Verduro
Verduro, officially the Kingdom of Verduro, is a sovereign island nation in the warm sea that lies off the south coast of the Hasperian mainland in the western half of the Inner Sea. It comprises the island of Verduro proper and a number of smaller surrounding islands, as well as substantial parts of northeastern Scorchio itself which it holds as colonial domains.
Geography
Until a few hundred years ago the island of Verduro was extremely cold all year round and covered in dense taiga forests but the climate changed rapidly around the time of the Great Migrations and it has a warm subtropical climate which gives it long hot summers and mild winters. Snowfall is rarely seen now except on the peaks of the Serra Ouranos, the range of mountains that dominate the western side of the island. The north and eastern sides of the island are made up mainly of rolling hills, woodland and fertile river valleys that drain into the Sao estuary. The capital and largest city of Verduro, Lusantia, sits on the east bank of the Sao, making it the principal centre of maritime trade in Verduro. The southern part of the island consists of prairies and flatlands ideal for agriculture.
Politics
Verduro is lead by a monarchy and has been since the island was unified over two hundred and seventy years ago. The monarchy is hereditary, the rules of succession are traditionally determined along male primogeniture upon the death of the previous monarch, with the current King being the sole exception. The monarch has wide ranging power over affairs of state but can be limited by the Corta, the kingdon's parliament, particularly in matters of tax and finance. The members of the Corta are elected for life by sortition from among eligible noble citizens.
