Netherflame Kingdom

The Netherflame Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy located in the southern region of Abexilas, on the continent of Rozakko’ra. The Kingdom is currently made up of smaller communities banding together to form its major cities. These small communities are largely comprised of individuals originally native to the Nether, and are led by one DragonkDragonk.

Topography
The Netherflame Kingdom is currently located in a large savanna grassland on the western coast of Rozakko’ra. These large grasslands are commonly populated with Acacia trees and species of long grass, though other plant life has been introduced to the region. This grassland is largely flat with a gradual slope from the country’s beaches to the ocean. Small hills are dotted around the country, but are largely unnoticeable from an aerial view, with the largest deviations in height being only a few dozen metres.

Animal life has been largely domesticated by the inhabited population, meaning that native species are hard to find in the wild, but some have spotted some herds of horses in the wild. According to some disputed rumours, the increased presence of netherborn individuals has acted as a catalyst for nether-native flora becoming an invasive species of the region. The dry humidity of the region prevents more dense bushland from flourishing in the region, but the heavy rains common to Abexilas prevent it from becoming inhospitably dry.

Crimsonopolis
Crimsonopolis is the major capital of the Netherflame Kingdom. As well as being the first city founded by the Kingdom, it also functions as a major city of industry, innovation and commerce. A majority of the Netherflame population is present in this city, estimated to be around 50-60%. This has led to a very dense city close to the centre, where buildings are tightly packed around one another to maximise space. The city is powered through an intricate network of lava piping, pumped out directly from the nether itself. While dangerous for any foreign traveller, this provides power not only for the city, but for the entire nation.

On the outskirts of Crimsonopolis, at the coastline, is the Historical District of the city. Here lay some of the very first buildings created when the nation was still being formed. Most notable of these is the Lighthouse, which is the first building that Dragonk created.

Pre-Founding
Before the settlement of Dragonk and the rest of the Netherflame Kingdom, an unknown native group, presumably human, had been living in the region for a period of time. However, this population had disappeared long before the formation of the Netherflame Kingdom, for reasons currently unknown. It is most likely that the group had simply left to settle elsewhere after exhausting the resources of the region, and took any artefacts of their presence with them. However, it is also entirely possible that the group was struck by plague, and was unable to recover from the epidemic, being forced to leave or die. The only remnant still remaining of this group is a partially collapsed stone bridge, overgrown from millenia of lying dormant without use.

The Founding of the Kingdom
After the falling of Iristor’s Comet, many fled from the worlds of Rathnir and Eldham, desperate to escape the great freezing. Dragonk was one of these people, escaping through opening an interdimensional pocket dimension known as the ‘Waiting Room’. Here, he would have to wait until the portal to Abexilas opened. It gave him time to reflect on the various tragedies of his life, all too sad and painful to live through in this article. Dragonk reminisced about his early life, not free of conflict, but he wondered if it could have been. He resolved, in that moment, to manifest this sanctuary into a real place.

Finally in Abexilas, Dragonk continued to wander, guided by the deepest instincts in his soul. He settled on a small coast, and began to work. Here, he laboured tirelessly, without sleep, without rest, until the first building of his new kingdom would be erected. A lighthouse, to guide wayward sailors and lost travellers towards a haven for all. After cutting a deal with the nation of Chimeria, Dragonk was able to secure more land to make his dream a reality.

The lighthouse soon attracted its first settlers, one of which being Jacob Wadnreman. Jacob and Dragonk had already been together in the Waiting Room, but they had been temporarily separated after they were sent to Abexilas, and their reunion made cause for celebration. The first in the kingdom. Here at this celebration the name of the kingdom would be christened. Like a hearth, shielding its inhabitants from the dangers and uncertainties of the outside world, without forgetting its roots in the place where many of its citizens came from, the Nether. Perhaps without much subtlety, they decided Netherflame would be most appropriate, and thus the Netherflame Kingdom was born.

Government
The governing body of the Netherflame Kingdom is split into a centralised hierarchy surrounding the Monarchy.

Monarchy
The Monarchy comprises the Royal Family of the Netherflame Kingdom, most notably the King, Dragonk. They hold special authoritative power over the entirety of the kingdom, but are still held accountable by the Prime Ministerial Council. However, in emergency situations, they will always have precedence and final say over a given decision.

