The Kingdom of Sandune

Culture

Sandari culture is heavily informed around being a nation of it's own and separating themselves from Shushar. This is why they are so keen on calling themself The Kingdom of Sandune. Many core aspects of Sandari culture also stem from native Sandari traditions. The Sandari people are very prideful in anything that is uniquely Sandari, they have their own mint and currency which is quite rare for a nation of their size. The Sandari people tend to like the Shu, but hate being compared to them. Shu traits are part of the conventionally attractive image and many admire these traits subconsciously; however many detest this norm and if someone looks too Shu they may be seen as a betrayer of Sandari values.

Assets

Navy - The Sandari is known for it's powerful naval force, they have the strongest Navy in Nalyth second only to Verunia. Gemstones - The rainforests and mines of Sandune Isle are dense with precious gemstones which help put Sadune on the economic map Safaie - A vibrant blue gemstone popular in crushed dyes, jewellery and used to brew teas which can effect memories. Safaie is sold for great profits and it only found on Sandune and the Southern Isles.

History

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A thousand years ago the Southern Isles were covered by enchanted jungles and filled with tabaxi and ancient tribes. In the old tradition the jungles were known to bestow innate magic on babies born in their midst. The Sorcerers of the Southern Isles became a significant force in the great war and one Tabaxi Sorcerer from among their ranks even sat on the Council. In the age since, the jungles remain a source of remnant power, and there have been accounts of possible sorcery coming from the jungle, but it's difficult to distinguish between fact and native myth.

Those who are known today as the Sandari people were once known as the Mantis Clan, they were the 8th great clan of Shushar in the early days of the Clan Wars. In the days of Saldanha the people who became the mantis were in charge of expansion and exploration, their force of expansion lead them to have among the greatest land claims in the years before their final expedition. In the second century, the Mantis cut ties fled the elderlands leaving behind the warring clans after finding a wealth of precious ores in the Sandune Island. They called themself Sandari, or the Kingdomers and became a minor power on the map owning territory spreading across the southern isles, but they abandoned the Mantis territory on mainland Shushar to the Crane Clan. In the years following The Kingdom of Sandune has developed it's own diplomatic relationships, trade, culture, currency and government and stands to be a nation of it's own in every sense. There was a time later in the clan wars that the Shu horse navy had tried to reconquer the Mantis but they lost that battle. In the early fifth century (future to chronicles of the phoenix), the Sandari went to war against Shushar, to reclaim the traditional territory of the Mantis Clan; however the Shu see it as foreigners trying to invade Shu traditional territory.

Territories

The Kingdom of Sandune occupies what was once known as the Southern Isles. The Sandune Isle is the mainland where most Sandari people live. The lands are mostly rainforest. The southern isles are full of ancient statues, carvings and artifacts which are worshiped by the natives. Sandune also occupies a province in the southwest corner of the Elderlands (traditional Shu territory). This land is mostly uninhabitable but well fortified as it is land the Mantis Clan once owned.

Military

Navy - The Naval force of Sandune is a felt presence in the Azure sea, to cross their borders flying an enemy flag is to be on a sunken ship. The use of this navy has expanded the Kingdom of Sandune into almost all of the Southern Isles and defend their nation against potential threats by sheer reputation and rumours. No one has ever launched a comprehensive naval assault again Sandune however. Tribal Force - The lands of Sandune aside from Sandune Isle have almost no protection. In many cases, the islands have yet to be inhabited by more than a few Sandari colonizers and therefore are effectively run by the tribal southern natives. Of course Sandari officials would disagree, but in case of war, the native tribes would be better suited to defend themselves on the lands of the southern isles than the Sandari would.

Religion

Shienar - Though they don't like to admit it, Sandune carries a lot of the same beliefs that Shushar does, when they became independent they rejected the 7 Wisdoms and instead took to the worship of the Glimmer. Shu would claim that the Glimmer or the essence only exists in Shushar as it is a quality of the Elder Forms; however Sandari take it in a much more liberal way. They believe the essence is a quality of all living things be it personkind, animalkind, or plantkind, the flow continues through all life. This is similar in a lot of ways to modern Horse doctrine. Native Spirituality - The Native Southerners have their own beliefs, they are not as well known and differ from island to island.

Type

Geopolitical, Country

Government System

Monarchy, Absolute

Currency

The official mark of the Kingdom of Sandune is the Sun Mark. The currency here is crafted from gemstones and not metals. Tanzinitte is the highest value mark worth 1000 gold coins, this mark is rarely by anyone but the King and high nobility. Amethyst is the second highest value mark worth 10 gold coins. The Sun Mark is a topaz chip worth 1 gold coin. Jasper chips are used in place of bronze and silver, valued differently depending on the size and cut.

Legislative Body

The King of Sandune decides on any and all things that effect the whole nation, such as wars, alliances, freedoms and such, and has unlimited power. However each of the tribes has a king (sometimes called a Tribe King), when major decisions need to be made the King of Sandune will often call in the Tribe Kings as advisors. The reason for this is that the King only stays in power so long as the Tribe Kings don't call a challenge. When a Tribe King's challenger defeats the King of Sandune's challenger, that tribe becomes the ruling tribe and that Tribe King becomes the King of Sandune. This rarely happens as the King of Sandune keeps the Tribe Kings satisfied with his rulings.

Judicial Body

There is a high judge who decides on how laws are to be interpreted and enforced; however their power is trumped by that of the King. The King of Sandune can overrule any ruling the high judge makes over any trial or process. The network of justice all falls under the high judge who is appointed by vote of the Tribe Kings. In most tribes, knights of the law are given authority under the high judge, they roam the streets and in act justice by their sword. Trials are rare among the Sandari and most crimes are punished by death on the streets for those below a certain status.

Neighboring Nations

Related Ethnicities