Dustworld: Astoria

Astoria controls the southern half of Verdence. Astoria and Radia vary frequently from shaky allies, to skirmishing at their borders, to open combat, to mutual invasion, and then back to allies. The reasons for such engagements are rarely the same, but the roots of them frequently are. The Royal family of Astoria is proud and haughty, and looks down upon the religious sentiment of the Tetrarchs. Astoria is a bed of many small religions, some will grow and wither in under a year, while some have persisted through recorded history. Astoria is strictly ruled, but its people generally look favorably upon the royal family. Although their haughty nature cannot be denied, the royalty may look for husbands and brides wherever they will, and not an inconsiderable number of pretty peasant damsels have been turned into Princesses. Between this intermarriage and the ancient pride the Royalty have in their nation, as a rule they see it as their utmost duty to ensure their people thrive in safety.
The armies of Astoria are the best-trained in the world. However it is also the smallest standing army. The royal army consists of three legions of elite troops. Even in peacetime they are never given a chance to get bored. At least one legion is always on active duty, and if the other two are not needed for duty as well, they are set to wargames against each other. Masters of tactics, the legionnaires of Astoria train in everything from single combat and skirmishing, to small unit tactics, up to mass formations with the entire legion. While the heavy infantry of Astoria can match up against any other army in the world, they are invariably at their strongest when working together. Those that meet the Astorian legions in battle are often amazed and disheartened by the uncanny precision and unity with which their formations move. In this, they are aided by more than simple training.
It is a secret well-guarded by the royal family that part of the final initiation rites to the legions involves an ancient relic of Astoria. Called the world-mind, only the royal family and those who hold firmest loyalty to them can use it. It allows for telepathic communication between those attuned to it anywhere on Dustworld. This communication allows for commanders in the field to near-perfectly coordinate their troops, and have no need for messengers or missives that might be tracked or interrupted. Any messages that are delivered by voice or letter are either as a formality, or misdirection to hide the true communication. Radian leaders have sought for years to uncover Astoria's secret, but so far to no avail.