Nation

Nation Name: Asloc, ‘Sandplace’ to the denizens.
National Flag: imgur.com/KTvYqdc
What do you call the denizens(ex. Americans come from America, Israelites comes from Israel): Aslocian (Uhs-low-shun), scientifically ‘Anthropophagus De Harena’, to themselves ‘Sandies’.
Government type: None, Democracy (to an extent). Children in majority.
Leader/Leaders: None, Demoracy (to an extent).
Ruling factions/dynasty if applicable: None, Democracy (to an extent).
Other Important political figures: Ara, the First Child Born (and the creator of the current Aslocian traditions).
Currency: None
State Religion(If applicable): None
Demographics and Geography

World map location: The Desert biome

Interior map: Think about 500 large sandcastles arranged in a circular pattern, circling around a centre that contains a large, circular ‘campfire’ about 100m in diameter and 5m deep, filled with fire used for cooking Desert Cane.

Major cities: Asloc Main, Asloc-Mini
Major military installments: Aslocians on patrol around the streets of Asloc
Important locations and buildings: The ‘Campfire’, the centre of Asloc where everyone meets and discusses matters/socializes. Callled ‘Middle Place’ by Aslocians, Capital: Asloc

Population: ~3000
Race and Ethnic demographic: Mostly children, all human in Asloc Main. In Asloc-Mini, it’s an average pixie adult-child balance, with a full pixie population.

Economy(how well is it?): Economy doesn’t exist, besides dwellings, everything is shared with everyone so that everyone has a better chance of survival in the desert. Dwellings are free as well, and assigned at birth. Compared to every other country, the economy is bad.
Wealth balance(is it concentrated solely on the aristocracy, such as in feudalism, balanced, high level of poor, optional): Balanced, wealth doesn’t exist.
Major exports: None, Asloc is very isolated.
Major Imports: None, Asloc is very isolated.
Staple agricultural crops: Edible cacti, Desert Cane (fictional sugar-cane-like plants that survive off sand and moisture in the air) (gifted by Volcano-kun, I guess).
Trade partners: None, Asloc is very isolated. There is no set trade partner except for the occasional someone that wanders here requesting something (though Asloc doesn’t have many items worth much).
Culture

Religion demographics: Unconscious Atheism. None of Asloc exposed to anything religious. They are not aware of the existence of Atheism or religions.

Religious heads: None

Popular opinion on the volcano: No idea of its existence.
Popular opinion on wars: War is a waste of energy, no use going to war.
Popular opinion on magic: Only aware of magic being able to convert water. Of the ~3000 people that live here, 3970 of which are children, 30 being adults that are going to be *ahem spoiler* eaten *ahem spoiler* soon, only 20 people are able to use weak magic to slowly convert urine and other *ahem* expelled *ahem* liquids to drinking water, therefore magic is not a sustainable way to get water for themselves.
Popular opinion on religion: (pious?) No idea of its existence.
Popular opinion on the Aristocracy: No idea what it is.
Pauper opinion on the Government: No idea what it is.
Popular opinion on foreigners: Bringers of goods, talkative people wanting to do various things to or with Asloc and/or the Sandies.
Popular opinion on other cultures: No idea of their existence.

Cultural name for the Volcano: (what do your people call it) No idea of its existence, though they refer to having attained the Volcano’s magical gifts the ‘Givings’.

A look into the unique culture: (tell us what makes your average citizen unique, take us through their values and life style, throw in any sub cultures such as the culture of the formal classes as well) Each Aslocian have a set routine, self-assigning themselves various roles. They work together, first deciding what they want to do by themselves, then coordinating their efforts in whatever they do. They choose what jobs they want to do that day, ranging from farming Desert Cane, edible cacti, constructing, fixing, cooking, guarding, or travel (aka bringing other Aslocians to various places). They use the sand around them to make ‘sandcastles’ for dwelling (tying in to the child population).

A common tradition is to consume one’s parents for food and drink their blood, a way of survival. Another tradition to maintain a sufficient food population is to birth at least 6 children by the age of 20. Should a sibling die of malnutrition, (s)he must also be eaten. Polygamy is also prohibited for nutritional reasons (not enough parents for food).

Cultural history: Aslocians formed themselves many years back, starting with Ara, the First Child Born, that killed and ate his parents when they (dad, mom, Ara) got stuck in the desert. Since they were traveling with other families that were also stuck, he started a family with the girl of another family who was also willing to consume her parents to survive. I’m already creeped out writing this fictional history, damn…

They managed to get a few other children to join them, then they slaughtered and ate everyone else. After producing sufficient children and letting themselves be eaten.

Notable figures: Ara, the First Child Born.

Military and History

Type of Military: (Volunteer, conscripted, standing, semi professional, culture affects, levies etc. Go into detail.) As mentioned before, Aslocians may decide what jobs they want to take on every day, and go do those jobs. Aslocians may choose to guard the

Total Military fighting units: Not set, maximum of ~5940

Unit demographics: (heavy infantry, marksman, etc and their equipment/training) Simple children, unarmoured. Their only weapons are ‘Sandshells’, or weak, thin animal shells crafted into a hollow sphere and filled with sand. The animal shell will be forcibly broken if it impacts a surface stronger and harder than the animal shell.

Notable figures: Ara, the First Child Born, recognized for slaughtering many families.

Past wars and notable events:
-750 years ago, Ara slaughtered the many families on the same trip as he was in the desert.
-600 years ago, Ara was given the title ‘Aran’. A new rule was set in which significant people in the history of Asloc were gifted the title ‘Aran’ as well, depending on which title was next in the queue of numbers. Seems difficult to understand? I’ll explain it then. Ara was the First Aran, so let’s say someone invented something 160 years along Asloc’s existence, they would be the Second Aran, and so on so forth. They are only named Arans based on chronological order, so let’s say something important was discovered 170 years along Asloc history, but Aslocians didn’t find it important at the time. 180 years along, new invention by a different person, they would be the Second Aran. 190 years along, the invention from 20 years ago becomes important, the inventor would be remembered as the Third Aran.
-400 years ago, a few pixies entered the then-called Asloc, and were forced into slavery by the Aslocians. They were constructed small huts in a place Aslocians called Asloc-Mini, and were also used as spare snacks for the Aslocians. That day, Asloc was renamed ‘Asloc Main’. A rule was also set that dictated that each Aslocian was only entitled to 2 pixies per day. The pixies bred quickly enough to sustain their population in Asloc-Mini. They are currently still living in Asloc-Mini and have no form of escape.
-100 years ago, the Aslocians captured, killed, and ate a member of another species that declared themselves as an ambassador wishing to form an alliance with Asloc. The Aslocians didn’t understand him and assumed he desired war, so they put him into custody as food. The species was not recorded in Aslocian stories in any way.

Past conflicts with other nations: None.

Current conflicts and wars: None.

Other

Artifacts and famous enchantments: None, unless you count Desert Cane, an average-strength material used for food.

Anything else we should all know: Aslocians are sociable with other members of their species and know each other by no names. Only significant people in Asloc are given names. Their names are to be used as titles. These titles started 600 years ago. Explanation has already been given.

Grogar Clans

What do you call the denizens: Some would refer to these creatures as Grogar, however many others mainly refer to them as the paleskins.
Government type: The Grogar form into Clans who are ruled by Highborn Warlords.
Leader/Leaders: There is no one ruling leader or one ruling clan, the Grogar are ruled by many Highborn Warlords all across the land. The Dragonfangs Clan however has proven to be among the strongest.
Ruling factions/dynasty if applicable: By far the strongest of the Grogar Clans to be worthy of a ruling title would be the Clans of Dragonfangs, Whiteclaws, Ashbringers, and Ironfists.
Other Important political figures:




Currency: The Grogar have no personal concept of currency, but Grogar adopt whatever system their host land offers, especially those that act as mercenaries.
State Religion: The Grogar have no state religion and rather are diverse in their beliefs, and often adopt whatever suits to their needs, they however are more inclined to Gods of War.


Grogar Population Intensity:

Major cities:
Major military installments:
Important locations and buildings:
Capital: The Grogar have no Capital, rather they are spread out into enclaves throughout the continent.

Population: 520,000(Plus some thousands of other races enslaved by some Warbands and Clans)
Race and Ethnic demographic:




Economy(how well is it?):
Wealth balance: What little wealth the Grogar have is focused on the Warlord and the assorted lieutenants.
Major exports: Mercenaries
Major Imports: Meat, Wood, Metals, Wheat.
Staple agricultural crops: N/A
Trade partners: Anyone is willing to pay for the Wandering Mercenaries or exchange resources to stave off any marauding horde.



Religion demographics:
The Grogar are split among many minor religions and cults not worth of noting. However, several Clans have merged to form a Death Cult centered around the worship of the Volcano, they refer themselves as the Ashbringers.
Religious heads:

Popular opinion on the volcano: The Ashbringers Clan and many mnior clans revere the Volcano as a God.
Popular opinion on wars: The Grogar are a fierce, war-like people who are seen as a scourge upon the civilized peoples of Illyrica, and are often engaged in raids against their neighbors.
Popular opinion on magic: The Grogar of the Ashbringers see magic as a divine gift from Argun.
Popular opinion on religion: The Grogar have no common opinion regarding religion.
Popular opinion on the Aristocracy: N/A
Popular opinion on the Government: N/A
Popular opinion on foreigners: N/A
Popular opinion on other cultures: N/A

Cultural name for the Volcano: The Clans that worship the Volcano refer to it as "Argun, Rainer of Ash"

A look into the unique culture: (tell us what makes your average citizen unique, take us through their values and life style, throw in any sub cultures such as the culture of the formal classes as well)

Cultural history:

Notable figures:



Type of Military: Cultural. Warrior traditions are embedded deep into the Grogar Race.
Total Military fighting units: Almost every single Grogar is a capable fighter.

Unit demographics: The majority of grogar are average melee fighters and archers, a skilled warrior could easily dispatch such grogar. More elite grogar warriors, be they highborn or no, display their seniority by being clad in various plates of armor unlike their more naked lower kin, and wield various deadly weapons.

The Grogar Clans also make use of few exotic beasts native to parts of the Southern Deserts and Savannah.





Past wars and notable events: The Great Scourge of a Millennia ago which led to the dissolution of the Greater Grogar Horde.

Past conflicts with other nations: First and Second Wars with Aslaria.

Current conflicts and wars: The Grogar Clans and Warbands are in a constant state of conflict with native peoples of the land. Be it in the form of banditry, raids, incursions and war.

Member of "The Great Darya Commonwealth".

Nation Name: Aslaria

National Flag: imgur.com/jK4XAUJ

What do you call the denizens: Aslarians

Government type: Complete Monarchy

Leader/Leaders: King Esral the Second and Queen Alyssa the First

Ruling factions/dynasty if applicable: Monarchy

Other Important political figures: Sir Joseph Brine (In charge of military). Capitan Elizabeth snow (Second in command, also runs all policing forces) Governors of provinces.

