The Adharan Sovereignty

Illustrated by Averie

Adhara is a dry land, and the sand of its many deserts hide its ancient ruins. To the south is the rocky, jagged shore leading to the ocean. Closer to the north the deserts turn into grassy plains, called the Whispering Plains, but these are deceptively vast, in truth. Towards the center of the plains lies Starfall. The area is criss-crossed with dozens of old trade routes, us

ed by nomadic tribes and merchants once upon a time, allowing access to and from the different cities. They are now used almost exclusively by the military, and escorted caravans for their uses. Bandits beware.
Adharans tend to elevate purebloods. Be they elves or humans, however, those with Celestial, Aasimar blood are put above the rest. Regardless of species, Adharans generally have swarthy skin and dark hair. The eye colors of the elves can come in a multitude of different colors, such as gold or violet, although for humans dark brown is most common, and for Aasimar, gold and other precious metals tend to make themselves known. Culturally, all genders are fond of jewelry and are quite accepting of piercings and the use of colorful makeup to accentuate beauty.

## Cultural Habits

Adharans strive for enlightenment and personal betterment, but do not often reach beyond their station. There is a small handful of families that hold the power and the head of such families does not depend on gender, but rather who was the first born legitimate child of the previous head of household. Sovereign Adnan will usually seek the counsel of the heads of these families in times of distress for the country.

There is a great emphasis on storytelling, although Adharans may have a different view as to what that means. The most popular artforms in Adhara are usually focused on the body, with martial arts and dancing used to tell stories. Graceful, veiled dancers are popular among social gatherings, performing stories of folk tales or religious lore, frequently leaving the dancefloor with less clothing than when they went on. Color, too, is used to express values, virtues, and stories in themselves.

While wizards and bards are frequently seen among the populous, there are a multitude of well trained fighters in Adhara’s military. Highly trained fighters, such as monks, are also not uncommon among their military, providing a stark contrast to other, more… vicious militaries.

## Political Landscape

The Sovereignty is ruled by the Sovereign, currently by Adnan Evega. They have been in power for nearly three decades. The Sovereign is chosen by a group of their peers, elected via an oligarchy. There is an illusion of social mobility, but in truth, the elites remain on top. They make the day-to-day decisions for the common man, who just hopes to survive the heat.

The Adharan Sovereignty is known for its prized, natural star sapphires. They are also known for the weave of fine silk, but the raw silk is imported. This is a major aspect of their relations with the rest of the world -- both silk and jewels are prize items in most other places.

Most have no idea how anything could be transported in or out of Adhara, with the churning sea that separates it from the rest of the world...

## Magical Attunement

Conjuration, abjuration – their spells mostly take the form of lightning.

## Prominent Characters

The Sovereign

Pax

Nasim al-Sihr