A queendom at the south covered in lush greenery that yields bountiful harvests all year round. The water is crystal clear and the turquoise ocean shimmers under the warm sun. The carefree nature of the Lemurians really reflects the wealth and abundance of the country.
LEMURIA
ISLALE
Cuisine✦
Abundant with spices, their food are very fragrant and rich in flavor. Thick sauces made from various ingredients often accompany their meat and fish dishes, while the vegetables are usually just lightly roasted/sauted or eaten raw. Fresh seafood is common near the capital, which are distributed dried or preserved to cities further from the ocean. Juicy fruits like mango, avocado, apple, orange, etc. grow really well in their climate. ‘Exotic’ (imported) meat like whale’s, seal’s, bear’s, or snake’s can fetch a high price in the market.
Fashion✦
Cotton and silk are the most common material for the fabrics, making them soft, lightweight, and having cooling effect on skin in hot weather. The fabrics are often plain in gradient of colors. The clothes itself is pretty simple with the fabrics hanging loosely on the body but adorned in heavy accessories. Gold and brass are often used in jewelries alongside colorful precious gems. Vibrant and colorful dyes are made from various materials such as plants, animals, and even crushed gemstones, making the fashion very expressive to its wearers.
Face and body paintings are often used by the people of Lemuria Islale to paint on their exposed skin. It is believed that the paintings can protect people from evil threats and grant blessings to those who wear them. The paint is insoluble in water and made with natural limestone pigment, which can keep the skin cool under the high temperature.
Priests and Priestess are usually seen using complicated painting patterns on their skin to bring their spiritual mind closer to the gods.
Religion✦
The Queendom practices polytheism, and worships The Five Deities of Creation.
[Dheros] ◢
The God of the Realm, who created Ephora in the beginning, leveling the surface with mountains and trenches.
[Celi] ◢
The Goddess of the Ocean, who filled the world with water and the beginning of life within it.
[Nivara] ◢
The Goddess of the Sky, who gave Ephora the day and night cycle, and also breathable air. Birds are believed to be her messengers.
[Onir] ◢
The God of of Growth, who planted trees and nurtured animals on the land. He is also known as a god of harvest and fertility.
[Aella] ◢
The Goddess of Impermanence, said to have an underwater palace where the souls gather once their lives are spent, before being reborn into different life cycles.
There are temples worshipping each God/Goddess–sometimes multiple deities at once, all across the queendoom. The most worshipped deity is Celi, The Goddess of the Ocean, the one who first brought life to Ephora, and thus the people call themselves ‘Children of the Waves’. When the people pass away, they will be cremated while drifted towards the sea to return to where they were born.
Priests and priestesses serve the temples daily and are led by the head priest or priestess to carry out their duties. They give blessings to the worshippers and perform ceremonies during religious celebrations in Lemuria, such as The Festival of the Deities.
Economy✦
Lemuria’s people live in abundance. That’s why their trades are mostly to get them even richer, not for survival. Located in the center of trade route from west to east, and a capital that serves as the biggest port in the continent, the country’s markets are forever bustling with life. The currency, Shelling, came from ancient Lemuria, and was in form of iridescent shell coins. Nowadays they’re made of brass and gold depending on the coin’s worth.
Politics✦
Lemuria Islale is a country ruled by a queen for centuries. The authority of the Queen is only passed down through direct bloodline, prioritizing the eldest female heir.
The country is divided into provinces for better society management and they are directly led by a governor each. The governors are appointed by the Queen and work closely with her. Depending on their performance, they could stay in their position for 5 years to indefinite time. Every month a meeting is held at the palace for the governors to give their reports to the Queen. Her decisions are needed for any major matters before taking action.
Military✦
During ancient times, Lemuria’s Navy force was the largest and most powerful fleet in the entire continent. They were feared for their ‘Sea Fire’; a fire that burns using a combustible secret compound that cannot be put out. The marines were also really skilled in fighting on swaying decks with bows, javelins, and short swords. Water and Fire magic users were widely used here since the elements are abundant.
However as the time goes on, more conflicts arose on Lemuria’s land, forcing them to invest more into their Army. Their Army started to grow bigger under the union of the small nations around Lemuria, creating quite a fearful alliance of Army forces. They can raise swift horses on their vast grasslands, Elephants by the riverbanks and woods, and thus the Light Cavalry force grew more rapidly than the Infantry. They also adapted the Navy’s ways in terms of ranged weapons: bows and javelins, then short swords for close-range combats. The way the magic users fight has also changed into a more flexible one: using everything that exists in the nature like wood or rocks. Even though now their Navy has shrunk in number, it is still respected as the strongest fleet by neighbouring countries.
NPCs
NPCs