The Kingdom of Atlantis

## History

### Origin

Atlantis was first built during the time of the Old Gods by Poseidon, before war with the Titans forced him off the Earthly plane. The tribes that had settled in the city named the capital city after the God they praised, thus creating Poseidonis, and continued to live there for generations.

Being in the city filled with some magic imbued by Poseidon, even the normal people could harness some semblance of sorcery. The Conservatory of Sorcery was created and around it, the city-state of Shayeris was constructed. Reverend Mother Cetea was the teacher at the Conservatory, and she taught a great many pupils, learning herself to become immortal with this magic.

Centuries passed, and a man named Arion found this city. He told his father, Vandal Savage of it, and the man decided Atlantis would be where he would create a nation of metahumans, noticing how the natives were already becoming another subset of homo sapien, homo magi.

Arion became a student at the Conservatory, and was the brightest pupil there. The Reverend Mother taught Arion of the Lords of Order and Chaos. Arion brokered a deal with the Lords of Order, making him Arion, Lord of Atlantis. Vandal was pleased with his sons work, and saw how he made Atlantis flourish as a hub for science and sorcery at the same time. Arion even created what may have very well been an ancient precursor to the Justice League, who had no operative name, but legend has called the League of Ancients.

### The Sinking

However, Arion soon learned his father was brokering deals as well. Vandal had created deals with the Lords of Chaos and warlords from around the world. When Arion confronted his father about this, Vandal denied any such accusations. However, he needed to deal a blow to his son’s power. Vandal had been in contact with an alien being whom legend calls the Conqueror. He manipulated the Conqueror and his army of Faceless Hunters into attacking Atlantis, destroying it and sinking it into the ocean.

Many of the metahumans and homo magi adapted to the change, acquiring the ability to breathe underwater and communicate with oceanic animals, however, it is estimated nearly sixty percent of the Atlanteans perished in the sinking. Arion was ashamed of his father, and more than that, his weakness to prevent his attacks. So, Arion exiled himself from Atlantis, and disappeared, believed to be dead.

Atlantis, however, learned to adapt into their watery surroundings. Atlan became the new King of Atlantis. They restarted the Conservatory of Sorcery, and created the Conservatory of Science. They reached out to the Amazons and started an exchange of goods, including allowing the Widowhood to start work on the Paradise Islands.

Millenia went on, and Atlantis’ citizens adapted to the changes we see today. However, up until the modern period, Atlantis was a strict monarchy, ruled by whatever Annax possessed Atlan’s trident. As such, wars spanning decades continued to divide the cities of Atlantis into their own separate Kingdoms.

### Modern Period

A descendant of Atlan, Atlanna, inherited the Trident from her father, and sought to unite the Kingdoms of Atlantis as city-states to return the nation to one Kingdom. However, most of Atlantis would not listen to her, so she needed to gain political favor. She sought the help of the Marius family, aristocrats of Poseidonis with heavy political sway. A deal was reached, if she married their eldest son Orvax, he would help her achieve her goals. Atlanna agreed.

The deal worked, Orvax reached a political agreement that all the city-states felt was fair, and Atlanna was the one true Queen of Atlantis. However, she grew frightened of her violent husband, and eventually fled the city and escaped to the surface world, where she had an affair with a lighthouse keeper in Amnesty Bay, Tom Curry.

After years spent with Curry, even bearing a child with him, search parties from Shayeris found her and she was forced back to Atlantis. In her absence, Orvax had become King, and he now relegated her to be a second-class citizen. Atlanna lived yearning to return to the surface and find her son.

An attack from the organization NEMO would reunite Atlanna and her son, Arthur. The attack resulted in Orvax’s death, leaving the throne in a state of limbo. Atlantis’ citizens revolted against the idea of Atlanna returning to be Queen, while Orm was not in favor either. Atlanna told them of her other child, and it was decided he would be brought there to help her govern.

Atlanna, Arthur, and Orm ruled together in a committee. Arthur proposed the surface-world ideas of democracy, which lead to the formation of the Annax’s Cabinet and the city-state representatives, as well as an annual meeting of the Conference of Delegates. Arthur would eventually become the superhero Aquaman, and have several Atlantean proteges.

His adventures as Aquaman and some convincing from fellow superhero Wonder Woman led to Atlantis joining the United Nations, a move which was a controversial vote by the city-states. Much of the Atlantean public was abject to this motion, but it persisted.

Atlantis was also rocked by two violent incidents. The first was the opening of the tomb Khe-Wannantu, which unleashed the being Karaquan on the Seven Seas and resulted in much destruction and the death of Tula. The second was an attack by the radical terrorist Ocean Master that resulted in the deaths of Queen Atlanna and Prince Orm, as well as the terrorist slicing off Arthur’s hand.

As such, Arthur inherited the title of Annax and became King of Atlantis, but he struggled immensely. He was not helped by the perceived betrayal of his protege, Kaldur’ahm, who faked working with the organization NEMO in an attempt to destroy Vandal Savage’s secret cabal.

The Ocean Master has proven to be a giant pain in the Annax’s side, as he has allied himself with the city-state Xebel and has begun to radicalize them, including a romance with their representative, and is pushing them to go to war with Poseidonis.

## Geography

In the modern-day, Atlantis is composed of eight city-states.

