Faason

"In the dawn we find love. We find hope. We find salvation."

Faason is a native city-state to the continent of Vaniya. Once a bastion of hope in the tundra wastelands, the place for a century had become a ghost of it's former self. Enslaved by a cult of undead witches who call themselves "The White Sisters", the only things that remained in a once bustling kingdom were undead servitors who were too unlucky to escape, or intelligent undead and living who wielded necromantic powers and commanded the chill beyond the grave.

Now, in the wake of a new dawn, Faason has become a bastion of hope, forgiveness, and redemption. Sarenrae has found herself in the hearts of those who seek renewal, and love in the absence of rage. A group familiar to Ithaca has found it's way there, becoming a stronghold for the organization known as the Lantern Bearers. At the head of them was a woman with a bow, clad in colors of gold. Her eyes burned with fire, yet it was not hatred, but love, that spilled forth.

## History

Faason was once a place of hope and rest for those who travelled in the north-west corner of Vaniya. But one fateful night about a century past, now, Faason was assaulted by a coven of witches, calling themselves The White Sisters. Some claim the cult arose from fanatic nightmares and psychotic hallucinations afflicted by demons hiding in the snow. Others claim The White Sisters are the spirits of vengeful dead who held anger at Faason for it's long-standing corruptive treatment of outsiders, exploiting them and leaving many to perish and die if they refused to "worship" the leader as a god in mortal form. Regardless of beliefs, whatever rested in Fasoon before is forgotten, the only ones old enough to remember enslaved as undead thralls to the coven's power. Their leader, The Pale Temptress, rules from a throne of black ice, twisted and corrupted by the necrotic energies she wields. Only the foolish and the dead enter the gates of Fasoon, bargaining souls, power, and riches to invoke The White Sisters and their servitors for justice where all other justice has failed. The bargains made are done in secret, the price unknown. But none can deny that those who suddenly perish in the night, with frost around their lips, were targets of The White Sisters and their twisted dealings.

After a series of events leading to the death of thousands in Venkata, a group known as the Lantern Bearers worked alongside those in Tusal. Closure was found among the Pale Temptress, who accepted love in heart, and light in her path. Ascending to the afterlife, and forgiven for a rage not of her own design, Amelia has laid the banshee coven to rest with peace. Souls twisted by torture were forgiven, and at the behest of the Pale Temptress and her own words, Amelia saw them off, mercy given in the darkest hour. Now serving as a forward camp, Tusal and Faason turned their eyes upon Orcus and his demonic hordes of undead, ready to defend the living--and the dead--against whatever may come.

## Geography

The north-western area of Vaniya is largely home to the Tribes of Aonachd, with two settlements, Faason and Tusal on opposite ends of the bay that flows into the greater ocean. While Tusal remains a vigilant area of hope and restoration, Faason has become the focus of many would-be undead slayers, or a place of desire for those deal in such arts.

In the wake of redemption and mercy, Faason has now become one of two cities to fly the banner of the Dawnflower, bringing love and light to the shadows and evils of Orcus.

### Settlements

* **Faason**: The capital that once served as the headquarters for The White Sisters, and is now in the hands of The Lantern Bearers.
* **Tusal**: An outpost of former Milani worshippers, now turned into a military outpost for Sarenrae and the Lantern Bearers.

## Inhabitants

Faason was once inhabited by undead, greater undead, necromancers, witches, and any who could withstand both the cold and the undead. Few living counted themselves present, fewer still that required things such as sustenance and sleep to sustain themselves. A nexus point for necrotic and frost magic alike, those who commanded the powers of death as well as the elements of winter could find sanctuary, asylum, and even prestige here should they prove themselves to the coven.

In the wake of a new dawn, however, Faason now serves as a de-militarized outpost for The Lantern Bearers. The church has been restored as a triune, with Sarenrae at the head, Desna and Shelyn just under her. Embracing passions of art, music, love, devotion, and mercy, Faason will now be the place for citizens, veterans, and non-combatant individuals to find their place in the world.

### Government

Sunbringer Landon now leads Faason in a council, his husband Blaine and a few others serving as individuals of the theocractic government. While many hold unquestionable loyalty to Landon for his achievements and his retirement of war, Landon works closely with the commonfolk to ensure that all are heard, represented, and cared for.

