Daeamorant (DAY-uh-MOR-ant)
Daeamorant stands in contrast to its neighbors of Torvahl and Kalava'khir in two noteworthy ways:
First, unlike its neighbors, Daeamorant heavily shuns the usage of Arcane magic.
Second, and the reason for the first, Daeamorant is a heavily religiously structured society.
Unlike Torvahl, which encourages cultural unity, and Kalava'khir, which prioritizes arcane prowess over social strata, Daeamorant is a caste-based society that forgoes magic entirely in favor of piety. Considering their patron god to be Alleniel, the Goddess of Law, Daeamorant is rigidly structured in not only its social tiers, but its political landscape as well, all of which fall under the umbrella of religious authority. From top to bottom, the entirety of Daeamorant follows a structure:
At the top is the Pontiff, head of the Church and foremost authority in Daeamorant. Though their power is not overtly political, the thoroughly religious culture of Daeamorant means that generally the The Domusancs of Daeamorant defer to the Pontiff to avoid public backlash.
Immediately beneath the Pontiff, though in terms of secular authority they surpass the religious figure, are the The Domusancs of Daeamorant. Each Domusanc presides over a region across the country, numbering 5 in total. The position of Oratician, head of a Domusanc, is passed primarily (but not exclusively) through familial lineage, and this is where the religious structure of the county impacts the political, as only potential candidates that have received the blessing of the Church are deemed suitable successors, and instability among the commoners follows if an Oratician does not receive this blessing. These Domusancs rule over their individual regions, but convene for matters of national importance or to discuss laws that apply to the entire country, functioning as an Oligarchy in these events.
Beneath the Oraticians of Domusancs in political power are the Pontifex, the Priesthood that follow the Pontiff and represent the interests of the Church across the different regions of Daeamorant. The Pontifex serves as a group of advisors to the different Domusancs of the country, with one accompanying each Oraticianin their region's seat of power.
Following the Pontifex would be any individuals appointed within in a region by the Oratician to positions of political power, such as local mayors or governors. However, one would be unlikely to find a village or town in Daeamorant without at least some site for religious worship, no matter how quaint. As such, local clergymen tend to, similar to the Pontifex, be expected voices of note in their settlements when it comes to decision-making.
Lastly, the bottom rung of the society would be the commoners under each local Domusanc. It is fairly common practice to offer up one of your children to the clergy, such that they might be brought into the fold of the Church, as acceptance into the Church is a great honor upon one's family. Many commoners view this as a way "out" of serfdom, but the Church is selective in who is allowed to join. While the details of the process is unknown, they seem to only allow specific candidates on a basis of either genuine devotion to the divine or aptitude for celestial influence. In Daeamorant, the commoners aspire to appear devout and worthy of divine selection the same way commoners in other countries might hope to display an aptitude for Sorcery or discover they have a long-lost inheritance.
The population of Daeamorant is far more homogenous than you'll find in Torvahl or Kalava'khir, for several reasons, some more questionable than others. By far the most prominent species you will find in Daeamorant are Humans, with a sizeably smaller secondary population of Hill Dwarves. Beyond that, its most populous species are Half-Elves of Wood Elf descent, then Halflings, followed by Mountain Dwarves, with Wood Elves being the last prominent species you'll find in the country. There are, however, a few scattered clans of Dragonborn across the major cities of Daeamorant, and most are of prominent status in the country, as Dragonborn are believed to be a direct creation of Alleniel and prioritize honor, pride, and duty above other values. You will find no Tieflings or Half-Orcs in public, or if you do, you'll wish you didn't see the state they're left in. Gnomes might exist in some remote pockets of the country but are viewed as a nuisance, generally only found living with sympathetic Halflings and being passed off as such to avoid social stigma for their association with magic. High Elves are tolerated begrudgingly for their relation to Wood Elves, but it's not the nature of High Elves to stand for being "tolerated", so there's not many, if any, in Daeamorant, partially owing to the country's outlook on the Arcane for which High Elves are renowned.
The population of Daeamorant is far more homogenous than you'll find in Torvahl or Kalava'khir, for several reasons, some more questionable than others. By far the most prominent species you will find in Daeamorant are Humans, with a sizeably smaller secondary population of Hill Dwarves. Beyond that, its most populous species are Half-Elves of Wood Elf descent, then Halflings, followed by Mountain Dwarves, with Wood Elves being the last prominent species you'll find in the country. There are, however, a few scattered clans of Dragonborn across the major cities of Daeamorant, and most are of prominent status in the country, as Dragonborn are believed to be a direct creation of Alleniel and prioritize honor, pride, and duty above other values. You will find no Tieflings or Half-Orcs in public, or if you do, you'll wish you didn't see the state they're left in. Gnomes might exist in some remote pockets of the country but are viewed as a nuisance, generally only found living with sympathetic Halflings and being passed off as such to avoid social stigma for their association with magic. High Elves are tolerated begrudgingly for their relation to Wood Elves, but it's not the nature of High Elves to stand for being "tolerated", so there's not many, if any, in Daeamorant, partially owing to the country's outlook on the Arcane for which High Elves are renowned.
