Sfaira

Nation Profile
Description	The last vestige of the greatest empire.
Government	Autocracy
Real World Inspiration	Greece
Other Names	Southern Renazzan Empire
Geography
Location	West of Kashalad, on the coast of the Western Sea
Largest City	Naxos
Relative Distance From the Basin	Moderate
Demography
Demonym	Sfairan
Population	2 million
Languages	Sfairan
Races and Ethnicities	Sfairan Human
Religion	Sfairan Pantheon
Currency	Nomisma

Nation Overview

Society

Culture

Although few other nations refer to them as such, Sfairans still call their nation the Renazzan Empire. They do not view themselves as successors or descendants, but as the continuation of over a thousand years of history. Although they lost control of the old heartland of Amany, and Renazzo with it, the capitol had been moved before the collapse, and thus they see nothing strange about believing in themselves as the continuation of that legacy. They also believe that they will one day reclaim their old glory.

Sfairan society is highly stratified. Peasants and slaves are likely to spend their entire lives as such, and the most prominent noble families have a strangehold on politics, only allowing lesser families into power to fill vacancies, and often forcing the heads of those families to marry into the more powerful families.

Despite this, Sfairans greatly value artistic and scholarly endeavors, and for milennia they have made many breakthroughs in both fields. While their technological innovations have lagged behind in recent centuries, their philosophical and artistic developments stand at the forefront.

Government

Sfaira is ruled by its emperor, who holds the only dynastic title in the nation. The current imperial family stands preeminent over the other noble families, having held onto power for the last 150 years. The nation's lands are ruled by appointed governors who act in the same manner as a feudal lord: managing peasants, maintaining their borders, and collecting taxes. Some governorships are passed down within the same families, but these pseudo-dynaties only exist because them emperor allows them to. The emperor has the right to revoke a governorship at any time, and may bestow the vacancy upon any canditate he wishes.

Inhabitants

The Sfairans are a proud people. Even when the Empire was ruled by their Amany conquerors, Sfairan culture was seen as the most refined within the Empire's borders. Now that they hold the reigns politically, their pride has shifted to arrogance. Their “empire” is the greatest nation in the world, and their culture is second to none. Virtually every Sfairan considers themself inherently superior to those outside their borders.

Sfairans have olive skin and dark, curly hair. Sfairns prioritize color and pattern in their clothing, and even the lowest members of their society consider style to be of the utmost importance. Those who can afford it wear silk and other expensive fabrics with dyes to match.

Geography

Climate

The summers of Sfaira are hot and dry, and the winters are mild and wet. Cool breezes often shield the country from the harshest of what summer has to offer.

Ecology

Much of Sfaira is woodland. There are some open areas used for grazing and farming.

Landscape

Sfaira is very mountainous, with occasional lowlands providing open areas for cities.

History

To be discovered.

Religion

Deities and Philosophies

Areda

The queen of the Sfairan pantheon, who rules over them with a gentle hand. She was once considered subordinate to her husband Kresh, but after growing fed up with his constant abdication of his responsibilities to go on journeys, she took over and has been running things since. She values harmony and love in familial relations in particular, and community relations as a whole.

Kresh

The former king of the Sfairan pantheon, who is the master of the skies. He is the mightiest of the Sfairan deities, but he lacks the drive to manage a group and often abdicated his post to pursue whatever took his interest. When he returned from one of his outings to find Areda in charge, he seemed relieved and didn't make any attempt to take his throne back. His temper is legendary, and his mood can change as quickly as the weather. Praying to Kresh is often seen as a bad idea, since it's impossible to know what his attention might lead to.

Lortel

Lortel embodies the natural world, and she is rough and hardy like the Sfairan terrain. She values perseverence and grit, much like the crops and livestock that grow in the rough mountains. She is much more prominent in the Free Cities thanks to their lowland agriculture, and there she is regarded as a much more cultivated goddess. She is something of a homebody in either tradition.

Tannus

Tannus is the sovereign of everything that dwells below the earth, whether it be riches or the dead. He is morose and slow to act, making him a good pair with his wife Lortel who also likes to take things slow. He values loyalty and steadfastness, and will go to great lengths to protect his followers. He despises necromancers for taking what belongs to him.

Mallurei

Mallurei is considered the cornerstone of Sfairan culture, bestowing her blessing upon artists and philosophers thanks to her love of the creation of great works. Her temples collect donations to sponsor creatives, which has started the career of many who went on to become legendary in their fields. She shuns tradition and is always looking for the next new thing. Her love of beauty can lead to ill-advised decisions, however, such as her marriage to Randin.

Randin

Randin is a wrathful god who lords over the oceans. He demands tribute from those who would sail the coasts of the Western Sea, not hesitating to capsize ships that refuse to pay him homage. He values the art of barter, and his shrewd calculations have made him into something of a role model for the worst sort of merchant. He managed to secure marriage with Mallurei by offering her all of the beauty of his oceans, considering it a worthy trade for the most vibrant of the goddesses. He treats her more like a trophy than a wife.