So, you want to hear about Civen and Vlean? Well, answer me this: why is it that cats and dogs fight? Because it's in their nature to do so. Sure, some cats and some dogs are thick as kin. But on the whole, a dog can't help but hating a cat, and likewise on the cat.
Now both Civen and Vlean would pull out entire lists and catalogs of grievance, unfairness, evils, and underhandedness, etc etc. What it all boils down to is this: Civen was a lot bigger once, and meaner than it is today. They sent all their worst to Vlean, kicked them daily, and wondered WHY they were always so grouchy. It was inevitable that Vleanoans would rise up and say no, emphatically no. A civil war erupted, and in that kind of war, there is little honor to be had on either side when you're stabbing your cousins who wear purple, or red.
Now, what's unexpected, and unfortunate, is how hard the newly minted Vlean tried to separate themselves from Civen. Civen had slaves, so Vlean 'freed' their slaves and called them serfs instead. Civen separates Septons from their government, so Vlean had Septons running the place. Vlean found every and any way to be different from Civen, which included rejected the good parts. Some former Vleanoan nobles I personally know maintain there are dark and horrible influences on Vlean behind the scenes. Who knows how far their reach goes? I certainly don't.
In any case, right now their civil war is stuck at Peace, due to Evanandra. In exchange for being recognized as a true Kingdom of Novitas, Vlean agreed to peace with Civen, however temporary. Who knows what chits Evanandra called in on Civen to get them to agree. But it's the same peace of a dog and cat in the same room, eyeing each other warily, both knowing a fight will come sooner or later.
If you figure out how to make dogs and cats live peaceably, you let me know. That's a trick I'd pay to see.
--Ambrose Farfallen, Elfmeet Militia