Steamer: The Theocracy of the Lightbringer
Steamer. As young as Travland is but with origins that stretch much farther. It all stems back to the Long Night. That blight where we nearly lost the world to demons. An event that is soaked in the blood of mortals and gods alike. But from that death came light and from the light came a drive for people like Aasimar and Tieflings to find a home for themselves. My father must've believed in that dream because he did everything he could to see it come true. And now with a kingdom ruled by a god to our east, I wonder if he made the right choice. They believe in the defeat of the demons just as much as we do. But sometimes I wonder about what will happen once the demonic threat is deal with. Where will the Lightbringer, an arbiter of justice and heroism look to next? And what threat will he seek to crush?
Structure
- The King of Light (The Lightbringer)
- The Cardinals and Lords of Light
- Archbishops and Regional Lords
- Bishops and Local Lords
Public Agenda
Steamer wants to destroy the demon menace, saving the world from the Abyssal threat that looms over it.
Assets
Due to being ruled by a god, many donations to the churches of the Lightbringer run right back to the government. As such, they have a steady flow from both commerce and religion alike. The borders and key locations in the interior of the country are dotted with fortifications, turning the country into a fortress on par with Leowyn before the Long Night.
History
Steamer's birth starts with death. The death of Rhenthir to the Beast and his rebirth as the Lightbringer. When he slew the Beast, the Lightbringer served as a patron god to those who fought against the darkness. But his followers were lost to the darkness of oppression by the human kingdoms who took over central Takira. These followers being the Aasimar and Tieflings who joined together during the Long Night. The Lightbringer, fending off assault after assault, couldn't aid his children but they kept faith in him nonetheless. But the God of Steamer wasn't the only one who wished for their friend.
The Shadowbringer, the Skykeepers, and the Court of Light and Darkness couldn't stand this injustice and motivated their followers to do something about it. In the 1470s, the beginning of that change came with the rise of The Storm Emperor. When he declared the unification of humanity had begun, countless human kingdoms stood against Travland, ready to wipe out this upstart. But even with all their strength, they couldn't stand against the Aethermarked who were blessed by the Gods.
The Lightbringer saw this moment as a chance for his people to be free and spread the thought of rebellion to his followers. Funded by secret agents of the Elven gods and the Shadowbringer, The Steamerian Rebellion began. Attacked on two fronts, the human kingdoms quickly fell and were consumed by Travland and Steamer. And when it was time to choose a ruler, the people of Steamer picked their god to rule over them. And that was an idea that unsettled the nations that bordered them. But that is the climate that Steamer must deal with for the night is dark and full of terrors. But the Light shall burn them away all the same.
Demography and Population
The majority of Steamer is home to those touched by extraplanar creatures: The Aasimar, The Genasi, the Kalashtar, and the Tieflings. Judged in the rest of the world, they see Steamer as a holy land where they can truly be themselves. More often than not, the Aasimar serve as clerics and judges while Tieflings serve as soldiers and guards. Genasi and Kalasthar can go either way and even as normal people. Additionally, Gnolls who wander the plains see Steamer as a place where they can escape the Beast's curse, turning back into their normal selves.
Overall, Steamer is home to 3.7 million people. Most of them stay along the Leltenatha or Hlyhonanolad rivers or the borderlands. Gnolls patrol the heartlands but the tornadoes in the region make it dangerous sometimes. Thanks to magic from the Lightbringer and other mages, the number of tornadoes in the region is fewer but they are being spread elsewhere as a result.
Territories
Steamer is split between 13 provinces, each one governed by an Archbishop or Lord. These are subdivided between bishops, barons, counts, and others. The eastern provinces are mainly Eldar cultural, housing Celestial Elves and tieflings and Genasi of elven descent. On the western and northern end, Rohand culture takes over. There, the human version of these people are in abundance.
Military
Tiefling and Genasi make up the majority of the military. Many of these forces are fanatic religious followers of the Lightbringer and even the Shadowbringer. They bear their sigils on their armor and pray to them before any battles they face. Most of the soldiers are on the borders, constantly watching for any threats from outside. For in the inside, Aasimar clerics and the Lightbringer himself watch for threats to burn away.
Religion
Two dominant gods reign in Steamer: The Lightbringer and The Shadowbringer. The Lightbringer is seen as the King of Steamer and the god planetouched and chaostouched people follow. Most of the population follow him devoutly including Aasimar, Genasi, and Tieflings. Several races such as the Lupin and Gnolls, affected by the Beast's call, also flock to his land to find a way to escape the madness. However, due to his relationship with the Shadowbringer, her followers can also find a home there as well. Shadow Elves frequent the area, treated kindly by priests of the Lightbringer. Sun and Moons respectively, the two lovers help to create a religion that while aggressive against evil and it's ilk, also knows kindness and forgiveness.
And as if to mock the two of them, the Beast and the Dead Queen find followers in the land as well. Feral tribes raid the area, trying to turn their animalistic brethren and have them see the light. Undead form in the night and try to raid settlements and cultists scheme, trying to bring down the theocracy with the help of villains such as the Deadbrand and the Necromancer. Both gods do their best to rout out these heretics but faith is always a hard thing to stomp out.
Foreign Relations
Ris and Yterius are both suspicious of Steamer at this point. The Lightbringer serving as the leader of their country unerves them as they worry what he will do once the demosn are gone. Their gods could clash against him should he seek to eradicate evil from their lands, harming their followers. And Yterius has never let go of the land they lost when they fought against the kingdoms that oppressed the Planartouched. But they can put that aside for now until the Demons are dealt with.
Travland, particularly the ambitious people of it, view Steamer as a rival. It is the only other power in the south that stands against Travland in terms of pure size. And the champions of the country are blessed by their gods, claiming direct lineage to the Skykeepers before they became gods. As such, the chosen of Travland see the Lightbringer as an example of what they could become. Powerful human nobles that ascended to godhood. Becasue if Rhenthir could become the Lightbringer, who's to say the Sleeping Dragon or the Fledgling Phoenix couldn't become the next Tempest King or Harbinger, making the Lightbringer a threat to their future followers.
Trade & Transport
Since it is a crossroads of east and west Takira, Steamer does its best to defend trade routes. After a journey by the Black Gold trading company, they have a new trade route that branches into northeast Travland through Bearsesheare and Steamer has allocated resources to defend it as best they can along with their trade route through the Britvalian mountains to the north to the kingdom of Nauthion.
The night is dark and full of terrors but the Light shall burn them away all the same.
Founding Date
1480
Type
Geopolitical, Theocracy
Capital
Alternative Names
The Theocracy of Steamer, the Lightbringer's Kingdom
Demonym
Steamerian
Leader
Head of State
Government System
Theocracy
Power Structure
Autonomous area
Economic System
Mixed economy
Currency
Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum
Major Exports
- Crops
- Lumber
- Horses
Major Imports
- Metals
Legislative Body
The Sun Council
Judicial Body
The Bright Judges
Executive Body
The Lightbringer
Official State Religion
Neighboring Nations
Comments