The Kingdom of Fossa is an independent kingdom situated on the Fossan Peninsula and surrounding islands. It is bordered by the Kingdom of Furca to the north, the Desperian Ocean to the west and south, and the Phodian Sea to the south and east. The Fossan population is largely situated along the nation's long coastline, and much of Fossan society revolves around maritime and mercantile pursuits. Fossa has traditionally been a fairly stable and prosperous kingdom despite some noble intrigues, but is currently locked in a protracted war with the neighbouring nation of Furca.

History

The Fossan Peninsula was historically divided into a multitude of city-states, with the traditional regional powers being the city of Callas to the west, Tassis along the southern coast, and Demaiadon to the east. Smaller city-states would often rapidly shift allegiances between these regional powers, with the Callian, Tassian, and Demaiadonian Leagues frequently waxing and waning in influence. Conflicts between Fossan city-states were frequent but usually small in scale, with cities typically aiming to outcompete eachother economically. However, major military conflicts did arise between the competing cities, most notably the War of the Three Leagues, which began as a small naval conflict between Tassis and Demaiadon for the allegiance of the strategically positioned city-state of Dephand, but ultimately became a peninsula-spanning war which resulted in Callas subjugating their exhausted rivals.
Attempts at breaking the Callian hegemony were frustrated by Tassis and Demaiadon's long-standing rivalry, however by the year 742 the newly crowned Lord Adrian of Tassis made active efforts to quash this rivalry and establish strong ties between the two cities, including covertly marrying the Lord of Demaiadon's daughter. Nobles from both cities conspired to break the Callian subjugation, and this conspiracy spread to other cities in the south and east where Tassian or Demaiadonian interests still had sway. Upon the death of the Lord of Demaiadon in 751, the city's nobles elected Adrian of Tassis as the new Lord, and within a year both cities were in open revolt against Callas. An armada of ships was sent from Callas to crush the revolt, but was intercepted by a combined Tassian-Demaiadonian fleet near the infamous Yawning Trench, resulting in a pyrrhic victory for the revolters and the near-complete sinking of both navies.
Adrian was able to use the momentum from this victory to persuade majority of the city-states in the south and west of Fossa, themselves dissatisfied with the Callian hegemony, to swear fealty to him, and in 753 Adrian declared himself King of All Fossa. He established a temporary capital in Dephand, a strategically located city between Tassis and Demaiadon - as it was physically closer to Demaiadon but politically closer to Tassis, it was considered an appropriate compromise that could be tolerated by both major cities. The fledgling kingdom was still threatened by Callas and its League, although the danger was not immediate as both sides would be forced to rebuild their navies. Instead, Adrian aimed to sieze initiative. He amassed a significant land force, and, aided by mercenary guides from the inland regions, successfully marched it over the rugged, mountainous terrain of Interior Fossa to attack the unprepared city of Callas from the land. With Callas quickly falling to the unexpected attack, Adrian subjugated the city into his new Kingdom, though allowed it a high level of autonomy and influence. With the Kingdom effectively controlling all major power centres on the Fossan Peninsula, it was able to focus its efforts on stabilisation and reconstruction after the damaging wars of the previous decades.
Shortly following Adrian I's death in 789, the year 791 came to be known as the Year of Calamities, as bursts of tectonic activity caused major destruction throughout the Fossan Peninsula. Most notably, Demaiadon, one of Fossa's Three Great Cities, was almost totally levelled by earthquakes, leading much of the surviving population to flee to the nearby capital of Dephand. Additionally, the proud city of Ilouil on Fossa's southwestern coast, the largest and most prosperous city in the west after Callas and a beacon of learning and art, was devastated after the richest parts of the city crumbled into the sea as the Yawning Trench expanded. In the aftermath of these disasters, the throne of Fossa was usurped from the ineffectual Adrian II of Tassis by prominent noble Leander of Dephand, who quickly arranged a marriage with another member of the Tassis family to give his reign the credence of continuity. With the destruction of much of Demaiaidon and the local nobility outmanoeuvring the Kingdom's Tassian founding house, the city of Dephand emerged by the year 800 as the predominant city in Fossa, though cities such as Callas and Tassis remained large and prosperous.
Despite frequent intrigues and a few overseas expeditions, Fossa has remained relatively stable, peaceful, and prosperous for the last 200 years, largely owed to its defensible terrain, few neighbours, and overwhelming naval force. However, over the past ten years Fossa has become embroiled in a land war with its northern neighbour, the Kingdom of Furca. Relying on their navy and terrain for defense left Fossa unprepared for a land invasion, allowing Furcan troops to begin pressing southwards through the mountains. While rallied Fossan troops were able to slow and later halt the Furcan advance, they have so far been unable to push the invaders out of their territory, and the war has grown into a largely static and protracted affair. While no major Fossan settlements are under direct threat of invasion at the moment, the war is a constant drain on the nation's resources and manpower, with some smaller towns almost entirely depopulated of young men. The threat of destruction at Furcan hands has also made many Fossan merchant vessels reluctant to travel north, meaning the nation is reliant on foreign merchants for several importants. Inexperienced foreign merchants seeking to capitalise on this demand often lose their ships and cargo to Fossa's infamously treacherous Cape Sawtooth, making the cape an enticing - if extremely dangerous - location for treasure divers and salvagers.

