Land of Kokaine

Kokaine is a world of weirdness. At first glance, it doesn't seem too different from Grobianism in that it's a filthy poor medieval society, but upon closer inspection one sees demonic faces and sinful corruption behind every corner and window. The further one penetrates into the center of the country, the more noticeable and evident this strangely grotesque corrupting influence becomes. The scenery offered there is strongly reminiscent of a painting by Hieronymous Bosch or Pieter Bruegel the Elder and all the sins of the world appear everywhere in allegorical form, sometimes as a grotesque demonic creature, sometimes as an abstract surreal structure. The multifaceted creatures that appear part friendly, part hostile to humans look like they've come straight out of medieval bestiaries, the Drolatic Dreams of Pantagruel, or straight out of the seventh circle of hell.
Some scholars from Biblion, who have lodged themselves in Grobianist churches for this purpose, have begun an effort to catalog these strange beings, to fathom their behaviors, motives and origins. Aside from a taxonomic paper called "Biologicum Infernalis", these efforts have borne no fruit, as many of the researchers who entered Kokaine never came back. What also seems extremely unusual is that some areas in Kokaine look almost paradisical, but if you look closely you can see uneasy beings and depraved little details hidden there aswell. The denizens of Kokaine seem to have grown accustomed to the strangeness of their surroundings and are not at all surprised by the ominous goings on, some simply going about their ordinary medieval labors, some seeming to embrace the surreal changes of the land lazing around, sinning or eating the flesh of a roast pig galloping past them. Everywhere cripples are limping about on wooden stilts. Some of Kokaine's peasants seem to have gone downright insane, engaging in absurd activities, talking to themselves in nonexistent languages and started to wear cast-iron funnels as headgear for some reason. 
Sometimes the grotesque beings of Kokaine try to cross the border into Grobianism in order to exert their disturbing influence on the inhabitants there as well. To this end, the superstitious nobles of Grobian have made a pact with the Scatomancers that the sorcerers would keep these sinister creatures off their backs in exchange for regular deliveries of fully loaded excrement carts. To this end, the Scatomancers, using the skatomantic discipline of dung sculpting, have erected a high wall along the southern and western border of Kokaine with countless watchtowers topped with ever-burning braziers and boiling tar kettles.The cauldron's pitch is imported in large quantities from the witchbogs by the rulers of Grobianism. Dubbed the Great Dungwall, this massive structure is patrolled day and night by grobianist' crossbowmen armed with fire arrows, mercenarie pig orcs, and some of the most powerful skatomancers the brown academy has to offer. The Urinomancers sometimes help out when the rush of Kokaine's allegorical creatures is particularly high.
== History ==
The region’s history is now shrouded in myth and legend. 
The first recorded inhabitants are the men of Palazzo. One of four nations of humans that formed the surface component of the Merfolk Empire, said to have been blessed by the god Uun himself, they were few in number but skilled in the martial and scholarly fields.
Over time, the ancient thalassocracy of Ellesis (now Anchovia) was also allowed to establish some coastal settlements in the area, for Palazzo saw mundane matters like trade as beneath them, but sometimes useful. However, trade eventually dried up as Palazzo became more obsessed with asceticism and the foreigners left.
Palazzo continued along this route for a few more centuries until the unexpected departure of Uun from this world, who cursed all his previous worshippers as he left.
In a twisted form of karma, the inhabitants of Palazzo were cursed to succumb to any and all vices, and invisible servants and irresistible seducers were created to support any vice. Most of the original inhabitants died within years, but more always seem to be drawn to the area, mostly from Grobianismus, whose inhabitant's unnatural stupidity seems to provide some level of protection from the curse.
Uun likely didn’t consider the long term implications of his curse, but it seems the never-ending degeneracy of Palazzo, now known as Kokaine, has somehow led to something even darker taking shape in the heart of region.
Some say it is a demon breach, though the identity of the associated demon lord remains unknown. Others say the most corrupted areas in Kokaine’s center were there all along, and form part of the original curse, but it has been only recently that outsiders have become aware of it. A few say it is the result of a strange magical disease known as the Lubbertdas Plague, spread by magic stones that embed themselves in the foreheads of the victims and cause their insane delusions to manifest in realityy (though some say the stones are just another aspect of Uun’s curse or the demon breach).
