Demonym Coppali (a Coppali warship; a Coppali warrior). Ship Designation N.S.S. (Navis Sanctitatis Suae, “The Ship of His/Her/Their Holiness”). Touchstones Ancient Egypt (religion); Italian Peninsula (geography and culture); Arthuriana (religious myths). LanguagesCoppali, the lingua franca of the Continent; Classical Aptalian, the language used by the church of Amunism.
The Coppali people reside as they always have, across a fertile, rich peninsula at the center of the continent which extends northward into the great inner sea. Here, the great Aptalian Empire rose and fell.
The empire, though it originally rose from the eastern realm of Old Aptah, raised its capital of Aigyptos at the headwaters of the great holy river Ptah near the geographical center of the Coppali peninsula. Led by the millennia-strong dynasty of Dragonborn who gave the holy river its name, this empire once ruled over all the continent—excepting, perhaps, for much of Lochlann.
Twelve hundred years ago, the final Pharoah of the Aptalian Empire, Amun the Shining One, descended into the underworld and conquered it in the name of the mortal races under his rule, becoming a living god. Though his body sleeps in state in the Holy Sepulcher at Aigyptos, it is prophesied that he will rise again one day to defend his people from the great demon Apep, and thereafter lead his people to paradise. Much of the Amunian faith is concerned with ensuring one’s soul safely passes through the veil of death and into the afterlife, with various Patron Saints invoked by believers as minor psychopomps—guides through the dread realms beyond death.
The Shining One’s rule was theoretically continued under the line of Patriars, Princes(ses) of the Kingdom of Life and Death, Shepherds of the Underworld, Stewards of the Holy Sepulcher (&c., &c.) As the empire declined and shattered over the course of the following three centuries, these Patriars held onto immense cultural power over much of the continent, legitimizing coronations, centralizing religious doctrine, censuring or blessing holy wars, and so on, while losing much of the direct military and political control they once held.
Over the last few hundred years, the Coppali peninsula has seen the rise of dozens of city-state “kingdoms”, ruled by noble families grown rich and powerful in trade and patronage. Many such noble families use their wealth and influence to secure the grace of the Patriars; the most powerful even ensure their own are elected to this high and holy office. A dizzying dance of patronage, diplomacy and warfare (but I repeat myself) has been the norm in these kingdoms through to the present moment.
Factions
The Noble House of Tantivi
The Noble House of Tantivi is one of the most powerful noble dynasties currently in power in Coppalia, especially as their matriarch, Aldivia Tantivi, currently reigns as the Patriar Hatshepsut XI.
Cutthroat even compared to the baseline of Coppali politics, the house currently rules Tower Hill in the Serpent Isles “on behalf of Coppali and the Patriars.” Seeing as the current Patriar is also the head of the family, they have a uniquely strong justification for self-serving and double dealing in Serpent Isle trade.
Their principal rivals include the noble families of Forteza and Lys, and they have long held the minor House of Siena as their vassals.
The Ondoran Family
The Ondoran Family is an influential merchant family based out of Coppalia. They are explicitly not a noble family; as such, they have an outsized influence (though not a dominant one) on politics in La Gardé.
The family more openly governs the Coppali cities of Perugia, Grosseto and Terni. They have been exerting great effort to gain a foothold in the Serpent Isles, as well.
Their current head is Lucia Ondoran, a “natural-born” bastard of the house claimed as its heir. She has ruled the family as its matriarch since 1228 A.G.
The Sanctum Knights
The Sanctum Knights are a quasi-military group sworn to serve the Patriars in Aigyptos. They have several fortresses in Coppalia, and also have a vast (some would say the most dominant) influence on the Serpent Isles.
The Knights were organized under the command of Patriar Thebes II in 1077 A.G. While they were originally charged with the defense of the Holy Sepulcher (which had been sacked, with many of its relics plundered, three years earlier), they have grown in might and influence decade over decade since.
