the kingdoms were briefly united into the legendary first Blessan Empire under an empress and the imperial court based in Vellun. The region would continue to be divided for over two thousand years, in which a series of hegemonic kingdoms would attempt to exert their power and influence over their smaller neighbors. At the start of the 20th century, however, this changed when a particularly shrewd and brutal series of wars would finally unite the country under the military governorship of the Kingdom of Ael in 1906.

Lesser Velutaria is a regional power in Eastern Meredonne, but carries little influence outside of the Greater Velutarian Empire, and has little desire to interact on the global stage. The economy is heavily based on agriculture and artisanal goods, with cotton and cacao being traditional cash crops. Quality of life is surprisingly high, with Rygalic emphasis on large public works systems, a healthy economy, and good diet the average Velutarian is relatively well off despite a lack of modern healthcare systems and medicine.

History

Blessan Empire

The Blessan Empire would continue to expand into Udkaal and parts of Dohyo no Deshi and Southern Velutaria until the empresses’ death in 293 BC, after which it would steadily decline. Despite the brief lifespan of the Blessan Empire, it was arguably the most influential state in Lesser Velutaria’s history as the first empress standardized the Rygālic language, instituted religious standardization, dictated economic policies, built permanent roads, created a professional standing army, founded the imperial court, as well other many other reforms. The Blessan Dynasty founded by her continued to rule Blessi into the modern day, and is the longest living dynasty in Velutarian history.

Geography

Lesser Velutaria is situated on the eastern continent of Meredonne, between latitudes 10° and -5°, and longitudes 159° and 167°. It shares a border with Udkaal to the west, Dohyo no Deshi to the southwest, and Southern Velutaria to the South. Lesser Velutaria also encompasses three exclave territories, as well as the isle of Vythe. Velutaria spans two international timezones but operates under a localized "timezone". Velutarian topography includes mountains, hills, plains, and highlands.

The main upland area occupies most of the western and southwestern parts, with lowlands in the northern and eastern parts of the country. The western part of the country is mountainous and hilly, with mountain ranges reaching up to 1,100 meters (3,600 ft). These ranges include the northwestern Haveji mountain ranges and the southern Veojîn mountain shield. In the north, the Havji mountains form a major drainage divide, separating rivers that flow south into the Ikeni Basin from rivers that empty into the Shā River system to the north. In the central lowlands, Height ranges from 400 meters (1,300 ft) to sea level, with sheer cliffs cover most of the eastern coast. Again in the south, the Veojīn mountains form a drainage divide, separating rivers that flow east into the Ädecho Ocean from rivers that empty into the Tavîr riverbasin to the southwest.

The island of Vythe is off the northeastern coast of mainland Velutaria. The Vōssten mountains separate the island into three main parts, the northwest, center, and south. The northwest occupies the Sirallen lowlands and the western peninsula, and rivers flow westward into the Ādecho Ocean. The center consists of the Vōssten mountains and the Vôssten coast, with heighs ranging from 900 meters (2,900 ft) to sea level. The Vōssten mountains also contain several volcanoes, most of which are inactive. In the south it is mostly hilly and lowlands, with sheer cliffs covering most of the southern coast.

Climate

As a result of the southern portion of the country lying along the equator, the climate tends to be even year-round. Velutaria has two seasons, a wet and a dry season, with no extreme temperture changes such as winter or summer. For most of Velutaria, the dry season falls between December and April, with the wet season between May and December. Velutaria's climate is almost entirely tropical, dominated by the tropical rainforest climate. More cooling climate types do exist in mountainous regions that are 2,000 to 3,300 metres (6,561 to 10,826 ft) above sea level.

Politics and Government

Governmental Structure

Lesser Velutaria is an absolute monarchy ruled by an empress from Vellun, but is de facto a military dictatorship ruled by a military governor from Volustia. While both are theoretically the supreme executive power in the country, the empress’ power is more theoretical than tangible, and typically she administrators to religious matters rather than stately matters to avoid conflicts.

Legislative power is vested in the Governor’s Court, and is administered to and led by the military governor, and endorsed by the Empress. The court is divided into two bodies, the Inner and Outer rings, respectively. The inner ring is staffed by the governor’s family members and one advisor sent from the empress, and mainly dedicates itself to administration and ruling, while the outer ring is staffed by the aristocracy as well as appointed members of influential nature by both the empress and military Governor. The outer ring is where most of the laws and directives are drafted and debated. The inner ring cannot be dissolved by the empress, while the outer ring can be dissolved by both the military governor and the empress if the need arises.

The Imperial Court housed in Vellun is mostly concerning with internal administration in Blessi itself and therefore leaves most of the governing to the governor’s court in Volustia. The empress holds a special role in the indigenous religion of Velutaria, and oversees the administration of fort-temples, and leads the country in religious rituals and festivals.

Higher and Lower Kingdoms

Lesser Velutaria is divided into thirteen High Kingdoms, which are further comprised of Lower kingdoms.

Foreign Relations

Lesser Velutaria has meager foreign relations with most countries on Anteria, formally refusing to engage in diplomacy, enshrined in a policy of isolation, instead focusing on internal matters and administering to the Greater Velutarian Empire.

Culture

Cuisine

Rygālic cuisine is the cuisine of the Velutaria, as well as the majority of Udkaal and Southern Velutaria.

The most important staple is corn, coming in various shapes, sizes, textures, and colors, it is eaten as cornbread, gruel, or couscous. The cooking of maize grains in alkaline solutions, a process called nixtamalization, significantly raised the nutritional value of the common staple. Other major crops include potatoes, beans, squash, peppers, tomatoes, giving the average Velutarian a well rounded diet, without any significant deficiencies in vitamins or minerals. Other minor crops include bananas, pineapple, avacadoes, papaya, peanuts, cashews, and dragon fruit.

Corn is used in a variety of different ways, from cornbread, gruel or couscous, to grilled and roasted. Corn is the most important staple crop, being used in almost every meal. Potatoes are used in a variety of ways and are mostly boiled and roasted. Beans are mostly ground up and used as a powder in sauces and soups. Squash are used in a variety of ways, but are usually sliced up and grilled. Peppers and tomatoes are used to a lesser effect, though peppers are added into couscous occasionally. Bananas, pineapples, avacadoes and papaya are usually eaten raw, though pineapple will often be grilled, and papayas will be cooked. Peanuts and cashews will be either salted and roasted or simply roasted. Dragon fruit is eaten raw.

Water, drinks made from fermented fruit, honey, corn and alcohol are the most common drinks. Nobles prefer drinks made from cacao, which is often flavored with honey.

The Rygālic diet also consists of a variety of fish and wild game, as well as milk, cheese, and honey. Velutarians have domesticated ducks, geese, goats, and llamas for food. The fishing industry is quite large in Velutaria, with fish being dried, cooked, roasted and grilled in almost all of the coastal areas. Wild game is more popular in the western parts of the country, with several different animals typically being hunted for their meat. Goats are primarily kept for their milk, cheese and wool, while llamas are raised for their meat, and are used as pack animals in the mountains of eastern Velutaria. Ducks and Geese are typically farmed for feathers, eggs, and white meat. Meat is typically roasted, grilled or dried into jerky.