Type of government: Noocracy
- A board of between fifty and one hundred individuals, which is composed of the most brilliant and wise individuals across the country.
Title of leaders: The Wise
A mystical and overrun land, Sournous is the only country in Calsin that has not been touched by proper civilization. Many ancient ruins fill its jungles, while small settlements desperately try to throw up walls to keep the jungle at bay. This almost always fails, leading to city after city being built, consumed, and rebuilt at a later date.
It isn't known when the first proper settlement was built, but the strongest contender for that title comes from Rotnouour. An ancient stone fortress, it was built with stone hauled up from a nearby quarry. While no written records remain of who exactly built it, and many of the carved murals were subsequently defaced or covered as future inhabitants took up residence, it is theorized that it was built by some sort of elves, though the handful of surviving carvings don't match any known race of elf. As stated above, this settlement was subsequently abandoned after its foundation, and subsequently cleared and abandoned at least a dozen times over. At present, it serves as the home to a group of settlers of various races who simply want to make their home in the jungle.
The origins of the jungle are as mysterious as the ruins that full them. The land is almost certainly magical, as a lush, tropical area shouldn't be able to exist so closed to the deadly Scorched Lands. Some scholars theorize that it was (and is) created as a byproduct of the Scorched Lands themselves, which is sustained by the magic of the dragons and firingar. Others think that it was formed by the avians, who posses a strange and wild magic that doesn't seem quantifiable by any known standard of measurement. Many other theories exist as well, ranging from divine intervention to simple and natural (simply misunderstood) phenomenon.
It was properly recognized as a country shortly before the Dwarven Civil War, though the designation is admittedly a great deal more fluid than with most other countries. During an incursion of several young dragons into the land, several scholars studying the jungle requested aid from Istinis. The Lord Commander was more than willing to send soldiers to help, but needed to send word to his superiors in Elsinor explaining exactly who he was helping. After a short debate, the scholars decided to declare themselves the nation of Sournous. The title has remained to this day, with the most prevalent scholars throughout the country placed in the key position of leadership.
Here, it should be noted that being placed in such a position grants the title of "The Wise," a far less grandiose title than almost any other leader throughout Calsin. It should also be noted that the collective wisdom of scholars is only called upon every few decades, usually in times of great distress. Often, when this happens, many scholars who are technically in leadership are never even notified of the vote due to their difficulty to reach in the distant jungles. Conversely, other scholars are suddenly called upon to give their opinion on certain matters without having been informed prior to the vote that they were even being considered for the position.
All things considered, Sournous is a wild and untamed land... And it's likely to stay that way for some time. The residents often head into the deep jungles to avoid contact with proper civilization, while even the most ambitious leaders outside the jungles fear the disaster that would undoubtedly arise should they try to penetrate the harsh borders.
- A board of between fifty and one hundred individuals, which is composed of the most brilliant and wise individuals across the country.
Title of leaders: The Wise
A mystical and overrun land, Sournous is the only country in Calsin that has not been touched by proper civilization. Many ancient ruins fill its jungles, while small settlements desperately try to throw up walls to keep the jungle at bay. This almost always fails, leading to city after city being built, consumed, and rebuilt at a later date.
It isn't known when the first proper settlement was built, but the strongest contender for that title comes from Rotnouour. An ancient stone fortress, it was built with stone hauled up from a nearby quarry. While no written records remain of who exactly built it, and many of the carved murals were subsequently defaced or covered as future inhabitants took up residence, it is theorized that it was built by some sort of elves, though the handful of surviving carvings don't match any known race of elf. As stated above, this settlement was subsequently abandoned after its foundation, and subsequently cleared and abandoned at least a dozen times over. At present, it serves as the home to a group of settlers of various races who simply want to make their home in the jungle.
The origins of the jungle are as mysterious as the ruins that full them. The land is almost certainly magical, as a lush, tropical area shouldn't be able to exist so closed to the deadly Scorched Lands. Some scholars theorize that it was (and is) created as a byproduct of the Scorched Lands themselves, which is sustained by the magic of the dragons and firingar. Others think that it was formed by the avians, who posses a strange and wild magic that doesn't seem quantifiable by any known standard of measurement. Many other theories exist as well, ranging from divine intervention to simple and natural (simply misunderstood) phenomenon.
It was properly recognized as a country shortly before the Dwarven Civil War, though the designation is admittedly a great deal more fluid than with most other countries. During an incursion of several young dragons into the land, several scholars studying the jungle requested aid from Istinis. The Lord Commander was more than willing to send soldiers to help, but needed to send word to his superiors in Elsinor explaining exactly who he was helping. After a short debate, the scholars decided to declare themselves the nation of Sournous. The title has remained to this day, with the most prevalent scholars throughout the country placed in the key position of leadership.
Here, it should be noted that being placed in such a position grants the title of "The Wise," a far less grandiose title than almost any other leader throughout Calsin. It should also be noted that the collective wisdom of scholars is only called upon every few decades, usually in times of great distress. Often, when this happens, many scholars who are technically in leadership are never even notified of the vote due to their difficulty to reach in the distant jungles. Conversely, other scholars are suddenly called upon to give their opinion on certain matters without having been informed prior to the vote that they were even being considered for the position.
All things considered, Sournous is a wild and untamed land... And it's likely to stay that way for some time. The residents often head into the deep jungles to avoid contact with proper civilization, while even the most ambitious leaders outside the jungles fear the disaster that would undoubtedly arise should they try to penetrate the harsh borders.
