Desmodea
Among the red palms and the black agave, jutting out of the blood red sands lies the paradise that is Desmodea. Desmodea is a relatively large kingdom inhabited mostly by tieflings, who can handle the intense heat of the Infernal Desert much better than other races. Its people are as tough and hardy as the boiled stones of the desert. Yet, beneath the punishing sun lies a shimmering jewel. Luxury emanates from every city and small village that fights for survival among the scorched Blood Dunes. Many people travel to Desmodea on their to taste the black tequila, sample the red coffee, or sniff a bit of Desmodean spice. Its capital, Paradise City, is a vacation destination for the wealthiest of the world. They come to see fantastical plays in Desmodeas legendary theaters or to be treated as royalty in one of the many luxury hotels. Desmodeans themselves have a taste for fine dining, good liquor and delicious drama. They are a romantic people, who delight in the elaborate, and simple, pleasures of life. The fire of the desert burns deep within them. Between festivals and parties, they live and work in simple reverence of their good lives and try to stay out of the heat.
Structure
While Desmodea does have a royal family, they act less as rulers and more like cultural leaders. The royal family is expected to wear the latest fashion, attend the fanciest parties, and be the most graceful and eloquent of all Desmodeans. The royals are meant to represent the best of Desmodea to other nations as well as set an example for all citizens to strive for. Part of their royal duties is to travel from town to town, sometimes in disguise, and mingle with the average people to better understand their lives. As representatives of the citizens they do have the power to veto laws presented by the Senate if the laws are deemed to be harmful or detrimental to the people. This responsibility usually falls to the queen, but is relinquished to the king if the queen is unavailable. The Senate is comprised of 60 members, 2 representing each of Demodeas 30 provinces. Senators meet twice monthly to propose and discuss new laws. The queen's veto can be over-ruled by the Senate by a 3/4 vote if the law is determined to be for the overall well being of Desmodea. This could include a declaration of war or awarding more power to the queen in the event of some national emergency.
Culture
In any town in any province in Desmodea you will find the most gracious and grateful people.
Public Agenda
Decadance and pleasure are valued over all else. Going beyond simple physical pleasures, Desmodeans also relish in mental and spiritual delights in an attempt to live as happy and productive life as possible.
Assets
Desmodea's greatest asset is tourism. Millions of wealthy patrons migrate to Desmodea each year to sample its exotic foods, drinks and experiences. Some of its other major exports are a very malleable glass made from the desert sands, black tequila made from the black agave, meat from the giant beetles and of course, the strange and alluring spice.
History
Desmodea was founded by wealthy tieflings and their family after they had taken a trip to the Infernal Desert and discovered a small settlement of wayward tieflings living there already after they had been separated from their guide. The tieflings guided the family to their oasis where they fed and housed them for the night. These were tieflings that had been cast out of their societies and guided by fellow outcast tieflings to this safe haven in the desert. Their infernal heritage made it easier for them to adapt to the hot and dry climate which drove away so many of the other races. After finding this tribe, the wealthy family began giving them aid in the form of finances, supplies and healthcare having been touched by the tribes kindness and remembering the discrimination they had suffered in their past. Eventually the family built a palace in the desert and a thriving tiefling community formed around it. Other outcast tieflings from farther away lands began to flock to Desmodea in search of belonging. The settlement of Desmodea began to thrive financially when they began to exploit the unique features of the area such as the spice that is found in the sand that has special properties, the glass made from special sands, and rare unique plants like the black agave and the blood melon. The economic boom that followed allowed Desmodea to expand its territory and build grander and grander structures.
Territories
Desmodea occupies the westernmost penninsula of the hottest desert in the world; the Infernal Desert. To the north lies the highly trafficked Scottlefair Sea, an ancient sea long used by denizens of western Midlen. To the east, the Grablands, a hard pan of flat boiling rock punctuated here and there by wind worn towers of stratified rock, some hundreds of feet tall. The Grablands are inhabited mainly by violent orc tribes and sparse settlements of explorers and fortune seekers. To the south, the Central Sea over which Desmodea trades with the southern nations. And finally to the west lies the northern edge of the impassible Spinning Sea and beyond that the continent of SOMETHING.
Military
Desmodea is mainly a naval power commanding a sizable fleet of corsair ships that patrols the Scotlefair Sea, the north-eastern edge of the Spinning Sea and the Central Sea. Their army is smaller than most but Desmodea has the unique geographical defense that makes it practically impossible to invade by land. The intense heat of the Infernal Desert prevents any large army from first crossing the orc ridden Grablands and then crossing into Desmodean territory. Therefore, the Desmodean army is trained to survive and fight in the desert. Taking advantage of the terrain and wildlife, Desmodean soldiers can be devastating in relatively small numbers. There are stories of small platoons of Desmodean soldiers luring invading forces into territory infested with purple worms only to turn and watch as thousands of enemy soldiers are devoured. Astride their giant beetle mounts Desmodean soldiers run circles around mounted cavalry whose horses are dying of heat stroke. They patrol the skies atop giant vultures and tamed rocs as well as a small fleet of skyships.
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Alternative Names
The White Jewel of the Desert
Demonym
Desmodean
Government System
Democracy, Representative
Location
Related Ethnicities
