Zuaanian Region

Territories

Kingdom of Pab’Zuaan

A South Affiliated, coastline kingdom full of many different creatures and cultures. It is known for its agriculture, seafood, and salt exports. It is governed off-handedly by a Zuaan (Monarch). The kingdom is a mostly peaceful place that has a fair share of monster problems to deal with internally.
Pab'Zuaan is one of the most mixed kingdoms on Ptitheros, both culture, species, and government wise. Originally built by Swā to be their main kingdom, it slowly became a sanctuary for all seeking a peaceful way of life all while retaining their own culture and beliefs. Swā was known as the most tolerant Cardinal, his kin included, thus Pab'Zuaan's perfectly mixed present-day community is a result of that. It is governed by a democratically chosen Zuaan (Monarch) who works with their group of experienced city handlers, however in the past the monarchy was reliant on a family line, but they all died out.
Foundation and Time
Early C.E to Present
The starting point settlement was founded by two wyverns who were the direct kin of Swā, whom had instructed them to set up there while Swā helped the distraught in the cold of Psollo. Adoroa and Sumu did as told, building and teaching as Swā brought the sick and needy from the far south and Dark Briar Grove. The fishing village became a town of refuge, fueled by the healing magic of the South Cardinal who had spent so much time helping the West and North. Swā had grown tired of the rest of the world and wanted to set up a kingdom of their own just like their fellow Cardinals.
Cardinal and Religion
Swa Veduro | South [Swavvel]
Pab'Zuaan is heavily South Affiliated due to the intact interaction between the South Cardinal and the beginning of the whole kingdom. Despite the disappearance of Swā long before the other Cardinals, Pab'Zuaan people continued on their Cardinal's values without second thought. Something kept people together unlike the other kingdoms, converting others to be South Affiliates is much easier than other Affiliations, yet no one understands why. Despite the high concentration of Swavvels, all Affiliations are welcome in Pab'Zuaan due to the accepting nature Swā instilled in his kin.
Official Language
Common, Swaun
Market Share
Pab'Zuaan has a very open and thriving market. Their market functions on a mixture of currency (Caq) and bartering for goods and services of equal value. The middle-class is large and merchants are common, even as half-time and hobbyist jobs to make some extra coin. The kingdom mainly exports agriculture due to their climate, they also had to pick up many of the exports that Sequ'Manko used to make. Most of their imports are textile, tech, and artificial in nature.
Government
Type and Focus
Constitutional Monarchy | Economy and Citizen Safety
Royalty
Pab'Zuaan is headed by a single individual, a monarch called the Zuaan. Although the Zuaan has final say and decision-making authority, most Zuaans have a cabinet of specialists in every field of kingdom necessities to help them make decisions. The government of Pab'Zuaan began a few years before the Storm of Millennia, as the richest family of merchants known as the - took to power and had control over the Zuaanian market. Zuaans were chosen based on seniority, the oldest child of the Zuaan would take the throne, that is until the final died without any offspring or cousins left. The bloodline was gone completely, so Pab'Zuaan had to assign a fresh start to the Zuaan royalty. A citizen was chosen by the kingdom as a whole, and with abnormal uniformity, the kingdom chose a dragoness who worked as a fortune teller in Bivnix. The current government headed by Zuaan Journey is much more lax in comparison to the last royal.
The Oracles were designated by Swa Veduro, but after a generation of no children and turmoil upon the Cardinal’s disappearance, the old line was forgoed and a new one was chosen by the populace. Journey was appointed as the start of the new royalty.
Military
Ocean Brigade
Pab’Zuaan has royal guards, then a base army led by a general. The general has some right hands. beneath that are guards, soldiers, and patrollers. They also have a group of soothsayers specifically loyal to the kingdom to help predict catastrophes.
History
The kingdom of Pab'Zuaan entered history a while after the first key territories had already fallen into place, including Sequ'Manko, Chaveri, and Tucruitora. Not as late as Wyndgale, but in the late E.D era. Swa was known for being the unsettled Cardinal for a long time, as although they had kin in the South to rule over, the architect just never stuck to their own place. Often in Sequ'Manko helping their fellow Cardinal, Cymer, or being in Chaveri to speak with Edenlline for long spans of time. Their kin were self-sufficient, loyal, and Swa would always return in the face of danger or confusion to assist them in their lives.
One day the South Cardinal grew weary of forever flying across the world. They had seen the many lifestyles, kingdoms, and rules their brethren had created and had made their own opinions on the matter. They wanted a kingdom to rule and reside in; a territory of kin to watch over without having to travel elsewhere. A home, they wanted a home.
