The Azurean Confederacy
Structure
Culture
The people of the Confederacy are mostly a welcoming bunch eager to welcome both immigrants and tourists alike. With no clear majority species the Azureans have learned to commingle their cultures into one larger culture that contains elements of Aaracokra, Genasi, Gnorri, Sea-elves, and Triton. However a few thing remain that only certain species observe.
The familial unit is one such cultural difference; the triton have a very similar familial outlook to humans. There is a central family composed of parents and children and extended family comped of cousins, aunts and grand-parents, and a distant family that has second, third, and fourth cousins a long with other very distant relatives that aren't paid as much mind. Sea-elves on the other hand consider the extended family a part of the primary family but like triton the distant family is not considered. The largest extreme of this however belong to the genasi which consider the entire family both extend and distant as part of a central clan. If a genasi marries into another clan it is no longer considered part of the original clan. To the other extreme is the gnorri which don't have a concept of family. Children are part of an egg brood that are laid and left to drift in the ocean current until they hatch. Once hatched the child swims to a near by village and lives there where is quickly matures. Gnorri do however have preferred partners so monogamy in a sense exists there.
When it comes to religion the entire populace worships Melora in one way or another. While many many not consider her their primary god/goddess the fact that they live close to or in the ocean makes the worship of her a common necessity. The Meloran Holidays are given national holiday statuses and governmental buildings are usually adorned with Meloran holy symbols. However the confederacy still attempts to remain secular, despite ingrained Meloran worship.
The confederacy is fiercely capitalistic, with its government considered closer to a mercantile institution than a national government. They allow the set up of any sort of business that one could want and ban the trade of very little. If one wishes to make a commodity banned or otherwise outlawed, their is almost always a huge amount of debate. Even the banning of the buying and selling of slaves in the confederacy caused a 4 month long debate in the confederate senate. This has brought some to theorize that an underground slave trade may exist in the confederacy, however this has been continually denied by the confederate government.
Personal freedom is also fiercely defended in the confederacy, and the idea that one should be allowed to completely rule over another is abhorrent to them. This was a huge point in the debate to ban slavery in 1704 and is credited as the reason that slavery is outlawed today. Many groups have taken this idea and have used it as a cry to break off relations with all empires, kingdoms, and other totalitarian regimes, and have started to gain traction in the confederacy.
The use of magic is a weird spot for them for one the use of it is a part of personal freedom, but on the flip side magic can be used to control and coerce others. These opposing ideals have made many look upon magic users with suspicion, and some are even outright prejudice towards them. With the falling number of magic users and the rise in the superstition against them users of magic are advised to avoid using magic when in the confederacy. The only magic users that are free of this stigma are the magic users who are employed by the government.
Public Agenda
Grow trade, and build relationships and alliances with other nations.
Assets
- The largest Economy
- Access to gems and underwater materials
- Monopoly on underwater real estate
- The Town of Eastward Watch
- Gnorri Weapons
- A vault with magical Artifacts
- Expert knowledge of underwater creatures
- 2 Armada's worth of Ships
History
The Confederacy started out as a loose affiliation of four underwater cities: Navacia, Tylona, Merton, and Thalassia. Only together in the way of trade, it was the Gnorri women named Ethlyn that proposed the idea of a confederacy in order to protect each other from the Sahuagin raiding parties that were at the time common place. Already seeing each other as together in a quasi-nation the other cities were quick to accept and the Azurean Confederacy was born in 1625. The confederacy spent little time setting up infrastructure in the way of patrolled waterways and the migration of their people. The spread out cities became specialized, an army was created, and a constitution drafted. By 1700 the confederacy was a true nation and the people decided that their isolation from they world needed to end.
In 1701 the confederacy made contact with the the genasi of Amphiloria a small port town that had only sprung up about 50 years prior. Though not the first contact the triton or the sea-elves had with surfacers. The deep-water dwelling gnorri were finally seen by surface dwelling races, and this marked the momentous first steps in the fast growing confederacy. Though shunned by the fire, and earth genasi; the water, and air genasi quickly formed a good rapport with the confederacy and vice versa. This rapport made the other genasi come around to the confederacy in time and trade was set up between the two in 1703. Growing tired of not having a home of their own the elders of Amphiloria came to the confederacy and asked to be assimilated into the confederation. After a great deal of debate the town of Amphiloria was assimilated into the confederacy.
