Vollachia Empire

The Sacred Vollachia Empire (神聖ヴォラキア帝国, Shinsei Vorakia Teikoku), usually referred to as the Vollachia Empire (ヴォラキア帝国, Vorakia Teikoku), is one of the Four Great Nations of the world. As explained in its name, the Vollachian state considers itself an empire, ruled by the Vollachia family, though importantly, no single bloodline within the extended family controls succession.

Vollachia is the largest known country in the world. Though its geography and boundaries are, for the most part, unspecified, it shares a large northern border with the Dragon Kingdom of Lugunica, whom it has historically quarreled with for over a millennium.

In Arc 7, Emperor Vincent Vollachia was temporarily deposed from the Imperial Throne by Imperial Prime Minister Berstetz Fondalfon and Fourth ranking Divine General Chisha Gold, the latter of whom only chose to rebel in an attempt to prevent both the Emperor's death and the Great Disaster, a disaster foretold to commence with the death of "Vincent Vollachia". After Chisha's self-sacrifice and the beginning of the Great Disaster, Vincent reclaimed his position as Vollachia's Emperor.

Geography
The Empire of Vollachia is blessed with fertile soil, mild weather, and the temperature remains relatively the same throughout the year, making it one of the more hospitable regions for a person to live.

Population
As with the other Four Great Nations, a sizable portion of the population is Human. However, the Empire is known for being home to a large population of various Demi-Humans, which form different clans and tribes. Some of these clans are world renowned for their physical attributes, such as the Multi-Arm Clan, which is notorious for their brute strength and thirst for battle. Other clans, such as the Shudrak tribe residing in the Buddheim forest, are in active rebellion, refusing to swear fealty to the Emperors.

In the present, Demon Beasts are rare sight in the Empire, most likely due to local extermination.

In the Sacred Vollachia Empire, nobles belong to one of the three following ranks; Low-Grade or Low Level Counts/Countesses, Mid-Grade or Mid Level Counts/Countesses, and High-Grade or High Level Counts/Countesses. With a higher class or rank, a count has considerably more influence, with High Level Counts even being able to influence the state of the nation itself, while Low Level Counts barely hold any authority outside of their territories.

Government
The Imperial government is an Imperial monarchy led by an Emperor, though it is not a monarchy in the traditional sense.

Their flag is a defiant wolf impaled by three swords, known as the Sword Wolf. Because it is a meritocracy, it doesn't place as much weight on race or status compared to other nations, making it arguably one of the better places for demi-humans to live in. Because of its emphasis on strength above all else, the weak and disabled are often crushed or left behind by society.

Vollachia typically has bad relations with its neighbouring nation Lugunica, resulting in skirmishes between the two countries. Currently, Vollachia's borders with the Kingdom are closed, not permitting a single citizen of the Kingdom or the Empire to pass. Following Vincent Vollachia's resignation, the non-aggression pact between the two nations has also been rescinded, as according to the way things are done in the Empire, it is the norm to negate whatever the previous government did, which is opening up a possibility for further conflicts.

It is also worth noting that their iron-clad rule of "The strong rule over the weak" seeps into every aspect of their society. Most crimes can be pardoned or overlooked if one is a national hero. After the successful subjugation of the Evil Dragon almost a year after the end of the Demi-Human War, Kurgan was pardoned of all his crimes of assisting Stride's bloody rampages and betraying the Empire due to his title and status as Vollachia's strongest warrior.

Mages
The Empire has a large number of skilled magic stone craftsmen. It's also worth noting that, contrary to Lugunica, there are only a few Spirit Users spread across the Empire.

Religion
The Empire does not follow a set religion, such as their neighbouring Kingdom of Lugunica. Instead, the Vollachian people are taught to be strong through the principle of "The strong rule over the weak". While this only meant raw power in the past, strength itself has been redefined under the reign of Vincent Vollachia.

In the Empire, there are select individuals known as Stargazers, who are able to peer into the future and predict future events. The Stargazers are seemingly forced into following set commandments by forces they call the "stars", otherwise known as "observers" to a select few.

