Capital:	Damcyan City
Government type:	Full Monarchy
Rulers:	King Edward Von Damcya and Queen Jessica Krevaman-Von Damcya
Population:	35000
Military Strength:	5800 soldiers, 16 airships, 36 hovercrafts
Primary Trading Partners:	Toroia, Baron, Fabul, Silvera
Economy:	Fairly strong

Damcyan, its capital city once a wasted wreck, is now faring much better than it did during the years between the Crystal Wars and Cruel Summer. Back then, it was barely stronger than Baron, as both nations tried to get back on their feet. Competent government by King Edward has since improved the national economy, however, as Baron and Toroia sent aid to heal the destroyed city.

Despite living in the Sandlance Desert, a gigantic wasteland which consists of a desert thousands of square kilometers in size, the nation is actually quite prosperous. Merchants heading to or from Baron and Toroia, currently the other economic giants, has greatly boosted the coffers of the nation, as the capital sits in the middle of a mammoth oasis, although it is not as big as the Welcome Waters that support Kaipo.

Damcyan has rarely fought against other armies-only the desert orcs were in great enough numbers to mount a raid, although the odd hoover or sand dragon may be causes for alarm. In such cases, Damcyan will use its elite hovercrafts, fitted with excellent technology derived from the cunning mind of Cid Barrington himself, to destroy them.

Damcyan is a siege commander’s nightmare-no human army could last long without food or water, and the shallows make sailing into attack extremely perilous. Only Golbez’s airships, piloted by the creatures in his armies, succeeded in victory against the city, and even then Kaipo survived unharmed.

Damcyan is noted for the Desert of Storms, barren, trackless wastes which lie south of the Mountains of Sorrow which act as a border between the two deserts, although both are considered Damcyan territory. The huge oasis known as the Welcome Waters lies here, where the town of Kaipo, the only other settlement in the nation, resides. This city was created originally as a trading post for gold seekers, which eventually grew into a city all its own, and incidentally fixed terrible overcrowding problems in Damcyan. Some gold has been found in the Mountains of Sorrow, but it is only good for for bulk purchases of imports from other nations. Damcyan does not bother to mint its own coins, because of the smallness of its own market, and exports the oil and other metals, which serve as excellent airship fuel and armor and weapons manufacture, respectively. The coinage of virtually all other nations are accepted by Damcyan shopkeepers almost without exception, as Damcyan has only its own natural resources to trade with other nations. It uses its own considerable gold reserves to purchase imports, which makes for a strange market unheard of anywhere else, as some nations will use the gold Damcyan gives them

One final mention must be made-Damcyan City itself suffers little, if at all, from heat waves or heatstroke. The Fire Crystal is known to moderate the temperature around Damcyan. As for Kaipo, the Welcome Waters, which are known to be fed by many underground rivers, keep it cool in hard times.

The Sandblade Desert: This desert is aptly named because of its sandstorms which can cause scything wounds to the hardiest of travelers. It is a gigantic expanse which consists of Damcyan’s northern territory, holding Damcyan City itself and also several outposts for soldiers, patrols and military vehicles. The desert is haunted by all sorts of vile creatures, from hoovers to sand men to giant centipedes and sandworms, and even the odd dragon! Some small groups of yellow dragons inhabit the Mountains of Sorrow.

Travel in the desert is extremely hazardous-the sun burns down on everything it sees, and the wise will wear hooded robes to protect themselves from the heat, as well as the sandstorms. A goodly supply of water is also needed, as even the desert nomads cannot survive long without it-they get regular water supply from underground and aboveground oases and tapping cacti. Some chocobos are also highly useful, as it can be wearying to travel through the dunes for a long distance, and also reduces the need for rest breaks.

