Aressea, Jewel of Oolene
Aressea is a wealthy island nation, known as the Jewel of Oolene due to its breathtaking beauty and reputation as a playground for the rich and powerful. The capital city of Aressea is Moncacuse, and the population of the nation is approximately 4.65 million.
Aressea's economy is based on three main pillars: tourism, airship building, and the black market. The nation's coastline is dotted with cities of debauchery, including casinos, brothels, and other venues that cater to the wildest of desires. The tourists who flock to Aressea for entertainment and relaxation are an important source of revenue, but it is the black market that truly fills the coffers of the nation's oligarchs, the Diet of Ravens, a group of the richest and most powerful Aressean elite. From their hallowed halls they plot and scheme both with and against each other, while keeping the cities of Oolene focused only on the thrills of today. Illegal magical artifacts, weapons, and slaves are just some of the items that can be found in the dark bazaars of Aressea's underworld.
In addition to its black market activities, Aressea is also known for its airship construction industry. The island nation has a near-monopoly on the building of airships, which has helped to fuel its economic growth and power. Rumor has it that the secret of air travel was stolen from Oolene herself by a clever member of the Diet of Ravens, but no one among their number would ever admit to such a daring heist.
Aressea's population is predominantly made up of tieflings, kenku, genasi, and aasimar, with a minority of other races. The people of Aressea, at least those who aren't slaves or servants, are generally untrusting and greedy, always looking out for themselves and searching for ways to turn a profit. The most common professions in Aressea include charlatans, criminals, merchants, fences, gamblers, and sex workers.
The religion of Aressea is centered around the Brisingelion, a faith that venerates the goddess Oolene. Devotion to Oolene is nearly universal in Aressea, with the goddess seen as the patron of pleasure and excess.
Overall, it seems like Aressea is a nation full of contradictions and complexities, where the glamorous exterior masks a darker underbelly of greed, deceit, and danger.
The Diet of Ravens
The Diet of Ravens is the secretive governing body of Aressea, comprised of twelve oligarchs who hold the reins of power in the nation. They are the puppet-masters of the economy, the military, and the culture of Aressea, controlling the destiny of the island nation with an iron fist. Each member of the Diet of Ravens is shrouded in secrecy, known only by their titles and their influence. They meet in secret locations, behind closed doors, and make decisions that affect the lives of millions of Aresseans without any public input. Their true identities and motives are unknown to the general population, and even to many of their subordinates. The Diet of Ravens is not a democratic institution, nor is it a representative one. It is a plutocracy, ruled by the wealthy and powerful who control the majority of the nation's resources. The oligarchs use their wealth and influence to maintain their power, often resorting to deceit, coercion, and even violence to protect their interests. The oligarchs of the Diet of Ravens are ruthless and cunning, always scheming against each other and against external threats. They have long memories and do not forgive those who cross them. Yet they are also intelligent and resourceful, able to adapt to changing circumstances and exploit new opportunities. Despite their power and influence, the Diet of Ravens is not a monolithic entity. Each member has their own agenda and priorities, and they often clash with each other over matters of strategy and tactics. This ruthless internal competition keeps the oligarchs on their toes and ensures that no one member can become too powerful. Although much of their true identities and motivations are shrouded in secrecy, here are descriptions of each of the oligarchs based on the rumors and whispers that circulate throughout Aressea:- The Raven Prince: The Raven Prince is said to be the most powerful member of the Diet of Ravens, possessing vast wealth and influence that he uses to maintain his grip on Aressea. He is rumored to have an army of assassins and spies at his command, and is not afraid to use them to eliminate his rivals.
- The Mistress of Secrets: The Mistress of Secrets is a master of espionage and information gathering, with a vast network of informants and spies at her disposal. She is known to be extremely cunning and manipulative, and is rumored to have dirt on many of her fellow oligarchs.
- The Golden Serpent: The Golden Serpent is a master of finance and economics, with his fingers in many of Aressea's most lucrative businesses. He is said to be extremely wealthy, with a private army of bodyguards and mercenaries to protect him.
- The Master of Games: The Master of Games is the ultimate gambler, with a reputation for never losing a bet. He is said to be extremely wealthy, and to have a vast network of contacts throughout Aressea's underworld. As his title suggests, he is responsible for overseeing the gambling industry in the country, which is one of the three pillars of Aressea's economy. In addition to his responsibilities in the gambling industry, the Master of Games is also responsible for overseeing the organization of all games and competitions held within the country. This includes everything from sports tournaments to beauty pageants to political debates. He is meticulous in his planning and execution of these events, ensuring that they are fair, entertaining, and profitable.
