Lygos and the Southern Nations
A glittering civilization of traders, scribes, and palace intrigues whose long shadow stretches north.
- Scope
- Continental
- Alignment
- Expansionist
- The HillfolkTrade Partner
Southern roads and trade reach toward the Steplands and its nomadic bands.
- The ManmarchersRival
Both are populous powers beyond Stonetop’s immediate home region.
Sun-drenched, semi-arid, urban, literate, politically complex — a distant world of cities, palaces, and bureaucracies whose merchants reach all the way to Stonetop's road.
Roads connect cities and oases; farmers tend figs, dates, and olives; palaces, temples, estates, bureaucracies, scholars, priests, politicians, and merchants define public life. Dozens of languages can be heard in the streets and taverns. To the north, the southern nations are mainly felt through merchants, caravans, spices, glass, herbs, finery, soldiers, officials, and stories of civilized plenty. Their road traffic passes through South Manmarch, The Highway, and Marshedge.
Hooks
- Southern merchants opening trade, buying relics, or sponsoring expeditions
- Bureaucrats and officials applying distant law to local lives
- Temptation and pressure of civilized wealth
- A southern army is not the default, but invasion remains possible if faith, politics, or opportunity push them north