A rising power on the shores of Lake Encarthan, Molthune (pronounced mole-THOON) desperately wants to be an empire whose power rivals those of the great nations of the Inner Sea. At the moment it is a nation whose ambition outstrips it abilities, but with new incentives encouraging immigration and enlistment in the national army, this may not be the case for long.

Government

Molthune is ruled over by an imperial governor (currently Markwin Teldas) who has, ever since the country achieved independence, been selected from the Molthuni Imperial Army. Below the imperial governor are nine General Lords who each tend to certain areas of the country. These generals are in charge of deciding on the new imperial governor, normally when the previous one dies as it is a position held for life. The absolute rule of the military may not be popular with some but, despite what their critics say, each General Lord is an efficient statesman, and they are far better suited to running the ongoing hostilities with Nirmathas and managing the territorial ambitions of Molthune than civilian governors would be.

History

Molthune was first incorporated as part of the empire of Cheliax in 4305 AR by King Haliad III during the Wars of Expansion, but the history of Molthune as a free nation, like many others, begins with the death of Aroden and Cheliax’s subsequent decline. Before Molthune achieved independence in 4632 AR, it was merely a distant province of the Chelaxian empire.

When the various factions within Cheliax began to splinter, Molthune, under Governor Kellon, was quick to take advantage and declared itself independent, later inspiring Andoran and Galt to follow their example. Unfortunately, shortly after they seceded from Cheliax, Molthune itself fractured further. The rebellious folk who dwelt in and around the Fangwood in northern Molthune had long chafed under the repressive rule of Cheliax and longed for freedom. They rejoiced when Molthune turned its back on its oppressors, but within a few short years they realised that this had changed nothing except where they sent their tithes. So in 4648 AR, the people of northern Molthune began their violent rebellion. Within seven short years the rebels had won and the nation of Nirmathas was born.

The founding of Nirmathas was not the end to hostilities between these two nations; it just heralded a new direction for the conflict. Ever since Nirmathas’ founding, Molthune has been trying desperately to get it back. The most recent imperial governor, Markwin Teldas, has instrumented many new policies with the suspected aim of an invasion of Nirmathas.

In 4706 AR, Governor Teldas declared the Pathfinder Society an enemy of the state in Molthune after the Society opened a lodge in the Nirmathi capital. However, many Pathfinders still sneak into Molthune to explore the country’s ruins and other mysterious locales.

Geography

Molthune lies in central Avistan on the shores of Lake Encarthan, nestled between some of the most powerful nations on the continent. In some respects, this is an ideal location for an aspiring superpower—in others, it is not. To its east, Molthune is bordered by Druma, an unassailable merchant nation that is too valuable a trading partner to invade. To the south and west, separated by the Menador Mountains, lies Cheliax and Nidal respectively, an unholy alliance of shadow-touched priests and Hell-spawned devils. Neither country is viable for_ Molthune’s_ territorial ambitions, as Cheliax, despite the loss of much of its empire, is still one of the most powerful nations of the Inner Sea region and Nidal is one of its closest allies. To the north lies Nirmathas, which is the focus of Molthune’s imperialist aggression.