Nulamore

Country Name: Nulamore (colony of Morloux Republic)

Population: 8% Westrasi, 6% Westrasi-Suoxi-mix, 3% Tnz'qran-Suoxi, 22% Suoxi, 20% Suoxi-Vassal mix, 41% former Vassal Tribe, 3% Other (other humans, naga, merfolk, etc.)

Capital: New Larus

Goverment: Puppet City States

### **Culture**

Newcomers to Nulamore are quick to pick up on the tensions and suspicion that underlie many interactions. Despite having moved to the Morloux "everyone is equal" model, there is still a definite hierarchy based on racial and religious lines. Although some natives of Morloux are uncomfortable with this, others accept it as the price to pay for the continued existence of Nulamore given the many outside and inside factions that want to see it fall.

At the top of the hierarchy are the Westrasi of Morloux heritage. They prefer to keep to the port cities and forts of the nation, where they typically form the vast majority of the population, allowing many of them to turn a blind eye to some of the harsh realities in the interior. High turnover among sailors, soldiers, and merchants means many only spend a few years here before setting elsewhere.

Below them are those with a mix of Westrasi and Suoxi blood. Primarily descended from Westrasi slavers and members of the Naga Cult during the "Dark Time", they still hold positions of power in large parts of the interior despite their sordid past.

"Pure-blood" Suoxi and Tnz'qran are next in the hierarchy. Many have been able to hold onto wealth and power since the creation of Nulamore, but their loyalty is suspect, since many still resent the Westrasi presence.

Those of partial or full Treant Vassal Tribe heritage are at the bottom of the pecking order. The descendants of slaves, many have found it difficult to advance in Nulamore's plantation based economy despite the Morloux Republic's commitment to equality. Dryads, wood elves, and treants are extremely rare though, since captured specimens were often sent to Morloux where it was felt they were less likely to cause a revolt.

### **Religion**

Gloria-Etalia is popular with the Westrasi inhabitants, and some former slaves though the Suoxi remain highly distrustful due to historic events.

The Celestian Pantheon is popular with Suoxi in the south, but is somewhat suppressed due to its long association with anti-Westrasi sentiment.

The Naga Cult is a splinter branch of the Ivory Kingdom traditions. Seen as somewhat heretical even by the Ivory Kingdom, the religion is infamous for its violent rituals, occultism, use of destruction magic, and promotion of cruel behavior by those in power to those without. Despite this, they are treated with respect by Westrasi since they are seen as key to maintaining Morloux's control of the territory.

The Animal Cult is a syncretic faith popular with former slaves and the Tnz'qran. An odd mix of Treant Vassal Tribe traditions, Tnz'qran animal spirit faith, Boros religious texts, and the remaining non-Suoxi regional cultures, its tenets are vague enough to accommodate many variants.

### **Organization**

Nulamore is ruled via a patchwork of city states ruled by local nobles loyal to Morloux. Many of these rulers are followers of the Naga cult (a few are even Nagi), but other faiths are tolerated as long as the noble family in question has a long history of loyalty to Morloux. Several coastal city states with large Westrasi populations are ruled by an elected mayor instead. Several large armies of Westrasi soldiers are posted in Nulamore to protect against invasion or revolt, and the High Marshal of the Nulamore Armies is one of the most powerful figures in Nulamore. There is also a large naval presence, plus standing armies maintained by the most trusted local rulers.

### **Origin**

According to the region's somewhat fuzzy ancient history, it was first settled by cousins of the races that now form the Treant Vassal Tribes, before being flooded by migrants from the Suoxi region. This created two distinct cultures, the coastal Basal peoples, who were mostly Suoxi, and the interior Vishga peoples, who were a mix of many races. Eventually both groups were swept away by subsequent Suoxi migrations, resulting in a population that considered itself to be Suoxi, though often possessing non Suoxi traits like dark hair, darker skin, and dark eye color.