Economics & Currency
Vollachia maintains their own currency based solely on gold, or more specifically, gold coins.

Despite the Empire having a rather hostile relationship with its neighbouring nations–especially with the Dragon Kingdom of Lugunica–they actively engage in trading with all kinds of goods that are scarce or unavailable in the Empire. Cities, such as one of the Kingdom's Five Great Cities, Picoutatte, are widely known as the Kingdom's largest trading hubs with the Empire, for example.

Military
The nation highly prides itself in having a strong military and has a national creed saying that "the people of the Empire are strong", resulting even in lower ranked soldiers being exceptionally strong. Throughout the centuries, the Empire was constantly at war with the other nations, specifically with the neighbouring Kingdom of Lugunica. However, during Vincent Vollachia's reign, no major conflicts with the other nations have spurred aside from battles throughout the Empire itself, which is to be expected from a nation such as Vollachia. According to Zikr Osman, the Empire has been in its most peaceful years during the aforementioned Emperor's leadership–something that had never happened ever since the Empire's foundation over a millennium before the main story.

Due to their militaristic society, Vollachia's Imperial Army is the strongest standing army out of the Four Great Nations. In Arc 7, Vollachian soldiers can be heard using "Vive Vollachia", or "Long Live Vollachia", as a rallying cry.

History

 * Note: The characters within the story rarely describe historical events within helpful context, so the unit BA, “Before Arrival”, and AA, “After Arrival”, will be used to place moments in time with the best available knowledge. Both are in reference to Natsuki Subaru’s arrival in the new world. In this case, only BA will be used. Also note that the units are not official.

Over 1000 years BA

 * The Sacred Vollachia Empire was founded by an unnamed faction. For the following centuries, the Empire engaged in heated conflicts with its neighbouring nations, especially with the Kingdom of Lugunica.

Approximately 400 BA

 * Vollachia has historically engaged in war with the Kingdom of Lugunica. However, the major periodic wars ceased after the King of Lugunica, Farsale Lugunica, made a covenant with the Divine Dragon Volcanica to have him protect the newly renamed Dragon Kingdom of Lugunica.

Approximately 40 BA

 * Only months after the end of the Demi-Human War in Lugunica, Stride Vollachia and his wife, operating out of Vollachia, summoned a three-headed dragon known as the Black Dragon Valgren to attack one of the Five Regional Capitals of the Kingdom–Picoutatte. Hundreds of Kingdom's Knights were killed before its eventual subjugation.
 * The Sword Demon of Lugunica, Wilhelm van Astrea, famously fought Kurgan, Vollachia's strongest warrior, in two battles that came to be known as the Silver Flower Dance of Picoutatte. In the first bout, Wilhelm cut off Kurgan's arm, though not without taking a heavy injury to the left side of his body. Wilhelm then went on to triumph in the following battle, inflicting mortal wounds on the Vollachia's strongest. Kurgan was later healed by the Divine Dragon, who made its appearance in Picoutatte after Gionis Lugunica summoned it due the Evil Dragon's appearance.

18 BA

 * Al was summoned to the new world inside Vollachia. There, he learned combat skills as a gladiator before moving to Lugunica.

15 BA

 * The warrior Kurgan was slain by the Sin Archbishop of Greed when he attacked and destroyed the city of Garkla.

7 BA (Crimson Afterglow content)

 * Vincent Vollachia became the 77th Emperor of Vollachia around this time after defeating and slaughtering his siblings in an event known as the Imperial Selection Ceremony.

Around 3-4 months BA (Ex4 content)

 * The Empire entered a non-aggression pact with the Kingdom, following a diplomatic expedition, and a staged coup d'etat.
 * During the Kingdom's diplomatic expedition to the Empire, Reinhard van Astrea was wrongfully accused of killing the 9th ranking Divine General and a couple of guards. What followed was a game of cat and mouse between Reinhard, Julius, Ferris, His Majesty Vincent Vollachia, and the Divine Generals tasked with killing the Royal Guards and bringing back the Emperor. At the end, the true plan saw the light of day; a coup d'etat orchestrated by the supposedly-dead Balleroy and an Imperial minister Gramdart Holstoy. Following the Divine General's actual death by the hand of Julius, the Emperor and the three Knights made their return to the Crystal Palace, where Vincent signed the non-aggression pact.

