Kingdom of Vasena

Location: Northwest.

Capital: Mesom City.

Natural Resources: Metal Ores (Ore Sands Mined In the Mountain Range Northwest of Their Kingdom), Other Materials For Mining Along Mountain Ranges, Central Rivers, Only Source of Wood Is Past Northwestern Mountain Range, Lots of Sand, Fertile Farmland Along Riverbanks, Limited Fishing, Limited Hunting and Game, Frequent High Winds Power Windmills, Fresh water is not abundant, Rivers supply small amounts, Wells, Gathered rain water, and Mountain Glaciers are required.

Environment: Dry, Hot, High Desert Winds, Fertile River Areas, Extreme Winters In Northern Most Regions, Snowfall Can Occur Lightly In Any Region of the Kingdom.

Major Sources of Income: Sophisticated Trading, Fine Metal Sand, Mining, Primary Glass Export for the World.

Major Expenses: Temple System, Burials, Rites and Rituals, Mining.

Military: The Navy is Large but Limited to Merchant Ships with Light Armor and Fast Movement. Merchants That Sail Ships are Expected to be Capable of Defending Their Own Cargo and Transportation. Vasenan Merchant Ships, and Fishing Boats are the Only Vessels Designed to Sail Through the Shallow Rivers that Pass Through the Kingdom. Infantry and Other Unmounted Soldiers are Lightly Armored to Survive in the Desert Conditions. Calvary Units Know How To Maintain Horses, Camels and Other Transportation in the Desert. Sleds and Carts Carry Military Supplies and Soldiers Across the sand of the Territory. Vasena Teaches Magos Skills To All Ethnic Citizens In Some Form But There Are Other Valued Specializations of Assassins and Desert Rangers Within the Kingdom's Ranks.

Belief System(s): Tradition. The Vasenan people have an absolute imperative in preserving their ways at almost every level and any cost. They believe that their power as a people and as higher existing Wizards (Magos) comes from their rites and rituals that worship, respect, maintain and call upon their dead ancestors. They hold an vast number of dangerous and rich burial sites throughout their deserts, something that they believe is the key to communicating with and influencing the dead. Inside the cities and settlements the highest ranking Priests are the ones that prove their abilities to communicate with the dead and their abilities to influence them over any challengers. The King is regarded as a descendant of the oldest family, with the most ancestors and has yet to be challenged on these grounds of 'superiority'.

Society: Vasena's society is dedicated, almost exclusively, to the preservation of their ancient way of life. Sacrifice, ceremony, pray, rites, are carried out regularly and repetitively. Vasenan's have only one Class of magic users allowed called Magos, and Magas (Female Magos). They are a Class handed down by generations of the longest tradition of magic use in the World, giving them abilities beyond all other Classes and almost making them different creatures. Magos only come from Vasena in part to lineage and in part to rituals within the Kingdom.

Maintaining their traditions despite all outside sources is the general purpose of Vasena.

Standard societal methods are used but not deemed vital. Trade and Economy are deemed vital to maintain Rites and Rituals. Society is based upon the function and governing of its countless Temples. The entire Royal family is a part of the Temple System and Governing and is almost helplessly influenced by those stationed higher in it.

Vasena has an ancient language that like most all other things, has been handed down through the generations. It is hardly spoken outside of the Temples but is a requirement of each Vasenan as a child in addition to the ancient writing system that goes with it. This would make them highly educated as a majority but more modern Writing systems used in other Kingdoms and even Vasena are not required learning.

New practices and ways of life are allowed only if they do not affect the old ones. Decisions as to how dangerous or acceptable new ways can be, are made be the King and a consult of High Priests.

Vasena Lords and Manors are different from all other Kingdoms with Survival and Tradition more important than status and wealth. The Peasants are most often personally concerned with how their fields and livestock may contribute to the Kingdom and are treated well as a result.

Laws and Punishments are the decision of the High Orders of Priests. Small Temples in every settlement have a Priest of a High Order that deals with minor issues. Cities and Castles can be a poor choice of place to commit a crime as several High Priests will take involvement making punishments more severe. The more Priests that talk on a subject, the less lenient they become.

Mines in Vasena are a very well guarded occupation and secret. The money that the mining of fine Metal Ore Sands brings in is at least half of Vasena's income. The people do not make metal goods or arms out of the sand but Nycenia and Tortha buy almost all of it. Other metals and magical components can be mined in the Vasenan region. Miners are usually the citizens that were least adept at Rites, Rituals and general Magos practices.

Glass furnaces are found to the Northwest for Magos that make glass products. Glass manufacture exists nowhere else in the world and these simple items such as windows and containers are almost as expensive as Metal Ore Sands.

Markets in Vasena are very limited and discouraged but rare items at inexpensive rates are common. The people put no emphasis on sales in their daily life unless trading as Merchants outside of the Kingdom.

Alignments: Strategic Enemies Toward Kourmar (Will Participate In Unofficial Trade With), Uneasy Neural With Tortha (To Maintain Trade), Basic Allies With Hyspiria (Good Trade Partners That Are Too Distant To Be Concerned With), Basic Allies With Feylanor (Good Trade Partners That Are Too Distant To Be Concerned With), Basic Allies With Nycenia (Good Trade Partners That Are Too Distant To Be Concerned With).

History: Vasenans were at first a group of nomadic people that wandered the Northern regions of the world. Their beliefs and practices were no different from when they first wandered the deserts, burying their dead at the base of mountains. Overly familiar with the land and now having difficulty with grave robbers, the leaders settled over the graves of their ancestors to remain guard. Settlements were agreed to be temporary among the people until Temples were built by the Shamans of the groups. Tending to the Temples, the Shamans became Priests that the dominant leaders listened well to. Vasena was declared a Kingdom in short time and the people ceased their wandering. More Temples were built by the King's suggestion and the Mining began by accident when new Burial Chambers were being excavated. All Kings and Priests by Law, have descended from Priests and Kings before them.

Flag/Crest: A Jackal. Yellow, Red, and Black.