COLONIAN

Wattlers

Locale: Willonia, central and southern provinces

　‎　‎Taking their name from the great founder and first governor of Shepburg, Wattlebee Reginald Shepsheer IV, the Wattlers represent the incredibly thin slice of Willonian society that controls and dictates the future of the Willonian people as a whole. This slice of society must be able to trace their lineage back to the conquering champion landowners of the past age, this process ensures that the Wattlers themselves may control who has access to their namesake, both through legitimate and unsavory means. Wattlers are still the predominant land owners of Willonia, however they rarely occupy the entirety of their lands, renting out the majority of their urban holding to businesses and institutes, and their rural lands to the multitude of Willonian farmers and ranchers that are looking to improve their own station. Outside of their often multiple properties they own within urban centers, Wattlers typically keep one or more ranch properties centrally located to manage their expansive rented properties. Of course these ranch properties are far from simple, often including a plethora of foreign pleasures and wonders, ensuring that the Wattlers can maintain their expected levels of comfort and luxury even when outside the city. 

　‎　‎The means and machinations of the Wattlers is unknown and foreign to the average Willonian, save for seeing their names on road indicators, public building marquees, pay stubs, and the occasional festival or wedding banner. For those of Tok and Sylvan heritage, the lives of the Wattlers is even more confusing and potentially frustrating, as many of the things they hold true are of no importance or interest to the Wattlers. Moreover, their often exclusive and secretive positions amongst government and influential institutions make it even harder to understand what their intentions truly are as they dictate the patterns of the common folk.

Imperials

Locale: Various

　‎　‎ The Crown Mountain Valley has for many centuries been a mixed region; Faekin, Torgali, Lovalians, and Hin have called this region home for generations, living at times in isolated communities but more frequently in thriving mixed towns. These cities, while typically small in scale, usually contained all the amenities needed for the surrounding population, but typically only housing a small percentage. Centuries later when the Colonians arrived, the valley saw a historic influx of new citizens interested in the city center itself. Except at the northernmost regions of the Valley, where Colonians came into dominance for a time, these new people adopted the valley culture with ease. With them came a new influx of ideas, that at first were viewed as folly by locals, but slowly proved their worth and found integration amongst the old ways. With the founding of the Beanut Queendom, the region saw another historic influx of strange peoples from all reaches of the continent, once again filling the city centers with new ideas and populace.

　‎　‎That is not to say that Imperial Bēnovians are only present in the Crown Valley, but most Bēnovians who would be considered “Imperials” elsewhere in the world often consider themselves a citizen of the groups that they live with, rather than subscribing to an “Imperial” label.

Heartlanders

Locale: Various

　‎　‎The neighboring Heartlands, in contrast to Willonia, has historically maintained smaller Sylvan-style towns and villages scattered throughout the region. As Willonia grew and developed, trade interest in the Heartlands increased. Flocks of Willonians moved to the area, filling in the many infrastructural needs they considered missing. Within a century, the new Colonian residents of the area built numerous trade shops, public services, and even constructed the Everpetal Academy and Forum near the already-established Sylvan communities. Suddenly cities began to arise, however in strange ways; almost as if they were placed perfectly between all the old Sylvan settlements, these cities quickly subsumed and dominated the smaller local communities. These new Willonian inspired cities have attracted the most ambitious and eager Sylvans. Here though, in contrast to the Crown mountains, it was the best and brightest ideas of other locals that would face the test of functioning within Willonian design. What is left today, is the most diverse and uniquely cultured people of the Queendom, the Bēnovians of the Heartlands not only dabble in the ways of Sylvans, but many truly live a life inspired by the Sylvan ways.

Westlanders

Locale: Various

　‎　‎Much less industrialized and developed than the Imperial and Willonian lands, these people lack the interregional influence and government that most other Colonian communities have adopted. Westlanders have maintained the historical governments and traditions of the ancestral Colonians, significantly more tribal and bellicose than the Colonian cultures of the east. Much of the land is rugged and varies greatly in elevation, making large scale settlements difficult to establish. Most communities are small, made up of the leader’s family, any trusted advisors and any essential craftsmen. The rest of the population is generally spread out for miles across the landscape in the little pockets of pastoral and fertile farmland. These families are typically sworn to the leading family, pledging loyalty in exchange for protection and inclusion. On festivals, holidays, and events like weddings and trials, the community will gather at the leaders hall to collectively celebrate, lament, or vote.

　‎　‎While the Westlanders remain quite isolated from any oversight, some adaptation to Imperial ways were required; namely quelling their innate bellicose nature. To sate their habits legally, the Westlanders have developed a complex collection of war and naval games that pit cities and champions against each other on a 5 year cycle, with the ultimate victors lording their success over the others for the next half decade. As of recent, these events have driven adventurers and aspirants from all lands and cultures to try their hand at competing against the local champions. Attempts from Imperial envoys have been made to transform the event into a more global endeavor, but the Westlanders have been reluctant to relinquish control over their creation. With each passing event however, more foreigners show up to participate and spectate, and some have even gone on as far as earning honors in an event. 

Discovery Islanders

Locale: Small islands and archipelagos off the northern and western coasts of The Beanut Lands

　‎　‎Isolated a little over a hundred miles from the main coast of the Beanutlands, the Discovery Islands stands as an incredibly important cultural landmark for the Colonians, heralding their triumphant return to their ancestral lands. Now encompassing a collection of island chains much greater than just Discovery Island itself, these people are the last bastions of the ancient Colonian ways. While the fertile and comfortable lands of the continent offer opportunities for wealth and stability; the challenging, tempestuous, and often unexpected nature of the nomadic naval lifestyle fulfill something deep within the Discovery Islanders that homesteading never could. Much like their closest relatives the Westlanders, great dynasties and kingdoms are a rarity amongst the Islanders. Discovery Islanders know life is a challenge, and they lavish at the challenge that is presented before them; death and defeat are an anticipated aspect of life and causes communities to be as flexible as possible. It is not uncommon, that in the most desperate of times, entire families or villages will pack up on boats to find a better prospect across the waves.

　‎　‎These isolated islands are truly independent of all Imperial influence; whether it is in fear of their vessels or genuine lack of interest, there has been no attempts by either side to establish any relationship further. This doesn’t mean the two never interact, as Imperial ports are often the most valuable locations to sell their excess or unwanted plunder in exchange for luxuries not found in the islands. Sullying these relationships can be a great risk for any captain, which keeps the Islanders from raiding the coastlines. That being said, the most daring of Discovery Island captains have been known to risk everything; to desperately raid a village, plunder a laden merchant ship, or challenge an Imperial captain who has done them wrong.