The conquest of the Nulamore region by the then Kingdom of Morloux was largely orchestrated several centuries ago by King Layron the Tenth. A brilliant yet morally bankrupt individual, similar to his legendary ancestor, Layron X took advantage of the recent conversion of several Janedi city states to the Gloria-Etalia faith to send "religious" advisors (Layron X didn't get along well with followers of Gloria-Etalia and had already replaced much of the church leadership in his country with yes men and political allies) to convince converted leaders that allowing Westrasi to set up plantations on their land, as well as capturing slaves to work the plantations, and shipping monopolies for Morloux, would help civilize the Janedi peninsula in the name of Gloria-Etalia. This made Layron X and his allies incredibly rich, but also turned most of the neighboring city states against the converted ones. Having decided that his allies were a lost cause, Layron X made the stunning move of ordering the armies he sent to help the converted cities to instead betray them in favor of a much stronger alliance of Naga Cult worshiping city states. Combining Morloux technology with the magic and ferocity of the Naga Cult proved a deadly combination, and together they enslaved most of the northern Janedi peninsula, including their former allies.

It didn't take long for Layron X and his descendants to realize that slavery was even more profitable than cash crop plantations, and for the next two centuries, Nulamore was used to launch raids and slave wars almost continuously against neighboring states, including a long stretch of suspiciously easy victories against the Treant Empire. During the so called "Dark Time" Nulamore was the most hated state in the region, even more so than the Treant Empire.

Of course, this all came to an end when the Morloux Republic was formed. Slavery was instantly banned (though debt bondage, penal labor, and conscription labor is still practiced to this day) and revolutionary minded citizens were sent to help reorganize Nulamore society along democratic lines (they were largely unsuccessful). This revolutionary died down after a few decades though, as many Morloux power brokers came to the realization that full democracy would weaken Morloux's rulership of Nulamore. Instead the various city states without a significant Westrasi population were declared free independent allies, who were allowed to choose whatever form of government they wanted.

### **Diplomacy**

Nulamore is a de facto Morloux colony. Morloux diplomats pay lip service to the individual puppet leaders, but no one is fooled. Morloux exerts control via uneven trade deals and tariffs to cheaply produce exotic goods for back home, via military pacts that put Nulamore assets at Morloux disposal, and a range of other agreements that allow Morloux "advisors" to create and enforce new laws at will.

Nulamore (and Morloux) has extremely poor relations with the Ecinevoi, who see them as an impediment to their pseudo-imperialist aspirations in the region, and potentially as a foothold for Morloux to directly attack the heart of the Merchant Empire. As a result, the Honorable Ecinevian League supplies weaponry and goods at discount to anyone actively harming Nulamore-Morloux assets. Most see a war in the near future as inevitable.

Belara also hates Morloux, and by extension Nulamore. They will likely side with the Ecinevoi in any war, though perhaps not if given good trade deals.

The remaining independent Janedi City States have little love for Nulamore due to the legacy of the conquest of north Janedi by Layron X, as well as fears that Morloux may decide to expand Nulamore over the entire peninsula. However, the Janedi fear the Ecinevoi also want to conquer the peninsula. Caught between the two powers, many city states have allied themselves with one or the other in return for continued independence.

Swe'yus has had many wars with Nulamore in the past, and Morloux-Nulamore was even briefly able to conquer Swe'yus. There is little friendship there.

Morloux-Nulamore carved out a small holding along the coast of the Treant Empire after many bloody wars. However, for the past 2-3 decades there has been peace and lively trade thanks to their mutual antagonism to the Honorable Ecinevian League. Unfortunately this alliance has reduced the opinions that many neutral states have for Morloux-Nulamore due to the general hatred that almost all human nations have for the Treant Empire.

Most other states along the southern coast of the continent distrust Morloux-Nulamore due to a mix of isolationism, distaste for their ties to the Treant Empire, fears of imperialism, its history as a slaving hub, and/or the influence of one of Morloux's rivals.

### **Geography**

Nulamore is mostly covered in dense jungle. Despite aggressive efforts by slave labor, and later cheap labor, plantations still only cover a limited portion of usable land, and many communities are connected by canoe rather than road. Despite this, the rich soil and heavy rains allow Nulamore to support a large population, and cities are numerous, and in some cases more than large enough to be considered metropolises.

#### **The Sixth Wonder: Necropolis of the Naga**

This sprawling complex is number six on Laelaz's Nine Wonders of the World.

### **Economy**

Aside from the fruit and rice plantations required to support the population, Nulamore grows many cash crops that fetch high prices in Morloux. In addition, gemstones, animal parts, and crafted goods are exported from here back west to Morloux and goods from the Treant Empire travel through this country.