» International Factbook

[Kyprioth]

Table of Contents
Barzun
Carthak
The Copper Isles
Galla
Maren
Sarain
Scanra
Siraj
Tyra
Tusaine
The Yamani Isles
Zallara

[Katell of Madara]

Barzun

Capital City: Makai
Leader: King _______ of Castell
Patron God: None. The Barzunni adhere to various religious traditions, many of which drawing from Bazhir or standard Eastern beliefs. To this extent, religion in the country is a largely personal matter.
Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Terrain: Mostly desert (The Great Southern Desert); some mountains; coastal hills where most of the agriculture takes place
Natural Hazards: Sandstorms in the Desert.
Political Situation: Stable. Monarchy, influenced by the Council of Lords.
Legal Matters:

• Slavery is practiced minimally outside of the royal family.
• Female knighthood is illegal.
• It is illegal for a prince or king to become a knight.

Societal Situation: A hard growing season resulted in a poor harvest, though Barzun is not so bad off as Tortall. The queen is currently pregnant, and so preparations are underway for the drowning feast, in spite of the reduction in available food.
Culture:

• Though not outlawed, it is considered bad taste for anyone outside of the royal family to own slaves.
• The royal tradition of drowning “excess” children harkens back to the family’s long-ago Bazhir roots. Because balance within nature—the desert—was and still is so crucial to tribesmen, this tradition was put in place to be an example to the people, to show that not even the monarchs were so selfish as to put an unnecessary drain on the environment. Though no longer undergone for practical reasons, drownings are still carried out today.
• Unlike Tortall which sends its young nobility to the City of the Gods for mage or noblewomen training, Barzun instead houses countless finishing schools and magecraft schools, called academies, to serve these functions. One's status in Barzunni society is often affected by whcih academy they attended, all of which have a price tag to match their prestiege.

Military Situation: Currently at war with Tortall over northern areas of the desert.

[Sukhet Bakkarai]

Carthak

Capital City: Thak's Gate
Leader: Emperor Sukhet Bakkarai
Patron God: The Graveyard Hag
Climate: Humid, with seasonal monsoons.
Terrain: Primarily jungle, with some coastal beaches. Largely uninhabited savannahs in the southern regions.
Natural Hazards: Periodic droughts; earthquakes; seasonal flash floods.
Political Situation: Monarchy. Ruled by an Emperor. Some political unrest.
Legal Matters:

• Slavery is legal and widespread, with even lower-ranking shopkeepers owning one or two.
• Female knighthood is illegal.
• Polygamy is widely practiced.

Societal Situation: Loose political structure has led to the popularity of a cult led by the High Priest of the Graveyard Hag. Seasonal flash floods lingering longer than usual has also led to widespread illness, though mostly among those who dwell in poorer districts of Carthak's cities, and isolated incidents in rural areas.
Culture:

• Carthaki culture is loud, vibrant, and to many gaudy. Lively music is common, and bright colours saturate clothing, architecture, and the very surroundings.
• Slavery is not only legal, but common. Anyone who can afford a slave may have one.
• Polygamy is widely practice, with a man capable of as many wives as he can afford.
• Women are often viewed as valued possessions, particularly daughters when it comes to marriage.

Military Situation: No military campaigns at this time.

[Anastasya of Conté]

Copper Isles, The

Capital City: Rajmuat
Ruler: King Rittevon of Lenman
Patron God: Kyprioth
Climate: Tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands.
Terrain: Composed of islands. Mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains, some islands have steep cliffs that inhibit building large ports.
Natural Hazards: Occasional floods in the low lands; severe droughts; strong storms; earthquakes; volcanoes; forest fires.
Political Situation: Monarchy; recent takeover, following a long-lasting civil war, saw its fair share of unrest, though this has almost entirely settled down.
Legal Matters:

• Slavery is legal, though those enslaved are typically raka.
• Female knighthood is legal, though uncommon.

Societal Situation:

• Fishing trips have been exceptionally bountiful of late, resulting in a higher volume of seafood than previous seasons.
• 200 marked the first year in which the country did not run a deficit.
• A warmer than usual winter has lead to rumors of lengthening this year's growing season.

