Akanûl

Akanûl is a land that once belonged to the world of Abeir as part of the realm of Shyr, but was transposed onto the plane of Toril during the ravages of the Spellplague. The land carried with it a large population of Abeir genasi who, as of 1479 DR, control the region that used to be Chondath and western Chessenta.

Geography
Akanûl resembles Abeir much more than Toril. The vast majority of land is a hodgepodge of spectacular spires and erratic ravines. It boasts the largest number of earthmotes and watermotes in all of Faerûn. The southern edge of the region is bordered by a large finger of the Underchasm. One of the land's more unusual feature is an enormous piece of translucent quartz known as the Glass Mesa, which citizens are forbidden from approaching.

Climate
Akanûl is primarily temperate, but due to the large amount of wild elemental energy lingering from the separation from Abeir, wind patterns are erratic, as is weather. The climate in Akanûl is largely humid, due to the constant drift of mist and rain from the watermotes that float over the countryside.

Regions

 * Akanamere
 * A lake surrounded by lush wetland, the Akanamere was once a primary source of fresh water for neighboring Chessenta before the wilderness reclaimed the region. Among the lake's most prominent features is a pyramidal construction partially submerged at the lake's center.


 * Akanapeaks
 * These mountains lay to the north of Akanûl, along the coast of the Sea of Fallen Stars. They are believed to be the home of a powerful gray dragon, whose name is unknown.


 * Chondalwood
 * One of the few original features of Toril remaining in Akanûl, the Chondalwood is not officially claimed by the Akanûl government, though it frequently sends foresters into the haunted forest. Once the home of the ghostwise halflings the Chondalwood was sharply changed by the Spellplague into a landscape of floating junglemotes and cavernous ravines overrun by plaguechanged vegetation.

Towns and cities

 * Airspur
 * Built from sea to sky, Airspur is a city of wondrous sites and inventions. Earthmotes and steeds, magical teleportation, and a system of pulleys and counterweights. The result is a sprawling city of mechanical and magical marvels. This is Akanûl's seat of power, where Queen Arathene rules along with the Stewards of Earth, Fire, Sea, and Sky. Airspur is built upon the ruins of a previous human city of the same name.


 * Brassune
 * Though Airspur may be Akanûl's most prominent city, Brassune is its oldest and it was the first settlement established in Akanûl by the genasi. The city proper is, at this point, abandoned although the Firestorm Cabal, a renegade nationalist group that believes the government incompetent or negligent, maintains a large stronghold on a forestmote overlooking the ruins of the old city. There, the Firestorm Cabal stands vigilant against the threat posed by the Abolethic Sovereignty.


 * Deepspur
 * Although most genasi of Akanûl have the windsoul manifestation, those who manifest other elements gravitate to Deepspur, a city built into the sheer cliffs that sink into a chasm in the Akanapeaks. The precious gems and metals found in the caves surrounding this city have made Akanûl rich, but of late, many genasi and other humanoids have disappears from Deepspur without a trace.


 * New Breen
 * Rising up above the Bay of Akanûl, this city stands on an earthmote and is inhabited almost entirely by genasi. The city was created in the image of an Abeiran genasi city called Breen. Waters flow from an unseen source deep within the earthmote, spilling in a perpetual mist into the sea below. The falls encircle and island neighborhood known as Lower Breen, which is a rich and thriving trading port. The island prospers as a gateway between the east and west.

Society
Akanûl is mostly composed of the descendants of the genasi refugees of the land of Shyr in Abeir. The genasi of Shyr were being oppressed by the primordial Karshimis. When Akanûl dropped into Toril, the residents were overjoyed to find that Karshimis' citadel had not made the jump. Those refuges set about creating a realm of their own and founded the city of Airspur on the shores of the Sea of Fallen Stars. Akanûl is now counted among the kingdoms of Faerûn.

