Saramese Kingdom

**Population:** 98% Westrasi Human, 2% Others (mostly elves)

**Capital:** Bapsburg

**Government:** Highly centralized Feudal Monarchy

#### **Culture**

Saramese are proud and sophisticated people, with a taste for the finer crafts. With a higher degree of literacy and a larger part of their population living in cities as craftsman and free workers, Saramese are among the greatest sources of literature and culture, philosophers, astronomers and other intelectual pursuits. They great value knowledge and domain of a craft, and often define themselves by their work and achievements. Also, Saramese have a leaning towards mysticism and esoteric doctrines, making for great arcane practicioners and theurges.

#### **Religion**

While most of the population follows the Church of Divine Duality, due to their proximity to the Sarkation Empire, the Saramese Kingdom is a cradle to many religions who count no more than a few hundred followers between themselves. Which ones are cults and which ones are legit faiths is a matter entirely subjective. Gurus and wisemen abound in this highly mystical land. Bapshire is known as the city of a thousand prophets; and the tone in which one calls it that often tells you how they feel about these smaller faiths.

#### **Organization**

Saramese follow a very common feudal structure present all across the Westrasi continent. Knights, Barons, Counts and Dukes. However, the kingdom has very fertile lands and this allowed for a large urban population. The Verani empire city of Baptium was the second most populous city in the Empire before it's fall. This is now the city of Bapsburg and the Saramese capital. With this large urban population, this means the mayors and guildsman have a much greater impact in Saramese politics, and while the feudal lords do serve as knights, a big part of Saramese forces is composed by freeman's militias armed by the cities' guilds.

#### **Origin**

Saramese were the tribe originally settled in this lands. The kingdom formed a few centuries after the fall of the Verani empire, with Saramese natives stepping up to fill the role of local governor when the Empire collapse, and eventually crowning themselves kings and lords.

#### **Diplomacy**

Saramese have a ongoing dispute with the free city of Bertranox. Once part of the Kingdom, a group of exiles from a civil war fled there and declared it independent. The saramese don't recognize it as such, but with Bertranox allied with some naval powers, the Saramese lack the maritime might to press their claim.

#### **Geography**

Semi arid and temperate areas abound both in the kingdom, who mainly exists as big cities along two rivers, the Sarans and the Yonax rivers.

#### **Economy**

Saramese mostly grow wheat, olives for oil production and lettuce. Oil is their main export, and the kingdom actually excels in the production of codexes, or books, but in no way this amount to more than a blip in it's trade. Saramese export the occasional luxury articles, and are famous for producing a blue dye out of a flower known as King's Crown. This leads to the expression 'Saramese blue' to describe deep, vivid blue color.

#### **Player Character Notes**

The Saramese have a reputation for intellectualism and a fondness for esoteric knowledge.  One of the wealthier, more lawful states in the Westrasi Sea area, adventurers from this nation often have lots of book knowledge, but are still surprised by how bad things are in many other nations.