S - Vendhya

Vendhya, known as the Ruby of the South, stands as a shadowy jewel on the Epon continent of Sethrophos, south of Jormungand. This kingdom, nestled within the jungles and coastal river deltas, is akin to a lurking panther—both beautiful and menacing. Its vast stretches, from the fertile lands ripe for agriculture to the desolate deserts, steppes, and foreboding mountainous regions, make Vendhya a land of stark contrasts and an aura of ancient, dark mysticism. The Vendhyan landscape is a haunting tapestry of steaming, mist-shrouded tropical splendor, adorned with the squawks of sinister birds, ghostly indigo butterflies, and enormous, menacing flowers set against dense foliage. Rivers, winding through this oppressive heat, sustain a flourishing, rich, yet eerie and cosmopolitan society. Drawing influences from Abbadon to the south and Jormungand to the north, Vendhya is a melting pot of dark, esoteric cultures and traditions.
Vendhyans are dark-skinned, known for their beauty and often adorned with garlands and jewels that reflect their bounty. This cultural expression of wealth and power masks an underlying unease, where even the common peasants hold a wealth that others in Sethrophos might covet, yet also fear. Vendhya's prosperity ensures few go hungry, yet its villages and bustling cities are shrouded in a pervasive sense of dread and mystery. Vendhya’s social structure is deeply rooted in a rigid and unforgiving caste system. At the pinnacle lies the Brahma caste, the ruling nobility and scholars who wield their power with an iron fist. Below them are the Kshatriyas, the warrior caste whose honor and valor hide a ruthless and bloodthirsty nature. The Vaisyas, comprising craftsmen and townsmen, support Vendhya's dark manufacturing economy, while the Sudras, or peasants, form the most populous caste, burdened with a life of hardship and servitude. The Untouchables, relegated to the lowest and most degrading tasks, embody the kingdom's stark hierarchy. In theory, birth determines one’s caste, but over the millennia, interbreeding has blurred these lines. 
Vendhya’s cities are teeming with life, yet an undercurrent of dark intrigue pervades their crowded streets. Marketplaces, where a thousand spices mingle with the perfumes and aromas of street food, are rife with whispers of forbidden magic and treachery. Opulent cities where monkeys run freely and elephants adorned with tapestries roam the streets are a common sight, yet beneath the surface lies a web of secrets and schemes. The ruins of ancient, long-forgotten cities are scattered across the landscape, their toppled stones and overgrown idols bearing silent witness to forgotten horrors. Vendhya’s economy thrives on a well-developed agricultural base, complemented by a thriving textile industry known for its dark, intricate designs. The northern mines yield copper, silver, gold, and iron, though the southern coast’s lack of seaports limit most of Vendhya’s trade to overland routes.
The jungles of Vendhya teem with life, yet it is life touched by an eerie, almost supernatural quality. Elephants, tigers, panthers, cheetahs, rhinos, and gazelles roam the tropical wilderness, while beautifully colored birds fill the canopy, their calls echoing like ominous omens. Herds of yaks and oxen migrate through the northern highlands, some domesticated by the hill people, and all around, the land pulses with a sinister vitality. Vendhya’s natural resources include herbs, spices, sandalwood, jade, and mother-of-pearl, often worked into dark and intricate carvings. The kingdom is also known for producing various drugs, including forms of the lotus blossom, each with potentially dangerous or mind-altering effects.
Vendhya is a land steeped in dark spirituality, with countless gods and a diversity of beliefs reflecting its sinister nature. The primary deities worshipped include Asura, Hanuman, Ganesh, and Kali. Asura, the chief deity, teaches that all beings reincarnate and that life’s purpose is to pay off the karmic debt against the soul. Good deeds shorten the cycle of reincarnation, while evil acts extend it, creating a haunting cycle of life and death. Hanuman, associated with the great apes of the jungle, and Ganesh, the elephant god, are also prominent. Kali, the blood-drinking goddess, represents the darker aspects of Vendhyan worship, her thirst for human blood and living hearts adding a grim undertone to the kingdom’s spirituality. Vendhya’s society includes numerous holy men who travel from village to village, performing mystic feats and miracles that often have a sinister edge. These holy men are often believed to be nature spirits inspecting the human domain, and their presence brings both awe and fear. The Vendhyans practice various rituals, some rooted in the ancient Vedic traditions, including disturbing customs where noble women are required to be burned alive on their husbands' funeral pyres, a macabre testament to their devotion in life and death. The scorpion symbol, favorably viewed in Ethos as the image of a spiritual warrior, takes on a darker significance in Vendhyan iconography. 
== Notable Characters ==
Priya Devi is a human priestess of Kali who wields beauty and death with equal proficiency, making her a figure of reverence and fear in Vendhya. Known for her serene yet intense demeanor, she often meditates for hours, her mind a labyrinth of dark wisdom. Her devotion to Kali has granted her the ability to curse her enemies with terrifying swiftness. Despite her deadly nature, Priya has a soft spot for children, often seen giving alms to orphans in the streets.
Bhaskar, the male Loxodon leader of the Kshatriyas, commands his warriors with an unwavering sense of duty and formidable strength. His personality exudes a stark earnestness, and he speaks in casual absolutes, viewing the world in black and white. In battle, he is a relentless force, employing his massive bulk and combat prowess to crush his enemies. Although Bhaskar’s judgments are swift and unyielding, he has a surprising fondness for delicate, intricate jewelry, which he crafts in his spare time.
Elara Suri, a nonbinary pansexual Wood Elf, tends to the mysterious Black Lotus ponds with a careful and meticulous touch, embodying the delicate balance of Vendhya’s darker side. Their mood swings from cheerful to melancholic, often depending on the whispers of the lotuses. Elara's knowledge of the pond's intoxicating, magical, and lethal flora makes them exceptionally dangerous. Though they exude an ethereal calm, Elara harbors a fascination with the deadly aspects of the lotus, experimenting with their poisons in secret.
Sandeep Verma is a cunning and enigmatic alchemist from the Vaisya caste, is known for creating intricate and potent potions that can heal or harm with equal potency. His personality is a mix of charming affability and intense focus, with a peculiar habit of talking to his potions as if they were living beings. Sandeep's concoctions have made him a dangerous player in Vendhya’s political games, capable of subtly influencing events with a single drop. Despite his dark craft, he has an irrational fear of spiders, which often leads to humorous and undignified situations.