With the new town of Amphiloria being inducted into the confederacy a large influx of land-based species came to settle in Amphiloria which caused the town to increase rapidly in size. In order to meet the growing demand for land in the confederacy, towns started being built on many of the islands with Ashereth being the first in 1720 and Nephran being built soon after in 1730. The construction of these two towns saw even larger waves of migrants. The Elysian Empire, seeing this large increase of migrants to the east, sent a convoy to the confederacy in order to start diplomatic talks in 1750. Being well greeted upon arrival the confederacy asked for the establishment of a trade treaty. Emporer Dortivore Olmaxim himself met the then President of the Confederacy Fenwarin Valroia, and together the signed the Treaty of the Homeless desert.
Still dealing with the increase in migrants the confederacy headed farther east ward to find suitable islands for the migrants that's when they came across the aarakocra home of Last Home in 1758. The aarakocra fearing that they would be chased off again put up a defense of the island but thanks to a quick diplomatic talk by the explorers no blood was shed. The confederacy and the aarakocra set up some trade between the two nations and later that year the aarakocra home of Last Home was assimilated into the confederacy and the town of Eastward Watch was set up as an international military base years later in 1790.
The good fortune of the confederacy soon ran out when 1768 the volcano of Mt. Tragedy erupted covering the town of Ashereth in a pyroclastic flow, splitting the island and leaving no survivors. A great deal of charity was received from the Elysian Empire which cemented its place as one of the confederacy's closest allies. Even so the high amount of casualties caused a public memorial to be held for those who died in the eruption and it was soon decided that the island shall remain uninhabited.
After the wounds from Asherleth were but a memory it became time to build a new town and the the town of Merton was proposed by a group of politicians in the confederacy. After a location was decided upon construction started in 1789. Due to the small size of the Island of the same name the construction was slow going and was met with many problems along the way. However in 1801 the construction of the town of Merton was completed.
Not soon after the confederacy received a message from the Iron Republic which was interested in starting trade with the nation. This was a great surprise as the republic had been mainly an isolationist nation so President Wultyn Sulur sent back an acceptance to the republic. This agreement came to be known as the Water and Fire Treaty, and paved the way for even more nations to begin trade with the confederacy.
In 1843 the military town of Eastward Watch had been seen as a needless expense by not only the confederacy but also by the international community at large. The logistics to send even a small platoon was immense and the chance that they would get there safely was low. However this changed later that year when a scout sent eastward came back with grave news a Kraken was spotted. At first this was not seen as a large deal karkens were not an unusual sight so the military figured that it would be no different that was until the size was described. Multiple time larger than any kraken seen before it was soon realized that the kraken if it makes landfall will cause a catastrophe. Using the only magic user that was on the island a message was sent to the Elysian Empire, The Azurean Confederacy, The Golden Empire, The Iron Republic, and the newly contacted Uborean Dynasty. A huge armada came composed of the 5 nations ready to meet the Great Kraken en route to Eastward Watch. The ensuing battle was great with the kraken decimating entire frigates with one hit from its tentacle. Cannon blasts seemed to have no effect and magic users used every last drop of their magic ability to make even a dent in its hide. After almost an entire day of fighting a fatal blow was struck by the Uborean Frigate The Gadfly shot a harpoon directly into its eye. As it sank below the surface for the last time only 3 ships remained the Gadfly, the Imperial Frigate Guildford, and the Golden Destroyer Wolsey. As Confederates went down to examine the body they came across a terrifying discovery, the Kraken had signs of predation i.e. there were other creatures that hunt it. Upon this discovery the international community all agreed to fund the town of Eastward Watch and to all have at least one permanent battalion each stationed at Eastward Watch so that if anything else comes west they would be prepared for it.
With the continued strengthening of the nations ties to others it was propsed that the Nation build an underwater tourist town so that anyone who wishes would be able to see the arcitecture of any of the towns in the nation, as the gnorri and even the triton towns proved to be too deep for the curious to visit. SO in 1845 the town of Tharis began its construction.
