The City of Valantia

History

Valantia was founded by Maklamann Ironblade in the First Age, during the year of 314 ST. It was formed shortly after Ironblades victory against the Zebra people, around a Humathi holy site called the Deothaisel, and the many Humathi worshippers who congregated there. Numerous smaller temples to the Death God sprang up, and the Twin Brother Temple to Orlanth was built nearby (it would later be destroyed by marauder trolls in the Second Age). The walled settlement that would later become a city was founded on the orders of Maklamann himself, it is said that some of the stones were even lain by his hard working hands.

The city was the bastion of the Otkorioni people for several centuries. It was the site of Arkat's meeting with Maklamann, and also was the mediation point between Uz from the Autharchy and the human members of Arkat's empire.

When the God Learners and Uz forced the Otkorioni away in the Second Age, the Humathi remained. At first, the trolls hunted them as food, albeit canned food. However, their temples made effective military fortresses, especially the Deothaisel, and whilst raids would continue, devastating much of Valantia, the Uz came to the conclusion that it'd be easier to let them remain. They formed a tightly knit community adhering to the principles of the Death God. They built up many connections with Tinaros, Borin and Sentanos as mercenaries and Swords for hire, keeping their heads low during the God Learner reign. The God Learners tried to gain entry to the Humathi owned regions once or twice, but found attrition due to Uz raids too difficult to contend with. Many say that by this time the Humathi had pledges with the Uz for mutual protection against the new rulers of Ralios.

Before the Reclaimation, many members of the Church of Nomia settled in and around Valantia, some sixty years after the Otkorioni had fled. As the Galvosti were allied with the God Learners, they had a lot of support and backing. There were tensions at first between the Galvosti and the Humathi, but Dinero ai Sanchal del Galvost, Bishop of the Church at that time, managed to come to arrangements. The two sides despised each other, but neither was willing to engage in open warfare.

During the years following the Great Plague of Lankst and the Reclaimation, the Orlanthi returned. The Humathi were not willing to accept their brethren with open arms, and neither were the Galvosti happy to see yet more pagans enter the area. They found it difficult to settle in and around the city. After thirty years, the situation changed as Orlanthi were sent to make treaties and allies with the staunch Humathi who, even though Valantia was nominally controlled by the Church of Nomia, were still the power behind the throne. Eventually a small group of Orlanthi managed to base themselves in Valantia, a form of underclass that Galvosti merchants used as cheap caravan guards. The newly based Orlanthi constructed a temple to Humath, right underneath the noses of the Galvosti. Unwilling to attack a temple to the god that they feared so much, it remained.

The situation changed again in 1093 ST when the Ruam Clis and Dunfali made official treaties with numerous Orlanthi Families. The Orlanthi persuaded the Humathi Houses to surreptitiously do away with the ruler of Valantia, Duke Carlos ai Belfonti. Once slain, Orlanthi poured into the city whilst it was in disarray. At the same time, certain Orlanthi led actual attacks on Galvosti territory, claiming it as their own. This sparked numerous small wars between Otkorioni and Holuti families.A new Duke was appointed, one whose attitude was more temperate - he sought to convert the pagans. Whilst physical wars raged in southern Otkorion, a religious battle took place in Valantia. Whilst the Duke's aims were (more or less) pacifistic, they were also a failure, more Orlanthi moved into the city with the Duke's blessings, but did not convert. With growing Orlanthi power blocks, riots broke out and tensions rose. Within seven years, the new Duke was recalled home in disgrace and the tyrannic Duke Cormando ai Salvardo replaced him. He crushed rebellion quickly and began investigating the assassination of the abbot. When it was discovered that the Humathi were involved, Cormando ordered for those responsible to be found and executed, and all pagans barred from the city. Those from the Ruam Clis who were involved were captured and slain by Tapping. The pagans were cast away. Only the Dunfali remained, hiding in their secret temple. For three years the Galvosti retained power before one evening the entire Dunfali House emerged, led by their Head who had Incarncated Humath himself! He quickly defeated and routed the unprepared Galvosti, and then proclaimed that Valantia was to remain a closed city, open only to members of the Houses of Humath.

During this time, the Temporal Incarnations were formed, from a secret of the Dunfali. After some years, in 1110 ST, the Humathi allowed people and trade back into the city, having proven themselves as powerful as necessary to maintain control. It was decided that control of the city would be determined by a contest of arms. The winner was a Galvosti, and he was appointed King of Valantia, a title he held with some distaste and he ordered his court to refer to him as "Duke". The Humathi likewise proclaimed that should anyone attempt to go against them, they would have to face their wrath. Slowly, people filtered back into Valantia, and some of the more well-travelled Humathi pulled a few strings with foreign merchants and trade began again.

Though the Galvosti ruled, they could not do as they wished. Pogroms they tried to enact were cut short by the Humathi. Large factions of Orlanthi moved into Valantia, but could not yet form temples, but did form themselves into a powerful presence. Even the Rokari and Aetheric Church made themselves felt. Sometimes, during extreme tension, riots flowed into the streets, but the warfare of years before did not occur.

This period, too cumbersome in politics and battles to be fully described here, lasted nearly three centuries before King Ulianus III invaded Valantia, killing the native Safelstran royalty. Duke Ulyfid ruled as Ulianus' proxy. The siege of Valantia was hard, and only by using many tricks did Ulianus force the walls down. Seeing their defeat, many Humathi agreed to a surrender. Similar agreements were made with the other factions, or they were put to the sword.

Seshnelan rule was harsh on the Valantians. Many aspects of religious orders had to either be discarded, or carried out in secret. The Finshad nobles remained, practising Henotheistic worship to avoid persecution as much as possible. The population dwindled, the Galvosti had their own problems and the Orlanthi preferred to leave north in rural areas away from the Rokari expansion.