Currency:

State Religion(If applicable): Atheist

Demographics and Geography: 2.5 Million citizens. 2.47 million Humans, 0.03 (30,000) million of any other race.

World map location: To the very south, occupying the northern Mediterranean and the southern Grassland/forest.

Interior map:
Provinces: imgur.com/3wKQ10Q
Cities: imgur.com/wg4nMb7
Military: imgur.com/GZBHAIv
Complete (with a key :D): imgur.com/uoMKf8s

Major cities: Kegate (Capital) Dranta ( Where most exports will leave and imports will come in, trading capital of Aslaria. Also where most fishing is done) Krogow (Second largest city next to Kegate, high population, located in the middle of the grassland.
Tork and Mukata are also major cities.

Major military installments:
The barracuda line: This is a line of high stone walls and fortresses stretching from the lake in the grassland to the sea on the other side. Along the Aslarian border, the first and the strongest line of defense for the nation. Most soldiers after training will be posted here. This was completed only thirty years ago so is relatively new, and 3 years ago the barracuda line was continued along the southern coast of the nation for further protection, it doesn't reach far yet as it Is still in construction there.
Kark Island: The farthest island to the right in the three islands. The main naval base of the Aslarian empire. As well as holding the best ships in the Aslarian navy, it also houses and checks through all trade coming into the country by sea before it is allowed to enter. (Excluding other commonwealth nations)
The Kegate Castles: A weaker version of the Barracuda line. As invasion from the south is unlikely, these castles face the north and the east and are used as defense for the capital incase an invasion force has made it as far as that.
The Eastern Barracks: One of the two major barracks that are not on the Barracuda line.
The Western Barracks: One of the two major barracks that are not on the Barracuda line.

Important locations and buildings: The Keshire, a general name given too the the main agricultural/farmland.
Royal Palace: In the centre of the capital.

Capital: Kegate. In the Mediterranean, just below the border of the grassland.

Population:

Race and Ethnic demographics: Humans mainly populate Aslaria, any other minorities are too small to be accounted for. Out of the Humans, 58% White, 38% Hispanic, 4% any other.

Economy(how well is it?):

Wealth balance(is it concentrated solely on the aristocracy, such as in feudalism, balanced, high level of poor, optional): Wealth is quite balanced, as the best paying job for any except higher class citizens is serving in the Aslarian military, and at the age of 18 all men and women must complete three-six years of military service. The monarchy try to distribute wealth as well as they can to avoid an uprising similar to one which happened when the clans first joined together.

Major exports: Citrus fruits, potatoes, fish, weapons, grains, dyes

Major Imports:

Staple agricultural crops: In the Woodland Wheat/grains and potatoes are grown often, and in the Mediterranean a good number of oranges and other citrus fruits are farmed.

Trade partners: Countries of the commonwealth. Will trade with any country as long as it is beneficial to Aslaria and not a country they clash with.

Culture

Religion demographics: Athiest

Religious heads: Atheist

Popular opinion on the volcano: Powerful and should not be messed with. Try to avoid and confrontation.

Popular opinion on wars: Wars are very necessary. The military is one of Aslarias strongest points and the Aslarian people are very proud and supportive of the Army.

Popular opinion on magic: Dangerous, only to be used for the good of Aslaria, nothing else. Common men shouldn't use it.

Popular opinion on religion: Not necessary. People have realized that despite the two religions both centered around the Volcano, the Volcano is still unbiased and fair. They believe this is because the volcano does not seek worship.

Popular opinion on the Aristocracy: As long as they pay the correct taxes and don't tamper with the lives of the middle and working class, they are okay. Since the lower class isn't very prominent in Aslaria, people don't think very negatively to the rich. They worked to get where they were, they deserve what they have.

Pauper opinion on the Government: Absolute rulers. The monarch has been in power so long that nobody questions them, they united the nomadic tribes and formed the great nation of Aslaria, people are proud of the Monarchy.

Popular opinion on foreigners: Grogar are very unpopular with the Aslarians, very little of them are ever allowed inside the borders, and if they are it is only for diplomatic reasons, Which has only ever happened once. Merfolk are respected greatly and seen as quite strong with the Humans or Aslaria.

Popular opinion on other cultures: The Aslarian people love and embrace the culture of the people of the Mediterranean, and are slowly adopting parts of it.

Cultural name for the Volcano: Mons Mortem (Latin for mountain of death, I had no idea what this should be)

A look into the unique culture: (tell us what makes your average citizen unique, take us through their values and life style, throw in any sub cultures such as the culture of the formal classes as well)

Cultural history: 610 years ago, the Aslarian people were made up of six big nomadic tribes who roamed the eastern and northern grassland. They were constantly at war with eachother or with somebody else, they fought over everything. One of the leaders of the biggest and strongest tribe met with all of the others and proposed they all join, to form a stronger and bigger nation. All tribes agreed and merged but one, who rebelled against the other five. A year later and that tribe was destroyed, leaving the five remaining tribes to form Aslaria, which is why the rose on the flag has five petals, showing the five remaining clans. The leader who proposed the deal had his son marry the daughter of the next strongest tribe and the monarchy was born. Ever since then they have been a proud and strong people. They were nomadic until 530 years ago, when they settled down and made permanent borders along the forestland and the Mediterranean. This is where they met the people of the Mediterranean, and slowly started adopting some of their culture into Aslarian culture.

In short, the militaristic and patriotic aspects of the culture come from the nomadic history and the forming of the monarchy. The more peaceful side of culture, like art and sciences, have been adopted from the people of the Mediterranean.

Notable figures: The first monarchs, The general in charge of Military and the second in command, and the governors who rule over provinces.

Military and History

Type of Military: All males at the age of Eighteen must join the military and do six years of service. They are trained intensely for these six years and are often posted along the barracuda line. Many men stay in the military after their conscription time ends. Unlike most nations, women are also conscripted into the military at Eighteen, but only serve for three years until having the option to leave as after three years of conscription most are already very well trained, strong fighters. Nobody over the age of 40 can fight in the Military.

Total Military fighting units: 200,000 roughly.

Unit demographics:
Once conscripted, the soldier will go through a month of rigorous tests too see which position they are best suited for. After having been appointed, they will go through basic infantry combat training for 5 months, and then will train for the rest of their conscription time (unless out on military missions) in the appointed position. Often a solid iron armour peace in the chest, with bracers and shin guards of full armour too. The rest is a mix of that and chain.

Infantry: 102,000. 18,600 Equipped with steel swords and the rest with iron swords, both daggers and wearing iron armour, these are the core and brunt of Aslarias military force. Most carry small circular wooden shields.
Pike/Spearmen: 35,000. Equipped with steel tipped spears or pikes, these men and women are all equipped with bigger rectangular shields that almost reach the height of them. Often used as the first line of defence or backup to the infantry in battle. Also wield small iron daggers.
Bowman: 34,600. Equipped with longbows and iron daggers, these soldiers stay behind the rest and release volley after volley of devastating arrows.
Cavalry (including Cavalry bowmen): 23,000. Men and women who ride on horses and cut down foes with iron swords as only 1000 of these are equipped with steel swords, pikes or longbows. Often used in the first attack with the infantry.
Seamen: 5,000 (A relatively low number, but the nation's navy isn't huge as the seas around it are controlled by Commonwealth members, merfolk.) These are men and women who know how to navigate the seas, they will usually transport soldiers to where they need to be or safeguard goods as they travel to another nation.
Capitan's: 400 (Not including Capitan Elizabeth Snow) These are the best of the best, the ones in charge of different battalions and legions. Equipped with the finest steel swords, the best armour and the sharpest daggers. Often charge with infantry.

All Infantry and Pike/Spearman are trained to use battering rams and catapults.

Notable figures: Sir Joseph Brine, in charge of all military. Always rides into battle with his men.
Capitan Elizabeth Snow, respected greatly and famous for her victories on the Barracuda line and her excellent execution of the clean-up while Sir Joseph Brine was wounded.

Past wars and notable events:
The first Aslarian/Grogar war: Eighty years ago A Grogar warband attacked the grassland borders of Aslaria without warning. For a month they pillaged villages and killed before the Aslarians pushed them out of the borders, and only just defended them against a second wave. During the second wave of attack, both sides suffered huge losses, the Aslarians were only just holding and had thankfully killed of enough Grogar to end the attack. The second wave lasted only for 4 days, but 4 days of continuous fighting. In total the First Aslarian/Grogar war lasted One month and four days.

After this, leading up to the Second Aslarian/Grogar war, there were many smaller skirmishes in the land near the border.

Attacks stopped for fifteen years when the Aslarians built the Barracuda line Thirty years ago.

The second Aslarian/Grogar war took place fifteen years ago. The Grogar mounted a huge scale attack all along the Aslarian borders on the grassland. Thanks to the Barracuda line, the Aslarians suffered low casualty numbers and were able to comfortably defend the line. The Grogar numbers were cut down significantly. This attack lasted for 5 months. On the Eighth day is when the Grogar retreated to regroup and come up with a new plan of attack, but the Aslarians launched a huge counter attack and slaughtered many of the scattered Grogar. When they were satisfied that they Grogar posed no real threat, they returned home. This counter attack became well known in Aslaria as 'The Clean-up' as the Humans in Aslaria think off the Grogar as beasts who need to be destroyed. The cleanup lasted 3 weeks. In total, the second Aslarian/Grogar war lasted 5 months and 3 weeks, and the Aslarians haven't heard from that particular war band since, though they do expect they will soon enough.

These conflicts fuel the already strong hate for the grogar in Aslaria.

Past conflicts with other nations:
When the five nomadic tribes were searching for a place to settle down they discovered a small nation in the grassland where Aslaria is now. After scouting the land for 3 days, the newly formed nation of Aslaria decided that this is where they wanted to settle down. Without warning the nomadic warriors rode in on horses and charged in formations across the nations borders and demanded the natives leave and never return. When they were met with a weak resistance in the first few towns, they massacred the populace and razed everything to the ground. This murderous campaign carried on for weeks until the nation was no more, and so the Aslarians could settle on the newly claimed land.

Current conflicts and wars:
Small skirmishes with Grogar war bands. No significant battles near home in fifteen years.

Nation

Nation Name: Axasiri Khaganate
National Flag: The Khaganate has no official flag, but in situations where one is needed the Paiti flag is used.



