nation blurbs

Ashenia -

The Sacred Sedes of Ashenia is a moderately sized country in the temperate fieldlands of mideastern Telgard, with rolling landscapes, verdant farmlands, and wide marshes feeding into the Black Sea and Northgard Sound. Once comprised of multiple, smaller theocracies, these nations formed an alliance and eventually joined to form a mega-state ruled by the religious caste, the highest seats of government being held by the Holy Council with representation from almost a dozen different churches, with most of the power being held by denominations of the Raven Queen, Ioun, and Avandra.

Ashenia is perhaps most famous for its tolerance policy of undead. One hundred and seventy years prior, a vampire named Rafaela successfully sued the Raven Queen's chapels for the right to life, arguing that the dark mistress's ire against intelligent undead applied only to those who sought immortality for its own sake, and that those who were unwillingly brought into undeath's embrace, or sought undeath for a longer lease on life to fulfill some purpose were exempt from her wrath. The existence of Revenants, quasi-undead beings brought back from the dead by the Raven Queen's own powers to fulfill an unknown purpose granted weight to her argument, and Rafaela's history as a locally beloved librarian before her turning and good behavior after lent her the support of the populace. Laws were put into place to allow cohabitation with the undead, albeit with numerous stipulations regarding the circumstance of one's undeath, the purpose they carry with them, background checks, and other such things to ensure not just any random lich could apply for citizenship.

Apart from Revenants, who are automatically granted exemption by the government for their connection to the Raven Queen, intelligent undead may apply for a pardon for their status and obtain full citizenship if approved. If rejected.... the applicant will often find themselves forced to flee for their life.

Subsequently, choosing to enter Ashenia is still a risk to the likes of an intelligent, repentant undead, but far less of one than existing elsewhere in the world. The undead who did find themselves citizens of Ashenia have, for the most part, repaid tolerance with unique services or the wisdom of age that causes them to often be sought for counsel. Many have formed guilds that work in middle class sectors, and some have even joined the clergy, with a baelnorn holding a seat in the council representing the church of Ioun.

Still, it's not a perfect system, and darker figures with unscrupulous intentions can find ways to abuse this tolerance and slip through the cracks, using their wiles or charm to get through screening, or forging citizenship papers... Ware you the seedier underbellies below the surface. Secrets, conspiracies and dark deeds can run afoot, eluding even the ever-vigilant knights of the Sedes.

-- Something something I think I might have spent too much time talking about the particulars of the role of undead here and not enough on the structure of the government?? But including both might be a little too verbose. I'm running on like no sleep here. I kind of want to write about some of the guilds and whatnot too and flesh out individual factions. IDK how do you make an interesting elevator pitch here? Need to think about what sort of difficulties the citizenry might have undergone in integration in history or current day, day to day concerns that differ. Maybe I'm overthinking this, it's not like I plan to start the theoretical campaign here anyway. wtf am I doin







Ora Anguis - tbc