Minfeng

Minfeng has been referred to as "the Parasite of Empires." On several occasions, it has been invaded by its larger neighbors. Not once in its history has it successfully repulsed a major invasion. Despite this, its independence always returns. The terrain of Minfeng is a honeycomb of caves and underwater streams. These colder waters mix with the warms seas, and an omnipresent fog this mixes with the sulfur vents to form a vast shroud, and a generally unpleasant smell. Most of the country is swamp or bog due to the ground water. This adds to the atmosphere and ensures that few structures stand for long. The only thing that seems permanent are the obelisks; their origin is unknown, but these structures are often almost fifty feet tall above the spongy ground. Below, it is estimated that they extend that much underground. The Obelisks are carved with deep etchings in an unknown language. Most of the villages in Minfeng are located near them, as they are among the only reliable landmarks. Accidents seem unusually common in Minfeng. It is not uncommon for the administrators and tax collectors of conquering nations to simply disappear in the fogs. The hostility of the environment towards most form of written records has ensured that a majority of the records of the various conquests have been lost by the modern day, adding yet another layer to the country's shroud of mystery.

### The Coast

#### The Spill

The Spill makes up the northern and eastern coasts. It is Briney marsh that extends for miles in all directions. Insect plagues, quick sand, and man eating lizards all populate the spill. The population is a disparate mix of natives and a few thousand years' worth of invaders, traders and explorers. This mix has led to no small amount of violence, but things have mostly stabilized. The coasts are by no means safe; the tidal shifts, fog and reefs all make it incredibly hazardous to ships, which has focused the deep water ports to safer areas. Denfeng and Denshu, during their periodic invasions, blasted several sections clear around the cities of Fishen, Denarak, and Varasala. Recently, the L'acquan have expanded the channels around Fishin. The coastal cities are well known as havens for smugglers and formerly pirates; the national government has neither control nor care over this, as long as the activities are directed outward or stay quiet. That is not to say things are complete anarchy; a semblance of order is needed for efficient business and more than one crime lord has carved out a perfectly normal settlement, for a few years at least. In fact it is well know that more than a few "Governances" are available to the highest bidder.

##### Varasla/Dryhearth

The city of Varasla is a former Reman outpost and the current "sub-capital" city, where almost all functions of government are carried out. Indeed, the only thing that is missing seems to be the head of state, as every Prime Minister of the city has insisted that the God King is further inland and they are merely a representative, though there are no records of *anyone* returning from a meeting with them. Largely considered the second safest city on in the country, Varasla is ruled with an iron fist and blade; most streets have blocks where even minor crimes are publicly punished by the removal of digits or even hands. The cities law enforcement still wear clothes and armors styled after Reman fashion. They are infamous around the world due to their continual use of Reman arena swords, though recently they have added pistols to their arsenal. As long as the fines are paid, no cargo is off limits, although some require the cover of night to avoid the attention of foreign governments. Unsurprisingly, the City has some of the most powerful naval options available to them, including a not unimpressive battery of surprisingly Modern 12" guns. It is also the main naval base, housing what they have of an ocean-going navy.

#### Vuldach Coast, Vulfeng

By far the most normal and hospitable of the easily accessed environments of Minfeng, once you get in to the bay that is. The mountains the the north east provide a supply of fresh water and silt for crops, provide a decent supply of rain. The ground is fairly solid though crossed by rivers and streams. It would be a paradise if not for the nature of humanity. The mountains that give the area life also cut it off from the rest of the country, and bereft of the inhospitality that makes up the defenses of the areas north of "Vulfeng" they have suffered at foreign hands. The fertile cropland is well suited for opium, tobacco, and sugar it is difficult to say which has killed more people.

##### Akbar Bay

Akbar Bay is one of many ports in the area, not the largest but it is well positioned. Less than a four miles is the old stone castle, Fort Zagrb an imposing structure of numerous owners. The current one is Ruslan Koizumi, a Warlord out from Dengfeng. He took the area in 1899 and has set much of the surrounding area aside for his crops of opium. Which has cut supplies of food to area and even Denfeng itself. He has dug in at the old fort and once the town itself had been picked clean of suitable workers for his fields he set out his troops to acquire some.

### The Mountains

The Mountains are the great unknown of Minfeng there is no route to them that doesn't run through the Mire, which means that few have ever been there. The records of the settlements are fragmentary at best, and flagrantly contradictory at all else. The Denfeng record them as mountain fastholds of scholars and philosophers; centers of learning and wisdom for any who dare cross the dangers of the mire. The Remans recorded them as cannibal cultists, who built mounds of skulls as monuments to dark gods. Oddly, these gods were never added to Reman records, or were at some point removed. The Mon Cala record them as wizards who used human souls to fuel impossible forges. Modernity has put to lie some of theses tales. Tools made of materials once though magical hare now understood, and modern maps have narrowed the locations of the mountain strongholds considerably. More, however, more than one criminal who was apprehended in other nations has told tale of being part of on of the local trips to the mountains to collect materials and goods for trade on the coast. While the tales of stone cities are given some credence, the often repeated claim that the expeditions are overstaffed so that the worst performers are left behind for fate unknown, is not.

## Government

The Government of Minfeng is for the most part provincial and rather feudalistic, particularly towards the coast. As long as taxes are paid it seems to matter little who in particular it is who owns a given place. The Central authority is in Varsellla with Minister Pétur Hilmarsson who leads the cities board of directors. He collects the fees for the uses of Minfnegs land and issues licenses to almost anyone who can pay. Varsella is well defended from external attack and those who shirk payments usually suffer from an increase in "accidents". In terms of actual laws those vary depending on the holding and the whims of the owners. The standout of universal laws is the prohibition against creating images of the sacred mountains which is enforced by beheading, and allegedly assassinations. As this includes maps more than one explorer has drawn their ire, and images of the mountains remain popular high end status symbols and bragging rights.

## Population

The population of Minfeng is a scattered mix of the original inhabitants and the various peoples that have invaded or otherwise settled in the area. Invariably those outside the coastal areas culture is swallowed by the black monoliths first as a sort of navigational guide but seemingly inevitably people either embrace the stones or perish. The costal areas to maintain some degree of immunity form this though. The Sea itself provides a means of navigation and even visual reference from the changing bogs and swamps, and there on pillars of stone sunk deep in the sand civilization is taking hold.

## Finshan

One of the largest ports on Minfeng and an outpost of the L'acquan Empire.