Belt of Rukkaveyr

"Note: This is player-created lore. Ping @JaceTheGayce on the Discord if you have questions."Named for the nearby Trench of Rukkaveyr, which borders it on one side, the Belt of Rukkaveyr is a loose-knit network of seven underwater city-states. The Belt is almost constantly at war with itself. Whether over territory, politics, religion, or simply a petty squabble that centuries of raids have turned into a full war, these city-states have rarely known peace.

City-States
Each of the seven city-states of the Belt has a distinct culture. Some are made up of strict caste systems, others of loose hierarchies; some are home to one primary race, others to a diverse community.

Appori
The smallest of the seven city-states, Appori's history is one of frequent invasions. It's home primarily to merfolk, with a small sea elf population. Outsiders are often viewed with suspicion, as neighboring city-states have frequently sent agents to try to wrest control from the original inhabitants.

Government
Appori's system of government is a constitutional monarchy. The current rulers are named Nyneve and Deloros, and both are beloved by the people. Centuries of effort have yielded a thriving community, in which all are equal in rights and comfortable in wealth.

Arkav-Tam
To most, Arkav-Tam is a bloodthirsty nation. They constantly desire greater power, territory, and treasure. While their main conflict is with Mizunin, they frequently raid, or even declare a full-scale war upon, the other city-states of the Belt. The exception to this is Tavrun, which supplies them with the majority of their arms and armor.

Government
The system of government in Arkav-Tam is best described as an oligarchy, though it's a bit more complex than that. There are three separated territories within Arkav-Tam, each ruled over by a coven of sea hags. One member of each of these covens is also part of the overarching ruling coven, which makes all final decisions on city-wide matters. The rest of the city is made up of a small ruling class of water elementals and a much larger working class of sea spawn and steam mephits. Much of their army is made up of captives from previous raids, with a small number of deep scion commanders. In addition, the ruling coven keeps a pet morkoth to dissuade, and occasionally torture or brainwash, traitors.

The current covens of Arkav-Tam, with overarching representatives in bold, are:

Dalak-Sai, Karin-Lun, and Tavis-Mox

Sattun-Fal, Aldess-Ra, and Waxeir-Tab

Luvan-Vek, Bellus-Ans, and Tyva-Moz

Names
Arkav-Tam has strict naming conventions: the ruling class, as well as military officials, are named as the lands are—a hyphenated name, with the first part consisting of two syllables and the second of one. The working class are assigned single-syllable names by their local supervisor.

Iprene
As the border state on the more dangerous side of the Belt, most of Iprene's military resources go to defending themselves from the ocean beyond the Belt. They have little conflict with the other city-states, except for a longstanding war with Salveir over the Takliss Lands, the religious central of the Belt. Even when at war over these lands, though, the people of both states are conscious not to allow the fighting to impede upon the sanctuary of the lands themselves; instead, they fight in the border area surrounding them.

The city-state is home primarily to sea elves and tritons, but has a rather large community of other sea creatures. The society is heavily caste-based, centering around profession; governmental positions are at the top, followed by military and religious officials, and then educators. Most other professions are considered to belong to a lower caste.

Government
Iprene is governed by a form of representative democracy, with each person's vote weighed according to their caste. The current president of Iprene is a sea elf named Daekien Amakiir.

Kyffiil
Kyffiil is a strong ally of Mizunin, a relationship developed through centuries of trading. They're primarily a community of artisans, though, as all states in the Belt do, they keep a sizable military force. They're well-known for their enchantments which waterproof surface items that would usually be damaged by being brought underwater, such as books and some surface foods.

Demographics & Government
No single race is the most prominent in Kyffiil. It's an incredibly diverse city, with a governing parliament which reflects the diversity of the citizens. Democratic elections are held for the parliament and prime minister every three years. The current prime minister is a triton named Cenles.

Mizunin
Home to a large population of tritons, Mizunin is the sworn enemy of Arkav-Tam. The city is split into 22 territories in two rings of eleven, with the capital at their center.

Inner ring territories: Falyke, Rytiri, Byradden, Larazot, Priit, Syrk, Aifeyra, Datyzliv, Htain, Saffik, Vasfvakal

Outer ring territories: Orinal, Narkeyne, Iprukl, Tyrza, Alak, Uzffai, Rakapce, Tiraffya, Arrnen, Martaan, Xikalli

Despite its centuries-old war with Arkav-Tam, Mizunin is a primarily diplomatic state. They pride themselves on their negotiation skills and have several units devoted to that purpose. The highest of these units is known as the Aspect of Kalar, after the city's first diplomatic primary, and is currently led by Sir Iaris Ellerin Alaketh. The Aspect of Kalar is one of several units which make up Mizunin's Special Command Corps, each one devoted to a different task.

The Aspect of Natirl: military combat, led by Sir Delzes Itelyn Xikallith

The Aspect of Varzn: intelligence, led by Lady Othyhin Zinris Falyketh

The Aspect of Hissiv: domestic protection, led by Sir Kovos Aduhen Larazoth

The Aspect of Talliss: protection of the royal family, led by Lady Lirrelyn Rendes Syrketh

Government
Mizunin is governed by a long-standing monarchy. The current rulers are Khannas Nesoren Mizunith and Ehnyn Vamras Mizunith. Their only son, Valeris Imaran Mizunith, died in 2328, just before season 3.5; the line of succession is, at this time, uncertain. If an heir does not become apparent prior to the death of either Khannas or Ehnyn, the Special Command Corps will select the next ruler.

Salveir
Salveir is a deeply religious state. Citizens of all of the Belt's states frequently undergo pilgrimages to Salveir's lands to receive divine blessings. Though the people of Salveir claim they welcome everyone, they hold a deep hatred towards the people of Iprene, as that state stole the Takliss Lands. They make frequent attempts to recover the lands, without harming the sanctity of the lands themselves, but to no avail.

