Overview of Gulfshire

Historical Context:
Gulfshire was once a powerful and unified kingdom, renowned for its strategic location and thriving trade. It spanned from fertile coastal regions to harsh desert expanses, encompassing both bustling cities and rural villages. Fifty years before the present day, the kingdom was fractured by a brutal civil war that turned it into a series of independent city-states surrounded by lawlessness and instability. Today, Gulfshire exists only as a geographic term and a memory of a once-proud nation, with its former capital, Eredan, standing as the most prominent of its city-states.

Geography

1. Coastal Lowlands:

   • Gulfshire’s coast is dotted with natural harbors, cliffs, and small fishing villages.
   • The sea provided not only an abundant source of food but also a gateway for trade with distant nations like Lunivnori and Imperio Del Sol.
   • Eredan, the former capital, is located on the coast and remains a significant port city.

2. Central Plains:

   • Once the agricultural heartland of Gulfshire, the plains are now home to independent villages, bandit camps, and makeshift refugee settlements.
   • Fertile soil and the Liberty River supported massive grain production, which fueled Gulfshire’s economy.

3. Desert Frontiers:

   • The southern regions are arid and treacherous, dominated by vast deserts and dangerous terrain.
   • These lands are sparsely populated and serve as a haven for raiders, smugglers, and rogue tribes.
   • The Gulfshire Peace Army operates here to protect vulnerable populations and resist Veros influence.

4. Trade Routes and Waterways:

   • The Liberty River, running through the heart of Gulfshire, served as a lifeline for trade and travel, connecting inland villages to coastal ports.
   • A network of ancient trade routes crisscrossed the kingdom, linking Gulfshire to neighboring regions like Demarais and Eastshire.

Cultural Heritage

1. The Gulfshire Identity:

   • Gulfshire was once known for its tolerance and diversity, a melting pot of cultures, religions, and philosophies.
   • The kingdom prided itself on its adaptability, with traditions blending influences from neighboring regions and trading partners.
   • The national motto was “Unity in Diversity,” a value that has since crumbled under the weight of factionalism.

2. Art and Music:

   • Gulfshire was celebrated for its vibrant arts scene, particularly its dramatic storytelling and evocative desert ballads.
   • Today, the cultural richness is preserved primarily in Eredan and a few other city-states, though much has been lost to the chaos of war.

3. Religious Diversity:

   • The Sun Temple was the dominant faith in Gulfshire, but the kingdom also tolerated and celebrated other philosophies, including the Dirents and smaller tribal beliefs from the desert.

Government Before the Fall

1. Monarchy:

   • Gulfshire was ruled by a hereditary monarchy that claimed divine authority through the Sun God.
   • While the monarchy held significant power, it worked closely with an advisory council made up of nobles, merchants, and military leaders.

2. Regional Autonomy:

   • The kingdom was divided into administrative regions, each governed by a lord or council loyal to the crown.
   • These regions had autonomy in local governance but were expected to contribute to the national treasury and military.

3. Civil War and Collapse:

   • Fifty years ago, a combination of economic decline, social unrest, and political infighting erupted into a full-scale civil war.
   • The monarchy was overthrown, and Gulfshire splintered into city-states. Eredan declared itself an independent city-state and claimed the title of Gulfshire’s successor, though it exercises no control over its former territories.

Current State of Gulfshire

City-States:

• Gulfshire is now a collection of city-states, each with its own governance, military, and alliances. Some of the most notable include:
  • Eredan: The former capital, now a heavily fortified city-state with a bustling port. It remains the most powerful city in the region but struggles with internal corruption and external threats.
  • Rivergate: A trade-focused city on the Liberty River, known for its neutrality and thriving markets.
  • Ironhold: A mining hub in the southern deserts, fiercely independent and ruled by a council of merchant families.
  • Shorehaven: A small but prosperous coastal city that acts as a waypoint for maritime trade.

Lawlessness:

• Outside the city walls, Gulfshire is a dangerous and unstable land. Refugee camps, bandit strongholds, and Gulfshire Peace Army outposts dot the landscape, each struggling to survive amid the chaos.
• The desert gangs and rogue factions vie for control of key trade routes and resources.

Gulfshire Peace Army:

• Founded in the wake of the civil war, this group is dedicated to protecting civilians and rebuilding a sense of order.
• They operate primarily in the wildlands, defending villages from bandits and providing aid to refugees.
• While their intentions are noble, they are viewed with suspicion by Eredan and other city-states due to their opposition to Veros policies.

Key Historical Figures and Legends

1. Sir Denis Saint Denis:

   • A legendary figure who led the final defense of the Gulfshire monarchy. Stories vary, but he is often depicted as a tragic hero who fought valiantly despite knowing the kingdom was doomed.

2. Lady Miranelle of the Sands:

   • A desert-born noblewoman who united scattered tribes to fight against raiders during the civil war. Her strategies are still studied by military leaders today.

3. The Burning of Goldreach:

   • A pivotal and devastating event during the civil war in which a prosperous trading city was razed to the ground. Its ruins remain a grim reminder of the kingdom’s fall.

