Agartha
The World Mountain, the Country Inside Itself, The Dwarven Pyre, it is called many names. Agartha is the center-most point in Edda, and the entire country is made up of the enormous mountain, 35,000 feet high and 1,440 miles wide, and its foothills.
Structure
Each of Agartha's Circles have a speaker, much like a governor, for that sector, sometimes several depending on the size. At the top there is the Circle Speaker, the moderator and final judge of any Speaker decisions. There is not an official caste system in place, but due to how strangling the higher class can be, it is effectively present.
Public Agenda
To maintain the peace and security of the Agarthan people, and advance ever further Metalurgy and Stonecraft.
Assets
Being located in and above the largest amount of natural ores, minerals, and gems in all of Edda, perhaps even all of Arcanoterra, Agartha specializes in those assets. Gold, Silver, Copper, Platinum, Steel, Iron, etcetera, all can be found in droves within Agartha.
History
Dwarves, Gnomes, Tieflings, and Dragonborn had existed in Agartha for millennia. Borne out of the materials of the mountain, they eventually found where to excavate and transform it, starting millennia before it would become the official country of Agartha. When the leaders of Avalon and Hippolyta met with the leader of Agartha, they started the Triad, aligned with one another, and started the Age of Countries. Losing the territories that became Atalanta and Boncly, which would then give way to Laputa and Alicein, the territory has been greatly reduced, but the increased development and populating within the mountain means they haven't lost much.
Demography and Population
Agartha has a total population of 1,003,000 people registered. Out of that number, 800,000 live within the mountain itself. About 500,000 are Dwarves of various kinds, along with 200,000 Dragonborn, and various other races, most commonly Tieflings and Gnomes within the mountain, and Halflings making up most of the outer-mountain population.
Military
The Gem Guard is a military formed after the original ranks were dissolved following The Border Wars. Agartha was especially infamous for their brutality and unethical experimentation that made up their ranks, such as the Bloody Mad Dog Corps. Now most of their soldier forces go towards defense, especially in The Underdark, where they have allied with the beings within it, but sometimes have to face threats nonetheless.
There are Five main divisions within the Guard, although specialized ranks do exist in minor capacities. Ruby Knights are your vanguards, your strike teams. Getting in, dealing major blows, and getting back are their main focuses.
Next are the Citrine Knights, who act as defense units with tall, towering shields and bolstering magic.
After them are Emerald Knights, the main medic and support units of The Gem Guard, but also are good for supernatural suppression. Most Clerics in the order belong to this unit.
Sapphire Knights are the main Magical unit, with offensive, defensive, and support divisions equally.
Lastly, the Onyx Knights are considered the most common but most essential, tasked with protecting the citizens above all else, even other Knights.
Technological Level
Agartha mainly utilizes Steam technology, with some coal-based technology as well, especially in the lower levels where it would be harder to get the steam out.
Religion
Many Agarthans follow the faith of The Mother Dragons, the belief that Edda's life came to be from enormous, matron dragons following The Third Cataclysm, and each bestowed a task upon the mortals they left behind. This has caused them to butt heads with people who follow The True Giants and The God-Fae, however, as both view dragons as something of an Ill-Omen, but these days only those whose entire lives revolve around religion bother to combat that.
Foreign Relations
Being the main resource for metals and stones of various kinds, Agartha keeps a steady relationship with almost every other nation in Edda, with the exception of Hippolyta who have made use of their special trees. Their biggest ally would be Laputa, who lacks their own mines and ores to power their great mechanics.
Agriculture & Industry
Within the mountain, Agarthans typically raise certain kinds of Mushrooms, but Sun Vents and artificial farms can make other foods sustainable as well. On the foothills, however, the ground is very fertile and mineral enriched, making hearty fruits and vegetables aplenty available.
Most of the Industry in Agartha is trade production. Blacksmithing, Woodworking, Artificing, Alchemy, even textile work, all of it is treated as something wholly serious in Agartha. Every year, starting on the 15th of Bronzing Autumn, there is a 7-day long Expo for craft work of all kinds, drawing people all over Edda in for advertisement, fame, and making last sales before winter kicks in.
Trade & Transport
Within the mountain, a comprehensive rail and trolley system transport people and goods around, while outside of it there are a decent amount of well-maintained roads and paths that can be driven or rode over.
Education
Agartha maintains compulsory education to all children of all races throughout the same ages, and many trades and vocations are available as well.
Infrastructure
Sewage and plumbing are readily available in all Agarthan cities, and within the mountain there is also a comprehensive cooling and heating section for different times of the day, along with electricity systems and elevators and similar things for the different Circles of the city.
Cosmological Views
Once the Mortal Forms were made flesh, those who follow The Mother Dragons believe that there were many entities that were born from this act, powerful gods of draconic scales and shape, and that they gave their lives to establish the land for the Mortal Forms, collecting in the middle and spreading outwards.
Tenets of Faith
The main credo of The Mother Dragons is generosity. Those who live were given the opportunity, power, and resources by The Mother Dragons, and to waste it on oneself, or to let it go to waste, is incredibly sinful. However this has turned the act of giving into something more performative in the aristocratic levels.
Worship
Worship is carried out by blessing and assisting those who follow the capacity of The Mother Dragon served, in any means. Public Sermons and blessings are typically applied.
Priesthood
Priesthood is something that someone will spend their entire life devoting themselves to. For each order there are different ranks of priesthood. From the neophytes and up, they are refereed to as Claw Priests, Fang Priests, Wing Priests, Scale Priests, and Heartscale Priests. From there, there are general leaders of the faith, instead of just the specific orders. Wyrm Priests, Wyvern Priests, and the head Dragon Priest are those ranks.
When someone reaches Wing Priest is when they will typically to host sermons and other such duties.
For those who are not interested in preacherhood but still work in the bounds of a clerical order are known as Shed Scales.
Political Influence & Intrigue
Many who are high ranking Priests in the order are also aristocrats, those who have more to give to the lesser, even if it's just a show. One such family is The Morte Family, an extremely affluent family of Halflings whose matriarch is the current Dragon Priest, Emile Morte.
Sects
There hasn't been much division in The Mother Dragons religion, however there is theological argument over the morality of Smaragd and Kattguld over the years, and many who follow Heliotrop do not find the current War Domain Orders hands-off method to be satisfactory.
Strike the Steel, Stoke the Forge
Founding Date
1 AC
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Training Level
Semi-professional
Veterancy Level
Decorated/Honored
Demonym
Agarthans
Head of State
Government System
Democracy, Representative
Power Structure
Autonomous area
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
Agarthan Gold
Major Exports
Being the chief producer of metals and stones in Edda, it is their main export as well.
Major Imports
Agartha imports a lot of fruits and vegetables that they do not personally grow from countries such as Hippolyta and Atalanta, and since it is not a heavily forested region, a lot of Wood gets imported as well.
Legislative Body
Each Circle Speaker has a task group known as the Circle Crafters, responsible for surveying the public opinion of a circle and drafting laws and legislation to aid them.
Judicial Body
The Agarthan Military, known as The Gem Guard, maintains order for The Agarthan People. Your typical city guards are made up of Onyx Knights, along with members of Clerical orders.
Subsidiary Organizations
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
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