When Seshnelan rule collapsed, they departed. This left the city almost vacant - the Humathi began to re-establish their power again, but Valantia did not become the bustling city it once was. The Humathi were no longer interested in establishing Valantia as a political power, so it was down to a concerted effort from the Galvosti Church and the Finshad nobility that managed to keep Valantia going. The only edict from the Humathi was to have another competition by arms to determine the King. With the support of the nearly arrived St. Urox cult, the Finshad nobility took the throne, much to disapproval of the Galvosti.

In 1611 ST the Prelate of Valantia executed a group of Orlanthi revered in southern Otkorion as heroes, including a worshipper of St. Chalana. Surantyr the Nonheretic decided to sack Valantia, gathering support quickly for his endeavour. The Orlanthi had friends in high places, and this was the final insult from the Galvosti to the people of Otkorion, which was now largely Orlanthi and Henotheists. Surantyr rallied support, and managed to gain backing from tribes in Lankst. They gathered and advanced south, from Aocur in northern Otkorion to Valantia. As the force advanced, the Galvosti obviously became wary. They lay siege to the Humakti controlled areas of Valantia believing (correctly) that they would aid Surantyr's army. The nobility escaped, leaving the royal grounds so that they could meet with Surantyr's forces and aid in the sacking. The Galvosti executed many Orlanthi out of hand, and began rallying their own forces - some sent from Holut, and also the army from Sentanos. In brief, the battle lasted three days with the Otkorioni Orlanthi achieving their goals, forcing the Galvosti from the city. Southern Otkorion was now ruled solely by the Henotheistic Church. Soon afterwards, Surantyr called for the Twelve Thousand Pilgrimage to repopulate the city.

The City

Valantia has existed for nearly a millennia and a half, and over this time many additions have been made to the basic structure. The oldest area is that which was built on the orders of Maklamann himself, and is called the Humatan - or "the Sword House" by locals. Here are some of the oldest buildings, mainly associated nowadays with the cult of St. Humakt. All of the Houses of St. Humakt have havens here, some having survived since the days of the Wolf Pledge when the Humakti were alone against the trolls. There are also temples and shrines to St. Humakt, his sons, Heroes and subcults, including the Deothaisel that original Valantia was built around. Fruit juice houses dot the area. Two other landmarks of note exist in Humatan, the first being the Holy Sword Ring. It was built in 1169 ST, and many fights and challenges are carried out within it's confines. It also attracts a large amount of revenue through the famed arena combats. Half of it extends into Humatan, the other half into open Valantia. Another notable landmark is the Bridge of Swords. This stretches over the small lake at the centre of Humatan, created by forging a canal to the river Tanier. The lake itself is mainly used as a water supply, but the Bridge itself is important due to it's connections to the Bridge of Swords on the Godplane.

The rest of the city is newer by at least four centuries. There are three areas of note, but collectively the newer portions are referred to as "open Valantia", a nickname that has stuck since the time that the Humakti refused to allow anyone into the Humatan itself.

The first area in open Valantia that is of note are the royal grounds. Built atop an artificially constructed hill, it was made by the Holuti Dukes when the Church of Nomia first moved to Valantia. The palace and the grounds themselves are obviously of Galvosti design, and also has heavy fortifications to protect it. It is, simply, almost a small-enclosed town unto itself. With the Finshad family finally happy that as much Galvosti paraphernalia as possible has been removed, a temple to St. Orlanth Rex has been constructed. The royal palace is protected by five crystal statues, placed there by the Seshnelans and never removed.

The second major area is the religious quarter. When the ruling of Valantia fell to Orlanthi, and the major religious bloc was Galvosti, the later took over a large part of the city as their own religious grounds. They built a Church and homes for sorcerous orders. When the Orlanthi sacked Valantia, this all changed. The area has become dually a monument to the Galvosti defeat, and the remainder has become home to the destitute masses. The now defaced church remains empty, offerings of Holuti dolls are burnt - symbolic of the Galvosti defeat and rout. Portals of power exist, although after a few Quests onto the nodes, the Galvosti managed to ad hoc seal them. The Otkorioni still try and reopen them for their own gain. Statues of Saint Carpattia, a Saint of the Church of Nomia and Prelate at the time of the Sack, stands in the centre of the area acting more as a spittoon now. A Hall used for summoning spirits and Tapping is now a full display against the chaotic powers of Jraktal.

The final region of note is the market, near the docks. There is the Great Stall, a temple to St. Goldentongue. Of note, there is a small band of particularly militant Goldentongue worshippers who investigate the Argan Argar Chain to try and foil it's passage through Otkorion. The docks are a marvel to behold, built by the Tanier priests the lochs used are each beautifully carved with detailed art. Some of the lochs are magical and can no longe rbe used due to the disappearance of the Tanier cult some years back.

Valantia also houses the largest temple to St. Urox, built near the gates of the city. The Inquisition also have their headquarters here, built near the Order of Learning. The Betine and Aocur (Queen's and King's Guard respectively) also house themselves in Valantia.

Other notable places include the Riddling Parlour, which was used by the God Learners some years ago; a temple to the Crossed Swords Barracks, ostensibly a mercenary hiring hall and temple to a face of Arkat Chaosbane; the mausoleum of Maklamann Ironblade, built in the early Second Age when some of his remains were recovered; a temple to Arkat Lordmaster, built on the spot where Arkat and Maklamann once met to make their alliance; the Au Fragraa family brewery; and the Silver Duck, a famous restaurant run by a Galvosti chef and his Galini wife.