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Jan 1, 2018

KING GULTOPP FOLKVAR OF FOLKVAR KINGDOM

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(lore under cut)

KING GULTOPP FOLKVAR

When Evangeline Kingdom began enslaving fae and gaians, these peoples were forced north beyond the Shrieking Mountains. Word spread quickly of Evangeline's encroaching forces, and the independent tribes of the mountains chose to band together into one nation to defend themselves. This nation became Folkvar Kingdom, also known as the "Warrior Kingdom". It is made up of refugees from all around Noalen as well as the mountain natives, and so its populace is highly diverse. Today it is ruled by a centaur named King Gultopp, but it has known leaders of many other species in the past.

Gultopp's biggest priority is defending his borders from Evangeline Kingdom to the south. Though Folkvar's military is smaller, its diversity is its saving grace. This kingdom utilizes both magic and technology, embracing the strengths of each of its peoples. Unlike Evangeline Kingdom, Gultopp honors the Nymph Pact fully, if only to spare his kingdom even more turmoil from angry nymphs. Refined materials are instead imported from Zareen Empire to the east. Currently the Zareenites produce weapons and armor for both Folkvar and Evangeline. This Empire is specially equipped to deal with nymph attacks, so the longer Evangeline and Folkvar's war drags on, the more Zareen Empire profits.

OVERVIEW

Life in Folkvar Kingdom can be brutal. Most of its territory lies in a freezing, treacherous area called the Shrieking Mountains. It also holds land along Noalen's eastern coast where its fishing industry thrives. Folkvar is famous for its exceptional warships. This kingdom has held control over the Northern Sea for generations. Culturally, its people value honor and strength above all else. They do not fear death, especially a glorious death in battle, for death is all around them in their unforgiving lands. They are no strangers to war because they have been at war since the conception of their kingdom, literally built upon the bones of their fallen brethren.

The immigration process to into Folkvar Kingdom is simple, but not meant for the faint of heart. To become a citizen, at least one member of the family must serve in the military for at least 5 years. Those too weak or sickly to serve will be denied citizenship. The kingdom has a pitiful system of welfare so its people rely mostly on eachother when times are hard. But for many, this harsh life under Folkvar's rule is a better alternative to a harsher life in Evangeline's chains.

Males and females are regarded as equals here, at least legally. They may both own property and serve in the military. All species are granted equal rights as well. Magic is permitted and its restrictions are loose, and so too is the use of iron, a material which repels magic. Within Folkvar's largest cities, different peoples tend to self-segregate because of this magic-iron incompatibility. But for the most part there is a strong sense of kinship between citizens--especially compared to the kingdom's southern neighbor.

GULTOPP'S POLICIES

- "Though there is honor in producing one's own weaponry, there is no honor in letting my people suffer the nymphs' wrath for the sake of pride. For this reason, I shall respect the Nymph Pact until further notice."

- "Our lives are harsh but they make us strong. Our kingdom cannot afford to feed those who contribute nothing, especially in the midst of war. Any foreigner who is strong and willing enough to fight for their freedom in our military is a foreigner no more."

- "We are a kingdom forged by a common desire for freedom. Our ancestors knew that the only way to survive the Evangeline menace was to combine their unique strengths. To choose just magic or iron is foolish. These forces, though they naturally repel, can be used in harmony with simple understanding and perseverance. Neither shall be restricted in my territory."

- "Glory is earned through sacrifice. To die for your kingdom is the most glorious death of all, and so every fallen soldier shall see a proper funeral. Every battlefield will be combed for the remains of our lost warriors, no matter the cost. Should we lose our honor, we lose our identity and our kingdom."

- "Slavery is a heinously dishonorable concept. It has no place in our way of life, for to engage in the same oppression we founded this kingdom to escape from would be to spit in the faces of our ancestors. True honor comes from hard and honest work, not from the exploitation of others."

