Post by Katolin on Oct 21, 2006 20:18:33 GMT -5
Mirithin is a relatively large continent that is composed of three countries. Mixteca, the Sun State, covers the west half of the continent. In the past, the empire of Mixteca covered the entire continent. Hundreds of years ago, warring factions caused a schism that split the empire into the current three states. Thalanos spans the north and east, a mountainous terrain with small plateau valleys. The capital, Carpathan, is situated at the mouth of the Gilar River. Toward the south, Varinos spans the southern shores where the best fishing is concentrated.
Mixteca
Mixteca is known as the Sun State. Its capital, Sunhome, is the mythological home of the sun itself. The Mixtecans worship the Sun God, their patron. Their vast pyramids are a miracle of architecture. Now, however, the shrinking of their empire has brought a period of relative poverty to the state. The hereditary rulers of the state have grown fearful of the threat growing in Thalanos. Meanwhile, the grand capital city decays from neglect. The temples to the Sun God are showing signs of their age despite the best efforts of the monks. Every year the boundaries of the country shrink; there is simply not enough funding to supply the outlying forts. The crops fail and shortages accumulate. Many swear that the gods have abandoned them; however, no one can agree about the reason. Money that should be spent on defense is spent instead on elaborate festivals to honor any god that could restore Mixteca's glory.
Thalanos
Thalanos was founded by Thalan, the fifth son of the brother of the king of Mixteca. A greedy man, he wanted the power of the throne for himself. However, he had no chace at the throne. He was nearly twentieth in line for succession, and those ahead of him were strong of mind and body. He was caught trying to poison his cousins and sentenced to exile in the far mountains. There, he rallied together the mountain people and stormed a fort. He easily solidified his position, this far from the capital. Other men, lured by the possibility of power, came in from all areas to join Thalan. Soon he had a force to be reckoned with. He quickly gained control of the Gilar river, cutting off trade from the south and crippling the empire. Years later he had accumulated a good deal of territory and claimed it as his own kingdom. He had ruled for nearly fifty years when Mixteca officially recognized Thalanos as an independant state in a desperate attempt to stop Thalan from taking more territory. Before he died, Thalan decreed that his country would not be ruled by an inbred family. He set up a democratic system so that all worthy men could have a chance to rule.
Years later, the country of Thalanos has become successful through trade. The mountain gods that Thalanos swears to have favored them with relatively mild winters and longer summers. However, fifteen years ago the ambitious Dukan lost his bid in the elections and seized power in a military coup. He rules the land as dictator, but it still prospers. Dukan has begun raiding the outlying forts and grabbing more territory for Thalanos, recognizing that the state would be unstoppable if it gained the fields of Mixteca to grow grains instead of trading for them.
Varinos
Varinos was also a part of the Mixteca empire before the Schism. When the Mixtecan Emperor issued a call to arms to fight against Thalan, the South sent no support. Rather, they decided to remain neutral. They were too far for the war to drastically affect them, and they thought themselves unsuited for land war. The south profitted greatly by supplying both sides during the war, even though Mixteca refused to officially accept the trade. Much of the produce went through the grey market instead. Thalanos, however, eagerly accepted the help. Because they were willing to buy the supplies at higher prices, the region was more willing to sell to them. Mixteca starved while Thalanos prospered. When Mixteca finally declared Thalanos an independant nation they also declared Varinos its own land in an act of spite. Varinos, in the old tongue, translates to 'Traitors.' The Varins took this insult in stride and went about their business. Today, the peaceful state is the richest collectively, even if its capital city does not show its wealth as flagrantly as the others'.
Mixteca
Mixteca is known as the Sun State. Its capital, Sunhome, is the mythological home of the sun itself. The Mixtecans worship the Sun God, their patron. Their vast pyramids are a miracle of architecture. Now, however, the shrinking of their empire has brought a period of relative poverty to the state. The hereditary rulers of the state have grown fearful of the threat growing in Thalanos. Meanwhile, the grand capital city decays from neglect. The temples to the Sun God are showing signs of their age despite the best efforts of the monks. Every year the boundaries of the country shrink; there is simply not enough funding to supply the outlying forts. The crops fail and shortages accumulate. Many swear that the gods have abandoned them; however, no one can agree about the reason. Money that should be spent on defense is spent instead on elaborate festivals to honor any god that could restore Mixteca's glory.
Thalanos
Thalanos was founded by Thalan, the fifth son of the brother of the king of Mixteca. A greedy man, he wanted the power of the throne for himself. However, he had no chace at the throne. He was nearly twentieth in line for succession, and those ahead of him were strong of mind and body. He was caught trying to poison his cousins and sentenced to exile in the far mountains. There, he rallied together the mountain people and stormed a fort. He easily solidified his position, this far from the capital. Other men, lured by the possibility of power, came in from all areas to join Thalan. Soon he had a force to be reckoned with. He quickly gained control of the Gilar river, cutting off trade from the south and crippling the empire. Years later he had accumulated a good deal of territory and claimed it as his own kingdom. He had ruled for nearly fifty years when Mixteca officially recognized Thalanos as an independant state in a desperate attempt to stop Thalan from taking more territory. Before he died, Thalan decreed that his country would not be ruled by an inbred family. He set up a democratic system so that all worthy men could have a chance to rule.
Years later, the country of Thalanos has become successful through trade. The mountain gods that Thalanos swears to have favored them with relatively mild winters and longer summers. However, fifteen years ago the ambitious Dukan lost his bid in the elections and seized power in a military coup. He rules the land as dictator, but it still prospers. Dukan has begun raiding the outlying forts and grabbing more territory for Thalanos, recognizing that the state would be unstoppable if it gained the fields of Mixteca to grow grains instead of trading for them.
Varinos
Varinos was also a part of the Mixteca empire before the Schism. When the Mixtecan Emperor issued a call to arms to fight against Thalan, the South sent no support. Rather, they decided to remain neutral. They were too far for the war to drastically affect them, and they thought themselves unsuited for land war. The south profitted greatly by supplying both sides during the war, even though Mixteca refused to officially accept the trade. Much of the produce went through the grey market instead. Thalanos, however, eagerly accepted the help. Because they were willing to buy the supplies at higher prices, the region was more willing to sell to them. Mixteca starved while Thalanos prospered. When Mixteca finally declared Thalanos an independant nation they also declared Varinos its own land in an act of spite. Varinos, in the old tongue, translates to 'Traitors.' The Varins took this insult in stride and went about their business. Today, the peaceful state is the richest collectively, even if its capital city does not show its wealth as flagrantly as the others'.