Some homebrew nations

THE ELECTRUM EMPIRE:

The Electrum Empire is a coalition between economic, cultural, and military allies known as The Metallic Nations. Though they are allowed titles such as King and Khan, and keep a strong national identity to each, they are all legally ruled by Emperor Jagannath, The Ceaseless Blacksmith, and maintain heavy ties to each other.


Aluminium Duchy:

-Aristocratic, though it is technically a subject of the Golden Kingdom, it is often treated as it's own nation. Ruled by Duke Terentius (Human)
-City At The Center Of The World, the trading capital of the west, home of dozens of intersecting cultures
-Home of The Arcutyis School of Practical Magistration, the most prestigious university of magic in the world, specializing in all types of spellcasting
-Recently conquered, natives often hold a grudge against the Electrum Empire--, The Golden Kingdom in particular.

QUIRKS:
-In the upper classes, even small arcane talent is a mark of wealth and intelligence, especially the school of conjuration
-In the lower classes, the wearing of brightly colored, often garish, flowing clothing is an indication of gregarious and accepting culture

TABOOS:
-Street performances are strictly regulated in cities and generally loud talking or shouting in public is ostracized, leading to an eerie quietness that resists disturbance
-Natives of the original nation continue to harbor a strong predjudice towards Sa Ilalum and southern Elves in general for the many conflicts between the historical states.


Brass Kingdom qualities:

-Monarchy, ruled by King Theocritus (Drow)
-Anti-mage prejudice
-Least religious country in existance, has weak ties to Jagannath worship outside of political correctness
-Connections to Darklands

QUIRKS:
-Plagued by monsters until relatively recently, it is still customary for all to wear small bells
-Healing is considered one of the most prestigious jobs, and doctors take the place of high priests and many nobility that would otherwise been in an average nation.

TABOOS:
-Accepting divine power or showing subserviance to spirits such as fey and undead are demented actions in the view of much of the society
-While the act of telling mistruths is not universally reviled, lies and even white lies are often seen as condescending or misguided, and being caught in one or suspected of one is likely to draw ire


Bronze Khanate qualities:

-Khanate, ruled by The Bronze Khan, Anthanasius (Human)
-Battle-glorifying culture, focused more on duels than wars
-The only Khanate headed by a non-draconic creature, history of dethroning magical creatures
-Generally poor, however natural resources make life easily sustainable

QUIRKS:
-Personal independance is seen as a requirement for individual growth. Completing a difficult task without asking for any form of help inspires the masses
-Cooking for one's self is considered a courtesy towards the guest. Often when people are invited for dinner, the host merely provides a kitchen and ingredients, and the guests cook together.

TABOOS:
-Gaining a monetary inheiritance is considered weak and contemptable. Items and land are handed down with no scorn, but a direct transfer of money between close friends or family is taboo, as is selling the inheritance without directly working to improve its value yourself.
-While within Bronze Khanate borders, speaking in a language other than a Metallic language or Draconic is seen as offensive.


Copper Republic qualities:

-Republic, represented by President Chalkos (Copper Dragon), theoretically ruled by Emperor Jagannath
-Founder of the metallic countries, oldest continuous nation on Kanonikos
-Known for lackadaisical approach to nation building, rarely enters wars or drives towards national goals other than improving general quality of life
-Cultural capital of the west, not often romanticized, but friendly relations to nearly every other country

QUIRKS:
-Forgiveness for trespass is generally considered a laudible thing, even beyond that of other societies. Breaking of replacable objects, staining of clothes, cruel pranks, and other acts that would likely anger an average person are expected to be quickly forgiven and cause no long term anger or resentment.
-Literacy and optimistic philosophy are considered marks of maturity and trustworthiness. Depression or boredom are often seen as temporary maladies to be removed.

