Latest revision as of 03:56, 9 June 2010

The Wagnerian City States

• Location: Southeastern shores of the Southern Sea
• Population
  • Urban: 233,000 among the nine major cities, the largest of which, Nibelunglied, is home to 65,000. Bollywood is the second largest city, home to 40,000, including many of the best singers in the land.
  • Surrounding Area: 3 million
• Ruler: High King Rurik the Fifth, Overlord of Wagneria
• Status: Tributary of the Realm, Wherz'th'beef Gang in control.

The Wagnerian City States are a collection of 9 city states along the coast and in the interior of the southeastern shore of the South Sea. For centuries, they were a quiet land mired in a hereditary caste system based on astrological measurements, the fruit of experiments begun in the Harem Age by Xanadu the Astrologer, a Meight. For reasons known only to the Empress, a century and a half ago, the ambitious Northern Warlord Rurik the First was allowed to sail south and conquer these lands, which were then made tributary to the Wherz'th'beef gang, instead of its old masters, the Paddlewheel Gang.

The Wagnerian City States are now torn between the barbarian culture of their masters and their ancient traditions of astrology and caste. Some of the ruling classes have begun to style themselves according to Wagnerian ways, while others cling fiercely to their old traditions and reject the decadent culture of the locals, which is pre-occupied with the staging of massive operas and generally acting as if one was in an opera at all times.

Those who follow the old ways are born into a caste determined by their time and date of birth, though their parent's caste determines where they begin in rank within their new one. Those of higher caste take social precedence over those of low and everyone wears distinct costumes.

Some of the locals, however, have come to embrace the ways of the invaders, and style themselves as Northern warriors, adopting their mode of dress and joining the warrior bands of the nine kings.

There are eight kings and one High King, who rules over the eight and appoints their successors from the ranks of their chosen warriors. There is much exchange of hostages as children in order to build ties between the nine warrior bands who serve the king.

The great enemy of the Wagnerian City States is the nation of Bedhead to the east of them, which hungrily eyes the fine grazing lands of the Wagnerian City States.

The Wherz'th'beef Gang maintains a small harbor fortress, a squadron of ships in residence, and a force of marines to enforce Imperial interests as necessary. They also spend a lot of time telling Bedhead to back off.