Culture

Beholden to the seas, Fossa has developed a strong maritime and mercantile culture. The maritime industry is large and well-developed with long fishing and shipbuilding traditions, and the Fossan navy is considered one of the largest and most powerful in the known world. Fossans also consider themselves the greatest sailors and navigators in the world, having to contend with the nation's often treacherous seas. The port is usually the most active part of any large Fossan city, and boast a strong cosmopolitan and mercantile identity. Wealth, more than nobility, is usually viewed as a sign of prestige, though nobles retain certain privileges, such as governance, that are closed off to even the richest merchants. Fossans generally value wit, insight, resourcefulness, and most of all tenacity, with those able to tough out difficult conditions held in the highest esteem.
The smaller population of Interior Fossa is somewhat culturally disconnected from the urbane maritime population, looking down on their flashy displays, and mostly focuses on pastoral pursuits - largely raising sheep - in the country's rugged highlands. Despite some antipathy between the coastal and inland populations, savvy merchants still hold respect for Interior Fossans, as wool and cloth (and to a lesser extent sheep cheese) are major exports of Fossa.
Gender roles in Fossa are socially enforced and inequal. Most labour in the country is dominated by men, though there are some fields where women are (at least culturally) considered equals and some which are considered exclusively female domains. An example of the latter is the field of diving. Diving has traditionally been associated with women providing a supplementary income to the family by collecting additional food and the occasional rarity, and this feminine association has carried on to the growing pursuit of treasure diving or salvaging, considered one of the most lucrative yet demanding and dangerous jobs in the country. The Fossan military is also exclusive to men, creating a shortage of young men in many labour fields. Consequently, women have moved into these fields to fill these shortages and provide for their households, challenging traditional Fossan gender roles. Women (especially noblewomen) also have the right to own property and are officially equals in terms of inheritance, though male heirs are often preferenced regardless. However, there are countless examples of women inheriting properties or businesses (such as merchant vessels) and finding great success with them despite societal prejudices.

Kingdom of Fossa

Fossan Coat of Arms

per pale at nombril engrailed sable and azure, in honour point a moon decrescent argent

Founding Date

753

Type

Geopolitical, Kingdom

Capital

Dephand

Demonym

Fossan

Leader

Sergius IV

Leader Title

King of Fossa

Founders

• Adrian I

Government System

Monarchy, Constitutional

Power Structure

Feudal state

Controlled Territories

• Dephand

Neighboring Nations

• Kingdom of Furca