Mercantile League of Kaastia (Kaas-tee-uh)

In the region of West Varsemia, the Kaastians live. A nation that inhabits in a network of canals and rivers, prospering and dominating the continent's commerce.
The Kaastians are a diverse nation with focus on trade, doing business often with most of the nations. Currency was added in the continent by them and the various gold deposits, scattered throught the region, helped them become a strong power in the human kingdoms.
This nation is ruled by an oligarchic counsil known as "Vermogend". This is made of ten people, each one a representative, a duke, of each of the dukedoms that make the nation. They discuss politics and commerce. Alas, This counsil works more as a symbol of power, making laws for the nations economical well being and not much else. The true power is in each dukedom. Each duke controls a parcel of Kaastia, having complete jurisdiction inside these. The streets are patrolled by family owned guards and the kaastian army is no more than mercenary companies employed by these wealthy families.
In a society where the rich hold most of the power, the families fight and conspire between them, constantly searching for ways of weakening their rivals, in a unending game of intrigue and power. Their courts are avid of intrigue and conspiracy and their spies infamous through all the land. Life in the court for a kaastian is very important and the kaastians believe that whoever holds the most knowledge, is the most powerful. And with the wealth generated by the commerce, the different houses are always trying to get the upper part of the deal in a never ending espionage battle.
The art of gunpowder, stolen from the Muabin, has long since been perfected by their engineers and academics and these "River Foxes" (how they are known throught the region) have incorporated them into their arsenal. Today, these firearms are part of the equipment of most kaastian soldiers.
Military wise, the Kaastians prefer freedom of movement and coordination. Using practical light armor in battle. A typical kaastian soldier doesn't use more than a studded leather or a simple breastplate, an halberd, a rapier, a firearm and a pouch with ammunition.
Religiously, this nation worships one entity, "The One God", Klaar. They see this being as a savior and redeemer of their people. In his temples, the poor are sheltered and taught. their priests spread the word and faith by the remaining kingdoms and it's frequent to see Klaar missionaries in other regions. The dukes themselves, family leaders, are zealous worshipers and work obsessively for the divine favor of their god.
Due to the nations high commercial capacity, the kaastians harbor plenty of illuminated people from all the continent, from diverse cultural fields. Each court with a wide range of sages from different origins, training and improving the minds of their hired family, pushing for perfection the knowledge of the houses. This makes the Kaastians, especially the richest houses, some of the most culturally advanced in all the continent.
Master of commerce, they keep wonderful diplomatic (and economical) relations with the Rubran, and good relationships in general with the rest of the nations in Varsemia. The waters that they dominate are strategically good for, if the need arises, to establish commercial deals with remote regions. Thus, there are commercial outposts positioned cleverly through most of the continent, strengthening a house's power in the region. Nakolota is a good example of this. The kaastians, under the Tamzin and du Pont dukedoms, are currently trying to explore the regions resources, much to the locals anger. The same is happening in Quetza, with the De la Vega and Burgos Dukedoms in charge. While the Da Gama dukedom has reach the other side of the known world, creating posts as far as in Indraprastha.
the ten dukedoms (and their respective families) are: Van Orange, di Giobarti, de la Veja, der Fugger, da Gama, du Pont, de Burgos, of Tamzin, iz Morozov, and av Bender. Each one specializes in a particular field and has a distinctive fighting style and architecture.
A typical kaastian measures between 1,70m to 2,10m tall. They are usually tall and slim, with hair normally light colored, from light brown to pure blonde, using short hairstyles but extravagant and well groomed facial hairstyles. Their eyes are likewise light. They like to wear the colors that represent their houses.

Main Hub

Belshinmor

The capital of the kaastian republic, is located in the Duchy of Van Orange, next to the Varsemian Sea. The city is known for it's majestic port, one of the biggest in the human realms (the biggest being Lissona, the capital city of the Duchy of Da Gama).
The city is of immense geographical importance, being one of the largest commercial hubs. It's docks is a cultural melting pot where seafaring merchants from all over the human lands come and ply their trade.
The Kaastian capital is also known for it's bipolar nature. while the docks and the outer rims of the city might be a cultural phenomenon, the inner city is home for the Kaastians and they make that quite clear. Common is not appreciated by locals in this quarter, though a foreigner speaking in Kaastian will find a city with lots of opportunity.

Kaastian League Traits

Kaastian Ethnic Proficiencies

Characters with this trait are proficient with the following gear: Rapier; Estoc; Halberd; Pistol.

A character with this trait may begin play with a battered pistol (worth 10gp at a vendor). If they choose to do so, deduct it's worth from the total starting gold.

Gunpowder Revolution

+1+⅕ their level to Attack rolls with firearms. Rapid Reload as bonus feat at level 1.

Of Crafts & Trade

Characters with this trait get +1+⅕ their level to the following Skill Checks: Appraise, Profession (any) and Craft (any).

Courtier

Characters with this trait get +1 to all non-trained Charisma skill checks. This bonus increases to +2 at level 8 and +3 at level 16.

Shrewd Merchant

Characters with this trait can roll twice for Appraise and Profession Skill Checks and choose the higher roll.

Avid Seafarers

Characters with this trait, while on ships, get 1+⅕ their level to saving throws and to acrobatics skill checks.

Diamond Business

Characters with this trait start a campaign with triple the amount of their starting gold.

Duchy of...

Characters with this trait must choose one of the following and get its corresponding benefits:

Van Orange: +1+⅕ their level to Diplomacy Skill Checks and to Damage Rolls with Pistols. Proficiency with Pistols. Kaomi and Meynari as bonus languages.

di Giobarti: +1+⅕ their level to Bluff Skill Checks and to Damage Rolls with Rapiers. Proficiency with rapiers. Cretian and Barcagenian as bonus languages.

de la Veja: +1+⅕ their level to Sense Motive Skill Checks and to Damage Rolls with Culverin. Proficiency with Culverin, Montante, Ropera. Quepatec as bonus languages.

du Pont: +1+⅕ their level to Sleight of Hand skill checks and damage rolls with Musket. Proficient with Musket. Beveritan and Mansian as bonus languages.

der Fugger: +1+⅕ their level to Disguise Skill Checks and to Damage Rolls with Greataxe. Proficiency with Greataxe. Gernian and Polzani as bonus languages.

da Gama: +1+⅕ their level to Use Magic Device and to Damage Rolls with Arquebus. Proficient with Arquebus, Montante, Ropera. Zabyssian, and Daiju as bonus languages.

de Burgos: +1+⅕ their level to Intimidate Skill Checks and to Damage Rolls with Battleaxe. Proficiency with Battleaxe, Montante, Ropera. Barcagenian and Lampa as bonus languages.

of Tamzin: +1+⅕ their level to Perception Skill Checks and to Damage Rolls with Bill and Longbow. Proficiency with those two items. Nakolotan and Boriguan as bonus Languages.

iz Morozov: +1+⅕ their level to Knowledge (nobility) Skill Checks and to Damage Rolls with Halberd. Proficiency with Halberd. Slavarian and Tvor as bonus languages.

av Bender: +1+⅕ their level to Linguistics Skill Checks and to Damage Rolls with Hand Crossbows. Proficiency with Hand Crossbows. Krin and Tatamak as bonus languages.

Subsidiary Organizations

• Duchy of House av Bender
• Duchy of House da Gama
• Duchy of House de Burgos
• Duchy of House de la Veja
• Duchy of House der Fugger
• Duchy of House di Giobarti
• Duchy of House du Pont
• Duchy of House Iz Morozov
• Duchy of House of Tamzin
• Duchy of House van Orange