Culture:

• After years of bloodshed amongst their own people, and then against the conquering easterners, the indiginous Raka people are now treated as if second-class citizens. Few of the Isles' nobility are actually native to the country, and are instead foreigners from the east and south.

Military Situation: No military campaigns at this time.

[Zarian of Conté]

Galla

Capital City: Cría
Ruler: King Anton IX of Galla.
Patron God: Though they have no patron god, Gallans hold many of the more northern Tortallan gods in high esteem.
Climate: Temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers.
Terrain: Mostly mountains with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes.
Natural Hazards: Avalanches, landslides; flash floods, forest fires.
Political Situation: Monarchy. Stable.
Legal Matters:

• Slavery is legal.
• Female knighthood is legal.
• Prostitution is illegal.

Societal Situation: Though the northern regions of Galla are currently recovering from a minor bount of Sweating Sickness, the country itself is reasonably well-off, having obtained a larger than anticipated harvest and minimal illness in the winter months.
Culture:

• Regardless of the family to which they were born, Gallan monarchs - always male - assume the suffix "of Galla" upon coronation. Too, regardless of their given name, they assume a name determined by their birth order at this time as well. A first-born son becomes Ludis, a second-born son Gerold, a third-born son Anton, and fourth- or latter-born Wilhelm.

Military Situation: No military campaigns at this time.

[Regan of Wellam]

Maren

Capital City: Fitore
Ruler: King Ulric of Maren
Patron God: --
Climate: Generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Southern coast.
Terrain: Mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west, gaining up to the foothills at the Gallan border.
Natural Hazards: Flooding; midwinter windstorms; drought. Flooding and drought are rare.
Political Situation: Monarchy.
Legal Matters:

• Slavery is legal.
• Female knighthood is legal.

Societal Situation: The king has been ill for some time, and so Prince Peter of Maren handles much of the day-to-day issues.
Culture:

• Called the "Grain Basket of the Eastern Lands", and so is a primarily farm-based country with few cities.
• Regardless of home fief, the king's title is always listed as "of Maren".
• In Maren, the oldest child takes the throne, regardless of gender. In most cases, though, a queen will co-rule with her brother, the former remaining unmarried and the children of the latter next in the line of succession.

Military Situation: Currently undergoing a boundary dispute with Tusaine.

[Kyprioth]

Sarain

Capital City: Chiatravi
Ruler: Warlord Warrik jian Vien
Patron God: Sarain follows the same religious structure as Tortall, however the K'mir tribespeople have their own set of gods.
Climate: Cold winters and hot summers, more temperate down to the coast, with more extremes to the North.
Terrain: Coastal with an eastern valley that ventures into the Roof of the World. North of the coast is the Southern Plain which is mostly Saren, while the K'mir inhabit the Northern highlands. Between the two is the central hill region.
Natural Hazards: Severe thunderstorms; flooding; landslides; drought and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons
Political Situation: Dictatorship, lead by the Warlord of the time, though this is often passed down through the laws of succession. Sarain is by no means a peaceful country, with civil wars between the two races an almost chronic plague.
Legal Matters:

• Slavery is legal.
• Female knighthood is illegal.
• Marriage between the K'mir and non-K'mir is illegal.

Societal Situation:

• Sarain experienced an exceptionally good harvest this year.
• A kill order is currently in affect for any escaped K'miri slaves.

Culture: The non-K'mir people of Sarain value strength and wealth above all else. Though they tend to structure their society much like their western neighbors, influence from the region's tribes often finds its way into the Sarain culture, for all that the people think themselves far superior.
Military Situation: No military campaigns at this time.

[Brynjá of Wellam]

Scanra

Capital City: None.
Ruler: None, ruled in factions by warlords who convene at the Council of Ten.
Patron God: Depends on the region, though Mingam is regarded as head of the pantheon.
Climate: Short, cool summers and bitterly cold winters.
Terrain: Evergreen forests, tundra, mountains and highlands-- rocky, poor soil, few areas suitable for farming.
Natural Hazards: Avalanches, landslides, forest fires, earthquakes in northwest.
Political Situation: Divided with constant feuding; raiding and farming predominate the summer season
Legal Matters:

• Slavery is legal and practiced widely
• Knighthood is not established; most men are trained with weapons and it is not uncommon for women to be trained as well in regions of longstanding conflict between factions

Societal Situation: While game is in good supply, crops often fail to thrive and as a result food can be scarce during the winter. Kildergast, similar to the sweating sickness, tends to hit hard once every six years.
Culture: While generally referred to as 'barbaric', Scanrans are recognized for their seamanship, weaponry, skill in battle and furs.
Military Situation: Internal warring and summer raiding, but too disorganized to openly declare war on anyone.