FOLKVAR ROYAL FAMILY

HIGH KING GULTOPP

Gultopp’s grandfather escaped Evangelite slavery and started life anew in Folkvar Kingdom. Gultopp spent his childhood listening to his grandfather’s stories of injustice and hardship, and it inspired him to join the Folkvaran military as soon as he came of age. He proved himself to be a strong and capable soldier, working his way through the ranks until he became the High King’s top general.

Though he earned many medals for his acts of heroism in battle, Gultopp also lost many body parts throughout his military career. His eye was gouged out while defending a fellow citizen from a wild sabretooth, he lost his hand fighting off Evangelite invaders in Stonebirch, and both of his hind legs were crushed by a siege weapon during the Battle of Merrowville.

Still, he did not consider retirement an option, for he still had plenty of life in his veins and a strong desire to serve his kingdom. He developed a friendly relationship with the High King of Folkvar Kingdom, who later appointed Gultopp to take his place at the throne.

Gultopp’s political agenda is clear: take over Evangeline Kingdom using any means necessary. While he is generally praised for his strong anti-slavery rhetoric and patriotism, he is also criticized for being too militaristic, refusing to implement a decent welfare system for his people, and allying with the notoriously xenophobic Etios Nation.

HIGH QUEEN JUVELLA

Juvella is Gultopp’s first and only wife. She was born and raised in Stonebirch, where she worked at her family’s lumber mill for many years. That was, until Evangelites raided the city and burned her family’s business to the ground, slaying her father and brother in the process. Folkvaran troops were sent to take back the city and repair the damage, and Juvella immediately enlisted to join the fight. Stonebirch was in desperate need of medical personnel during this time, so she was assigned to tending the wounded, even though she had no experience in doing so.

Driven by a sense of duty, Juvella tried her best. Eventually Folkvar Kingdom prevailed and took Stonebirch back from the Evangelites, but not without heavy bloodshed. Juvella claims she was so overwhelmed with injured soldiers after the last battle that she nearly lost her mind. She voiced her worries to a handsome young soldier as she treated his wounds. The soldier’s name was Gultopp, and the moment she finished wrapping his severed hand, he stood up and began helping her tend the other soldiers around him.

His honorable deed inspired her, and suddenly all her doubts disappeared. She fell in love with Gultopp in that moment, later marrying him, bearing three children by him, and remaining by his side as he he took Folkvar Kingdom’s throne.

Juvella and Gultopp are largely on the same page in matters of politics, except when it comes to immigration. Gultopp streamlined his kingdom’s citizenship process shortly after taking the throne, so that anyone could become a Folkvaran citizen if at least one member of their immediate family served five years in the military. Juvella disapproves of this policy and believes the kingdom’s standards for citizenship should be higher.

Gultopp refuses to change the policy no matter how much she complains, so she has taken it upon herself to hire “enforcement squads” to patrol all Folkvaran holds. These squads are meant to collect extra taxes from non-citizens, including those still waiting for their approval. In reality, these squads have built a negative reputation for themselves as thieves and bullies, known by many as “Juvella’s Gorillas”.

PRINCESS BLOMI

Blomi believes she is her parents’ second child. Unbeknownst to her, she is actually their third. Her older sister has been hidden away in her own home all her life, and though Blomi often hears strange wailing coming from the walls at night, her parents assure her that it’s nothing to be concerned about. This answer is not enough to satisfy a girl like Blomi, who has been equal parts stubborn and curious since the day she was born.

Blomi is the apple of her father’s eye. While her two older siblings may have disappointed him, she has yet to do so and she works hard to keep it that way. She knows that if she stays on Gultopp’s good side, he will choose her as his next heir to the throne. Blomi hopes that one day she’ll inherit the castle, and then she’ll be free to unlock its many mysteries, including the source of the nightly wailing.

Blomi puts on an angelic act around her parents, telling them everything she knows they want to hear and giving them confidence that she will continue their agendas when she takes the throne. In truth, she doesn’t really care about their agendas or the kingdom at all. Blomi’s desires lie no deeper than wealth, power, and popularity. She wishes to take elaborate vacations all over the world and do all the undignified things she’d never dream of while her parents are still around.