What do you call the denizens: Foreigners usually call them Axasiri.
Government type: Monarchy. The Khagan rules the entire realm with the lesser Khans answering to him/her
Leader/Leaders: Khagan Danu-Oior Paiti
Ruling factions/dynasty if applicable: The Paiti clan rules the Khaganate.
Other Important political figures: Besides the Auchati clan, there are four other great clans ruling over the Khaganate and lesser clans. They are:

-Clan Partan, ruled by Khanum Tomry
-Clan Aunchini, ruled by Khan Isbarag
-Clan Mazi, ruled by Khan Gazman.
-Clan Drushi, ruled by Khanum Api

Besides the great clans, the priesthood also has an important place in society. The appeasement of the Great Red Goddess and her children is taken very seriously and as such the priests and priestess hold considerable power within the Khaganate

Currency: The Khagan and a few trusted associates control all minting within the Khaganate. Coins are made of precious metals but bartering is still very popular
State Religion:

The bulk of the Axasiri people worships the "Red Pantheon". It's based on the teachings of the Avestas (holy texts) compiled by priests and prophets over the centuries. They detail the history of the world, birth of gods and great heroes, prophecies, rituals and basic rules that must be obeyed by all.

The story goes that originally the Axasiri lived further northeast. Closer to where now stands the Volcano, in this immemorial time the people worshiped Agirbamsos, the Star King and his wife Enaira, the Earth Mother Who Birthed All Things. They ruled over the early Axasiri alongside their godly kin, fighting each other as much as they did other and lesser spirits and demons. All the while the lesser races (men, satyrs, pixies and etc) grew, built, killed and died. That was the Starry Age

The end of the Starry Age started with the birth of the Red Goddess, Babash Talek, who clawed her way out of Enaira's chest as a baby. The "birth" permanently weakened the Mother Goddess, bringing terrible consequences for gods and mortals. As fertility decreased, crops and newborns died by the droves and the gods themselves fought each other with increasing ferocity now that the Earth Mother was unable to mediate disputes. And while all this happened the young Babash Talek remained with her mother, gradually leeching off Enaira's strength through the nursing, thus ensuring that the Earth Mother would never recover fully.

Time passed and Babash Talek grew, showing signs of great power and great ruthlessness since her early days. Eventually culminating into a drunken brawl where she killed her future husband, Darzan-Orkhani the God of Riders. Darzan's sister, Cothiur-Orkhani, goddess of herds, sought to avenge her brother and ended up flayed for her troubles. Unable to ignore Babash's transgressions anymore, Agirbamsos himself tried to rein him his daughter. And so start the God's War.

Agirbamsos and his allies (most of the gods and mortals) against Babash Talek and hers (a few spirits, demons and lesser gods). The War itself is basis for hundreds of tales and stories, but in short the advantage was with the Star Lord and his host. Because no matter how powerful the Red Goddess was, her own forces were terribly outnumbered and outcommanded. Unwilling to admit defeat, Babash Talek took advantage of her mother's continued weakness of both body and mind to consume her and absorb her powers. Thus allowing her to turn the tide of the God's War and triumph. The Red Goddess then celebrated her victory by consuming the essence and spirit of Agirmbamsos, just like she and hers had done with many other gods and spirits. His body was then lit on fire and thrown to the skies, creating the sun. In this same vein, she also raised the Volcano in the site of the final battle of the God's War

With the war won Babash Talek went about dividing the spoils of her victory and punishing those who stood against her. Many gods and spirits were either consumed or enslaved while entire peoples and races were exterminated for their defiance. The Axasiri were among those who switched sides halfway through the War and as such received the mercy of the Red Goddess and were merely made to leave half of their number behind as sacrifices and depart their ancestral homelands to never return.

With the defeat of the Old Order, the Red Goddess organized a new pantheon with herself at its head. Standing supreme above all else and ruling with the support of five chief enforcers, who receive part of her power :

-Cothiur-Kalash, the flayed one. Serving as a reminder of the Volcano's ability to break and bend the will of lesser deities, the former goddess of herds and shepherds now presides over punishment, the damned, senseless violence and the mad. Cothiur-Kalash is assisted by a host of lesser gods and spirits associated with her aspects, all whom have also shed their own skins.

Criminals and outlaws are her usual sacrifice, they're flayed alive and left to die of exposure before her shrines, the bodies are then eaten and the skins used to decorate her places of worship. Some of her followers also roam the land hunting down outlaws.

She's represented by a flayed woman riding a giant ram, wearing the skins of the damned.

-Zelgaxis, the blue rider. God of war, he was one of the first allies of Babash Talek in the God's War and so holds a prestigious position among the enforcers. He is assisted in his duties by his many sons and daughters and other lesser spirits who make up the Heavenly Host.

Every battle, skirmish and raid is like a sacrifice to him. Every warrior is also supposed to make a small sacrifice to him before going to war. It's also common for warriors to give praise and sacrifice to Zelgaxis' children. The nature and size of these sacrifice depends on the deity itself and the means of the warrior. But as a rule prisoners of war, specially renowned enemy chiefs and fighters are appreciated by Zelgaxis and his kin.

His priests are warriors and sometimes hire themselves as mercenaries. While his temples are built in the fashion of fortress and keeps, fortified structures with the ability to house and supply many warriors.

He is represented by a rider dressed and armored in tones and hues of blue, either shooting a composite bow or wielding a long lance, followed by the Heavenly Host.

-Symbale, the artisan. God of craftsmen and artisans, he and his wife hid themselves during the God's War but were spared of Babash Talek's wrath thanks to the many gifts and promises of eternal subservience. Symbale is assisted by his family, lesser gods and spirits in his work. Crafting amazing and varied goods, most of which go to appease the Red Goddess and her wrath.

Symbale's priests usually help in the organization of festivals and markets across the Khaganate and in setting up apprenticeships, along with the mediation of disputes between artisans. He abhors human sacrifice and prefers goods and food as sacrifice. Because of this his temples are usually very rich and decorated.

Symbale is represented by a middle aged man, usually sitting down and crafting something, dressed in simple tunic and trousers with long hair and a braided beard, surrounded by his work assistants.

-Somayama, the shepherdess. Goddess of fields and herds. Symbale's wife, she was a minor goddess of the fields who was elevated after the final death of Enaira. Receiving some of the Earth Mother's powers and being put in charge of caring for the herds and fields. Like her husband, Somayama is assisted by a host of lesser gods and spirits, whose most important deity is Ishabro, god of farmers, her firstborn.

Her temples and shrines are simple and rustic. Built in the fields and woods, usually far from cities or in the outskirts at best. Her priests usually roam the fields and stay away from major cities. Their duties are to make the necessary rituals to ensure fertility of fields and herds, in the same vein they may also take the field themselves to work alongside farmers and shepherds. Somayama prefers the fruits of the land as sacrifices: animals, fruits and vegetables.

Somayama is represented by a middle aged woman with braided hair, dressed simply and half covered by a cloak, holding a staff and riding a small pony.

Besides their aforementioned duties, Symbale and Somayama also preside over family and hearth when together. Most houses have small shrines for the couple and their children. While newlyweds must also provide sacrifices for both deities during the wedding feast.

-Manurta, the speaker. God of merchants, speakers and enforcer of Babash Talek's laws, Manurta convinced several gods, spirits and peoples to switch sides during the God's War and as such received the duty of enforcing her laws and the position of protector of merchants.

His priests usually work closely with those of Symbale in organizing festivals and markets. While Manurta's temples are as a rule built near or inside the markets themselves, or the markets are built around them. His priests also have the authority to mediate almost every kind of dispute, the Manurtian priests also have a permanent saying in the decisions of the clan rings.

Sacrifices are varied and Manurta accepts anything ranging from gold to human flesh if offered with the proper rituals. And though his priests like to say that justice and obedience are the best kind sacrifice and praise, both sides of any dispute are still expected to make small sacrifices to the temple as thanks for their mediation, even if you end up losing the dispute.

Manurta is represented by a man wearing a felt coat over a silk tunic and long trousers. He also wears many jewels and rings.

And of course, above the five enforcers stands Babash Talek, the Red Goddess, whose physical presence is the Volcano. According to the Avestas, she also consumed the aspects of her parents and many other gods she consumed during the war. As such she is the goddess of fire, rulership, life and a host of other lesser aspects of life.

Her temples are as a rule the most artfully built and sumptuous. With only the temples of Symbale holding more treasure, and even then Symbale's priests must also redirect a good portion of their offerings to the Red Temples. She prefers human and horse sacrifice, with the subject being burnt and ritually eaten by the worshipers after the act.

Babash Talek is represented by a tall and strong woman with blackened and cracked skin, red eyes and burning hair and hands. Either wearing fine silken clothing or a elaborate scale armor, usually sitting on a throne of skulls on fire.

Besides the Red Goddess and her enforcers the Red Pantheon is filled with lesser gods and spirits. According to the Avestas these are merely the survivors of the God's War, those who either sides with the Red Goddess or were insignificant enough to escape punishment. They represent a host of aspects, ideas and places and usually are under the authority of one of the enforcers or the Red Goddess herself, depending on what their power is. These lesser gods are worshiped in shrines built within the limits of their "superior's" temples. Such as the shrines of Ishbaro in the temples of Somayama.

It's also believed that some spirits inhabit the land, dwelling in rivers, woods, fields and mountains, outside of the Pantheon's direct oversight and control. Regular offerings must be made to appease the spirit of the area whenever humans wish to trespass or exploit the spirit's home.

And finally, priests of all major and minor deities make extensive use of drinks brewed from blood, milk, honey and an array of hallucinogenic substances in their ceremonies.

Demographics and Geography

World map location:
Interior map:
Major cities Each major Clan rules over at least one major market city. Karablagasun and Ohrid (Clan Paiti). Arzhan (Clan Partan). Eztyzergon and Bishgar (Clan Mazi). Plerja (Clan Drushi). Ordung (Clan Aunchini). There are other large fortified settlements within the Khaganate, but these are more seasonal in their occupation. Staying half empty during most of the year and swelling temporally for festivals, musters, war refugees or trade.
Major military installments: As a rule, most clans don't have the resources nor the will to build fortifications within their grazing lands. Only the great clans have the resources to build fortresses within the Khaganate, most of those are concentrated along the northern coast.

OOC: I will get into more detail once I work out the internal map

Important locations and buildings:
Capital: Karablagasun.

Population: 233 700
Race and Ethnic demographic:

The bulk human population of the Khaganate is made of the Axasiri ethnicity. They correspond to roughly 85% of the total population, contemporary Axasiri are actually a mix of the original conquerors and the now extinguished native populatio


An Axasiri nobleman. Original by deWitteillustration on DA.

Besides humans, the remaining 15% of the Khaganate's population is composed of pixies and satyrs. A leftover of the potentates that ruled the area before the arrival of the Axasiri. These non-humans have long been assimilated into mainstream society bar a few isolated communities. Their relationship with the human population depends to the Clan they belong, some treat them as the second-class citizens while in others the non-humans are treated as equals.

