General information (Pre-Great war):
Demonym: Keldari
Capital: Skapborg
Key cities: Eldholm, Grjotstadir, Truborg and Visindarheimr
Official language: Steintunga
Total population: 163,873,321
Total land area: 905,837 km²
Currency: Skeld
Government: Developmental Atelier Republic with Master-Apprentice Governance
The Presidential Relic (DESTROYED):
There was nothing.
Nothing. Nothing.
Nothing could replace it. Nothing could even name it. It was all imagination - or so they said. They are not real. Were never real. Never even exist.
No. No. No.
How did this happen? Where did it fracture? The comfort was never true. It only resembled truth long enough to be believed.
So what is true? Does it even exist - or was it never real enough to be spoken to?
And these words - what are they pointing at? Are they trying to signal something they themselves cannot comprehend?
Ontological status (Post-Great war): The indications of continued survival are minimal, and the current body of evidence is insufficient to support a definitive conclusion regarding the state's ongoing existence. It is probable that the entity was merged with Cathair Ghormfhain
About Keldar:
Keldar's longest and most bitter rivalries have traditionally centered on two states: Ventrois and Velbor. Of the two, Ventrois has always been regarded as the greater enemy. The origin of this hatred lies in the collapse of the ancient Commonwealth, once a union of Keldar, Ventrois, and Cathair Ghormfhain. When Ventrois chose to withdraw from the alliance, tensions escalated rapidly, culminating in the First Separation War. Ventrois emerged victorious, and that defeat marked the true beginning of enduring hostility between the two nations.
Before the Commonwealth dissolved, Keldar had flourished as one of its most influential members. After its collapse, however, the state entered a prolonged period of political and economic decline that took decades to stabilize. Many in Keldar blamed Ventrois entirely for this downfall, viewing their former partner as traitorous and dishonorable. Because of this perception, no meaningful or lasting peace was ever achieved. Instead, war became cyclical. Conflicts erupted repeatedly over centuries, each confrontation merely laying the groundwork for the next. Neither side managed to secure decisive dominance, and resentment hardened into tradition.
The rivalry with Velbor is even older, stretching back nearly six thousand years. Unlike the rupture with Ventrois, which was born of political betrayal, hostility toward Velbor developed gradually from overlapping religious, cultural, and ideological differences. Territorial disputes intensified this animosity, particularly over the region known to Keldar as Kyrness, forming the eastern portion of modern Velbor. Numerous peace attempts were made across the centuries, yet none endured long enough to dissolve the accumulated resentment. Agreements were inevitably broken, whether through ambition, mistrust, or shifting advantage, and hostilities resumed. Even during calmer periods following the Pax of Seraphic, the two nations continued to undermine one another through propaganda, ridicule, and political maneuvering. True reconciliation never materialized.
Beyond these principal adversaries, Keldar has also maintained strained relations with states such as Toutanglom, Draviskas, and Karnavo. Though large-scale conventional wars have not erupted with these nations, Keldar has long regarded them as unreliable or inferior, potential threats rather than trusted partners. Diplomatic relations have therefore remained cool, cautious, and deliberately distant.
Keldar's architectural tradition reflects a deep cultural devotion to sculpture and stonecraft. Buildings are conceived not as assembled structures but as enormous forms carved directly from the earth. Granite and limestone dominate, left raw and honest, while bronze and weathered steel appear only as restrained accents. The color palette derives from natural tones - earth beige, warm gray, sandy ochre, and deep charcoal - subtly complemented by bronze gold, oxidized green, and restrained amber lighting.
A Keldari structure appears as a single monumental mass patiently shaped into inhabitable space. There is no clear distinction between wall, roof, and foundation. Traditional geometry is avoided entirely; instead of rigid lines and sharp angles, the architecture is defined by bulges, folds, and drifting surfaces. Where a building meets the ground, there is no sharp base. The earth seems to dissolve seamlessly into the stone. Grass may climb onto the form, and floors often extend outward like exposed bedrock. Rooflines are not defined edges but uneven horizontal silhouettes rising and falling in jagged rhythms.
