CONNACHTA
A vast a beautiful country with temperate climes and rolling hills covered in unending forests, Connachta is one of the most powerful and advanced countries in the known world. Its populous operates under a high quality of life compared to most, so in general the citizenry is both content and patriotic. The economy is based on trade with training and lumber as its main exports. Diplomatically, it is seen as dangerous, but countries often choose to deal with it nonetheless as Connachta has control of some of the most powerful trading cartels and offers vast wealth through its trading rights.
Connachta's natural beauty is accented well by the beauty of its cities and towns. Being a wealthy and influencial nation, its capitol, Rath Cruachan, is a glistening white city with towering stone walls and buildings packed together in ordered and pleasing patterns that make it both easy to navigate and defend. The castle for which the city is named is an imposing work of modern architecture and houses the royal family and many noble auxiliaries. Common towns in Connachta are also ordered and walled and tend to be home to dense populations. Port cities dominate its shining white sand coastlines which are administered by extremely powerful trade cartels that answer to the crown more in name than in truth, but the fact remains that these cities bring in more per capita income for the country than the rest of the expanding empire combined.
The people are generally literate and make more money than the international average, but the truly important ones are all within the nobility which is both strong and intricate. The noble houses of Connachta have formed a culture of political intrigue and are internationally regarded as the model of what nobility should be. To this end, aside from the export of its excellent and abundant lumber, the country claims its top grade finishing school training (along with business management) as its most valuable resource. The wealthy and well-to-do from all nations send their sons and daughters to study in Connachta for nowhere else can the subtleties of politics and trade be taught in such fine fashion.
As politics are the heart and soul of Connachta's leadership, most of its well-known expansionism is centered within the diplomatic field. Connachta does boast a strong standing army, but the country itself hasn't been to war in generations so its soldiers, while well-equipped, are untried. Connachta instead uses its political and economic weight to force its neighbors into "protectorates" which effectively make them a part of the growing Connachta empire. This legendary danger that the country poses, however, is a risk that most nations are forced to take as Connachta has such a strong hold on international trade. While it is akin to entering a dragon's lair, the wealth obtained by working with Connachta is well-worth it so long as the nation in question treads very lightly.
In relation to Pasaid, Connachta currently has a working peace treaty for trading purposes. Much like many of the other countries near to it, Pasaid has attracted an envious lust for its magic within the Connachta royal family. Secretly, the queen has been orchestrating diplomatic and political maneuvers to try and bring Pasaid under Connachta's sway.
