Alone among the nations of Demia, Estico does not prohibit the worship of any gods. Indeed, Yeathan is one of the country's patron deities, revered for his strength and ability in war. Might often makes right in Estico. Though there are laws in the land, disputes are often settled through physical combat. Hemmed by the Sea of Misfortune to the east, the Lenoir River to the north and west and the coursing Oricho River to the south, the land is divided in two by the northern reach of the towering Cervera Range.
A blue dragon makes its home in the Southern Wastes, and a red dragon is rumoured to live somewhere in Estico, having forged an agreement with the mad king.
Government
Estico is, in practice, largely anarchic. Might is valued above all, and the most powerful and dangerous of Estics is the High King. There are a number of individuals in Estico who claim the title of King, but should the High King wish it, they all bend knee to him in matters of state and war. The Kings of Estico are all but autonomous in other matters, and will fight among each other for territory and wealth.
Estico is a predominantly fertile land, its mountains rich with ore and temperate grasslands perfect for cultivation of crops and livestock. Estican values, however, mean the grasslands often go to waste. Ore is valued because it can be used to make weapons, armor and jewellery, but people who tend the land are viewed as weak. Estic kings trade with or raid border settlements of foreign nations for food. The most powerful and wealthy Estics have farms tended by slaves and jealously guarded by warrior-lords.
These warriors essentially make up the aristocratic class of Estico. Unlike the elegance that is intrinsic to the nobility of many other nations, these lords care little for manners. In Estico, nobility is claimed by might, and it gives warlords the right to take as they see fit. Political maps of Estico are all but impossible to accurately depict because of this; territories are disputed regularly.
Military
While Arland and Armonda both have larger militaries, most Demians agree that it is the Estic military that is the most fearsome. It is true they have little in the way of arcane soldiery, but their fearless tactics and ferocity in battle often make up for it. While many Estics are employed as mercenaries, true members of the national army have survived a harsh training regime that is designed to eliminate the fear of death.
Estico has a naval force, though it is a shadow of its former glory. With Demia mostly at peace, privateers and pirates sail the coast of the country. Naval officers turn a blind eye to raiding of Ordon coast villages and zulga settlements on the three islands.
Population
80% human, 5% orc, 10% half-orc, 5% other.
Culture
Estics have a general disdain for any magic beyond the kind with a purely martial use. While magic is not particularly rare (or at least no rarer than any other nation), there are no formal schools in Estico, nor are there the master-pupil relationships common in Illyria. Magic in Estico is something that is largely self discovered and taught. With this single-minded focus on strength, it is no wonder that there are many Estic mercenaries and warriors among the ranks of Demian militaries. Their ferocity is legendary, though their loyalty is often called into question, and there are many stories of Estic turncoats.
Pelts, ivory, and items crafted from animal bone are Estico's largest exports. Though they mine a decent amount of ore, their warlike nature as a nation demands that they import steel and iron. Most of these metals come from Arland. Though many Ordons are reluctant to deal with Estics, there is a decent amount of Ordon magical items in Estico. Whether they are there due to trade or the activity of Estic pirates, however, is anyone's guess.
It is said that Estics put as much stock in bragging as they do in brawling. When they are not fighting, many Estics can be found in pubs and taverns drinking and spinning stories that are often more false than true. There is no real social differences between the sexes in Estico; an individual is judged on their actions alone. If a woman fights better than a man, she is stronger. While Ordon and Arlish alike may look down on such 'uncivilised' behaviour, the Kelsetans and Estics are alike in this.
Religious Practices
As a general rule, Estics disdain reliance on divinities. Most acknowledge their existence but live their lives through their own strength. Nonetheless, there is an annual tournament held in the name of Xirchiriog and Yeathan in which warriors may swear their performance in battle to one of the two gods. It is a bloody, week-long thing held in the Grand Coliseum in Iber. Vengeance, like combat, is considered a divine practice, and the few native-born Estic 'priests' are more like assassins or thugs who, for a fee, will carry out vengeance upon the object of an individual's ire.
This is not to say that there are no temples within Estico, though there are more temples abandoned to nature than ones that see active use. These temples are most often run by immigrants. There are some Estics who seek to further their power through divine or infernal means. Famed more for their impatience than their ability to plan, those who turn to the darker paths for power often enact dark rituals in desecrated temples to summon demons from the hells and form pacts with them. Though such practices are illegal in any other nation, they are accepted in Estico.
Estic Characters
Estic characters are usually strong, either physically or magically. This is a product of the harsh, might-makes-right culture that permeates the kingdom. This also breeds a certain rash violence within many individuals, making it difficult for people of more genteel nations to interact with them. Estics are very rarely healers or scholars. Most are soldiers, either within the myriad armies of warlords or traveling warriors loyal to coin and chance.
Comments