Economy(how well is it?): The economy is stable if not prosperous. The pastoral way of life still holds a vital part within the economic structure of the Khaganate. But the growing urbanization of the Axasiri peoples is causing an increase in importance of agriculture, mining and crafting.

This developing relationship between settled and nomad lifestyles has had the unintended consequence of lessening the Axasiri's dependence of neighboring sedentary peoples. Which has changed the way that the Axasiri deal with their neighbors. For now they now have more goods to offer while also being less dependent on sedentary tributaries and vassals. As a result, trade has increased with friendly polities while the efforts of raiders have been redirected to either more mercenary work or attacks against unfriendly neighbors.

Taxes are usually levied by each Clan from their own members. Part of these taxes are then passed to their hierarchic superiors, culminating with the four Great Clans paying tribute to the Khagan. Each Clan is free to set its own tax rate, that is paid either in goods, coin, animals or services.

Wealth balance: In the nomadic clans, even the poorest family still owns at least a small herd and a wagon, while the richest nobles can boast several hundreds of animals and dozens of wagons to their name. Among the settled clans the situation is similar, as most of the farmers work their own fields while the richest clansmen hire their help to til their own larger properties.
Major exports: Mercenaries, horses and assorted supplies, metalwork, cannabis ? Will need to work out with neighbors
Major Imports: Wine, parchment, ?
Staple agricultural crops: Wheat, potato, millet.
Trade partners: LordZell's nation.

Culture

Religion demographics: The Red Pantheon is by far the most widespread religion within the Khaganate
Religious heads: High Priestess Teush-Saraska is the head of the Babash Talek's temple in Karablagasun and a such the most important priestess of the cult. But more in a first among equals situation rather than true codified hierarchy.

The same applies for the high priests and priestess of the temples of the five enforcers in Karablagasun.

Popular opinion on the volcano: The awesome Red Goddess! Spare us of your wrath!
Popular opinion on wars: A vital part of life that can't be avoided so we might as well be good at it.
Popular opinion on magic: The gifts that the Red Goddess bestow upon those who may serve her better.
Popular opinion on religion: We live at the mercy of the Red Goddess, she and her enforcers must be appeased so that the world may continue.
Popular opinion on the Aristocracy: Leadership is important of course, but the chieftains must also prove themselves worthy of leading.
Pauper opinion on the Government: See above.
Popular opinion on foreigners: We prefer to deal with those who give proper praise and worship to the Red Goddess. But it won't stop us from attacking them if the chance appears or treating with heathens and faithless infidels if we can't destroy them.
Popular opinion on other cultures: We prefer those who respect strength and do not submit to the weak and unworthy.
Cultural name for the Volcano: Babash Talek

A look into the unique culture:

First, we should speak about the importance of oaths and agreements in Axasiri society. When one gives his word or makes an agreement, specially with a blood oath, it's expected that this person will honor his or her part of the deal. Oathbreakers are despised almost as much as kinslayers. The importance of oaths also influences directly the way Axasiri are ruled. Clans, tribes and even the Khaganate itself work only as long as the people feel that their leaders are doing their part of the "social contract". For in exchange of their loyalty, services and taxes, the people expect their leaders to rule with strength and justice, respecting the will of the Red Goddess and the values of the Axasiri people. The perception of weakness, indecisiveness, impiety or unfairness has broken many chieftains, khans and warchiefs in the past.

Which bring us to another pillar of Axasiri worldview: family and clans. For while the Axasiri may boast their individual strength and resourcefulness, the nomads still see the need of working together to overcome the challenges of life. In the lowest level this is represented by the immediate family; a husband and wife working as equals to raise and provide for their children. More often than not unmarried siblings to the family chiefs are also included in this group, if their own parents are deceased, and in this case they're treated in the same way as children. With the older brother/sister in charge of helping them arrange a marriage and start their own family.

Marriage can happen in several forms. In older days before the clans started settling in the land, kidnapping from nearby clans was a very popular way of getting a husband or wife. This practice is still popular among the nomadic clans, though it's been steadily been gaining a ritualized aura as some couples start treating it as merely another part of the ceremony. Besides kidnapping, the Axasiri may also simply take the simpler route and court the desired match. Skill at arms and at the saddle are valued by both sexes, same with a valorous and pious reputation. If applicable, spoils of war, horses or crafted goods are presented to the families and priests of Symbale and Samoyama are called to rule whether or not the union would be fruitful. And if everything goes well the happy couple will wed during the festivals to Symbale and Samoyama in collective ceremonies alongside other couples of the city/village/clan. It is vital that these dates are respected as the Avestas clearly dictate that marriages in other dates will not receive the blessing of the gods. For the nobility conditions are similar, though more often than not political considerations also influence the process.

Above the immediate family there is the clan. As far as the Axasiri are concerned, everyone within the same clan is considered part of the same extended family. And as such killing your fellow clansman is considered kinslaying. A way to circumvent this ban is through outlawing, if a clansman commits some serious crime or sacrilege, like kinslaying or stealing from a shrine, he or she will be outlawed. An outlaw has no clan and should be hunted down and killed by his former clanfolk. It should be noted however, that outlaws may escape this fate if they manage to be accepted in another clan. As a matter of fact, clan Drushi is renowned among the Great Clans for rehabilitating outlaws.

It also should be noted that not all clans are equals. The Khaganate itself recognizes the prestige and power of the five Great Clans, the most powerful of which rules the others. These Great Clans hold the loyalty of lesser clans. In exchange of protection these lesser clans provide tribute to their superiors. And it's not unheard of lesser clans switching places with their supposed masters, Clan Mazi for example rose to prominence in the last century after the decline of Clan Yuzhi.

As expected of a semi-nomadic people, herds and horses occupy a vital part in Axasiri culture. Even in the settled groups horse-ridding skills and pastoral lifestyle are still greatly respected. The cavalry in general, still makes up a very important part of the Axasiri war machine, despite the growing prominence of infantry forces levied from the settled peoples.

Axasiri costume in general is unisex and consists of padded and quilted leather trousers tucked into boots, high flapped caps topped with animal figurines and open, long-sleeved tunics. Clothing is sewn from plain-weave wool, hemp cloth, silk fabrics, felt, leather and hides. Cannabis is also used for smoke baths. Both sexes also wear coats of many varieties, from fur to felt. The most popular being a long riding coat known as Kantus.



Axasiri commoners

Women wear a variety of different headdresses, some conical in shape others more like flattened cylinders, also adorned with metal (golden) plaques.

Men and women warriors wear variations of long and shorter boots, wool-leather-felt gaiter-boots and moccasin-like shoes. They're either of a laced or simple slip on type. Women also wear soft shoes with metal plaques.

Belts are also widely used by all. Warrior belts are made of leather, often with gold or other metal adornments and have many attached leather thongs for fastening of the owner's gorytos, sword, whet stone, whip etc. Belts are fastened with metal or horn belt-hooks, leather thongs and metal (often golden) or horn belt-plates.

The clothing of the nobility is similar to those of low birth. The difference being that in general their clothing tends to be more richly decorated with gold plaques and appliques. Noblewomen and those of settled communities also tend to wear long, loose robes, ornamented with metal plaques (gold) and shawls, often richly decorated with metal (golden) plaques. In this same vein nobles also tend to wear lots of jewelry. To show their wealth and martial prowess as the gold that paid for them was probably earned through looting.



Axasiri nobles

Tattoos are also important for the Axasiri, both as a sign of status and allegiance. Each clan has a different tattoo to identify its members while nobles and warriors tattoo their bodies to represent their status and wealth. Stylized animals, hunters and combat scenes are the most common motifs.


Axasiri Tattos

Besides gold and tattoos, nobles and warriors (which frankly are pretty much the same thing in the Khaganate) also use like to fashion their enemies into pieces of status. Cloaks and accessories made of human skin, scalps fashioned into napkins and cups made out of human skulls are also used to show off the martial prowess of the owner.

Speaking of martial prowess, the Axasiri place a high value on warriors. Nobles are expected to take up arms regularly either in wars, raids or simple training while also maintaining a powerful retinue of followers, armed, paid and trained by the noble in question, every member of this retinue is also considered part of the "lower" nobility. For the nomad groups this is even more apparent as nearly every member of a nomadic clan is expected to be able to ride and fight. Warriors that gain enough renown and spoils may be taken into a noble's retinue or even gain the leave to start his own clan.

The martial culture of the Axasiri also places great emphasis on hunting and sports. As these activities are seen as ways to better the abilities of the warriors outside of the battlefield. Equestrian sports, archery and wrestling are valued among both nomad and sedentary populations. And major cities can count with large cleared areas just outside the walls for warriors to train and for competitions to be held.

The Axasiri are in general a pious people, the faith of the Red Pantheon is powerful and respected within the Khaganate. Priests are always part of clan rings and ruling councils while religious festivals are great undertakings, with different clans competing to outdo each other in scale every year. Crimes committed during festival time are considered specially heinous and the punishment for then is tenfold. In the same vein, Axasiri usually make offerings and visit temples and priests before undergoing important endeavors, such as merchant trips, marriages, or going to war.

The diet of the Axasiri is still based on their nomadic lifestyle, meat and fermented milk are staples of even the sedentary populations. Though in recent years grains have steadily becoming more and more prevalent in the diet of the Axasiri thanks to the increasing sedentarisation of the clans. Wine is not produced within the Khaganate and its expensive to import, making it a delicacy reserved for the nobility and successful raiders. So instead of wine most Axasiri drink the haoma, a mix of herbs, fermented milk and blood said to have healing properties.

Cultural history: The Axasiri started as loosely organized tribal federations, fighting each other as they migrated in search of better pastures. Tribal organization increased as the Axasiri met more powerful foes, forcing them to refine their social structure. The harshness and challenges of nomadic life have made the Axasiri adopt an aggressive worldview, creating a warlike culture that persists even as they settle down thanks, to the continued host of different enemies they face externally and internally.

Material culture was influenced by whatever resources were available to the Axasiri, and as such leather, wool, bone and other animal products make up a large part of it. Now that the Axasiri are settling in however, the increased availabiility of other resources is making its presence known among the artisans and craftsmen.

Notable figures:

Khagan Szegz-Orban, the first Khagan of the Axasiri, he led the horde against -Bilbo's nation- in the war that eventually placed the region under Axasiri control.

High Priest Bayun, the man who first compiled the Avestas, centuries ago

Khanum Spazyga Gurish, a ferocious general who fought against -LordZell's nation- several times. Known for having several cloaks made of human skin.

Priestess Ziribdes, a Symbalian priestess with amazing jewel-crafting abilities. it's said that her skill was so great that she ascended to the ranks of Symbale's assistants.

Artarb the red, a Drushi warrior who is said to have raided the four corners of the world.