TABOOS:
-Acting in a romantic manner is generally considered embarassing or rude. While being lovestruck or lustful is excusable, going on dates in public spaces or presenting as a couple is often frowned upon, and generally partners act indistinguishably from friends.
-Wearing pants while not working in some profession that requires them is looked down upon as unfashionable, though work clothes or armor containing leg plates are fine.


Golden Kingdom qualities:

-Monarchy, ruled by King Artemidoros (Aasimar/Elf)
-Grand unifier after a period in which the metallic nations were fragmented, co-founder of the current Electrum Empire
-Militaristic state, has entered a proportionately high amount of wars compared to it's age
-Strongly connected with Celestial worship, specifically Archons. Demon worship is outlawed, and Devil worship is heavily scrutinized

QUIRKS:
-Hair dyes and tattoos are heavily in fashion. Even the bland commoner of the kingdom generally have dyed blonde hair and one or two small tattoos.
-Strong respect for order is expected, and authorities expect no trouble when temporarily lowering civil liberties for the needs of the many

TABOOS:
-Using blunt weapons is viewed as a form of inelegant peasant's-play, even against armor.
-Chaotic Outsiders are treated with scruitiny, and worship or friendship of any Lower Planes creature is seen as outright cultural treason


Iron Kingdom qualities:

-Monarchy, ruled by Queen Valeriana (Human)
-Isolationist, has weak ties to any nation outside of the Electrum Empire
-Known for it's humble government, all servants of the state lead relatively normal lives, almost all tax money is returned to general public in some form
-Home of many technological inventions, such as crossbows and catapults

QUIRKS:
-A somewhat nihilistic outlook, most imagine the afterlife to be obfuscating and a dehumanizing experience. As such, great personal importance is placed on the rejectment of old sentiments of loyalty-based-honor and deity worship in favor of a notion of equality between all beings before death.
-Psychic casters and those knowledgable of the occult are highly sought after and respected as accessing the total potential of human experience

TABOOS:
-Presenting of great material wealth or social status is often treated with contempt almost to the point of hostility. Even nobility are expected to dress as a common city labourer.
-The nation is under a minor state of prohibition, and many forms of drink and entertainment are heavily regulated if not banned. Immigrants are heavily discouraged from celebrating their previous nationality


Silver Republic qualities:

-Republic, represented by Prime Minister Irenaeus (Half-elf, half-human)
-Famously pacifistic, has never contributed to a war
-Richest nation on Kanonikos, known for it's soaring architecture and extravagant living conditions
-Generously provides foreign aid to other nations, however is rumored to use this as leverage to exert control over other countries' politics

QUIRKS:
-Heavily influenced by elven culture in comparison to the other metallic states, even cities are covered in well maintained vegetation, property expansion is heavily regulated, and polygamy is a non-taboo. Indentured servitude is common, however outright slavery is illegal
-Though the Silver Republic is the richest nation, the majority of inhabitants are little wealthier than the middle class of most other world powers. The excess wealth, when not expended on infrastructure and public art, is concentrated in the hands of a relative few former-noble families.


TABOOS:
-The Bronze Khanate and other military dictatorships are looked down upon, and likewise soldiers are viewed with similar respect as janitors, while mercenaries are reviled
-Criminals, mages who practice necromancy, and monster races such as gnolls, kobolds, and others are regularly denied citizenship or occasionally even entry due to percieved danger




SOUTHWESTERN REGION:
One of the original three regions of civilization after the Reformation, the Southwestern Region is known for (generally) having lax laws, freedom of expression, and recently, a focus on trade and diplomacy over warfare.



Cendre Mer:

-Constitutional Monarchy, ruled by Queen Roland (Orc) who's power is mostly ceremonial and rarely used, and represented by President Oliver Marilou (Human)
-Owns the largest navy of any country, facilitates safe travel through the Cinder Sea for other nations in exchange for peaceful relations and trade
-One of the few nations to provide easy paths to citizenship for feral Orcs and other tribal societies
-Almost all citizens are multilingual, being taught Bronzetongue and Cinderspeak in a public schooling system.


