Location
Sunaria is centrally located on the continent of Alyndrica, and forms the western edge of the Varencian Empire. Rocky hills dominate the central areas of the kingdom, forming natural barriers and rough coastlines. The western shores of Sunaria border the deep and dangerous Vermis Bay, across which it is a semi-perilous voyage to the Sahvage Coast. The eastern shores of the kingdom meet Epona Bay, and from there its a short distance to the open waters of the Aes Draconis Sea. The upper half of Sunaria is a pleasant and fertile area, that slowly turns more arid as you travel northward to Crevice Bay and the Thundyre Mountains.
Culture
The Sunarian people claim a long history in the area, reaching back into the pre-Wensharian days. Their claim is evidenced by their ancient style of building and architecture, along with a political structure and society reminiscent of a bronze age society. The majority of buildings are made of stone. The day to day clothing of most inhabitants are tunics and pants. Fanciful and colorful robes and cloaks are adorned for special occasions.
The citizens of Sunaria are free people, and are allowed to ply their trade or live and move as they saw fit. While living or working in a city or region, they are subject to the law of the area. Sunarians consider most laws to be common sense, and punishments were meted out in accordance with the severity of a crime. If you stole something, you were punished according to what you stole. If you offended the gods, you were punished. Each city-state might have its own nobility and its own leader and an assembly of the people. So a leader in one area might pass a law, and pretty soon, if it was a good law and stuck around, all of Sunaria adopted the same law. The various local assemblies were usually made up of elders and wise folk, and although the leader or noble was not required to take their advice, it was rare for them not to. However, military officials and jurisdiction override any other consideration, by order of the Autarch, Queen and military leader.
Sunarian labor and military forces are comprised of obligated labor levied by the temple and palace to maintain the city or area. Not only was levied labor used for public works, it was also allocated for military service.
Weapons and Armor: Sunarians seem to prefer half armors and helms, protecting the vital areas while allowing for some mobility. As such breastplates, and half-plate are common, along with leathered armors. The masterwork craftsman of Sunaria have learned to forge bronze into armor that is not soft and inferior to steel. As such, this armor is usually a prized possession. Shields range from light bucklers to tower shields. Many warriors in Sunaria served some time in the military, either conscripted or hoping to earn a place of leadership. While few rise above the lowest ranks, they all receive training in basic weapons and tactics such as javelins, maces, shortswords, and shields. Other fighters in the area learn their trade in the gladiator rings, and as such develop a taste for wide and varied selection of weapons, to include shortswords, scimitars, khopesh, axes, tridents and cesti.
Religion/Philosophy: The overall prevailing religion in Sunaria, and the official religion of the state and the military, is the worship of Ishtar, Goddess of Love and War. But the worship of Ishtar is not just institutionalized by the government, it is also supported by the majority of the populace. Ishtar is worshipped for her rule over love (home, hearth, friendship, life) and war (protection, justice). The goddess Ishtar is also considered a goddess of magic, and is revered for such both on her own and as part of The Trifecta. As she is across most of Alyndrica, the goddess Ereshkigal is revered for her stewardship of the honored dead. There are scattered temples to the Draconic Dogma , with Bahamut figuring most prominently. The Old Faith has a scattered following in the outlying areas of the kingdom represented by four militant orders of knighthood.
Organizations
Structure: The Autarch is the hereditary Queen of Sunaria, the High Priestess of Ishtar, and the General of the Armies. The military leaders form the government of Sunaria, with most larger areas or towns under the command of a military governor. The various cities, towns, and regions of the area usually have some form of nobility or civilian leadership, and an assembly of elders. The military governors and the leadership of the areas usually work hand in hand to govern the area, but the military representative has the final word in cases of dispute or directives of the Autarch.
The Queen, in her role as Autarch, has formed a People's Assembly to advise her on matters as they pertain to the well being and governance of the populace, but she is in no way obligated or (as High Priestess) expected to always follow their advice.
History
Sunaria was devastated during the Wensharian civil war. Even before the civil war, their kingdom had taken the brunt of several battles and campaigns as directed by the Wensharian throne, notably the war with, and sacking of, the kingdom of Labyris. During the dark ages, Sunaria struggled to survive. Goblinoids from the north and eastern wastelands encroached with almost impunity, while demihuman tribes under the direction of fell evils from the Thiondar Plateau threatened from the west. Slowly over time, from the strongholds of the three major cities (Tar'Leon, Ishtaris, and Val'Kier) stability and civilization spread once more. The city of Elenium was rebuilt, and the city of Palladium founded many years later, the point at Sunaria officially proclaimed their return.
Proud of their struggle to survive, Sunarians looked at the colonization of land from the north east by Varencia with much skepticism. It was only after the events of the 2nd Man-Elf war, that Sunaria formally recognized Varencia as an ally, and helped them broker a peace with the Alfar clans in the area. In return, Varencia greatly assisted Sunaria with defeating the goblinoids along its borders, and rebuilt the great paved Wensharian highway through Cartesian Pass, and patrolled its length.
After many years of joint prosperity, and finding much in common, Sunaria agreed to join the Varencian Empire as it was to be known, formally reserving the right to secede from the empire at its discretion. As such, Varencia maintains only a single consul within the capital of Sunaria, considered by the majority to be merely a figurehead.