Pasuhalta & Kamman (pronounced pah-soo-HALL-tah & kah-MAHN), also known as Katerra Udne (pronounced kah-TEH-rah OOD-nee) or as the United Provinces, are a union between two former provinces of Viridia that broke away from the Dominion following the Erenon Crisis of the early Y9600s. Torn between two visions for their future, some inhabitants of Pasuhalta & Kamman seek to return to the traditions of their pre-Viridian history while others wish to reestablish closer ties to the Dominion.
Name
The land now known as Pasuhalta & Kamman has been referred to by many terms over its history. For millennia under Viridian rule the region was the provinces of Pashaltia and Camantan, both words frequently still used by those in the Dominion to refer to their lost territory. The current official name of the nation is derived from the same older words for the area from which these provincial names also descend, though Kamman as a term for the broader region is likely apocryphal, as historically it was more probably the name of a single tribe.
Some in Pasuhalta & Kamman, primarily those who seek a complete break from their Viridian history, prefer the name Katerra Udne, meaning "the lowland plains". While this name has not seen much broad use, remaining within the domain of scholars, the most common demonym for Pasuhalta & Kamman, Katerran, derives from it.
Geography, flora, and fauna
Much of Pasuhalta & Kamman is effectively a steppe, with expansive flat grasslands only occasionally broken by clusters of trees or, in the central and southern parts of the nation, rugged hills and larger forests. The nation is bordered to the north by the Phiora Sea, to the west by the tree-covered lands of Erenon past the Thura River, to the south by the Urra Highlands, and to the east by the foothills of the Zakros Range. Broadly temperate, summers in Pasuhalta & Kamman are generally mild but winters can be quite cold and bitter, especially compared to the rest of Thadria. Major rain storms are common in the summer, as are blizzards in the winter, especially closer to the Zakros.
Two major rivers run through Pasuhalta & Kamman, as well as a host of smaller rivers, some permanent and others seasonal. The major rivers, the Salatiwara and the Sejur, both begin in the foothills of the Zakros Range before eventually flowing into the Phiora. The Salatiwara River flows into Lake Kamman, a large natural lake, before reaching the sea, while the Sejur River does similarly with Mele's Lake. Unlike Lake Kamman, however, Mele's Lake is artificial, created and managed by a dam near Marrata. This dam was constructed by Viridian engineers as part of the same project that built the dam at Restone in Erenon; unlike the Restone dam, however, the Marrata dam has been much better maintained.
Animals both large and small can be found in Pasuhalta & Kamman. Thadrian elk, polecats, badgers, martens, egrets, beavers, mouflon, wisent, shags, wolverines, and others are widespread. Though they rarely make their nests in Pasuhalta & Kamman itself, rocs live in the nearby mountains and occasionally fly over the provinces in search of prey.
History
Crisis in Erenon
In Y9613 the sudden outbreak of a plague struck Erenon, quickly spreading throughout the eastern province. Clerics and other healers sent to aid the province proved unable to do more than limit the extant of the disease's spread, stymied by the plague's resistance to magical healing. When the severity of the illness became clear to Viridian administrators, they quickly moved to shut down travel to and from the province. The legions were stationed on the borders, especially on the western side of Erenon, with orders to contain the plague until it could be treated.
Independence
Seeing the Dominion's failure to manage the outbreak, and the heavy-handed methods of containment to the west with seemingly less concern about the east, the governors of Forloroth and Valadhel jointly made the decision to declare independence in Y9620 out of concern for what might happen if the plague were to spread into their lands. While the war for independence in Forloroth was nearly bloodless, as the only Viridian troops present were those on the Erenite border, Valadhel was not so lucky. The Legion of the East, which was on campaign in the Urra Highlands, returned to the province and attempted to quash the rebellion. The independence movement prevailed, but not without many casualties and vast swathes of the countryside razed.
Modern Forloroth & Valadhel
Over the last few hundred years, relations with Viridia have stabilized significantly. Both states are dependent on each other for trade, and while Viridian administrators wish to reclaim their lost territory, there are many issues of a higher priority to the Dominion.
Demographics
The population of Forloroth & Valadhel is primarily human, with significant minorities of orcs, half-orcs, ratfolk, dwarves, and half-elves. Gnolls live in the Urra Highlands, both as nomads or in settled tribal communities - in recent decades, some have become increasingly more integrated into Provincial society.
Trolls and goblins are also somewhat common in Forloroth & Valadhel.
Culture
Religion
As is the case with much of the rest of Thadria, the people of Forloroth & Valadhel worship a mix of deities, though primarily those of the Chaskan pantheon. Temples to Harinna, Hasamel, Marya, and Laverna are particularly common. Many of the orcs in the region follow their traditional pantheon, though some have syncretized them with their aspects in the Chaskan pantheon. Cultists to Lotan are uncommonly prevalent in the United Provinces, often in tension with the faithful of other religions. The church of Harinna in particular is quite influential in Forloroth & Valadhel, not just for religious reasons but also because they have historically facilitated diplomacy with the Dominion.
