Thalamanth is a matriarchal theocracy born of the union of the amazon warriors and priestesses of the Crystal Tribe, some nomadic Horse Tribes that renamed themselves the Wind Tribe, and an order of eastern wandering air mages from the mountains called the Cloud Sages. Together, they worship the Sky and all that resides within, birds and stars alike.
Military: Wind Tribe archers and cavalry. Sacred amazon infantry, pegasus riders and naiads, and in forts archers and initiates.
Magic: Very powerful Air, moderate Astral, some Earth. Cloud Monks are recruitable in all mountains. All amazon mages and female pretenders can wear Amazon Jewels, a cheap, potent spellbooster. Special items can restore the whole power of the elemental Queens of Air.
Priests: Powerful. Expensive temples that create air gems. Three summonable demi-gods.
Yet another city-state like those of Arcoscephale, Thalamanth is the birth place of all amazon Tribes and is still home to the Crystal Tribe. In some ancient and yet never forgotten era, the philosopher-kings of Thalamanth lived soft lives in their marble palaces, spending all their time thinking and pleasing themselves, until they learnt of blood magic and formed an orgiac cult. When in their hubris they threatened to corrupt the very fabric of the celestial spheres, a civil war broke out to cast them down from their thrones. Since then, it is not the men who rule in Thalamanth, but the women, for men are weak and only women know of true purity. While many left to found new cities on better grounds, the Crystal Tribe stayed so that the same crimes would never be allowed, and they now consider themselves sacred warrior guardians of the Crystal Ark, an artifact that existed since the dawn of times and could be used to corrupt the heaven again. The Horse Tribe nomads that fought the tyrants alongside them in the past have adopted some of their traditions, started worshiping the birds and renamed themselves the Wind Tribe to reflect that. Loving freedom too much to ever stay in a single place, they rarely really meddle with the amazons' society so they maintain a good relationship with them and their male chieftains are tolerated. More recently, a new monastic order has been formed in Thalamanth by spiritual sky mages that came from the Far East bringing with them new beliefs but also precious gifts and signs of deep respect. After deliberation, the Pythias agreed with the foretellings that led the Cloud Sages there and accepted them provided that they live humbly in the mountains. While they focus on thought like the banished philosophers of old, their task only serves the people of Thalamanth, and since they have succeeded in gaining its trust and love through their prowesses, they are slowly becoming recognized as an important although esoteric part of the kingdom.
Quick recap of what you can expect in this nation:
- Sacred amazon troups, mostly remarkable for their pegasus riders that aren't armored unlike those of Arcoscephale but wield the bow and are able to fly in storms.
- The classical Crystal amazon priestesses and sorceresses, and more powerful and expensive new amazon commanders.
- Very expensive temples that grant air gems.
- Powerful air mages. Moderate astral magic. Low earth magic. Some other paths are more or less accessible through indirect means such as high level summons, but those three are the center of your nation, and only air is easily and directly accessible at a high level.
- Cloud monks, cheap and weak air mages that can be recruited in all mountains without a need for a lab.
- Pythias, powerful but old priestesses that also are healers and fortune tellers, but have no other use and are pretty expensive.
- A few new combat spells, including the signature spell of the Wind Tribe and Thalamanth, that summons several birds during the battle to harass enemy troups and slow down their advance. It has the potential to submerge them under whole flocks of ravenous birds, just like in nightmares or horror movies!
- Several national items, including the signature Amazon Jewels, that can only be used by some female mages and priestesses (including your female pretenders), and acts as a cheap and powerful magic booster with some drawbacks.
- Epic items that can make the Elemental Queens of Air and them only a lot more powerful, if you can afford to forge them.
- Five powerful heroes that each comes with a special mechanic opening new possibilities for its nation.
- Hidden Wind Tribe warriors, that only your best mages can educate so that they become recruitable. Only them may later summon the mysterious bird-people from the mountain that other nations call the tengus.
- Many aerial summons, including three demi-gods worshiped by amazons: a phoenix, a gryphon and a raven.
- A hidden potential for blood magic if you betray the amazon's oath, call back the Tyrant-Philosophers that were banished from Thalamanth in the past, and corrupt the Crystal Ark, the artifact you were supposed to defend.
- However, beware: your enemies too can exploit the blood magic potential of the Crystal Ark, should they conqueer your capital. So you may very well become a privileged target...
Please let my know what you think! I'll be very happy to make more improvements on my mod based on your feedback.