Either way, Kokaine is widely considered to be cursed land, and only the most dimwitted, greedy, or reckless will willingly enter it. 
== Government ==
If Kokaine has some sort of central government, it has not made itself known to outsiders, though some say the demons of Kokaine have some sort of hierarchy. The two small ports off the coast are run by loose consortiums from Seagard, Elanxa, and the Kingdom of Silver. 
== Economy ==
Kokaine itself has no real economy. Individuals of Grobianismus descent often mindlessly engage in agricultural type chores, but rarely produce actual food as the cursed entities of Kokaine will provide everything they need and more anyways.
Two small ports exist off the coast of Kokaine to support the main sea routes along the eastern coast. Port Rashda off the southern coast of Kokaine is mostly for emergency repairs and for those who want to avoid Luden or Seagard for some reason. Port Putan is located midway along Kokaine’s northern coast and sees a bit more use as it is midway along a four day stretch between the southernmost Elanxan port, and the northernmost Ludenese port. Neither port officially trades with Kokaine, but sometimes reckless individuals sneak onto the mainland and steal from the decadent, unnatural feasts. The powdered drug known as kokaine (for which the region is now called) is particularly popular, and many ships, or at least individual crew members make a high profit smuggling it into various eastern ports. 
== Foreign Relations ==
Most sane nations consider Kokaine to be cursed and avoid it at all costs.
The only nation with meaningful interactions with Kokaine is its neighbor Grobianismus, who has on and off declared wars (of sorts) on Kokaine for “stealing” their peasants (who usually wander over on their own), and for sometimes raiding or sabotaging them. Seagard, Elanxa, and even Luden do not appear to have similar issues, as even the insane ratfolk of Luden appear avoid entering Kokaine, and only Grobianismus borders on the “heart” of Kokaine, where most of the hostile demons reside. 
== Geography ==
Most of Kokaine has a warm, temperate climate and is covered in poorly tended fields, forests, and meadows. However, the closer one gets to the “center” of Kokaine, the more unnatural the landscape and buildings become, until one reaches the point where everything resembles a surreal depiction of hell.
Most structures are built by peasants from Grobianismus, though it remains a bit of a mystery how they are smart enough to do this (some say it is a component of the curse). A few ruins can still be found though that were built in the architectural styles favored by Palazzo and Ellesis.
== Demographics ==
- Humans – Most of Kokaine’s inhabitants are human. Although the original humans of Palazzo have died out, replacements have arrived from Grobianismus, who seem more adapted to surviving in the unnatural conditions of the region. The humans of Grobianismus are stunted, ugly caricatures of the Northmen with unnatural heartiness and stupidity (cursed that way by Uun), but even they struggle to survive in Kokaine.
- Invisible Servants and Demons – All sorts of strange entities can be found in Kokaine. It is unclear if they were created by Uun as part of the curse, are demons from a breach, or the result of the Lubbertdas Plague, or some mix of all three. They seem to exist solely to cater to all vices, no matter how extreme, with the end goal to lure people to the center of Kokaine, where torment replaces decadence.
- The Cursed – The Cursed are certain members of Palazzo’s elite who were cursed with immortality. They seem to follow a cycle of succumbing to vices, torment by demons, and reappearing in the safer areas to repeat the cycle again. They have brownish skin, white hair, and bright eyes, said to be the original appearance of most of the humans of the Merfolk Empire before they took on various cursed forms. 
- Miscellaneous – Sometimes reckless or outright suicidal outsiders get drawn to Kokaine including smugglers, scholars, missionaries, and those seeking to die surrounded by creature comforts. Most are human, but many other races are drawn in.
== Religion ==
The humans from Grobianismus have a number of crude, contradictory religions that few outsiders bother to try to understand.
Inhabitants of the two coastal ports follow a wide range of gods, though the Cult of Rusalochka tends to be the most popular as she is favored by sailors from many parts of the eastern coast.
It is unclear what higher power the invisible servants and demons serve, if any.
== Military ==
Kokaine has no military, but the demons are fairly dangerous when they want to be. They mostly cause trouble for Grobianismus, though it is unclear why. Some say it is simply because Grobianismus’s “official territory” has encroached on the demons’ natural hunting grounds.
Category:Geographic location
Category:Giantstep