Traditions
The culture of Forloroth & Valadhel is a unique fusion, owing to the history of the region. While many of the cultural traditions are rooted in the history of eastern Thadria, there is much influence from western Thadrian practices as well, as the ruling and upper classes of the provinces were (and still largely are) descended from western Thadrian elites. Long ago colonists from Hellea settled nearby, founding the cities of Mithridate, Thalatta, Chaidia, Corcyra, and others. Some Helleans also settled in what would later become Forloroth & Valadhel - the cities of Temeron and Pasurin, notably, display many signs of Hellean influence in their design and architecture. While the orcs of the Druzda Khanate used to raid the region regularly after their unwilling exile, since the Viridian peace some have instead chosen to resettle permanently in Forloroth & Valadhel. The provinces are also home to one of the only major concentration of gnolls away from the Sangora Desolation and Taizzan Expanse. The result of all these disparate peoples living in one area is a unique melting pot of practices and beliefs that defines the culture of the two provinces. The traditions and special occasions of the United Provinces are primarily similar to those of Viridia, but with many other influences mixed in.
Weddings in Forloroth & Valadhel can be very involved and drawn out affairs. Especially in small towns, these often involve inviting everyone the spouses-to-be know for celebrations, drinking, music, and dancing. It is seen as a status symbol to hold long, elaborate weddings, some of which can last up to a week.
Every year throughout the United Provinces, festivals are held to commemorate the arrival of spring. Eggs are dyed and richly decorated, an especially popular activity with children. While usually chicken, duck, or goose eggs, sometimes the eggs of more exotic or even magical birds are acquired instead. These are both hidden for children to find as well as placed in certain locations as good luck charms. For example, it is believed that placing an egg under a bee’s nest will cause the bees to be especially productive in the coming year. Wood carved into the shapes of eggs are also commonly decorated the same way and used as household decorations. Some are enchanted with minor magical effects to provide some boon to their owners or those around them. Careless disposal of these charms are thought to bring bad luck.
Languages
Thadrian, Common, and Orcish are spoken in roughly equal proportions by the people of Forloroth & Valadhel. Hellean, Targai, Gnoll, and Dwarven are widely used as well, often depending on the particular region of the provinces in which one is located. For example, in the south travelers may find it more useful to understand Gnoll. In the major port cities, and in Bratun especially, languages from around the world are spoken by those accompanying merchants in their travels east and west across the Hundred Days Road.
Arts
Like elsewhere in Thadria, poetry is a widely respected art within Forloroth & Valadhel. Many poets receive payment from nobility to create commissioned works. Provincial poetry serves not only as entertainment but also as a means of recording historical events. Poems are often written to fit into a larger chronology. Recitation of these poems are a popular form of entertainment in Forloroth & Valadhel.
Following the long tradition of Thadrian bards, one person shows are popular in Forloroth & Valadhel. These bards are not only skilled in music or oration, but also carry with them small stages from which they act out all the characters in a play. Audience participation is a core part of this art form, either with audience members jumping in to play a character (often completely unscripted) or shouting out changes they would like to see in the performance. This impromptu nature means that the same play may take wildly different forms between each performance.
Food and cuisine
Wheat is the staple crop of choice in the United Provinces, and is grown alongside barley and a variety of vegetables and legumes, and some fruits. Common livestock include cattle, sheep, goats, geese, ducks, and chickens. Berries such as blackberries, raspberries, and chokeberries are some of the most widely cultivated fruits. Guelder roses are grown both to use for jelly and for medicinal use. Some farmers keep bees as well, and some even choose to center their farms around their apiaries. Honey, wax, and other bee products are a particularly important product of the region.
While local ingredients are used the most, for clear reasons, Provincial cuisine incorporates influences from many cultures. Both eastern and western Thadrian cultural influences are clear, as are those of Hellea and the traditional foods of the orcs and gnolls. Some ingredients and methods have even been adopted from those at the other end of the Hundred Days Road, though not so much by the common folk. The bakeries of Forloroth & Valadhel are known for their many styles of bread and pastries, often with special kinds made around holidays and other events. Cheeses are a common ingredient, made from the milk of cows, sheep, or goats. While mead from the region’s apiaries is widely considered to be delicious, it is not commonly drunk as an everyday beverage, except for among the wealthy. Instead, the region is more known for its beer breweries. Some common dishes found in Forloroth & Valadhel include the following:
- Pies filled with cottage cheese and wild garlic
- Beet soup, sometimes with fish
- Smoked venison and goat with a seasoning mix common to the region
- Sweet pastries with honey
- Aged sausages
- Salted sheep’s brain
Occupations
While much of the citizenry of the United Provinces works in agricultural labor, the region is also known for its skilled craftspeople. Provincial apothecaries are especially well-known for their mastery of the many uses of the native flora. Bratun in particular also has an outsized merchant class - some from elsewhere choose to relocate to the island city in order to keep a better direct eye on their caravans.
