Velath (VEH-lath)

The desert lands of Velath are home to wonders and terrors alike, bringing fortune to the ambitious and an unceremonious end to the unwary. It is ruled by the Conclave, a council of powerful mages who each further their own agendas while occasionally collaborating for the sake of the nation. The Conclave is overseen by Vendrakalika, a sorceress of immense power who is purported to be an ancient amethyst dragon, though other countries dismiss this as propaganda intended to ward off potential invaders. Whatever the truth may be, Vendrakalika has ruled the Conclave as far back as written history goes, and so she does not appear to be bound by mortality.
Three centuries ago, Velath attempted to invade the Bastion Kingdom for reasons unknown. Tales tell of Vendrakalika revealing her crystaline dragon form and laying waste to hundreds of troops with every breath, but as a terrible and brutal victory seemed imminent, the armies of Velath retreated and returned home without explanation. Historians agree that the combined armies of Bastion, Aldania and Esterland were outmatched by Vendrakalika and her forces, and to this day the entire war and its outcome remain a mystery. The official stance of the Conclave is that they achieved their goals, though they refuse to discuss what those goals were or how they were achieved. The fortress of Ashton's Pass and the Tower of Vigilance were built as a response by Bastion, but they were unnecessary as Velath became insular and almost apologetic over the course of 200 years. Eventually trade and relations resumed between Velath and the rest of Galania, and today Ashton's Pass is one of the most prosperous trade routes in the world.

The Conclave

Vendrakalika the Amethyst One - The head of the Conclave and the de-facto leader of Velath. Resides in the Amethyst Palace in Tal Jalarat. On her rare appearances outside of the palace, she wears amethyst robes.
Reshan, Lord of Radiance - Vendrakalika's public representative and overseer of Velath's treasury. Resides in the House of Abundance, an unimaginably vast maze of goods, treasures and artifacts which acts as both a market and a temple to Joliath. It is said that its myriad halls contain anything one desires, given enough time to search for it. Wears golden robes.
Zestraj the Doomspring - The most feared member of the Conclave and a dangerous, reckless necromancer who surrounds himself with an army of undead slaves in the ruins of Het Na Gul. Is tolerated by the rest of the Conclave for supplying his undead as slave labour, considered marginally more ethical than using living slaves. Wears black robes.
Maekili the Stormsinger - A vain, flamboyant wizard who named his fortress city after himself. Calls himself the Stormsinger for his ability to summon rain around the city, which makes the land arable. Considers himself responsible for Velath's prosperity and is not ashamed to flaunt it. Wears royal blue robes.
Neema the Verdant Queen - The only druidic member of the Conclave, Neema is a force to be reckoned with. She surrounds Ti Jarah with untamed woods which provide natural bounties to her people. Her home, known as the Rooted Hall, is carved from the hollow of a gargantuan tree just north of the town. Wears green robes.
Wahira the Starbinder - An elf of an age beyond reckoning, Wahira spends her time contemplating esoteric matters such that she claims to weave the strands of fate written in the stars to her will. She resides in the Astral Gazer, an astronomy tower in Tal Mulnah. Wears silver robes.
Balthazar the Flamedancer - Few would call Balthazar a pyromaniac to his face, but none are in doubt that his love of creating and manipulating fire goes beyond academic research. His value to the Conclave goes beyond simply burning enemies, though, as he is also a gifted illusionist and diplomat whose careful dance between fiery charm and imposing menace makes him a perfect host for foreign dignitaries passing through Makhfa Muzalat on their way to and from the capital. Balthazar resides in the Mirage Palace, a castle of his own arcane creation which simply vanishes when he is done with it. Wears red robes.

Settlements

The capital of Velath is the oasis city of Tal Jalarat ("The Jewel"). It is a place of wondrous buildings and magic, exotic goods and creatures for sale and ancient secrets lost beneath winding streets. At the heart of the city is the breathtaking Amethyst Palace, built entirely of its crystal namesake, and in it lives Vendrakalika, who is worshipped as a demigod by her subjects.
The first port of call for visitors to Velath is usually Maekili, named for the Conclave mage who rules over the city from his great citadel of Ob Rahsa ("Cloud Piercer"). Trade rules here, with magically-created grasslands, cooler climate and impressive views of Shimmershift Bay making it a welcome respite from the desert sands for travellers. Much of Velath's military is garrisoned in Maekili, though they are untested in war and take a more ceremonial role now.
The port village of Halhat ("South Port") overlooks the Muzaflot Sea and is the only place where ships sail to the island of Chekret Jetarr. The sailors who make the crossing tell of haunting, beautiful songs that carry across the water, and that still winds mean the Merfolk are coming for you.
In the centre of Velath is the town of Makhfa Muzalat ("Respite on the Songbird River"), a shady resting point on the long, arduous road from Maekili to Tal Jalarat. The river provides a bounty of fish, which is the local delicacy, though most visitors are more interested in the mysterious Mirage Palace that appears out of nowhere and vanishes just as suddenly.
The crumbling towers and walls of Het Na Gul ("Ruins of the Underworld") are rarely approached by the living. Aside from the Conclave necromancer, Zestraj, all its residents are undead - mindless minions set to task by Zestraj for his own depraved ends, whatever they may be. His Guls can be found at work in various places across Velath, usually performing hard labour or other unpleasant tasks which even the poorest of poorfolk balk at.
Tal Mulnah ("The Starview") lies on the western edge of Velath, overlooking the Great Horizon. The skies rarely see clouds here, which makes it an ideal spot for stargazing - something taken to an advanced degree by Conclave mage Wahira, whose Astral Gazer astronomy tower is a feat of engineering and astonishing beauty. When she is not reading the stars, Wahira teaches both magic and science in the College of Clarity - one of the most prestigious centres of education in the world. Wahira runs a strict policy that no question is off-limits, which concerns some of her fellow Conclave mages who would prefer that their knowledge remained secret.
Across the bay from Tal Jalarat is the village of Tun Balat ("Bard's Town"), a site of pilgramage to many musicians across the world, as it is said to be the place where the goddess Heleth, the Beating Heart, sang purpose into the world. The Temple of Heleth is a small but famous monument to this tale, where music is played unceasingly through day and night. Any and all are welcome to join in the performance, though the High Bard Myrenat may gently encourage poor musicians to stop by giving them a few coins as a symbolic gesture.
On the northern peninsula of Velath is the forested town of Ti Jarah ("Eternal Balance"), home to the Conclave archdruid Neema, who brought an abundance of life to her barren corner of the desert. The Rooted Hall is the seat of her druidic circle, located inside the hollow of a tree so big that it can be seen from many miles away. Neema allows her town to trade in moderation, but forbids wealth hoarding out of a belief that it promotes inbalance. Tree felling and expansion of the town are also strongly monitored, much to the dismay of those who come to Ti Jarah seeking prosperity. It is a place where the precarious balance between nature and civilisation is observed and respected, and those who would upset that balance find themselves sent elsewhere.
In the punishing heat and aridity of the wasteland south of Tal Jalarat, there is a dark and perilous pit where the worst of Velathi society are sent to rot away their remaining days in the caves of Na Kasmut ("Underchasm"). Escape is unheard of, for even if a prisoner found a way back to the surface, the road north is guarded, the east consists of endless miles of impenetrable desert heat, the west is blocked by impassible mountains and cliffs and the south swarms with vicious beasts by land and air. Most prisoners of Na Kasmut simply accept their fate and attempt to integrate with whatever brutal society rules down there.

Type

Geopolitical, Magocracy