Carving operates at multiple scales. At the macro level, vast atriums are cut deep into the mass, and courtyards bite inward like natural caverns. At the meso level, balconies emerge as stone ledges and bridges that seem to grow organically from the walls. At the micro level, surfaces retain visible chisel marks, relief textures, and hand-finished edges that reveal the process of making. These buildings are designed to age visibly. Rain, moss, and wind are expected to stain and soften the stone over time. The façade is never polished flat; it openly acknowledges erosion as collaboration. Windows are not simple apertures but uniquely sculpted voids. Rectangular frames and glass curtain walls are absent. Entrances take the form of oversized carved portals, and ninety-degree corners are avoided entirely, every edge slightly rounded as though worn by centuries.
Decoration is minimal to nonexistent. In Keldari philosophy, beauty arises solely from material, structure, and craftsmanship. Interiors follow the same logic. Most buildings are organized around a central spine layout, with a great atrium serving as the heart. Rooms branch outward like tunnels from a cavern. Spaces are rarely rectangular; walls curve, ceilings slope, and movement feels subterranean and grounded. Lighting is concealed within stone grooves so that fixtures remain invisible, producing a soft, indirect glow that appears to emanate from the rock itself. Columns are simply portions of stone left uncarved. Beams resemble ribs grown from the ceiling. Stairs emerge directly from floors and walls. Even furniture is often carved permanently from the same stone as the structure.
At the heart of Eldholm stands one of Keldar's most revered monuments, carved nearly two thousand years ago by the legendary sculptor Eirik Havnstad. The colossal stone figure rises from a vast circular foundation, draped in heavy garments shaped as though by relentless wind. The body is heroic and idealized, yet the face is left completely blank and smooth. This absence of identity symbolizes that the monument belongs to all people rather than any single individual. Around its base, water flows in slow continuous sheets, creating the impression that the figure stands eternally amid living currents. In its arms rests an abstract stone tablet representing law, memory, and culture.
Keldar is widely recognized as one of the oldest artistic civilizations in Eldervale, particularly in sculpture. Many of the most admired works in stone originate here, though Keldari artists also work masterfully in metal, wood, clay, and other materials. Sculpture is both cultural foundation and economic force, traded globally and valued highly.
Even its instruments of war reflect this relationship with stone. Keldar developed a unique class of weapon known as Grjotstormur, the Lithic Launcher, designed to hurl massive stones or engineered projectiles in warfare and siege. While the concept is ancient, Keldar engineers refined it to extraordinary modern capability. In the present era, the Lithic Launcher is regarded as one of the most destructive weapons in Eldervale. Its use inspires fear not only for its power but for the sound it produces - a harsh, distorted roar like a straining engine casting a boulder violently into the sky.
Specialized artificial stones have been developed for these weapons, engineered with varying densities, geometries, and internal structures. Though many are designed for military use, others serve construction and monumental artistic purposes. In this way, even Keldar's most fearsome technologies remain expressions of its enduring philosophy: the shaping of raw material into deliberate form, whether in art, architecture, or war.
Brief modern history:
The modern state of Keldar emerged following a violent coup d'état, rooted in internal factional conflict and the progressive deterioration of state authority. The confrontation between Halvdan Skjornesun and Torfin Hrafnbjarn transpired over a seven-day period, commencing when opposing military forces clashed within the nation's capital. The engagement involved hundreds of soldiers supported by armored combat vehicles. This insurrection, subsequently designated the Helrun Coup, occurred on 12 April 1121, culminating in Halvdan Skjornesun's victory and the capture of Torfin Hrafnbjarn.
Under Halvdan's authoritarian regime, the state endured systematic purges and extrajudicial detentions. The primary targets of these operations were political adversaries and any elements perceived as potential threats to his consolidation of power. The casualties resulting from these purges were so extensive that mass graves proliferated throughout the nation, with corpses accumulating in public spaces and blood visible in the streets - a deliberate demonstration intended to deter opposition to Halvdan's rule.
Widespread dissatisfaction with the regime's systematic terror catalyzed the formation of multiple opposition groups that initiated protests, riots, and civil disturbances throughout 1123. Despite governmental efforts to suppress the unrest through force, the situation deteriorated rapidly. The demonstrations escalated into armed insurrection, as diverse militant factions and self-armed civilians engaged state security forces directly. This period became known as the Bloovindr Ar (Blood Wind Years), characterized by persistent chaos and institutional instability.
