Setting:Golden Archipelago/Factions

Empires and Big Kingdoms

The big players of the factions, which influence a lot of local culture and politics.

Daevanagari (country of gods)

Daevanagari has a hereditary caste system, and a thick Hindu flavor, at least initially. Has at least three castes, which is the Kshatriya (Knightly), Padari (Priestly), and Sudra (Lowly). Sudras are allowed to help the Padari in their duties, and they may even rise to become Padari themselves if their families have continuously served for some generations. There may also be a merchant caste, or they could be mixed with the Kshatriya. The Kshatriya caste has some organizations within it, akin to Paladin orders in medieval fantasy.

Long Guo (dragon empire)

Long Guo has a rigid bureaucracy and military might. Knows and guards the recipe for a life-extending elixir, but its ingredients are obtained from the other countries. Their elites and nobles drink these somewhat regularly (once per decade or something) to extend their lives, but the elixir gives a kind of addiction. Has a kinda Rogue Trader-ish stance on trading, in that those with a special permit could trade with other countries.

Azteotlan (wondrous empire)

Azteotlan is a very bountiful empire whose wealth is legendary. More legendary is their bloodlust, driven by their almost-fanatical beliefs on sacrifice. They value jade highly, and since Long Guo has jade, they trade these for gold and elixir ingredients. Their priests are widely known to be knowledgeable in medicine and magic.

Tigrissiya

Tigrissiya is a civilization far from the archipelago, but their traders are known to ply the trade routes, sometimes carrying their priests who spread their religion of peace. They trade their rare earth oils (another elixir ingredient) and textiles for wood and other raw materials.

Small or Satellite Kingdoms

These are the smaller kingdoms which exist in the Golden Archipelago. Some of them are heavily influenced by the major kingdoms and empires, and became their satellite.

Yu Jiang Shan (jade rivers and mountains)

Yu Jiang Shan is a satellite kingdom of Long Guo, which is on a landmass on the northeastern edge of the archipelago. Main source of jade for Long Guo, and since it's close to the archipelago, it has lots of trade/port cities.

Suvarnagari (golden country)

Suvarnagari is a satellite kingdom of Daevanagari, located somewhere to the north or northwest of the archipelago. Probably connected to the mainland, it is a source of wheat, rice and gold for Daevanagari, and thus trade cities spring up here. Tigrissiyan traders make their stops here before continuing to the archipelago.

Kalaut (from Laut, sea)

Kalaut is a nautical kingdom endemic to the archipelago (still unsure to where in the archipelago they'll be), they regard their sea boundaries as part of their sovereignty; So, they tax every ship that comes through their territories. Ships not willing to pay taxes, or does not have enough goods to be taxed, will be confiscated by Kalaut navy. This led them to have a quite sizable navy, although not as big as Long Guo's navy.

Warihi (from Vrihi, rice)

Warihi is another nautical-agrarian kingdom, also endemic of the Archipelago. Reputedly, they have bountiful wealth, and their rice is superior to Suvarnagari. They're very polite, but that's why foreign colonies start to grow on their territory.

Tribes

There are native tribes who inhabit the islands as well; Some of them are members of local kingdoms, while others carve their own territory in the archipelago.

Apo Kayan

A jungle tribe, they have an aggressive culture which includes headhunting and raiding. Based on Borneo's Dayak, Iban and Kayan cultures, maybe with some mesoamerica smatterings.

Maui

subtribes: tikitiki, matavaru, kalana, maraehihi, kisikisi A big island tribe with some subtribes. Excellent navigators, scattered among a lot of the eastern islands in the archipelago. Based on Polynesian cultures.

Houdan

Another island culture, but one deeply versed in magic. Specifically black magic. Based on Carribean cultures.

Dreaming Tribe or Dreamers

A desert culture living on a big island which was isolated for a long time. Their unique way of life, which revolves around dreams, have endured for a very long time unchanged. They have many names in the past, but since the introduction of foreign language, they call themselves the dreamers. They themselves have forgotten their past tribal name. Based on Native Autralian and Papuan cultures.

Foreign Colonies

Several foreign powers outside of the major kingdoms/empires have (relatively) recently established colonies in the Golden Archipelago.

Midland Colonies

Midland is a typical medieval European fantasy country, which had set up some colonies to spread their religion and get some wealth from the archipelago.

Nordvik Colonies

While Midland is more knights and priests, Nordviks are vikings. They have few colonies in the archipelago, which are the remnants of misled ocean expeditions and mass exoduses. They were fleeing religious prosecution from Aragon and Midland.

Aragonian Colonies

A more progressive and militaristic version of Midland. Competes with Midland on the spreading of religion, which they share. Think of catholics vs protestants. Tend to clash with local tribes.

Major Religions

There are many religion and belief in the Golden Archipelago, but these have more believers.

Deusism (Midland and Aragonia)

A monotheistic religion, with emphasis on conquest.

Salamism (Tigrissiya, 'peace')

Something like a mix of Buddhism and Sufism.

Ilhuicatica (Azteotlan, 'through heaven')

A polytheistic belief that regards intellect and valor as noble virtues. Has human sacrifices.

Vedaism (Daevanagari, 'knowledge')

Another polytheistic belief, but with more emphasis on order.

Ren Yi (Long Guo, 'humanity and justice')

An ancestor-worship belief, and quite militant. Kinda like the Imperium in that they believe their current emperor to be a living god, and HUMANITY FUCK YEAH attitude.

Minor Religions

More localized religions within the Golden Archipelago.

Houduin (Houdan)

Kinda like Voodoo, haven't thought this fully yet.

Vikfomsidr (Nordvik, 'old Vik custom')

Polytheistic belief, similar to Norse.

Maui (Maui)

Based on awesome feats done by their ancestors. Kinda like Polynesian beliefs.