The Realm of Valen

[Valen]

The Realm of Valen
Motto- Forever Looking Homeward

The nation is occasionally known as Valenland. The people are ethnically connected to Meduslain. In the early parts of history the people of Valen would regularly spend spring and summer on the island today called Medusalin. Eventually this seasonal expedition became permanent and then the people of the mainland began using the island as a leper colony as well as a place to get rid of any others they saw as unwanted. The people of Valen maintained connection with Medusalin by trading supplies for the precious metals there.

The Principality came to exist in the 10th Century when various small Kingdoms that had formed in the preceeding centuries waged war against each other. The Emmen family emerged victorious and declared themselves as the rulers of the land. The family maintained control over the realm until the 17th Century when a brief civil war broke out between religious factions of the Scaedu and  Lucencia faiths. This ended when the leading families of both faiths, the Lang and Timbre's, concluded a peace deal. This created peace until the early 1800's when a new wave of Scaedu fanatacism saw a 2nd Civil War break out. While the Lang familiy saw themselves all wiped out the Timbre's managed to calm the Scaedu factions down and installed Princess Beatrix as the faiths leader. She was able to carry out a purge of the Scaedu rebels and this largely restored order. Meanwhile the Wjidnal family had rose to prominence among the Lucencia factions and the Wjidnal-Timbre pact was made. This pact still holds today with two main facts, the first is that no leader may establish any law that would favour a religion, the second is the "alternative succession" system that see's the descedants of the Wjidnal and Timbre families inherit the throne alternatively, meaning if a Wjidnal monarch dies then a Timbre monarch replaces them.


Population - 23million
Capital City - New Scarabre (population 1million)
GDP Per Capita - $38,212

Current Head of State - King Willem IV Timbre

[Valen]

THE SCAEDU AND LUCENCIA FAITHS

Scaedu and Lucencia are faiths with a common root. Both faiths believe that there are seven worlds of humanity arranged in a kind of cosmic spiritual pyramid. Mundus is the second level of this pyramid. It is believed that the peak of this pyramid is Verand where the Gods and various other spiritual beings reside. When a person dies they move to the next level of pyramid assuming that they have lived a good life. Those deemed to have failed to be a moral person face one of two fates, the destruction of their soul or a time in the lowest level where they are tortured by demons before being reborn on Mundus.

The faiths split because of the belief over which God has the ultimate power. Roughly 50% of Valenites believe that a God called Scaedu is the most powerful. They are the God of War and promote a life of service and promotes the idea of physical strength. Meanwhile the other 50% believe that Lucencia is the most powerful God. She is the God of fertility and promotes a life of stewardship of the land and education. There are several other differences in their faith but these tend to be such matters of which God spoke to which patriarch of humanity.

The two Gods symbolic emblems are used during the coronation of any monarch regardless of what faith they follow. Lucencia is always shown wearing a crown made of fresh flowers and a belt made of knotted grass and vines. When crowned a monarch is presented with a gold crown onto which flowers have been embossed, they also wear a leather belt. Meanwhile Scaedu is always shown with a cloak of green and a helmet of a warrior. The new monarch is presented with a heavy green cloak edged with white fur and then given a newly smithed helmet which is carried by a junior female member of the family as Scaedu was often followed by the servant Tarana who cared for his soldiers wounds in battle and ensured they had a feast following it, she also acted as a kind of squire to him.

Both branches of the faith believe that to get to move up the pyramid you must meet the Gods commands to.....

1. Worship the Gods faithfully.
2. Speak the Truth.
3. Do not steal.
4. Do not kill needlessly (the followers of Lucencia tend to pray over animals before killing them for food and a large number are vegeterian)
5. Respect the elderly.
6. Shun ignorance.
7. Keep your body healthy
8. Don't walk by those in need

Lucencia followers also include

9. Care for the land.
10. Create beauty

Scaedu followers also include

9. Protect the innocent
10. Master the warriors skills.


Both sects have a Priesthood and in the modern era they work closely together. Lucencian's worship mainly on Fridays while Scaedu's worship mainly on Saturday.

Today the Wjidnal family are the most influential Lucencia family while the Timbre the Scaedu faith.

[Valen]

The Wjidnal and Timbre are involved in a system called "Alternative Succession" each family maintains a line of succession separate to the other and a law exists that says no marriage may take place between the two families therefore ensuring that no family can manipulate the system. Currently the Timbre family are the holders of the crown with King Willem IV having held the throne since 1998.  Upon his eventual death the crown will pass to the Wjidnal family.

His Majesty King Willem IV
Duke of Timbre

Willem was born in 1933. He inherited the throne from King Johan III of the Wjidnal family in 1998. Before then he had served as a member of the Privy Council specialising in the field of economic development. The Timbre family have operated a number of financial enterprises in the past two centuries and Willem had worked in various roles such as portfolio holder for share trading and CEO of a credit union. Since becoming King he has been described a "Low Risk" seeking to make long term policies and reacting slowly to issues. This has lead to rather slow national growth but he has maintained many traditional institutions within the island.

