Magenevum

Xalen (Banlieueregis Xalen), is a Province of the Imperium of Caphiria. It is located in south Caphiria, bordering Ranaella to the south, Isuriana to the west, Medriso and Leonia to the north, and Sennium on its eastern border. With a population of 20.5 million, Xalen is the 3rd-smallest province and its capital is Arzercavalli.

Xalen is widely considered to be the center of Caphiria's military–industrial complex, with the Imperial Armed Forces of Caphiria having the most military bases and outposts in the country, the most defense manufacturing plants, and the most military-specific jobs. Beside being an economic and industrial powerhouse, Xalen has a rich and diverse cultural heritage. The many examples range from prehistory to the present day, through the Republic and the Dominate eras and can be found both in museums and churches that enrich cities and towns around the province.

History


The area of modern Xalen was settled at least since the 2nd millennium BC, as shown by the archaeological findings of ceramics, arrows, axes and carved stones. In the following centuries it was inhabited by different peoples among whom the Sarpic people, who founded the city of Terrilentum and spread the use of writing; later, starting from the 5th century BC, the area was invaded by proto-Latinic tribes. These people settled in several cities (including Arzercavalli) and extended their rule to the River Cântari.

Their development was halted by the Latinic expansion in the Rovagline from the 3rd century BC onwards. After centuries of struggle, in 194 BC the entire area of what is now Xalen became a Caphirian province with the name of Xalen ("difficult to reach"). The Latinic culture and language overwhelmed the former civilization in the following years and became one of the most developed and rich areas of the Latin world with the construction of a wide array of roads and the development of agriculture and trade. In late antiquity the strategic role of Xalen was emphasized by the temporary moving of the capital of the Republic of Caphiria during the First Civil War. During and after the fall of the Republic, Xalen suffered heavily from destruction brought about by a series of invasions by tribal peoples. The last and most effective was that of Ruq people, who migrated out of the declining Istroyan Civilization. After a series of initial struggles, relationships between the Ruq people and the Latin-speaking people improved. In the end, the Ruq's continued further south but their influence was not forgotten. the Ruq language and culture assimilated with the Latin culture, leaving evidence in many names, the legal code and laws, and other things. The genes of the remaining Ruq's became quickly diluted into the Latin population owing to their relatively small number and their geographic dispersal in order to rule and administer their kingdom.

As Caphiria grew in size and influence, its dependence on Xalen as the "last stop" grew as well. In the 11th century during the Civil War Era, Xalen played a pivotal role. Following the civil war, this time was marked by a significant boom in the region's economy, due to improved trading and, mostly, agricultural conditions, with arms manufacturing a significant factor. This led to a growing self-acknowledgement of the cities, whose increasing richness made them able to defy the traditional central imperial power. This process reached its apex in the 12th and 13th centuries, when different Leagues of the Legenti were formed by allied cities managed to defeat Clephematus VIII at the Battle of Acudro in 1276. Subsequently, among the various local city-states, a process of consolidation took place, and by the end of the 13th century, two cities emerged as rival hegemons in Xalen: Arzercavalli and Trivermira. This city-state power struggle went on for close to a century until 1386 when Juleiscius III re-united the province together. He made Arzercavalli the provincial capital and allowed Trivermira some autonomy with how it governed itself as long as peace and stability came to the province. More importantly, Juleiscius III was able to unite both city-states back under imperial rule.

By the mid-15th century, Xalen was a major political, economical and military force with Arzercavalli and Trivermira being at the forefront of the Caphiric Renaissance and produced people who helped define the Dominate era. The enterprising class of Xalen extended its trade and banking activities into the northern provinces. Despite the etymology of the word "legend" originating elsewhere, the word "legendary" came to designate a roster of influential people that came from Xalen during this time.

This richness of economy, people, and culture continued to elevate Xalen and its influence continued to extend far beyond its borders. As Caphiria entered the modern era, it relied heavily on Xalen to become its safe haven during the Great War due to its natural defenses. This led to another concentration of scientific exploration and intellectual enlightenment as the Imperium's smartest and brightest minds rushed over to try and out-invent each other. The testing and creation of nuclear weapons occured in the Atsierese region.

Today, Xalen continues to be at the forefront of Caphiria's military–industrial complex as well as being one of the Imperium's most important regions.

Geography
With an surface area of xx,xxx km2, Xalen is the second-largest province of Caphiria. It is bordered by the provinces of Ranaella to the south, Isuriana to the west, Medriso and Leonia to the north, and Sennium on its eastern border Three distinct natural zones can be fairly easily distinguished in Xalen: mountains, hills and plains — the latter being divided in Alta (high plains) and Bassa (low plains).

