Laverathia

Laverathia is the isolationistic underwater empire of the Laverathian Basin. Its namesake is derived from its royal family, the Laveraths. This empire is largely populated by tritons, who consider themselves the Guardians of the Depths.

Laverathia is also commonly referred to as the Laverathian Empire.

Cities

Aquos

Main article: Aquos

Aquos is the capital of Laverathia and the seat of Emperor Khavas Alatraen Yon-Xanthan Kien-Zinthos Laverath. It houses the Coralpeak Citadel. It is also Reides' hometown and the location of one of the Abyssal Crests.

Points of Interest

Crystalline Trench

The Crystalline Trench is the deepest chasm in the Laverathian Basin. It has a great deal of spiritual significance to the tritons of Laverathia, as its depth is perceived as a direct connection to Persana. The deepest structures within this trench are built roughly 300ft below the top of the ravine, but no one knows how deep the trench itself goes. Schools for sorcerers and clerics devoted to Persana are in this trench, though access to them is limited. The Trench is lined with a variety of sea plants, crystals, coral, and pelagic ore. Many sea creatures inhabit it.

The Crystalline Trench is also the site of a lost armory. Emperor Zinthos drafted workers to try to excavate it when he was embroiled in a succession crisis, but none of these workers survived. The location of the armory remained a mystery until the Champions Valoris rediscovered it in 598. It had a large stockpile of pelagic armor, which played a key role in outfitting the forces that retook Aquos from Kal'dazzum and Ryl'dhagt of the Abyss.

Coral Graveyards

When deceased tritons are laid to rest, their bodies continue to live on symbolically as they nourish coral and help support life within the sea. These graveyards therefore have the appearance of coral reefs and function as such, though ritualistic magic is occasionally used to give the coral fantastical colors. Coral graveyards are scattered throughout Laverathia; some families maintain private ones.

Hydrothermal Vents

The Hydrothermal Vents of Laverathia are a large range of smoking mountains. The water surrounding these mountains is much hotter than that of the surrounding seas. Due to the heat, some areas of the Vents require special equipment to traverse, and others are barred from public access altogether. Despite this, there are many safe zones within this range, and the hot water is extremely useful in crafting goods. One can find weaponsmiths, glassmakers, culinarians, and other tradesmen here.

Seaweed Fields

Seaweed is a very common ingredient in Laverathian cuisine; as such, the Laverathian seaweed fields are of crucial importance to the empire. These huge fields boast a variety of different types of seaweed. Most are tended to by farmers under the protection of the Laverathian City Guard, but wild ones also exist.

Shipwrecks

Despite the treaty forbidding surfacer vessels from encroaching on Laverathian waters, abandoned ships occasionally drift over the Laverathian Basin. Any which approach settlements are redirected and sunk away from people's homes. Laverathians are dissuaded from exploring these shipwrecks, as dangerous things like harpoons and nets are usually still present on them. A variety of fictitious tales exist about them, too, and are told as a means of scaring children away from them. Regardless, scavengers and curious princes occasionally investigate these ships.

Triton Refugee Camp

The triton refugee camp was a temporary settlement for the Aquosians who were displaced by the attack on Aquos in 598. Located underneath a large ridge to the southwest of the city, it was past the seaweed fields and included some segments of a large coral graveyard. The location for the camp was likely selected due to the natural cover of its surroundings.

Notable Locations Within the Camp:

