Afterlight - Paru

History

Paru, a small empire located within Brelaton's Kulit Bay, and the largest known underwater kingdom of Ajagar, was founded many millennia ago, brought to life by a small pod of deep-sea Leviathans known to history as the Kulit. Originally known as Makan, the Kulit built their kingdom under the ruse of an oceanic paradise, providing safety to the scattered amphibious races of Ajagar. The Kulit lured citizens from all over the ocean with declarations of peace and leisure, open sea to farm, and live comfortably, until they formed a barrier that stopped those within from leaving.

Their true intention? To create a large-scale corral to farm their own food~ the very citizens they had promised paradise. The Kulit cared for and nurtured Makan for centuries, consuming its imprisoned citizens under the guise of providing food and shelter for the price of picking off the weak, all while continuing to lure more people inside. Their children, however, grew to despise their parents as much as the citizens. They formed their own faction to breathe new life into their home, Paru. They overthrew the Kulit, slaughtering the oppressors of the people. The citizens freed, the kingdom was renamed, and the children of the Kulit strove to truly build what their parents had promised.

Paradise. A goal that has since been realized in the millennia that have followed.

Society

Unlike what their past of violence and cannibalism may suggest, Paru hosts a diverse but peaceful culture. Its residents come in many shapes and colours, primarily amphibian in race with few non-amphibious beings making their home here. Those without gills have been catered too within Paru through the use of magic-powered generators and barriers to make many areas within the city rich enough in oxygen that even the surface dwellers can breathe within the upper levels of the city.

Paru is one of the leaders in innovation and technology in Breleton, known for its advanced runecrafting and spellweaving to continue their pursuit of creating a true underwater paradise unlike any other. Their economy is made of small tariffs to allow other kingdoms to sail through their waters, their trades with Mithrim and Arida for materials, and their selling of various non-militarian mana-technology around Thorin and Breleton.

With its focus on technology, Paru isn’t known for being a religious kingdom, however, a couple temples may be found dedicated to the Moon Goddess as their primary faith.

Military

Paru boasts a small, but well-trained and dedicated army, with a great deal of specialized equipment the kingdom has held the blueprints of close to its chest. Their military might has rarely been tested, as Paru refuses to contribute to any conflict in which they are not directly involved. Their forces haven’t been known to leave their own domain, unless escorting trade ships, but have proven themselves to be equally lethal on land as they are in the water.

The Penyan Vanguard

Paru’s primary military force, all specially trained and distributed throughout the city and around the borders. They are made up of three factions focusing on first aid, front line, and support.

Known for their mana-conducting armour and jellyfish stinger-like weaponry.
Usually looked down upon by other kingdoms for the use of underhanded tactics.

The Stonefish Phalanxes

The most well-known section of Paru’s army, usually working in well-coordinated squadrons and guarding trade ships.

Infamous for their ruthless stealth and assassin-like tactics when dispatching enemies.
Often dispatched to hunt criminals and pirates causing disturbances.

The Kecar Corps

Paru’s military engineering and intelligence agency, their operations shrouded in tightly knit secrecy.

They work in two factions under the same name to deter information leaks while working closely together.

Despite Paru's determination to maintain a stance of neutrality in the affairs of surface dwellers, their might within the ocean is as overwhelming and oppressive as those who once tried to contain them.