Swa Veduro erected a grand, simplistic fishing town on the most beautiful area of the southwest coastline, where the sea rippled and the isle of Psollo was within the foggy distance. Life was peaceful, the Cardinal is said to have lived in a home similar to a grand hall, an area they shared with their kin constantly for communion and discussion. As the town grew more detailed, more kin of the South that were once scattered about slowly merged into the settlement. At the time this place had no name, in texts it is called "Veduro's kingdom".
As time went on, Swa expanded Their kingdom into the crisp teal waters of the Chaarm Bay. Creating homes, plazas, and settlements underwater using large pockets of air and aura beneath the surface. The waves protected Their kin, and They continued on with the kingdom into the sea, eventually the name Pab'Zuaan appeared in the history texts to cover the location of both the coastal and underwater cities. Due to this transition and reliance on water, many of the creatures who lived in Pab'Zuaan evolved some advantages that aided them in the sea, however no kin ever became purely aquatic, Swa Veduro ensured such.
It is written in the ancient texts that the great Cardinal of the South watched their kin through the eyes of a chosen Ptithian. This Swavvel kin was known as the Oracle, able to listen to the words of Swa Veduro whenever they filtered their vision through their eyes. The first Oracle was Aodora, one of the most trusted kin of Swa, it is said that this chosen title granted her family the pathway into what would eventually become the royal lineage of Pab'Zuaan. For as the kingdom grew and Swa continued to fix all issues on Their own, the Oracle served as a gateway for those unable to speak directly to Swa to give their opinions and oppositions. Unfortunately, this is when the slow disappearance of the Cardinals would begin. The current texts tell no proven story for how and why the South Cardinal vanished. Some books say They fell into the ocean, consumed by the world for some evil deed They committed long before Their kin were created, some stories tell of a betrayal, one of the other architects had killed him and swiped the history books clean to hide their act. It is here the Vedlun variation of the South Affiliation came into play, as the Vedluns believe Swa is still out there, whereas the Swavvels see to it that the grief should be moved on from, their beloved god is gone and will be praised in Their absence.
The kin with most connection to Swa was put in charge; Aodora, the once-Oracle. Aodora was a good ruler, she followed all that Swa taught her and continued the royal family as time went on. However, those who believed that Swa was still out there found this disgusting, to see someone take over the kingdom their Cardinal worked so hard on without a second thought. These many Vedluns left Pab'Zuaan and went to the foggy land in the distance. They left to Psollo so they would not have to deal with this new Zuaanian royalty.
Pab'Zuaan grew after that, many more buildings made in both the coastal and underwater cities. The cavern town of Hailing Cover was settled and so was Ulharshore- a large town amidst the bubbly forest rather than the beach. This was a step towards power in the market, Pab'Zuaan showed they could handle food and safety when there was no rippling waves overhead to protect them.
Things were going well, that is, until one of the soothsayers foretold of a massive decimation of Chaarm Bay. A storm of the millennia was approaching, a hurricane driven wall of thunder, rain, hail, and damage. It spiraled onward from the depths of the southern sea, eventually encroaching on Pab'Zuaan and the edge of Wurunwa. Zuaans called for Swa and the royals to save them and their families, but the storm was merciless to their cries. It destroyed the land settlements, the coastal zone, Ulharshore, the Cove, and so on were all wiped down to crumbling houses and splintering piers. The wind and flooding swept the young out to sea and the seatechs finished the job. The underwater part of the kingdom was near untouched save for some wave damage, so as the land-dwellers had to regroup and rebuild, the Zuaanians below thrived on their own. In time the land and coastal cities and towns saved themselves, but things were not the same as they once were. The underwater zone had claimed the capital title of the kingdom, for they now were the biggest and strongest within Pab'Zuaan. They took that name, Pab'Zuaan Capital, and left the coastal zone alone. Bivnix, it was eventually called, recollected itself and became what it is today. Ulharshore became much more independent and mixed, and Hailing Cover was decimated beyond civilian desire. It became a ghost town overtaken by criminals and stragglers.
As of present-day, Pab'Zuaan is a powerful kingdom, but only for self-defense. Those in charge get along with the other kingdoms so that their people may lead happy, safe, and healthy lives with all the market sourcing and imported goods available. The Swavvels believe the kingdom had its ups and downs but in the end it became something Swa Veduro would be proud of.