- The Harbinger: The Harbinger is a master of divination and prophecy, and is said to be able to see the future with unnerving accuracy. He is rumored to be very reclusive, and only emerges from his hidden lair when he has a dire warning to share with the Diet. He maintains deep connections with the illegal magical underground of Aressea.
- liaison
- The Serene One: The Serene One is said to be the calm and rational voice of the Diet of Ravens, using his wisdom and intelligence to guide the oligarchs towards sensible decisions. He is rumored to be a master strategist, able to see several steps ahead of his rivals.
- The Enforcer: The Enforcer is the muscle of the Diet of Ravens, with a vast army of mercenaries and thugs at his disposal. He is rumored to be brutal and sadistic, and to have a particular fondness for using violence to solve problems. If there was a single crime lord ruling all of the gangs and crews of Aressea, it would be the Enforcer.
- The Artificer: The Artificer is a master craftsman and inventor, with a reputation for creating magical artifacts of immense power and complexity. He is said to be reclusive and secretive, and very protective of his creations. While he maintains interests in every area of Aressea's manufacturing sectors, he has has been unable to gain any influence whatsoever in the air ship industry. This has led to something of a cold war between him and the Lord of the Skies.
- The Queen of Shadows: The Queen of Shadows is a powerful necromancer, with a vast army of undead at her command. She is said to be feared and respected by her fellow oligarchs, as well as the criminal underworld of Aressea.
- The Lord of the Skies: The Lord of the Skies is the master of airship technology, with a near-monopoly on the construction and sale of airships in Aressea. He is known for his charismatic personality and his love of adventure. Rumors suggest that he is a skilled pilot that was once an officer in the Aressean military and that he often takes to the skies on his personal airship, the Silver Wing, to explore the skies above Aressea and beyond. The Lord of the Skies is fiercely protective of Aressea's airship industry and is not afraid to take action against those who threaten it. He is also a shrewd businessman and is known for his ability to negotiate lucrative deals for the Diet of Ravens. Many in Aressea consider him to be one of the most powerful members of the ruling body, and his influence is felt throughout the nation.
- The High Priestess: The High Priestess is a devout follower of the Brisingelion, and wields immense spiritual power in Aressea. She is said to have a vast following of devotees, who will do anything to carry out her will. Whether through love or fear, she controls the bureaucracy of Aressea's many churches and the power they wield over the faithful.
The Laws of Magic
- Officially, Arcane, Divine, and Natural Magic are all generally legal.
- Necromancy requires difficult to get licenses.
- Magic that comes from pledging oneself to Outsiders or agents of the Primordials is strictly illegal.
- Sorcerers are viewed with distrust and fear by some, but accepted by others.
- The reality is that the seedy underbelly of Aressea hides all manner of “illegal” magic users that most turn a blind eye towards.
Structure
Secular Hierarchy
- Raven
- Crow
- Rook
- Magpie
Demography and Population
Population: approx. 4,650,000
Demographics:
- Tieflings 28%
- Kenku 25%
- Genasi 21%
- Aasimar 16%
- Misc. 10%
Religion
Aressea maintains a nearly universal devotion to Oolene, Lady of the Moons.
Foreign Relations
Aressea's relationships with Avamast and Isill are complex and somewhat secretive. The island nation is located between the Desolation of Namhala and the northern continent, with Isill to the east and Avamast to the distant southwest.
Aressea has a history of hostility towards Isill, which has led to frequent naval skirmishes between the two nations. The exact reasons for this hostility are rooted firmly in Isill's fanatic zeal for Oros, though it is believed to also stem from territorial disputes over the waters surrounding Aressea. The Diet of Ravens has been known to finance pirate raids on Isillan ships, which has only worsened the tension between the two nations.
On the other hand, Aressea has been rumored to have some kind of alliance or close relationship with Avamast. The exact nature of this relationship is unknown, as the Diet of Ravens keeps their diplomatic ties with other nations a closely guarded secret. Some speculate that Aressea may be providing Avamast with illegal goods or services, while others believe that the two nations may be cooperating on military or intelligence operations.
Despite the secrecy surrounding their relationships with other nations, Aressea is known to be heavily involved in the black market, and their illegal activities have likely earned them both allies and enemies. The Diet of Ravens are shrewd politicians and businessmen, and they are always looking for ways to further their own interests, whether through legal means or not.
Priesthood
Religious Hierarchy
- Patriarch/Matriarch
- High Priest/Priestess
- Priest/Priestess
- Adept
Founding Date
2445 AS
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Demonym
Aressean
Ruling Organization
Government System
Oligarchy
Power Structure
Unitary state
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
Aressean Quills
Official State Religion
Deities
Location
Official Languages
Neighboring Nations
Comments