Locations
Lupugana (ルプガナ Rupugana): Lupugana is a large star-shaped city located near the center of the Empire. It is surrounded by a five-sided bastion fort with high city walls and a moat. On the outskirts of Lupugana, there are various forests situated between each point amongst the bastions. To the city's north, there is a large reservoir. Within the Imperial Capital, the architecture varies little in quality from one part of the city to another. At the heart of Lupugana lies the Crystal Palace, which is considered to be the city's symbol.
 * Crystal Palace (水晶宮 Suishō-kyū): The Crystal Palace is the castle where the Emperor of Vollachia reigns from. It is considered the symbol of Lupugana and the heart of the Empire itself as a result of its unparalleled offensive and defensive capabilities. Due to the presence of the Emperor, it is guarded by a large amount of soldiers from the Imperial Army. The citadel is an elaborately designed castle, with exceptionally rare magic crystals being used throughout its construction, causing a high density of mana to flow within it. It supposedly also has the power to amplify magic thousands of times beyond its normal power. At the highest point of the castle is the Magic Crystal Cannon, an immensely powerful cannon adorned with magic crystals. In tandem with the castle's mana and the magic crystals used across the entirety of its structure, the cannon's power can be amplified to extreme levels of power. The Crystal Palace itself is governed by Moguro Hagane, a living Meteor who gained their spirit from the high density of mana gathered around the castle.
 * Berstetz's Mansion (ベルステツの邸宅 Berusutetsu no Teitaku): The official residence of Vollachia's current Prime Minister, Berstetz Fondalfon. It is a spacious mansion with a majestic atmosphere where even the rooms made for prisoners of war are lavishly designed. The mansion is overseen by Berstetz's own private army, which guards areas both within and around the premises. Most notably, there is a hidden tea chamber serving as a fortress for the sole purpose of private conversations; it is said to cost enough to buy an entire city by itself. Additionally, Berstetz's mansion possesses a courtyard, a garden, and a hidden compartment that can only be accessed from the roof of the mansion.

Guaral (グァラル Guararu): Guaral, also known as the Fortress City of Guaral (城塞都市グァラル Jōsai Toshi Guararu) is a heavily fortified Vollachian city, located somewhere near the Buddheim Jungle. According to Subaru, its large walls makes one think that the city's inhabitants are trying to protect themselves from titans.
 * City Hall: At the centre of the city, a multy-story building was built which serves as Guaral's city hall. Roughly two weeks after Subaru's sudden transportation to Vollachia, the city hall was the battleground of the so-called Bloodless Battle and the Arakiya Incident that followed not-long after. During the ensuing battle, the city hall's roof was almost completely blown off.

Chaosflame (カオスフレーム Kaosufurēmu): Chaosflame, also known as the Demon City of Chaosflame (魔都カオスフレーム Mato Kaosufurēmu), is an Imperial City located west of the massive Buddheim Jungle. It got its title as the Demon City due to various different races living there, which results in the city not having any conventional laws, as it's known as the place where people live in disorderly harmony. It's governed by the Seventh ranking Divine General, Yorna Mishigure.
 * Crimson Lapis Castle (紅瑠璃城 Beniruri-jō): At the centre of the city, a giant red castle sprouts forth. The castle vaguely resembles a traditional Japanese castle, though the building materials are different as its foundations and framework are built out of lapis lazuli which constantly switches between a deep blue hue and a blood red colour, hence its name. The Crimson Lapis Castle is used as private residence for the 7th ranking Divine General Yorna Mishigure.

Garkla (ガークラ Gākura): Garkla, also known as the Fortified City of Garkla (城塞都市ガークラ Jōsai Toshi Gākura), is a border city located north of the Imperial Capital. It lies on an unnamed larger hill that overlooks the Gairahal Tropics. The fortress city was known for its importance in trading between the Empire and the Kingdom. Despite being one of the most fortified cities alongside the nation's borders and manned with thousands and thousands of extremely well-trained and battle-hardened troops, it was single-handedly destroyed 15 years prior to the story by Regulus Corneas, when items which were associated with the witch were put up for sale. It is rumoured that the auctioned item was Eridna. The city was later rebuilt after Greed's rampage.

