The Valkari States (often referred to colloquially as Valkaristan or The Shattered Lands) is a geographic and political region located to the southwest of the Divine Republic of Kresimiria.
Formerly a province of the Vosti Empire, the region failed to coalesce into a unified nation-state following the Collapse of 1918. Instead, it dissolved into a persistent state of civil war and warlordism that has lasted for over a century. Today, it is a patchwork of competing fiefdoms ruled by local “Atamans” (warlords), criminal syndicates, and remnant imperial militias.
For Kresimiria, the Valkari States represent a significant security threat. The porous, rugged border is the primary entry point for illegal narcotics—specifically synthetic opioids—and black market weaponry. The Council for Defence maintains a heavy military presence along the frontier, treating the region not as a sovereign neighbor, but as a “Zone of Chaos.”
History
The Imperial March (Pre-1918)
Under the Vosti Empire, the region was known as the Valkari March. It was a militarized border zone designed to buffer the Empire against threats from the west. The local population, the Valkars, were heavily recruited into the Imperial Army as irregular cavalry, fostering a culture of martial pride but weak civil institutions.
The Great Collapse (1918–1922)
When the Empire collapsed in November 1918, the central authority in the provincial capital of Volkovo disintegrated. Unlike Filip Novak in Kresimiria, who successfully centralized power, the Valkari generals turned on one another.
- The War of the Five Atamans: From 1919 to 1922, rival warlords fought for control. The conflict destroyed the region’s infrastructure and prevented the formation of a unified government.
- Failed Annexation: In 1921, General Loncar considered intervening to annex the border towns for Kresimiria, but decided against it, preferring to leave the chaos as a natural barrier against other powers.
The Narco-State (1980s–Present)
In the late 20th century, the economy of the region shifted from subsistence farming to illicit trade. Taking advantage of the Sanjakorin era’s economic isolationism, Valkari warlords began smuggling goods into Kresimiria. By the 2010s, this had evolved into industrial-scale drug manufacturing. The Zelen Cartel, operating out of the border city of Zelen, became the primary supplier of synthetic drugs to the Kresimirian capital, precipitating the public health crisis that led to the 2023 Harm Reduction Act.
Geography and Politics
The region is defined by arid steppes and jagged limestone hills, making it difficult to patrol.
Key Factions
- The Volkovo Directorate: Controls the historic capital. It claims to be the legitimate government but controls less than 30% of the territory. It maintains a tenuous diplomatic channel with the Council for Foreign Affairs.
- The Zelen Cartel: A criminal syndicate that effectively rules the border region near District IX. It possesses sophisticated weaponry and often skirmishes with the Kresimirian Civil Order Force.
- The Free Hosts: Nomadic paramilitary groups that roam the interior, living off banditry and extortion.
Relationship with Kresimiria
The border is a “Hard Frontier.”
- The Wall: In 2005, Kresimiria completed a fortified border fence along the District VIII line to deter smuggling.
- Cross-Border Operations: The CIA frequently conducts covert raids into Valkari territory (often without official authorization) to destroy drug labs or apprehend smugglers.
- Valkar Minority: Approximately 4% of Kresimiria’s population is ethnic Valkar, mostly concentrated in Zahodecelska. This community faces significant discrimination and police profiling due to the reputation of their ancestral homeland.
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Retrospective Updates
For the Collapse of the Vosti Empire article:
Update to “The Partition”:
- The Valkari Implosion: In the southwest, the collapse of imperial authority was catastrophic. Lacking the civil institutions of the north, the Valkari Marches descended into a century of warlordism, failing to form a successor state and becoming a permanent zone of instability on Kresimiria’s flank.
For the 2023 Harm Reduction Act article:
Update to “Background”: The addiction crisis in Sinj was fueled by a flood of cheap synthetic opioids trafficked across the southwestern border. These narcotics originated in the lawless laboratories of the Valkari States, where criminal cartels operate with impunity, overwhelming the interdiction efforts of the Kresimirian border guards.
For the Council for Internal Affairs article:
Update to “Structure - Civil Order Force”: The COF maintains a specialized “Narcotics Interdiction Unit” stationed permanently along the border with the Valkari States. This unit is responsible for combating the Zelen Cartel’s smuggling rings, a low-intensity conflict that claims the lives of dozens of officers annually.
For the Zahodecelska article:
Update to “Politics” or “Demographics”: The district is home to the Republic’s largest Valkar minority. This community, composed largely of refugees fleeing the chaos of the Valkari States, frequently clashes with the nationalist rhetoric of Senator Misko Maretic, who often scapegoats them for the region’s crime rates.