Gulparia

Geography and climate

The far northwest portion of this nation is the edge of the Setsu Desert. This quickly becomes a thorn steppe which covers the western and southern portions, forming a kind of crescent around the Dead Woods, which long ago were part of the Whiteoak Hardwood Forest. Gulparia has a long summer featuring a very warm climate and moderate rain in the winter and spring seasons. It almost never has snow.

History

Gulparia was once part of the Eastern Kingdoms of Man with Otore, Rak'ang Ridge, Drald Territory, and the Duchy of Coterii. At that time the region that was acknowledged as Gulparia also included what is today the Barony of Liefen. At the death of the Emperor in 4500, Gulparia immediately began discussing independence. The King in Dragonhall sidestepped Countess Sasha Viklov, who he did not trust, and negotiated with the families controlling the Whiteoak Hardwood Forest. This caused a split in Gulparia, with the part remaining in the Eastern Kingdoms of Man being renamed the Barony of Liefen. A treaty was set establishing the boundary between these nations at the westernmost living Whiteoak Hardwood. This boundary remained settled for more than 50 years, even as the trees on the western border of the forest began to die, allowing Gulparia to expand. In 4553 the new leader of the Barony of Liefen accused Gulparia of intentionally killing the trees and immediately declared war. The Whiteoak War, as it was called, lasted until the leader of the Barony of Liefen died from seeming natural causes. It is whispered the Countess's agents caused this to happen and the trees continued to die.

By 4578 the line of dead trees was two miles past Otodea shifting that city to the control of Gulparia. A year later the countess made it her new capital, shifting from Turnu Kiu, and had a second shadow fortress built there. By 4717 boundaries of Gulparia included Gulari and they built Rargu Pass on the newly acquired land.

Government

The government is lead by the powerful vampire Countess Sasha Viklov. She rules each of the cities through human, and usually fearful, Burgermeisters. They are appointed, and they can't refuse the position. Also, they are under the close watch of the Countess's agents, a twisted race of vampires, which live beneath the streets as swarms of rats. In Gulparia the agents are everywhere forming a massive information network, which has been the eyes and ears of the hidden Countess for more than 400 years. In human form, these agents often have deformities, but otherwise, look like well-dressed humans.

Military

The military of Gulparia is very small and nearly never leaves the kingdom. Those that do operate in secret, running clandestine operations. The military, as it exists, gets all of its orders from commanding agents, who get direction directly from Countess Viklov. Because of the hidden nature of the military, even the locals do not know its size or influence. Both men and women make up the ranks of the military, but only humans of Gulparian families are eligible.

Economy and trade

Gulparians take a high level of pride in everything they develop. They have chefs that take pride in their signature dish of honey and sesame seed roasted goat and green lentils. There are craftsmen who swear by Gulparian candles, Gulparian red wine and brandy, and Gulparian rosehip tea. These trades are most often kept in a family, always with some secret ingredient or method. Nearly all of these things are exported as luxury items for the nearby kingdoms.

While on principle they are opposed to it, they do import material from all the nearby kingdoms. They import fire agates and black/pink granite from Setsu, iron and red stone from Rak'Ang Ridge, silk and poplar wood from the Drald Territory, paper and white marble from the Duchy of Coterii, and horses and mirrors from the Barony of Liefen.

Society and Culture

All legal residents of Gulparia are humans. There is such distrust of outsiders that any non-humans require special permission to even enter this region. While not considered legal residents Dead Elves, a version of Wood Elves, make their home in the Dead Woods. These elves are cannibalistic, violent and wild. They are the boogymen the humans in the cities tell their children about.

Otodea, the capital city, shows off the height of Gulparian culture. It is a walled city, at a crossroads and flanked by the Dead Woods. The fortress of Countess Viklov can be seen from anywhere in the city and that fact alone is enough to keep everyone law-abiding and orderly. There is virtually no poor, the shops are always stocked and the best craftsmen in the country come here, because of the increased opportunity.

All the cities in Gulparia have a wall which closes at sundown. Additionally, inside the walls, the streets are usually completely empty within an hour of sunset. Non-humans or outsiders without the proper paperwork often disappear or are taken into the custody of the agents and never seen again. Everywhere where is an undercurrent of fear and paranoia, that seems to drive orderliness. Gulparians are almost universally proud to be Gulparian.

The homes in Gulparia combine imported materials with the bone looking Dead Woods lumber. A common example is using red stone from Rak'ang RIdge to fill out a local wood frame.

Religion

Worship to any divine power is discouraged. The public and agents show a very public distrust of clerics or paladins. Church or temple buildings do not exist in any of the cities. There are a couple of state-sanctioned priests, but they mostly focus on charitable acts and are very careful not to speak out against the government. The church leaders that do exist, but are not sanctioned, do so in their homes with cover reasons why people would be there to visit.

Education and Magic

The people of Gulparia are educated, with libraries and scholars. For children, there are schools, both public a private. Once a career is selected there are apprenticeships and further education.

Also, unlike religion, magic is not shunned. Instead, people who show aptitude and a loyalness to the state can be trained and a part of the Viklovian School. Students who get to a high enough level of skill have been known to work directly for the Countess.