The Kingdom of Entrine

Leading the Confederate faction is the nation of Entrine, a Kingdom of the undead. Ruled by the enigmatic Lord, the Favored Soul of the Merchant, the walking dead toil night and day to free the living citizens to pursue their choice of professions. Many choose to become traders, and the strong mercantile tradition Entrine has fostered makes it the most wealthy nation in the Belt.

The citizens of Entrine enjoy a life free of most demanding physical labor, and instead are directed toward more intellectual or creative pursuits. For physical labor, the needs of Entrine are instead met by the reanimated corpses of its former citizens, controlled by the state and put to work in the most demanding and dangerous occupations. Almost any role where one would be expected to do heavy lifting, from guards to construction workers, are instead occupied by the dead.

While alarming by most standards, this is the norm for Entrine, and most of those not in the know often don't notice right away. These animated bodies are typically wrapped in ceremonial garb that both hides their rotting features and prevents the spread of disease and foul stenches, with only their silence and shambling movements revealing their nature.

Entrine's living population is primarily human, with some suggesting this is the case due to humankind's good balance of physical capabilities with its birth rate. The other races of the world are also present in Entrine, though in far fewer numbers, and mostly restricted to the more urban areas. However, the total living population of Entrine is estimated to be outnumbered at least 4 to 1 by the undead.

Competition is fierce among the living, however. With many jobs occupied by tireless corpses, those roles that remain for the living see much higher interest than they do elsewhere. Many become involved in trade for this reason, as the undead cannot leave Entrine, and it provides a lucrative and accessible opportunity to make a name for oneself.

Each city in Entrine is managed by an overmind - an undead entity that manages each and every undead in its city. It can see and hear through any one of its animated minions, communicate through them, and control the actions of the shambling hordes with ease. This provides a unique ability for the citizens of Entrine to directly talk to their ruler by striking a conversation with any of its undead thralls.

This allows citizens to have their voices heard, though any actions are entirely at the discretion of the various overminds, who rule as they see fit. Each has a distinct personality, with some being far more receptive to suggestions than others. The overminds themselves report to their creator, the Lord, who provides goals and targets the overminds must meet.

The capital city of Fairmore is where the Lord resides full-time, and it is the sole location filled primarily with the undead. Here, the Lord manages the affairs of state, with both simple and intelligent undead acting as his agents. Living visitors are permitted here, and it's not uncommon for individuals to have some form of business here, but even lifelong residents of Entrine have said they find the raw scale of undeath here to be unnerving.

Marion and Gariard are two of the oldest cities in the world, having roots from before the Cataclysm, and are allegedly named after two star-crossed lovers who, after their first meeting, were never able to gaze upon each other again. Rumor has it that the legend is repeating itself with the overminds of the two cities, with some claiming that these undead entities have fallen in love and wish to somehow meet.

The northernmost city of Entrine, Farux is its most prosperous city, as its more central location in the Belt makes it an excellent port to stop at for most voyages. However, the overmind has abruptly begun instituting laws that are baffling and frustrating the residents, such as banning the import of previously lucrative goods. Some claim that the overmind is becoming senile, while others believe that there must be some reason for the sudden changes.