Iberia

**Iberia**, formally known as the **Kingdom of Iberia** (***Reino de Iberia***), is a Terran country. It is a theocratic kingdom located on a band of peninsulas and flooded islands found on the southern coastlines of the Terran continent, located close to Laterano and Victoria. Originally ruled by secular kings and princes who spread the culture of the Lateran Church to their people, the country is currently under the control of a religious order, named the Inquisition, through strict and isolationist policies.

Prior to its isolation from the outside world, however, Iberia was a prosperous maritime empire that acted as the pioneer to explore Terra's southernmost ocean. It almost became a superpower on land with its oceanic technologies such as its naval fleet. But following a mysterious natural disaster caused by the sea monsters, Iberia has since been locked in a sectarian conflict for decades that resulted in prevalent religious persecutions targeting the local Aegir populace.

The Iberian language resembles Spanish and Portuguese in our world. But somehow, both have distinct grammars and accents even though both are mutually intelligible enough with each other.

Iberia is predominated by the Liberi race, which can be seen from the wings on its national emblem. The local Aegir inhabitants there are nicknamed the "Islanders" by the locals.

Description

A coastal power that once rose to greatness using the boon of Ægir technology. Nearly destroyed by the Profound Silence, only the Inquisition remains to lead this shattered country.

## Background

 File:IS-Treasure Trove.png
For a long time, the prosperity of imperial Iberia was marked by its grand navy, shining lighthouses along the coastlines named the "Eyes of Iberia," and its enormous oceanic nomadic cities along the waves, hence dubbed the "**Golden Age of Iberia**." It enjoyed a strong diplomatic relationship with the neighboring Aegir and even accepted Aegirian refugees. In return, the Islanders, most of whom were technicians and scientists, helped in advancing Iberia's technology significantly, especially under the leadership of the famed engineer Breogan. While the country was heavily influenced by the Lateran religion, making the Iberians more faithful than a typical Lateran, it appeared to be more secular in the past that was filled with passion and vitality. Iberia's political might was so immense that many great powers of Terra had to humble themselves, such as its discovery and colonization of Bolívar, its grand naval victory against Victoria that humiliated the Aslan dynasty, and its military threat onto Leithanien.

 File:Unfinished Picturebook Pages.png
However, sixty years ago, in the year 1038, a mysterious natural disaster called the **Profound Silence** devastated Iberia's wealth. Started by a massive invasion of the Seaborn under the manipulation of the cultic Church of the Deep, the waves of Iberia's coastlines suddenly turned abnormally silent. Following this phenomenon was a giant tsunami that devoured its coastal settlements, flooded its coastlines, and destroyed many of its lighthouses. To make the matter worse, Iberia's communications to the outside world were suddenly cut off due to the Seaborn's impact, causing the Iberian naval fleet including its proud golden dreadnought, the *Stultifera Navis*, to lose contact with their homeland. The disaster caused Iberia to become "the first sacrifice on the coast," abruptly ending its Golden Age.

 File:Iberia's Past Glory.png
In the chaos of the collapse following the Profound Silence, the king and nobility of Iberia largely lost their control over the country. In their stead rose the Inquisition, a religious government body that maintain policies such as tight control over the citizenry, heavy restriction on seafaring, and persecutions onto the local Aegir whom the Iberians see as "heretics" that were responsible for the disaster. By present day, Iberia is nothing more than a totalitarian theocracy where once glorious nomadic cities are left stranded along its coastlines and its advance naval fleets lost forever. Even though the Iberian government attempted to reclaim the sea and revitalize its power, it was eventually thwarted due the increasing hatred against the Aegir and its gloomy, oppressive environment.

Even as Iberians struggle to rebuild their homeland, further threats loom over them. Many Iberian settlements have been harassed by the Sea Terrors. In the meantime, the Church managed to infiltrate the nation successfully, disguised themselves among the clergy who twisted the interpretation of the Lateran religion, and managed to convert a sizable population of Iberia into their followers. All of this has caused the authority and the public alike to become increasingly paranoid, worsening the ongoing persecutions of the Aegir.

## Notable people

* Breogan
* File:Old José.png  **Old José**: A Liberi information broker and an acquaintance of Skadi. He had a son named Juan who was killed in an unknown incident and whose corpse was brought back to him by Skadi. He is also responsible for helping Skadi infiltrate Sal Viento.

## Places

### Settlements

* Gran Faro
* Sal Viento
* Sanctilaminium Ambrosii: A monastery that was built as a joint project with Laterano. It went missing for over 6 decades.
* **Primavera**: A city under the Church of the Deep's influence, and the place where Gladiia first met Kal'tsit.
* **Rocamarea**: A neglected coastal city that was later devastated by both famine and the Seaborn's invasion.

### Notable architectures/landmarks

* Eye of Iberia
* *Stultifera Navis*
* **Bastión de Cánticos**: The headquarters of the Inquisition. Also known as the **Bastion of Hallowed Saints**.

## References

2. ↑ Gladiia's Archive Files
3. ↑ Thorns' Archive Files
4. ↑ DH-ST-3
5. ↑ SN-ST-6
6. ↑ SN-10 Before
7. ↑ SV-ST-2
8. ↑ SV-1 After
9. ↑ Dehydration
10. ↑ GA-6 After