Valerica

Valerica, officially the most serene republic of Valerica is an Auroran country, located in the continent's southern shore, traditionally known as Uspria. It shares a border with Axdel to the west, Great Morstaybishlia to the north and Rosalica to the east. The capital, though not largest city is Baecca. Other major cities include Lieca, Serraca and Morlca. As of 2018 it's populations is 17 million, most of which speak Valerican language. Valeric is related to Staynish language, though the two are not mutually intelligible.

The Most Serene Republic of Valerica
Flag of the Republic of Valerica
Motto: To be serene is to prosper
Anthem: "The Flower of dawn rises"
Location of Valerica (dark green)
Location	Map Location of Valerica (dark green)
Capital	Baecca
Largest city	Lieca
Official languages	Valeric
Recognised regional languages	Staynish Axdan language
Ethnic groups (2016)	85,3% Human 14,6% Elf 0.1% unspecified
Demonym(s)	Valer, Valerican
Government	parliamentary Republic
• Serenissimo	Laur Ve Hollen
Area
• Total	223,465 km2 (86,280 sq mi)
Population
• 2018 estimate	17 000 000
• Density	76/km2 (196.8/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2017 estimate
• Total	$595 billion
• Per capita	$35,000
Gini (2018)	0.36 low
SDI (2018)	0.92461 very high
Currency	Kirib (♅/KRB)
Time zone	UTC⁠
• Summer (DST)	UTC+7 to +11 (Morstaybishlian Summer Time)
Date format	DD/MM/YYYY
Driving side	the Right
Calling code	+76
ISO 3166 code	VAL
Internet TLD	.val

Supreme legislative authority is held by 211-member unicameral parliament, known as the congress. Most executive powers are wielded by the cabinet, known as the council, and it's head the serenissimo. After each Congress election, the parties negotiate among themselves on forming a new council, which then has to be approved with simple majority by the Congress.

History

Mesolithic Uspria (8800-5800 BC)

Although the exact date is still hotly debated amongst historians and scholars it is within the Mesolithic Era that elves from what would become modern day Arcturiasaid eastward towards the continent of Aurora. Utilizing ancient voyager ships the elves bridged the gap between the two landmasses. The elves proceeded across the southern coast of Aurora following native populations of Aurochs along the southern coast of Aurora and into what would become modern Uspria. While archaeological records are scarce archaeologists have found remains of old stone tools and decorative art that described the nomadic proto Usprian people. Within the caves remains of shattered pottery were found along with trace residue of foodstuffs as well as salt withing the shards, suggesting that ancient Usprians utilized a method of desalinating water to utilize the salt for enhancing or preserving food.

Close to the late Mesolithic Usprians settled into into what would become modern day Valerica. Settlers built tightly packed mudbrick settlements along the cliffside. based upon historical artifacts recovered this was the same time in which early Usprians began the domestication of a Hapsi, a medium-grained rice. It is theorized early Usprians utilized hapsi as well as hunting game and fish to consume. Wild figs, olives, nuts, berries, and seeds were also used to supplement dietary needs deeper inland. Those who settled upon the rocky shores of Uspria ate much higher proportions of fish, mollusk, and berries that grew within the rocky crags of the mountainous coastline. Early Usprians also used a variety of domesticated animals for travel, food, labor, and clothing. Some of the earliest examples are the early domestication of goats, auroran pheasants, and Hummarian Aurochs.

Early Usprian society was still highly tribal during this period however limited instances of bartering and cultural exchange did occur between the different settled tribes as well as native human populations. It is theorized the Usprian people traded foodstuff, seeds, livestock, and handicrafts. During the late Mesolithic period early Usprians developed the groundwork for the Aocini faith as evidenced by exhumed remains featuring jewelry and talismans reminiscent of the symbolism used in early medieval Aocini.

• 
  Ruins in Northern Uspria.

Neolithic Uspria (5800-4500 BC)

The Neolithic Era in Uspria is characterized heavily by more permanent settlements being established throughout the mountainous regions. As Usprian society started to coalesce in mountainous holds and the religion of Aocini took a greater cultural prominence over early shamanistic religions cities increased in not only size but also organization with city-states rising to prominence across Usprian lands. The advent of organized agriculture along the banks of Uspria's many rivers which carried nutrients down from the mountains and into the rivers and tributaries that flowed through the lowlands. Cultivation of Hapis greatly increased after the discovery of the wikipedia:millstone quickly led to the utilization of rice flour and the creation of rice bread. The method for cultivation, milling, and baking improved the quality of Usprian life tremendously and allowed Usprians to gain the upper hand when bartering with goods before the process was disseminated to Aurora.