Numerous urban centers and provincial territories fell under the control of armed insurgent groups that maintained ongoing confrontations with government forces. On 7 May 1123, Halvdan Skjornesun was assassinated by gunshot to the head. Torvald Skeggrun, a high-ranking military officer, assumed interim leadership but was replaced after merely three days by Eirik Hafgrimsson, another senior military official. Hafgrimsson's attempts to ameliorate the crisis proved counterproductive, as increasing numbers of citizens joined the insurgency and adopted more aggressive tactics against state authority. After three months in office, Eirik Hafgrimsson was killed when an explosive device detonated beneath his office desk.
The state existed in a power vacuum for one week before Astryd Hrafnsdottir Myrkjorn, a former aide to Halvdan Skjornesun, proclaimed herself the successor state leader. Under her administration, the nation exhibited initial signs of stabilization, though widespread disorder persisted at significant levels. On 18 December 1123, Astryd survived an assassination attempt by firearm. Following this incident, she declared comprehensive military operations against all insurgent forces.
The fragmented nature of multiple opposition factions complicated governmental efforts to identify and neutralize threats effectively. The counterinsurgency campaign continued for five years before the majority of rebel forces were defeated, with surviving remnants retreating to rural areas. The state apparatus was ultimately restored after years of continuous instability, and public confidence in governmental authority began a gradual recovery. The nation subsequently focused on development and cultural reinforcement.
On 30 May 1145, Astryd Hrafnsdottir Myrkjorn implemented a revolutionary economic policy designated Hafnar-Festning (Harbor Fortification), two weeks prior to her death. This radical framework mandated that idle wealth exceeding a specified threshold be automatically redirected into public investment funds. Natural resources were nationalized and leased to producers under terms requiring profit-sharing and prohibiting extractive practices without reciprocal contribution to the commons.
The policy generated explosive local economic growth, with substantial increases in small enterprise formation and innovation. It fostered prolonged social stability marked by reduced crime rates and civil disturbances. The system's transparency and equitable distribution of benefits cultivated exceptional levels of public trust, resulting in voluntary compliance. The subsequent decades during which this policy remained active became known as the People's Bloom. Keldar experienced comprehensive development across multiple sectors: the economy flourished, quality of life improved substantially, and cultural institutions were significantly enhanced and strengthened.
Despite internal prosperity and domestic peace, Keldar maintained antagonistic relations with Ventrois and particularly with Velbor, due to prior military defeats. Throughout 1151-1162, numerous brief armed engagements, raids, and incursions occurred between Keldar and Velbor. Most confrontations lasted less than one week but occurred with high frequency. These conflicts gradually evolved into low-intensity warfare characterized by border skirmishes and punitive expeditions during 1162-1164.
In 1165, hostilities escalated into hybrid warfare, subsequently developing into high-intensity conventional conflict involving diverse weapon systems. However, it remained a limited war, as neither nation committed to total mobilization. The conflict persisted for three years, during which Keldar forces temporarily occupied portions of eastern Velbor. Military operations were characterized by minimal destruction, with both sides conducting steady, deliberate campaigns designed to avoid provoking comprehensive escalation. In 1168, Keldar withdrew its forces after determining that continued engagement no longer served strategic objectives.
In 1157, Keldar developed flame-resistant technology to mitigate Velbor's incendiary capabilities and established emergency evacuation protocols directing civilians to underground shelters. In 1169, comprehensive bunker systems were constructed within each household. These fortifications featured rock layering designed to prevent fire propagation and were provisioned with sufficient supplies to sustain occupants for three months. These defensive installations substantially reduced casualties in subsequent conflicts with Velbor.
Velbor was not Keldar's sole adversary. Tensions with Ventrois reignited around the 1150s after several decades of relative peace. Most confrontations remained limited to border incidents and brief engagements between military units. Individual conflicts typically lasted approximately one month. On multiple occasions, the two states approached full-scale war, averted only through intervention by higher authorities.
On 27 August 1191, allied with Cathair Ghormfhain under a coalition designated "Multifold," Keldar formally declared war on Ventrois. The conflict was deliberately prolonged over seven years as part of a strategy to erode Ventrois's capacity and destabilize its internal cohesion. Most military operations advanced slowly or maintained constant pressure on enemy frontline positions without attempting breakthrough.
