Viali

The Viali are a people inhabiting the land of Ivial in southeastern Arad. Their ancestors immigrated to Arad from the continent of Constantia, fleeing oppression from the theocracy of that land. They were able to successfully settle in their new home thanks in large part to the help of the Fasa, though once becoming established they were eager to return to what they were familiar with, and were quick to start work building towns, forts, and castles. The Viali have since spread over a significant portion of southeastern Arad to make Ivial one of the largest territories geographically.

In appearance the Viali often have tan, olive, or bronzed skin, with black or dark brown hair. Their eyes are usually shades of brown or occasionally blue.

There is a cultural emphasis on honor and propriety amongst the Viali, sometimes taken to levels others would consider extreme. One well-known example is that among high society in many Viali territories it is considered rude to ask a direct question, and so individuals tend to speak in roundabout statements indicating any queries or requests indirectly. This emphasis on honor and propriety has also led to a reputation for melodrama, as it is not uncommon to see Viali moved to tears or other displays of emotion over matters that others would consider unworthy of such emotional investment. While some believe it to be all part of a show or act, most agree that in the majority of cases, the Viali are simply a highly sentimental people. This likely explains the lasting popularity of tragedy in Viali literature, plays, and particularly their opera.

Societal Structure

(While titles may differ based on gender (King/Queen, Duke/Duchess, etc.), there is no difference of position or status between the variants. The masculine versions are used by default below, but are not meant to be exclusive of the feminine versions.)

Common Language terms are used below for the various titles for convenience. See this list for the Viali terms:

• King - Re
• Duke - Ducce
• Count - Conte
• Baron - Barone
• Knight - Cavaliere

In their early settlement on Arad, the Viali attempted to break away from the monarchy model used in their homeland of Constantia, fearing a repeat of the tyranny they believed inherent to that system. In the end, however, familiarity (and some say tyranny) prevailed, with a singular war leader uniting the scattered and often bickering independent territories, declaring himself King. The previous leaders of the territories became Dukes and Counts over their duchies and counties, but all were required to give deference and pay taxes to the throne. Most fell into step with the familiar model with minimal trouble, though the people of Corodeangelo have always resisted. This model has continued to present-day Ivial, though has occasionally been a point of contention among the people and the root cause of rebellions. Ivial has fractured into multiple indepent territories more than once in the past, though always ends up back in one piece under the King.

The King rules from Luccere, or the King's Lands, though most aspects of management of Luccere will typically fall to a Prince in order to groom them for their eventual taking of the throne, while the King guides them. The King maintains a standing army. To make the Kingdom manageable, it is split into Duchies and Counties with their own leaders.

Larger territories are the Duchies, ruled by their respective Duke and answering to the King. A Duchy of considerable size may be split into Counties by either the Duke's or the King's decision, with each Count answering to their Duke, just as the Duke answers to the King. A Duke, or a Count with their Duke's permission, may further grant a small parcel of their land as a Fief to an idividual of their choosing, making that individual a Baron. The King may also appoint a Fief to an individual in any Duchy or County.

A few rare Counties exist independent of any Duchy, and answer directly to the King.

Kings, Dukes, Counts, and Barons make up the Upper Nobility class and are collectively referred to as Lords. Those born to Lords are considered part of the Lower Nobility, with the exception of Princes, who are second on social status only to the King.

The above positions of nobility are hereditary, though Lords are able to name successors even outside their bloodline if they wish, which is often the case with those who have no children. In the case of a sudden death with no clear heirs, the overseeing Lord (Counts to Barons, Dukes to Counts, Kings to Dukes) will appoint a successor.

Knights are warriors recognized and appointed titles by a Count, Duke, or King, and enjoy an elevated social status above common citizens, while not being nobility themselves.

Religion

The Viali see Iarel as their creator, following the beliefs from their ancestral homeland of Constantia. However, in an ongoing attempt to avoid becoming the very same oppressive thoecracy that drove them from their homeland in the first place, Viali religion often takes care not to worship their creator goddess too fervently, instead giving her respect and acknowledgment without necessarily being beholden to her will.

