manustatavale

Manustatavale is a fictional small nation located in the southern quadrant of the continent of Aravali in the fantasy series *The Chronicles of the Skylands*. It is depicted as a land of dense, misty forests and rolling hills, with the River Melaine flowing through its capital city, Valen. The nation is bounded by the Kingdom of Trophella to the west and the Free Territories of Liravia to the east, with a modest coastline along the Sapphire Sea to the south.

The country was founded in the early reign of King Aldric I, following the migration of the Manus peoples from the northern highlands after the Great Disarray. According to the chronicles, the founding charter was signed on the 12th of the moon of Aurelia, establishing the constitution of the Temple of Unity. Throughout its history, Manustatavale has maintained a policy of neutrality, resisting invasions while fostering trade with neighboring states.

Government in Manustatavale is a constitutional monarchy. The monarch exercises limited executive powers while a bicameral legislature, the Synod of Traditions and the House of Echoes, manages law-making. The current ruler is Queen Meryl II, who ascended after the peaceful succession of King Aranthos.

The society of Manustatavale values knowledge, craftsmanship, and oral storytelling. The primary language is Manusian, a tonal language derived from the ancient tongue of the Manus. Agriculture focuses on millet, barley, and the cultivation of the rare mistflower; artisan guilds produce leather goods and woodcarvings that are exported to coastal merchants.

The capital city of Valen is renowned for its towering Hall of Echoes, a hall of stone carved with ancestral runes, and the Crystal Spring, a natural tourist attraction. Notable figures include the sage Aurul, the 18th-century philosopher who wrote *The Path of Light in the Mist*, and the battle commander Sir Kethra, famed for her defense of Valen during the Dragon Invasion of 1579.