Chitax
Chitax is one of the darkest and most secluded nations on the Borrovyan continent. Due to an ancient pact made out of desperate necessity to break away from the dragon overlords long before the rest of the continent, the region has been controlled throughout its entire recorded history by the followers of a single deity: Zon-Kuthon. It is a shadowy land of furtive whispers ruled by the Black Noctavium whose populace is closely watched by the clergy of the Dark Prince, lest they stray from his heinous teachings.
Structure
Chitax is run by the sinister Umbral Court, the shadow-touched aristocracy that has ruled the nation for over 2000 years. Ever since the Umbral Court's distant ancestors made their binding pact with the Midnight Lord, they have lived only to strictly enforce and promote the sadistic values of Zon-Kuthon. Any disagreement or questioning of these edicts is harshly punished by the Umbral Court or its agents, as is the worship of any other deity (particularly Zon-Kuthon's main rival, Desna). Few have the courage to stand against the whims of even the most minor member of the Umbral Court for to do so normally means death in the most horrific manner.
Very few Kuthites have been gifted by their god to be members of the ruling Umbral Court, but many more operate as Umbral Court agents on behalf of their government, both at home and abroad. These agents live quite openly in the cities of inner Chitax, but can be found working in secret throughout the country. Some work as consuls or diplomats, while others are agitators, spies, or agent provocateurs who root out heresies and seek to purify the nation. Those who work outside of Chitax generally insinuate themselves into positions of power where they can subtly steer policies that favor their home country and glorify their patron god.
History
In the lands of Chitax, the reverence of Zon-Kuthon has been engraved in the culture and traditions since the Age of Empires. Thus most other gods have been forgotten, although some still gave homage to Gozreh as the master of nature and Desna as the guardian of travellers and dreamers. But only until the Age of Dragons, when a group of Black, sadistic dragons took control of the local settlements and ruled with an iron grip. Long before the Ballet of Scales begun and the followers of Bahamut begun to wage war against the chromatic dragons, a powerful sect of Zon-Kuthon used the powers of the Dark Prince to overthrow the Black Dragons. They had made a dark pact with the Midnight Lord. All who were freed by his might would have their bloodline bound to him and his will. In exchange for their freedom the people of Chitax had bound their lineage to the Prince of Pain. With their newfound Kyton army, the sect freed the region from the dragons and the already established following of the Dark Prince exploded into a plethora of fanatical cults and churches.
Following the Ballet of Scales, when a group of golden dragons had flown over the Chitaxian region and decided to leave these fanatics alone as they were not ruled by the dragons, the churches and cults of Zon-Kuthon developed into multiple separate kingdoms, all dedicated to the reverence of the Dark Prince. As per the deal made by their ancestors. This divided following was, in the long run, not to the Dark Prince liking. Chitax's society changed radically during the early 1400s AM as Kuthite worship became more and more deviant from each other. The Black Noctavium, lead by the High Noctaine, gave rise to a new elite known as the Umbral Court, who became the Noctavium's eyes and ears. Increasingly obsessed with their own complex pursuits and disinterested in the troubles of others, the government and people of Chitax became insular and cut themselves off from the outside world.
In the year 2080 AM, the Zimean emperor declared war on the Citaxian theocracy, after witnessing the Joymaking on a diplomatic visit, which in and of itself was an odd occasion, and he was disgusted by the barbarous ways of the Kuthite worshippers. The invasion was in the end a fruitless endeavour. The dark powers of the Kuthite clergy made a direct invasion neigh impossible and the attempt to weaken the enemy through starvation, instigated by the valakian elector count, was fruitless due to the success of the druid Ghorus.
Demography and Population
The inhabitants of Chitax live beneath the shadow of a pact made in the dark days of ancient history. They are still fulfilling their part of that pact to this day, and live in fear of the dark powers Zon-Kuthon grants the Umbral Court. This pact did not discriminate based on species. Members of all common races on the material plane are represented among the repressed masses of Chitax. While the Umbral Court, the decadent nobles of Chitax, rule the land using divinely granted shadow powers, the peasants of Chitax live much like the peasants of any other land, except with a far greater fear of their noble lords. This is true for all no matter race, with one exception.
Aasimars are quite rare in Chitax, as they are seen by the government as natural focal points for insurrection. Families who give birth to such children either quickly learn to hide their unusual features, or else sell the children into slavery at a high price. The very few aasimar who reach adulthood in Chitax either become corrupted and turn evil, or else become subversives, hoping to bring down the tyrannical government.
In addition to its humanoid inhabitants, Chitax is home to many fearsome beasts from Zon-Kuthon's home on the Plane of Shadow, including nightshades who are occasionally summoned by the spellcasting faithful of Zon-Kuthon. The Whalachai Mountains are particularly infamous for being the home of many of these fell creatures, including several umbral shadow dragons. A number of shadow giant families have also made their home in some of Chitax's wilder corners at the direct invitation of the Umbral Court itself. When not assigned tasks by the country's rulers, these giants generally keep to themselves and practice their unspeakable rites. Finally, Nidal is also home to several species of undead, including raveners and wights.
Religion
Chitax is a monotheistic theocracy ruled by a hereditary aristocracy who receive a direct divine mandate from a single god: Zon-Kuthon. It is therefore not hard to imagine that all other religions are banned there, although they are still practiced in secret. Of all of them, the worship of Desna is of particular note, and its followers even have their own name for themselves: the Whispered Song. The Whispered Song works in utter secrecy to give hope to Chitax's oppressed commoners, and are even believed to have infiltrated the Umbral Court itself.
The church's direct connections to Zon-Kuthon grants them some powerful allies, including several umbral shadow dragons who serve as advisors, guardians, mounts, and assassins.
Foreign Relations
Chitax still has close ties with the nation of Valakia, and sends shadow magic-trained magic-users named shadowcasters to support the dark count. These loaned shadowcasters are known as the Midnight Guard.
From pain we find order, through the grace of the Dark Prince
Maps
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Chitax
Founding Date
1427
Type
Geopolitical, Theocracy
Capital
Alternative Names
The Kuthite Theocracy
Demonym
Chitaxian
Head of State
Government System
Theocracy
Power Structure
Federation
Economic System
Command/Planned economy
Legislative Body
The Black Noctavium
Judicial Body
The Umbral Court
Executive Body
The High Noctane
Deities
Comments