Lankor

[9ofSwords]

What do you make of Lankor? I know: analogies to Terran polities are always incomplete and only partially accurate. Still, I tend to view Azeryan as most similar to Byzantium, just with it's geographic center moved west to a land mass that is the Italian and Balkan peninsulas combined. So while in a geographic analogy to Europe Lankor might inhabit the position of Switzerland, I don't see it that way at all. More likely I see it akin to various kingdoms of the Caucasus — Georgia, Dagestan, Trebizond maybe. Of course, geography isn't of primary importance. I'm looking for inspiration for the culture, notably that Lankor is governed by a grand prince with a ruling council of other princes, all of whom "have been described as being among the world’s most avaricious and devious lords, even when the stakes are small. When subtlety and gold do not suffice, they can call upon other resources, including small mercenary armies and Navehan assassins." [Venarive 131]

[Krazma]

Perhaps the history of what is now Hungary might be a better analogue

[simonleefox]

You might also want to consider the land of the Border Princes from Warhammer.

[kuroda]

"Switzerland, but inhabited solely by the kinds of Italians that show up in early modern English dramas and novels. Also, Transylvania (through the same lens)."