The United Baronies of Wakanda
The Humans of Tenochyt have struggled against the unknowable threats of the jungle continent for millennia, eventually retreating to the highlands east of the river Mazona some six houndred years ago. Galvanized by the ever present threat of the western shadowlands, they have pushed the bounds of magic and craftsmanship to the highest the world has seen since the Gnomes of Zibidek.
Structure
Fourteen Baronies, united with a Defense Council to protect against outside threats. The council is made up of a representatives from each Barony, appointed by their respective Barons. An Initiator is selected from the fourteen Representors, to take the leadership in a crisis and coordinate the Barons.
Public Agenda
To defend and safeguard the Baronies of Wakanda
History
Prior to the formation of UBW, the continent of Tenochyt was home to many tribes and a few baronies, which spread out across the land. Minor wars and rivalries kept the land divided for centuries, until Bristol ships arrived from the north. A new trade exclusivity contract Bristol saw the Barony of Tiger prosper, which goaded several older Barons into attacking the Tiger Baron in a bid to keep him from becoming more powerful.
The Tiger-Pact war saw the Tiger Baron and his few tribal allies pitted against a defense pact made up of Elephant, Panther, Gorilla and Serpent Barons. Individually, they stood no chance, but together they were unstoppable, and swiftly began to overrun Tigers lines. Tiger was desperate, so he attempted a gamble. He borrowed a Bristillian ship and journeyed down the coast to Serpents Barony and kidnapped her daughter, making sure to leave a letter, promising to deliver the daughter to her on the battlefield, promising to share the contract of trade exclusivity with Bristol, provided that the Serpent Baroness dissolve her pact by any means necessary.
The Serpent was ruthless, poisoning her former allies Elephant and Panther, and severely wounding the Gorilla Duchess, who fled the betrayal to her highland fortress. Capitalizing on the disarray in the ranks, the Tiger Duke struck and defeated all who had aligned against him. True to his word, he returned Serpents daughter to her and even offered to fund the girls desire to acquire an education in the Bristol.
It was only ten years later when the Dark age began in Tenochyt. Much of the history from that time is lost, but what is known is this, Serpent Barony was utterly destroyed, her lands overrun by horrifying monsters, grey-elven assassins attacked in daylight and beasts of shadow preyed on the innocent by night. Some believed that it was a curse for Serpents betrayal, while others believed that Tiger had overestimated on a curse to keep Serpent from becoming more powerful then him; a notion that persists to this day and is likewise refuted by the Tiger Barons adamantly.
As the shadows began to expand into Tigers lands, he sought to make peace with his former enemies in a bid to halt the inexorably creeping horror that was on his lands in the west. He recognized the chieftains of Bat, Chimp, Crocodile, and Boa as equals and named them Barons in their own right. They rallied to his cause, but still it was not enough. Swallowing his pride, Tiger journeyed to the headwaters of the Mazona river to treat with his former adversary, Gorilla. He brought the captured spoils of their former conflict; slaves, jewelry, weapons, and family shields. He then knelt in front of Gorilla and admitted his shame for coercing betrayal. Gorilla herself couldn't rise to address him, but her son could and he proclaimed the wisdom of Tigers reticence and vowed to aid in the conflict. Gorilla brought her allies, Panther and Elephant into the new pact and like Tiger recognized Ibis, Jackal, Rhino and Spider chiefs as Barons.
The Shadow was held at the river, and over the years fewer survivors made it to what was now called the Baronies of Wakanda. Then, in 168 DA, two tribes emerged from the jungle and crossed the river. They were given lands in the south next to the Gorilla tribe and were recognized as Scorpion and Baboon. They told of a hidden Queen of the Shadows who controlled the Shadowlands on a god-like scale.
It was 181 DA when an ambassador of this Queen arrived to speak with the Dukes. He claimed that they were free to live on her continent and promised that she had no interests in their squabbles, so long as they kept to the eastern side of the Mazona river. This is the only communication that the Dukes of Wakanda ever received from her.
In the centuries since, several institutions have been set up to foster unity among the tribes. The Grand Army of Wakanda was the first of these joint endeavors, filling the niche of standing army and civic service.
Another organization that swiftly followed was the order Grand Medics, a group dedicated to the advancement of magic and technologies. The Medics are also hold and enforce the distribution of vibranium and adamantium amongst the barons, as well as the prospecting of this rare mineral.
Vigilant in the Night
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Demonym
Wakandanse
Government System
Stratocracy
Economic System
Market economy
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