Nightsend

The Country Nightsend clings to the rocky shores along the south of the continent, caught between the forest and the sea.

Demographics

Most Nightsenders are dark-skinned, though there is still a wide range of variation. The small, dense cities contribute to a society without large class divides. This is further enforced by the knights' rejection of heritage or wealth for their members: the children of a courtier and carter can easily become brother and sister among the knights, and they will be treated equally among their new family.

Government

Nightsend is a monarchy, answering most often to a Queen, though it has had a few reigning Kings. The monarch is defended (both literally and in social terms) by the Brothers and Sisters of the Dragons.
The monarch also relies on their court for information and advice, notably the ministers assigned to oversee each function of government or civil concern.

Industry & Trade

Nightsend has been self-sufficient by necessity until recently, when sea trade was finally established with the North. They are able to export salt, honey, and coffee--the first two being much finer than that available in the North, and the latter being found only in the southern part of the forest. It can be dangerous to harvest, as there is not yet room for cultivated coffee farms, and it is only safe to injest from young trees, which have not yet built up dangerous amounts of the forest's magic.
For themselves, Nightsend grows and harvests a variety of fruit, and has a thriving fishing industry. They also raise some grain and sheep, but these are largely reserved for special occasions. People grow vegetables and some fruit in their home gardens, as well as herbs for seasoning and for medicinal or ritual purposes.

Infrastructure

Each city has three features in common:
A wall, with the construction increasing in quality for each city built, as there is better security and more advanced techniques available.
A keep, where the Brothers and Sisters of the Dragons coordinate security for that city against the threats of the forest.
Docks, which facilitate most of the travel and trade between the cities, as the sea is safer than the forest most of the year. The docks at Maran's Landing also receive trade from the Northern Empire.

Architecture

The cities of Nightsend are built in the ruins left when the ancient Marandri abandoned the South to the forest. The ruins are stone, finely built, with a lot of (now corroded) silver and bronze inlay, carvings, a graceful script that no one can properly read anymore, and all-but-worn-off paint. There are many statues and shrines to the old gods, left in varying conditions but now well cared for despite worship of the old gods being officially frowned upon.
Newer construction is tucked right in around the ruins, making use of ancient walls and foundations as much as possible. Most of it is wood, and now that paint can be imported from the North, it is becoming popular to paint the exteriors. Stone is also used, almost exclusively salvaged from ruins that were no longer stable.

Type

National Territory

Inhabitant Demonym

Nightsenders