Military and History

Type of Military::

-The Khagan and the nobility maintain a standing army of paid retinues. Warriors paid, armed and trained by the nobility to follow them into battle. In times of war this force is further bolstered by levies raised from the wider population.

Unit demographics:

-The cavalry retinue troops are the cream of the Khaganate's army. Skilled in horse ridding, archery, melee combat and even used as foot soldiers if needed, these troops are well armored in scales and armed. Every one of them is armed with a composite bow and barbed arrows alongside a 3 meter long spear for charging , their other weapons include swords, throwing spears, axes, maces and clubs. The richest of the nobles can even afford to armor their horses.


Example of retinue cavalry

30 000 Retinue cavalry

-The infantry retinue troops are similar, the difference being that these retinues are raised by those khans of settled tribes and clans. As of now they still aren't a large presence in Axasiri armies since many settled groups still maintain a equestrian tradition. Nevertheless, these infatrymen are the best melee infantry the Khaganate can offer.


Retinue troops

15 000 Retinue infantry

-The Khaganate levies are quite varied, drawn from both settled and nomad tribes who provide both cavalry and infantry forces. The levied cavalry fights in the traditional nomad fashion, a bulk of light cavalry wielding composite bows harass the enemy until an opening can be exploited by the heavier armored lancers.


Levy horse archers

46 000 Levied cavalry

-Levied infantry is mostly composed of light infantry and skirmishers, archers being prevalent. Their armor ranges from quilted coats, linen cuirasses and some wealthier tribesmen who can afford scale armor, either bronze or iron. Weapons consist of composite bows and barbed arrows for the archers and wicker or wood shields along with spears and axes for the melee infantry.


Levy archer

25 000 Levied Infantry

Notable figures: The Khagan is officially the Warmaster of the realm, with the other lesser Khans as his deputies. There are also a number of tribal champions and Zelgaxis's warrior priests that march with the army
Past wars and notable events:
Past conflicts with other nations: Several wars with LordZell's and Bilbo's nations
Current conflicts and wars: None
Other: Axasiri tribes are known for using poisoned arrows in battle.

Artifacts and famous enchantments:

The Bow of Agyda - A gold-plated composite bow supposedly belonging to Agyda-Chtarrg, an ancient high priest of Kothiur-Kalash.
The Golden Girdle - A golden girdle that supposedly was made by Symbale himself.
The Flaming Lance of Zelgaxis - A cavalry lance carved with fire motifs, it was used by Khanum Spazyga
The Red Goddess' Mask - A golden mask fashioned in the likeness of Babash Talek

Anything else we should all know:

Nation Name: The Ethean Empire
National Flag:
What do you call the denizens: Etheans
Government type: Monarchy
Leader/Leaders: Emperor Orion II “The Avenger” - A competent ruler, Emperor Orion is best known for leading a retaliatory military campaign after a number of Ethean cities were attacked. He has traditionally favored military campaigns against the nomads surrounding the empire, but has listened to his son’s requests to seek a more peaceful alternative. Over the past few years he has delegated more and more responsibility and power to his son.
Ruling dynasty: Katsaros
Other Important political figures: Prince Farris Katsaros “The Just” - The heir apparent of the Ethean Empire, Prince Farris is a very skilled administrator and charismatic leader. The people refer to him as “Farris the Just” due to his strong sense of justice. At one time he sought coexistence with Ethea’s traditional enemies, but after his eyes were gouged out by some nomads during peace talks he has given up on coexistence.
Currency: durgma
State Religion: Northern Orthodoxy (Ilinucism)



World map location: Purple territory

Interior map:

Major cities: Astraea, Tylissio, Colonnos
Major military installments: Kosila, Milicea, Nicopossos
Important locations and buildings:
Capital: Satrea

Population: 53,920
Race and Ethnic demographic: The Ethean Empire is racially and ethnically homogeneous. Etheans are a near human race made distinct by the presence of horns on their heads. Their skin ranges from bronze to golden beige in color.

There are also a species of hand sized faeries, referred simply as the fae, that also lives within the Ethean Empire. The fae are generally not recognized as part of the empire due to usually not contributing to the economy or military.

Economy: Decently strong, all things considered
Wealth balance: Balanced
Major exports: None
Major Imports: None
Staple agricultural crops: Barley, Olive trees, Garlic, Figs, and Mint
Trade partners: None



Religion demographics: 100% Northern Orthodoxy (Ilinucism)
Religious heads: Matriarch Cynthia

Popular opinion on the volcano: It is the mother-goddess’s greatest servant
Popular opinion on wars: War is a necessity for survival
Popular opinion on magic: Magic is a sign of divinity, something to be cherished
Popular opinion on religion: Highly pious
Popular opinion on the Aristocracy: They are the intelligent and strong that make up the government
Pauper opinion on the Government: It is what keeps the the “xenos” at bay
Popular opinion on foreigners: Very wary of foreigners, the only foreigners they have ever met wishes to destroy them. They have a word of foreigners, xenos, which literally means “not us”, though it could also be translated as “barbarian.” While it is not inherently a derogatory term it is usually used as such.
Popular opinion on other cultures: Xenos cultures are inherently inferior to that of Ethea’s, naturally.

Cultural name for the Volcano: Magalis, which literally means “great servant”

A look into the unique culture: To understand the culture of the Ethean Empire, one must look at it through the lens of religion. The people of Ethea are followers of the faith of Northern Orthodoxy, the oldest denomination of Ilinucism. Northern Orthodoxy has three important deities: Aketa the world-mother, Fengri, and Kafto. Fengri, the diety of the the moon, and Kafto, the deity of the sun, are both rivals for Aketa’s love, thus rarely meet in the sky. Magalis, which literally means “great servant”, is the name by which the Etheans refer to the volcano by. It is the world-mother's first and greatest servant. Ancestor worship is an important facet of Northern Orthodoxy. This practice is based in part on respect and love for the dead, but also because it is believed that the deceased have a continued existence as part of Aketa and are capable of exerting some influence over the living. According to Northern Orthodoxy there are two holy lands, the volcano and the city of Satrea, which was the birthplace of Northern Orthodoxy’s prophet and first saint.

Ethean culture views the hair and body as a gift from one’s parents, thus it is something of a taboo to damage them under normal circumstances once an individual has reached adulthood. Adults would typically allow their hair to grow long until death, although most men would cut their facial hair. Cutting one’s hair off and tattooing is a punishment for humiliating criminals. An Ethean’s outfit is made up primarily of two pieces: a chiton and a himation. The chiton is a simple tunic garment that usually falls to the ankles of the wearer, although shorter chitons are worn during vigorous activities. A himation is a basic outer garment worn over the chiton; it is made of a heavy rectangular material that went under the left arm and secured on the right shoulder. A garment called a peplos is sometimes worn over the chiton and under, or in place of, a himation. A peplos is a square piece of cloth with the top third folded over and pinned at both shoulders, leaving the cloth open down one side. Sometimes the peplos is worn alone, in place of the chiton. During colder seasons it's not uncommon for Etheans to wear a heavy cloak. Sandals are the most common form of footwear, but soft shoes and boots are not uncommon, especially when not in an urban setting. Traditionally silk, linen, and wool were used to make clothing, but currently wool is the most common material. Dyes are used to make Ethean clothing vibrant and colorful. Women commonly wear jewelry, both as rings and necklaces, as well as small ornaments that are sewn into their clothing. They also usually have elaborate hairstyles and makeup, both of which, in conjunction with jewelry, are used as a status symbol.

Cultural history:

Notable figures: Prince Xanthus Katsaros

Princess Aleris Katsaros

Praetorian Brygus

Ionessa Soukis

Talia the Fae

Empress Euphemia I (deceased) - Seen by her people as the empire’s greatest hope of achieving peace, her assassination assured centuries more of warfare between Ethea and the Egun Senxi.



Type of Military: Standing - The military is well equipped and well trained; recruits go through four months of training ranging from marching to weapons training.
Total Military fighting units: 13,480 troops

Unit demographics: Roughly sixty percent of Ethea’s soldiers are heavy infantry, thirty percent are archers and other types of auxiliary troops, and the remaining ten percent are heavy cavalry.

Notable figures:

Past wars and notable events: A thousand years of war with the Egun Senxi



Artifacts and famous enchantments:

Anything else we should all know: The Ethean Empire has been presumed destroyed by the rest of the world, besides the Tribe of Long Night of the Egun Senxi.

Long Night: 202,000
Long Day: 26,000
Long Hunt: 45,000
Fire: 9700
Age: 20,000
Birth: 12,000
Lost War: 21,000
Hawk's Sight: 60,000
Rot: 6500
Unending Twilight: 86,000
Oxen's Strength: 58,000
New Dawn: 32,000
Total: 578,200

Ren: 413,000
Mul: 259,000
Total: 672,000

PLAINS POPULATION: 1,250,200

(BR = Before Roleplay)
~1050 BR - The Moon goes dark in the sky for weeks throwing the Northern tribes and their leadership, the Lunar Synod, into chaos as they scramble to understand the disappearance of their deity.  Without warning a solar eclipse reveals the vanished moon and the Lunar Synod declare the Sun a usurper, forever forsaking the day.  The southernmost tribes voice their protests, outright refusing the order to avoid the day and in doing so sparking conflict with their more numerous northern brothers.  For years the southern tribes lose territory yet grow more convinced of their interpretation of events, with some even saying the Sun had convinced the Moon to return and should be honoured, not cast out.

~1000 BR - Having been totally forced out of their ancestral homeland the southern tribes of the Senxi travel to the southern Ethean Empire and are welcomed in with promises of a brighter future, however almost all find themselves exploited by the Etheans as cheap labour and willing slaves.

~960 BR - Seeing the abuses of the Ethean people the northern tribes men rise up across the nation regardless of their individual differences.  Attempts to quash the rebellion are many, but the sheer scale of the uprising defies Ethan attempts at pacification.

~900 BR - The larger members of the rebellious tribes come to see the Ethean religion as the reason for their former masters abhorrent behaviour.  The Volcano so praised in the capital of Ethea and long seen by the tribesmen as the Smoldering Death is labelled master of the Etheans, who willingly serve evil.  Looking to the guidance of their own Heavenly Patron, the Moon, the largest tribes declare their rebellion a holy war.

~700 BR - As nearly a quarter of Ethea’s territory is lost the various rebelling tribes are joined into one by what many call the Hero of Heaven and seeing this centralization the reigning Empress Euphemia attempts to make peace only to be regarded as the mouthpiece of the Smoldering Death.  Seen as a deceiver and temptress by the united tribes the Hero of Heaven sets out to kill her and in doing so end the war.

~690 BR - Successful in his quest the Hero of Heaven is hailed as the greatest of all men upon his return from such a perilous task.  In Ethea the death of Euphemia cements opposition to the idea of peace and the war continues into a new period of brutality regardless of the united tribes hopes.

