Valanora

Valanora, officially the Eternal Ream of Valanora is a gargantuan, genial nation, ruled by Lady Oromë with an even hand, and renowned for its punitive income tax rates. Its compassionate, intelligent population have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often. It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Education, Social Equality, and Healthcare. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Raynor City. The average income tax rate is 75%, and even higher for the wealthy. A healthy private sector is dominated by the Tourism industry. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Valanora's national animal is the Dragon, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, its national religion is Elunism, and its currency is the silver coin (Φ).

History
See full history of Valanora

The region of lands now known as Valanora were originally unsettled grasslands and forests found and settled by the ancient elves. It was predicted that a group of Sindarian elves would come upon a white tree bearing golden fruit and from here a great kingdom would arise. A group of seven elves came across this tree over twenty thousand years ago and settled down. In the years since, the lands have seen mostly peace and prosperity, apart from a hundred year period where the elves of the land sought to colonize other places and spread their knowledge. The steady hand of leadership by the Raynor family for the majority of the kingdom's existence have kept the lands stable and prosperous.

Major Cities

 * Raynor City (12 million): The nation's capital and most advanced city.
 * Gladerial (4 million): The historic capital of the Outer Realms of Valanora, it still flourishes as the largest city north of the capital and is a major tourist attraction.
 * Mar Sara (3.75 million): At the foot of the great Denalthan plains, Mar Sara is a the heart bed of the breadbasket region of the nation and home to the most diverse population outside of the capital.
 * Capri (2.5 million): A hot and humid island city, Capri is a major centre for agriculture and lumber, given the plentiful jungles surrounding it.
 * Rinaldi (1.2 million): A port city with a strong sense of identity, despite being smaller it is Valanora's primary centre of maritime trade.

Language
Ancient Elvish is a language isolate and the most widely spoken across the country. Its unusual syntax makes it particularly difficult to master, and it can be hard to pronounce for most English speakers. It is most widely spoken as the primary language in the rural and more conservative areas of the nation.

English, although an official language and widely known thanks to bilingual education, is used mainly as a lingua franca when dealing with foreigners or in the large, cosmopolitan cities.

Sport
Association football is by far the most popular sport in Valanora, enjoyed by all sectors of society and regulated by the Valanora Sporting Council (VSC) and run by the Valanora Footballing Assocation (VFA). The best teams in the country play in the UICA-sanctioned Elven Premiership, while the national team represents Valanora in international football competitions. Major tournaments have also been held in Valanora, such as the World Cup, Cup of Harmony, AOCAF, World Cup of Hockey, and the DBC. International club competition finals to take place in Astograth include the Champions' Cup, the Series B Champions' Cup, the Globe Cup, and the Atlantian Oceania Champions League.

Valanora has sent large delegations to several Summer Olympics, with moderate success, particularly in archery and fencing. Vanorians also are considered great ice hockey players, having won the WCoH multiple times.