Kingdom of South Belsirya

## History

Like most of Belsirya and Calcabra, South Belsirya has been inhabited for as long as there has been human settlements in Scimitaria, and was also a province of the First Elven Empire, as well as the Azan Empire after that. Under Azaneese control, the region of Belsirya consolidated under one Kingdom – the Kingdom of Belsirya, which included South Belsirya. South Belsirya was always the most politically significant and wealthiest region of the First Kingdom of Belsirya, with the coastal city of Margueron serving as its de facto capital.

### Under Azan

As Azan influence lessened over northern Scimitaria, the ever ambitious Drow sought out to take advantage of this. In a series of wars against the humans, the united Drow realms established rule over them, calling their dominion the “Second Elven Empire”, seeing themselves as the successor state of the First Elven Empire. This Empire was short lived, however, lasting only three decades, and the Drow were eventually driven back into the Ashlands by the humans.

The humans of Belsirya and Calcabra were now independent in the form of many smaller independent duchies and baronies. These states eventually coalesced to form the two states that existed during the Azan days – the Kingdom of Belsirya and the Grand Duchy of Calcabra.

### Second Kingdom of Belsirya

House Platret took over the ruling seat of Margueron from the House of Drapier, which was wiped out during the Drow-Human wars. Under House Platret, and especially under King Aurelien, Belsirya flourished. This was due to the discovery of the gold mines in the otherwise poor region of the Aurous Highlands. King Aurelien took advantage of this wealth and built many temples, squares, monuments as well as a large navy. Despite the praise that he got from the nobility and the historians of Belsirya, the locals of the Aurous Highlands hated Aurelien and his tyrannical nephew for their cruelty and greed, and were swift too act.

### Fractured Kingdom

The rebellion soon got out of hand, and the Lord Paramount of the Aurous Highlands, as well as the many lords of what are now the Blesire States, joined on it. After a year long war, the Kingdom of Blesirya had lost control of northwestern Blesirya (called the Blesire, named after the largest river in the region) as well as the Aurous Highlands, being relegated to a thn strip of land in the western coast of Scimitaria. House Platret was overthrown and forced into exile in Calcabra. Nowadays, the Kingdom of Belsirya still fashions that name, although their northern neighbors refer to it as “South Belsirya”, in order to undermine its status when it comes to the rest of the region.

## Government

The Kingdom of Belsirya is a hereditary monarch, with males being preferred in succession over females. King Hevon of House Lovegrall is its ruler. He is a tall man with long hair and a thick beard, who’s known for his sense of humour and debauchery, as well as his short temper and abrasive behavior, which has hampered his overall sense of duty as a King. Below the King are many noble lords, such as Counts, Dukes and Barons, with some taking the title of “Lesser King” before the split of South Belsirya and the rest of the Kingdom.

## Geography

South Belsirya stretches along a thin strip of land, that’s otherwise known as the “Cerulean Coast”. It’s mostly flat, apart from more hilly and mountainous regions that border the Calcrabian Mountains. The coastal area is sunny, with dry, hot summers and mild winters. The waters of the Carcinii Sea are known for their pristine, azure waters, which give the regions its name. Snow is very rare in the Cerulean Coast.

## Economy

The main trading partners of South Belsirya are Calcabra and Chrysovica. Belsirya also engages in trade with the Triarchy and Moreelse, but that’s mostly for slaves, as it’s the only northwestern Scimitarian realm that still practices slavery. The Carcinii Sea’s waters are very rich in fish, so fishing is a common practice among the coastal settlements, as is shipbuilding. The Cerulean Coast’s climate is ideal for the cultivation of many trees that are hard to find in Northern Scimitaria, such as palm trees, citrus trees and others. Even though South Belsirya is still a relatively rich nation, most of its wealth stems from the vast vaults filled with gold that was mined in the Aurous Highlands.

## Locations

### Margueron

Margueron is the capital of South Belsirya, and was the capital of the Kingdom of Belsirya since its inception. It lies on the southern portion of the Cerulean Coast, near the border with Calcabra. Margueron is protected by high walls, and is home to many docks, shrines, temples, squares, markets, pleasure houses and waterfronts. In the streets of Margueron one can hear many languages, as it’s one of the biggest –if not the biggest– trading hubs in northern Scimitaria. The Azure Palace is built on a hill that overlooks the rest of the city, and is there where the King and the royal family reside.

Other notable settlements include the port of Oyster, the coastal city of Pavoni, as well as the mountainous settlement of Dramite, which is frequented by many mountain Hobbit travelers from the Calcrabian mountains.

