STORY: TSFOA is set in a country populated by animals, technologically around the time of the Industrial Revolution, which is divided into six individual factions: Ihe, Okute, Mmiri, Ikpa, Ohia, and Apiti. Each faction is ruled by a king or queen, and there is also a deputy (deputies work just like in Warriors, but most often the king/queen appoints a close friend or relative as deputy to keep someone who thinks like them in power, even if the friend/relative wouldn’t make a very good leader.) Magic used to be legal in Andvari, but about twenty years ago (Andvari has years and months the same as ours, but they have different year numbers, and in their date system it's currently only the year 1357), a huge rebellion broke out, killing many animals, and magic was banned in all factions for fear that animals would use it to start another rebellion. Some support this decision, but others believe the government did the wrong thing and magic could still be used for good. Some animals still use magic, but keep it a secret. The Ihe Faction is the most politically and economically powerful faction, and they tend to look down on the other factions as rather primitive and uneducated. The royals of this faction tend to be more pompous, and their military is the strongest of all the factions, but as a result there is much more underground resistance. Their territory is lush, well cared for, and with many beautiful, bustling urban areas. Ihe cities are known for their Roman-style architecture and aqueducts, as well as the fine crafts their artisans make, but also for the extravagant spending of their government. The Okute Faction rules the northern mountains. Their primary industry, and one that is for the most part not shared by the other factions, is mining, and so their animals tend to have long, thick fur that can stand up to the cold and strong legs. They are regarded by most of the Ihe Faction as crude, unintelligent miners, though this is not actually the case for most of them, and thus their political power in Andvari is very low. However, for metalworking and any craft that has to do with stone, such as carving or jewelry-making, their artisans are highly prized. Their architecture (most buildings are made of stone) is heavily inspired by Scandinavian buildings. The Mmiri Faction lives in huge glass domes underwater (making them the most isolated of the factions) and has the most advanced technology of all the factions. They have semi-long, sleek, oily fur and are good swimmers. Their architecture often focuses on smooth, curved domes and makes great use of glass, which is plentiful on the ocean floor. The Mmiri Faction is known for the compassionate and easygoing nature of most of its residents, and it is neutral in most conflicts. It’s also home to air farmers, a unique profession that helps to get air from trees and the surface and supply it to everyone in the faction. Their primary industry is making things out of glass, but another industry of theirs is tourism, as many animals from the other factions enjoy going there to experience the unique underwater life Mmiri residents lead. Their primary food source is fish and seafood. The Ikpa Faction lives in a hot, dry canyon with houses built into the cliff face like the Pueblo cliff dwellings. The animals that live there tend to have short fur and lots of endurance. They (and their government) tend to be more resourceful because of the scarcity of natural resources like food and water. Most of their food is imported from the other factions. Their main industry is expensive, high-demand minerals like gold (which is rare in Andvari) and crystals like quartz, as well as rare and interesting foods like prickly pear and agave nectar. A bit surprisingly, this faction has produced the most famous painters, who are known for their beautiful, unique landscapes. The Ohia Faction’s territory is situated in a dense jungle. The animals there live in small, connected treetop settlements like Ewok villages: http://cdn3.whatculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/endor-ewok-village.jpg They are often long-legged, fast, light, and good tree climbers. They probably have the most primitive technology of the factions. Their industry mostly consists of plant-based products such as food (fruits and vegetables) and lumber. However, they are very protective of their forests and tend to be most prone to conflict in times when there is the most need for lumber. They are the most environmentally conscious faction, replacing trees whenever they cut them down and taking careful note of their usage of resources. The Apiti Faction lives in an Everglades-style wetlands, a fact that earns them quite a lot of contempt and “I’d never want to live there” from the other factions, but which the residents are quite proud of, because the reality is that their wetlands, far from being a squally, murky swamp, are teeming with plant life and natural resources. Their architecture is for the most part Mayan inspired. Though magic is illegal in all factions, the Apiti Faction’s government is most lenient about enforcing this law and is probably home to the most use of magic, with a black-market trade in spells and (supposedly) magical objects going strong.
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