Fiction:Refuge Union

Society
The Refuge Union is a republic of several different city states) who make their home on the south central desert peninsula of the continent of Yrzyva that were established by demons from an elemental plane of fire and darkness who were banished by their fellow demons for refusing a war against another plane of air and light. These city states are grouped into seven different administrative provinces called Terraces. The city states themselves are divided into districts and each city state holds control over a number of villages.

The entire Union is ruled by a king, with dukes ruling over the terraces, princes ruling over the city states, marquises managing districts, counts representing villages, knights commanding military legions, and presidents who manage various economic ventures. Despite using titles traditional associated with royalty the Union is known for being rather egalitarian in its ideals. They care very little for where one began in life only what they can accomplish as they live. To this end they are rather meritocratic and democratic with counts, knights, and presidents often being elected by their people or promoted for exceptional accomplishment. Marquises are promoted from the previous three by their princes based on merit who in turn elect new princes. Princes elect new dukes and dukes elect new kings.

The Union is rather advanced when it comes to magic thanks to being composed of demons who are by their nature inherently magical beings. All citizens can use magic to one degree or another and magic has permeated every aspect of the Union's lifestyle. This has had the side effect of causing the Union to stagnate somewhat in the realms of technology and non-magical sciences. On the other hand they have made great leaps and bounds in the areas of the arts and Union city states are considered highly beautiful and cultured places.

Religion
The Union follows a religion dedicated to a trinity of deities related to the earth, sea, and sky which they rule over as their domains. The first of these gods is the god of earth and mercy Bahamoth, a great armored rhino with a spiked whip-like tail, clawed feet, and heavy set jaws filled with flesh rending teeth. He watches over the beasts and planets of the earth, and rewards the righteous of the land. The second is Levaton the goddess of the sea and severity, a great whale with a serpentine body, spiny sails across her back, and long crocodilian snout. She guards the creatures of the sea, and brings punishment down upon the heads of the wicked. Finally there is Ziuhk the androgynous god of the sky and mildness, a great featherless bird with bat-like wings and a great crested beak filled with teeth. It looks after the wildlife of the air and keeps balance between its siblings. The Union primarily follows the teachings of Levaton seeking to punish those they see as sinful.

Being demons the citizens of Union don't really have an afterlife being immortal. Form them being killed is less death and more of being put into a long sleep in which they will remain incorporeal for a hundred years before reforming eventually. However, they do see themselves as instruments of Levaton's will. They capture the souls of sinners who they slay in battle and force them to do menial labor until they have worked off their karmic dept and can be reincarnated

Magic
Union magic is referred as Evocation and it involves using a demons natural powers to draw in heat from the land around them to further augment their own natural magics. The closer they are to source of great heat such a volcano or the sun the stronger their magic will become, the colder they find themselves though the weaker their magic will become. Evocation cannot only be used to command flame and fire but can also be used, via a small donation of the demon's life force, enchant objects with the power of flame, bond with creatures that have a connection to flame, and create constructs from fire and volcanic materials.

Territory
The Refuge Union makes its home on the central most southern peninsula of the continent of Yrzyva on the plane of Narazen. This not the natural home of the demons who make up the Union having come from an elemental plane known as Gehenna, the Sea of Flame. But the desert that makes up their territory upon Narazen is about as close as they can get. The Unions capital is located upon the slopes of a great super volcano which the demons frequently draw power from and prevent from erupting.

Quotes

 * add your own!