Valkuta

The Sundering of Valkuta
The kingdom of Valkuta was founded in the year 106 Y.K. by the brothers Aerost and Aermidd. It was in the founding that the seeds of the realm’s sundering were planted, however, for the brothers divided the kingdom equally into halves, using the Ehrodaen River as a border. Each half they called a “caund”, the Valkutan word for half.

Though both caunds were subdivided in to fiefs, scands, and dallen, the distinction between West Valkuta and East Valkuta has always existed. This was somewhat diminished however, when Aermidd died, leaving no heirs, and Aerost became the sole king, ruling from Deor.

Since that time, Valkuta was ruled by the line of Aerost, and the ruling seat was always in Deor. This continued through all thirty four subsequent kings of a united Valkuta to King Galmoldt II, who ruled from 518-525 Y.K.

Galmoldt did not, however, have any sons. The only heirs possible from the Line of Aerost were Engastaer and Eroldd, both nephews of  Galmoldt . Engastaer was  Galmoldt  s sister’s son, Eroldd the son of  Galmoldt ’s brother.

Both were Jarls as well. Engastaer held the fief of Haafram in what is now East Valkuta, and Eroldd held the fief of Laguslan in modern West Valkuta.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Eroldd claimed the right to rule as always Valkutan lineages had been traced through the lines of men, and thus as the son of the king’s brother, the crown should fall to him. Engastaer, however, argued that always as well had the relation of “sister’s son” been a respected relation in Valkutan culture, almost acting as an adopted son.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Things eventually grew ugly and violence began to break out as each man called all loyal to him to his cause. They fought a bitter civil war for four years until, in 530 Y.K., a Viscerund, a council of all Jarls, Haldoren, Scanderen, and Dallingen from both sides, was called and it was decided that for the good of the realm it should be split in two.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">This was not enough for either Engastaer or Eroldd and even once the realm was officially split, war continued, and has continued ever since, now lead by the sons of the two, Daroldt son of Engastaer, and Raecon son of Eroldd.