## Religion

The most commonly practiced religion in South Belsirya is the Faith of the Nine Saints. Alara and Brezne are the most revered saints, with the former being the patron saint of Margueron, with many statues built in her name. There are some pockets of followers of the New Azan Faith, mostly among families that trace their heritage back to Azan.

Many queer Drow gods were used to be worshipped by the Drow settlers in Margueron and the other cities in Belsirya and Calcabra, although the majority of them fled back to their homelands after the second Human-Drow wars.

## Military

South Belsirya is known for its extended use of mercenaries, due to the large amounts of gold stockpiled in their treasuries. Belsirya also has a large navy built using the first gold that was mined from the Aurous Highlands, which is now used to patrol the Carcinii Sea and the surrounding waters, as well as to interfere in any pirate or smuggling activities. Part of the Belsiryan army includes the infamous Slave Drivers, whose job is to pick out among the prisoners and drill them so they’ll be suitable to be used as slave infantry. As such, a large part of the Belsiryan army consists of slave soldiers, from multiplie races and ethnicities.

## Demographics

The majority of the population are humans, usually with Blesiryan or Calcabran ancestry. Some humans trace their lineage back to Azan, but in reality, Azan left few settlers in northern Scimitaria. Sometimes, merchants from Chrysovica can be found in Margueron and other coastal towns.

Few Drow reside in Belsirya, with the few that still reside there being the product of racemixing between Humans and Drow, their offspring being a popular attraction in pleasure houses. Same thing goes for Sea Elves, although those are even fewer in number, and are viewed with less suspicion than the Drow.

There are some Hobbit families living in villages near the hilly terrain that borders the Calcrabian Mountains. Those are related to the Mountain Hobbits in the north, many of whom regularly visit the mountain villages of South Belsirya for trade purposes.

Many slaves exist in South Belsirya, and especially the capital of Margueron. Apart from Elves and other Humans, other slaves include Orcs, who are mostly used as soldiers, and Dwarves, whose sturdy build and small stature is ideal for manual labour.

## Foreign Relations

### Grand Duchy of Calcabra

These nations maintain a political alliance, with the Houses of Platret and Lovegrall marrying with the Calcabran family. Despite that however, Calcabra is wise enough to not choose one side over the other, and instead prefers to be more neutral on the political side, as they’ve carefully maneuvered themselves into a position of influence in most of the courts in Northern Scimitaria. Many slaves escape to Calcabra.

### Kingdom of the Aurous Highlands

The relationship between these two realms is sour at best. Even though their people are mostly the same, the wars of independence, as well as the cruel treatment of the Aurous natives by the ruling house of Belsirya has created a burning hate between them. South Belsirya is constantly trying to infiltrate the court of the Aurous Highlands, in order to be in a position to launch an offensive attack against them in the future. Their goal is to take over the gold mines of the Aurous Highlands and reincorporate these lands to their Kingdom.

### Alliance of the Blesire States

Likewise with the Aurous Highlands, the relationship between them is not amiable at all. The South Belsiryans view the Northern Belsiryans as traitors, who turned their back on the Kingdom when the Aurous Highlands started their rebellion. South Belsirya aims to create friction between the Blesiryan lords, in order make a potential reconquest easier. Likewise with Calcabra, many freed and escaped slaves make their way into the Blesire States.

### Drow City States

South Belsirya is not welcoming towards the Drow. Apart from some settlers of old and an embassy in Margueron, the Drow barely step into South Belsirya, thanks to the enslaving of many of their kind, as well as the forced resettlements. Even though the Drow would like to reconquest the Northern Scimitarian lands, the defensive pact between the humans makes this an almost impossible task.

### Calcrabian Mountains

The relationship between the two is cordial. The Belsiryans don’t have any need of hobbit slaves, and the Drow hate projected by the hobbit makes them ideal allies. South Belsirya has guaranteed the independence of the Mountain Clans in case a Drow attack were to happen.

### Earldom of Chrysovica

Trade is common between these two nations, but the Chrysovicans don’t trust them because of their lack of interference when they were under threatened by the Sea Elves.

### Arangea and Bumi

A defensive pact has been signed between Arangea, Bumi and the rest of the human nations of Northern Scimitaria, although no other defensive measures have been taken yet, due to the inaction of the Drow.

### Moreelse

Margueron is one of the few cities in Northern Scimitaria where the use of the White Death is almost nonexistent. This is due to the draconian laws and crackdowns on smugglers by the City Guard of Margueron. The Hydra’s Eyes stray away from South Belsirya.