Balkor

Balkor, also known as "The Iron City," is a large, independent city-state residing in the Sangkovian Range north of Vistánia. Its name literally translates to "flat rock" in Sangkovian, referring to the city being built on a relatively flat section of land. Balkor was a province of the Valkarian Empire since before the conquest of Vistánia, and was the last of the Southern City-States to secede in 998. The decision was made under the leadership of Duke Illich Faldrov, who went missing in the summer of 999. Since then, his illegitimate son, Galen Faldrov, has taken over leadership of the city. Although reclusive, rumors have been spreading that Faldrov has been assembling an army and a fleet, partially made up of Vistánian mercenaries from the Storm Sons. His intentions are not known.

During the War of the Islands, when the various Sangkovian cities began declaring their independence one by one, Balkor was the only one to answer the Empire's call to muster an army to help retake them. However, their attack fell short at Tibura, and Balkor itself ended up declaring its own independence in 998. With the Cerellian invasion to contend with, the Valkarians never had the chance to retake their lost southern territories themselves.

Balkor was one of the first cities to rise up after the Great Cataclysm that ended the ancient Sangkovian Empire and marked the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age, 3,000 years before the Fall of Valkaria, making it one of the first and oldest Iron Age cities. The valley that the city is located in is at an altitude that would have been far beneath the sea level during the time of the Sangkovian Empire, so it would have to have been founded shortly after the fact. Although nobody knows for sure what happened to the ancient Sangkovians after the Great Cataclysm, some Balkorians claim to be descended from them. The legend is that after the sea level was lowered and the water was drained from the Range, the wiser Sangkovians climbed down into the large valley that used to be underwater, where they then discovered iron and built their city atop the mines, becoming the first iron users. This, they believe, is also what gives them claim to the nickname of "The Iron City." Although the city itself is on flat ground, it is also surrounded by a tall mountain range with narrow passages, making it relatively easy for Balkorians to control access to and from their city. This, along with a wide expanse of flat ground all around the city walls, has made Balkor a very difficult city for conquering armies of any size, although the Kingdom of Vistánia tried many times before the Valkarians put a stop to them.

The region all around Balkor is full of mines rich in ore and various minerals, which have been the primary source of income and prosperity for Balkor since its founding.