Vlachia

Principality of Vlachia Motto: Nihil Sine Deo
Capital:	Kantakuzov
Religion: Other Religions:	Omnicanism Manteism (rarely)
Demonym:	Vlachian
Ethnic Groups:
Currency:

The Principality of Vlachia is an absolutist feudal monarchy ruled from Kantakuzov and vassal to the Vladimirian Vozdh. The various villages among the nation have minor lords, or Voivodes, delegated to them for administration and justice which are further broken down into counties lead by Ispans. The state motto is in traditional classical Archadian and represents the religious importance of the realm. Nihil Sine Deo meaning Nothing Without God. The Domnitor (or Prince) of Vlachia has undefined power within its territory and can reward titles or take them away from families and citizens at will but this is rarely the case.

History

The swamps of Vlachia have historically been quite devoid of true civilisation until very recently. Instead, the swamps and surrounding areas were made up of nomads and small communities of witches and swamp people. These peoples were pacified somewhat by the use of the garrison of the 2nd Legion of the Archadian Empire, whose main duty was to protect the border of the now defunct Praxidea. Even now, the swamp is a destitute area and utterly inhospitable to human life. Snakes and lizards hang from the dense canopy and strike the necks of unsuspecting travellers whilst crocodiles inhabit the waters which are too shallow for any boat travel. The roads are poorly maintained at best, and completely missing at worst. Poisonous mushrooms cover the swamp floor whilst a rancid smell with deadly insects inhabit the air.

After the retreat of the Archadian Empire, pre Vlachian people came from the east and north, conquering the northernmost regions of modern day Vlachia. Slowly, the primitive kingdom extending southwards into the swamp until the ruins of the old legion encampment were found. It was here that the first great Domnitor of Vlachia decided to build his capital, renamed Cantacuzino. Some remnants of the old walls are still used in the city.

The Principality has become more centralised over the years, starting as a primitive feudal system but becoming an organised state.

Vlachia eventually joined the Holy Archadian Empire. However, this move by the ruling House of Draculesti was resented by some nobles, who saw the encroaching Omnican religion as a threat to their culture. After decades of growing tension, this led to the Vlachian Civil War, a theatre of the Imperial Civil War, which pulled the country out of the Holy Archadian Empire after the House of Basarab seized power.

Vlachia was eventually subdued and made a vassal state of the Vladimirian Vozdh. Manteism was once again suppressed by the new rulers, though the nationalist fervor had mostly died off.

Culture

The Vlachian people represent a fusion of cultures from Archadian origin from the west and Korolevetan origin from the east. This manifests itself in all aspects of life such as language, where classical and nonclassical language meet, and governance, where liberalisation and absolutism have met. The people generally follow Omnicanism with other religions not tolerated except in very special circumstances. The flag of Vlachia features a gold bull on a red background as below.

The old Vlachian religion, Manteism, now only studied by a few individuals in the swamplands in hiding, is mostly about being in touch with nature, worshipping what is around you, and improving oneself with it. Worshippers do this a variety of different ways and methods but all ways link back to remaining with nature, with the swamp, and worshipping its creation. The methods include: vampirism, hydromancy, necromancy, lycanthropy, astrology, and haematomancy. Witches can often be seen casting curses or making potions, even within the city of Cantacuzino; this is partly based on Manteistic values and traditions.