Evermyst Coast

The western coast of Desina is dominated by the wetlands that have come to be known as the Evermyst Coast. Controlling almost all the trading ports on Desina, the coast is an incredibly wealthy area ruled by merchants.

History
The Evermyst Coast has always been home to some of the wealthiest ports in Amikus. It possesses miles of coast suitable for shipping to Moxia, Anitum, and the Aemmiri Empire (before it became the Frozen Kingdom), as well as important isles such as the Isle of Ash and Port Castor. However, the merchants and seamen that lived there were more concerned for turning a profit than building an army and for much of history the region fell into the control of whoever had the biggest army. Several wizard-emperors took control of regions of the coast during the Age of Wizards, and the Tantus Empire didn't have much trouble taking the coast during their peak. When the empire abandoned Desina during their downfall the Evermyst Coast was free for the first time in hundreds of years.

The wealthiest merchants of the coast knew it was only a matter of time being the wars of the Age of Nations came to them and they would once again be placed under foreign rule. They banded together to buy an army of mercenaries, sellswords, and retired adventurers. The army proved surprisingly tough and the region managed to repel several invasions. In order to better protect themselves the merchants declared the coast a sovereign nation.

The rise of the guilds was one of the best things that could have happened for the coast. They no longer needed to pay out of pocket to maintain their army of mercenaries, instead they could now contract out guilds on a job-for-job basis. With their wealth, the merchant princes hire guilds for everything from protecting their shipments to hunting for valuable antiques.

Culture
Money speaks on the coast. Those with money know how to use it and those without money strive to obtain it. The region is full of merchants, craftsmen, sailors, caravan operators, and rarity collectors, among other profitable professions. The region is easily the richest in the world, and even the more impoverished areas see more opportunity than elsewhere in the world.

Politics
The nation is run by a group that refers to themselves as 'merchant princes.' They are the wealthiest men on the coast. Anyone who makes a sizable enough contribution to the collective is eligible to join the merchant princes. They ensure the nation remains sovereign and see to it basic laws are enforced to protect property and life, in that order.

Guild Affiliations
With their near bottomless budget, the merchant princes have created ties with almost every major guild and many minor ones. While they lack an official military guild of their own, should they be threatened their wealth would ensure that they would not lack for guilds coming to their defense.