Azgarth

Azgarth is a nation comprised of an archipelago to the south of the Skylessian mainland in the Gulf of Marcellus. Neighboring nations across the sea include Araducia to the north, Marcellus to the northwest, and Valhassa to the east.

A state under an alliance of individuals considered to be the most powerful spellcasters in the world, Azgarth is a significant magocratic power on Skylessia. As the authority on magic in Skylessia, Azgarth is particularly famous for a large number of academies and laboratories that fill the island in the study of magic. It is also particularly notable for being the authority on morphs.

History
What are the key points people should know about the history of Azgarth? Were there any leaders (where applicable) that were respected and well liked? Particularly despised ones? Any major achievements that don't fit into the other categories?

Geography
Azgarth is comprised of the Azgarthi Archipelago, a series of islands scattered across the western portion of the Gulf of Marcellus. The islands have generic low elevations, forming only hills at best; the elevations are also insufficient to form cliffs, and generally end into the gulf with beaches instead. The northern islands, Krikarth, Narakarth, and Nkirath, are heavily forested, with the Woods of Rivolst located on Krikarth. The Kirinban River on the island of Kirinban is the predominant river in the archipelago, and is used for maritime traffic.

Climate
The climate throughout the Azgarthi Archipelago is predominantly dry-summer subtropical. The weather throughout most of the year is characterized by warm temperatures and high aridity, while also possessing heavy rainfall and precipitation. The archipelago is beset by rare occurrences of hurricanes, but weather control invoked by magic generally mitigates such weather. Prevailing warm temperatures generally sees cool winters with minimal chance of snowfall.

Administrative Division
Azgarth is divided into six inhabited islands and four uninhabited isles. Kirinban is governed by the Archivist, and repeated demon incursions have decreased government influence over Narakarth; the remaining four islands are ruled by a noble family of the Four, which represents the governing power in their respective areas.

E. Kirinban
Kirinban is the island city forming Azgarth's capital, with the name applicable to both the land and the civilization. Due to the number of morphs residing here, Kirinban is also nicknamed the "City of Morphs". It is notable for being the only such urban settlement with a high population density, with the other islands largely being fief-communities. Kirinban is currently governed by the Archivist Ahura Mazda.

A. Krikarth
Krikarth is currently governed by Margravine Rivolst.

B. Narakarth
The island of Narakarth possesses a unique set of circumstances, being that it is the only island of the Azgarthi Archipelago to fall under joint-ownership. Custody of the island is split between Margravine Rivolst and Archduchess Sanidinio of Nikrath. However, an ongoing military campaign known as the Defense of Narakarth has been taking place on the island since 167 A.D. in response to a sudden demon incursion onto the island. Narakath is a government-declared national hazard zone due to this, and civilians have long been evacuated from the island, leaving only a military presence. Rivolst heads the military effort to reclaim the area, but has taken territories once under the banner of Sanidion.

C. Nikrath
Nikrath is currently governed by Archduchess Sanidinio.

F. Raskrath
Raskrath is currently governed by Fleet Admiral Joran.

D. Ubelokarth
Ubelokarth is currently governed by Archbishop Cusall.

Srikarath
Located northwest off the shore of Kirinban, Srikarath is the collective name of two uninhabited isles that formerly formed a single island until its destruction during the Battle of Srikarath in 10 A.D. The damage sunk the midsection of the island into the Gulf of Marcellus, forming two isles with both ends, and rendered Srikarath uninhabitable. Ruins of its previous civilization can still be found on the island and underwater.

Isles of Fate
Located to the southeast off the shores of Krikarth and Narakarth, the Isles of Fate are two uninhabited isles. As of 30 A.D., the Isles of Fate were declared a national hazard zone due to the emergence of a magical phenomenon over the isles. Attempts to investigate the Isles of Fate along with this phenomenon have been met with universal failure thus far. The Azgarthi government has declared the isles uninhabitable and abandoned it; Azgarthi naval patrols and private civilian vessels can occasionally be found warning foreign ships in the area to steer clear of the isles.

Government
Azgarth is a magocratic union run by the four powerful houses and magi of the nation, known collectively as the Four. The Four divide the nation amongst themselves into territorial jurisdiction, and have autonomous authority and judgment within their own islands. Each noble house has legal right to run their territories as they see fit, although policies are generally implemented in consideration of the civilian academia of Azgarth due to the nation's status as an intellectual state.

In national or international matters, the Four convey as an executive-legislative body to achieve a consensus on decrees and policies. Matters requiring the decision of the Four must be unanimous to be passed and put into effect. Aside from the Four, the Archivist, Ahura Mazda, is considered to be a political position as well. The legal definitions of the Archivist is loosely defined, with the present Archivist having been the sovereign of Azgarth with the Four in an advisory capacity. In 147 A.D., Mazda deliberately delegated political authority to the Four and stepped down from his capacity as sovereign, but he still acts in an advisory position to the nation's leadership.

