It is the expressed view of the state of Punth that no god or gods exist. The Qryth, if there was any formal tradition of worship in their background before the fall, have left it far behind. Religion in neighbouring states is seen as a result of dishonesty, folly and ignorance. Punthite citizens do not appear to have any great sense of the divine - however, the Codes are treated with reverence bordering on the spiritual and the appearance of a Sky-Prince in an isolated village might be treated with a superstitious wonder.
The Codes structure all things, as the beams of a house. All things may be understood as part of the Codes.
"Prophets are Wizards"
Miracles happen, if less regularly than the Church would like. Prophets (as The 52 Pages labels them [download, author's blog]) are held by the Codes to be wizards of a faith sufficiently strong to influence the character of their magic. That choir of angels is merely the result of an aberration of the wizarding psyche. The same is held, incidentally, for anyone summoning up spirits: the direct, properly taught mage would just summon a firestorm, rather than producing some puppet ifrit to produce flames.
The inner power serves the state best that when it is simplest.
Ka-Punth
The Ka-Punth are an exception, of course. Never having been under the Codes, they have such scraps of religious belief as survived the fall and the arrival of the Qryth. Their practices of serving or appeasing the spirits that reside in the deserts are (often) religious in nature, but the Ka-Punth leader that has treated with such spirits long enough knows the limits of their powers.
Foreign Relations
Given that those states around Punth frequently either hold one specific belief or encourage a number to reside within them, foreign relations can be fraught. Even if foreign citizens are not actively prevented from taking part in religious practices, they are deliberately monitored and prevented from proselytising.
Practices from outside the Codes should be monitored as a toothed beast.
Cardinal Directions
To the north lie the nations belonging to the Holy Empire, home to both expansionist zealots and amoral merchants. The mountains of the Hydraulic Dwarves (scrupulously neutral in all conflicts not involving water supplies) lie between. [A version of this is sketched out here].
To the east of Punth is the thick mountains of the Spine of the World. A few passes and valleys zigzag between these, but the bulk of the inhabitants are Dwarves of a distant and traditional type.
To the west of Punth, across the Stained Sea, lies the League of Civic Etiquette, joined to the Inner Sea by the Traitorous Passage. The city-states across from this are sophisticated in their learning and busy hubs of trade - but suffer periodic bouts of frightfully intricate and subtle internecine violence.
To the south is an expanse of hostile desert that slowly transitions into sparse forests and coastal mangroves. The kingdoms of the Bronze River, the Potter's River and the Rawhide River jostle for elbow room along the river banks, both amongst themselves and in ambitious attempts to gain access to the other rivers.
20 Groups of Foreigners
1. A trade factor of Lameravis and his assistants carefully ignore the Gendarmes patrolling outside their warehouse.
2. A survey party of Hydraulic Dwarves chart a water course down from the mountains.
3. Dust gathers as a party of Imperial missionaries process along one of the distant, beautifully maintained roads. As a contingent of soldiers ride to meet them, a lone figure to their rear is discreetly doing the real work of mapping routes.
4. An ambassador of the Etiquette is deciding which sort of incense to employ in his meeting with a Qryth Prince.
5. Two Chieftains from the Potter's River nervously debate which Punthite minister to visit first as their escort squat and cast dice.
6. Knights of the The Equestrian Order of the Seventh Aspect whoop as they sabre-rattle in sight of a fortified ziggurat.
7. A scholar of the Bronze River is investigating some carvings on an ancient shrine outside the city walls. No-one is sure if she should be there.
8. League fishermen have stepped ashore for fresh water on the Punthite coast.
9. Dwarves of the Spine have erected a blockhouse-cum-habadashery for the Ka-Punth rebels. Weapons are not openly sold, but they do not take much persuasion to open the armoury.
10. A ship belonging to the White Star Order of St Lemuel has arrived at a Punthite quay, purporting to be there on behalf of shipwrecked sailors.
11. Craftsmen from the League have resorted to mime in order to instruct Punthite artisans in their style of sculpture.
12. Travelling herdsman from the Rawhide River adjust their face coverings as they wonder how best to get back across the border without having to negotiate the Gendarme Outpost.
13. Two noblewomen of the League admire the carvings of a ziggurat from the interior of their palanquin.
14. Dancing Fauns attract admiration from the other outsiders and confusion from the Punthite citizens nearby.
15. An expatriate of the Etiquette lapses into the Codes as he talks to his pet cat, surprising the feline.
16. The liturgy used by Imperial Merchants in Punth differs from that used by priests in the Empire - first in its frequent prayers for their home and loved ones, second in that it is less explicit about who the enemies of the faithful are, and third in that it is kept at a discreet volume. All the same, perhaps you can hear a low chanting from one of these houses?
17. Gendarmes are busy trying to settle a dispute between feuding southerners from the Rawhide River. The quarrel would be tiresome and convoluted, even if they could all speak the same way.
18. Merchants and Factors of the Empire and the League have decided to pool their wine stocks. Everyone involves this is a very good idea, and worthy of a drink.
19. The Custodian Knights of St. Castrum have managed to erect a fort near to the wells of Junction 1477 in the Northern Desert. They would be glad of news, supplies or armour polish.
20. An angry troop leader from th Bronze River insists to the skeptical Gendarmes that this aggressive chanting and stomping is purely ritual in nature, and not a prelude to unrest.
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