Demographics & Government
The population of Salveir is mostly water genasi, ruled by a long-lived genasi by the name of Weridian. Other than this ruler, most of the power lies in the hands of the religious officials of Salveir. Religius dissent is thoroughly persecuted, often with public execution, but occasionally with labor. Of those who are born in Salveir and don't hold the same religious beliefs, most move to other city-states; those who don't live in constant fear.

Tavrun
The primary population of Tavrun is the sahuagin. While they're mostly known for their accomplished smiths, they're also well-versed in the ways of combat. They, along with their shark steeds, frequently raid the neighboring states of Mizunin, Salveir, and Iprene. They have a strong alliance with Arkav-Tam, trading with them, assisting each other in battle, and so on.

Government
The current ruler of Tavrun is King Ruggaal. However, he does very little; most ruling is left to the barons of each area, advised by their priestesses. Within each territory of Tavrun, a heavy caste system is in place, often with nearly everyone considered to belong to the lowest caste. In most territories, the baron and priestesses rule with an iron grip, without letting any other citizens have power except the few who keep order in the forges.

Other Locations
There are a few parts of the Belt of Rukkaveyr that, for one reason or another, belong to no city-state, or are otherwise contested. These locations are often somewhat different from the states themselves, as most are uninhabited.

Fall of Taikri
Once an open farmland belonging to Kyffiil, this area is now a barren wasteland, named the Fall of Taikri after the events described below. Few dare to cross the land here, though the reasons are more superstitious than logical: many fear the ghost of Taikri lurks in these lands and will haunt anyone who enters.

Takliss Lands
This great walled district once belonged to Salveir, but is now controlled by Iprene. It is, to all intents and purposes, peaceful. As the Belt's strongest religious central, none, not even the bloodthirsty warriors of Arkav-Tam, dare attack it. However, centuries of fighting right outside its walls have left its people scared and anxious, wondering when that fighting will reach inside their home. The mood of the Takliss Lands is one of constant paranoia, with few going out to do more than quick shopping runs. Children are rarely allowed to play outside, and when they are, they're restricted to the areas immediately surrounding their houses. The bravest of the religious leaders travel from neighborhood to neighborhood, bringing sermons to the land's frightened people and care to those who cannot care for themselves.

Trench of Rukkaveyr
There's a reason many fear the Trench: it's the home of the great dragon turtle Urryn. Those who are desperate sometimes brave the Trench, and those who do so bearing tribute to Urryn most often return with wise words. Those who enter the Trench without tribute, or who insult the great dragon turtle, often become the tribute themselves. No one knows quite how long Urryn has lived; there are records of him since records begin, already a full-grown adult, "with the wisdom of seven gods," as stated by Kalar.

Xenith-Kor
Years ago, Xenith-Kor was a thriving district of Arkav-Tam, under the control of the third coven. Now it is, much as the Fall of Taikri, a barren wasteland. The reason people don't enter this land is the same as the Fall, but based more firmly on logic: many have seen the ghosts of the fallen haunting this land and anyone who travels there. The only ones who dare cross it are the sahaugin of Tavrun on their way to Mizunin raids, and even then, most skirt around the new Arkav-Tam border.

Important Recent Events
For the most part, battles and raids have become so standard in the Belt that they aren't considered noteworthy. However, there are a few particularly bloody battles that have occurred in recent memory, such that historians detail them in great depth in their books.

Battle of Xenith-Kor
The bloodiest battle in living memory, even for sea elves, the Battle of Xenith-Kor was fought in 2328 between the allied armies of Arkav-Tam and Tavrun, and their primary enemy, Mizunin. Hundreds were killed, including uninvolved citizens. The battle was also the occasion of two of the most notable deaths in recent history: Crown Prince Valeris Imaran Mizunith of Mizunin, at the hands of Commander Arren-Val of Arkav-Tam; and in turn, Commander Arren-Val at the hands of Sir Iaris Ellerin Alaketh of Mizunin.

Witnesses claim that upon Prince Valeris' death, Sir Iaris went into something of a frenzy, slaying Commander Arren-Val by "dicing him as a chef might dice a tomato," as stated by a steam mephit from Arkav-Tam, but not before Sir Iaris lost an eye. He then felled many more warriors of both Arkav-Tam and Tavrun in that frenzy, before it was finally put to a stop just before he would've slain a sea spawn child, an inhabitant of Xenith-Kor. Arkav-Tam and Tavrun offered surrender shortly after.

Since this battle, none have returned to Xenith-Kor. There is occasionally debate amongst the hags of Arkav-Tam of whether to try to reclaim their land from the ghosts which haunt it, but no action has ever been taken.

Fall of Taikri
Another bloody battle, this one in 2317, shortly before season 2, between the allied armies of Mizunin and Kyffiil, and their enemy, Arkav-Tam. Commander Taikri was a merfolk of Kyffiil. Partway through the battle, she was captured by Arkav-Tam's Intelligence Unit. The battle continued to rage on for hours as she was tortured for information on strategy and the details of Mizunin and Kyffiil's alliance. She gave them no information, and after three days, Arkav-Tam's presiding commander mutilated her body such that she was rendered incapable of swimming or breathing water before throwing her over the side of the Trench of Rukkaveyr to sink. Whether she died of loss of blood, lack of oxygen, or the sheer pressure of the depths, no one is certain.

It's suspected that the ghost of Taikri still haunts the site of the battle, but no sightings have been confirmed. Still, few venture onto the land, and only some who do return. If this is the fault of Taikri's ghost, she seems to have no bias towards the ones who killed her: equal ratios have gone missing versus returned of citizens of each of the states who have entered.