Mendev

The nation of Mendev (pronounced MEN-dev) in northeastern Avistan is a land defined by its conflict with Abyssal forces unheard of anywhere else on Golarion. The people of this beleaguered land constantly struggle with the demonic rift of the Worldwound found across its western border. Mendev is now in the middle of its fifth holy crusade against the demons of that land, and along with the pious and righteous, this crusade has attracted its fair share of mercenaries, outcasts, and ne’er-do-wells of all types hoping to take advantage of a war that has lasted for nearly a century.

History


Before the Worldwound

The history of Mendev stretches back before the opening of the Worldwound in 4606 AR, when it was simply a nation inhabited by the descendants of Iobarian exiles with a less-than-stellar reputation. The last prince of that land died when the portal to the Abyss was opened, an event that would change Mendev forever.

Opening of the Worldwound

The opening of the Worldwound in 4606 AR did not cause an immediate reaction, as the breach and the demons that poured from it expanded slowly at first. As the threat became more serious and tales spread of the invasion, the nations of the Inner Sea region and the major benevolent churches began to take notice and launched the First Mendevian Crusade in 4622 AR.

Geography

Mendev is located at the very north of the continent of Avistan and its northern border consists of the towering ice cliffs of the Crown of the World. To Mendev’s west, marked by the Wardstones that help keep the abyssal taint at bay, is the Worldwound, Mendev’s very reason for existing. To its west is the Lake of Mists and Veils, the vast body of water which thousands of pilgrims have crossed to complete their pilgrimage. To the south lies Numeria, separated by rivers along much of the border. The people of Mendev seem to have little to do with this harsh nation of savagery and strange science.

Government

Mendev is governed by Queen Galfrey, the Sword of Iomedae. She is a noble and just leader who manages to balance leading Mendev compassionately with the need to ensure the crusades can continue to hold back the fiendish attackers. The problem with Queen Galfrey’s noble leadership is that it does not stretch far enough—not much further than the walls of her fortress capital of Nerosyan.

Beyond the city’s walls her commands are no longer law and the various commanders in control of the other cities, towns, forts, and armies within Mendev each interpret her commands a little differently; some commanders taking more liberties than others. This has lead to divisions within the crusade, particularly since the Fourth Crusade saw the number of mercenaries, rogues, and other so called “low templars” rise to match the number of pious crusaders. The nation remains in a fragile state, with unchecked violence lurking just below the surface at all times. The government spends nearly all available resources in fighting the external foe, which leaves little to put out regional disagreements.

Next to the Queen, Hulrun of Kenabres, leader of the nation’s inquisitors is the most respected and potent political figure. Even though he is quite advanced in years, he has lost none of his zeal for purity.

Inhabitants

The inhabitants of Mendev are a strange mixture of peoples ranging from high-minded gallants to back-alley thugs. While many of the land’s inhabitants were swept here in the fanatic zeal of one of the crusades, many are natives of this land whose families lived here long before the crusaders’ arrival. These people, the native Iobarians, had much in common culturally with the neighbouring kingdom of Sarkoris, now the Worldwound. The Iobarian inhabitants tend to be treated as second-class citizens by the crusaders, as they still practice their ancient druidic faith. This, unfortunately, makes them suspicious to the zealous crusaders of more traditional religions, and has lead to many Iobarians burning at the stake for their heretical beliefs. In fact, most of the Third Mendevian Crusade seemed more focused on burning and purging heretics than it did on driving back the actual demonic denizens of the Worldwound. This suspicion is further fueled by the fact that Sarkoris was rife with cults dedicated to the demon lord Deskari, cults Aroden himself hunted down and destroyed during the Age of Enthronement.