Prime Ministers
The Prime Ministers of the Netherflame Kingdom oversee various aspects of the Kingdom, and hold authority over their respective domains. As of writing, there are 4 offices a Prime Minister can hold under. The Treasurer ensures the economic welfare and wealth of the Kingdom. The Diplomat manages relations with other political entities throughout Abexilas. The Social Minister ensures the continued development and preservation of Netherflame culture both within the nation and outside of it. The Head General oversees the kingdom's defensive forces, their strength and their discipline.

House of Nobles
The House of Nobles is a decentralised governing body made up of representatives from the aristocratic families all throughout the Kingdom. While they hold little political power on their own, they are able to lobby together to leverage change within the kingdom, as well as either solve local matters on their own, or bring it to a Minister wherever necessary.

International Relations
The Netherflame Kingdom currently maintains a number of positive diplomatic relations with geopolitical powers all over Abexilas (full list below). Many of these friendly relations are based on non-aggression pacts or explicit alliances that have been formed. However, the Netherflame Kingdom also currently maintains some economic agreements, guarantees of independence, and mutual defence pacts. The current nations the Netherflame considers to have positive relations with is as following:


 * Oriental Ascendancy of Shen’ai
 * Cordovin-Verzet
 * U.S.R
 * Eskabirei
 * Yimmuad-Urul
 * Guilded Seawolves
 * Dominion of Kingsland
 * Maris
 * Ursa-Heshun
 * Perpetual Order
 * Valdic Union
 * Republic of Testificas
 * Sonderia
 * Commonwealth of Ethines
 * Regnum Aquilarum
 * Nova Rosa
 * VDRFF
 * United Faerico
 * P’tal
 * Kaisenuvir
 * Obsidios
 * Chimeria
 * United Empire of Arcael
 * Conference of Free Nations
 * Donfuer
 * Dalaj and Konjura
 * Latria

Ethnic Groups
There are various ethnic groups that bring their own influence to the culture of the Netherflame Kingdom. Unsurprisingly, these groups largely originate from various places from within the Nether, and have travelled here either from escaping the Nether or were simply born into the country.

Imps
The Least Populous group (Or Individual) within the Netherflame Kingdom is a Imp Or Dragonk. Scarlet skin and short, pointed horns, Imps were a peaceful race, who beforehand lived in small Nether villages and farmed. While they are a friendly people, their relationship with Piglins, who have had a history of raiding them in the past, is tenuous.

Piglins
Piglins are a humanoid race most notable for their piglike features; pinkish skin, tusks and floppy ears. In the Nether, they are known for their nomadic, bandit culture, though the Piglins in the Netherflame do not appear to share the same cultural ties. Their relationship with the Imps is strained due to an unfortunate past, and it appears the power dynamic between the Nether and the Netherflame has been swapped.

Religion
As of writing, the Netherflame Kingdom holds no official religion, and instead allows the practice of any religion within its state. However, not all religions are equally prevalent. The Church of the Broken God currently acts as the nation’s most practised religion, a materialistic religion based upon the industry and innovation of technology. However, there are still populations of Cervonists and Kilists in the region.

Food
Much like any other Kingdom, the Netherflame still relies on agriculture, so their diets are still largely based off wheat and potato-based foods. However, still prevalent are a few cultural items that the Kingdom’s denizens indulge in. Most popular of which is the Netherwart Wine, specially processed and aged in a traditional manner to create a unique sweet flavour, a delicacy compared to the savoury spice that is the Nether. Any traveller can expect to be sold some upon arrival, as it’s their most popular product.

The Mushroom Stew, created from warped and/or crimson fungi, is much more abhorrent in comparison. While by no means inedible, it is certainly an acquired taste, and only after generations of consumption from the netherborn citizens has it become a cultural staple, and less because it actually tastes any good. Some describe the crimson fungi too spicy to be safely consumable, and the warped even worse.

Pork is also a delicacy of the nation, though some have questioned the ethical sourcings of the meat.

Clothing
Netherflame clothing is dark, often mimicking the colour of blackstone or netherrack. The clothes are typically made of leather, though often families own a silk set of clothes for comfort. A remarkable artform that is unique to Netherflame clothing is the ‘burning’ of the clothes, where fake burn marks are made to better mimic the style of the Nether. Often, gold is gilded into these clothing items as well, often to show off wealth or power. Quartz also has a similar function in this ornamental regard, but is also used for more cultural purposes rather than wealth..