The Zora City-States

The Zora are the most powerful marine civilization, with underwater cities spread across the Lalvican Sea and beyond. In addition, they also have a few overland settlements within or near major rivers. Each Zora city is an independent settlement with its own government and royal family line. With a cultural focus on diplomacy, the Zora collectively maintain a federation to share resources, establish common laws, and prevent conflict.
In the last few centuries, the Zora City-States have also invited other marine species to join their federation. 

History

Origins

Originally a saltwater species, the Zora evolved the ability to breathe in freshwater around 6000 years ago. Natural explorers, they quickly scattered in every direction to map river systems and lakes around the continent. Life in the sea had been difficult due to dangerous predators, but meeting with overland species like humans and elves provided the Zora with new resources and trade goods to help them gain an edge over their marine competition. 
Their population boomed, and ancient settlements quickly grew into sprawling underwater cities. Travel between these cities was still fraught with danger due to the constant migration of other species, and so each city developed independently. These early days were not necessarily peaceful. In addition to battling with other species like the Kuo-Toa and Sahuagin, the Zora would occasionally war against each other over precious resource sites and hunting grounds.

The Federation

After the fall of Luna Majoris, tidal cycles were briefly impacted, and the Zora decided to form a loose alliance to shoulder the difficulties of change together. The civilization underwent a remarkable growth period as magic -- once a rare gift among devoted followers of Nayru and certain bloodlines -- became more commonplace. The Zora restructured their society to incorporate further magical studies from all sources. Greater access to magic made contact between independent cities easier. 
While the surface world found itself locked in a conflict between Diel and Lazu, the Zora spent this time turning their loose alliance into a formal federation between all city-states. Greater access to magic also allowed them to make illuminated beacons on the bottom of the sea, creating a system of "roads" that others could follow to major settlements. 

Modern Era

Since the year 100 AC, there have been no conflicts between the Zora, and they have remained united in their federation. The Zora have chosen to focus their efforts on diplomacy to maintain this era of peace, and they have made considerable effort to invite other sapient marine species into their growing union. To this end, one could successfully argue that the Zora have been more successful at peacefully uniting civilizations than the Hegemony has.
The Zora restructured their military into a less aggressive defense force. Rather than engage in open war, they prefer to end or avoid conflicts by using specialized agents known as the Arms of Aumoe to eliminate threats. Their top agents, however, are their emissaries, who train for years to master politics and treaty-building. 
The Sahaugin remain their main undersea rivals, who have taken to raiding smaller Zora settlements for battle honors and resources. Along with other, bigger predators that would terrify anyone close to the sea.
The Hegemony views them as neutral trading partners, though this position has recently become tense. The Zora openly trade with domains like the Desert of Mystery and the Forsaken Fortress, and the Hegemony has considered putting an embargo on the Zora -- possibly even forbidding their travel inland.

Structure

The known Zora City-States are, in order of strongest to weakest: 

• Zora's Sanctum
• Zora's Domain (overland)
• Mako Cove
• Great Bay
• Silver Reef

Each city has its own royal family line and their own government. Most are absolute monarchies, with the monarch assisted by an appointed council of ministers. The five monarchs meet twice yearly to discuss issues within the federation and adjust common laws accordingly.

Culture

The Zora favor diplomacy above all, investing considerable time and money into training professional emissaries. Being a diplomat is considered a great honor for younger members of royal families and other elite Zora. Especially if it means establishing first contact with a new species or establishing a first treaty with a society.
In this era of peace, the Zora maintain strict neutrality unless provoked by outside sources. This occasionally leads them down a path of messy and convoluted bureaucracy as they attempt to circumvent hostilities both inside and outside of the federation. Government and royalty is often shrouded in ancient "theater" and ceremony that can lead Zora leaders to take themselves a little too seriously.
Zora tend to be open to outsiders and are eager to engage with different cultures, often inviting people to settlements to open food stalls and other specialty shops. Some even get a little too passionate about their admiration for other societies, leading youths to become "wannabes" of other civilizations. For the most part, though, the Zora are laid back and not easily bothered.

Military

The defense force varies in composition from city-to-city, but most Zora warriors favor silver spears for greater range. Some Zora specific roles in combat include:

• Officers are usually paladins who have sworn an oath to the open sea.
• Their martial specialties focus on battle masters and storm herald barbarians. 
• Military casters are often tempest clerics, sea or storm sorcerers, and multidiscipline wizards.
• Eloquence bards often accompany emissaries on assignment.
• Circle of Stars druids serve as key navigators and explorers. 
• The Zora maintain a lethal hunter conclave of rangers to track down predators.

Religion

The Zora worship Nayru as their primary deity, claiming that she initially helped them establish their civilization and desired them to become protectors of the sea. They sometimes refer to her as the Ocean Mother.