Nation

One of the strangest nations in Erzara, it is a lovely place to visit as long as adventurers are respectful and don't stare too much. Legend states that the land was a bloody battleground for ancient gods and as their blood seeped in the ground, it began to warp the ecosystem with the powerful magic in the ichor. From this overflow of magic, the animals began to warp, both in mind and body. From this, animalistic humanoids were born. Most intelligent animal races can trace their lineage back to the nation, even though it was thousands of years ago. Just like any other humanoid race, they travelled and settled in various other lands, though some nations are more resistant to the various races than others.

The ancient magic did not only change its denizens but the very land itself. This has lead to the heavy agricultural focused economy and their magic revolves around nature and earth. With this and their improved intelligence, most citizens are strict vegans, cultivating crops that cover any nutritional needs to species whose feral ancestors were obligate carnivores. Not all animalistic races agreed, such as Lizardfolk, and they have left the nation, creating small tribes in other nations to escape judgment and, to them, unjust laws put into place to shame carnivores. Other creatures, even with the gained intelligence over their feral ancestors, still were much to violent, especially when they learned how to use weaponry. Many of these races have been banished completely from the nation and, to this day, are completely barred from entry into the nation without government supervision.

The ancient magic of the land combined with the centuries of manipulating it with nature magics has lead to a unique advantage to ward of would-be conquering nations. Over the years, many nations have the false impression that due to the peaceful temperament of its people, that conquering it will be simple. They will attack, believing the nation's people will forfeit quickly. They soon find out that this is not the case. Instead, the people will have the earth and nature attack and ward off imposing armies, though it must be noted that even then they will avoid killing. If that does not stop them, the nation will retreat and raze the magic from the land, leaving it completely barren and desolate. Imposing armies will quickly learn that taking over the land will leave them with nothing but completely worthless earth devoid of life.

A neighboring nation was stubborn, though, and even when they finally retreated, refused to surrender a long strip of land. Known simply as the Empty Lands, this has acted as a demarcation zone between the two nations. For other nations, though, once they had forfeited and left the nation, the people will move back, releasing magic back into the earth and continuing on as if nothing had happened.

A major reason that more nations would prefer to ally instead of war with the nation is due to their unique agriculture. The plants and produce they create are like nothing else in Erzara. Some plants are said to share a person for an entire week with only one fruit. Others mimic the powerful spells, especially healing magics. Still others are just exceptionally delicious and many travelers come to the nation strictly for culinary tourism.

A lose government has been established, though most just have local leaders and laws to govern them and most of these villages are very homogeneous, with maybe only a few people who do not share the same feral ancestors. There are a few larger cities, especially the capitol, where intermingling of the varying animal races is more commonplace and this is where a majority of travelers visit. Even as a peaceful nation, most travelers avoid the smaller villages and tribes due to xenophobia being more commonplace.

In recent years, the nation has been thrown into turmoil. A bloody, but successful coup has rocked the nation as the new Emperor calls for a single, centralized government under one ruler and to abandon the previous ruler's passive ways. This has split the nation, with many villages who oppose the new emperor closing ranks or abandoning their homes altogether. With an army that seemed to amass overnight, those who spoke out against the Emperor found themselves to quickly caged or killed. The Emperor has declared that, under him, the nation will become king and has dared any nation to try and oppose him. The fields will be drenched in blood as they sink their fangs into the throats of their enemies.