Decria
The land is mostly a level, open plain, rising to shrub-covered hills and black basaltic mountains in the south. It is a a warm, dry land, save for the areas near the large, western swampland - Les Marais D'Oubli - which are humid and fly-infested. The soil is fairly gravelly, and there are lots of boulders spread around the country. Decria's primary crops are olives, grapes and fruit (oranges, apricots). Grain and vegetables are grown for domestic consumption. The land is often struck by drought, but a system of canals and aquaducts has alleviated the problem.
Decrians in rural areas tend to build their houses from uncut stone, piled up and mortared together, as this material is easily available from their fields. Burnt tile is the favoured material for roofs, but some make do with thatch
The stereotypical Decrian is lean, newly bathed, and smiles overmuch. Decrians favour loose clothing and rarely wear patterned or embroidered cloth. They tend to be outgoing and helpful, but quickly grow terse if their faith is in any way questioned. They are deeply sceptical of other faiths.
Decria is the only state since the fall of the First Dynasty of Clemencia, where the worship of Apollo predominates. The mysterious rites of the Apollonians and their relentless missionary zeal gives even other Confederates pause. The worship of Apollo has become a cornerstone of the Decrian daily life, not the least because of the protection he and his daughter (Eos) offers from malign spirits. However, many visitors, and some of the natives, find the biddings of Apollo too strict. Be as it may, a spired temple is found in even the smallest village, while taverns are more scarce here than in any other land in Cargandomy.
The capital of Decria is Flèches-Bronze, named for its numberous metallic spires. Situated partly on land and partly on small islets, this coastal city is considered one of the wonders of the world, with hundreds of spire-topped towers, and arched bridges reaching both over the water, and the airy reaches higher up. Its buildings are faced with marble and albaster, and have windows of coloured class. The city is the closest humans have ever come to imitating elven architecture, and its builders have depended much on sorcery. However, it is so beautiful that foreign visitors easily forget to worry about the dangers of tainting.
Decrians are without doubt the most warlike of the Confederates. Prince Valdemar of Decria instigated the Civil War which brought death and devastation to millions, and laid the fifth principality - Nicana - barren and desolate. Under his banner - an argent Apollonic blaze (Maltese cross) on a tenn field, the Decrians have gone into affrays with the Clemencians again and again, either party claiming to protect civilization from the other.
The Decrians are also responsible for keeping the chimerae and unhealthy spirits of the Nicanean plateau from overrunning the rest of the Confederacy.
All this has contributed to making the sorcerers of Decria extremely martial in their learning. Most extreme of all are the Cynics, a brotherhood of martial sorcerers who have sworn to obey Apollo and Valdemar in all things.
