Ashstone Isle

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The Ashstone isle is an island nation on the north-west corner of Althea, and is the homeland of the Ashhounds, a well known Beast-Folk race specifically adapted to live within the island's harsh environment.

## Terrain and weather

The Ashstone isle has a variety of biomes ranging from forests to plains and mountain ranges with basalt cliffs dotting the islands coasts. A peculiar condition of the Ashstone isle is that ash constantly falls like snow, the source of which is unknown. This ash is extremely toxic to all who breath it without special protective equipment, save for Ashhounds, who's respiratory system is specially adapted to breath in the ash without issue.

Despite the constant falling of ash, the Ashstone isle has a temperate climate, and experiences all four seasons of the year. It rains in the summer, spring and fall, and snows in the winter.

A phenomenon that occurs exclusively to the Ashstone isle is Ash Storms. An Ash Storm occurs when a wind storm concentrates ash to a specific area, resulting in weather that proves to be extremely deadly. Visibility within an active Ash Storm is near impossible, and they have been known to suffocate victims to death within mere minutes if they are caught within the storm's battering wind.

## Societal Structure

Ashstone society is simplistic, yet highly religious, with mass consumerism being taboo. Housing is communal, though there have been isolated instances of some Ashounds preferring and purchasing single resident housing.

While outsiders are welcome to their nation, the practices of outside cultures, be it social, economic, and especially religious, are held with distain, being seen as a form of cultural Invasion. the people of the Ashstone isle are very passionate about their religion, customs and history, and do not take kindly to foreign encroachment of any kind.

## Governmental Structure

The Ashstone isle is governed by a patriarchal monarchy. Each king is chosen from the bloodline of the demigod Vol'en. The only way to achieve this status is to be appointed by the goddess Lun'Mah (known as Luna to foreigners) herself, which means the king is the highest position in their government.

The Ashstone isle is divided into four provinces: Eas’Prov, Ash’Prov, Lan’Prov and Grey’Prov. Each of these provinces is controlled by a Lord personally appointed by the king himself, who's rulership from the capital province by extension means the king controls the entire country.

A Lord is a position within the Ashstone government. They are in charge of a provinces' economy, penal system and legislation and hold a high degree of governance within the confines of power granted to them by the ruling king.

A governor is the lowest position in the Ashstone government and is responsible for the province’s taxes and civil services, such as court.

## Foreign Policy and Economics

The Ashstone isle has a foreign policy of aggressive neutrality, rarely ever involving itself in world affairs. However, trade is a staple of their economic growth, exporting ash related products and even renting out several divisions of their own army to serve like foreign mercenary reserves as commodities for trade.

The Ashstone isle's economy is ran by a form of welfare capitalism. Government regulations only provide a welfare system for workers and environmental regulations, but other than this their economic reach is rather limited.