LADY SYGBARNE

The birth of a new prince or princess is a joyous occasion which is celebrated by the whole kingdom. When princess Sygbarne was born, however, no one was celebrating. She was the second child of Gultopp and Juvella, and the midwives knew immediately that she was not like her brother. Sygbarne was born with profound disabilities. Her parents were told that no matter how many years passed, no matter how big she grew, her intelligence would never surpass that of a toddler’s. She would always rely on someone to care for her from birth until her death, and she certainly wouldn’t be taking any thrones in her condition.

Gultopp and Juvella were shocked, at a loss for what to do. Gultopp’s whole political agenda was built upon concepts like “self-sufficiency”, and he publicly stated that people who were too disabled to care for themselves had no place in Folkvar Kingdom. He believed that his kingdom should not serve anyone who could not serve it back, and so he refused to implement any kind of welfare system.

Sygbarne’s birth did not inspire him to change his policies. Rather, Gultopp doubled down and told his advisors to lie to the people, announcing that the child was stillborn. The Folkvarans believed their new princess had died. In reality, her parents locked her away in a secret chamber of the castle, where only a few trusted personnel were allowed in to care for her. Gultopp refused to accept his daughter’s diagnosis, and started embezzling tax money to hire every quack doctor who claimed they could cure her condition.

Despite countless “therapies” over the years, Sygbarne’s condition remains the same. Still her parents hide her away and refuse to give up until she becomes the person they want her to be, failing to understand that what she really needs is acceptance.

KING HESTAL

Hestal is the first-born child of Gultopp and Juvella. He has always aspired to be a warrior like his father was, but unlike Gultopp, he has never known true hardship. He was born into a life of privilege and has never had to work for anything. He claims to be an experienced veteran, despite never actually setting hoof on a battlefield.

Hestal married young against his parents’ wishes, and to a prostitute at that. He had one child by this woman and the media ran wild with the scandalous news, shaming him for his “low-class” wife. Hestal’s embarrassment became to much for him to bear. He had his wife assassinated to avoid divorce and spare his image, then sent his son away to a boarding school in Sodergen to get him out of his hair.

After this incident, Hestal’s parents promised he could rule the city of North Haze so long as he stayed married to his second wife. Hestal agreed, and now he and his wife, Maris, rule this icy, far-flung city together. Hestal knows that if something “unfortunate” should happen to Maris, his parents will rip the city away from him. He is known to embezzle tax money to pay for his wife’s extra security, hiring everyone from mercenaries to mafias to see that she’s safe wherever she goes.

QUEEN MARIS

Maris was the princess of North Haze until she married Hestal. Upon their marriage, her father stepped off the throne and Hestal took his place, ruling together with Maris as North Haze’s new king and queen.

Like Hestal, Maris has never known a day of hardship in her life. She is snotty and mean, especially towards her stepson, Kast. It seems there is nothing Hestal can do to please this woman except leave her alone, and it’s quite apparent that their marriage is based upon status rather than love. Maris knows that Hestal will lose North Haze if she dies prematurely, and she take advantage of this fact to cheat on him with her security team without consequence.

Maris is currently pregnant with the heir of North Haze, but Hestal knows it couldn’t possibly be his child. He is powerless to confront the situation and must spend the rest of his life pretending this child is his own to save face. Meanwhile, Maris just seems to revel in his misery.

LORD KAST

Kast is not aware that his father is responsible for the death of his mother, though he’s starting to have his suspicions. His father, Hestal, sent him away to a boarding school in Sodergen when he was young, where he has spent most of his days ever since. Every visit with his family is more awkward and miserable than the last, as everyone just seems to resent his existence. Kast cannot figure out what he’s done to earn all this ire, and has developed a very poor self-image as a result.

Sad and unwanted, he can’t wait to graduate and leave this whole kingdom behind. He doubts anyone will even notice he’s gone. He has never been outside Folkvar Kingdom, however, and while he’s eager to leave, he also fears what unknown hardships may be lurking just outside the borders. Kast figures no matter what they are, they can’t be any worse than what he’s already facing.

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