Antosh

Antosh is a small nation south of Vistánia and north of Mezulla, being surrounded mostly by sea. The Antoshi claim to be descended from escaped slaves from the ancient Sangkovian Empire from thousands of years ago, although historians have debated the truthfulness of that claim.

Antoshi have often been described as being clever and opportunistic, and many other nations admire their ability to have built up a rich, powerful nation despite their land not having much in the way of natural resources. Their location has enabled them to become adept at seafaring and international trade, and they have also been able to gain lots of wealth and power through the large and ancient Bank of Chetorra.

In wars, they are usually not the ones to start conflicts, but when neighboring countries have disputes, the Antoshi often find a way to profit off of it or minimize losses by choosing the side that will benefit them the most. This often involves them switching allegiances in the middle of a war, loaning large sums of money to the side that they think will be most likely to win, or avoiding the wrath of a conquering empire by cutting a deal. When that fails, the Antoshi have also proven to be very fierce and effective at defending their homeland and driving out invaders. Throughout history, they've experienced invasions by the likes of the Vistánians, the Mezullians and the Valkarians, but have proven time and time again that their land is a tough nut to crack. Many invaders have trouble dealing with the hot sun and harsh terrain that makes up a large portion of their country, or the various tried-and-true tactics that their native populace has employed over the years to keep their land their own. Their wealth has also allowed them to minimize blood shed by their own by hiring foreign mercenaries to defend them, such as the Vistánian Storm Sons.

While warriors from most nations are known to have a specific type of sword as their iconic weapon, the Antoshi have a long history of favoring the axe. They claim their ancient ancestors rebelled against their oppressors and tamed their land by using the axes their masters had given them, and so the axe has been maintained as a symbol of cultural identity. Even today, Antoshi musketeers use muskets with axes attached instead of bayonets.