[Djimon Akhtar]

Siraj

Capital City: Eyge
Ruler: Empress Manyara Sekai
Patron God: Religion has been outlawed in Siraj since the year 73 H.E.
Climate: Tropical in North; arid desert in South; rainy season varies by region (April to November).
Terrain: Generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in far south, northeast and west; desert dominates the South.
Natural Hazards: Dust storms and periodic persistent droughts
Political Situation: Matriarchal monarchy. Stable.
Legal Matters:

• Slavery is legal.
• Warriorship is legal for both sexes.
• A curfew is enforced, requiring all citizens without legitimate excuse to be indoors by sundown.

Societal Situation: --
Culture:

• Siraj is, to an extent, a "backwards" nation, with the throne passing to the youngest female (reasoning being that the youngest has the potential to produce the most children) living in the royal family at the time of the ruler's death, rather than the eldest male.
• Rather than having knights or a military, Siraj's armed forces consist of countless "units", groups of twenty-three trained warriors of either gender (though units are all single-sex).
• The curfew was imposed for security reasons, after a series of assasination attempts were made on an empress. Though the measures are no longer necessary, they have not been reversed. To adapt, a series of tunnel systems has been developed beneath - and between - cities, a nice loophole to the "indoor" stipulation.

Military Situation: No military campaigns at this time.

[Aurelia Pesaro]

Tyra

Capital City: Tyra
Ruler: Duke of Tyra (Ceremonial)
Patron God: --
Climate: Warm, rarely ever below freezing, more moderate temperatures in the North.
Terrain: Lowlands and marshes in the South, farmland in the North.
Natural Hazards: Flooding, earthquakes, "The High Water" when the lagoon water of Tyra City rises above sea level (around 3 feet) the plazas and streets flood. Normally only 10% of the streets flood but in severe cases up to 96% of the streets may flood. The Tyran Council of Mages have set up a warning system for it.
Political Situation: Republic, ruled over by the Council of Lords. The Council is made up by the most prominant families, the council varies around 300-500 members. The Duke of Tyra is elected from and by the Council of Lords and keeps the office for life. He is usually the 'shrewdest of elders.' Having had the possession of the Dominion Jewel a hundred years ago, Tyra is one of the jewels of the Eastern Lands.
Legal Matters:

• Slavery is illegal. Indentured servants/Debtors are instead used.

Societal Situation: The Dominion Jewel has made Tyra a wealthy, prosperous and relatively peaceful country.
Culture: Tyra doesn't have knights, nor nobility in the strictest sense. Their army and navy are all enlisted. The calvary is mostly made up of aristocrats sons while the infantry are usually citymen. The Tyran Navy is the same with aristocrats making up the Officer class. All citymen are all trained in some form of combat, usually archery. Conscription exists in times of need, including all merchants ships which must be armed and are expected to help fight when necessary.
Military Situation: No military campaigns at this time.

[Mithros]

Tusaine

Capital City: Imoges
Ruler: King Treves Callaghan
Patron God: --
Climate: Temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain: Mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north.
Natural Hazards: Flooding, usually in the spring due to river run-offs.
Political Situation: As the old king died childless, his cousin has recently been crowned. There was some unrest over the matter, but this has subsided.
Legal Matters:

• Slavery is legal, though only foreigners may be enslaved.
• Female knighthood is legal, but only third- and latter-born daughers may try for their shield.

