The Tribes of Bariathon

Founded by druids, the jungle islands that compose Bariathon are more of a nature preserve than they are a sovereign state. While formally an independent nation, the government of Bariathon is practically nonexistent, and most locations within it lack any trace of civilization. The formal responsibilities of its government are primarily devoted to preserving the ecosystem of the nation, with most military and diplomatic responsibilities happily surrendered to Metropolis.

While the other nations of the Belt were quick to house civilization, those that settled in Bariathon refused to do so. This was partially due to the difficulty of colonizing the land, as its jungle terrain and exotic creatures were quite difficult to contend with. These territories would eventually be unified by allied druids, seeking to maintain the state of the land. The result is a nation that looks almost identically to how it did a millennium and a half ago.

However, some criminal enterprises have begun to appear within these secluded jungles. In particular, the native plant life of Bariathon appears to lend itself to the production of substances outlawed in some nations, and facilities for creating these substances have appeared in increasing number. Many of these facilities are first found as ruins, ransacked by the island's population of Dinosaurs, which appear to have acquired a taste for what they contain.

The population of Bariathon is primarily composed of Markunians - those with animalistic traits such as Satyrs, Lizardfolk, Yuan-Ti, and Owlin. Many of these individuals feel a unique connection with nature that leads many of them to wish to go where civilization is least present. That said, the population of Bariathon is pitiful, and it and Argorin compete for the title of least populous nation in the world.

The largest sole race here is that of the Yuan-Ti, who view the nation as something of a homeland, and are primarily responsible for the machinations of the state. Most others beings live in solitude or in isolated communities, existing in harmony with nature throughout the jungle that fills the nation.

The majority of citizens of Bariathon have little regard for politics, with only the residents of its sole city, Johwa, likely to see any frequent government influence. This is due to the political will of the nation being functionally nonexistent, as the government exists only to preserve the nature of its territory. This means most responsibilities are oriented for goals of conservation, and even the few diplomatic actions performed by the nation are done with that in mind.

Political office is primarily a way of enforcing hierarchy amongst the Yuan-Ti, using promotions and ranks to show their status. These ranks are hard-earned, however, as they typically involve individuals working hard to stand out from their peers. This often means that an individual must have tangible success in conservation, such as stopping a large number of poachers or addressing threats to the natural order.

Bariathon is a land of nature, and as such, settlements are as small as they are infrequent. However, a formal government was required to secure Bariathon's independence and status, and as a result a single city exists within its borders that acts as its capital: Johwa.

Primarily populated with Yuan-Ti, Johwa is a walled city of stone that acts as the sole civilized location in the nation. However, visitors to it often find the term civilization to be loosely held, as the city is alien to most sensibilities. With only minimal connection to the outside world, and with the Yuan-Ti in command, the culture of Johwa has little regard for the standards and norms of most societies. Temples are common, where any number of bizarre and sometimes profane rituals are performed, and the laws of the land are far more darwinian than most visitors expect.