The Desert of Storms: This desert is just as big and dangerous as the Sandblade Desert. It makes up Damcyan’s southern territory, and the mountains to its south act as the border with Baron. No one travels through here without very good reason. Kaipo is an often-traveled rest stop, as it sits on the gigantic Welcome Waters, an oasis that provides an unlimited water supply. Merchants and travelers attempting to reach Damcyan City often cross through the Star Rivers which go underneath the Mountains of Sorrow, stop off in a nameless valley, and eventually lead to the Sandlance Desert, where travelers can then reach Damcyan City. The second of these caves is noted for the battle site where Cecil Gavalis, Rydia Timernda and Tellah Miroso defeated the evil squid Octomammoth

The Star Rivers: These underground rivers act as a tunnel between the two deserts that make up Damcyan’s territory. It should definitely be noted that travel through here is certainly possible, but by no means safe. For some reason, the waters gleam as if stars were shining down on them. Monsters abound in here-elecfish, actaneons, aspiks, huge shells, fang shells, huge toads, mad toads, water hags, and others, and any merchants coming through here should have wary guards if they hope to survive.

The Antlion’s Cave: This cave is the home of the Antlion, an extremely fierce creature that hunts the other creatures that share its network of caverns ruthlessly. They lay eggs to reproduce, and from this there will occasionally come a Sand Ruby, which was used by Cecil to break the fever of Rosa. Even now, adventuring parties will seek the Sand Rubies to sell in Damcyan City or Kaipo. Few return, however, as the antlion can shoot out fierce spikes that can almost instantly slay someone when it is struck. Were it not for Rydia using her Call spells for victory, Cecil and Edward would likely have been slaughtered like so many others before them.

The caves themselves are a massive network of maze-like tunnels, which are often lit by mysterious lichen that can easily illuminate it for humans to be able to see.

His Royal Majesty, King Edward Von Damcya XVII: King Edward is not what one would call a fierce fighter. He appears, for all intents and purposes, a small man, lacking in both strength and vitality. However, he is a very talented singer and a master bard, among the heroes who traveled with Cecil in the Crystal Wars. He is never without the Damcya Ring, a ring only removable upon the death of the current monarch, that fits no one except those who marry into or are born into the Damcya line, which confirms their right to rule. It is a very powerful artifact, providing protection to the wearer from both attacks and various ill effects such as poison, blindness and death sentences. Edward, being born and bred for the throne, has done an excellent job as a monarch, reviving Damcyan’s economy quite well. He rarely leaves Damcya City except on urgent matters of state, preferring to stay with his wife Mavira and son Javrax, heir to the throne of Damcyan.

Government Type: Elected Mayor

Ruler: Baron Levro Knighthawk

Population: 20000

Police Force/Militia: 800 soldiers of the City Guard

Crime Rate: Low

Damcya City is one of the biggest cities in the known world, having expanded greatly after the Cruel Summer because of the idyllic conditions. Crime is very low, and the people are often happy and content with their lots. Some remains of the Bright Claw’s Society, the group behind the Cruel Summer, still remain, trying desperately to reassert their dark master Nedrax, who now remains imprisoned, but their numbers continue to dwindle, as the cult has been exterminated just about everywhere else in the world. However, some say that the villainous Count Quanava, the man originally responsible for the formation of the Society, survived the Cruel Summer, but this is highly unlikely, considering the ruination that the heroes inflicted on the society, whose back is now broken perhaps permanently.

Government Type:	Elected Mayor
Ruler:	Mayor Everma Iovar
Population:	12000
Police Force/Militia:	2000 members of the City Guard
Crime Rate:	None

Sitting at the southern end of the Welcome Waters, perhaps the biggest oasis on Earth, this village rarely wants for water or money, due to the merchants and adventurers passing through here and spending money on a regular basis. They often purchase a drink strangely known as Sandworm’s Scale, a drink brewed only in Kaipo. Some say that it is made from the water of the Welcome Waters, but this is only partly true. Ground up sandworm scales, mixed in by chemists who work for the brewers, give this drink its surprisingly pleasant taste.