Cultures

Zuaanian

Architecture
Colorful, Greek, Romantic, Coastal 
Inspired by the inner city Tucruitorian architecture, the rich use of paints and stained glass was brought down to a common level and percolates every facet of Zuaanian architecture. Buildings are soft-looking, with natural curves and drooping from the heavy use of clay-laden materials. Spider-eye windows and paneled roofs are common farther from the sea, buildings become a bit more sturdy closer to the waters and are propped up on stilts or platform docks. Anything is fair-game to paint with beautiful colors inspired by the ocean and ulhar caesin that surrounds the residents, and any window not covered in stained glass is essentially unfinished.
Apparel
Zuaanian apparel is flowy, just like the weather and waves. Loose jewelry, designed for cool temperatures and lightweight, typically slightly translucent fabrics with intricate designs. It has a resemblance to Mankian apparel.
Relationships
Zuaanians are known for having no specific customs towards relationships, like Galians, it is simply; love who you want to love. Zuaanian culture is often viewed as the most romantic culture, simply from its appearance and mannerisms. Or perhaps it is because their founding Cardinal, Swa, was attributed to love and fertility.
Religion
The central Affiliation of the region is Swavvel. The region was once home to Swa's people, whom they were very actively involved with, which made the culture very connected to their religion. Vedluns who never migrated south are also common, alongside Sequns who come from ancestors who seeked refuge during The Great Fire. All other Affiliations can also be found and are accepted.

Geography

Chaarm Bay

Filtering into the mainland's southwest corner is a large bay with crisp teal waters. This bay used to be a massive lake before the sands were washed away and the freshwater mixed with the southern ocean. The bay is full of sea life, underwater caves, underwater geysers, and of course protects the underwater portion of the kingdom; the main city itself. Waves are never too rough here, and the ancient colossal who once served Swa still resides, swimming peacefully among the unmoving waters.
Zuaan Capital [City]
The capital city is located on the west side of Chaarm Bay. Half of it is below the waters and half of it is on the coast. The deepest, most protected section of the city is beneath the seafloor. The inside of buildings is filled with air (enchanted), so any species can live there, but it certainly takes some bravery. Its architecture varies as you travel from the Greece-like coastal city and into more of an Atlantis round-top style underwater. The buildings smoothly transition between land and sea through air corridors. Zuaan capital is a highly advanced city with a lot of culture and traditions still standing strong.
Hailing Cove [Village]
Towards the southwest cliffside zone of the bay are many water-carved caverns, some massive enough to house multiple karkadann herds. One of these caverns has been settled as a nice seaside town for more fishing, only to be overcome by the ancient storms of the past. The black market took over the town, protecting it from the rest of Pab'Zuaan so their people could conduct their business and live in peace. It is a dangerous place, however those who show moxxy and a desire to live in the quiet, nice town are granted permission and safety from those in charge.
Oracle Palace
Henry the Island
Herundiin is the only known living colossal from ages long past. They do not speak, they merely wander. Their shell is always above water, an island and ecosystem formed upon it. The moving island is lush and protected by law, with the only building on their shell being a small, beautiful palace where important gatherings are held by the Zuaanian government.
Drvascun Ridge
Pirate Dock Bay
Southern Storm Wall
In the past, a terrible tropical storm attacked the bay, destroying many homes and lives. In an attempt to salvage things when the kingdom was warned by the shamans about the oncoming storm, Zuaanians constructed a shielding wall from whatever they could find. Constructed to shield the coastal side of Bivnix, it failed miserably and has since remained near the shore as a crumbled shambles of its former self.
Ancient Fishing Town
Veduro’s original temple was a large mansion in the plaza of the original fishing town they created for their first followers. This town is extremely run-down and uninhabited, much of it washed away by the ocean. What remains of the mansion is protected by sandbags and spells. It is in-tact, but unsafe to wander within. Most of Veduro’s items and journals have been removed and placed in safe storage or museums.

