The realm is fairly advanced, people enjoy realative luxury, such as paved streets and indoor plumbing. Aditionally, they have raised the study of a form of magic, Decimation, to a science. Due to it's nature is taught mostly in the military.
Luxery and science have to some degree spoiled the people; The decades old war the realm/kingdom is engaged in could probably be won by a large force of standard troops, instead of relying on science and magic. More mundane taskes are rountinely done with complex methodes that often end up taking longer and being more work than simpler methods. Paperwork and 'red tape' are common problems.
Ending the war could free up countless resources, most importantly the kindom's people from the fronts, and, if ended peacefully, create a new trading partner. Continuing the war will lead to continued isolation. There are also prophesies of the return of the Mountain God, which are largely ignored, lack of connection to the past could prove disasterous if he is not welcomed back.
The techniques used to carve the the image in the mountain have been lost, demonstrating the insignifigance of even the realm's impressive advancements since. Alternateley, if the prophesies are true, the god will re-inhabit his form and re-instate his former rule. In a more abstract sense (in other words, usefull in readings,) it reresents the triumph of old ways/age/tradition over youth/new directions. (Strength from the past.)
Reversed, it represents weakness due to clinging to old ways simply because they are the old ways, and not recognizing new opportunities or easier solutions. In this realm, it in particular applies to the continuing war. (Weakness from the past.)
The Realm is named after it's most distinctive feature, a mountain carved in the likeness of a man sitting upon a throne, situated roughly near the realm's center. The true history of this monument has been lost, those who concern themselves with it debate whether it is the earthly form of a god who is not using it at the moment, some work of ancient, forgetten technology, or myrid other theories.
Rule, 'officially', is by The Mountain God, but in his considerable absence, a king rules in his place - on a stone throne, not coincidentally. The throne (as legend would have it, anyway) is a solid piece of granite carved from the actual throne part of the mountain. To those who truely believe in The Mountain God (of which few are left in the king's court,) the throne itself is a powerfull relic.
Though the kings claim to rule in the absent god's name, few really doubt that they have in thier hearts forgotten thier original duty and taken the right to rule to be wholly that of thier line. Few really care, either.
The legends of The Mountain God are common knowledge in popular folklore, though few take the stories seriously. Those who do believe that The Mountain God will return are organized into cult like groups, meeting in secret cerimonies within sight of the Mountain. Dress at meetings, and, among the open ones, in public, is a simple grey robe, like the one The Mountain God wears.
True believers only form a portion of the groups. Though they realize that a number of thier members are following the 'better this than get smited if it's true' philosphy, they accept thier support for now and believe that when (not if in thier minds) The Mountain God returns, He will see through thier false belief. Of those who join the cults, many keep thier affiliations out of the public eye, while a small portion actively campaign to convice the masses.
The exact date of the god's supposed return is astronomically fixed by prophesy. It is common knowledge that the date is 'soon', but only active followers and a few other curious scholers know the exact date, and not all of those are knowledgeable enough in the stars to associate the omen with an actual date. [I leave the truth of the prophesies up to individual guides.]
Nonetheless, the rule of the realm is often refered to as 'The Granite Throne,' which could be either The Mountain Gods seat, or it's smaller replica. For instance, the military serves 'In the name of The Granite Throne.'
Title, heriditary inheritance, and choice of seating and dress are the only similarites to the traditonal meaning of 'King.' The king's duties in current times resemble those of a president more than a king, and government descisions are also ruled upon by an elected parliment. The government, and the society as a whole, are laboring under a great deal of paperwork, 'red tape,' and other such formal procedures.
The people of the realm enjoy a fairly luxurious standard of living, most have cobbled streets and indoor plumbing, among other things, and the printing press has fueled the paperwork maze.
The realm currently is (and has been for some time) in a state of war with the neighbooring realm of Pyramid. Thought the war has yet to go a century, there are none alive who remeber it's beginnings. Scholers who study the war usually attribute it to 'mutally expantionist policies.'
Pyramid is a desert realm, which, coincidently enough, has several pyramids in it. It is ruled over by The Serpent Queen, who is a normal woman, (not a medusa or such) but does have a power over serpents. Several queens have ruled over the course of the war, just as several kings have held The Granite Throne.
The Kindom of the Mountain God had in intial advantage in the war, but then Pyramid secured an alliance with the undead giants of another neighbooring realm, and this has kept the war in gridlock for decades. It is not known what was offered for this service, rumors usually speak of unpleasent things.
Because of the war, The Kingdom requires several years of military service from all it's citizens. Others make the military a lifelong career. Several postions require a longer commitment, such as the decimators, destruction mages, who require extensive training. Granted, this will usually not be a terribly long time; besides being military targets on the battlefield, decimators are not known for thier extensive lifespans.
The abilty of the decimators to make short work of walls has rendered castles virtually useless for in-realm wars in The Kingdom. Since the war with Pyramid, they have copied the concept from others and placed several along the front. Of course, undead giants make fairly short work of walls themselves.
That is enough from me, you can make the rest up yourself. ;^)
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