Glarasia (グララシア Gurarashia): Glarasia, also known as the Iron and Blood City of Glarasia (鉄血都市グララシア Tekketsu Toshi Gurarashia), is an Imperial City situated relatively close to the Gladiator Island Ginunhive, and lies directly under the Gariu Heights mountain range. It lies on the far western part of the Empre.

Mezoreia (メゾレイア Mezoreia): Mezoreia, also known as the Cloud Sea City of Mezoreia (雲海都市メゾレイア Unkai Toshi Mezoreia), is an Imperial City situated east of Ginunhive and the home of many flying dragons. It is said to contain the nest of a dragon, and areas close to the city experience year-round overcast skies.

Ginunhive (ギヌンハイブ): Ginunhave, also known as the Gladiator Island Ginunhive (剣奴孤島ギヌンハイブ), is a relatively large island located on a larger lake that's situated on the south-west side on the Empire's territory. The islands are infamous for its arenas, where gladiators are pitted against each other or against Demon Beasts. Also, this was the place where Al fled after losing his arm, and where he obtained his helmet.

Gairahal Tropics (ガイラハル温帯): Gairahal Tropics is a a massive lake, situated at the Imperial border with the Kingdom of Lugunica, lying east of Garkla and west of Barielle Terrotory.

Gariu Heights (ガリウ高地 Gariu Kouchi): Gariu Heights is a mountain range located on the west of the Imperial territory. The Cloud Sea City of Mezoreia is located on it, and the mountain range itself is located somewhat close to the Gladiator Island Ginunhive and the lake surrounding the island.

Buddheim (バドハイム, Badohaimu): A settlement in the Empire of Vollachia. Its inhabitants seem to have a darker skin tone. The region is covered by a vast jungle.

Buddheim Jungle (バドハイム密林): A vast jungle that got its name after the settlement of Buddheim, located to the far east territory of the Empire. It has a thick flora, making it extremely tough to maneuver through and nigh impossible to unravel all its secrets and hidden places. Geographically, it borders the Kingdom's Aihiya Swamp to its north-east, and Crau-Crown Grasslands to its north-west.
 * Shudrak Clan's Village: Deep in the forest, a settlement belonging to the Shudrak Clan is located. This settlement is inhabited solely by dark-skinned women.
 * Nameless Graveyard (名も無き墓所): At the edge of the Buddgeim Jungle, overlooking the Great Waterfall, a single cliff is located, where the remains of the nameless monarchs, as well as a tombstone dedicated to them, are located. The location of this place is unknown even to the Imperial Family, and is only known by select and trusted individuals.

Faradar (ファラダー, Faradaa): A small village located in the south of Vollachia where the Evil Eye Tribe once lived and a location where Melty Pristis and Salum Pristis lived. However, the location was destroyed and the Evil Eye Tribe migrated elsewhere. Rumors' says that there are still living Evil Eye members existing.

Godraidh Waterfall (ゴドレード瀑布): Godraidh Waterfall is a massive waterfall situated on the far east of the Empire, near Lake Penelope. The water from the waterfall flows directly off of the world into the uncharted depths underneath.

Lake Penelope (ペネロープ湖): Lake Penelope, also known as My Beloved Lake Penelope (我が愛しのペネロープ湖) is a larger lake, situated at the south of the Empire, half way between Godraidh Waterfall and the Imperial Capital of Lupugana.

Crau-Crown Grasslands (クラウクラウン草原): Crau-Crown Grasslands is a large grassy area in the Vollachia Empire, located north-west of the Buddheim Jungle and east of Picoutatte.

Averyk (エイブリーク): Averyk is a very small town located west of Chaosflame.

Mozotto (モーゾット): Mozotto is a town near the northeastern border with Lugunica and Shamrock Valley.