Mount Abugittus The most important mountainous area is the Rovagline zone, including the Pondero and Dempriva ranges, Mount Vensă, Abugittus, and Ranerimis. The plains of Xalen can be divided into the Alta — an upper, permeable ground zone in the north and a lower zone — and the Bassa — dotted by the so-called line of fontanili, spring waters rising from impermeable ground.

Bridge over the Genaria River Xalen has numerous lakes, most of which are tectonic or volcanic in origin. The largest is the River Cântari which cuts through the southern portion of the province. Other notable bodies of water in Xalen include the Genaria River, Lake Sabal, Lake Tenava, Lake Sierate, the River Portius, and Lake Dimirtastro.

The Caphiric ibex (Capra ibex)

In the plains, intensively cultivated for centuries, little of the original environment remains. The most commons trees are elm, alder, sycamore, poplar, willow and hornbeam. In the area of the foothills lakes, however, grow olive trees, cypresses and larches, as well as varieties of subtropical flora such as magnolias, azaleas, acacias. Numerous species of endemic flora include some kinds of saxifrage, groundsels bellflowers and the cottony bellflowers.

Xalen also has many protected areas: the most important are the Veropolisa National Park, with such wildlife as: red deer, roe deer, ibex, chamois, foxes, ermine and also golden eagles; and the Leontetava Valley Natural Park, instituted in 1974 on the Rovagline side of the River Cântari to protect and conserve one of the last major examples of fluvial forests in central Caphiria.

Due to local variances in elevation, proximity to inland water basins, and large metropolitan areas, Xalen has a wide array of climates. Generally speaking though, the climate of the Xalen is mainly humid subtropical especially in the plains, though with significant variations especially regarding the winter season, that in Xalen is normally long, damp and rather cold. The lower foothills are characterised by an oceanic climate and numerous lakes which exercise a mitigating influence, allowing the cultivation of typically Mediterranean crops (olives, citrus fruit). The higher hills and mountainous regions experience a humid continental climate and in the valleys it is relatively mild, while it can be severely cold above 1,500 metres, with copious snowfalls. Precipitation is more intense in the Rovagline zone, up to 1,500 to 2,000 mm (59.1 to 78.7 in) annually, but is abundant also in the plains and alpine zones, with an average of 600 to 850 mm (23.6 to 33.5 in) annually. The total annual rainfall is on average 827 mm.

Administrative divisions
Xalen is divided into 5 regions and 25 cities. The capital of Xalen is Arzercavalli which also serves as the military center of Caphiria. The Praetor of Xalen, Adrastus Romanos, was elected in 2035 for his third term in office.

Economy


Xalen is one of the most geo-strategically important provinces within the Imperium and while Venceia is without question the commercial, political, and cultural center of Caphiria, Xalen is as undeniably the hub of its military power. The province is the largest supplier of military and civilian jobs and the location of the Imperium's largest and most active defense manufacturing industry. The Ministry of Defense has its headquarters for the Department of the Legion, the Department of the Navy, and the Department of the Air Force in Xalen. Because Xalen is effectively the military capital of the Imperium, it is nicknamed "ground zero" on the presumption that it would be a prime target in a nuclear war.

Xalen has a growing, diversified economy with an increasing percentage of professional and business service jobs. The GDP per capita in Xalen has constantly ranked among the top throughout the Imperium as well as having one of the lowest unemployment rates. More than half of the office space in Lacum is leased to government agencies and government contractors. About 28.7% of all jobs in the province are with the federal, provincial or local government; 19.1% technical and professional; 28.9% accommodation, food and other services.

Tourism is Xalen's second-largest industry. Approximately 18.9 million visitors contributed an estimated $7.8 billion to the local economy in 2030. Xalen also hosts nearly 200 foreign embassies and international organizations. Many organizations such as law firms, defense contractors, civilian contractors, nonprofit organizations, lobbying firms, trade unions, industry trade groups, and professional associations have their headquarters in or near the provincial capital Arzercavalli, in order to be close to the heart of the military.

Xalen has growing industries not directly related to government, especially in the areas of education, finance, public policy, and scientific research. The Moncalieri Academy of Military Science, the oldest and only state-owned military college in the Imperium and other elite schools and universities have found their home in the province.

Because of the natural physical geographic setting that Xalen provided, it quickly became the center for Caphiria's military and ultimately the foundation for its military–industrial complex. Xalen serves as the base of operations for the Ministry of Defense which is the single-largest employer in the province and Caphiria. As a result, Xalen is also the headquarters for the majority of other federal agencies: the Department of Military Defense (DMD), the Department of Civilian Defense (DCD), the National Guard, the Office of Advanced Research and Development (O-ARD), the Department of Military Intelligence, and the Department of Civilian Intelligence (DCI).