Political Influence

1. Eredan’s Claim:

   • Eredan maintains that it is the true successor to Gulfshire, using its historical role as the capital to bolster its legitimacy.
   • This claim is contested by other city-states, which view Eredan as self-serving and corrupt.

2. Foreign Powers:

   • Kingdoms like Demarais, Hanmel, and Bronwyn watch Gulfshire closely, offering aid or manipulation depending on their interests.
   • The region is seen as both a valuable trade hub and a potential powder keg of instability.

3. Veros Influence:

   • The Veros faction in Eredan seeks to restore Gulfshire’s glory, but only under their strict, nationalistic vision.
   • Their policies often clash with those of the Gulfshire Peace Army and other progressive groups.

Gulfshire is a region defined by its contrasts—rich in history but fractured by conflict, vibrant in culture but burdened by hardship. Its cities and people cling to the remnants of a once-great nation, striving to find their place in a chaotic world.

City-States of the Former Kingdom of Gulfshire

1. Eredan

• Description: The former capital of Gulfshire and now its most prominent city-state, Eredan is a heavily fortified urban center with a bustling port. Despite its enduring influence, corruption and internal strife threaten its stability.
• Current State: Governed by an increasingly authoritarian regime influenced by the Veros faction. The city is the political, economic, and cultural heart of the region.
• Alliances: Claims itself as the rightful successor to Gulfshire, but its relationships with other city-states vary between strained and hostile.

2. Rivergate

• Description: Sitting at the confluence of the St. Denis and Liberty Rivers, Rivergate acts as the gateway to Gulfshire’s fertile central plains. The city thrives on trade and agriculture, and it remains one of the more democratic and capitalistic city-states.
• Current State: The second most powerful city-state after Eredan. Its focus on trade and internal stability has allowed it to maintain relative prosperity.
• Alliances: Allied with Sandport. Maintains open trade relationships with other city-states but is wary of Eredan’s growing influence.

3. Sandport

• Description: Situated at the southern end of the Liberty River where it meets the ocean, Sandport was once a bustling port city handling goods from Rivergate and Eredan. Over the past fifty years, decreased trade has led to economic decline and a shrinking population.
• Current State: Struggling with dwindling resources and opportunities. Its strategic location makes it important, but its ability to protect itself is increasingly limited.
• Alliances: Closely aligned with Rivergate for mutual protection and economic support.

4. Fort St. Denis

• Description: Once a strategic fort and small city protecting supply routes along the St. Denis and Liberty Rivers, Fort St. Denis was abandoned during the civil war. It is now overrun by criminal gangs, serving as a lawless haven for outlaws and raiders.
• Current State: A chaotic and dangerous place ruled by competing criminal factions. No central authority exists, and it serves as a hub for smuggling and black-market trade.
• Alliances: None formal. The gangs occasionally work with desert raiders and foreign smugglers.

5. Ironhold

• Description: Nestled in the southwestern mountains, Ironhold is now Gulfshire’s largest mining city. Its economy revolves around extracting gold, iron, and other minerals, but the city’s perpetual pollution and harsh living conditions make it undesirable.
• Current State: An industrial powerhouse, but socially divided and unfriendly to outsiders. Life in Ironhold is marked by long work hours, poor living conditions, and a tough, insular population.
• Alliances: Staunchly independent and distrustful of other city-states.

6. Goldreach

• Description: Once a thriving mining and industrial hub at the base of the Balimar Mountains, Goldreach was destroyed during the civil war. The city was burned to the ground, and most of its population was killed. Its ruins stand as a haunting reminder of Gulfshire’s fall.
• Current State: Completely abandoned. Its destruction marked a turning point in the war and remains a symbol of Gulfshire’s fractured past.

7. Virfeld

• Description: The birthplace of Lachlan Veros and the ideological heart of the Veros faction. Once a major port city connected to Goldreach via the Verza River, Virfeld has become a smaller fishing town.
• Current State: A staunchly Veros-aligned city. Its residents are deeply nationalistic and hostile to immigrants, clinging to a vision of Gulfshire’s former glory.
• Alliances: Closely aligned with Veros supporters in Eredan.

8. Shorehaven

• Description: A smaller port city on the Verza River. Unlike its neighbor Virfeld, Shorehaven is relatively peaceful and focused on trade with local communities.
• Current State: A tranquil town with modest prosperity. While some Veros influence exists, its people are more concerned with survival and trade than ideology.
• Alliances: Maintains trade relationships with other city-states, including Virfeld.

9. Bolga

• Description: A peaceful fishing town inhabited by the Solish people, whose ancient religion inspired the Sun Temple. Bolga is a spiritual haven, largely untouched by the civil war.
• Current State: Quiet and self-reliant, Bolga remains an important cultural and religious site for the Sun Temple faith.
• Alliances: Tenuous ties with Eredan due to shared religious history.

10. Baluk

• Description: Located on the southeast coast, Baluk is primarily made up of refugees from Lunivnori, who fled their war-torn homeland. The city is viewed with suspicion by other Gulfshire city-states, while Lunivnori regards its residents as traitors.
• Current State: A struggling port city with an air of distrust. Baluk is used by Lunivnori for covert operations, including smuggling and espionage.