When it comes to spiritual and behavioral guidance, the Viali turn more often to the teachings of Serafina and the philosophy of man's Inner Light. Being that a major facet of Serafina's teachings is that she herself refuses worship and encourages man to become self-reliant, the Viali have an interesting relationship with Immortals in general, fluctuating over the generations between worship and regarding them more as personified concepts, creeds, and values rather than literal entities of power. Religious practices will vary from place to place and community to community in Ivial, though Iarel and Serafina in particular almost always enjoy prominence. More than a few conflicts have broken out over Ivial's history in regards to how to properly practice religion and devotion to Immortals.

In modern-day Ivial religious turmoil is fairly common between differing sects - in particular:

• Those viewing the Immortals as exceedingly wise beings to be worshipped and followed with unfailing devotion
• Those seeing the Immortals as higher beings that can be turned to for inspiration, but also acknowledging their fallibility
• Those acknowleding the Immortals and their influence over their respective spheres and peoples, but otherwise not paying them much attention

Additionally, there tends to be conflict between those who put Serafina on a high pedestal and give her worshipful devotion, and those who insist Serafina herself refuses worship and wishes mankind to cultivate their own virtues and merits.

Relations with other peoples of Arad

• Faewyr clans: Negligible. Infrequent trade, general rumors and wariness of Faewyr raiders.

• Fasa tribes: The Viali and the Fasa are currently and have historically been solid allies, though generally leave one another to the their own business. It was the Fasa people who greeted the original Viali immigrants and helped them survive and establish themselves on Arad, and a friendship between the two peoples has persisted since. Other than a few brief conflicts in the past (mostly due to border disputes from Viali lords claiming lands further and further north before the Welcomers' Treaty), the two have been ever ready to aid each other in times of need.

• Karnath: Negligible. The fate of the Hillfolk being stuck within the Quarantine generates general Viali sympathy, and talk of tearing down the Quarantine Wall to free them is not uncommon in some circles.

• Khaldean territories: Frequent allies and trade partners; often united against Nuum.

• Lost Lands: A common place to send exiles, criminals, and other unwanted individuals that the Viali don't know what to do with; often considered a merciful act, rather than sentencing to death or life in prison. The Viali were involved in the establishment of the Quarantine and continue to dedicate resources to its enforcement.

• Nuum - Currently at war, due in large part to aggression by the Count of Nordarida, though the King is not pleased with the situation - being the clear aggressors, the Viali have relatively little support from their traditional allies. Historically, the Viali and the Nuum have frequently been at odds, with more than one major war in the past. In particular, the Viali have difficulty accepting the Nuumic custom of holding slaves, and the Nuum consider the Viali troublesome foreigners from a distant land with no rightful claim to the lands they inhabit, and are particularly bitter about the Welcomers' Treaty. Border disputes have been a constant issue for generations.

• Parr: Frequent trade, otherwise negligible.

• Sirak Drauth: Mostly negligible; occasional trade. The Giganti have an almost near-mythical status with most Viali, as a far-off people on the opposite end of the continent with an unmatched talent for stonework, metalwork, and architecture.

• Tatlhuecatn Empires: Negligible relations; general Viali opinion on Huecatn culture is negative, due to Huecatn practices of human sacrifice and little emphasis on family and biological ties.

• Tol Rhun: Uneasy enforced peace. The Treaty of Merciful Exile written by the Viali after Rhun's failed rebellion forbids the Viali from interfering with the Rhuidim people, so long as the Rhuidim keep to themselves in the land they were exiled to. Despite various minor clashes between groups acting independent of their governments (allegedly, at least), the treaty has held to the present day. Cultural prejudices tend to run strong on both sides of the border, however. Both expect one to rise against the other at some point, and remain warily ready for that anticipated conflict.