Ulhar Caesin

Bright, tall, bubble-topped blue trees extend across the landscape below the slopes that the Unity River separates. The Ulhar Caesin translates from ancient Draconic to blue forest, which is certainly true. The Ulhar is known for being mostly safe to live and explore, with the only common predator lurking being the lazy boslodons. Lots of bioluminescent mosses and ferns grow on the ground and the plants that seep nutrients from the trees resemble coral that has evolved to live on land. The forest often has a fog littered throughout the spring, creating the effect of appearing underwater when one roams through.
Ulharshore [Town]
A large town settled among the depths of the Ulhar Caesin. This settlement is quiet, independent, and is full of families who have been there through generations. Bubble trees surround the area and a calming teal fog covers the town both day and night, however during midday it is thin enough to see a decent distance. The buildings are typical Zuaanian, colorful architecture.
The Refuge
Nestled in the dense forest between Pab’Zuaan and Sequ’Manko is a broad campsite originally founded right after The Raining Fire to house Mankians escaping the violence. Nowadays, the Refuge retains its purpose for helping those with nowhere to go. Funded by both donations in Sequ’Manko and loans from Zuaanian royalty, those who work there care for adults and children alike who need to regain their footing.

Swali Shores

The calm beaches of the southwest. Swali Shores is a large inlet of sand that circles Chaarm Bay, along with many small islands encompassing the turquoise sea. These shores are home to many beachside towns and boat docks, farms, gorgeous Chaarm architecture buildings, and in the distance the edge of Psolla peaks can be seen through the clear skies. Storms of waves and wind hit the coast during the spring, but during the summer and autumn the towns are a wonderful place to live.
Bivnix [City]
Bivnix is built around the edges of the bay, with docks to pull supplies in. Architecture is oddly bulbous, based on the forest, and the primary material used is the dark woods cut from the abundant trees and clay from the seabed. Extremely colorful villas and beautiful stained glass, the people here are very diverse. Bivnix is controlled by the Zuaan of the territory, but with the slight distance, the community has more so established their own way of life aside from trade control and central laws remaining by force. Bivnix is known for being one of the most open and fun places to live in Ptitheros, as so many cultures and holidays are hosted in one place with an easy-going monarch watching over.

Wurunwa Forest

Sometimes called the Wurunwa Evergreens, this massive forest is remarkable for just how many incidents and missing-person reports arise from those who travel to it. It is a place full of unstable aura, likely the cause of the towering trees, and anomalous properties run wild. But the most concerning piece is what roams these woods. Wurunwa is a dedicated soyo-grave, a place where misformed lindosts, called "soyowas" are sent to wander. These monsters are extremely dangerous and unpredictable. Despite this, there are rumors of a community living within Wurunwa, and it isn't the outer werebeast camp.
Bittermaul Village [Village]
Clan Nightcrawler
Wurunwa Forest, a mysterious place full of mysterious creatures. Even werebeasts cannot challenge the forest, but they have chosen to inhabit its outer edges. Settled on the edge of the Wurun Waterway where it sprawls out into the ocean is a settlement built into the tall trees of the forest. Trunks are hollowed out and homes are connected by strong bridges, some places even reside in the expansive roots of the trees. These clan members tend to be anxious, simply because of the forest's influence, and live mostly in their natural form. They are constantly dealing with soyowas attacks.
The Distortion
Wildbeast Glow Caverns

Kandle Bog

Mucky, wet, and full of mangrove swamps. Kandle Bog is covered in a misty shroud but is bustling with life and the soft glow of thousands of foes. It is a peaceful place, a place that will never attract the rich or dainty, leaving its residents with a simple life that has remained the same for centuries. Many ancient Ola'mel family groups call this bog home.