Thegndom of Velincant

Velincant was the southernmost thegndom of the Stúnicmen, bordered only by Aqua Cascade to the northeast, the Bishopric of Slopewicc to the northwest and the Wooded Sea to the east. It's capital had always been Riverbank, where the Thegn's Hall was, but Velincant was its most prominent and famous settlement. Other settlements included Sirithard, Stonedale, Margen Hall and Fort Radwald. In all, there have been 53 Thegns of Velincant, the line continuing now with Annuntirith of House Orrimbar.

Early Years
During the First Long Winter, a large group of Stúnicmen from the Clandom of Organuran migrated southward. Eventually, they came from a wood into a vast grassland with a wide river running through it. This would be their perfect home. The first built the settlements of Slopewicc and Hengest but over the next decade the settlements of Riverbank and The Griean. In Riverbank they established the Thegn's Hall which would be the new seat of power in that land until the formation of Aqua Cascade and the coming of the Empire in the south. Eventually, they came across the settlements of the first Stúnicmen who settled the land. The Blood Bond was formed between the two which involved the new men taking dominance over the entire plain and river. Over the next forty years the Thegndom of Velincant was built up. The first Great House to be formed was House Sieward. They took the thegnship from 456 S.A right up until 824 S.A with the outbreak of the Wesfeldan War of Succession.

Succession War
With the abdication of Leven, a 60 year war began. Two candidates adopted the throne between 824 S.A and 856 S.A, Corl and Langos, and his priest, of House Sieward and House Broadoak respectively. During the conflict Stonedale declared it's independence and it was it's third ruler, Sigamund of House Winccel, who took the throne, ending the war of succession.

House Winccel
In 864, Sigamund fought off and defeated an Imperial invading force in the Red War, giving him his famosity. Because of this the home of House Winccel moved from the now ruins of Windcliff Hall to a new fort on an island making the port of Stonedale which they called Fort Sigamund-on-sea. This would later become the prison for the thegndom.

House Thorn
After the abdication of Thegn Lidman in 880 S.A, the crown was offered to Conol of the new House Thorn. He and his descendants ruled over Velincant for 918 years.

House Orrimbar
House Orrimbar came from the Thegndom of Nithilvirn and ruled as thegns, for the most part, to this day.

Northern Law
The Northern Law was established in 88 T.A and marked the unity between the Stúnicmen and the Nithilvir. In essence it established the modern Velincant.

The Secret of Life
Thegn Onrégon, ordered one of his knights, Sir Edord, to find the Secret of Life. After a long and perilous quest, Sir Edord returned with what everyone thought would be a magic liquid or spell or blade, but it was a book. It was kept in an underground chamber. This is where the long life of the men of Velincant comes from and also their love for wisdom and knowledge.

The Strangthorn Rebellion
Orrimbar rule was cut off in 164 T.A when Brigard Thorn, the Steward of the thegn, rebelled with his daughter and usurped the throne. Calenthir, the true thegn, fled to Kinthorpe with his family and didn't return until 168 T.A.

The Reign of Ravens and Thorns
The four year reign of Brigard was tyrannical. It saw the establishment of Sigamund-on-sea as a prison, where those who fought for Calenthir were thrown, if they hadn't been executed already. Brigard's son, Elmer, continued the fight against the 'Thorned King' from inside. It was with his help that Calenthir and his army managed to retake Velincant. Elmer's sister, Éacnung, was exiled and she dwelt in Fort Ashburn in the Thegndom of Wesgara.

The Orrimbar Restoration
Soon after the reclaition of his hold, Calenthir died from a wound caused by Brigard's sword, The Thorn, when they duelled. Calenthir' son, Annuntirith, succeeded him and appointed Brigard's brother, Wulfhearth, as his Steward and gave him The Thorn as a gift. Velincant prospered, but not in militarism but in wisdom and knowledge, a place for scholars to come and learn.

Borders
The borders of Velincant were; the Black Wood in the north, Aqua Cascade in the northeast, the Wooded Sea in the east, the Green Mountains in the south and southeast, the Cardon Waste in the southwest and west, and the Bishopric of Slopewicc in the northwest.

Geographic Features
The most significant feature of Velincant's geography was the river Velincant, which divided the country between the Hoirrodath and Raurodath. The countryside of Velincant was described as a land of pastures and lush tall grassland. The lands of Velincant were frequently described as appearing like 'seas of grass'. There were some forests like the Coppice and Red Dale.

Climate
Velincant had a cold climate with cold winters and mild summers.

Regions
Velincant was divided into six regions. They were as follows; Crithard, in the heartlands. Hoirodath, in the east. Norrodath, in the south. Raurodath, in the west. The Red Dale, in the far west. And the Riverlands, in the northeast.

Settlements
There were six settlements in Velincant. They were as follows: Fort Radwald, Margen Hall, Riverbank, Sirithard, Stonedale, and Velincant.

Government
Velincant was lead by the thegn however there were four councils that also managed the realm. There was the Close Council, the Ecclesiastical Council, the Martial Council and the Earls Assembly.

Command
The military of Velincant was commanded by Marshals. The Chief Marshal is the highest military rank and commanded the entire muster. The second and third marshals were commanders with fixed posts. The second was posted at Fort Radwald and had command of the muster of House Staghart and House Thorn and the third was posted at Fort Sigamund-on-sea and had command of the muster of Houses Sieward and Winccel.

Alliance with Alsbach
The alliance between Alsbach and Velincant came into existence in the year 169 T.A. In that year the Western Agricultural Confederation was formed and so an alliance seemed a natural follow-up. In 171 T.A the ruin of Autumnelm also joined both the WAC and the Treaty of Alsbach. The alliance never came into use and in 172 T.A, Alsbach called for a withdrawal from the alliance and the WAC. With the Western Union in the works, Autumnelm also withdrew, leaving Velincant to dissolve both bodies. This withdrawal was done peacefully and not with maliciousness.

Etymology
Velincant is named after the river that flows through it. The name Velincant is Nithilvirian, meaning "Green River", containing the elements velin ("green") and the toponymical ending -cant, meaning river.

The native name of the country is Wesfelda, meaning "West Fields", containing the elements wes ("west") and felda ("fields").