During this period, Keldar deployed its advanced lithic projectile systems, collectively termed Grjotstormur (Stone Storm), a general designation for all stone-throwing engines employed by Keldar. These weapons launched massive quantities of stone projectiles at multiple targets throughout Ventrois territory, with an estimated hundred stones launched daily for three years of warfare. These destructive projectiles could devastate entire cities; many were augmented with incendiary materials, leading contemporary observers to describe them as resembling meteorites falling from the heavens. The most catastrophic destruction occurred at Fontenayl, where nearly the entire city was reduced to ruins and buried beneath stone debris.
Ventrois proved incapable of mounting effective counteroffensives due to organizational disarray and leadership deficiencies. After three years of sustained bombardment, Keldar and Cathair Ghormfhain commenced steady territorial advances into Ventrois. The Battle of Boisjoli and the Battle of Bellefont ranked among the conflict's most intense engagements; the former transpired from July to November 1196, while the latter occurred from February to June 1197, both concluding in Multifold victories.
On 6 December 1198, Ventrois capitulated, no longer capable of sustaining military operations. The defeated nation was compelled to accept occupation and supervision by the Multifold coalition, which deliberately pursued policies designed to destabilize Ventrois internally, precipitating what became known as the "Time of Mess" several decades later.
With the objective of fragmenting Ventrois through sustained warlordism, Keldar covertly supported multiple factions through anonymous channels, ostensibly to assist in restoring order - a strategy that actually prolonged the warlord era. Even after Ventrois achieved substantial reunification in 1221, Keldar continued operations designed to exacerbate internal divisions within the state.
During March 1226, Keldar completed the Skeldrun Mór, a monumental sculpture featuring a thousand figures merged together in contorted forms. The statue required more than seven years of continuous craftsmanship.
In July 1244, Keldar experienced a severe economic crash precipitated by irresponsible lending practices. Financial institutions extended loans readily to startup ventures claiming involvement in stone manufacturing, with entrepreneurs promising to develop a revolutionary new generation of stone products featuring enhanced aesthetic appeal and functional convenience.
Public anticipation for this technological advancement reached extraordinary levels, resulting in massive capital investment in these enterprises. Investors believed this new generation of stone products would define the future, a perception amplified by exaggerated propaganda. In reality, many of these ventures were shell corporations with no substantive operations; others lacked the technological capability to produce the promised innovations and manufactured no products whatsoever.
When investors discovered the fraudulent nature of these enterprises, they rapidly withdrew their capital. The subsequent collapse of these companies resulted in catastrophic losses for the lending institutions. The crisis persisted for three years before stability was restored through direct governmental intervention and emergency financial support. Numerous banks were placed under state administration for several years, and thousands lost employment. Following the crisis, all announcements and promises regarding new technological developments were subjected to rigorous examination, and numerous individuals were prosecuted for fraudulent schemes.
From 1267 to 1271, another series of border conflicts erupted between Keldar and Velbor. Both nations deployed increased military forces and expanded their arsenals. The Zlotopol Village Incident occurred on 6 April 1269, when the settlement was burned. Velbor interpreted this as evidence that Keldar was attempting to escalate toward full invasion. This incident intensified confrontations between the two states, prompting further military deployments to the frontier.
Clashes occurred within Velbor territory, including engagements at Jasieniec and Kasztelice in the months following the incident, placing Velbor on heightened alert and shifting the nation to a war-ready posture.
In the context of the First Eldervale Great War, Keldar declared total war on Velbor on 7 July 1271. During the initial phase, Keldar launched multiple lithic projectiles deep into Velbor territory, causing massive widespread destruction throughout the state. Many projectiles were augmented with specialized features: incendiary materials, metal spikes, toxic stone compositions that melted upon impact leaving pools of toxic liquid that rapidly vaporized into noxious gas, and bundled explosive ordnance. While the exact number of daily launches remains disputed, estimates suggest approximately one hundred launches per day.
Keldar advanced methodically, as its strategic objective was not territorial occupation but rather complete destruction of the Velbor state. However, Velbor deployed enigmatic temporal manipulation technology colloquially termed "time stop." Keldar personnel exposed to this technology experienced complete immobilization; estimates suggest their motor neurons and sensory systems ceased functioning. Although victims could potentially be restored to normal function, the vast majority were eliminated by Velbor forces during their incapacitated state.
