The Undying South
Land of The Immortal King, Petri-Umur
The Undying South was formed in the aftermath of the Kanarosh Crisis after a cataclysm tore through the Weave, the very fabric of magic. To this day it is still not known what caused this cataclysm, but it filled the jungles with eldritch terrors and horrifying arcane dangers. This caused the fracturing of the Southlands into the two nations it has become today, the Southern Union and the Undying South. The Undying South holds the jungles and deserts of the ancient kingdom and its name is well deserved. The Undying South is ruled by King Petri-Umur, and has been since he rose from his Pyramid in PR.2934. No-one is sure what Petri-Umur actually is. He looks and acts human, yet he is thousands of years old and never ages, and protects his kingdom through the use of Skeletal armies raised from the sites of ancient battlefields. Despite all this, he is a fair King, and he treats with other nations as equals, giving and taking where necessary. He rules from the ancient city of San-Jiren, at the centre of which is his pyramid.
Structure
The King is the absolute authority in the Undying South, advised by his close council.
Culture
The people of the Undying South are loyal and hardy. Life in the jungles can be harsh, with the nighttime hours filled with terror and monsters, and the days in the blistering heat of Ashikar Desert can be just as dangerous. Despite the skeleton armies of their king, many Southlanders know how to defend their home themselves. The kingdom is predominantly human, but life in the Undying South can be rewarding for any with the perseverance to survive both the dangers and ancient traditions, as the Jungles and Desert hide great untapped riches.
Demography and Population
The vast majority of the populace in the Undying South are human, but in recent years there has been a serious uptick in the amount of Tieflings being born, many to entirely human parents. Scholars are unsure of the cause of this sudden demographic shift, but many theorise that it is linked to the Cataclysm that preceded the split of the Southlands. Other races can also be found here in small amounts, as many come to seek the treasure and wealth the jungles and deserts hide.
The people of the Undying South live primarily in the large cities along the Jungle edges, of which San Jiren is the largest, although a great many people brave the smaller settlements within the jungle itself, and plantations litter the southern coastline.
Territories
The vast sweeping expanse of the Southlands Jungle takes up almost three quarters of the Undying South, with the huge, lone mountain - The Khan's Foot - in the centre of it. The very Western reaches of the land is swallowed by the searing heat of the Ashikar desert. These lands have been in possession of the people here in one way or another for thousands of years, long before the Southlands split in two. Indeed, Petri-Umur once ruled the lands in the very beginning, in his first life. So, in a way, these lands have always been his to rule.
Military
The Undying South sits in a very unique situation with regards to military prowess. It has no standing military, content on letting it's town watches and city guard keep the people safe. But, when trouble calls, Petri-Umur can, through means unknown, resurrect entire legions of bodies to fight for their ancestral lands. Many suspect the king has some sort of pact with The Ferrywoman, or The Guard, to allow him to do this. Regardless, this has led many in the Undying South to act in an extreme form of Ancestor Worship as they do not just believe, but KNOW that their ancestors can defend the land. Indeed, many in the kingdom give their dead to the so-called 'Mortis Barracks' where the dead are preserved and armed, ready to rise should their country need them.
Technological Level
The rest of the world considers The Undying South to be rather backwards. Indeed, King Petri-Umur is loathe to allow much in the way of technological advance, preferring instead to trust in magic, and the strength of his subjects. This has put him at loggerheads with the Legion Of Progress, who would love to have their Legio Mercia explore the jungles of his land.
Religion
The Undying South follows The Pantheon, the main religion on Caeteria. The pay special homage to both The Ferrywoman, and The Guard, as well as to The Stag. One feature of note of religion in The Undying South is the steady replacement of Ancestor Groves with Mortis Barracks. These specialist graveyards preserve and arm the dead, ready for them to rise and serve their country should they be needed. While the Ancestor Trees here remain, instead of hanging bones of the deceased from them, people in the Undying South tend to hang a clay lantern, painted with the face of the deceased instead, to represent their spirit.
Foreign Relations
While many view The Undying South with suspicious, if not downright hostile, eyes, the kingdom itself is fairly peaceable in it's outlook. King Petri-Umur is happy to concentrate on keeping his own borders secure and encouraging cordial trade with his neighbors.
Agriculture & Industry
The wheels of industry in The Undying South turn slowly. Indeed, Petri-Umur is loathe to allow much progress in that regard, preferring instead to rely in the strength and will of his people. To this end, the baseline industries of the nation are booming, in particular the business of growing exotic fruits - Oranges, Pineapples, Mangoes, and Papaya to name but a few. There are also those that make good money from the trade of carcasses of the many dangerous beasts that prowl the jungles.
Trade & Transport
Within the borders of the country, trade happens primarily overland via roads, with a few merchants using the rivers as well. Overseas trade happens in the form of large caravans travelling overland, or merchant vessels contracted in the large coastal cities of San Alvez and San Heroz.
Education
The vast majority of people here are uneducated, with most only learning the skills they need for their profession. The upper strata of society here can, and often do, employ private tutors, or send their children to the Academy in San Jiren if they show magical prowess.
Maps
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The Undying South
The Undying South, on the Continent of Hestoria, PR.3125.
Founding Date
PR.2934
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Demonym
Southlander
Leader
Leader Title
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Palace economy
Major Exports
With it's vast swathes of plantations, The Undying South has become a net exporter of fruits, specifically those of an exotic variety. In addition, many people pay good coin for pelts taken from the dangerous beasts that roam the Southlands Jungle.
Major Imports
The Undying South lacks hard wearing minerals, such as Iron, and the Clans of the Bastion Mountain Dwarves have struck a very lucrative deal with the Kingdom to send them their wares. There is also great demand amongst the nobles of the country for artifacts emerging from the ruins newly revealed in The New North of Hisenor, and many a merchant has made a fortune shipping them in over such a vast distance.
Legislative Body
King Petri-Umur is the absolute authority in the Undying South, and he sets all laws himself, with a little aid from his council of advisors.
Judicial Body
The Undying South has a series of Royal Heralds who are in charge of City and Town watch forces, who are responsible for the deployment and enforcement of the law.
Official State Religion
Location
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
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