~640 BR - The Hero of Heaven dies after years of war and doubt shakes the various tribes, many beginning to question if winning the war is even possible.  In the face of an increasingly uncertain homefront the Hero’s son holds the line even as the many disparate tribes begin to question their  decision to unite.  

~600 BR - Sensing weakness in the united tribes, the Ethean Empire launches a massive campaign. Cities and towns that had fallen to the tribes are burned by Ethean troops who put both women and children to the sword.  The plains of Ethea become a lake of blood as the army advances, only to find its momentum unsustainable.  Eventually the Ethean armies are halted the campaign having caused the empire to lose many of its soldiers but achieving perhaps one of its goals.  Faced with awful losses the eastern tribes break their compact and leave their western brothers to carry on a mission they no longer see the need to die for.  Those who remain in the alliance form the vast trie of Long Night.  Bearing the title of The Moon’s Chosen and leader of this new tribe the Hero’s grandson begins his preparations for revenge.  

~550 BR - Now recovered from the disaster fifty years prior the tribe of Long Night storms whatever territory the Empire held from its last assault in a breakneck campaign.  Now without uncertain soldiers or conflicted commanders no Ethean survivors are taken.  By the time the onslaught ends Ethea has lost yet more precious territory and suffered disproportionate casualties from a force they’d imagined was crippled.  The campaign marks a new era in the war, one where both sides were bent not on conquering, but on eradicating the other.

~420 BR - Salvaging as much old Ethean knowledge as possible two of the easternmost tribes set themselves to the task of building a civilization of their own as the war in the west fades into a distant memory.

~380 BR - Out of their former nomadic roots Ren and Mul emerge as properly civilizations and set to the task of constructing a wall to separate themselves from the barbarians that were once their brothers.

~320 BR - Attempting to besiege the new fortifications to their south the tribe of New Dawn is gored and decimated, allowing its other neighbours impunity in their own attacks against it.  Unable to fight back the tribe of New Dawn concedes much of its once vast territory.

~300 BR - Following another brutal campaign launched by the tribe of Long Night the empire is completely cut off from the rest of the world.

~120 BR - With Ethea so contained but victory still a distant dream the tribe of Long Night fractures, its most western territory breaking off to form its own tribe, Long Day.  Tried for war this new tribe establishes permanent villages and agriculture while maintaining their traditions, inviting any who wish for peace to join them.

~100 BR - Ethea is reduced to only the capital and a few outlying forts and cities, though tribe of Long Night attacks slow as the remaining defenses prove to be centuries in the making.  A standoff of sorts emerges as both sides search for an advantage.

~28 BR - Having been reduced to a minor player for nearly three centuries the tribe of New Dawn declares the newborn son of their aging chief as the reincarnation of the Hero of Heaven.  Seen as a dying peoples pitiable attempt at glory the announcement is ridiculed and ignored by the other neighbouring tribes.


Deities:
The Moon's path holds that there are but three deities in creation, The Heavenly Patron, The Celestial Adjudicator, and the Smoldering Death. Paramount of the three is the Patron, whose watchful eye can be seen every night in the sky as the moon. It is the Patron who is responsible for the creation of life and who watches their works with one eye upon the world and the other upon paradise.

The secondary deity of the Moon's Path and the Patrons brother is the worldly Adjudicator whose whole form is visible as the sun, a blinding light in the sky. It was the Adjudicator who created the Earth and the Mortal Universe by the Patrons edict, and even now the Adjudicator is the architect of the worlds many trials. Most often the Adjudicator is impotent in Paradise, but long ago it is said that he restored the Patrons sight after her mortal eye was blinded by the hated Smoldering Death.

Lastly there is the Smoldering Death, divine by its cruelty. After the Adjudicator had designed the world and the Patron had cast her eye on it a blemish came into existence, a god not born of paradise but one of the mortal universe. From the moment it emerged it was clear the Smoldering Death was filled with malice and hate. Seeing the world as its domain the Smoldering Death rebelled and sought to purge the world of the Patrons children and replace them with its own, the enchanters and the Bannik, the wretched demons of creation. In a battle with the Adjudicator the Smoldering Death was forced into the bowls of the Earth, but not defeated. Even from this worldly prison the Smoldering Death interferes with the world, though it cannot destroy it.

Beliefs:
The Senxi believe that two worlds exist, Paradise, and the Mortal Universe. Reigning in Paradise the Heavenly Patron created all life as her everlasting children, but soon learned that in Paradise these children were never challenged, and they never grew. Seeing an answer the Patron turned to her lesser brother and told him to create a world, one which he could oversee and one which she would use to teach her children. Obedient and eager the lesser brother, who would come to be known as the Adjudicator, crafted a vast universe and watched over it as the sun. The Mortal Universe of her brothers design was beyond the Patrons expectations and when he invited her to cast an eye upon it, that eye was so enthralled it became the moon.

The Patron seeded life upon her brothers creation and proclaimed him Adjudicator, the one to judge the worthiness of her children for Paradise. In the beginning the Adjudicator could not imagine how his sisters creations would not be worthy, but soon enough he saw how young they were, and how foolish. He knew that they would not yearn for paradise if they lived forever and so he made the children mortal of body, allowing them to pass into paradise if worthy or rejoin their brothers new and old in subsequent life if not.

Content with his work in adapting the Patrons children to the world the Adjudicator took time to gaze upon all of his Mortal Universe, and in this gaze he saw what should not be. A new deity had been created, but not one he could call a brother. Somehow in giving the Patrons children mortal lives a new entity had been raised from the children's lost immortality, a beautiful god not of Paradise, but the Mortal Universe. It spoke in honeyed words and whispered to the Adjudicator of rebellion, of striking down the Patrons children and creating new ones, ones truly from and suited to the world they inhabited.

Appalled the Adjudicator lashed out at the malicious entity and in a great battle cast it into the bowls of the world, imprisoned but not defeated. Unable to do more the Adjudicator watched in horror as the being of evil, the Smoldering Death, created wretched beings and corrupted the Patrons children. In the Adjudicators haste he had not considered that the Smoldering Deaths prison could become its fortress and after searching in vain for a solution he went to the Patron, pleading for aid.

Unable to imagine such evil the Patron cast her eye upon the Smoldering death, and seeing the beauty of the creature under the stone of the earth she offered it a place in Paradise, a chance to craft its own world. Finding the Patrons proposal little more then humorous the Smoldering Death took the chance and lashed out at the Patron, Blindsiding her eye in the Mortal Universe and banishing the Moon.

In the chaos the Smoldering Death whispered to the Lunar Synod who had been given the gift of hearing the Patrons words and the duty of leading her children. The Smoldering Death and convinced them the Adjudicator had rebelled, even as the sun grasped the moon and restored the Patrons sight.

By the time her sight had restored and the Adjudicator returned to his duty the Patrons children had turned on each other, and in that time she wept stars across the sky. Unable to tolerate his sisters sadness the Adjudicator taught both the Senxi who'd been deceived and those who'd fled the means of identifying the Smoldering Deaths demons and the means of banishing them.

From then on the Adjudicator watched and preformed his duty, certain that in time the Patrons children would be the ones to overthrow the Smoldering Death as their mother proudly watched them.

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Nation Name:
Codependent Kingdoms of Ren and Mul

National Flag:


What do you call the denizens:
Generally referred to as Kuan Senxi

Government type:
Elective Monarchy, however all claimants to thrones of both Ren and Mul are members from the Xhese family. Of all family members the nobility of both nations will independently elect one claimant to their nations respective throne. This leaves the possibility for an individual to rule both kingdoms and indeed such has happened on numerous occasions either due to a lack of suitable heirs or the rise of a single outstanding candidate. Any single individual ruling bot kingdoms is declared a Zehu Keshen, or a Grand Lord Chief.

Leader/Leaders:
Xhese Mugai, Keshen of Ren: The first son of the previous Zehu Keshen, Xhese Menhu, Mugai is a highly charismatic leader with perhaps more bravado than ability, often delegating even the most crucial of tasks. Originally thought to be the most popular claimant in both Ren and Mul, Mugai remains bitter about the surprise election of his younger brother Lehzun in Mul.
Xhese Lehzun, Keshen of Mul: The youngest child of Mehu, Lehzun is an ambitious but young king who rose to notoriety after settling numerous long standing disputes amount the nobility in Mul and later involving himself deeply in the affairs of the realm both to learn, and advise.

Dynasty:
Xhese

Other Important political figures:
Xhese Mei, the middle child and only daughter of the previous Zehu Keshen Mei has distinguished herself as a much loved patron of art and culture as well as one of the few individuals able to appeal to both her brothers.

Currency:
Seoi

State Religion(If applicable):
Path of the Moon

Major cities:
Toibul, the capital of Mul.
Zegin, the capital of Ren.

Major military installations:
The Grand Wall, a massive defensive fortification that surrounds Ren and Mul the Wall remains greatest project undertaken by the two states.

Important locations and buildings:

Population:
672,000

Race and Ethnic demographic:
99% Senxi
1% Other

Economy:
Largely self reliant Ren and Mul trade between each other but suffer from their largely intentional exclusion from the outside world. While food is a non issue other commodities can be difficult to come by.

Wealth balance:
Slanted towards the nobility and crown, but not oppressively so.

Major exports:
None Substantial

Major Imports:
None Substantial

Staple agricultural crops:
Potato, Wheat.

Trade partners:
None Substantial.

Popular opinion on the volcano:
A evil entity which takes pleasure in the destruction of civilizations.

Popular opinion on wars:
War is necessary only as a response to aggression, the walls are impregnable.

Popular opinion on magic:
Demonic power, all who use magic are demons or their servants.

Popular opinion on religion:
The people of Ren and Mul are highly pious, and religion plays a large part in their lives.

Popular opinion on the Aristocracy:
The elite represent the establishment of proper civilization and are to be honoured as those who raise all to greater heights.

Pauper opinion on the Government:
The government is civilization, without it all would descend into the barbarism of days past and prove themselves unworthy of paradise.

Popular opinion on foreigners:
All foreigners are to be mistrusted, as heathens they may well be corrupted by evil.

Popular opinion on other cultures:
Most other nations and their cultures are looked upon with disdain, save Ethea.

Cultural name for the Volcano:
The Smouldering Death

A look into the unique culture: (tell us what makes your average citizen unique, take us through their values and life style, throw in any sub cultures such as the culture of the formal classes as well)

Cultural history:

Notable figures:
Military and History

Type of Military: Volunteer, conscripted, standing, semi professional, culture affects, levies etc. Go into detail.
Total Military fighting units:

Unit demographics: (heavy infantry, marksman, etc and their equipment/training)

Notable figures:

Past wars and notable events:

Past conflicts with other nations:

Current conflicts and wars:
Other

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Anything else we should all know:

Gau Senxi

Demonym: Gau Senxi.