Mythology & Lore
Daeamorant reveres only the gods they refer to as the "Benevolent Ones", these being Alleniel, Torach, and Thaemenar. Chief among these is Alleniel, the Goddess of Justice and Law, and the entirety of Daeamorant is structured around their perception of adhering to her Perfect Rule. Notably, they do not recognize the divinity of the other Major Gods recognized in Torvahl. In Daeamorant, the gods Vyshareth, Malavach, The Lord of Games, Daemaskorn, and even Saeralla are not viewed as being inherently divine.
The people of Daeamorant view each of these as being the progenitors of their respective mortal and immortal species, likely the first of their kind, but not truly divine. These beings, while viewed as Gods elsewhere, are referred to as "The Deceivers", often accompanied by spitting on the ground or similar displays of disdain. To understand the way the people of Daeamorant think of the divine, it is perhaps more useful before examining their reverence for the Benevolent Ones to understand their perception of The Deceivers and how it contrasts the perception of these gods elsewhere:
Malavach and Vyshareth are straightforward, being perceived to be the origin point of the fairly unanimously-viewed-as-evil species of Demons and Undead, and viewed as carrying all the power that such beings might possess. They're seen as the first and most powerful of their kind, but not worthy of divinity.
The Lord of Games is not that unbelievable of a perception either, as he is viewed as the God of Trickery and Lies elsewhere anyway, and as such his depiction in Daeamorant as Lord of All Archfey and as a Deceiver really isn't that far off. Similar to Malavach and Vyshareth, Daeamorant classifies him as the first and most powerful Archfey. As such, in Daeamorant he is referred to as "The Liar King" or "The King of the Fae", rather than the "Lord of Games" title he's known by in Torvahl.
Saeralla is the first of the Deceivers that might come as a surprise, as she's generally viewed as being a benevolent force elsewhere, and unlike the other Deceivers, isn't directly tied to an arguably malevolent species of extra-planar beings. Saeralla's position in Daeamorant as a Deceiver is a result of both her notably more isolated behavior when compared to other deities, and her direct tie to the Arcane. Daeamorant shuns the Arcane, viewing its use to be an impure reflection of divine power. As such, both Saeralla and The Lord of Games, as the creators of The Script and its manipulation, are treated as also trying to veer mortals away from pursuing the Divine.
Most hated among the Deceivers is Daemaskorn. Viewed elsewhere as a God of Punishment and Contracts, in Daeamorant he is feared and reviled more than any others of his ilk. Thought to be the first Devil and progenitor of the species, he is hated as the most cunning, powerful, and manipulative of his kind. Daemaskorn receives the ire of Daeamorant for being the origin of all evil in the world, a direct result of the "marriage" between Alleniel and Daemaskorn that the country's theology labels a false, forced union.
It is believed in this country that the first and craftiest of devils assumed the guise of a God at the dawn of time, coming to Alleniel as she toiled to bring order to a chaotic world for the benefit of mortals. The Church of Daeamorant espouses that this evil, manipulative entity offered his aid in exchange for Alleniel's hand, hiding his power as a being of binding contracts. Fooled by his deceit as she focused on the daunting task before her, of perfecting a new world without the guidance of Order, Alleniel accepted, not realizing she had forged a pact with a spiteful, malicious force. Being a Goddess of Law, she would never dare to violate the terms of an agreed arrangement, and thus Daemaskorn the Cruel slithered his way into the Perfect Rule of the Goddess, forever tainting the world. It is believed by the people of Daeamorant that this is the true origin of evil among mortals, that Daemaskorn's sickening deception pollutes the vision of the pure Alleniel, and it is for this reason that mortals are led astray of her divine will. It is also primarily for this reason that the gods not recognized by Daeamorant are referred to as "The Deceivers", and as such Daemaskorn is the most hated entity in creation. Crows and Warlocks of any kind are equally reviled for their assumed ties to Daemaskorn, and even a Warlock with a Celestial patron would likely be persecuted or outright executed for practicing their magic.
The only thing that matches the people of Daeamorant's revulsion toward the Deceivers is, unsurprisingly, their reverence for the Benevolent Ones. Each of the three Major Gods that are revered in Daeamorant are worshipped both overtly through prayer and ceremony, as well as consistently in daily life through strict adherence to the values of each God. For example, any sort of architectural development project is done comparatively slowly in this country, for a number of reasons that are the direct result of religious reverence:Before expanding or building upon a new area, careful consideration is given to the impact on the local ecosystem, the placement of the artificial structures, what the predicted impact of the settlement's growth will be on the surrounding area, where resources can be gathered with the least exploitation of the land, and other such details. This is out of reverence for Thaemenar, and usually done by Clerics or Druids dedicated to his aspects.