Societal Situation: An unusually large amount of snowmelt from the mountains recently caused a flood in the capital city of Imoges. Extensive construction is currently being done on most of the city, and heavy taxes have been levied nationwide to fund these repairs. Many country-folk bear their city-dwelling companions some ill will over this.
Culture:

• Typically the king will be allowed to choose which of his male heirs will be his successor to the throne, and is also allowed to specify how the other children should be treated upon his death via a will, however this extends only to his legitimate children and not to bastards, wives, concubines, advisors, or servants.
• For many years Tusaine has been populated mostly with shepherds, but recently it has become the trend for young men and women to move to cities and learn a trade. This has left many countryfolk short of help and many have gone so far as to purchase slaves in recent years that they would not have needed previously.

Military Situation: Currently undergoing a boundary dispute with Maren.

[Kasumi Takahashi]

Yamani Islands, the

Capital City: Murasaki
Ruler: Emperor Ikume noh Ajikuro
Patron God: Yama
Climate: Temperate with variable, if harsh extremes in the temperatures, cold winters and humid summers.
Terrain: Mostly rugged and mountainous, series of islands.
Natural Hazards: Many dormant and a few active volcanoes; earthquakes; strong maritime storms.
Political Situation: Stable monarchy.
Legal Matters:

• Slavery is legal.
• Knighthood is not established; instead, the country has an extensive navy and a smaller army.

Societal Situation:

• Though ease of trade has been increased by the end of the conflict with Tortall, a recent upturn in the Yamani economy has left the country with less need than usual to utilize it.

Culture:

• Though Yamani women are not involved in organized combat, for one not to know how to defend herself, particularly the noblewomen, would be a rarity. All yamani women carry a small knife on their person at all times. Most Yamani noblewoman are at least adept at using a glaive, and all are trained in the art of using thier shukusen, a metal fan, both in dance and in combat.
• Yamani women of all classes typically wear kimonos, while their male counterparts favor a more eastern-style dress.
• To portray one's emotions in the Islands draws ridicule and is a sign of poor breeding. To this end, even the youngest Yamani children know how to place the metaphorical mask of stone on their face.
• The third Monday of each month is an Imperial Prayer day, on which all businesses are closed and the populace is expected to spend their day in the temples (farm workers and fisherman are excluded from this, but must take an hour at midday for solitary prayer). Even Yamanis abroad will often partake in this, either in its common form (if they are able to find temples dedicated to their gods) or in its laborer form (if they are not).

Military Situation: Recently ended a war with Tortall, and has no current militial engagements.

This post has been edited by Kasumi Takahashi on Aug 20 2009, 09:36 AM

[Mithros]

Zallara

Capital City: Oasis
Ruler: --
Patron God: --
Climate: Tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
Terrain: Mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains in the south. Savannah in the north.
Natural Hazards: Periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April)
Political Situation: Zallara is currently undergoing a civil war to determine who will be the new Emperor.
Legal Matters:

• Slavery is legal.
• Knighthood is not established; use of women as warriors is unknown.
• Incest is legal.

Societal Situation: Rulership has typically been passed down through the male heirs, however the most recent Emperors have been incredibly paranoid. Emperor Dobi III killed all of his brothers and brothers-in-law for fear that they would make an attempt on his throne; Dobi IV commissioned the murder of all but his favorite child and chosen successor, then later killed his wives when they complained about the deaths of their children. Dobi V had many concubines but no legal heirs, as the only wife he ever took he had executed in a fit of rage. Currently his bastard children have each claimed small followings, and these factions battle for the sake of their leader and his or her claims to the throne. Neutrality is impossible and the factions act much like warring gangs, protecting their own and destroying all others. Many homes and buildings have been abandoned as men, women, and children migrate to wherever their next battle is to take place.
Culture:

• Music is an important part of Zallaran culture, and everyone, regardless of status, will typically have one instrument they are particularly skilled with.
• Marriage is often not officially practiced among the lower-classes, and the title of "wife" is seen as a distinction mainly for those chosen by the Emperor. Many couples still live in families with their children, although it is not uncommon to see many half-siblings sharing a home, or a single parent with a hoard of children in tow.
• Children are allowed to work, fight, and otherwise participate in "grown-up" activities at any age, and are even allowed to form partnerships and have children as young as ten or twelve.
• Oftentimes closer bonds are forged between siblings or half-siblings than between parents and their children.
• Incest is neither illegal nor altogether uncommon.

Military Situation: Currently warring within itself, rather than against other nations.