Soliel Vigoureux:

-Monarchy, ruled by a regent council
-Empire in shambles, used to own a great deal more land and wealth than it does now, however, it has been on a upward rise
-Strained relations with the Feystates, currently strengthening it's military either in anticipation of defense or preparation of an offensive front
-Borders the most states of any nation, creating complex political strife. Recently split with Cendre Mer in a civil war


Brotkorb:

-Republic, represented by Prime Minister Ekkehard Arbeit (Halfling)
-Strongly defensive military priority: Most structures are built to be easily convertable into a small fortress, farmlands are irregular and hard to cross
-Has bad blood with orcs and fey, and citizenship is generally rejected for the former.
-Exports large amounts of food to Cendre Mer and Soliel Vigoureux, having taken a neutral stance during the war


Obsidian Oblast:

-Constitutional Monarchy, ruled by King Zharko Jasna (Human), and represented by Prime Minister Ruslan Ljudmil (Gnome)
-Surrounded in treacherous environments of volcanoes and glass-covered deserts, caused by being positioned very near to the star that impacted Kanonikos
-Suffering from overpopulation, has set out across the sea to colonize Krakendao
-Used to harsh conditions, showing physical weakness or emotional frailty is considered repulsive


Sa Ilalum:

-Republic, however only longlived races are allowed to vote. Represented by Prime Minister Tethys Aelynthe (Elf)
-At odds with untraditional magic, necromancy and arcanist magics are outlawed
-Large amounts of biodiversity, some of which is regulated and sold as exotic goods
-One of the only southwestern nations where slavery is legal


Jeongche Hyeol:

-Magiocracy, ruled by Lich King Kalab Kabir (Halfling)
-Home to the most prestigious universities outside The Aluminum Duchy, and a center for progress in advanced magical theory
-Known for disturbing culture, including ritualistic cannibalism, rampant necromancy, and other taboos
-Rejects extra-planar presence on Kanonikos, insists that all non-Material creatures must register for second-class citizenship, including elves and gnomes


Doljin Hyeolgwan:

-Theocracy, ruled by council of high-ranking priests
-Openly conspiring with Sa Ilalum for an attack on Jeongche Hyeol after separating from the latter during a civil war
-State training requirements create an extraordinarily high number of clerics, paladins, and inquisitors
-Heavy bans on arcane magic, executes psychics, necromancers, and devil-traffickers on sight


Moth Kingdoms:

-Aristocratic, though there are technically 7 kingdoms, the position of king and queen are ceremonially left open
-Rapidly changing nature caused by a culture of rapidly shifting identities between various archetypal characters through tarot reading
-Very little military to speak of, however it's independence is protected by The Copper Republic and Wugui Ke
-Because of the nature of their shifting identities, nearly every civilian is skilled in the basics of farming, craftsmanship, and dueling


Wugui Ke:

-Theocracy, ruled by roving councils of oracles and druids
-Nomadic in nature, leaving them economically weak as they have stagnated from being boxed in by other nations
-Neutral in almost all foreign affairs, generally left alone through the goodwill of neighbors
-Outside of the Soghon Empire, they often have a negative social stigma associated with international rovers


Soghon Empire:

-Monarchy, ruled by Emperor Tiankong Pu (Nagaji)
-Isolationist, tends not to get involved in global affairs and heavily regulates trade
-Thick arboreal climate, provides much of the building material for nearby countries
-Ancient history of conflict with non-serpentine life, occasionally causes diplomatic and social incidents


Elven Tribunal:

-State of emergency, 'temporary' military dictatorship ruled by Archinquisitor Iphigeneia Dardanos (Elf)
-Undergoing a vast civil war against a guerilla force wishing to reconnect to the First World
-The only sovereign nation that restricts citizenship to a single race, and one of the only three elven-majority countries after the Reformation
-Originally a democracy, however power slowly trickled entirely to the Drosera Capensis Inquisition section of the justice department