* Poseidonis- The capital city-state, home to the Conservatory of Sorcery, and the Atlantean High Palace. Located in the North Atlantic Ocean
* Xebel- A brute military state, Xebel is ruled under martial law. The city-state has recently been radicalized by the terrorist Ocean Master. Located in the South Atlantic Ocean.
* Crastinus- Ruled by high-class pacifists, Crastinus choses to keep itself in isolation as of late as they believe Orin is not the true king due to his half-human heritage. Located in the Arctic Ocean.
* Tritonis- Constantly ravaged by the harsh surrounding environment, Tritonis has been rendered a lower-class city-state, in a constant uphill battle for the equity it needs. Located in the Indian Ocean.
* Shayeris- Shayeris has become home to much of the sorcerer population of Atlantis, opening their own branch of the Conservatory of Sorcery. Their society is focused on spiritual rather than material needs. Located in the North Pacific Ocean.
* Venturia- During the reign of King Atlan, Venturia was a military outpost, but it slowly grew to be a city-state that is home to much of the standing Atlantean Army, as well as the Pradoreis Prison. Located in the Southern Ocean.
* Maarzon- Maarzon is yet another isolationist colony. This one is a matriarchal society, first founded by the Widowhood after their excursions on the Paradise Islands. Located in the Southern Pacific Ocean
* Sub Diego- After a portion of San Diego was sunk into the sea, Atlantis annexed it. Home to a standing body of recently transformed metahumans, it has been rife with crime as it tries to get to stand on its own two feet. Located in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of San Diego.

It is also worth noting that there is the city-state of Maelstrom, which has become overrun by the savage mindless beasts known as the Trench, and are ruled by the Dead King. Maelstrom is not recognized in the governing body of Atlantis, and currently has no relationship with the Kingdom.

It is also believed the tomb of Khe-Wannantu may have been an ancient city of Atlantis but has since been sealed away off the coast of Iceland in the North Atlantic Ocean. The tomb of Khe-Wannantu is now home to many deadly oceanic creatures, sealed away by previous kings and Atlantean heroes.

There is another aquatic tribe dissociated with Atlantean diplomacy. The Sher’Hedeen are a humanoid shark species who live in the small colony of Bazilia off the coast of Hawaii. They are known to keep mostly to themselves, except for the occasional terrorization of the island coast, and of their self-proclaimed “King Shark”, who has been known to cause some trouble on the Suicide Squad.

## Culture

### Linguistics

Each city-state of Atlantis has their own dialect of the Atlantean language. The Royal Dialect is usually used when convening between city-states, however, more often than not, a simple translation spell is cast by a sorcerer, allowing all to speak and be understood.

The naming systems in Atlantean culture are somewhat similar to English. All have a name and surname, but if there are additional names on their surname, that is added with the de. For example, Arthur was born a bastard child of Atlan and Curry, so his Atlantean name is Orin Atlan'de’Curry. Mera married Arthur, so she is Mera Nereus’de’Curry, per Arthur’s preference.

Women do not take on their husbands' names when married, nor do men with women. Instead, their last names are united. Garth and Delphis are married, so Garth’s surname is Th’ar’’de’Kersey, while Delphis’ is Kersey’de’Th’ar.

### Politics and Government

Atlantis is ruled as a constitutional monarchy. There is a High King or Queen, known as *Annax*. However, each of the eight city-states of Atlantis also has a leading politician, be it governor, prime minister, king, or queen, and each city-state has an elected representative to coordinate with the Annax and are ultimately subject to their rule. However, each city-state also has its own conflicts, specific laws, customs, and military forces.

The Annax also is granted a cabinet of their own choosing, made up of close allies to assist them in diplomatic efforts concerning Atlantis. This has proven most helpful since Atlantis revealed itself and joined the United Nations, which has proven high in conflict.

While a member of the United Nations, Atlantis has yet to let delegates visit city-states other than Poseidonis and Sub Diego. Tensions have been high since Queen Atlanna and Prince Orm’s deaths, leading to Xebel, Maarzon, and Crastinus acting hostile against the other city-states. This has put Atlantis on the outs with other international superpowers.

#### Modern Government Body

High King & Cabinet

Annax: Orin Atlan’de’Curry

Minister of Justice: Kaldur’ahm Inaego

Minister of Sorcery: Mera Nereus’de’Curry

Minister of Science: Nuidis Vulko

Minister of Diplomacy: Garth Th’ar’de’Kersey

Minister of Security: General Murk Rowa

Poseidonis

King: Orin Atlan’de’Curry

Diplomatic Representative: La’gaan Berra

Xebel

King: Ryus Nereus

Diplomatic Representative: Hila Nereus

Crastinus

King: Firtf Sona

Diplomatic Representative: F’ancha Sona

Tritonis

King: Iqula Issitoq

Diplomatic Representative: Koryak Issitoq

Shayeris

Prime Minister: Topo Oc’to

Diplomatic Representative: Calvin Durham

Venturia

First Citizen: Thesily Ple’atus

Diplomatic Representative: General Lori Lemaris

Maarzon

Queen: Clea Uvian

Diplomatic Representative: Nuada Silverhand

Sub Diego

First Citizen: Alonzo Malrey

Diplomatic Representative: Lorena Marquez

### Military

Under the rule of King Orvax Marius, military service was required of all boys at age twelve for five years, however, that ceased under Atlanna’s rule. Atlantis still has a very strong standing army. Many of its members come from Venturia, Poseidonis, and Shayeris.

The Atlantean Army is currently led by General Murk Rowa, who also delegates his duties among other generals. The Atlantean Army encompasses all eight Kingdoms of Atlantis, with standing bodies in each city-state. It is notable that Crastinus’ standing military is very small, as their society does not believe in violence.

The highest class of the Atlantean Army is an elite force known as the Drift, of which Murk also commands. The Drift encompasses about a dozen operatives, and is considered the highest order of the military, but also the one requiring the most dedication and sacrifice.

#### Members of the Drift

* General Murk Rowa
* Delphis Kersey’de’Th’ar
* Urcell Rath
* Garn Daanuth
* Chian Mara
* Blubber Pakuul
* Wyynde Neos
* Marella Cora
* Jerro Issitoq
* Swatt Orcos
* Loke Hamau
* Tramm Fin