Zephra

The nation of Zephra sits tucked behind the crook of a pair of mountain ranges, protected by their mountain holdfast they were completely protected against Prentosias’ war of expansion. Following the war, they have taken a position as one of the most powerful nations on the continent, though they have maintained their tradition of not expanding far past their protective mountains.

At the beginning of their history, after the fall of the Remian empire, the territory to the west of the Mamoru mountains was little more than a scattered collection of small villages and farmlands. Very slowly, without the central authority of the empire, various families began to rise in power and then to nobility each warring over the territory Rem left behind. After decades of warring, the warring families established a parliament to soothe the tensions and ensure peace. For a time this worked, the wars calmed and battle shifted to ritual and games. But old rivalries remained, and a feud began to rise between two powerful rival families, the Merions and the Scotts. This fracture spread across the noble houses and the parliament crumbled into divided camps, one supporting the Merions, the other supporting the Scotts, finally, this bickering descended into civil war. The civil war flared up as strong as any of the old wars and many lost their lives until a third major noble house, the Straffords, contrived an alliance of minor families out from underneath the major nobility. Henry Strafford, the leader of his house, maneuvered both the Merions and the Scotts into a final decisive confrontation. He waited for both sides to wear themselves out then swept in with his armies, crushing both sides in a single swift maneuver and making himself the sole monarch of Zephra in decisive military action.

Zephra is a comparatively simple nation, their defensive barriers have allowed them an attitude of staid, but stubborn independence in their pastoral holdfast. The nation is very stable, both politically and culturally and they are comfortable in their idea of security. The people of Zephra seem simple to outsiders, but this underestimates their attention to detail and their pride in good work done well. Most of their works of art and culture tend to be simple to the eye but rich to the touch, simple designs that are exquisitely worked or beautiful variations on a simple theme. Their foodstuffs are hearty and simple but flavorful.

Zephra is currently ruled by Henry Strafford’s descendant, Queen Annalise Strafford. She sits at the peak of the largest and most advanced air navy in Estir, which she employs for the security of their borders and their trade routes. Their military efforts are concerned with security and prosperity, never the risks and rewards of war. This prospect has a strong proponent in the Queen’s consort, and captain-commander of the nation’s skyknights, the half-elf Eva Strafford. She believes that it is more important to protect one's own rather than take from others.