Sondur

Sondur expands a large portion of central Ivalice and boasts the highest population of all nations, including the most populous city in Carth, Vagrend. Sondur is home to large expansive plains perfect for grazing cattle, but not as fertile as the lands in Fovhram. A warmer climate, the country is known to host many thunderstorms, and tornadoes are a common sight here. Sondur worship The Braves alone.

Structure

Sondur is a theocratic monarchy, ruled by a devout King Harman. Religion and royalty are one in the same, and the royal line are typically seen as demi-gods. Sondur still follow some old Garillean military customs, having the role of Stentorian given to a high ranking military official. This role holds ultimate power, seconded only to the king himself. The title is currently held by Farex Lore.
Sondur works on a Feudal system, with the King holding absolute power. Major towns and cities are divvied up between the Greater Noble Houses. These Lords look over the surrounding lands and their respective fiefs - the castles and villages. The castles are owned by Counts, and while the Lords might be higher in rank and wealth, it is the Counts that uphold the law around the land. These noble Houses provide grand wealth, loyalty, support, and military forces for the king. Perhaps the most well known Count of Sondur is Count Orlandu, referred to as T.G. Cid. Below them are Barons, who live in and look after the villages. Unlike Counts, Barons aren't required to have any military education, and are often keen merchants and tradesmen. While Counts and Lords are monarchal, baronship are not restricted to this. Barons may name a valid heir, but they don't always have the wealth and means to sustain a stable family. As such, it is commonplace for a Baron House to be replaced with another, via purchasing the title, a vote or from the Count directly.

Culture

Sondur lies in the middle of Ivalice. As such it has become a popular place for many different races to come and trade, or to even call home. Vagrend and Warjilis Port City became highly popular destinations, with high numbers of tortols from the north, elves from the west, dwarves from the mountains, and lizardfolk from the east. This acceptance of other races spread across Carth, and more families from further across the Discovered World all relocated to these growing cities. Soon, they became a metropolis of mixed cultures. Dorter Trade City is also quite diverse, but not for familial reasons. Dorter has become a muddy stain of a town filled with black market trades of illegal foreign goods. These include heirlooms, artifacts, or items that hold significant religious or cultural value. The town - being so close to the national border - attracts many foreign races hoping to make a quick bargain.

History

Before humans arrived to Ivalice, the lands of modern day Sondur were mostly inhabited by wildlife, such as horses, lions, and the national animal of Sondur, the black bull. There were few sentient species, with the dwarves keeping to the mountains, and a few bands of halflings on the north-western outskirts. During Ajora's travels around the continent, the saint and his Braves travelled east until they reached Lake Gallant, which they believed to be the edge of the land. They turned around back towards their initial landing site on the shores of Altuza, the Rising Star. After the Grand Elf migration, a steady population of humans would migrate from Garriland to Ivalice, many of them to the stormstruck plains of Sondur. This came to be a rather attractive place to move to, as the vast plains were perfect for cattle grazing, and was basically uninhabited by locals. Most of the land was unchallenged, save for the swamps surrounding Dorter Trade City, which was home to a number of local lizardfolk from the east. Many families would move here and claim a homestead and some land, slowly building a name for themselves.

Military

As per ancient Garrillean custom, the military is run by the Stentorian - a title given to the King's second, and is only given to someone who not only has proved their person combat prowess, but also shows high education, fields including finance, military maneuvers, history, religion, science etc. It is rare to see all these traits in a single person, and as such the position is held in such high regard.
The Stentorian may typically be the mastermind of a military campaign, but it is common to see a Lord or even a Count as marshall. Lords will have a large retinue of knights and soldiers of their own, boasting legions born and bred in their own large cities. If these numbers grow too big for a single Lord to command, they will delegate some command to the Counts, who will already be leading their own varying number of men. Each soldier will report to the respective Count in charge of their land, who will then report to the ruling Lord. The Lords will mostly report to the Stentorian, and rarely the King. In short, the chain of command starting from the bottom goes from soldier, to sergeant, to knight, to Count, to Lord, the Stentorian, and finally to the King himself.
The strength of the Sondur army come from their mounted knights. The Great Plains of Sondur are flat and vast, perfect for a charging mount, and is also a natural place for these mounts to live and breed. The first Sondurans adopted this idea of local mounts, and have since become masters of the trade. They say no knight is as devastating as a mounted knight from Sondur. This isn't restricted to just horses either. It is common to see a knight on a chocobo - faster and more agile on rough terrain than a horse, yet are not as sturdy and heavy as one, and so would be more suitable for a scout or light horseman than a cavalry charge. The most elite knights have the opportunity to become an esteemed Bull Knight - arguably one of the most elite fighters in Carth and certainly the most frightening. These crack warriors don horned plate armor and ride an armoured Black Bull. These bulls are not as fast as a horse, but deal a lot more damage, particularly useful against heavy infantry.

Mythology & Lore

The common Sonduran believes in Saint Ajora and his Zodiac Braves. Yet unlike the kingdoms, Sondur believes the Saint to be evil, and worship the Braves alone as the true Heroes of Ivalice. It is the belief of Sondur that before humans migrated from Garriland to Ivalice, that Ajora was sent by the devils to bring about the downfall of humans and elves alike - and he was manipulating the people into believing he was a kind and just man. It was soon after the Braves had returned to Mullonde from their journey in Ivalice that they found out Ajora's true plot - to which they murdered him to save the people. Those who believed this were cast out of Garriland, and found their way into modern day Sondur, where they still believe this story about Ajora.

In hope we trust. In faith we defend. The Braves I will preserve.

The Bull Knight is an accomplished and feared knight known throughout the continent - and a title gained only by the most elite. Charging into the battlefield on top of a furious armored bull, they may not be as fast as a traditional horse knight, they are far more devastating and instill fear into enemy lines.

Capital

Vagrend

Training Level

Professional

Veterancy Level

Veteran

Demonym

Sonduran

Head of State

Farex Lore

Head of Government

King Harman

Government System

Monarchy, Theocratic

Power Structure

Feudal state

Official State Religion

The Zodiac Braves