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Epanse

At the north-west of the continent is the joyous nation of Epanse. Following the collapse of the Remian Empire, the region was nothing more than a loose coalition of Skylands ruled by a powerful and violent warlord. Years into the warlord’s reign a traveling bard and conman by the name Auguste LaChance visited the kingdom. When the king took offense to the bard’s songs, he challenged LaChance to a duel as an excuse for the sport of killing the upstart bard. Little did anyone know, least of all the two of them, the warlord had a weak heart and suffered a fatal heart attack at the beginning of the duel, before the first blow was even struck.

LaChance spun his luck into a tale of destiny, saying that he was the chosen of the gods and convincing the warlord’s council into naming him the new king. With his new army, he managed to spread his influence across the northern coast and then settled down to enjoy his newfound wealth and power. Lachance established a council and bureaucratic support system and then began his embrace of a life of sybaritic excess, a tradition that has been continued by his heirs.

The LaChance monarchy, currently ruled over by Gerome Gounelle LaChance II is propped up by a large bureaucracy that enforces the king's taxes and legislates his whims. The noble classes of Epanse encourage the near exploitation of the lower classes and heavy taxes go towards the creation of lavish public works and line many pockets. These public works do provide some real good, and though people chafe under the taxes, they do accept them.

The other thing that props up the LaChance monarchy is the vampire Varas Mauvais, once a prisoner of the old warlord, he was freed by Auguste LaChance and bound to his service by a powerful contract. Varas serves the LaChance line faithfully to this day, though he would embrace any opportunity to slip the terms of his contract.

There is a broad separation between the classes of Epanse, the nobility enjoy opulent wealth and the lower classes are stuck in poverty. But that opulence and the heavy taxes on the people do go to public works to provide for the people, and celebrations to keep them happy.

Epanse is famous for its artistry. Popular artists are well funded by noble patrons and many small artists can be discovered in the villages of Epanse. The nobility of Epanse wear grand fashion and throw opulent balls as displays of their wealth and power. These nobles are famous for their hedonism, their after-parties and private occasions are typically luxurious orgies full of the rich and the beautiful.