The Steel Kingdom is an empire predominantly made up of Humans and Orcs under the rule of The Steel King, located in the Steel Continent, which is the largest one of the five currently in Sira. The Steel Kingdom has four Fiefs, like nations, each ruled by a Minister except for Vol’nya, which is personally ruled by the Steel King.
The Fiefs
There are four Fiefs under the flag of the Steel Kingdom, Vol’nya, Neyanik, Stalle and Valaast. More info can be found in their own entries, but the following is a brief overview of each Fief.
Vol’nya
Vol’nya is the crown jewel of the Steel Kingdom, where the Steel King himself resides at and controls. He rules Vol’nya through a middleman (or middlewoman as it were), one to manage all the logistics of running the city while the King manages the empire, Vizier Sukijov. Vol’nya itself is the capital of the Kingdom. It is known as the place where the most soldiers and mercenaries come from, being unshakably loyal to the Steel King and his Vizier.
Neyanik
Neyanik is the Fief everyone goes to when visiting the Steel Kingdom, as it has the best tournaments, carnivals, competitions, celebrations and so on and so forth. It’s managed by Minister Vuvisch. The stereotypical Steelic most likely comes from among the Nikkans.
Stalle
Stalle is a special Fief, as it was the first settlement made by the Steel King when he was founding the Steel Kingdom before moving to Vol’nya. It is a place firmly rooted in tradition and religion, as it was founded in a time when the gods had a more tangible hold on the world. It is managed by Minister Kuvixtev
Valaast
Valaast is the most recent Fief to be declared so. Over two hundred years ago, it was simply a place where the other Fiefs sent their criminals, exiles and other such people to distance them from proper civilization. Eventually, enough people gathered to make a city, and then a Fief. It is ruled by a Minister Ukijev.
History
The First Two Hundred Years
The Founding (2 P.S.): The Steel Kingdom was founded as a simple city of Stalle almost immediately after the Sundering. For [twenty years](The Twenty Years of Peace) Stalle was the only center of civilization in it’s continent, only expanding occasionally but mostly keeping to itself. It was surviving, but not thriving. After the twenty years were over, Sira had finally stabilized enough for the world to take a breath and begin living once more. For the Steel King, it meant it was time to expand his new kingdom. He moved to the far west of the continent, where the land was more desirable, and started the second city. It was named Vol’nya. Ever since then, it became his place of residence.
For two hundred years, the kingdom expanded to fill the continent. During this time, the Steel Kingdom functioned more like an empire, allowing nations to form under the King’s vassalage. At one point there were as many as seven nations under his control. There was only ever a rise in population, prosperity and quality of life. But then the first Incursion happened.
War of the First Incursion (222 P.S.): The War of the [First Incursion](The Incursion Wars) was the first conflict the world had with undead. Coming from the Sapphire Isles, the undead caught everyone by surprise. Under the Steel King’s strict rule, no conflict had been had beyond petty skirmishes between his nations, so this was the first taste of war that his kingdom (known as the Steel Empire at the time). They did not fare well. Two entire coastal nations fell before the gathered Steelic armies could repel the undead off their lands and back into the Ocean. In retaliation, the Steel King established a new regiment of soldiers to watch the shores for undead. The Steel King later went with an army to end this conflict along with the other Rulers. This marked the first time the Steel King personally involved himself in conflict for his kingdom. The war lasted three years.
Warning
All other entries will be brought up to the 200 year mark before continuing this page.
Steelic Culture
Vollen Culture
Vollens (From Vol’nya) are known to be patriotic to their Fief and their empire (which is one and the same to them), approving of loyalty to anyone’s own homeland. They have a reputation of being open minded on who can be a Steelic subject, as they possess the opinion that it is always better to have more people under the rule of the Steel King than not.
War is treated as an almost holy (fully holy to some) activity, being glorified constantly in their culture. Almost anyone can join an army going to war except for children below the age of majority and women bearing children. Besides those two, anyone of any gender, race, and age can pick up a spear and march to war so far as anyone is concerned.
Nikkan Culture
Nikkans (From Neyanik) are usually the prideful counterparts to their Vollen neighbors. Given Neyanik’s capital city (Neyanik) reputation as a popular touristic city of sorts, they have seen it all, Lizardken, Dwarf, Ironkin, they will have a story of when they saw each of them. They have a natural disdain for anyone who isn’t a “True Nikkan”, separating visitors into two categories, foreigners they like, and those they don’t.
The main draw for the city is all the tournaments and competitions it hosts, reflecting a different view of war from the Nikkans. Instead of viewing war itself as a noble pursuit, they glorify the fight itself. A fight to the death holds the same value as a nonlethal duel for the honor of the challenger. Dying for a cause is still a strong tenet of the people, but not at the forefront like the Vollens have it.
Stallen Culture
Stallen (From Stalle) are the traditionalists to the core, having been the first humans in the first Steelic nation-turned-Fief to be established. They follow the faith devoutly, having the most religious places in the continent dedicated to the Steelic pantheon. Being hidebound as they are, they accept no other races into their midst.
Vollens go to war for the Steel King, Nikkans go to war for the thrill of the fight, but Stallens go on a crusade for their gods. A side effect of this, ironically enough, results in the Stallens establishing an ethical code of war based on the Steelic Pantheon’s tenets.
Laastian Culture
Laastian’s (From Valaast) are the most recent additions to the ranks of the Steel Kingdom, only establishing their city as a Fief over two hundred years ago. Laastian’s are heavily disliked by their brethren in the upper parts of the Steel Continent, as they descend from a long line of exiles and undesirables from the other Fiefs. They have a very uneasy relationship to the Steel King and it’s other Fiefs in general due to the foundation of their ancestors.
Due to the above, Laastians have very different views on war and foreigners. They welcome Goldics, Bronzens and even some Brassens with open arms, partly just to spite their neighbors but also because as a people they simply do not see the point for endless war and combat, preferring to just maintain the uneasy peace between the different races in the city.