The technology was described as a compact, pen-shaped device that emitted light from its apex. Although Keldar had encountered various temporal weapons previously, they had never observed a device capable of operating at this sophistication level - this represented an unprecedented development for Keldar military intelligence. This technology forced Keldar to retreat and accept territorial losses, though the frequency of lithic bombardment remained constant.
During the Battle of Kasztelice (15 December 1271 to 18 January 1272), entire units were instantaneously immobilized. As Keldar attempted to reinforce their positions, additional units suffered the same fate. Following this engagement, recognizing that continued combat would result only in catastrophic losses, the state conceded defeat. Keldar was subsequently obligated to pay substantial war reparations.
The defeat generated widespread shock and trauma regarding Velbor's temporal immobilization technology, not only imposing severe economic strain but also precipitating extensive public disagreement with governmental policies. Massive civil unrest erupted throughout the entire state, and despite governmental attempts at suppression, these efforts proved ineffective. The nation rapidly descended into violent internal conflict once again.
During this tumultuous period, activist and politician Halvdan Skorason Hrafnvik initiated a coup d'état and proclaimed himself the legitimate state authority, promising to restore Keldar's former glory. The new regime systematically reestablished internal order, continuously enhanced military capabilities, and developed countermeasures against temporal immobilization technology.
In December 1284, a disturbing phenomenon manifested across the state: numerous citizens exhibited bizarre behavioral anomalies. During morning hours, multiple Keldar citizens ran mindlessly through streets without apparent direction, many screaming and uttering incomprehensible statements, some completely unclothed and eliminating bodily waste publicly. Most incidents lasted approximately thirty minutes, and all affected individuals reported complete amnesia regarding their actions. Keldar authorities rapidly identified the perpetrator: a covert operation orchestrated by Ventrois.
In May 1287, protective equipment designed to mitigate the effects of Velbor's temporal immobilization technology was completed. Although the protection could not fully neutralize the weapon's effects, it significantly reduced the severity of consequences. During this period, multiple border clashes resumed between Keldar and Velbor, and similarly with Ventrois.
The Eirnstígr Offensive, a deep penetration operation into Velbor territory conducted by Keldar forces, nearly precipitated another total war between the nations. Clashes and raids continued until the outbreak of the Second Eldervale Great War.
In the context of the Second Eldervale Great War, Keldar declared war on Ventrois first on 3 March 1292, followed by a declaration of war against Velbor on 8 November 1292. During the initial phase of warfare, despite the formidable tactics and technologies deployed by both adversaries - Ventrois employing psychological manipulation techniques to force Keldar soldiers to fire upon their comrades before killing themselves, and Velbor's temporal immobilization technology remaining a substantial obstacle despite protective countermeasures - Keldar forces maintained operational effectiveness.
Keldar rapidly regained control and successfully defended against enemy advances through comprehensive preparation. Despite communications system limitations caused by Ventrois technology, Keldar maintained functional command and control. Keldar continued employing established tactics, with lithic launcher systems remaining the dominant weapon platform. These weapons were enhanced and their destructive capacity amplified, enabling even greater devastation.
The volume of stone projectiles launched was so immense that contemporary observers described it as resembling rainfall, with some believing the apocalypse had commenced. Numerous cities were left in ruins or heavily damaged despite the best efforts of Velbor and Ventrois to minimize destruction through defensive measures.
Keldar advanced further into enemy territory through the Battle of Lipowice, the Battle of Opolnica, and the Siege of Wilczany (30 December 1292 to 14 March 1293) in Velbor territory. These engagements combined continuous lithic bombardment to exhaust enemy forces, though advancement proceeded slower than planned due to Velbor's increasingly aggressive tactical responses.
The Battle of Gromis (15 December 1292 to 23 May 1293) constituted the longest and most intense engagement between Keldar and Velbor during the war. This battle marked the largest-scale deployment of Velbor's temporal immobilization tactics; individual soldiers entering the combat zone faced immediate immobilization and subsequent elimination. While protective equipment reduced immobilization probability, the number of affected soldiers remained substantial.
Keldar consequently adopted long-range bombardment tactics, with lithic launcher support intensifying dramatically. The quantity of stone projectiles directed at this location was massive, averaging approximately three projectiles per square meter. Eventually, the entire battlefield was saturated with large stones, crushing numerous Velbor soldiers beneath the debris. The accumulation of projectiles rendered the position indefensible, forcing Velbor to order a tactical withdrawal.