He is married to Josephine Maarel the sister of Duke Thomas Maarel of Yildrim in 1956. They have three children, Prince Rein (born in 1958), Prince Felix(born in 1961) and Princess Angelina (born in 1967)

Crown Princess Charlotte Wijdnal
Duchess of Wijdnal

Crown Princess Charlotte is the heir to the crown. She was born in 2000 and became the lead of the family in 2021 following the death of her father Benjamin. She has a younger sister called Ingrid. Charlotte graduated from university in the Summer of 2021 with a degree in Archeaology and History. She had planned on working for a while as a member of the Royal Historical Association responsible for the care and protection of national items of interest and their heritage. The fact she inherited the family heirship rather unexpectedly and with King Willem at an advanced age she has become a member of the Privy Council currently with responsibility for The Arts.

[Valen]

THE PRIVY COUNCIL

The Realm is largely run by the monarch however they may not pass any law if the Privy Council opposes it twice. Once upon a time the Privy Council was made up of 17 nobles selected by the monarch however today it has become a kind of democratic institution.

The Council today is made up of 100 individuals. There are elections every year with 25 seats up for grabs each year. While there is no expectation that someone need be a member of a political party it is now all but impossible to gain a seat unless you are. The party with the largest share of the Council seats at any time may appoint the Lead Councillor who controls the order of business and should the Privy Council fail to agree to a law on first hearing is expected to redraft the law to an acceptable format at which time it is returned to the monarch who is either able to amend their original draft or simply retry in the original format. Should the law get defeated in the original form the second time it can not be passed.

In addition to the 100 elected individuals there are a maximum of 17 seats reserved for Secretary of States in various fields ranging from the Armed Forces to the Arts. The monarch may distribute portfolios as they see fit. The Secretary of States may also vote on Council business.

[Valen]

VALEN ROYAL ARMY (VRA)
46,000 soldiers

Every citizen serves 18 months in the Armed Forces with the vast majority doing service in the Army. Once individuals have finished national service they then need to maintain their weapons handling test for the next decade.

Equipment currently in use.

95 Tachylyte Tank
30 Tephrite Tank (due to be replaced mid 2024)
150 Ijolite Infantry Figting Vehicle
100 Wehrlite Wheeled Armoured Vehicle
110 Adakite Armoured Personnel Carrier
300 MarlLight Combat Vehicle
50 Mudstone Mine Resistant Vehicle
1000 Marble Mobility Vehicle
50 Skarn Self Propelled Howitzer
25 Slate Self Propelled Howitzer
50 Talc Towed Howitzer
30 Rhyolite Surface to Air Missile System
10 H-1 Aegis Attack Helicopter (further 10 expected for delivery mid 2024)
30 H-4 Havoc Utlility Helicopter
20 U-4 Urban UAV

[Valen]

VALEN AVIATION WING
18,000 Airmen

Every citizen serves 18 months in the Armed Forces with very few serving time in the VAW. Once individuals have finished national service they then need to maintain their weapons handling test for the next decade if they served in a ground branch and undertake 2 hours of flight training a year for a decade if in an aerial role. Anyone who served in an aerial role, e.g. Pilot is considered no long required to undertake training if their aircraft type leaves service.

40 F-31 Fable Multi-Role Fighter
15 F-3 Facet Multi-Role Fighter (being phased out on a one for one basis with the F-31, expected to be done by end of 2024)
10 H1-Aegis Attack Helicopter
5 E-20 Eager AEWACS Aircraft
5 P-11 Paced Maritime Patrol Aircraft
20 C-70 Cabin Transport Aircraft
15 C-17 Cache Transport Aircraft
5 K-3 Kanji Tanker
25 H-46 Haiku Helicopter
20 H-90 Habit Helicopter
20 T-20 Table Jet Trainer / Light Fighter
20 T-80 Taboo Basic Trainer / Light Attack
5 E-20 Eater Electronic Surveillance Aircraft

[Valen]

ROYAL VALEN NAVY
12,500 sailors

Every citizen serves 18 months in the Armed Forces with very few serving time in the RVN. Once individuals have finished national service they then need to maintain their weapons handling test for the next decade if they served in a ground and sea branch and undertake 2 hours of flight training a year for a decade if in an aerial role. Anyone who served in an aerial role, e.g. Pilot is considered no long required to undertake training if their aircraft type leaves service.

Ships in Service

Type 01 Aircraft Carrier

1. Swart

Type 04 Destroyer

1. Suurbier
2. Blind
3. Keizer

Type 03 Frigate

1. Krol
2. Boer
3. Hulshoff
4. Cruijff

Type 02 Frigate

1. Schrijvers
2. Mourik
3. Schoenaker
4. Silooy

Type 04 Attack Submarine

1. Pronk
2. Rijkaard
3. Menzo

Type 02 Missile Submarine

1. Klaassen
2. Stekelenburg

Type 11 Patrol Ship

1. Groot
2. Winter
3. Mühren
4. Boeve
5. Schöne
6. Witschge
7. Lerby
8. Volkers
9. Ouderland
10. Huntelaar


Aviation Assets


18 H-46 Haiku Helicopters
30 H-17 Haste Helicopter
25 F-38 Faith Fighter Aircraft - due for retirement late 2024