Airspur is a glittering three-dimensional city built into a series of elemental spires and earthmotes. The upper regions of the city are not actually directly connected to the ground below. It is ruled by Queen Arathane and the Four Stewards of Earth, Fire, Sea and Sky. The court is entirely composed of genasi. The Stewards oversee specialized sections of government, while the Queen controls the major action of government. The Steward of Earth heads up the spy network of Akanûl. The Steward of Fire serves as the general of the army and is primarily concerned with the defense of Airspur. The Steward of Sea is also known as the Lord of Coin and oversees the business of the realm. The Steward of Sky serves as final arbiter of disputes and enforces the laws of Akanûl.

History
Historically, Akanûl was a nation-state located in the continent of Shyr on Abeir, Toril's long-forgotten twin world. There, Akanûl was ruled over by the tyrannical primordial Karshimis, who reigned from a fortress of burning ice. During the Spellplague, however, a large portion of Akanûl was transferred from Abeir to Toril, in the location of Chondath and Chessenta. Upon discovering that Karshimis had failed to make the transfer, the genasi of Akanûl celebrated their newfound independence and set about forming their own realm, which continues to exist into the present day.

Roughly half a century after this, Akanûl faced its first major threat as a nation from the Abolethic Sovereignty. During the ensuing war the capital city of Brassune was laid to waste and the Akanûlian fled to the south, building the city of Airspur on the ruins of an ancient Chondathan city. Today, Akanûl is at peace, though many of its citizens remain concerned about the growing power of their northern neighbor.

Government
As a genasi-dominated nation, Akanûl's social structure, while largely authoritarian, is highly meritocratic in nature and most genasi can aspire to great heights if they are talented and work hard enough. Ruling over the kingdom but bound by the rule of law is Akanûl's sovereign, currently Queen Arathane, who rules from an enormous floating spire. Queen Arathane plays a large part in Akanûlian society and is responsible for the ultimate well-being of her citizens, which she takes very seriously.

Though the queen is an important and powerful figure she is legally required to delegate many of her responsibilities to the Four Stewards, each a minister representing one of four elements — fire, water, earth, and wind — and who are responsible for a portion of the kingdom's affairs, ruling from their own private fiefdom, known as a thronemote. The Steward of Fire, currently Magnol, is responsible for the management of Akanûl's military defenses and is the realm's commander-in-chief, while Tradrem Kethtrod, Steward of the Earth, is the nation's chief of intelligence. Myxofin, Steward of the Sea, runs the nation's economy. Lastly, Lehaya, the current Steward of the Sky, is the realm's primary executive officer, charged with ensuring the smooth regulation of the queen's law.

Although the Four Stewards primarily exist as administrative assistants and advisers, they also hold a considerable amount of power over Akanûl's monarch. By royal decree of Arathane's mother, the previous queen, the Four Stewards are legally empowered to override the king or queen's authority through a unanimous vote. However, should there be any split in the ranks, the monarch's word remains law.

Foreign relations
Akanûl is on friendly terms with the risen empire of High Imaskar and their neighbors across the Sea of Fallen Stars, Aglarond. The shadovar of Netheril also have an embassy in Airspur, a fact which has damaged relations with the western nations surrounding the Sea of Fallen Stars, such as Cormyr. Akanûl is, however, hostile towards the other major Abeiran exclave in Faerûn, Tymanther, owing to a longstanding grudge with the dragonkin of that land and have engaged in brief skirmishes with the land's military forces in Chessenta. Likewise, despite their common blood Akanûlians despise the slave-keeping genasi that rule large portions of Calimshan, regarding them as depraved and decadent.

Demographics
Status in Airspur is primarily racial. Genasi make up the bulk of the population and are given preferential treatment by both the government and local merchants. The refugees of Shyr and their descendants are guaranteed their basic needs by the decree of Queen Arathane. Other races in the city are mostly mercenaries, explorers, or specialized crafters and tradesmen. They are never allowed to hold office.