Nymeria

Nymeria Must also be hyperlinked. Also is there really a distinction between nymeria and Arasaka? :Thinking:

## Geography

Nymeria is primarily jungle, marshes, mountains, and swamps. Northern Nymeria is home to the end of the Valorian Mountain Range, which stretches through Sirex, Tarrin, and Nymeria. Above this mountain range is a small, sparsely populated coastal region frequently beset upon by viscous tropical storms originating from the “Death’s Door Triangle” (the triangular region covering The Anvil Islands known for its propensity to vanish any sailors foolish enough to enter).

### Nymerian Jungle

South of the Valorian Mountain Range is the Nymerian Jungle, still sometimes referred to as the “Nymerian Forest” due to translation issues hundreds of years ago when contact was first made with other cultures. The Nymerian Jungle is infamous for its natural, chaotic magic. Incomprehensible, unscrupulous, the Nymerian Jungle is friend to no one. It is home to some of the most bizarre and deadly creatures in Arcadia: from the Roc—a bird of prey with a wingspan of 200 feet, large enough to prey on humans—to the underground Sarlaacs burrowing beneath the jungle. But the real enemy of any would-be travelers is the jungle itself which is mystically unnavigable. A compass and map will do you no good. Walking in a straight line has no guarantee that you will indeed travel straight. According to the locals, the jungle warps and manifests reality as it so chooses, granting safe passage to some and damning others to eternal wandering. The only safe passage is that guided by a Nymerian Jungle Shepard. Jungle Shepardy is an ancient artform, native to the tribes of the Nymerian Jungle. Shepherds undergo magical training, steeped in tradition, to learn to navigate the wild magic jungle by the will of the Threski Sphinx (Sphinx of Guidance and Direction). Of course, the Nymerian Jungle is nothing compared to Fey Forests of Bombyx Mori further south…

### Swamps of Il-Zur

Southern Nymeria is dominated by the Swamps of Il-Zur. These swamps and marshes share many of the magical, navigational challenges of the Nymerian Jungle. Legend is that they served as the first hunting ground of the Lupo and Cani Sphinxes (inseparable Sphinx Duo of The Hunt and Honor) until they were driven out by the primordial, wild, barbarous Croco Sphinx (Sphinx of Death). The Swamps are home to the Flooded Spire, a holy site where it is rumored that the Andro Sphinx (Sphinx of Divination and Prophecy) shared its first vision with a humanoid and thus began the worship of the Sphinx Pride.

### Phoenix Weed

Phoenix Weed is the colloquial name for the Ithraxia plant. Phoenix Weed is composed of a vast, weed-like above ground root structure that can extend for dozens of square miles (giving it the name Phoenix Weed). The core of the plant are the yellow bulbs pictured below and they are filled with the liquid Ithrax and usually found in pairs. All Ithraxia weeds will lead eventually to Ithrax bulbs, but it takes a highly skilled botanist to correctly track the weeds. Further, the bulbs grow best away from natural light, and so they are often hard to spot, surrounded by weeds or other plants or underground. Ithrax is highly magical and a sought-after fluid by Fey alchemists.

When a Phoenix Weed has completed it’s life, the Ithrax bulb explodes into magical flame. This magical flame travels down every weed of the plant, spreading Ithraxia seed wherever it burns. The seed can be spread for dozens of square miles, which is important, because the seed rarely grows into a new Ithraxia plant. Wherever the Ithrax bulb exploded, the flaming Ithrax fluid reacts with soil and dirt and rock to form Etherium, an even more rare, magical element.

Southern Aurelia (which includes Nymeria and further South) is the only known region in the world where Etherium can be found, though efforts have been made to artificially create it.

### Cities

#### Madise

Nymeria’s biggest port, right at the head of Shaucola Run (Nymeria’s longest river). Major Arasaka location (the massive building is Arasaka’s Madise Headquarters), more techy and industrialized than most of Nymeria.

## Politics

### The Arasaka Trading Corporation

*See Arasaka Trading Corporation page for more details*

### Kasaeyo Kingdom

The Kaseyo Kingdom is a kingdom in Northwestern Nymeria that is known for its magical interconnected rivers that sometimes lead where you want to go and sometimes don’t. It is led by Queen Jabari and its capital city is Relmith, which is located in the heart of the Kasaeyo Kingdom.

## Demographics

In Nymeria humans, kenku, tabaxi are all very common. Tortles too, but slightly less so.

* Any elf in Nymeria is pretty much assumed to be part of Arasaka, even if they're not.
* Half-elves, dwarves, gnomes, and halflings are all clearly recognized as immigrants, though they are somewhat common in the big cities.
* Half-Orcs stand out a Lot (most have never seen one).
* Tygron are all assumed to be Tyger Claws.
* Loxodons also stand out a lot.
* Lizardfolk (Turrakh's) are also in Nymeria but live in isolated tribes and prey on civilians. Seen as basically "monsters." Gnolls are similar, but are more South and are slightly more "civilized" than Lizardfolk (they can be part of villages in the swamps). Very far south are Yuan-Ti that are also not part of standard "civilized" society.

Arasaka itself reflects the general Nymeria population at the lower levels, but at its higher levels it is almost all Elves.

## Culture

### Societal Structure

Nymeria traditionally follows a matriarchal structure. Women are the head of the family, of the tribe. They are responsible for leading, both in spirit and governance as well as leading in the more literal sense of navigating Nymeria’s harsh jungles and marshes to lead their families to prosperity. Men are responsible for child-rearing and livestock. Both men and women share the responsibility of fighting for the family.

As Nymeria matured and became increasingly exposed to the outside world, the matriarchal structure began to fade away. In more industrialized, cosmopolitan cities like Madise or Relmith, this tradition has all but disappeared. Though it remains strong in remote villages and traditional communities (like the Tyger Claws). Governance in Nymeria typically follows this matriarchy with many local Queens ruling distributed kingdoms, and a central Nymerian Queen in the capital city Nymeria.

Nymeria also has a strong emphasis on family and the tribe. Worship of the Tauru Sphinx (Sphinx of the Hearth, Family, and Good Yield) is common in Nymeria, and most villages will have a central hearth adorned with artwork of the Tauru Sphinx to bring good omens for family life and crop yield. This concept of the hearth can also be traced back to the burning of Phoenix Weed, which is a rare and mythic ceremony (also what creates Etherium). A lot of cultural events in Nymeria are centered around the people in the villages burning very rare Phoenix weeds in the hopes to have it spread.

The women of Nymeria are seen as similarly fiery in nature so that they too can ignite the phoenix weeds within themselves and inspire their culture to live in a blaze and leave nothing behind. All or nothing basically. Generally a lot revolves around a heavy warmth based culture, stemming from the hot Nymerian Jungles.

### Art

Much of Nymerian art is focused around the Sphinx Pride. The country (particularly the Tyger Claws) are also famous for their tattoos. Many tattoos are plantlike in reference to Phoenix Weeds.

### Food

A lot of the food in Nymeria are smoked meats with chili peppers and lots of spices. There is a large burnt food trade, particularly jerky which lasts for long journeys in the Nymerian Jungle. The hearths within the homes of Nymerian citizens are centered around the preparation of these animals.

### Religion

The primary religion of Nymeria follows the Sphinx Pride, though beliefs and lore may vary depending on the region.

### Symphasian Monastery

*See Symphasian Monastery page for more details*