Government Type: Tribal Confederation.

Leaders and Ruling Factions

The Gau Senxi are divided into ten different tribes, each united by a shared way of life and shared beliefs. Besides these cultural bonds, however, the tribes are also united in their shared subservience to the Lunar Synod, the ruling faction of the Gau Senxi.

Lunar Synod; The Synod is composed of spiritual leaders from across all ten tribes, and its council is treated by the Gau Senxi as sacred. This is because the Gau Senxi believe the Lunar Synod to convey to the Senxi, directly, the word of the Heavenly Patron—the Goddess of the otherworldly paradise which all Gau Senxi hope to enter in the afterlife. The word of the Lunar Synod is unquestionable, and their council must be heeded without delay by any chief, lest he be quickly overthrown by his own people. In this way, the chiefs of the ten Gau Senxi tribes are not absolute rulers of their people, but rather regional administrators, allowed to remain in their role for so long as they obey the Synod. Should any serious threat to the Synod's dominance arrive, either as internal sedition or an external entity encroaching on Gau Senxi territory, the Synod is also in command of a permanent standing military force, the Gerrari. Consisting of the fastest and most agile of the Gau Senxi women, the heavily militant Gerrari are infamous, both in Gau Senxi lands and in outsider territory, for their ruthlessness and the physical characteristic by which they can be distinguished—the canine teeth of the Gerrari are sharpened to a point, and they are rumored to use these fangs to feast upon their still living human prey as they lay dying after ambush. The Gerrari, as well as the Lunar Synod which they serve, are located in the Gau Senxi capital of Senxin, the only major permanent settlement of the Gau Senxi, which is situated roughly in the centre of Gau Senxi lands.

The Lunar Synod make a point of ensuring that none among their order ever emerge as a central leader. There are no factions within the Synod, allowing each member to represent solely their own personal convictions. Often, a member of the Lunar Synod might find himself agreeing with a contemporary on one issue and viscerally opposed to them on another.

Emakdar; The only tribe to possess territory bordering both non-Senxi lands and lands belonging to the Egun Senxi, the Senxi of the plains who have long ceased to obey the Lunar Synod. The Emakdar are known for the spirited nature of their women; Emakdar women make up the largest portion of the Gerrari, the Lunar Synod's standing military force.

Baalde; The westernmost of the Gau Senxi tribes, possessing the northern-most portion of the forest's western border, and stretching up along the coast. The Baalde are named after the tribe's founder, who lived over a thousand years ago, and is said in myth to have followed a sign from the Heavenly Patron to wage a holy war against a non-Senxi tribe which formerly inhabited what is now Baalde territory. The founder of the Baalde showed his enemies no mercy, slaughtering them to the last for the glory of the Goddess, and the Heavenly Patron was said to be so pleased as to transform the land on which the enemy was slain to forest, that the Senxi might dwell there.

Iparr; The tribe of the north, and the only one to possess only a single neighbour, the Langil. Iparr lands are known to be especially cold, but their physical isolation from the outsider territories and their long nights make them perfectly suitable to the Gau Senxi, prompting the Iparr to become the second most populous of the tribes (in spite of their relatively small territorial extent).

Xume; The smallest and weakest tribe, nestled safely in the north-central portion of Gau Senxi lands, to the immediate north of the Gau Senxi capital of Senxin. The Xume are known to be excellent craftsmen, their long tradition of expertly trained iron workers creating a demand for them throughout all of the rest of Gau Senxi territory—thereby contributing to their small number.

Mu; The largest tribe by the sheer size of its territory, the Mu are active throughout the stretch of territory between the western and eastern portions of Gau Senxi lands. The Mu are known among the tribes for their tall stature and heavy build; Mu warriors are outmatched in Gau Senxi territory only by the Gerrari, whom they are nonetheless far larger than, if not more intimidating.

Langil; A tribe known for its talents at fishing and boat-making. Unlike most tribes, the Langil are primarily non-nomadic, existing instead in permanent fishing settlements along Gau Senxi land's north and east coasts. The bay in the eastern part of Gau Senxi lands in named after the Langil, as, although they share it with two neighbours, they are the tribe which plunders its aquatic bounty most effectively.

Hego; Southern-most and least respected of the ten Gau Senxi tribes. The Hego are infamous for possessing a great number of blasphemers, Senxi who defy the Lunar Synod by engaging, in secret, in trade and dialogue with outsiders. The Hego were formed following the demise of the Gau Senxi's former eleventh tribe, the Handii. The Hego family formerly served the Handii, but were persuaded by the Lunar Synod to betray them after the Handii lost the Synod's approval. The Hego have been chiefs of the tribe ever since, although they failed to keep all of their former masters' territory. After their war against the Synod concluded and the Handii were defeated, a long-time rival of the Handii, the Ekiald, was assigned the northern third of their territory by the Lunar Synod.

Ekiald; The strongest of the ten tribes, holding extensive territory in the eastern part of Gau Senxi lands, including along Senxin's eastern border. Ekiald lands border, in clockwise order, Senxin, Xume, Langil, the eastern sea, Hego, Urdin and Laranja. The Ekiald are the most pious of the ten tribes, infinitely loyal to the Lunar Synod, far more so than to their own chiefs. They are also more strict in their adherence to the Synod's commands than the men of the other tribes. Small vices that might be tolerated in the rest of Gau Senxi territory are punished thoroughly and without exception by the Ekiald.

Urdin; The Urdin are the most warlike of the ten tribes, obsessed with death and combat. They regularly launch night-time raids into the territory of the Egun Senxi, punishing the blasphemers with horrific massacres in the (presumed) name of the Synod. In truth, the Synod is somewhat displeased with the hostile nature of the Urdin. However, the Urdin were long-time allies of the now defunct Handii, and the Synod generally accepts that by allowing the Urdin to raid outsiders as they wish, they are preventing them from instead picking fights with the Ekiald and Hego, which the Urdin despise to this day for their roles in destroying the Handii.

Laranja; The only tribe to be entirely surrounded by other tribes, bordering neither outsider territory nor the sea. The Laranja are the great artisans and musicians of the Gau Senxi, their people enjoying a great many festivals and other cultural traditions which have, over the years, become adopted by the whole of the Gau Senxi. Foremost among these traditions is the tribe's namesake, the Laranja, a lively celebration held every full moon to give glory to the Heavenly Patron.

Currency: Within each tribe, trade is often conducted via the barter system, for simplicity. For more complex transactions and for trade between tribes, however, the Gau Senxi use the Txanaren (singular 'Txan'), a system of coinage minted in Senxin by the Lunar Synod. Each side of the Txan is decorated with an image of the moon, one side waning and the other side waxing.

State Religion: Path of the Moon. The Senxi revere the moon as the eye of the Heavenly Patron, the Goddess of Paradise. Life, to the Senxi, is a test, which all mankind must pass (through virtuous behaviour) to be admitted to Paradise. If a life is not lived virtuously, the soul reincarnates, given another chance to be judged worthy and enter into the Patron's realm.

To the Senxi, the sun is a lesser being to the moon, seen by the Senxi as fulfilling something of a 'younger brother' role to the Heavenly Patron. The Lunar Synod teaches that he was created by the Heavenly Patron to serve as the judge of the Mortal World, that the Patron herself might keep an eye on Paradise. In ancient days, however, in an event known as the Long New Moon, the sun, coveting the Heavenly Patron's rule over Paradise, sought to overtake the moon and banish her from the Mortal Realm, that he might rule it for his own purposes. The sun sought to blind the Patron's eye in the Mortal World, and he succeeded, for a time, leading to ten days of moonless nights. It was not until the eleventh day that the Patron defeated the sun, returning her eye to the Mortal World in a spectacular event that illuminated the night sky as bright as day, and blinded all evil doers. The sun, now known by the Gau Senxi as the Usurper, saw his influence limited to the day, when the Patron needed to turn her eye back to Paradise. Because of the Usurper's betrayal of the Heavenly Patron, the Gau Senxi view the sun's light as evil, and the Lunar Synod demands of the Senxi that they avoid it, and make themselves active only at night, under the light of the Heavenly Patron.

The Smouldering Death, the being of fire and earth that controls the southern lands, is seen by the Gau Senxi not as a divine being, but a creation of one; he is the 'Lehenegun', first creation of the Usurper, and his loyal servant to this day. The Gau Senxi know of the Smouldering Death only in legend, having long since abandoned any excursions outside of their own lands, which are far removed from his influence. It is said that he is the highest among mortals, however, having captured for himself a shred of divinity that fell off of the sun after the Long New Moon. In Gau Senxi lore, he is seen a devious charlatan, making underhanded deals with the non-Senxi, inevitably leading to their ultimate demise.

World Map Location: The Gau Senxi dwell in the far northern forests of Illyrica, isolated from both non-Senxi and the Egun Senxi whom they exiled.



Capital: Senxin. Besides being the centre of political power in so far is it houses the Lunar Synod, Senxin is also the most populous of the Gau Senxi's permanent settlements (by an order of magnitude). Senxin is surrounded by a wall, shaped in the form of a triangle, with each of the three sides (north, south-west and south-east) possessing a single gate. The city is defended by an attachment of the Gerrari, and houses the most skilled tradesmen of the Gau Senxi, who converge in Senxin from as far as the lands of the Baalde and Iparr for their best chance at prosperity.

Important Locations and Buildings

The Heavenly Tower; A towering white stone building, used as both an observatory and as the meeting place of the Lunar Synod. It is located in the exact centre of Senxin, for maximum visibility and defensibility, and the Lunary Synod's extensive influence across Gau Senxi lands ensure that the Heavenly Tower is the de facto capital building of the Gau Senxi. Rising over both the walls of Senxin and all of the city's other buildings, the Heavenly Tower is the taller construct that almost any Gau Senxi will gaze upon in their lifetimes, presiding over Senxin like the heavens preside over the realm of man.

Hazitok; A compound rather than a single building, the Hazitok occupying nearly a third of the walled area of Senxin. It is the training ground of the Gerrari, housing and honing the offered women of the ten tribes until they are ready to serve the Synod. The Hazitok consists of barracks, various training facilities, as well as an enclosed, manicured area of forest, to allow initiates to train in the terrain they'll be performing in without having to leave the Hazitok. This is especially crucial because initiates are not permitted to leave the Hazitok until they have finished their training, except under strict supervision by other, more experienced Gerrari for field exercises.

Population: 385,000.

Racial and Ethnic Demographics: Gau Senxi territory is entirely homogeneous, populated only by the Gau Senxi themselves. As for the physical characteristics of the Gau Senxi, they are humans, distinguished most easily by their pale complexions (caused by avoidance of sunlight). Beyond this complexion, they tend towards Central Asian features.

