Azaan

Azaan is the name of the isolated technocratic city-state far to the southwest of the Kingdom of Arangoth. It is the most technologically developed country on the planet, its citizens enjoying a remarkably high quality of life as a result. Azaani technicians study a strange blend of naturalist and arcane philosophy, creating some of the most spectacular works in the world, including their massive arcane siphon towers and their legendary, fearsome airships.

Azaan
File:Azaan.jpg
Country Information
Motto:	'Videmus omnia.'
Language:	Azaani
Ethnic Group:	Human
Religion:	None
Government:	Technocracy
Current Ruler:	High Directorate
Population:	150,000
Currency:	Solari

History

Azaan was dominated by a magical empire many centuries ago. With their monarchic style of government, the previous Azaani empire gradually grew more and more corrupt, increasing the standard of living for the aristocracy at the expense of the technically skilled (but socially powerless) working class. Revolution was staved off for many long years until one fateful day. Over the course of several weeks, the Azaani empire crumbled, its aristocracy killed or exiled, and its arcanists put to work in collaboration with the engineers of the era to produce new and fantastic technologies for the benefit of its entire people, as managed by the High Directorate.

Geographical Features

Azaan is a relatively small island city state, the island no more than 75 kilometers at its widest point, and perhaps 200 kilometers long. It is surrounded on all sides by sheer cliffs with dubious staircases leading up in ill-maintained switchbacks at strategic locations. The landscape is generally dominated by shallow, rolling hills and plains, with few dramatic changes in elevation to speak of.

Government and Politics

Azaan is governed by the High Directorate, an elite team of experts in the fields of arcane science, naturalism, civil engineering, etc. The High Directorate is generally limited to a cadre of 12 individuals, selected based upon their merits by the Symposium, a meeting of over 200 individuals, all experts in their various fields from across the Azaani empire.

Military

While Azaan has traditionally kept a low number of standing armed forces personnel, these numbers are usually supplemented by the various automata developed by private firms with defense contracts. The backbone of the Azaani empire's military might comes from its legendary airships, which represent the pinnacle of arcane and technical engineering. A single cruiser-class airship is capable of burning a small fleet of traditional seafaring vessels to the ground.