Florinth

Florinth is a league of large city-states - rather than a single city - but they all answer to one authority and there's a dense substrate of smaller towns between these city-states that help to maintain a robust internal economy. The residents attach great importance to beauty, art and cultural education. Florinth is surrounded by sleep-poppy fields whose name is to be taken literally. The blossoms of the poppy are processed into a fragrant and highly coveted perfume, which makes the wearer appear irresistible to the opposite sex. Although the production of this perfumes generates some considerable wealth, it is not Florinth's main source of income. Florinth is REALLY famous for the production of exquisite glass daggers, foils and rapiers. Despite the material from which they are made, they are surprisingly resilient, which is attributed to a secret manufacturing method reserved only for the members of the glasssmiths' guild of Florinth. These glass weapons weigh next to nothing and pierce even the thickest leather armor like butter. In addition, special specimens are made on request that are equipped with a poison chamber inside, which means that even the lightest cut can be deadly for the opponent. The women of Florinth almost all have red hair and are often described as the most beautiful on the continent. The men see it as their duty to keep up to date in fencing as well as in the arts and humanities. The Elite Guard of Florinth consists of a mounted squad of highly trained knights unsurpassed in their agility and lethality. They wear magnificent plumes on their helms and ride the fastest white horses to be found east of the Witches' Swamp.
== History ==
Florinth has an ancient culture that dates back to before their conquest by the Khenomeric Empire. Back then they were one of several loosely organized human cultures scattered across the northeast with close ties to the fey. In particular, the Florinthians got along with the red haired water nymphs of the Sherillu-Ium Lakes, and built temples of durable white quartz as tributes to their beauty.
As the Khenomeric Empire expanded, it conquered the Lakes, and forced the region to serve as their vassals for quite some time. However, the Khenomeric Empire was never popular here, and after the Magoclergy formed, dissident mages took refuge here and in other nearby regions, particularly members of the Green Order. Florinth took heavy losses during the Battle of Empires, and with the help of the Green Order, the region rebelled.
Around this time, the “Forest of Getting Lost” was formed, blocking access to the lands of Florinth from the south and west. The Green Order is widely suspected of creating it, but this has never been confirmed.
Since these times, the Florinthian people have grown wealthy but isolationist. Warfare has been rare, population growth stagnant, and many inhabitants see themselves as living in a bastion of civilization in an otherwise backward land.
== Government ==
Florinth is a monarchy, supported by several layers of nobility.
The King is a moody sort, prone to periods of mania, sullenness, and occasional anger, though most of the time he appears detached and bored. Like the rest of the Royal Family, he has significant fey heritage, which accounts for his personality, red hair, and slightly feminine appearance. Other nations don’t think much of him, but his is about average by Florinthian standards.
The noble class of Florinth (and the many families of very wealthy non-nobles) have grown much larger than needed, and many nobles and other wealthy heirs spend their entire lives learning arts, culture, and fencing so they can compete for social prestige in discussions, debates, dances, and the occasional duel at parties and galas. Luckily the nation is abundantly wealthy, and very peaceful, allowing the few useful nobles, and many middle class merchants, guildsmen, bureaucrats, artisans, and others to support their decadent lifestyle (in return for a large cut, and the possibility of one day joining the nobility themselves). Like in most nations, the majority of the populations are simple farmer folk, but the land is fertile, and the farmers are generally able to produce large surpluses of food to support the urban class.
== Economy ==
Florinth is a self-sufficient, isolationist nation whose trade goods fetch high prices in foreign lands.
Their knowledge of alchemy derived manufacturing techniques, combined with certain materials that are only found in Florinth, have resulted in several unique goods only found in the area. The most valuable is “Florinthian Glass”, made from the melted sand of an unusual rock, and treated with highly secretive techniques to make a material that is incredibly sharp, durable, and lightweight.
Another unusual protect is Florinthian Perfume (aka Florinthian Aphrodisiac Scent). Made from sleep poppy extract and yet more secretive techniques, it makes the user irresistible to members of the opposite sex. It is banned in most foreign countries, extremely expensive, and requires much technique to use properly, as too little won’t have the desired effect, while too much means it can’t be washed off easily, and will draw unwanted attention in high traffic areas. Despite this, certain wealthy courtesans, escorts, obsessed admirers, and rapists have managed to master its use. In Florinth itself, specific uses of the perfume aren’t considered rape, like match-making parties, orgies, and certain sexually deviant clubs.
Florinth also exports opiums, processed sugar, and crafted goods.
It produces many other goods for internal use like grains, meat, and master crafted good for the wealthy.
The rapidly changing fashions in Florinth require a particularly large garment making industry to support it. 
== Foreign Relations ==
=== The Kingdom of Tarot ===
This nation had close ties with Florinth, both culturally and politically.
=== Gnoll Empire ===
Florinthians fear the gnolls will one day find a way through the Forest of Getting Lost. Many advocate surrender or paying massive tributes rather than trying to fight.
