Diarchy of Marland

## Commerce

### Exports

Threshwheat, preserved foods, fish, living coral, stolen Malkenian technology, ships

## Politics

### Ruler Title

Captains Regent

The **Diarchy of Marland**, commonly referred to as Marland, is a nation located in southeast Eukitia. Known for its ports and being the hub of naval trade in eastern Eukitia, Marland is both famed and despised for the influx of piracy in the region, often jokingly referred to as a "worse Matepieds." Marland borders Orkfeld to the north, Rha, and the Republic of Brynsia. Marland is also known for its coastal cities built of living corals.

## Geography

Marland is named for the Old Common term for marshlands, "*mar*." As such, much of the inner territory of Marland is made up of marshlands, not disimilar to the swamps of Brynsia. Closer to the coast lie coastal rainforests full of tall-yet-hollow trees and palms. This rainforest, known uneventfully as the Marland Coastal Rainforest, is not particularly helpful for building as a result of its hollow and porous trees. As such, the coastal cities of Marland - where most of the population resides - use living coral to build their towns and cities. Wood is typically reserved for building docks, rails and supports, and most importantly, shipbuilding.

## Government

The Diarchy of Marland is led by two Captains Regent. These Captains Regent rule for life, and have relatively absolute power, ruled in by a constitution that prevents any notable overreach of power and often bribed for their decisions. Captains Regent are elected upon a formers death, typically from a pool of selected Marland Navy captains.

The Captains Regent, once elected, rule together. Typically, smaller issues are deferred to local governors, however problems of national import like law declarations find their ways to the thrones of the Captains Regent. Due to the dual nature of the government, the Captains Regent must make a joint decision on the matter of the occurence, which can lead to debates that can take months or even years.

Each Captains Regent has their own castle and capital. The eldest Captain Regent will always reside in Abode Dora, a grand white living coral castle, and the youngest will always reside in Abode Color, a smaller but more vibrant living coral castle formed of towers of blue, green, and red corals.

## Trade

Marland is a center for trade for much of Rosenwelt. Many of its cities act as important ports in eastern Eukitia, allowing trade to flow to places like the Bely Archipelago and Bardish. Threshwheat, an important ingredient in quickly making bread and rations for sailing, is produced in the agricultural regions of Marland and often sold overseas. Further, the nation produces surpluses of preserved foods and fish, both important exports for Marland. Most importantly, perhaps, is the shipbuilding that Marland is known for - they produce some of the most efficient hulls for use in sailing ships, and even some airship captains will commission Marlander shipbuilders simply for the beauty of their hulls.

Due to the number of pirates and sailors native to Marland, ale and rum are common imports from other nations. Lumber and textiles are imported for use in sailing vessels, and many sailors will personally order palladium for blacksmiths to turn into strong cutlasses and even cannons.

## Culture

### Living Coral

On the southernmost tip of Marland lies seas that host vast underwater gardens of coral, a unique species of coral is grown. This coral - known as "living coral" - is a type of coral that can survive outside of the water, so long as it is nearby a coastline and can taste the salty air of the sea. Residents of Marland quickly learned they could domesticate this coral, and as it grew, mold it into the shape of homes, businesses, and even castles - as such, much of the coastal cities in Marland are built of this living coral, hauled from the sea and used to construct all manner of sturdy buildings. This frees up the lumber the nation needs for building ships, allowing them to expand their naval prowess and economy.

### Piracy

All coasts of Rosenwelt are host to some sort of piracy, however Marland is notorious for it. Its pirates have made many deals with the local governments and Captains Regent, leading to their navy not pursuing the pirates that plague the region. The pirates of Marland shamelessly walk down the streets of cities on shore leave, making show of their gold and loot, even offering it to the poor and orphanages at times. In many ways, the piracy in Marland is even government-supported, some pirates paying tithes to the local governors to prevent them being hunted down.

### Malkenian Privateering

On top of piracy in Marland, privateers are often hired to specifically attack and sink Malkenian ships. Due to Marland's proximity to the Malkenian Strait, many Malkenian Imperium vessels find their ways dangerously close to the shores of Marland, which the nation takes as a threat. Rather than inciting war by sending their own navy, however, they enlist privateers to sink and loot the Malkenian vessels. While the actual sinking of a vessel is rare, typically resulting in the Malkenian ship retreating, there have been instances where privateers have sunk Malkenian ships and laid claim to any technology they could salvage, creating a unique black market in Marland where strange bits and pieces of salvaged Malkenian hyperil-powered technology can be bought, if you have the right connections.

## History

Marland was founded in 24 3E, immediately coming into conflict with its neighbors of Republic of Brynsia and Rha. These conflicts lasted for hundreds of years, until the Truce of Chalster was written in 330 3E, cementing the national borders of the three nations in roughly what they are in the present.

## Plot Hooks

* The party overhears a group of pirates at a bar discussing a treasure map they found. When the pirates leave, the map is mysteriously left on the table...
* The party meets a famed captain, only to find out the pirate is a doppleganger and using identity theft to tarnish the real captain's name.
* A cursed artifact is found by the party, with instructions to return it to an island off shore of Marland, or suffer a terrible curse...
* The party gets shipwrecked on an island off the coast of Marland, but also conveniently off the beaten path of most shipping lanes.
* A ghost ship has been attacking sailing vessels and the party is hired to stop it.
* Strange mists have been appearing and swallowing ships up for days on end. When the ships return, the crews are almost all insane.