Valis

The Republic of Valis is a small satrapy of the Realm located in the northeastern Threshold, under care of House Sesus. Nearby states include Azerban in the north and Madura to the west. It is a heavily forested land of low population and little note, exporting large quantities of lumber (particularly hickory) to the Blessed Isle and states along the Inner Sea.

Valis has little hierarchy, with nearly all its people being woodcutters: typically a Valisian family consists of one who chops lumber and another who farms food to feed the family, with children assisting either one based on (what the parents deem to be) their natural inclination. Marriages are practical, and once married children depart to set up homes of their own. Governance occurs via local councils where the people assemble and voice ideas and grievances... though they do not use ballots, these councils continue until a decision is agreed upon by the majority.

Valisians are adherents of Immaculate philosophy, though they have a tradition of offering a prayer of thanks to the god of each tree they fell.

When the Anathema-Voivode arose in nearby Azerban, Valis came under threat, and Realm forces failed to reinforce the border to secure the land. While the Anathema did not make Valis a priority, the war cut the Republic off from its sources of metal tools, food, and finished goods. The population expressed increasing anger with the Realm, and it was thought the satrapy might break out in rebellion, until House Sesus managed to negotiate a settlement that restored the loyalty and satisfaction of the populace.

Based in the woods, little of Valis' population was affected by the flooding of the Thousand Rushes River at the end of the war, but part of the settlement has seen House Sesus fund construction of a port town, Port Imperia, on the river, whose swollen depths now allow ocean vessels to reach Valis. When completed, this will allow Valis to ship its lumber directly to ports on the Inner Sea, and it currently houses the modest Palace of the Satrap, currently Sesus Alon Aketaka.