=== Golden Sea of Wheat ===
Although somewhat related, the Florinthians find the Wheatmen’s culture to be incomprehensible, and usually ignore them other than to buy flour at cheap rates.
=== Princedom of Platinum ===
The prince has been trying to enlist Florinth’s help in driving Avangar’s influence out of Tarot, but so far has had little success.
=== Forest of Getting Lost ===
It is believed this enchanted forest was created by the Green Order in ancient times to protect their core territories from the Khenomeric Empire. To this day, magical and druidic orders descended from the Green Order work to strengthen its magical defenses.
=== Faarowt ===
The Florinthians get along well enough with the drug addled druids of Faarowt.
=== Blackstone Prison ===
Florinthians sometimes send their very worse prisoners there.
=== Lucy’s Land ===
Due to a weird technicality, this stretch of land, nearly 200 kilometers wide, has long been unclaimed by either Florinth or Faarowt. After hearing that a young girl and her friends living in a border village had claimed the region as their own, the king of Florinth at the time decided to label the land “Lucy’s Land” in a fit of whimsy.
== Geography ==
Some Florinthians will claim that all of inner Florinth is one big city, though this is clearly false as inner Florinth is over 600 kilometers wide, and contains many cities and towns, not to mention lakes, low mountains, swamps, farmland, parkland, and estates. The basis for the one city claim is mostly the low wall surrounding the entire perimeter of inner Florinth, combined with the more urban reputation of those in inner Florinth, compared to those in the poppy fields. 
The architecture of each city is mixed, with older buildings made of quartz and other white stones next to wooden structures built in whatever architectural style was fashionable at the time (currently either elaborate half timbered facades, or plastered walls with arches, depending on the region). Some low lying cities have an abundance of canals, travelled by gondolas, and sometimes inhabited by the massive sacred carp, while other towns and cities are built into the sides of hills and low mountains overlooking the lakes.
Outer Florinth, also known as the Sleep Poppy Fields, is mostly grasslands, separated by small forests, farms, sugar cane plantations, and sleep poppy plantations. The sleep poppies grow everywhere, but usually not in high enough concentrations to be a threat to human health. The aroma of the poppies cause fatigue, which can led to coma-like conditions in extreme cases, so wide, well maintained roads crisscross the Sleep Poppy Fields to ensure travellers can move between areas safely. Outer Florinth is higher in elevation than the lands north of it, leading some to call it the Florinthian Highlands.
== Demographics ==
=== Humans ===
Humans make up the majority of the population. They are distantly related to those indigenous to the northwest, suggesting ancient migrations between these two areas. There is significant admixture with the local water nymphs, resulting in red hair and pale, flawless skin in most women, and even some males.
=== Fey ===
Fey are not uncommon, particularly around the lakes. The red haired water nymphs are the most famous for obvious reasons, but others like brownies and dryads sometimes appear as well. Unseelie fey are rare but not unheard of. Some, like hags, live in caves, particularly foul marshes, and in city sewers.
== Religion ==
Florinthians are easy going in terms of religion, and faiths of many types can be found here. Most Florinthians mix and match between different religions, and follow half a dozen or more gods from different faiths, plus occasionally pay tribute to many others when seeking help in matters that relate to their portfolios. 
Some gods are native to the area, like Aphiria, the Queen of the Water Nymphs (a Faerie Lord) who is popular with artists, lovers, and the vain, and thus is popular with many Florinthians. Aside from the nymphs themselves, the massive carp are seen as sacred to her and are left alone. This also has a practical benefit, as some magic effect of the carp cleanses the water around them.
Others gods are taken from foreign religions like the Northman/Zemylander Pantheon, the worship of foreign Faerie Lords, the many mysterious gods of the druids, and gods from the now fallen Khenomeric Empire. 
Temples of many different gods can be found in each city and rural region, and people seek them out as needed to attend sermons, participate in community projects, seek counsel, focus their prayers, or offer tribute. Due to the many different temples dividing worshippers between them, few have even moderate influence in politics.
== Military ==
Florinth has a large population, and significant military might, but their incompetent leadership, obsession with tournaments, parades, and honourable fencing techniques, overly decorated uniforms and equipment, and general lack of actual fighting experience means many doubt they will do well in an actual fight. However, despite their foppish reputation, many Florinthian military formations are actually very well trained and equipped, including the Elite Guard, and several knightly orders.
Florinthians have a good grasp of magic, using techniques mostly learned from the Khenomeric Empire and the Kingdom of Tarot. Plant magic, alchemy, and astromancy are the most popular schools of magic.
== Cities ==
=== Senozza ===
The Township of Senozza has a population of seventy thousand people.
There are forty guilds within the city, regulating everything from architecture to hunting. Many of the guilds and noble houses in the city have fortified guildhalls and estates within the city.
The noble houses despise the guilds, viewing them as challengers to supplant their role as the leaders of the town. This hatred is worsened by the crisis of the death of Ulberto Lorenz, the head of house Lorenz, at the hands of former guildmaster Ievenni Giarmo.
Category:Nations
Category:Giantstep