Thread: Shackled Marriage (The Gothic Temptress and DeliciousLust)

Maliay was a nation found in the southwest in the world, it wasn't a large Empire by any means but one that was managed to sustain itself for many centuries under the reign of its royalty and its religious heads managing to work hand in hand. The royalty were a ruling figurehead, managing to secure its lands and keep its people safe with its military and administration, while the religious classes were able to keep order among the peasantry and have them contribute to the greater nation as a whole. It was easily an exotic nation, perhaps known for their lush tropical forests, swamps and mountainous reasons that were full of vegetation. Its people and their ways were unique to this land in many ways, taking up a good portion of the southwest world and a few satellite islands neighbouring by. The Maliayan Empire was built several centuries ago and its managed exist peacefully for its lifetime, its people content and their neighbour kept in check from thinking of ever laying conquest on Maliay. However, that wouldn't stay for long. Being found in the south, Maliay was a rich and fertile land in many ways, its farmland able to produce crops almost all year round so that the nation would find itself starving and a surplus left over for foreign trade. It was also rich in gems and metals, gold was its prized export and it was prevalent in its culture as it was considered a sacred metal that tied them close to their goddess. Lastly, it was a land where a unique drug was found in the form of a jade flower, cultivated for its medicinal purposes but in great doses, it was able to send others in a different plane while remaining on this world. Its purpose and distribution were kept in check in Malia, as it was too a sacred drug in many ways and only suited for sacred purposes. That made smugglers a popular and lucrative job, but Maliayan government was iron fisted in its rule and easily crushed any who violated that law with the greatest of punishment. Most smugglers were few and rare, which didn't help with the great demand of the jade flower outside of Malia. Its reputation had grown slowly among many nations outside of Malia, almost to the point of dependency among the decadent. Unfortunately, that was perhaps one of the reason that the conquest on Maliayan began. Nations from all over the world descended on the southern empire at first with diplomacy, trying to woo the ruling classes with promises of shared profits and attempts to court their favour. Malia was easily accessible by sea, despite its exotic location and distance from other empires. The rulers weren't exactly fooled by them and gave them the cold shoulder to dissuade them from that tactic. However, that was perhaps the start of their invasion. Where one plan failed, another would easily take its place. When niceties didn't work, threats and similar treatment was returned in kind. Maliay would be cut off from trade around the world if they didn't abide with the demand though that didn't persuade them either. The Empire was self-sustaining for many centuries and something so fickle as blockade wouldn't stop the nation from functioning, especially when the goddess hadn't given them a drought for many decades now. However, it did have a side effect that the nation of Malia didn't realize, the loss of military support and arms trading. That was a problem that didn't become apparent until some foreigners decided to encroach on their land bit by bit under some pretense of independent trade rights. The royalty saw their ploy and investigated them, finding out that the trading company was indeed a front for smugglers. All involved were immediately executed, which, unfortunately, sent a shockwave to all of the neighbouring nations and those beyond. Seeing that as an act of aggression, a war was declared on the southern nation. Maliayan fought fiercely at first, having the advantage of defense. But their lack of arms and military support soon crumpled the defensive lines from the inside out and Malia was beginning to lose, then at an alarming rate. It wasn't long until the aggressors saw their advantage and spearheaded their way toward the ruling capital to end this war. The capital of Suhda was taken in less than a week, its invaders fuelled by anger and greed. The city was sacked, its property pillaged and its populace was even raped. Queen Anika could have easily fled more inland to wage the war longer, but upon seeing the great capacity of aggression by the invaders, she thought it was best to spare her people mercy and surrender the nation without further fighting. The choice hadn't come easy, and she did so with a heavy heart. The terms of surrender were signed, even made official with her blood and the nation of Malia was the conquerors. However, it seemed that her struggles would only begin, for that it only began another chapter of hardship for Malia. Even though the fighting had stopped, it did not do away with the conquerors for that they would walk freely on their scared land. Queen Anika was highly favoured among the Malia people, for her great wisdom and capacity to rule. She was perhaps easily wiser beyond her years, especially given how early she managed to claim the title when her mother retired. And Malia easily saw some internal prosperity with her rule, even though it was also the beginning of the end once she began cracking down on smugglers. In her late twenties, she never saw a need to marry and the laws of an heir were rather loose around the nation of Malia. In the situation that an heir was needed, she could promote a child without a husband or adopt one. Seeing her age, there didn't seem to be a need to do that anytime soon. In whispers, some even say her as the goddess incarnate, but perhaps that would be even too much to suspect. Seeing the dire straits that Malia had found itself, it was perhaps far from the case and would be the furtherest thing on anyone's mind. If Malia was conquered, given it history of peace and prosperity, then the goddess might have forsaken them. While the chaos and threat of war has ended, dark days were ahead for the people of Malia. Many prayed that one day Malia would return to its glory days and that this recent hardship would be all by temporary. Their queen easily wished the same, but she must focus on the present if Malia were to have a future beyond being a kingdom under the yoke of another. Anika was a great beauty among her people, sporting a tanned dusky tone in her skin like her kind but nearly free of blemishes which granted her admirable natural beauty. She had an hourglass form with an ample bust and rounded hips. Her eyes were sharp though sporting bold blue eyes that easily marked her as part of the royal line. She had sleek black hair, which created a nearly shimmering tapestry if worn down, however, she typically worn in up with an elaborate arrangement of combs, long hair pins and tropical flowers. The people of Malia favoured silks and jewellery though they didn't typically dress elaborately given the hot temperatures. She wore a long skirt around her hips, made of many colourful layers of purple, green and sheer fabrics. When it came to tops, the women of Malia sometimes would walk around even topless in the few hottest days in the summer, sporting gold and gems on their bodies as ornaments. It wasn't those days yet, and Anika wouldn't do so in front of foreigners to give them the wrong idea. She had seen the wanton cruelty among their kind. Instead, she wore a matching robe top that was cut off to show off her sculpted midriff, its sleeves were long like a kimono. Much gold jewellery were worn around her wrists and neck, as her connection to the goddess should be the one of the closest in their hierarchy. And did she need Her, as it seemed the palace was to receive some guests today, maybe even a permanent resident. The courts, whatever was left of it, were full of whispers. They seemed to be directed a certain course of action she wished they could avoid. However, the choice wasn't entirely hers. Last edited Jan 17, 2020