Sanctuary

Sanctuary
Geographic Information
Alias(es)	Principality of the Mountains
Capital	Neustadt
Region(s)	Southeastern Northern Continent Shares borders with: Andaria (northeast) Portiguara (northwest)
Societal Information
Language(s)	Common
Race(s)	Demons, Humans, Elves, Dwarves
Religion(s)	Clergy of Ishtar, Godbinder Church, Church of the True Golden Dawn, Sarquil New Way
Political Information
'	Kaufmann Family
Historical Information
Age	Fourth Age
Established	1 AC
Preceded by Libaterra

Sanctuary, also known as the Principality of the Mountains, is a sovereign state in the Northern Continent in the Fourth Age. It is presently led by the Kaufmann Family and is situated at the end of the fork of a mountain range bordering Andaria and Portiguara.

The capital of Sanctuary is the Fortress-City of Neustadt, built by a mix of human and dwarven masons and blessed by elven druids with pure water and fertile land as long as the sacred springs at the upper levels of the mountain are not violated. Neustadt is also a cosmopolitan place, taking in refugees of all races and faiths on one condition: that they contribute, in some small way, to the well-being of the 'citizen body'. The principality has a skilled army and often lend their services as mercenaries in conflicts.

The capital is also a center of 'heretical' thought, with the former ruling Schwann Family having patronized the Church for the Subjugation of the Gods to Mortal Will, more commonly known as the Godbinder Church, which believes that the gods, merely by being higher than mortals, are an innate obstacle to mortal advancement and happiness and must be enslaved or destroyed to guarantee the former two concepts.

Other religions included the Sarquil New Way, made up of Sarquil and desert elves who had escaped enslavement and, under a renegade sheikha, preach that the Sarquil were only enslaved because they refused to renounce slavery when they had an empire; and the Church of the True Golden Dawn which believe that all forms of slavery and unconstitutional monarchy are a violation of sapient beings' 'Chaos-given rights' and that all laws must be decided by consensus.

Military Forces

Sanctuary has a policy of universal military service for all adults, men and women both, albeit with alternating shifts so that they can take care of their families. Out of a population of 50,000 - 100,000, 20,000 remain under arms at any given time, with half of those serving as mercenaries in various conflicts around the Northern Continent; these are in turn split into a 'Greater Army' of 8000 folk and a 'Lesser Army' of 2000.

Armaments-wise, Sanctuary is an early adopter of pike, shot, and halberd, as well as field and siege artillery. Instant communication is maintained by Red Mages, which form the main 'workhorse' of the Army as they are fit for all available roles, whether logistics, communications (through enchanted birds), medical or combat. It also has a sizable force of light cavalry and an smaller core of heavy 'Knights'.

Sanctuary also has a small but significant force of Paladins, but very few things are heard about White and Black Mages in the armed forces, and it is assumed that they are de-emphasized due to the armies' reliance on Red Mages.

Notable settlements

• Neustadt - capital