Southeast Region: Stanlandia

The Zoron nations of Stanlandia are united by their belief in the same set of gods but divided over which god is supreme. Each kingdom has a hereditary ruler, but this ruler must obey the edicts of the clergy or risk being replaced with one of their brothers, sons, or cousins (or sisters or daughters in the case of Parvatistan). The general population is less concerned than the ruling clergy with the issue of divine supremacy, as most ordinary people regard the gods equally or favour those whose sphere most affects their own lives. This puts monarchs in a delicate position as the clerics they answer to are often urging war against neighbouring kingdoms, while most subjects have no interest in fighting, and the merchants are actively opposed to hostilities that would interrupt trade routes.
Parvatistan claims the northern shoreline of the island if Zindria, and the sands extending south to the edge of Mazdastan and east to its border with Rajistan. It is one of only two Stanlandish nations with a queen and a female priesthood. Being the most impoverished in terms of arable land, the Parvatistanis rely on fishing and trade to sustain themselves. This is aided by their amicable relationship with the Jessians of Valsaline and Tricorn Island.
Rajistan sits on the west coast of Zindria. Much of the kingdom is grassland suitable for grazing, but not amenable to agriculture. It is a strict, legalistic nation that enforces a rigid caste system. Its position at the mouth of the Venial Straits both makes it a target for pirates and an important trading point that has amassed a lot of wealth. The wealth is collected by the palace and distributed among its people according to social standing. The bottom tier of society is allowed enough to survive on, and the presence of homelessness in a given community will result in an investigation into the local administration.
Mazdastan occupies the southern highlands of Zindria, consisting of mountains and high-altitude deserts. Life in the kingdom is austere. Although it has mineral wealth to export, almost all its needs must be imported from its neighbours who have sea access. The Mazdastanis are on average more devout than other Stanlandians, largely because much of the population immigrated to the region in order to enter one of its monasteries, join the dervishes, or live alone as a religious hermit.
Ravistan is a large, thin country spread along the north coast of Baghadeesh with the jungle to its back. The waters of its shore are some of the most treacherous in the Venial Straits, and most trade routes at this point are by land through the kingdom rather than by sea. Ravistan’s only ports are at its east and west tips, which are the points at which the mountains and crags forming the north coast descend to sea level. The nation’s settlements lie in the valley between the coastal mountains and the southern jungle. Although the kingdom is immune to most threats by sea, it has a few Sea Shepherds to protect its two ports from pirates. It also deploys Paladins and Rangers throughout the south to defend it against jungle denizens ranging from ogres to Ohia tribes to rebel princes formerly loyal to Baghajaray.
Kalistan holds the northwest corner of the Baghajaray, including some lowland coastal plains and an undefined portion of the jungle. The Queen of Kalistan is co-equal ruler with the High Priestess of Kali and they serve the goddess fanatically, ceremonially sacrificing half the booty from their royally-sanctioned pirate raids. The Kalistani disrespect for their neighbours’ trade routes makes them the one nation the other Stanlandians are generally willing to war with. Invasion is nigh-impossible, however, with Kalistan's formidable sailors protecting her coast, mountains along the northern border with Ravistan and the southern border with Adelstan, and allied Svartalfs buffering entry through the jungle.
Adelstan sits next to Kalistan along the west coast of Baghajaray, extending southward as far as the heat is bearable. The Adelstanis are the most avaricious and battle-hungry of the Stanlandians, constantly trying to expand into the jungle to their east, putting them at war with the Svartalfs and Vanara dwelling there. The Svartalf-Kalistani alliance also guarantees that Adelstan has its shipments from abroad sunk by Kalistani pirates. This inability to bring goods in makes expansion into the jungle that much more attractive. This circular conflict has smouldered for generations and has resulted in both an voluminous horde of goods at the bottom of the Great Southern Sea and swaths of desert cutting into the Bhaga jungle indicating the extent of Adelstani advances throughout history.
Races: Human, Vanara
Common tongue: Zoron
Classes (all): Cavalier, Fighter, Survivalist, Mounted Archer, Sha’ir, Merchant, Thief, Assassin, Votary, Reverend, Magic-User, Illusionist, Wu Jen, Sage (except Sifu, Friar), Alchemist
Paravatistan: Shukenja, Monk, Jhakri/Dakini, Medjay, Gobi, Dervish, Medicine Woman
Rajistan: Shukenja, Monk, Wudang/Baksu, Jhakri, Kshatriya, Minstrel, Sifu
Mazdastan: Paladin, Shukenja, Monk, Oracle, Jhakri, Medjay, Dervish
Ravistan: Paladin, Ranger, Ohia, Shukenja, Monk, Wudang/Baksu
Kalistan: Ohia, Mariner, Pirate, Infernal Knight, Witch, Dakini
Adelstan: Ranger, Ohia, Dread Judge, Mariner, Pirate, Jhakri

Mythology & Lore

Deities:
Agni – god of fire, chief god of Adelstan
Amurdad – goddess of immortality
Apah – god of water
Armatey – goddess of gravity, magnetism, and navigation
Asha – goddess of truth
Brahma – god of creation
Devi – goddess of fertility
Druj – god of illusion and evil
Ormazda – god of lightning, chief god of Mazdastan
Ganesha – god of luck
Hanuman – god of monkeys and devotion
Indra – god of air
Kali – goddess of earth, chief goddess of Kalistan
Mitra – god of oaths
Nar – goddess of springs and rivers
Parjanya – goddess of rain
Parvati – goddess of love and fertility, chief goddess of Parvatistan
Pashupati – lord of animals
Rama – god of justice, chief god of Rajistan
Ratri – goddess of night
Rudra – god of hunting and storms
Sarax/Saraswati – goddess of knowledge
Shoma – god of intoxication and dreams
Svark/Ravi – god of the sun, chief god of Ravistan
Tir – god of writing and wisdom
Tvastri – god of the arts
Ushas – goddess of dawn
Vahagn – god of war and fire
Verethtragna – goddess of victory
Virudhaka – god of the south
Wahman – god of cows
Yima – god of death

Demonym

Stanlanders (Parvatistanis, Rajistanis, Mazdastanis, Ravistanis, Kalistanis, Adelstanis)

Government System

Monarchy, Theocratic

Economic System

Palace economy

Currency

Dunpori coinage, precious stones