The situation also developed favorably on the Ventrois front. Lithic launcher systems successfully destroyed multiple psychological manipulation facilities, enabling Keldar and Cathair Ghormfhain forces to advance further into Ventrois territory before encountering a prolonged stalemate in February 1293. In May, combined Keldar and Cathair Ghormfhain forces achieved a breakthrough in Ventrois's eastern regions through the Battle of Belroche and the Battle of Vernac-les-Mers (1 May to 28 May 1293). These engagements were designed as rapid, surprise operations to prevent Ventrois from establishing adequate defenses. Numerous psychological manipulation installations were destroyed by Keldar lithic bombardment.
Despite tactical successes on both fronts, Keldar could no longer sustain its war effort. The economic devastation resulting from military expenditures far exceeded projected costs, and the conflict exhibited clear signs of strategic stagnation. Recognizing the impossibility of continued participation, Keldar actively withdrew from the war.
Concurrent with economic devastation, another wave of civil turmoil emerged as the population concluded that the war had accomplished nothing beyond economic ruin and substantial loss of life. Citizens demanded retribution against Velbor, which the state had promised but failed to deliver. Public resentment escalated daily as feelings of betrayal fueled popular anger.
Governmental attempts to ameliorate tensions and explain the strategic situation only intensified public fury. The state rapidly descended into violent conflict between multiple factions. The central authority collapsed after two months, with no successor leadership emerging. The state fragmented into competing warlord territories in an era of chaos and bloodshed characterized by unclear frontlines and territorial boundaries. Certain areas established self-governance with no external claims to authority. This period became known as Urvarnott (Primordial Night).
The initial phase of civil war lasted one year, ultimately reducing the conflict to two remaining states after smaller factions were eliminated: Western Keldar and Eastern Keldar. Both regimes entered a stalemate and deadlock lasting approximately three months, with virtually no territorial changes along the front.
The Battle of Bjargstaor, lasting three months and concluding in an Eastern victory, shattered the stalemate. This enabled Eastern forces to continue advancing through Drifnes and Tangard. Subsequently, Eastern forces encountered minimal difficulty against Western opposition, whose frontline forces were disorganized following the Bjargstaor engagement. Eastern forces easily captured critical command and control centers. The civil war officially concluded in early 1295.
Under the new regime and new leader Arvid Torvaldsson, immediate efforts focused on national reconstruction. He reformed the economy into a centralized system with most sectors under governmental control; all essential supplies were managed by state authority. Infrastructure was rapidly repaired, and emergency shelters were established to address housing shortages. Within several years, the nation was restored to its pre-1291 condition.
On 30 December 1295, Keldar signed the Pax of Seraphic. The pact represented a controversial agreement forcing acceptance of imposed peace with Velbor and Ventrois. While Keldar had no alternative but to sign, the requirement that future retribution be renounced generated significant domestic opposition. Nevertheless, the state never diminished its antipathy toward these nations. Beginning in 1300, multiple propaganda campaigns across various media platforms continuously mocked these two nations and reminded the population never to forget their actions.
Throughout 1296-1304, numerous sculptural movements emerged, initiated by war survivors. Most statuary depicted realistic and unvarnished representations of wartime experiences.
On 15 April 1322, the state assumed complete control over the manufacture and distribution of all necessities, determining prices and quantities for each region. In 1332, the state encouraged renewed private enterprise development, though subject to governmental guidance and approval to prevent excessive corporate growth or potential economic crises.
On 23 June 1347, Einar av Vindskar was elected as the new state leader, continuing national development during his tenure. Under his administration, a new generation of Grjotstormur systems was established, with numerous weapons improved, enhanced with new capabilities, or entirely new lithic launcher variants invented. Some systems possessed sufficient destructive capacity to devastate an entire city within several days.
In November 1355, a consolidated sculpture market emerged through the merger of numerous smaller markets into a single entity, enabling operation at greater scale and enhanced legitimacy. This consolidation plan, conceived decades earlier, had been repeatedly delayed due to warfare and internal instability.