Still recovering from the battle with the great Kraken the confederacy was not prepared when to the north the Elven Conclave invaded in 1849. The Conclave descended from the North sea into the Confederacy taking Amphiloria in the process. Unable to get allies to the front in a timely matter the confederacy mainly focused on holding the northern towns from the Conclave putting the near completed construction of Tharis on hold. The war went back and forth with the conclave able to use the confusion to take many northern islands and the Azureans able to use their naval superiority to defend others. Then the tide was turned in 1859 after a decisive victory when retaking Amphiloira crushed the foot hold the Conclave had in the confederacy. Using their water superiority the confederates were able to stop any reinforcements the conclave tried to send to their taken cities and island hold outs. With the conclaves moral deteriorating the war came to an end in 1863 with the signing of the Long Awaited Ceasefire. This allowed the Conferacy to continue construction of the Town of Tharis in 1863 and complete it in 1864. Later that same year in recognition of their victory many of the western nations proposed the Treaty of the Western nations, starting a formal trade agreement between them and and the Confederacy. With their new new show of strength and new found trade partners even sahuagin who had once raided started to immigrate to the Azurean Confederacy proving that the nation is welcome to all.
Demography and Population
1.25 Million
25% Triton
25% Sea-Elf
15% Genasi
10% Gnorri
5% Aarakocra
5% Sahuagin
5% Dragonborn
4% Human
3% Goblinoid
1% Yuan-ti
1% Aasimar
<1% Other
Territories
Military
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The Confederacy has a relatively small standing army but a large fleet of ships. If a war is to occur the confederacy will conscript all able body fighters and train them them and there while the standing army defends the nation.
- 100 Galleons
- 50 Frigates
- 500 Destroyers
- 4 Legions of Infantry
- 3 Legions of Archery
- 1 Legion of artillery
Technological Level
Late medieval level.
Religion
As said before almost every individual worships Melora so instead we will look at the secondary gods that the populace worships
- 63% Melora Only
- 23% Moquel
- 7% Corelian
- 3% Kord
- 2% Leira
- 1% Pelor
- >1% Other
Foreign Relations
The Azurean Confederacy attempts to keep a peaceful relationship with all nations regardless of past. While this is easy for certain nations such as the Elysian Empire, The Golden Empire, and the Citadel of the Stillborn. Nations such as the Elven Conclave, Vivolia, and the Uborean Dynasty makes this easier said than done. Many times the confederacy must capitulate on issues that it feels strongly about and even look the other way for atrocities committed.
Agriculture & Industry
The agricultureal side is based mainly in the town of Neridore where it mostly focuses as a hunting base and a large kelp farm with some clam and shellfish farms.
Industry is focused on weapon smithing, drug production, deep sea scavenging, manufactured goods, tourism, fishing, and gems.
Trade & Transport
Transport is done via privately owned vessels so the private owners mostly keep the well traveled ship ways safe.
Trade is done completely via armed and guarded convoys, with little government intervention except for tourist transport. Traders are on their own.
Education
Education is headed by the private sector and those that are able to attend for around ten years. The curriculum depends on the town and the company that runs the school.
Infrastructure
Every town has a town hall and a court house. Those on the surface have paved roads, walls, sewers, and watch towers. Subsurface towns have watch towers mounted with weapons, lighting via bioluminescent creatures, air domes for surfacers, and panic shelters for raids.
Brotherhood, Peace, and Prosperity
Maps
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The Azurean Confederacy
The Map of the Azurean Confederacy during the last census
Founding Date
The 18th of the Month of Beasts 1625
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Alternative Names
The Confederacy, The Azurean Peninsula
Demonym
Azures, Azureans
Government System
Democracy, Direct
Power Structure
Confederation
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
Uses the basic coinage of the realm
Major Exports
Souls, Drugs, Gems, Weapons, Clams, Shellfish, Fish, Coral and shells, Seaweed, and Monster Parts
Major Imports
Metals, grains, alcohols, Manufactured goods, precious metals, gems, meats, lumber, clay, and stones.
Legislative Body
The Confederate Senate
Judicial Body
Confederate Judges who work over elected city judges
Neighboring Nations