On the Eastern side of Shironi lies a chunk of the continent that has
broken away from the mainland of Avinali. The cliffs and bluffs of
surrounded by grand gates forged of silver. Here lies the gated
community of Laresh, a once-proud and mighty empire that has suffered
the strain of over-expansion and in recent years become a smaller,
more conservative nation. United by the Old Religion which has turned
into a strict way of life, the Lareshi Word, the people of this
country are well known for being dignified and hard-nosed even after
having fallen on hard times. They are known for distinctive clothing
and textile work, their customary dress being the hijab and its
variants. Laresh, despite its relatively small size has a considerable
navy of military airships, which is notorious for its ruthlessness and
hushed history of war crimes. Many believe the survival of Laresh
hinges on its Vigils. Vigils are warrior monks who disobey the
teachings of the Lareshi Word, thus committing the necessary sins so
that other Lareshi don’t have to and can happily ascend to paradise.
The Vigils protect and enforce the culture and practices of Laresh
with an iron fist and mercilessly hunt all those who oppose the state,
with much greater versatility and subtlety than an army could wield.
Laresh is ruled by an Oligarchy, a council of eight members elected
from a select group of religious sages. It is said that in its heyday,
Laresh had the power to soar through the sky like an enormous airship,
but this secret has been lost, if it ever existed. In fact, much of
the city’s culture, history, documents, sacred texts, artefacts and
magic have been lost. Laresh is a tired and broken country that is
determined to soldier on, no matter the cost.
