The Golden Land
The Golden Land is the largest nation remaining on the Plane of Varys, consisting of three principle city-states (Sakharria, Takharria and Cerrestia) surrounding the Karithkaia, and three smaller fortress-cities (Ataereth, Katraketh and Matraeth) that guard the nation's borders.
It is believed that the Golden Land was first established during the Fifth Age, some time after the arrival of the Karithkaia, although most details of the land's founding are now lost in the mists of time. It is generally held that the nation's origin was as a last-ditch alliance of the plane's natives followers of Law with the newly arrived armies loyal to Jurakell and Iasakell. Although initially small, this alliance soon grew to incorporate many of the surviving nations in the eastern part of Varys' central continent and served as a great bastion of Law throughout the long wars against Chaos in both the Fifth and Seventh Ages.
The original intent of the land's name is also unclear - with the land's scholars divided on whether the name originates from the 'golden time' of the Sixth Age, when Varys was believed to be free from Chaos, or whether it dates to the Fifth Age and is a reference to Schiraman's Golden Sword and standard. In modern times it is most often taken to mean both - declaring the land's loyalty to the forces of Law and also suggesting that it remains as a last bastion of civilisation in a ruined world.
The Golden Land is rarely viewed in a positive light by those beyond its borders however - and there are increasing signs of internal unrest, although any sign of rebellion is ruthlessly repressed by the nation's Lawkeepers. The state's current lack of popularity can be attributed directly to its ongoing policy of zero tolerance for those touched by Chaos, which since the emergence of the Heart of Chaos is a significant proportion of Varys' remaining population. Only in the zone immediately around the Karithkaia has this taint struggled to manifest, and the 'pure' cities in this area have been ruthless in their pursuit of those Chaos-touched amongst their former allies.
At the height of the wars of the Seventh Age the Golden Land was forced to fight alongside the various break-away states surrounding it, in order to concentrate on the greater threat of active Chaos armies in the west. However in the Eighth Age, with the great wars over, it has increasingly turned its attention to its smaller neighbours and has razed several city states considered 'tainted' within the last few decades. Most recent amongst these lesser wars was the crusade against Linnastus, a city notable for having taken in many refugees from Vaekharria after it met a similar fate a decade earlier. The Golden Land no longer has any immediate neighbours, and it seems entirely possible that it will soon begin to focus its efforts further afield.