Xalen is home of many corporations who either have industrial facilities or commercial/administrative offices in the province. These corporations include: Quicksilver Industries, Shockwave Industrial, Lanxor, Silver Lineworks, Lansing-Mitchell Weaponeering, Vepr Defense, Chromeria Military Solutions, Ladestro Dynamics, Redsun, Lyonardo, Ilyas, Petalstone, and Elanus.

Demographics
About 20 million people live in Xalen, making it the 3rd-smallest province by population. Despite this, Xalen is one of the most populous urban regions in the Imperium, and has the second most densely populated major city after Venceia. The population is highly concentrated in the Petramori, Fenta, and Mearai regions as most of Caphiria's military institutions are based here. Because of the Rovagline zone, regions such as Deusi, Rottria, and Visure have significantly lower population densities.

The growth of the regional population was particularly sustained during the 1950s–60s, thanks to a prolonged economic boom, high birth rates, and strong migration inflows. Since the 1980s, Xalen has become the destination of a large number of international migrants, insomuch that today more than a quarter of all foreign-born residents in Caphiria live in this province with the strong military presence being cited as a safety feature.

Museums
Xalen contains numerous museums (over 330) of different types: ethnographic, historical, technical-scientific, artistic and naturalistic which testify to the historical-cultural and artistic development of the region. Among the most famous ones are the Museum of Natural Sciences (Lastelle), the Musea Substantum (Ogiugnum), the Aumeral Gallery, the Auzionere Museum of Sacred Art, and the Temple Cursuspiri.

Other sights
 * Rovagline Mountains
 * River Cântari
 * Mount Vensă
 * Veropolisa National Park
 * Leontetava Valley Natural Park
 * Canza Caves
 * Creverta Cathedral
 * Canza Castle
 * Accademia Dovacchia
 * Villa Capteline
 * Villa Occellatie
 * Cathedra Montepoli
 * Montepoli Estate
 * Montepoli Gardens
 * Montepoli-Maerzo Institute of Art
 * Vurolla Theater
 * Alei Park

Cuisine
Rice is popular in the province, often found in soups as well as risotti, such as "risotto alla milanese", with saffron. In the city of Vittima a popular recipe also adds pieces of sausages to the risotto. Polenta is also common throughout the province. Regional cheeses include Robiola, Crescenza, Taleggio, Gorgonzola and Grana Padano (the plains of central and southern Xalen allow intensive cattle-raising). Butter and cream are used.

Single pot dishes, which take less work to prepare, are popular. In the Bratus and Visure Regions, Casoncelli are common. In the Petramori Region, Pizzoccheri is common. In Navento, festivals feature tortelli di zucca (ravioli with pumpkin filling) accompanied by melted butter and followed by turkey stuffed with chicken or other stewed meats. Among regional typical desserts, there is Nocciolini di Canzo—dry biscuits.

Typical dishes


Risotto alla milanese with ossobuco


 * Casoncelli
 * Carpaccio di Bresaola
 * Pizzoccheri (tagliatelle of buckwheat and wheat, laced with butter, green vegetables, potatoes, sage and garlic, topped with Casera cheese)
 * Risotto alla milanese
 * Tortelli di zucca (pumpkin-filled pasta)
 * Polenta
 * Ossobuco
 * Cotoletta (cutlet) alla milanese
 * Cassoeula
 * Lo Spiedo Bresciano – spit roast of different cuts of meat with butter and sage
 * Salamella (Sarpic Sausage without fennel or anise, always served grilled)
 * Salame d'oca di Ferrasisi (goose salami)
 * Gorgonzola cheese
 * Taleggio cheese
 * Stracchino cheese
 * Bitto cheese
 * Rosa Camuna cheese
 * Grana Padano cheese
 * Quartirolo lombardo
 * Mascarpone
 * Panettone
 * Sbrisolona cake
 * Amaretti di Saronno

Wines

 * Esecta
 * Coppà
 * Curtia
 * Derano
 * Presecita
 * Sorso Red
 * Maleta White

Music
Most of the regions and cities in Xalen have equally great musical traditions. The city of Cornola is famous for being the birthplace of Inchi Matiniervia and home to the Vurolla Theater; the region of Elema is regarded as the birthplace of the commonly used violin, and is home to several of the most prestigious luthiers in the world and the Bratus region was one of the most important cities in 16th- and 17th-century opera and classical music.