• Royal cabin: A small cabin made of brown seastone with membrane windows. Khavas and Arlyn stayed here during their time at the camp. Members of the Laverathian Kingsguard kept a close eye on this cabin; a guard detail surrounded it at all times.
• Military tents: An assortment of tents which offered cover and supplies to fighting-fit Aquosians. The largest of these tents was located in the center of the group. It was light blue in colour, with a silver conch over its entrance. Inside of this tent, there was a large, ornate table in between two large poles which held up the tent. Pinned to the table was a large membrane depicting a map of the region. Viglis and Dharsus used this tent for strategizing and coming up with battle plans, as did Khavas prior to his meeting with Ryl'dhagt. When the Champions Valoris arrived at the refugee camp, they were also invited into this tent to talk tactics.
• Medical tent: A tent made out of a dusty white material. It had a silver trident and dark red conch embroidered on it. Its sides were open, allowing tritons to move in and out of it easily. This tent was usually very crowded; a long line of injured tritons was always trailing outside of it. Despite the crowds, those managing the medical tent kept it as organized as it could be. A receptionist outside of the tent kept a record of names and let people in systematically so as to prevent overcrowding. Inside the tent, there were a number of portable beds with straps to hold people in place while the healers worked on treating them. These healers were triton sorcerers, including a well-respected elderly man named Kannen. Kilwin assisted them despite some initial hesitance over the source of his healing abilities. He made quite the impression on the sorcerers, particularly when he was able to save Dharsus after the Siege of Coralpeak Citadel.
• Supplies tent: The largest tent in the camp, as large as the biggest room in the Coralpeak Citadel. When Reides was looking for writing supplies, a guard at the camp directed Reides to this tent after Reides said he would rather not take the guard's personal belongings. This tent was full of items which were recovered during various patrols and was absolutely chaotic. However, the triton in charge of it claimed that it was organized chaos and kept records of those who took items from it.
• Mess tent: A large open tent. It had several pressure-treated tables and lots of drinks and food. Its selection included fish dishes, as well as water, juice, and wine.

On Winter's Dawn 9 598, the Aquosian forces emerged victorious in the Siege of Coralpeak Citadel and were able to retake Aquos. The Aquosian refugees therefore moved out of this camp and back into their home city. All of the refugee camp's supplies were also moved back into Aquos.

History

Laverathia has been ruled over by the Laverath family since its inception. Its capital is the city of Aquos. The throne is typically assigned to the emperor's firsthatched regardless of their gender. In the event of an emperor remaining childless or passing away before they can produce or adopt an offspring, their title is transferred to another member of the Laverath family. In most cases, this is one of the emperor's siblings, but the selection process varies from generation to generation. In very rare cases, an heir may be selected out of the members of triton nobility and integrated into the Laverath family. Conflicts in matters of succession can arise; Zinthos Laverath notably achieved rulership of Laverathia after facing one such crisis. His eldest son, Khavas Laverath, was designated as his heir and successfully coronated. He has since retained his title and serves as the current emperor of Laverathia. His eldest son, Viglis Laverath, is his heir. Same-sex marriage is common in Laverathia, but nobles are encouraged to limit their romantic relationships to those of similar social standing. Khavas was the subject of a great deal of scrutiny when he married the current empress, Arlyn, as she is of common birth.

The empire's inhabitants worship Persana, the triton creator-god, and a large number of festivals are held in his honor. Very few of them also worship certain gods known to the surface world, such as Eadro. This is frowned upon by the more traditional Laverathians as it is often viewed as disloyalty to Persana.

Each Laverathian territory is assigned a shell. This is done in order to foster a sense of cohesion and community within each settlement; the local shell is always used in a lot of decor and insignias. The conch was selected for Aquos, as this shell is also one of Persana's major symbols.

While the Laverathian empire is largely self-sufficient, it occasionally engages in trade with sea elves and merfolk. The empire does not engage in trade with the lands of Alethustria, as many tritons believe that surfacers treat the seas in a disrespectful manner. In an effort to minimize damage to the Basin, Laverathia endeavors to keep its existence as secret to the surface world as possible. For this reason, it does not show up on any maps crafted on the surface. Additionally, the Laverath family established an international treaty which barred surfacer ships from entering the seas directly above the Basin. Virtually all aspects of Laverathian culture are unknown on the surface, though misinformative texts (such as the People of the Sea by P. Valencia) exist.

The citizens of Laverathia take protecting the seas very seriously and will take it upon themselves to deal with any threats to the depths' safety. For this reason, Laverathia has a long history of battles with various sea monsters. In particular, they engage in frequent skirmishes with sahuagin. The Laverathian standing army is well-trained; a large number of resources go towards them. Emperors of Laverathia typically play an active role in its wars; many have fought on the front lines of various battles.

In addition to its warriors, Laverathia has many skilled sorcerers and clerics who study their craft in the Crystalline Trench. Only those who show an aptitude for sorcery or clerical magics are permitted entrance into the deep sea schools dedicated to them.