Asante

Asante is a new country formed from the state of the same name when the country of Voldanova fell. During the war with Mordentum the city of Vaneca, now the capital of Asante, was a moderate size town that was working to become a trade hub between the frontier city-states and the southern countries of Jorrey and Zamorra as well as far away Lakota. It was not having much success as its indifference to the border events with Ilaerothil affected its relations with Jorrey and Zamorra, both allies of the elves. Asante eagerly joined Voldanova and sent many ships and fighters to the war effort. The fall of Voldanova threw the country into disarray. With the experienced warriors away to the west the lands were left to be managed and protected by inexperienced second and third sons, or retainers. Suddenly they were ruling their lands, and the country. Ego's and aggression threw the country into civil war. The weakened state of skilled fighters turned the civil war into a set of skirmishes between small forces, rarely more than a dozen men. It wasn't possible to seige a town with the men available. The civil war became a series of raids doing little more than weakening the populace. Within two years all raiding had stopped as any village or settlment bordering two lords was destroyed and the remaining forces avoided contact for fear of being weakened and attacked by other lords. The country had fallen into a series of city-states and independant villages.
Into this gap sailed a pirate captain named Victor Codona. His five ships sailed into Vaneca in the dead of night and within hours his hundred men had either slain or captured the remaining nobility. They did no damaged to the town, being careful to only attack specific targets and people, leaving the general populace, and the merchant resources, untouched. In the morning he summoned the most powerful merchants and craftsman and announced that he was the new king of Asante. He vowed to stabilize the country, bring the fractured towns and villages together, and turn Asante into a trade center. The residents could do little but agree.
Victor Codona was a survivor of the war with Mordentum and the Beheading of Voldanova. During the war he was a captain in the navy and commanded three ships. His origins are unknown but there is some conjecture that he was a merchant captain from Pella that turned pirate when Mordentum took that land. He sailed, with his three ships, to Santori and joined the Voldanova when the war began. When Mordentum attacked the city he was in the palace with all of the other lords and captains. He fought his way to the docks and was able to escape with two ships, the third being set ablaze by an elemental. He returned to Santori and over the intervening years built a fleet of five ships.
King Codona fulfilled almost all of his vows. He stabilized the country through force and intimidation. After the long time of conflict many of the village and town leaders were eager for a reason to end the fighting. The clear threat of the King's forces was reason enough. Within three years the country was once again whole, though not yet prosperous, or a trade center.
Codona was quick to court the queen of Malacca. His charm and rakish bearing made him popular in the Malacca court. In truth the queen had little time for relationships and did not trust him. His efforts were unsuccessful and he eventually tired of visits. Relations with Malacca have been neutral. Asante often acts as a sort of coast guad for both Malacca and Asante, chasing pirates from Santori away when they get too aggressive. It was those same pirates that finally ended his rule. Following an unsuccessful diplomatic visit to Astarga his fleet was attacked and sunk.
Codona had a son, Luca, spawn of a daliance he had during the war with Mordentum, that had grown up with him after he restored Asante. Luca was crowned king following the death of his father. He echoed his fathers vow to turn Asante into a trade center and began work to establish relationships with the southern nations, much like his father had attempted.
To the east of Asante is the country of Natria. When Victor Codona began his quest to unite Asante he considered the lands of Natria to be part of that effort. His was quite surprised when his troops approached the city of Ontur and were met in the field by an army of dwarves. Clearly outnumbered he turned to diplomacy in an attempt to charm, or intimidate, the king of Natria. All efforts were rebuffed and he was told to withdraw his troops and take no further aggression against Natria. He left the field, returning to his lands, and silently vowed that he would, some day, take the city of Natria. During his reign he would occassionally asign some misbehaving lord to raid into Natria and test their defences. These raids were rarely successful and often completely destroyed. Relations with Natria remain aggressive as King Luca has done little to improve them but has not declared any further raids.
Relations with the elves of Ilaerothil have been stressed and remain tense. While the border of Asante presses across the land bridge to the forest of Ilaerothil it does not touch the elven forest. The land bridge is a no-mans land, claimed by none, and unpopulated except by various creatures. This has not stopped adventurers and malcontents from travelling across the bridge and into the fringes of the elven forests in search of treasures or magic rumored to be held there. The elves are forced to maintain an active patrol on their border and have had skirmishes, oftimes violent. In Victor Codona's time the elves sent messengers entreating the king to stop these raids. Victor viewed the elves, and the border, as a way to rid his country of malcontents at little cost to himself, and ignored the elves requests. Luca has not taken time to consider the situation. Stressed by his duties he has taken little time to consider the effect his relationship with the elves is having on his efforts to foster trade.

Government

Monarchy

Ruled By

King Luca Codona

Capital

Vaneca

Population

Human

Languages

Chuvash, Trade Common

Religion

Any, no public evil

Allies

None

Enemies

Natria, Ilaerothil Elves (hostility due to pressure on forest borders)

Notables

None