Usprians traded bread, pottery, and salted fished for a variety of goods specifically jewelry, textiles, and human labor. As Usprian cities expanded, specifically those along the coast, more workers were needed for additional labor than the Usprian elves slow reproductive speed could create. Usprians purchased or forced early human tribes into bondage to utilize them as a fast growing source of labor for their fields and dockyards. By the year 4900 the slavery of humans became a common practice in Uspria. Usprian cities utilized the slave labor to quickly catapult themselves forward in both the ability produce goods as well as the ability to extract new resources. During this period aggression between the native humans and elven populations reached a tipping point, causing one of the first known extensively recorded wars. Ancient Usprian city-states faced a guerrilla war against human tribesmen which forced the Usprian city-states to unite under the leadership of the most prominent city, Lieca. This Usprian league managed to eventually crush the human tribesmen, thanks to their efforts being led from one place. However after the external threat was gone, new problems arose. Many city states longed for the dissolving of the league, as was originally agreed upon. Lieca however was reluctant to give up it’s hegemonic position. What followed, were the so called Usprian wars, in which the league was forcibly dissolved.

• 
  A recreation of early Usprian bread made from rice flour.
• 
  An artist's rendition of early Usprian merchant vessels.

Chalcolithic Uspria (4500-3500 BC)

The Chaloclithic Era of Usprian society revolves primarily around the advent of larger scale mining operations utilizing slave labor as well as early forges to mold copper into more effective tools and weapons as well as ornamentation. Usprian mines primarily extracted copper from the craggy ground alongside copper-bearing gemstones such as wikipedia:Larimar, wikipedia:Malachite, and wikipedia:Azurite. Usprian jewelers took the copper and gemstones and began to forge intricate pendants, brooches, and hairpins. Usprian craftswomen, now spared from working in the fields and mines, turned their focus towards the sybarite culture that Usprians are known for. With the increase in luxury items as well as greater desire to trade with neighbors along the coastline of Aurora. These merchants utilized an almost universally desired good: salt, to exchange for goods of those whom they traded with. Usprian merchants soon found themselves creating a new social structure based upon the vast difference in wealth between the human slaves and their elven masters.

Upon the advent of metallurgy Usprian military forces became a superior fighting force as well. Usprians using copper tipped spears and weighted nets became excellent hunters of both game and humans within early Usprian society. These hunters were often the children of merchants who would then utilize the captured animals and people as goods to be sold, creating a strongly clan aligned military that was loyal to their matriarch. The largest change in Usprian warfare would be the domestication of the metlae. Its domestication and use as a mount assisted early Usprians greatly with navigating both the deep forests of the lowlands as well as the mountainous terrain thanks to the metlae's natural agility and its ability to leap and pounce with surprising accuracy. Usprians riding metlae quickly rose in prominence in Usprian society and mounted warriors became a symbol of wealth and prestige, often equipped with rudimentary copper armor and reinforced spears specifically designed for their use in mounted combat.

Usprian society, building upon the budding desire for luxury, the surplus of wealth from trading, and through the actions against the less organized tribes of humans began to develop some of the first the signs of civilization. Series of universal laws were enacted, a setting of standard prices and valuation of goods throughout the unified city-states was established, as well as a rudimentary cuneiform script that was utilized primarily for counting stores of materials as well as denoting amounts. An early form of scales was developed and utilized in order to evaluate the weight of salt and how much of other materials it would be worth.

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  Ancient Usprian copper mines found in the cliffside.
• 
  Artist depiction of lowlands farming commune.
• 
  Copper spearheads recovered from burial mound.
• 
  An example of early Usprian jewelry.

Late Medieval Valeria, birth of Valerica (15th to 16th century)

The fall of Kingdom of Valeria forced parts of it's population to migrate south to modern day Valerica, to avoid enemy rule. The fall also inherently broke Valerian Feudalism, with migration and resettlement equalling distribution of wealth. This newfound equality allowed the mending of wounds to begin between old elven masters and their now free serfs. In Valerica the wave of migrants led to overpopulation of cities, which in turn caused large scale starvation within the barren lands. As a result the size of cities fell drastically, sparing only a few larger ones, and countless new villages were born around areas where keeping of livestock or small scale farming was possible. Still the are needed outside help to maintain it's population. To this end Valerica has always had to find some trade good they were able to produce, in order to secure outside footshipments.

Initially gold and copper was found to be the solution. Though those veins soon ran out in but a century's time. Then by the time of industrialisation, Valerica was found to be rich in coal and soon countless mines dotted the land

Cuisine

Valerican funnel Cake

Two pieces of Valerican cuisine are widely known all over Aurora. The popular Funnel Cake is a traditional dish, usually enjoyed during birthday celebrations and the annual spring festivals. Outside of Valerica it's mainly found in carnivals and fairs. It is normally made in early spring to empty last year's honey stock and make more space for the new one, though it is also made at the first harvest of honey.

The other distinct cuisine being the Long Drink. Unlike the Funnel cake, this bewerage dates it roots only to 1950s. It refers to a mixed drink made from gin and, most commonly, grapefruit soda, although other long drink flavours include cranberry and lime. Whlist it only has a limited standing outside Valerica, within the country, it is available in both stores and restaurants, usually on draught