Vasheedas

Vasheedas is a northern nation of Reth'car. It is a harsh nation, with a almost barren climate and hostile nature. This reflects the people aswell, who are completely driven by the rule of the strong.

The ruling Sorcerer king Garoth Ursuul has managed to quell the chaotic nature of their ideology through has iron grip on the nation, with frequent collective punishments made against the people.

## History

Vasheedas defining moment in history was when the gods battled on the material plane, and this nothern landmass was their last battlefield. Azzagrat is built in the crater left after the battle had ended. More importantly, it left the nature forever changed. There were few people who could live there, and instead travelled south.

Baltharn would much later take up the practice of banishing criminals to the north, sending them to either a harsh life or death by landscape. What wasn't expected was the the desperation of those that did survive. The bond left by the higher beings made it the perfect place for the pleads of those with nothing to lose to be heard by evil gods, devils and demons. This gave rise to rulership for those that dared summon extraplanar beings and using them to subjugate those who didn't. And in turn, the summoned beings influenced the people they served or fought with, leading the nation to becoming a self-perpetuating hellscape made up of those that are desperate and hungry for power.

Shifters had always been particulary distrusted by the balth, which led to them always being exiled to the north. This practice is even continued to this day. While there are few shifters to speak of, they survive and even thrive in this enviorment as their abilites suit a nation where little heed is taken to individuals. Their continued survival there has thus led to Vasheedas being the only nation which has a notable ammount of this species.

As the influence of demons grew, many minotaurs began travelling to the nation away from the traditional homes in The Notharian Empire. While those that travelled considered it themselves following their instincts, scholars belived that the abundance of influence from demons, including Baphomet, called to the creatures which were created in the demon lord's image.

## Culture

### Food

Growing food is a challenge in Vasheedas, and if not carefully preserved will easily spoil. Salt curation is common, as salt is abundant in the nation. Other methods includes butter, pickling, and compression to remove water. In desperate times, covering food in ashes keeps bacteria off but the taste of vasheedan ash linger.

## People

The villages are much like slave encampments, ruled by whomever has managed to take charge and survive for the moment. It is a constant challenge to stay alive against oppertunistic, desperate villagers who seek the only possible salvation.

Villages in turn answer the nearby cities, each led by a lord who collects their keep from both villages and citizen. The citizens enjoy more freedom than the villagers, but it is difficult to become a citizen unless born into it. This is because there are few who are let through cities walls. Those who attempt without proper reason may either be killed on the spot or sent to a village and become a slave there.

As the lord needs to upkeep the villages with slaves capable of working, many have taken up forcibly breeding forth Muls who serve as strong workers.

Vasheedas is in a constant need of land, as its resources are scarce. It is in a constant war against its southern neighbour Baltharn in an attempt to expand. While Vasheedas is surrounded by seas, conventional shipbuilding is impossible due to the lack of materials. And the few attempts that has been made in an attempt to reach the eastern Isles of Dedecus has been stopped by the balth bronze dragon Oceanus.

The vasheedan army bulk is made up from ritualisticly mutated warriors, mostly orcs. They have traits of animals, giving them strength and endurance alongside a variety of abilities such as flight or claws. Their formal training and equipment is lacking, both being compensated by practical experience.

## Geography

The lands of the nations have little vegetation and much of the little there is aggresive in nature, preying on anything living which attempts to rest there. Even the soil may attempt to swallow those who rests upon uneven ground, leaving the bodies for the subterrainian monsters. This has left the country with little in manner of foodstock. There are few farms which are upkept through hellish hard work. And there are few trees.

Sulfur is abundant in the nation, though it’s usage was very limited until the medicinal techniques from Kiaan reached to Vasheedas. It is also rich in phosphor and cinnabarite.

## Relations

Vasheedas only neighbour by land is Baltharn. Vasheedas is in a constant attempt to expand southwards, but the people of Baltharn has sworn to hold them back.

No nation is on diplomatic terms with Vasheedas, which has a terrible reputation. They have no trading partners.