<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 1.35em;"><strong>MU'URTH-DORIEL, CITY OF THE DEPTHS </strong></span><br/><br/>(http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs11/i/2006/233/6/1/Atlantis_by_aksu.jpg)<br/><br/><strong>Current Monarch:</strong>72nd Serpent God of the Eleryn, Master of the City of Depths, Sea-King Avarcullas'orv VII<br/><strong>Current Elder Lord:</strong>Elder Lord of the Sacred Council of Elders, Faithful Servant of the Serpent God, Lord Saedalar'sevi<br/><br/><strong>Population:</strong>98,246<br/><strong>Diversity:</strong>Nagai (91%), 7% (Human), 2% (Other)<br/><br/><strong>Location:</strong>Eleryn Sea<br/><strong>Landscape:</strong>Sea (98%), Islands (2%)<br/><br/><strong>Religion:</strong>Mortal Incarnate of the Serpent God, the Royal Sea-King Himself.<br/><br/><strong>Imports:</strong>Most surface products, particularly interested in surface relics.<br/><strong>Exports:</strong>Mu'Zhan, Unique Sea-Based Products, Pearls, Beasts, etc.<br/><br/>---<br/><br/><strong>LANDSCAPE</strong><br/><br/><em>Mu’urth-Doriel is one of the most unique kingdoms in the realm. The kingdom consists of only a single vast underwater city sharing the same name. The city of Mu’urth-Doriel is virtually unheard of by commoners most of the time, and does not have much of a role in world politics. In fact, Mu’urth-Doriel is a city that is publicy is hated and despised by other rulers. Adventurers and passing traders almost never stop by Mu’urth-Doriel; it is not because the city is ugly or not attractive, it is actually one of the most wondrous cities you will ever see. The only reason Mu’urth-Doriel is unknown is because its location on the map is on the middle of the Eleryn sea – not an island or anything – right in the middle of the Eleryn sea. When people go to that location, there is nothing there but a reasonably small man-made - or thing-made - settlement built upon what look like tall, looming ancient ruins covered in grime. However, hidden deep beneath those ruins, in fact, connected to them, is the underwater bastion known as the City of the Depths: Mu’urth-Doriel. Surrounded by sandy beaches, sparse tropical forests, and with nothing of note but a number of large ruins where stragglers have settled, no one would have guessed a great underwater city lay beneath the crushing presence of the ocean. </em><br/><br/>---<br/><br/><strong>POPULATION</strong><br/><br/><em>The main population of Mu’urth-Doriel are Nagai – A strange, sleek-skinned serpentine race of aquatic denizens who make the majority of the underwater population, if not all, of the actual city of Mu’urth-Doriel. Above the surface of Mu’urth-Doriel, where the tallest ruins stand out, other races, such as humans, are allowed to settle there as the face of Mu’urth-Doriel, whereas the Nagai themselves see no obligation to greet their visitors. Only the greatest of magicians or the hardiest of swimmers and divers have even managed to glimpse Mu’urth-Doriel itself. As such, more than 90% of the population are Nagai, whereas the 10% or so of the rest are a variety of different land-based races. Nagai resemble humanoid fish in appearance; they have sharp fangs, distinctly blue scales, leathery skin, and personalities considered strange and mysterious by other races. When communicating with their own race, they exude subtle pheromones that inform the other of their intentions and emotions; however, this does not work very well on other races, only giving them a distinctly soothing and pleasurable feeling that might entice some into a rut. Due to this, a Nagai tends to state their intentions when they speak to a member of another race, for example, ‘Curiosssity: I do not know what it isss that you are sssaying”, or “Vague Interessst: What isss thisss object you ssspeak of?”</em><br/><br/>---<br/><br/><strong>TRADE</strong><br/><br/><em>As would be expected of an underwater city of near-mythical proportions, the main exports of Mu’urth-Doriel are rare sea-based objects not found anywhere else in the world.  