Editing Valkor (section)

=Geography (and Politics) of the Kingdom of Valkor=

[[File:Provinces 14 growth 464.png|frame|right|Provinces, 14th day in the Month of Growth 464]]

Geographically, the Kingdom of Valkor, occupies the northwest area of the Icesus valley - the lands conquered by the Templars over the past 2 generations.  But the Children of Light continue to live in the southern, more easily cultivated, lands and the Church and Templars hold the greatest power and influence close to the capital city of [[vaerlon|Vaerlon]]. 

To the north, the new doctrines and customs give room to traditional [[eskara|Eskaran]] ways.  The map shows that Valkor claims the northern provinces, but it is actually unclear where the lands of pagans  begin. Certainly the Eskaran pagans living in the northern forests do not respect the division of land made by the Templars, and rebel groups from Eskara continue to fight even today. The other pagan groups of Gaesati and [[wilders|Wilders]] move about as they please.

To the south, the Children of Light are threatened by a different foe - the [[tyranus|Kingdom of Tyranus]]. Here the people worship their one-eyed Gods; some years they trade with Valkor, and other years they wage war.  

Nearer to Vaerlon, a tense situation is developing. Recently, there have been problems with looting in the southeast provinces of Valkor (especially Clover and Heartlands). It is rumoured that many of these bandits are not ordinary bandits, but actually soldiers who have defected from the Templars and are now operating for the eastern [[graemor|czardom of Graemor]]. This gives rise to further rumours that the unified force of the Templars is disintegrating. In the two provinces, the Khatuns have hung several people alongside their families to stop the spreading of false rumors. But the stories whispered in streets continue to circulate. 
 
The sectarians and common people of the Church of Elements do not put their faith in the rumors of the dissolution of the Templars. They  are seen to be bloody conquerors, and terrible rulers, but the common folk believe the Templars guarantee social peace and protect their subjects from both the pagans and the eastern Czardom of Graemor. It is also very difficult for both the people and the members of the sects to imagine a world without Templars. So far, rumors of unrest have largely been ignored and life has continued according to the old model.