Once the natural factors have been accounted for, the planning phase begins and the layout of the settlement, its local government, predictions for the local economy, and other such infrastructural details are determined. This is performed by secular jobs as you might expect, but also can sometimes include Clerics in service to Alleniel, as participation of such orderly tasks is both a form of worship and study for those dedicating their lives to the Goddess of Order.
Finally, the actual manual labor begins, and is done as efficiently as it can be done while following strict adherence to the outlines created by the previous work. Attention to detail and optimal performance is paramount in these tasks, as well as completing them with dedication and without delay. This is out of reverence for Torach, who rewards those to enact the change upon the world rather than sit on the sidelines. It is common practice for Paladins of Torach to participate in projects at this phase, which both motivates the other workers, the bulk of which are commoners, but also is a form of worship for the Paladins. It doesn't hurt that the Dwarves of Daemorant are of a different, less isolated breed than in Torvahl, and lend their natural craftsmanship to the society in which they live.
This is one example, but the same analysis could be performed on most actions performed in Daeamorant. Dedication to the ideals of the Benevolent Ones is the driving force behind most action in the country and shows through how they approach any situation.
The only thing that matches the people of Daeamorant's revulsion toward the Deceivers is, unsurprisingly, their reverence for the Benevolent Ones. Each of the three Major Gods that are revered in Daeamorant are worshipped both overtly through prayer and ceremony, as well as consistently in daily life through strict adherence to the values of each God. For example, any sort of architectural development project is done comparatively slowly in this country, for a number of reasons that are the direct result of religious reverence:
Ethics
As with any culture that has a significant basis in theology, the ideology of the religion has a significant impact in the cultural and ethical values prioritized by the society.
In Daeamorant, this translates into a number of positive traits: Their reverence of Thaemenar means people have a generally higher reverence for the natural world, and more of the wilds of Daeamorant are left untouched as a result. Their reverence for Alleniel gives them a strict sense of justice and duty, and as such their cities and government projects tend to be efficient and orderly, and the same can be said for their military and the work ethic of the general populace. Their reverence for Torach translates into a strong sense of iniative, resulting in the people of Daeamorant generally being willing to address a problem as it arises rather than procrastinate and avoid it, at least when solving the problem is within their means to accomplish.
However, there is a dark side to this religious focus as well. Ironically, considering their disgust for Daemaskorn, criminals are punished severely, as deliberately choosing to violate the Law is considered to also be an overt act of blasphemy against Alleniel in addition to its secular implications. While the people do have a strict sense of "justice", it is crucial to remember that this is their perception of justice, colored by their cultural beliefs. Thus, things that might be considered minor offenses in other parts of the world could carry severe penalties in Daeamorant as they enact their justice. The same proactive behavior that is a result of their reverence for Torach results in witch-hunts and the like, as people jump to conclusions based on what they perceive to be divinely-approved inspiration.
The religious zealotry can also manifest in persecution of different species: Someone visiting Daeamorant unfamiliar with its history might find it pleasant to not have to worry about any Orcs in the countryside, but might be unsettled upon learning this is a direct result of deliberate genocide in Daeamorant's past. Some might not bat an eye at this notion, but it is a proven fact that Orc-kind, while tribal and chaotic, are in fact capable of complex thought and cultural structure, as well as careful peaceful interaction with non-Orcs given the right (rare) circumstances, perhaps not warranting total annihilation.
This can also be seen in Daeamorant's treatment of Tieflings, which persists to the modern day and is arguably more heinous. Family lineage is of significant importance in Daeamorant, and Tieflings are born to families marked by Daemaskorn. Not recognizing Daemaskorn as a god or caring much for the finer points of his behavior, it's irrelevant to Daeamorans that Tieflings are a punishment doled out by Daemaskorn on those who violate their contracts. The people of Daeamorant revile Daemaskorn, and revile Devils. It should not come as much surprise that they also revile Tieflings. This manifests in dark and gruesome ways, as no family wants it to become public knowledge that they have dealings with Daemaskorn or Devils in their lineage.
Suffice to say, children who manifest Tiefling traits tend to disappear very quickly. Sometimes they're stolen away in the night and shipped off to some far off land, unaware of why or what happened to them. That's the optimistic outcome. The other, more common outcome is they're simply... removed from the family tree, permanently, as well as any records of their existence. The extreme few that you might find living in the country are sad, destroyed shells of people, vagrants scraping by to live while passerby spit upon them with disdain, too weak or hopeless to seek greener pastures. Any Tiefling that escapes one of these outcomes usually makes their way to Kalava'khir, where they face no persecution for the circumstances of their birth.
Kenku experience similar persecution, though you won't find too many. They nearly exclusively occupy the northern regions of the country in small pockets, those brave enough to make the journey generally end up in Torvahl, relocating to the city of Southstone, resulting in that city's larger-than-normal population of Kenku.
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Ruling Organization
Subsidiary Organizations
