The Theocratic Confederacy of Vatissidus
From its ancient ruins to its rolling hills Vatissidus (or Vatis) is a land known for its piety and honorable traditions. In the silent temples and holy sites came many of the innovations that have defined Felizeenian culture. A common language, the categorization of magic in its many fields, algebra, and the bedrock of traditional schools of philosophy all come from ancient texts and engravings that have been discovered among the ruins. For many years Vatissidus was the center of Felizeen’s human culture but the discovery of Nekoti and the rise of magical institutions that have replaced the ancient forums as center of learning has severely diminished Vatissidus’s prestige.
No single ruler claims Vatissidus, instead it is run by a confederation of different religious orders who pay at least lip service to a group called the Council of Oracles. Representatives from different religious orders are elected by members of the council to join their ranks; officiating on broad proclamations issued by the Council as a whole, land ownership inside Vatissidus land, and disputes between orders. With the rise of orders dedicated to Tiamat and Bane their role has grown as conflicts have increased over time.
To the average Vatisid however the only authority they know comes from the order who holds direct ownership of the land they live on. Many of these villages and towns have existed for hundreds of years and are steeped in history or tradition, although it is not uncommon for one to stumble across a village that exists solely to train foreign devotees of a particular order. Life for a commoner involves hard work in the fields with religious ceremonies and celebrations. Today the different orders depend on the religious tithes from other nations and the arrival of Gruath’an cargo from beyond the Eastern Sea to sustain their lifestyle.
Of particular note is how despite the diminishing influence Vatissidus it is perhaps more active then it has ever been in its long history. Vatisid crusaders are the main of source of foreign fighters who make forays into the magical hellscape known as the the Wastes . Although the last officially recorded divine communication from the gods was over 200 years ago the appearance of the first paladin 20 years ago has further strained relations between the rulers of Felizeen and the Council.
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