Architecture and urbanization
While most cities of Forloroth & Valadhel are relatively small, there are exceptions to this. Bratun in particular is quite large and dense, as are Temeron and Zalpuwa, all owing primarily to the amount of trade that passes through. Corsaden, Tomarzen, Tegarama, and Direcreek grew substantially in the aftermath of the Erenon Crisis as populations fled small towns in the border regions. While these cities have mostly done well in integrating this rapid influx of new residents, they carry a lingering reputation as being dirty and overcrowded. Most of the population of Forloroth & Valadhel lives outside the cities in small towns and villages.
Provincial architecture is, broadly speaking, similar to that of Viridia. This style of architecture tends to favor carved stone or stone brick structures. While the houses and shops owned by lower class people tend to be rather simple, some buildings can get quite elaborate. The governors’ palaces in Marrata and Valadhel both follow the style of domes, arches, and spires that is popular with the elites of Viridia. Provincial cities are not exclusively built in this style, however. Architecture in Temeron and Pasurin in particular takes more influence from the Hellean style of columns, gabled roofs, and so on, particularly for temples and residences of the wealthy.
Travel
The provinces inherited an extensive road system from when they were under the rule of Viridia - while they have been somewhat less well maintained since then, it remains easy to travel throughout the region while remaining on relatively safe, well-marked roads. Travel by water is common as well, both up and down the rivers and along the coast.
Education
City-run schools are relatively commonplace in Forloroth & Valadhel. Though not free, children can enroll for a marginal yearly fee. Education in basic literacy, math, and history is available until age fifteen, at which point children are expected to seek out an apprenticeship or other full time employment. Especially among the poorer peoples of the provinces, if children attend school at all they are frequently pulled out before reaching fifteen in order to help support their families. In smaller communities in the rural regions, these schools often do not exist.
Some major cities in Forloroth & Valadhel publish regular newspapers alongside other written works.
Magic
There are few particularly unique characteristics to Provincial mages. While there are a handful of minor magical academies, they do not generally teach anything particularly complex. As a result, many aspiring arcane casters travel to the more prestigious schools in Viridia, or teach themselves instead. Some evil witches are known to live in seclusion near the Urra Highlands.
Fashion
Traditional clothing of eastern Thadria includes baggy trousers, usually gathered tightly at the ankle, along with loose shirts or coats. Clothing is not gender specific, although women also wear dresses, particularly during formal occasions. Everyday Provincial clothing tends to emphasize practicality over appearance, though among the more wealthy jewelry and other decorative clothing are widely worn. Drab colors are common on everyday clothing, while formal wear is usually brightly dyed and ornamented. Scarves are often worn around the head and neck, not only for warmth but also to keep the sun off one’s skin. Boots made of leather are the most common footwear.
Government
Forloroth & Valadhel are a political union of the two titular provinces. While each province maintains its own independent government, the leaders of each regularly convene to make decisions that affect them both.
The systems under which the United Provinces are ruled are rather ad hoc, without codified legal backing. The union is informal, a matter of continuing mutual agreement between the provinces - technically, from a legal sense, they are not one state. The provincial level government is much the same way. Governors are essentially autocrats, hand-picked by the previous governor to take over upon their retirement. After the two provinces gained their independence from the Dominion, they essentially inherited the same systems and structures that were already in place. The existing Viridian-appointed governors retained their positions, but without the monarch to appoint their successors they took it upon themselves. The legal code of Forloroth & Valadhel is much the same as Viridia's, though they have diverged somewhat since.
The city of Bratun is considered to have the status of a "free city" within Forloroth & Valadhel. It retains significant autonomy, and effectively has self-rule without interference from the two provinces. Though the lord-mayor of Bratun is officially separate from the Provincial central government, they are often considered to have the same standing as the two governors, who frequently include the mayor in their discussions before taking major actions.
Forloroth & Valadhel does not have a standing army, relying instead on levies, but does have a significant navy. The bulk of the Viridian navy was stationed at Bratun at the time that the provinces declared independence, and most of the sailors defected. While ships have been damaged and worn by age and lack of maintenance since, this initial large fleet provided a base that the provinces could easily reinforce.
Economy
When they were part of Viridia, the two eastern provinces were considered the breadbasket of the empire, producing food that fed the populace as far away as Attalea Minor. Though this was abruptly stopped during their independence war, today Pasuhalta & Kamman once again export large amounts of food to the Dominion, and elsewhere as well, albeit at greatly increased prices.
Though the Hundred Days Road is usually considered to terminate at Mithridate in the west, most of the trade passes through the provinces regardless, with the Katerran port cities popular stopovers for merchants resupplying before or after departing on the overland route. Though most trade goods passing west are destined for the markets of Viridia, Koritan, or the Chaskan states, those with some extra money on hand in the Katerran cities can peruse a wide array of mundane, magical, and exotic goods at comparatively lower prices.
Relations
Forloroth & Valadhel have a complicated relationship with their former overlord of Viridia. Many citizens of the United Provinces can point to ancestors who died in their war of liberation, and some harbor lingering resentment as a result. However, today relations between the two states are peaceful if sometimes strained, and both are mutually dependent on each other for trade.