Kingdom of Dao

The Vault of Night, Capital of Dao

## Decline

Once a great empire, the Kingdom of Dao reached its zenith under the powerful mage Solomon, a tyrant who was most famous for the great tomb he built for himself. After the fall of his bloodline, Dao split into three kingdoms, with the original capital beset by two new nation stations, the Grintis Dynasty and the Lamasia Kingdom. Situated on the Vault of Night, a fortress separating the boundary between the Prime Material Plane and the First World, Dao also fell under attack by Tri-dent, a warlike order dedicated to conquering and looting the planes of existence. Protected only by the border town of Bridge, the greatly diminished kingdom no longer had access to water, dooming it to either retake the Vault or suffer a slow annihilation.

## Revival

At what seemed like the end of its days, Dao was ruled by the psionist Ovathi Gondji, a cautious and calculating monarch who used his powers to the wipe the memories of his people and devoted his efforts to the survival of the kingdom and the preservation of the prestige of the aristocracy and ruling family. During his last days as a monarch, following a brutal attack on the capital by Trident, Bridge had fallen to the Grintis Dynasty, which was eying the Vault of Night, all the while as Trident was preparing its final attack. King Ovathi was overthrown when the mage Onaxx plundered the Tomb of Solomon, in which he found and married Gnosti Kryt, King Solomon's mechanical daughter and rightful heir. Onaxx promised to the government and people of Dao that he would retake the Vault of Night, restore water to the kingdom, fight off Trident, and prove himself a worthy king. These promises he fulfilled, and the new King Onaxx went on to conquer the Grintis Dynasty and the Lamasia Kingdom, reuniting the great nation.

## Culture

Dao is a wealthy nation which prizes arcane and psionic might above physical strength. Overblown honorifics and lavish are a common reward for loyally rendered service. Contracts with the king involve a promise to willingly give up whatever memories the king deems problematic.

In Dao it is customary for public servants to settle their differences with duels to the death.

## Government

The government is composed of four bodies, which meet in the capital and whose interactions are governed by custom, rules, and tradition.

* The Council of Insight: The titular head of the government and supreme court, composed of ten members appointed by the King. Has the greatest direct power over what happens in the council chamber.
	+ Amir Saleem: Unofficial leader.
	+ Tuba Mahad: Slyest member.
	+ Lloyd Hamaad: Represents the Council of Insight to the Speakers of the Void.
* The Speakers of the Void: A family of traders and mercenaries, a little over one hundred in number, who defend the farthest border of the kingdom. They conduct raids into the void beyond Dao and smuggle water back across the desert.
	+ Zaphira Hamaad: Eponymous "Speaker of the Void" and matriarch of the family.
	+ Lloyd Hamaad: Represents the Speakers of the Void to the Council of Insight.
* The People's Voice: A legislative body composed of two hundred elected officials who represent the "health, wellness, and freedom of the people."
	+ Razim Sa'aid: Elected leader of the body.
* The The Royal Family: The King of Dao and his family members.
	+ Onaxx of Dao: King of Dao.
	+ Gnosti Kryt: Queen of Dao.

## Military

Dao's regular army consists of kineticists, illusionists, and healers in large number, reflecting the kingdom's preference for arcane and psionic. They do also retain ordinary soldiers, who are seen as less valuable. The king himself is protected by a royal guard of ogres.