Southern Federation of Kingdoms
The Southern Federation of Kingdoms (SFK) was a political and military coalition in southern Mundus formed by several states—Jalbarra, Yaxton, and the Grand Duchy of Greater Urq are explicitly attested—to coordinate against regional rivals. The Federation emerged between ~500 and ~450 cycles ago and became the principal antagonist of Directionland in the War of the Empires (~300 cycles ago), after which it collapsed and was dissolved. Within the Aetherian tradition, the SFK’s patron deity is recorded as Darg.
| Southern Federation of Kingdoms | |
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 Flag of the Southern Federation of Kingdoms
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 Coat of Arms of The Southern Federation
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| Nation type | Federation |
| Form of government | Imperial Federation |
| National anthem | We Are One |
| Motto | Truth Binds Us All |
| Currency | Urqot |
| Languages | Directian |
| Territory & population | |
| Capital | Fort Yaxton |
| Major cities | |
Etymology and composition
Primary sources refer to the polity as a federation of kingdoms, with member states including Jalbarra, Yaxton, and Greater Urq. The exact number of additional members, if any, is not preserved in surviving summaries.
Formation and purpose
The SFK formed in the window after the United Realm of Directionland (c. 500 cycles ago) and before the Great Unification (c. 450 cycles ago). Contemporary accounts link its creation to border disputes with Ruulran, alongside wider southern security concerns. By the time Directionland fully centralized at the Great Unification, the Southern Federation was already seen as a looming threat.
Government and leadership
Sources characterize the SFK as a federated imperial structure during wartime, headed by a “King-Emperor.” During the War of the Empires, the coalition’s leader is named as King-Emperor Larsi. Further constitutional details (e.g., councils, capital seat) are not recorded in the extant overviews.
Religion
In Aetherian lists of national patronage, the Southern Federation is associated with Darg (the Wise), in contrast to Directionland’s veneration of Simonius and Ruulran’s association with Odivia.
Foreign relations
With Ruulran
The Federation’s origin is tied to a Ruulran border dispute, suggesting a guarded or adversarial posture toward Ruulran at its inception. Later, during the War of the Empires, Ruulran refused to intervene when Directionland requested aid, a decision that reshaped regional diplomacy but is not shown to have been coordinated by the SFK.
With Directionland
From its earliest mention, the SFK is framed as Directionland’s primary southern threat, a status that influenced Directionland’s move from a symbolic union to a centralized empire at the Great Unification. Tensions culminated in the SFK invasion ~300 cycles ago, which overran Gandry and Grelian and nearly broke the young empire before Directionland’s counteroffensive.
Role in the War of the Empires (~300 cycles ago)
Under King-Emperor Larsi, SFK forces launched a full-scale invasion, swiftly seizing Gandry and Grelian. After seven cycles of attritional war, Directionland’s Imperial Engineers of St. Niam debuted the TNT trebuchet, a siege innovation that shattered SFK positions. In the eighth cycle, Directionland burned the Federation’s core territories; most civilians were spared and allowed to flee. The Southern Federation was dissolved thereafter.