## Religion, Magic, Technology & Military

### Religion

~~The undead in the region intelligent enough to worship pay homeage to The Pale Temptress as a deity in mortal form. Other cults permitted to revel in their worship are Urgathoa and Zon-Kuthon, though the latter's cult seems only focused on the undead domain, eschewing his love of pain for the pain of losing the most precious thing one can have: Life.~~

With the triune taking over the holy city, Sarenrae, Desna, and Shelyn are held in equal measure and respect, though Sarenrae sits at the head of the triune in name only, given that the two leaders venerate her above the others. Their threefold clergy work together, however, to ensure that cross-culture, faith, and belief are able to not only coexist, but successfully thrive.

### Magic

~~Faason is well known for it's practice of necromancy and frost magic. A select group known as 'Winter Witches' are said to find their homes here, often employing their craft to a deadly degree, given the eternal winter of the region they call home. Divine and arcane alike are welcome and employed, so long as the magic wielded is used for their benefit, and not their harm.~~

Faason has taken to developing a unique culture with magic. Beyond the divine and arcane magic often wielded by those in service to the Dawnflower and her lovers, a form of spiritual worship and appreciation has come about, honoring not only the ancestors, but those who give their lives to the cause, and move beyond to the dawn's embrace, or wherever they may find themselves at peace.

### Technology

~~As far as technology goes, Faason is largely on par with the rest. It's only exceptional skills are it's knowledge of necromancy, and fleshcrafting in particular.~~

Faason has developed a unique method of allowing souls who meet their end before they're ready to house themselves in a marionette. This is done so that families and friends can find peace and closure before the dead move on, giving the dead a chance to give those last goodbyes. Beyond that, they hold standard technology.

### Military

~~The Pale Temptress employs a series of greater undead to ask as her lieutenants for the undead armies at her command. Beyond that, The White Sisters often weave themselves among the ranks as commanders, advisors, or assassins, depending on what they need.~~

The Lantern Bearers now serve as the militant branch of the two cities, incorporating those of Tusal into their own ranks. Fielding many who are capable of martial and magical capabilities, their sacred duties and dedication to the Dawnflower and the living ensures that they hunt the wicked and the damned, with redemption given to those who are willing to seek change.

## Law & Crime

~~All who break the law are subjected to court judgment by a group of White Sisters, though punishment is decided by The Pale Temptress.~~

Those who break the laws are rehabilitated and offered a chance to become better than they were. Repeat offenders are then given a scaling of punishment, as detailed below.

### Misdemeanors

Punishments for misdemeanors are typically very minor; a few days in jail, a small fine to the victim or the city-state itself, confiscation of possessed goods

* Trespass
* Prostitution outside of legal businesses
* Petty theft
* Assault without permanent injury
* Disturbing the peace
* Public drunkenness or lewdness
* Selling shoddy or adulterated goods
* Possession of illicit drugs
* Using outlawed magic without a permit that didn't result in the harm of other's.
* Impersonation of a member of the Military
* Breaking of a minor law

### Felonies

Felonies are usually accompanied by lengthy jailtime, forced servitude, hefty fines, and more.

* Riot
* Inciting a riot
* Piracy
* Destruction of Property
* Theft
* Robbery
* Distribution/Creation of Drugs
* Distribution of Alcohol without a license.
* Using outlawed magic without a permit that did result in the harm of other's.
* Assaulting a member of the Law or Military class.
* Buying/Selling bodies of sentient creatures without a permit.

### Capital Crimes

Capital Crimes are the highest form of crime one can achieve. Typical punishments are execution or banishment/exile.

* Murder
* Treason
* Arson
* Counterfeiting
* Usage of Forbidden Magic.
* Rape.
* Malicious practice of necromancy, such as enslaving souls or binding the unwilling into service.

**Necromancy in Faason**: Any who may seek to wield necromancy in Faason are permitted if their necromancy is both safe, consensual, and makes use of the Necromantic Marionettes. Those who would otherwise seek to violate body and spirit are exiled from the dawn's embrace.