Economy: The large majority of the Gau Senxi subsist off of hunting and gathering (especially the former). Agriculture is not unheard of, however, and the people of the Langil, Laranja and Xume tribes are expert fishermen, artisans and iron-workers respectively. The capital city of Senxin is home to the same economic fixtures found in any other large city; there are merchants, craftsmen and other professionals plying their trade there, offering refined goods and services to the otherwise undeveloped Gau Senxi economy.

Wealth Balance: Within each tribe, there is very little wealth disparity. Chiefs are rarely any more than marginally wealthier than their tribesmen. The exceptions to this are the members of the Lunar Synod, whose lifestyles are relatively luxurious. They themselves are not especially wealthy, however, but merely the post which they occupy. Most of the fine trappings of the members of the Lunar Synod belong to the Synod itself, and pass onto their replacement upon their death.

Major Exports: None, by law. The Lunar Synod forbids trade with the outside.

Major Imports: None, by law. The Lunar Synod forbids trade with the outside.

Staple Agricultural Crops: Very few. The Gau Senxi are primarily a hunter-gatherer people. Some tribes are known to cultivate some of the naturally occurring edible plants of the Gau Senxi forests, however, especially berries used in medicine and poisons.

Trade Partners: None, legally. The Hego are known to illicitly trade with various Egun Senxi peoples, however.

Religion Demographics: 100% Path of the Moon. All other faiths are more or less unheard of, spare the form of the Path of the Moon practiced by the Egun Senxi, which is forbidden for its defiance of the Lunar Synod's laws regarding daylight.

Religious Heads: The Lunar Synod.

Popular Opinion on the Volcano: An evil being. A liar and a deceptive creation of the Usurper.

Popular Opinion on Wars: War against outsiders is theoretically permitted, but interaction with outsiders of any kind is explicitly forbidden, which could be interpreted to include violence. So, mixed.

Popular Opinion on Magic: Distrust and confusion. Generally only practiced by the Lunar Synod.

Popular Opinion on Religion: The Gau Senxi are a pious people, the Ekiald especially.

Popular Opinion on the Aristocracy: Each tribe respects its own leading family, but is distrustful of the leading families of other tribes.

Popular Opinion on the Government: The Lunar Synod, the closest thing to a government for the Gau Senxi, is literally worshiped, as the voice of the Heavenly Patron.

Popular Opinion on Foreigners and Other Cultures: Non-Senxi are hated, and the Egun Senxi utterly despised.

Cultural Name for the Volcano: Lehenegun (First Creation of the Sun), or the Smouldering Death.

Notable Figures

((To be added as they are introduced IC.))

Military and History

Type of Military: The Gerrari are a professional and highly skilled fighting force, tasked with utilizing stealth tactics to defend the lands of the Gau Senxi against would-be visitors. The majority of the military strength of the Gau Senxi, however, rests in the tribes. Each tribe can commit as much as 50% of its number towards a fighting force, and the harsh lifestyles and hunting culture of the Gau Senxi make these conscripts more hardened than those of the civilized nations.

Total Military Fighting Units: 190,000.

Unit Demographics

15,000 Gerrari; Highly skilled professional warriors directly under the employ of the Lunar Synod, the all-female Gerrari are the Gau Senxi's first line of defense against the outside. They are agile and cunning, specializing in ambush tactics and subterfuge. They are outfitted and equipped lightly, usually protected by not more than leather and furs, but their weaponry is the best that can be found in the Senxi lands; refined iron blades, forged by the best swordsmiths of the Xume. The Gerrari are also experts in archery, putting almost any non-Senxi ranged fighters to shame.

175,000 Tribal Warriors; A large, but highly disorganized force, composed of civilians with combat experience limited to hunting and small, inter-tribe skirmishes. Though physically fit and loyal to their tribal leaders, the warriors of the Gau Senxi tribes are hesitant to fight alongside members of rival tribes, and are unfamiliar with field tactics and used to fighting in small groups. They wield simple stone or bone weapons, sometimes iron, and are primarily garbed in furs, although men in positions of influence occasionally dress in iron armour. There is huge disparity in the individual combat effectiveness and loyalty of each warrior, and almost none have any experience whatsoever fighting in open plain or grassland, accustomed only to the forests of the Gau Senxi homeland. Use of cavalry is highly uncommon, though not unheard of among more prestigious warriors. Ranged weapons are commonplace; more warriors are familiar with a bow, in fact, than with a blade.

Past Wars: The last major war between the Gau Senxi tribes was the Handii Rebellion. The Handii tribe openly defied the Lunar Synod, denouncing their legitimacy and rallying support from sympathizers, both among the other tribes and even among the Egun Senxi. After amassing this force, and having defeated small numbers of Lunar Synod supporters in the south, the chief of the Handii led a march to Senxin, intending to tear down the Heavenly Tower. This march was made possible because of interference by the Urdin, longtime allies of the Handii who launched an invasion against the Ekiald shortly after making their own denouncement of the Lunar Synod. The Handii army reached Senxin, but were ultimately defeated, the full strength of the Gerrari standing against them whilst the armies of the western and northern tribes closed in.

After these Synod-supporting reinforcements had arrived, the Handii retreated south, seeking aid from the unto this point neutral Laranja. The Laranja refused them, and, in the north-east of their lands, the Handii army was caught in its retreat by the Lunar Synod and massacred by their overwhelming number in the bloodiest battle that the Gau Senxi have ever known. Those who surrendered were either executed or struck blind for their defiance, and the Handii tribe was disbanded entirely, replaced by the Hego. The Urdin were spared, and only their chief was punished, executed in a public procession by the Gerrari in Senxin. Since the Handii Rebellion was quashed, there have been no major conflicts between the Gau Senxi, and the Lunar Synod has held firm control over the remaining tribes ever since.

Nation Name: Shihoma
National Flag:


Sounouchi Family Crest:


What do you call the denizens: Shihomani

Government type: Shihoma's government includes a mixture of monarchical, oligarchical and democratic elements. It is a magocracy, with political power dominated by the sorcerer elite. Its executive power rests with a hereditary monarch and a council of nobles with ties to the nation's founding. The role of the monarch primarily concerns judicial, military and religious affairs. Xe has the last say in the passing of legislation and may appoint any individuals xe finds competent to the council. The monarch is considered to be Shihoma's religious head, as well as the chief military commander in times of war.

Members of the higher council are drawn from Shihoma's most privileged nobles. Members may be appointed directly by the monarch at any time, but there are seats reserved for each senior bishop in the state. The council is the most powerful political force in Shihoma, next to the monarch. It can create laws and appoint new monarchs if they leave no heir. However, those nominated for the position may not already be a member of the council. The monarch has the ability to overturn legislation that the council suggests. The council also is responsible for monitoring the lower council.

The lower council is tasked with the bureaucratic matters of Shihoma, in practice. In reality, it holds little political power in the face of the higher council; however, it tends to back the decisions of its counterpart. It consists of publicly-elected representatives.

Leader/Leaders:
-Queen Sounouchi Sakai
With her mother having died in childbirth and her father deceased due to illness three years ago, Sakai sits upon the Shihomani throne. Just twenty four years of age, she is also the acting religious head of Yahasato. While such responsibility is capable of pushing rulers so young to their limits, Sakai has adjusted remarkably well. She is strong-willed and resolute, pushing her own agendas in the Shihomai courts and upholding the integrity of Yahasato at home and abroad. She is known to be astutely aware of the political climate, abhorring displays of weakness and pursuing opportunities where they can be found. Sakai has recently established a kind of secret police, in order to carry out both her personal will and to promote Yahasato tenets.

Ruling factions/dynasty if applicable: The current dynasty is ruled by the Sounouchi family.

Other Important political figures: TBA

Currency: Kyoda

State Religion: Shihoma follows a religious philosophy called Yahasato. See Culture section.


World map location: i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/Abso..
Shihoma's territory is orange red.

Interior map:

Major cities:
Major military installments:
Important locations and buildings:
Capital: Kuzumatsunai

Population: 2,109,800
Race and Ethnic demographic: The population is largely homogeneous, with the majority being Shihoman humans by ethnicity. Few foreigners are seen outside of visitors; these being either adherents of Yahasato on pilgrimage, merchants, or political emissaries.

Economy:
Wealth balance:
Major exports:
Major Imports:
Staple agricultural crops:
Trade partners:



Religion demographics:
Religious heads: Queen Sounouchi Sakai is the defacto head of Yahasato.

Popular opinion on the volcano:
Popular opinion on wars:
Popular opinion on magic:
Popular opinion on religion:
Popular opinion on the Aristocracy:
Pauper opinion on the Government:
Popular opinion on foreigners:
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Cultural name for the Volcano: Homugara is the name attributed to the volcano and the region it encompasses.

Cultural Notes: Shihoma is the birthplace of the religious philosophy of Yahasato. Because of this, its whole political and cultural society is heavily-influenced by the belief. Yahasato holds that the volcano, or Homugara, is an incredibly fickle, dangerous entity, possibly originating in another plane of existence. The magic it radiates is an incomprehensible, sacred product, and is therefore not something to be used lightly. As such, the less practitioners of magic there are, the safer society will be. It defers the duty to “guarding” the secrets of magic to the ruling elite of the state; those who are most powerful and trustworthy. It is for this reason that commoners are prohibited from attempting to practice magic.

In addition to outlining the proper use of magic, Shihomani Yahasato values social hierarchy and subservience. It holds that the masses should admire and look to their superiors for leadership. Respect for authority is a defining principle of Shihomani-brand Yahasato; one which inevitably has allowed it to remain an oligarchy for so long. After government, family is the next tier of priority. Shihoman families are quite large, as both sides of a marriage treat each other like immediate relatives. Any 'proper' Shihoman maintains close ties to his or her relatives and comes to their aid in times of need. To be disowned or to turn one's back on family is among the gravest ills one can commit.

As Yahasato believes the Volcano to be a destructive force of nature, it holds it both in fear and veneration. Just as it teaches a man subservience to his superior, it teaches all to be subordinate to Homugara. The Volcano's hairy messengers, called Youkabi in Shihoman, are seen as either signs of great fortune, or great disaster. For that reason, when one is near, everyone in the area will devote a silent prayer or offering, in hopes of keeping in good grace with the Volcano. Youkabi are prominent features in Shihoman art, and shrines with statues depicting unique, named Youkabi abound in temples throughout the country.

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Type of Military: Shihoma's military service is voluntary, with conscription having been abolished several decades prior to Queen Sounouchi's reign. The nation prides itself on having a well-trained and equipped fighting force, and it is considered prestigious to have a family with multiple generations of service.

Total Military fighting units: Approx. 220,000 men and women

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