Duskshine

## **Government**

### **Government Type/Function**

There is only one leader among Ra’Bas; the High Priestess, the Demi-God, Faven. Her function is mostly as a religious leader and ruler of her people. She has complete control over every aspect of her theocracy.

#### High-Ranking Positions

Priestesses serve as local leaders and figureheads. While there are many branches of service, they all have the same rank as it all comes back to the goal of worshipping Faven, the complete and total ruler of the country.

#### Branches

The High Priestess - Faven, and the leader of the country.

The Inquisition - The military of the country. There are currently only land troops, as their species do not enjoy being on the water.

Light Keepers - The holy order that spreads the word of Faven.

Caretakers - A special order of priestesses dedicated to making sure no land or water go to waste, as both are a precious resource.

### **Border Policies**

Duskshine borders Evershade, the home of the Breksta. The border is formed by the River of Life. While Faven has not given any official command to close the borders between the two nations, travel between the two countries is uncommon and highly discouraged due to the war that's been going on for longer than most can remember. Duskshine has no other hostilities and welcomes any other race into its borders.

### **Currency**

Duskshine's currency is referred to as 'Stars'.

## **Geography**

The geography of Duskshine is largely harsh desert, but the land is blessed by many great rivers that spread through it, bringing water across the dunes like blood through a body. The rivers flood often, usually once a year, bringing in rich soil to cover the farmlands and improve crop yields. Unfortunately, growing crops away from these rivers is near impossible, meaning that farmland was very limited.

### **Masika**

The "Heart of the Desert." It has the most rivers running through it, as well as oasis plenty. It's only a desert in name and would be very difficult to die of thirst here. Every two hundred years or so, the rivers flood so much that this area becomes closer to wetlands than a desert. Faven regrets creating so many rivers around this time.

#### Akruremu

The capital city and the seat of power for the theocracy of Duskshine. It flourishes with trade from the many cities it is connected with. As the seat of power for Faven, all tributes must enter the city to reach her palace, meaning that it has very high traffic density. Because of this, the streets are wider than most other cities and are inspected regularly. Due to the generosity of Faven, there are no homeless or hungry in the city. They are all taken into her service the moment they are discovered.

### **Ebony**

An island just off the coast of Zun. It is extremely warm grasslands in the southern parts, with large mountain ranges in the north.

#### Desnozum

The larger of the two sister cities of the island of Ebony. This city is rather autonomous, being ruled more by local law than royal decree. It has very few local products, and instead focuses mainly on trade. It is in the best location for trade with the rest of the world, allowing easier and shorter trips for both exports and imports. It also houses almost the entirety of the hybrid population of Duskshine, who often make up the kingdom's sailor population as well. There is also a small but growing independence movement in the city led by the hybrids. But they know they can never be independent without the support of their sister city, Khamusiris.

#### Khamusiris

The smaller of the two sister cities of the island of Ebony. This city is rather autonomous, being ruled more by local law than royal decree. It has very few products, other than iron and copper. Because of this, they make a great many weapons and armour. The city has countless workshops running day and night without pause. The city also has a much higher amount of guards than normal, as to protect the city from invasion from the enemy to the north, Evershade.

### **Elydesul**

Grassland that holds many wild animals and monsters. A perfect place for the growing of warriors and land easily defended from Evershade, as it is easy to see an army approaching across the vast plains. Since this is the border with Evershade, this advantage means they can never be snuck up upon.

#### Nebsou

Originally a massive fort used to hold back the forces of Evershade, over the years a city has sprung up around it, seeking shelter from the great monsters of the dessert. Being unable to leave their own to die, the city was formed, with the large fort still at its center.

#### Clyssou

This city is known for producing the best warriors in Duskshine. Children here grow up with a toy in one hand and a dagger in the other. Among the normal buildings of any functioning city, lay a special sect of warriors. An Assassin training ground that focuses on stealth and infiltration. Only the most elite of Faven's Inquisition may be allowed to trained an Assassin, however.

#### Kubyris

The final training ground for the majority of The Inquisition. Once their training is over, they are sent to the city of Kubyris to stand eternal guard over the border with Evershade. It is here that they finally complete their training and are promoted to becoming full soldiers in service to Faven.

### **Alen**

A mix of the harsh desert and rocky ground. While there is plenty of life in this part of the desert, it is still easy to get lost and never find any source of hope.

#### Sebe

A trading city based on the coast. They mainly trade in Fish with the other cities in the mainland, but also bring in spices from other countries.

#### Setsos

A city that is hidden away in a valley. Most of the day, the city is hidden from the harsh rays of the sun by the valley walls. During the middle of the day, the valley is exposed directly to the sun. Any species other than the Ra'bas caught out at this time are cooked alive in their own skin, as the metal in the walls reflects the light into a harsh death beam.

#### Shapepis

A city that is full of craftsmen and jewelers. It is here that many works of art are made, then either taken to the capital for Faven, or sent off to be sold at a faraway port.

#### Shetva

A city of dancers. The people of this city have a strange tradition of teaching their young to dance with blades. While it is a very deadly form of combat, they rarely actually fight using it due to its weakness against multiple opponents.

### **Kleopalra**

The vast emptiness of the desert is best shown in this province. It is a wasteland of sand and death, where nothing grows, not even the almost dead plants normally seen elsewhere. It is said that this part of the desert holds Faven's rage. That it seeks to consume all within its sandy depths.

#### Ebdsainet

The sole patch of livable land within the sea of sand. A massive oasis with nothing around it but a few huts and a small forest of trees Many dangerous animals live around this oasis, as it is the only source of life in the entire province.

### **Population**

* Ra’Bas 86%
* Hybrid 7%
* Breksta 5%
* Anthea 1%
* Other 1%

## **Culture**

### **Common Trades**

Miners and blacksmiths are usually trades held by the hybrids, but it is not uncommon to see a desperate Ra'bas or two among their numbers. Architects are common among the Ra'bas, as are sculptures and jewellers.

### **Traditions**

The Ra'bas tend to wear very little clothing, as to feel the sun on their never burning skin better. Only covering the modest parts of their bodies. They tend to build their houses in a similar fashion, making them mainly out of sandstone and glass, as to let the sunshine through at all times of the ay.

### **Religious Beliefs**

The people of Duskshine believe in the demi-god Faven, their ruler. They have a festival dedicated to her in the middle of summer every year, and a festival to ward off the people of Evershade in the middle of winter.

### **Magical Practices**

All kinds of magic are allowed in Duskshine, but the most commonly used magic is light magic, followed by fire. This is simply due to the fact that their goddess Faven made them in her image, and she is a goddess of light.

### **Values**

The Ra'bas believe that so long as one is happy, they should not be judged. This comes about due to the fact that many Ra'bas fall for other races, and have many hybrid children. So long as the Ra'bas, their partner and their children all worship Faven, then no problems will arise.

### **Fighting Styles**

The Ra'bas mainly use light weapons, such as daggers and swords. They also live to incorporate dances into their fighting style, flowing from one move to the next. They are also masters of throwing weapons and have been known to master the spear very easily.

## **History**

### **Wars**

There has only been one true war in the history of Duskshine and that is the war against Evershade. Currently, they are at a stalemate. It's known as The Sunset War.

### **Renaissances and Reforms**

The Ra'bas are slowly falling behind the other races when it comes to technology due to their lazy and isolationist nature. This is entirely Faven's fault, though she would never admit it. On the other side of the coin however, their magic skills have seen recent leaps and bounds.