Lacrienta

A realm ruled by a solitary queen with absolute authority. The queen, Qazali, is an ancient and extremely powerful Medusa who rose to power more than a thousand years ago and is the only true Medusa in the kingdom. The nobility are all comprised of Half-Medusas; her biological children who hatch from eggs she lays, carrying her cursed blood. However, the rank of nobility is determined by the succession of the lineage; the oldest generations are considered the most noble and have higher power and privileges than the latest generations who are the lowest in rank. Since the queen’s children are countless, the children of 4th generation and lower are not even considered nobles; instead the queen uses them as soldiers and enforcers in cities and towns.

Of course, coup d’états have been attempted many times in the past but all have been quelled by Queen Qazali. To reinforce her rule she also controls Basilisks, Gorgons and other creatures who can petrify others; such creatures can be seen all around the realm, although some small rural villages are an exception. Other than the fact that she is immortal and her children are all around, the realm functions like most monarchies do albeit with some alterations.

Common folk can enroll in the army or the guard if they so please and even become captains; it’s just that this choice is not that popular because Half-Medusas are much more favored by society. Also, racial discrimination is rare in major cities, except for the fact that Half-Medusas are considered superior to all other races; no questions asked.

Mercenary and adventuring guilds of many kinds exist as well, but in the end all answer to Queen Qazali or an overseer of hers. No guild can do anything that the queen hasn’t directly or indirectly agreed to.  That, the fact that in any city one can easily run into a Half-Medusa guard or a Basilisk or Gorgon in the streets, and also the fact that lawbreakers of serious offends are publicly petrified and displayed as statues, make the queen’s grip on the realm firm and her authority shown and felt.

Lacrienta has seven major cities which are scattered throughout the realm. Qazali, its capital, is located to the northeast and the Slithering River passes through it. Its second largest city, Elishunn, is located in the northwestern parts and it is next to the sea. It is a main trading hub and a river passes through it as well. The third largest city which is smaller than Elishunn only by a hair, is the Fortress City of Ninveh Kilonn. It is built amidst a large canyon in the middle of the Barrier Mountains. Its purpose is to be a checkpoint for anyone that wants to enter or leave Lacrienta by land and no one passes through Ninveh Kilonn without the consent of the authorities. It is the only way of reaching the rest of Lacrienta besides a ship; that is except if you are willing to brave the climb of the mountainside or are willing to find an underground passage that goes below the mountains. The other smaller major cities are Gil-raha-lish, Harismed, Enda Bekod and Dur-ila-xene. The authorities of each city answer to the city’s official called a Quehja who is not a necessarily a noble ruler but more like a mayor. A Quehja changes each four years with democratic elections held in each city and answers to the queen and enforces her laws. Commoners and nobles alike can run as a Quehja. All cities in Lacrienta follow this example, even Qazali. That said, Queen Qazali is the absolute authority in the realm and can, in a whim if she so desires, change any law or remove a Quehja from their post. She can also, of course, seize direct control of any authority if she deems it necessary.

The people of Lacrienta speak a language that is known as Lacrientan to the rest of Rythalion. However, citizens of Lacrienta know it as Qazal as do linguists that study languages or other people that would be interested in such things.