Things such as giant pearls, precious works of art such as exquisite carvings and pottery, and even rare aquatic beasts that could only have been caught by skilful Nagai hunters. The most valued produce of the Nagai, however, is a strange underwater ore known as Mu’Zhan, nicknamed ‘Sea-Metal’. Mu’Zhan is an extremely strong ore that, in the hands of the best Nagai smiths, can be molded into exotic forms of weaponry highly valued by the wealthy and powerful. Although the Nagai produce things that a person might think are far more wondrous than anything the surface-dwellers have to offer, they are, unexpectedly, eager learners and scholars in their own right. The Nagai import anything they wish to study in-depth, such as books and artworks from the surface, and even things as ordinary as wheat. However, the things Nagai value above all are artifacts considered uncommon even up on the surface, such as the magical jewels from the Kingdom of Velar, and the land-based ores from Belka.</em><br/><br/>---<br/><br/><strong>CULTURE</strong><br/><br/><em>The history of the Nagai is long and complex. Some believe the Nagai were originally human Mages who delved too far into the elemental magics and ended up transformed into Nagai. Whatever they are, the Nagai have their own religion, culture, and a strict code of achievement. A Nagai, male or female, is always considered a child unless perform some great achievement or bring something back to Mu’urth-Doriel that is of worth or value. Being avid learners, these achievements can be as simple as talking to a merchant and learning a bit about the surface-dwellers, or something as titanic as forging a powerful sword that proceeds to be used by a legendary warrior. To the Nagai peoples, the blood of the Royal Family, which grants them a much higher lifespan than any other race, gives them the appearance and status of Gods. The Royal Family are venerated as Gods come down to the depths of the ocean to rule over them. </em><br/><br/>---<br/><br/><strong>GOVERNMENT</strong><br/><br/><em>Mu’urth-Doriel is ruled by a puppet monarchy. The ones really in power are ministers and officials who are engaged in an endless deadly game of internal politics, whereas the ancient Royal Family hold no real authority save for bearing the love and admiration of their people. The Sea-King Avarcullas is thus under pressure from all sides by his ministers, who vie with each other for the support of their King, which would give them great power and control over the populace and hence further their own business interests. It could be that one of the reasons that the Nagai don’t like meddling in world politics is because their own politics can barely be kept in check.</em><br/><br/>---<br/><br/><strong>ARMY</strong><br/><br/><em>Perhaps one of the strangest and most fearsome things about Mu’urth-Doriel is their military. Their military is not particularly large or mighty, but they have overwhelming benefits. Since the Nagai don’t fight to defend anything but their homeland, they need only stick to the seas or their lone surface settlement at all times. Nagai are very fast swimmers, breath underwater, and are a nightmare to fight near any body of water. They have no navy – they can swim great distances, and have no need of ships – but they have the ability to tame and ride fearsome creatures of the sea capable of wrecking any ship. </em><br/><br/>---<br/><br/><strong>CORSAIRS</strong><br/><br/><em>Mu’urth-Doriel, despite being unknown and failing to forge any real alliances or pacts, has been in no danger from bandits, hordes, or pirates for the past few decades. The reason is the same reason the other Kings and Queens of the realm hate the Nagai – that they see them as consorting with evil. Mu’urth-Doriel has always been left untouched by pirates, in fact, some pirates even revere the Nagai as mortal Gods of the realm. These pirates are known as corsairs, seen as the mercenary sea-raiders of the Nagai. In fact, corsairs have been known to throw the name of the Nagai around and destroy settlements of other nations in the name of Mu’urth-Doriel while the Nagai themselves have absolutely nothing to do with it. There is a simple reason why the scourge of the realm do not generally tend to touch the Nagai – The fear of being struck from below by an entire nation of aquatic monsters is more than enough to dissuade most pirates from attempting any sort of hostility, and bandits would wonder how in the world they’re supposed to reach an underwater city they couldn’t breathe in.</em><br/><br/>---<br/>