In 1365, the national park located at the center of the capital was completed: Stjarnamyr Park, containing thousands of sculptures from artists throughout the state who chose to display their works in this outdoor venue.
The state continued developing normally until the outbreak of the Third Great War.
Idealology: Dyptarskirn
As a nation long founded upon art and the discipline of creation, Keldar has come to define itself through an enduring devotion to beauty. Yet beauty, in the Keldari understanding, is not merely ornament or surface appearance. It is the visible expression of potential realized through patience, vision, and labor. The state therefore does not worship finished perfection alone, but the long, difficult path that leads toward it. Keldar seeks above all to recognize what is possible within people and things, and to dedicate itself fully to the slow unfolding of that possibility.
The fundamental aim of the Keldari state is to build a society that consciously nurtures potential in all its forms - within individuals, communities, institutions, and the nation as a whole. This realization is understood to be gradual and deliberate, requiring sustained effort guided by skill and foresight. Completion is respected, but it is not the highest value. What is revered most is the sacred process of becoming.
At the heart of Keldari political philosophy lies a single guiding conviction: latent beauty and unrealized potential are sacred. That which appears raw, unrefined, or even flawed is not to be dismissed, for it carries within itself the possibility of sublime transformation. True dedication, therefore, is measured by the willingness to invest time, energy, and even one's life in shaping this potential into meaningful form. Such labor is regarded as the highest civic and moral virtue.
From this belief follows another essential principle: creation cannot be rushed. Refinement requires time, and respect for that natural rhythm is fundamental. To force completion for the sake of convenience, impatience, or profit is considered a moral violation. In Keldari thought, an unfinished work treated with care is more honorable than a prematurely finished one.
The political structure of Keldar is built upon the conviction that those who possess genuine vision, skill, and dedication have a solemn duty to seek out and cultivate raw potential wherever it exists. Society, in turn, must grant these individuals the autonomy and authority necessary to fulfill that duty. The visionary creator - whether artist, engineer, teacher, or statesman - is not merely a private individual, but a guardian of collective possibility.
A work that remains in progress under the guidance of its originator is considered inviolable. It cannot be completed or altered by another without betraying its essential spirit. The process of creation belongs to the one who began it, and that bond is regarded as ethically unbreakable. From this flows a broader social responsibility: the community must learn to value not only finished achievements, but also the visible, living process of their formation.
In Keldar, the labor of refinement is treated as a form of public heritage. The passing of dedicated years, the visible struggle toward mastery, and the slow shaping of an idea into reality are all cultural treasures. They are to be witnessed with quiet respect rather than judged with impatience. A society that demands only immediate results is seen as spiritually impoverished.
This philosophy extends naturally to the Keldari understanding of human development. Just as a block of stone contains a hidden form, every person is believed to possess a unique, dormant potential that is often overlooked or misjudged. Individuals require the patient attention of a "sculptor" - a mentor, teacher, or nurturing institution - to awaken their true capabilities. The drive toward self-completion is considered innate in all people, but it flourishes only when guided by wisdom and protected by communal patience.
The ideal Keldari state therefore constructs protected social and institutional spaces where "unfinished masterpieces" can exist safely. These may be ideas, long-term projects, experimental institutions, or people still in the process of growth. Within such spaces, premature demands for completion or exploitation are forbidden. Patience is not merely encouraged but structurally enforced as a political principle.
Furthermore, Keldar holds a distinctive view of legacy and inheritance. The state carefully preserves the plans, prototypes, and partial works left behind by departed visionaries. These are not treated as failures, but as sacred bequests to future generations. They are maintained as objects of study and reverence - sources of inspiration and learning - yet they are never to be "finished" by another hand. To do so would be to falsify the original spirit of their creation.
To guard against the tragedy of the unfinished masterpiece, Keldar has embedded mentorship into its legal and cultural foundations. Every recognized master in any field carries a formal obligation to train multiple apprentices in their philosophy, method, and discipline. Knowledge must not die with the individual; it must be patiently transmitted so that the chain of becoming continues unbroken.
Thus the Keldari state understands itself not as a machine for producing results, but as a vast workshop of ongoing creation. Its politics, institutions, and social values are all oriented toward one central purpose: to protect the slow transformation of potential into form. In this way, Keldar strives to become what it believes all things should be - an ever-unfinished masterpiece, shaped with care across the long arc of time.