The Southern Unifty (SU) was the second of the major states to form in Lojem. It was partially as a response to the formation of the ESC. Another major development began when an odd inventor developed a public transit system between the islands faster than boats. This new mode of transport and domination of the skies led to the Southern Unity forming.
In the Southern Unity, it is generally expected that one takes their shoes off when entering a person’s home.
Officially speaking, Tatiana co-rules the area of Osiris’ necklace with the other major cities in the area, namely Tolenice and Port Haven. In reality, Tatiana is the only major political player making decisions for the other two cities. Port Haven is too caught up in its own internal politics to really fight back against any of Tatiana’s rulings, and Tolenice doesn’t do much in the way of politics.
Despite this clear policy imbalance, Tatiana lets the two major cities rule themselves how they choose, in order to please them. When it comes to making decisions that affect the whole, Tatiana is the only one to make the decision, while internal politics are left to the internal.
Each area handles laws differently, but there are some overarching themes between each.
The Southern Unity has become a hotspot for the artsy types, mainly writers. Authors of all kinds, from playwrights, to academics, have flocked to the area. Tolenice has a massive theater scene, which has begun to finally codify the many different writing styles and genres found in theatrical productions. The city has built both indoor and outdoor theaters and has highly experimented with acoustics and sets thanks to Tatianian engineers. One oddity is that many of the productions across the entirety of the SU is the usage of masks. They have become so prolific that masks have actually begun to break into the popular fashion, not just the theater scene.
Thanks to Tatiana, the SU has also attracted many scholars. This has led to Tatiana and the rest of the SU being much more technologically advanced compared to the rest of Lojem. A form of public transportation using flying ships dominate the skies. These have the added side effect of making it easier for them to spread their influence, as now they no longer need to account for oceanic conditions. Combine this with Tatiana being a central hub for universities on Lojem, having the largest standing library on Jaern as a tribute to Tarus.
The SU is no slouch when it comes to trading with the rest of Lojem. While most of the SU keeps to itself, there are a few major ports attempting to compete with the Rougtero League and the Eastern Shores Coalition. Port Haven is the largest of these ports. Thanks to the technology and culture provided by the two other major cities, Port Haven’s guilds have had an easier time reaching outwards into other cities. This includes all the good that comes with the guilds, as well as all the bad, as it means the mafias have begun to leak out into the rest of Lojem.
Tatiana: Tatiana has a few legends for how it got its name. Some of the more ridiculous range from a “female version of Tarus” gifting knowledge to the original settlers of the island, to it being named after an early adventurer who saved Eastend and then went to carve out the city on the southern end of the continent. The commonly accepted theory is that the island was initially settled by dwarves who carved the mountain out, and then was named after one Captain Tatiana after she led a political upheaval against the ruling class of the island, splitting up the land estates, and giving proper rights to the lower class of the island.
Tatiana is now a powerhouse in terms of education and technological advancement. They are leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of Lojem, although most of the technology is not easily replicable. Population: 35,000
Atentu: Atentu is less a town and more a very large mine. The island is a bit southeast of Rougtero. While it was initially Rougtero territory, the area defected, similarly to Tolenice. As such, the Atentu Mining Corporation is now completely independent of Rougtero, now owing allegiance to The Southern Unity. Most of their materials go to the heavy industry of Tatiana. Population: 500
Leifsholm: This small hamlet on the more northeastern end of Osiris’ Necklace is said to be blessed by Osiris herself. The city has bountiful harvests and is home to a sacred grove of the goddess. The area is very isolated, however, having only recently begun contact with the outside world. The town only joined with the Southern Unity through force. It’s a very clear example of hegemony. Population: 1,000
Port Haven: Port Haven is a seedy city on the southernmost end of the Lojem area. The city has had good relations with Rougtero at points, being one of the only cities to even reach out to the main Mount Fajro area of Lojem. This has led to modern concerns among the rest of the SU, claiming Rougtero ruled them like tyrants in the past. This is untrue as Rougtero never even ruled there. Port Haven is not without its corruption though. The government is ruled by a council made of up guild masters, acting as combination mafias, unions, and political parties.
Now that Tatiana essentially rules the SU, Port Haven is getting “better.” Access to Tatiana’s great knowledge in its libraries has led to citizens becoming better educated. It is also valued as the best oceanic outpost for the SU. While its shady history with Rougtero still stains it, the city is starting to move past that, and it’s good relationship with the other cities beyond Osiris’ Necklace has led to it being a major economic powerhouse for the SU. It is invaluable and irreplaceable. Population: 18,000
Tolenice: Tolenice is a very artsy area of the world. Having been founded by Rougtero settlers, the city revolted and formed their own city state. The city is a large source of lumber for the rest of Lojem as it exists on one of the larger, more fertile islands of Osiris’ Necklace. They are also one of the few areas of Lojem that primarily speaks Ferric rather than Paroli. The reason for this is not known.
Tolenice is a mess, politically. They have something resembling a republic, but the officials are all part of long-standing rich families that keep each other in power. An oligarchical democracy. This made it easy for Tatiana to establish their control over the SU, arguing that if everyone had a fair say, Tolenice would make sure nothing ever got done. Currently, Baron Tholomes Dominic rules as “elected” minister of Tolenice’s republic. Population: 20,000
Unubieno: An island near the center of the Alfrego sea. It used to be an ally of Karfelon’s and provided a significant portion of the food for the city. The “city” is more a large area of communal farmlands. As time has gone on, Unubieno has lost the monopoly on agriculture it once had across Lojem. The Southern Unity has helped the city begin growing again, as it now provides food primarily for Tatiana and Tolenice. Population: 7,500