They are charged with defending the faith, though that occasionally appears like enriching the faith to those outside the order. They can, at least, be counted on to defend the innocent.
Back to Pirates: The World of Kaytriss
The Land of Coppalia
Coppalia is the cultural heart of The Continent.
The Coppali people reside as they always have, across a fertile, rich peninsula at the center of the continent which extends northward into the great inner sea. Here, the great Aptalian Empire rose and fell.
The empire, though it originally rose from the eastern realm of Old Aptah, raised its capital of Aigyptos at the headwaters of the great holy river Ptah near the geographical center of the Coppali peninsula. Led by the millennia-strong dynasty of Dragonborn who gave the holy river its name, this empire once ruled over all the continent—excepting, perhaps, for much of Lochlann.
Twelve hundred years ago, the final Pharoah of the Aptalian Empire, Amun the Shining One, descended into the underworld and conquered it in the name of the mortal races under his rule, becoming a living god. Though his body sleeps in state in the Holy Sepulcher at Aigyptos, it is prophesied that he will rise again one day to defend his people from the great demon Apep, and thereafter lead his people to paradise. Much of the Amunian faith is concerned with ensuring one’s soul safely passes through the veil of death and into the afterlife, with various Patron Saints invoked by believers as minor psychopomps—guides through the dread realms beyond death.
The Shining One’s rule was theoretically continued under the line of Patriars, Princes(ses) of the Kingdom of Life and Death, Shepherds of the Underworld, Stewards of the Holy Sepulcher (&c., &c.) As the empire declined and shattered over the course of the following three centuries, these Patriars held onto immense cultural power over much of the continent, legitimizing coronations, centralizing religious doctrine, censuring or blessing holy wars, and so on, while losing much of the direct military and political control they once held.
Over the last few hundred years, the Coppali peninsula has seen the rise of dozens of city-state “kingdoms”, ruled by noble families grown rich and powerful in trade and patronage. Many such noble families use their wealth and influence to secure the grace of the Patriars; the most powerful even ensure their own are elected to this high and holy office. A dizzying dance of patronage, diplomacy and warfare (but I repeat myself) has been the norm in these kingdoms through to the present moment.
Factions
The Noble House of Tantivi
The Noble House of Tantivi is one of the most powerful noble dynasties currently in power in Coppalia, especially as their matriarch, Aldivia Tantivi, currently reigns as the Patriar Hatshepsut XI.
Cutthroat even compared to the baseline of Coppali politics, the house currently rules Tower Hill in the Serpent Isles “on behalf of Coppali and the Patriars.” Seeing as the current Patriar is also the head of the family, they have a uniquely strong justification for self-serving and double dealing in Serpent Isle trade.
Their principal rivals include the noble families of Forteza and Lys, and they have long held the minor House of Siena as their vassals.
The Ondoran Family
The Ondoran Family is an influential merchant family based out of Coppalia. They are explicitly not a noble family; as such, they have an outsized influence (though not a dominant one) on politics in La Gardé.
The family more openly governs the Coppali cities of Perugia, Grosseto and Terni. They have been exerting great effort to gain a foothold in the Serpent Isles, as well.
Their current head is Lucia Ondoran, a “natural-born” bastard of the house claimed as its heir. She has ruled the family as its matriarch since 1228 A.G.
The Sanctum Knights
The Sanctum Knights are a quasi-military group sworn to serve the Patriars in Aigyptos. They have several fortresses in Coppalia, and also have a vast (some would say the most dominant) influence on the Serpent Isles.
The Knights were organized under the command of Patriar Thebes II in 1077 A.G. While they were originally charged with the defense of the Holy Sepulcher (which had been sacked, with many of its relics plundered, three years earlier), they have grown in might and influence decade over decade since.
They are charged with defending the faith, though that occasionally appears like enriching the faith to those outside the order. They can, at least, be counted on to defend the innocent.