The Union of Castillian States

Region:Caelea

Common Name: Castillian Union, Castillia

Government Type: Aristocratic Oligarchy

Ruling Body: The Council of The Union

Current Leader: King Martin de Paless, King of San Rillo (Human male Noble 4/Fighter 3)

Economic Type: Varies by state, from Capitalist to Guild Controlled

Currency: Each state has it's own, but the new union is seeking a common currency

Area: 990,177 sq. miles

Population: 71,292,744 

Demographics: 66% Human, 9% Halfling, 7% Gnome, 6% Dwarf, 5% Kobold, 4% Xeph, 1% Maenad, 0.8% Skarn, 0.3% Rilkan, 0.4% Elf 0.1% Kith, 0.4 % Other (half-elf, half-giant, illumian, spellscale, raptorian)

Capitol: Rotating, currently San Rillo (173,000)

Largest City: Portoro (920,000)

Religion: Vast majority Caelen Church, divided between Imperial, Reform and Qalitz churches. Other faiths largely persecuted.

Major Languages: Caelen language is the Language Franca, many local languages spoken, the largest of which are are Bard, Istan, Jarl, Orian, and Stillian)

Symbol: Most common are a shield with the crests of Noreno, Istan, Portoro and Bardrim or a blue, red and gold flag

Nominal Alignment: LN

History

The history of the Castillian peninsula can be characterized by expansionist states claiming vast swaths of neighboring territory, only to fall in upon themselves in civil war and splinter into several sovereign states. The Castillian peoples are nationalistic to a fault, unwilling to let any foreign head rule over them by any means except brute force. Over the past thousand years, there has been as many as eighty sovereign states on the peninsula, and as few as eight. The only nation that could actually unite this fractious region was the Qalitz Empire, as the vast southern empire's shear numbers and vast coffers proved bountiful enough to supply an army capable of conquering the warring states. However, over the past century the power of the southern empire has wanned, and the Castillian states found themselves without their common enemy. Falling back into their warring natures, it seemed that the cycle would only start again once the Empire's fortunes rose. However, while the Castillians were looking south, they failed to look east, over the Skyreach Mountains, to the Toren river valley. Caelea had succeeded conquering it's immediate neighbors, and had declared itself the restored Caelen Empire

Formation of an Alliance

The Caelen Empire was nothing like the Qalitz. While Castillians has grown up learning the tactics of the southerners, the Caelen legion was something new. The Caelens were young but experienced, and they integrated divine magic flawlessly into their tactics. The eastern Castillian Nations of Stromald and Jarlsholme lost their territory with frightening speed, and within 50 years, the Caelens ruled alll but the south-east Castillians peninsula, which was still the territory of the Qalitz. However, the Caelens fell to the same mistake that lead to their stunning victory: ignoring old enemies. The Elves came out of their exile with stunning speed. The Caelens took their forces out of Castille to garrison their eastern border, convinced that they could reclaim the land they were giving up once the Elves were dealt with. However, the elves would not go away so easily this time. They advanced steadily through Vestria and Heinshem, strait up to the Caelen boarder, and in recent years they have even taken Caelen territory in Waterhead and Doriem. The Rimegardsmen took control over the northern region, and the Qalitz resurged in the south. The central regions, however, had reached a breaking point. The nations of Stillia-Portoro, San Rillm Istan, Histram and Noreno la Vella put aside their historical hatreds, deciding that being ruled over by foreign rulers was even more demeaning then having their peoples ruled over by a fellow Castillian. With the stroke of a pen, they signed an alliance that fixed the boarders of their nations at their current positions, and ended millenia of war.

Growth of the Alliance

The united armies of Castille set their sights on freeing their fellows from foreign rule, starting with their most powerful member: Bardrim. The armies of the alliance headed through Arak, and though costly, ended up driving the Rimegardsmen from the two states. Arak and Bardrim, ready to be divided amongst the conquering states, were shocked when their rulers were invited to join the alliance as equals. The word spread to other Castillian nations, and the entire region took up arms in rebellion. The Rimegardsmen and Qalitz were not prepared for all their subjects rising up against them, they had counted upon the bloodfeuds amongst nations to keep themselves in power. It took the Castillians three years, but they drove the foreigners from all regions but southern Bi'il, eastern Jarlsholme, and the Stromalds.

Gerony

The alliance effectively dissolved without common enemies. Though the region did not fall back into war, the nations turned in on themselves, building defenses and strengthening their armies. This would have likely sparked another war, if it hadn't been for the Vestenreich. The Vestrians had lost several major mines in the war against the elves, as well as easy access to the resources of Khazad Roens and Rimegaard, and they saw the rich mines of Southern Cael and eastern Doriem as a solution to their problems. Unwilling to strike at Doriem when it was under Qalitz control, it considered Doriem a much softer target. Their troops marched in secret through the passes, reaching Darjhev without much trouble. They conquered the city, and the Reich's troops began shoring up the passes against Dorellian and Qalitz retaliations. Dorellia did respond, but not in the way expected. It called upon it's allies to drive foreign troops from Castillia. Though the Castillians had never had much problems with Vestrians, they were not willing to give the Reich a chance to expand it's influence further. A united Castillian army moved upon Darjhev, engaging in minor skirmishes with both the Vestrians and the Qalitz. Eventually, they settled upon the outskirts of Darjhev at the same time the bulk of the Qaltiz army and Caelen legion arrived. The battle of Darjhev was the largest battle fought since the fall of the Caelen Empire. It was long, and in the end, the battle was lost by everyone. No one force could win...each army was unwilling to compromise with it's enemies. Eventually, diplomacy won where blades could not. The land around Darjhev and Zirgarde was declared independent as the Union of Gerony, and the four armies were allowed to station equal forces within it's border to ensure the neutrality of the state. The signitaries were The Holy Caelen Empire, the Empire of Qalitz, the Vestenreich, and the Union of Castillian States

Birth of the Union

The united Castillian armies had singed the treaty of Darjhev for a nonexistent state. The Castillian states were hardly unified. Stillia-Portoro, however, intended to change this. The Stillians saw how effective their armies were united. They knew of the colonies being set up by Deraille, Holtland, and the Chalice were bringing in wealth and resources unlike anything previously seen in the Caelen region, and they wanted in on it. But Stillia-Portoro knew that it was in no position to create colonies...to do so would bring the wrath of the other Castillian states upon them. However, Stillia was able to claim colonies on behalf of a united Castille, they achieve their goal without risking war. They breached this idea to Bardrim, Istan and Noreno, and in 1106 the Union of Castillian states was founded. The four founders were joined by San Rillo and Arak later that year, Tiran, Kirgen and Argenia in 1107, Vale and Alanjy Bi'il in 1110, Dorello in 1112, Notos Andaria and Orenel in 1113, Borellios Andaria in 1115, Stromald in 1117, Halif and Jarlshome in 1119, and Histram 1120. Only Hala has refused to join, though there are some negotiations going on between Hala and the Union

Government of the Union

Castille has a very unconventional form of government. Each member nation is allowed to send 5 delegates to a central cabinet, the Council of the Union. How these members are a chosen is up to each member nation. The appointed house then legislates general laws and controls foreign relations for the union. Each member state has it's own army, under it's own control, though the central Castillian government does control a police force that regulates laws across state borders. The head of the state rotates annually, the leader for the next year chosen by the Council at the end of each session. Heads of state sign bills into law, and can effectively stall legislation until they hand over their position. However, the current head of state cannot veto law, nor can he remove any councilmembers but his own from Council.