The Archivist is also noted for being the authority on morphs. The large population of unbound morphs in Azgarth's only city and capital, Kirinban, is attributed to his presence. Although not strictly defined, it is a commonly accepted belief that the Archivist is responsible for the legal status and actions of Azgarth's morphs. All unbound morphs in Azgarth are legally required to be imprinted upon by the Archivist. The Azgarthi government has also declared the creation of all morphs outside Azgarth to be illegal.

Foreign Relations
Azgarth follows a policy of relative neutrality in its foreign relations, and has many different ties with the nations of Skylessia. Marcellus is a close political ally following the Azgarthi-Marcellus Alliance in the Demon Wars. Azgarth also shares stable diplomatic relations with Nagarath, while maintaining tentative trade rights with Valhassa. Neutral relations are kept with Alimond, Araducia, and Sk'harrah, as well as the Northern Territories and the Wilds, although Araducia possesses political animosity towards Azgarth.

Military
The modern military force of Azgarth is a self-defense force primarily concerned with the integrity of the archipelago's national defense. Although very loosely defined legally, the Azgarthi military is a mandatory civilian outfit meant for homeland defense, and government policy keeps the armed forces confined within the archipelago itself. Of note is the fact that, despite being referred to as a military, the organization structure and essence of Argarth's armed forces is actually more akin to a militia formed by civilians under a national culture of volunteering for the defense of their nation.

Azgarth's military is predominantly formed by ground and naval forces, but as opposed to the traditional branching of the military utilizing the terms army and navy, Azgarth's military forces are instead referenced to by the jurisdiction of the Four. Although all of the Four have their own military forces, only Margravine Rivolst of Krikarth and Fleet Admiral Joran of Raskrath have militias of sufficient size to partake in military operations beyond law enforcement. Experts have attributed smooth inter-service operations to this attribute, although it also makes inter-regional cooperation amongst the armed forces of the Four slightly more complicated and difficult.

Conscription applies to all magic-capable citizens of Azgarth, but this may be mitigated by proof of educational study or magic research in one of the nation's many academies or laboratories, a policy enacted to promote the Azgarthi academia. The policy is subject to any individual loosely considered to be able-bodied and believed to be of a certain age, regardless of gender; exact ages for conscription are not legally defined.

Joran Forces
The Joran forces, informally referred to as the Azgarthi navy, are the military units under Fleet Admiral Joran, specializing in naval warfare. The army specializes in magic-based ship combat. In reflection of Joran himself, the Joran forces specialize in long-range anima magic, although finding other schools of magic within this outfit is not at all uncommon. The majority of the Joran forces are responsible for the maritime border patrol of Azgarth.

Rivolst Forces
The Rivolst forces, informally referred to as the Azgarthi army, are the military units under Margravine Rivolst, specializing in ground warfare. The army specializes in magic-based infantry combat. In reflection of Rivolst himself, the Rivolst forces specialize in close-range dark magic, although finding other schools of magic within this outfit is not at all uncommon. The majority of the Rivolst forces are currently engaged in the Defense of Narakarth.

Demographics
Azgarth is one of the most sparsely-populated nations in Skylessia, and is dominated by their native ethnic group, the Azgarthi. Of note, however, is the presence of another group not defined by ethnic means. Morphs account for approximately fifteen percent of the population, and creation of further morphs are legally managed by the Azgarthi government due to the utilization of an individual's quintessence. Morphs not specifically bound to a creator can be found in the city of Kirinban under the jurisdiction of Archivist Ahura Mazda. It is considered an international crime by Azgarth for a morph to be created outside the nation.

Crime
Azgarth boasts one of the lowest crime rates amongst the nations of Skylessia. This is attributed to both the low population count in the archipelago and the absence of an extensive legal system in Azgarth, leading to the personal administration of land and laws by the Four and their respective jurisdictions. Illegal research and practices in the realm of magic, such as the unauthorized usage of quintessence to create morphs, are generally as common as minor crimes such as petty theft.

Economy
How healthy is the economy here? Is it at a high point and most people doing well? Or is it at a low point with widespread poverty? Are only certain areas in good or bad shape? Is gold/some other form of currency used, or is bartering more common?

Culture
What are the locals like? Are there any customs and holidays a traveler here should be aware of? What do they eat and how do they dress? What religion (if any) is prevalent, and what affect does it have on the culture? Are there any folkways or rules of etiquette to keep in mind? Is there anything particularly taboo that would cause a mob with torches and pitchforks to come after you?