Wakątakte

History

Wakątakte has become the powerhouse of both military and mining power. The unique combination of these two critical elements in Wakątakte stems from the necessity of protection and economic power after being pushed out by the Hilaelians. Officially declared in 1055 as the first Astorian kingdom, Wakątakte began with a small population of people who fled to the mountains to escape Hilaelian conquest. After finding seclusion in the mountains, the Astorians began to expand, develop, and explore their new home. With previous knowledge of mining and its scarcity in most regions, the Astorians focused their labor on harvesting minerals and stones to insert themselves into the trade route to build an economy. Success soon followed the mining endeavors, as the population rapidly grew due to individuals wanting to profit and benefit from this niche area of resources.
After making a name for themselves and becoming a prominent player in the northern trade route, the people of Wakątakte realized that they needed strong military powers to protect their land and their trade. Taking the profit from the trade, the city government began to recruit and grow the pre-existing, small military that was established at the start of the kingdom. As the Wakątakte military grew stronger, so did the Hilaelians. To this present moment, Wakątakte has never been conquered and has become the headquarters of the Reconquista.
Whatever funds that were not spent on the military, they went to the construction of the palace instead. With construction completed 50 years after the kingdom was first settled, Amęr Kȟnalįs is the palace at the heart of Wakątakte, showcasing the grandiose power and wealth of the kingdom.

Geography & Climate

The Wakątakte kingdom is located in the North Western part of the continent of Alt-Andalus. Wakątakte is confined to primarily the mountain ranges with access to forests and the ocean on the western side coming down from the mountains. To the East of Wakątakte is another Astorian kingdom, , and to the South is a Hilael kingdom, . Wakątakte has access to two rivers, one is the river hahawakpa and it is the the eastern side of Wakątakte, this river leads down into the Hilael kingdom, ,and borders the Astorian kingdom, . The other river that Wakątakte has access to is the river, , this river is much smaller/shorter and leads out to the ocean. Not far across the ocean that Wakątakte has access to is another Hilael kingdom located on an island.
The climate in Wakątakte is quite diverse due to it occupying areas in both the upper mountains and the lower forests and ocean areas. Higher up in the mountains there tends to be a cool climate year round with harsh winters. Closer to the forests and the ocean though the climate tends to be warmer and bring more rain, the summers get hot but not sweltering due to the mountains providing some protection from the sun and allowing gusts of wind to come down its peaks, which can be both harmful and beneficial. The diverse climate of Wakątakte allows for a nice variety of crops to be grown, along the parts of the mountain that get good sunlight there can be seen terrace farms. These farms try to avoid the mines so neither disrupt one another. Other crops and farms are stationed down the mountain primarily along the rivers, crops found here consist of sugarcane and sweetgrass. Other than being beneficial for farming the diverse climate also allows for a diverse natural ecosystem made up of a variety of plants and animals.
Due to being in/near the mountains Wakątakte has developed a strong mining culture. The mountains that the people of Wakątakte live in are rich with deposits of precious metals, minerals, and stones. Access to these materials have allowed Wakątakte to have a strong trading culture with the other kingdoms. The use of the precious metals, minerals, and stones also led to rapid development of Wakątakte and development of the Palace. Use of the forests for material is important as well, as the forests provide access to raw materials such as lumber/wood, the ability to forage, and the ability to hunt. Other resources and benefits that came from living in/near the mountains is the ability to use Tokals as a means of transportation and help. Tokals are native to these regions and have no difficulty quickly and efficiently scaling the rough and steep terrain common to this area. Due to this the people of Wakątakte were quick to make use of the Tokals that they found, they are used to easily and quickly move around, to transport materials, and to help with farming.
Wakątakte is HQ for the Reconquista due to its geographical location having natural borders and defenses. Wakątakte is surrounded by forests, rivers, and rough terrain from the mountains. The Astorian people, due to living by and in the mountain ranges for so long have become accustomed to its rough terrain and steep inclines. The use of the Tokals found in the mountains give the people of Wakątakte an even bigger advantage as they have a reliable method of travel despite the terrain and inclines. This makes it a great place for tactical advantage against the Hilalens and Adairians who are most likely not as familiar with/accustomed to this type of terrain. Meanwhile, the lush forests found closer to the base of the mountains provide good cover for possible ambush attacks on intruders. The forests also add to the difficulty for others to travel as it makes it difficult to travel as a larger group due to the closer proximity of the trees and overgrown flora and fauna.

Government

Wakątakte acts as a stronghold for the Astorian people and culture on the peninsula, thanks to its defensive geography, and now acts as the seat of the The Mámi and the Astorian Reconquista. The Wakątakte government is centralized, with all power concentrated in the Monarch. The ruler and their court live and work in the Amęr Kȟnalįs, likely the single best defended place on the continent. With the Mámi living in the city and guiding a very religious Astorian majority population, the ruler shows a lot of deference and respect to the Mámi, but is ultimately still in control thanks to the might of their military. The ruler acts as both head of state and leader of the military, with the Oyate acting as their second in command and main strategist. The ruler’s court is entirely made up of military veterans.

Economics

Wakątakte is an Astorian city set high up in the northern mountain ranges with strong mining and agricultural industries. Because of its proximity to natural resources, the mountains provide steady profit and industry growth for the city; the mountains contain many precious metals and gemstones that are in high demand. Metals like iron and bronze are collected and used for practical pieces, like armor and weapons, for army and cavalry; metals like gold, silver, and platinum are used in jewelry, especially in ceremonial pieces. These metals and gemstones, both practical and precious, are traded to Hilaelian metalworkers and jewelers for the finished products with an additional fee. Jewelry is a major export for Wakątakte, as their products are extremely ornate and decorative due to the amount of material that is accessible.
Split between two industries, the majority of Wakątakte’s population is split between the mountains and the river. Most farmers with their own smaller plots take up residence on the riverbanks, while miners and farmers with bigger areas of land live in the mountains. Because Wakątakte’s mountains are not naturally suited for agriculture, the Astorian people living there have altered the landscape to better accommodate their agricultural and farming methods. The city has leveled some of the mountainsides to make flat, terraced areas to grow crops, store goods, and house livestock. These farming flats grow a majority of Wakątakte’s food supply, of which a majority is locally grown. Rain water and fresh snow melt from mountain snow caps are the primary irrigation sources of Wakątakte’s terrace farms. These terraces tend to be bigger plots of land assigned to each farm because there’s less farmers living higher up. Since trade is somewhat difficult to engage in consistently, Wakątakte people tend to buy imported goods in bulk, then preserve and store them so they don’t have to risk traveling along dangerous routes very often. Farmers living near the river have an easier time trading with merchants since they’re closer to major roads and portstops. Wakątakte’s riverbanks have also been developed into farmland because they have more people living there compared to the mountains; people who settle closer to the water take advantage of the proximity and develop more complex irrigation systems to help automate the agricultural process and produce more crop yield.
Due to the scarcity of certain materials, the people of Wakątakte are extremely resourceful; materials that are common in southern kingdoms are often replaced with northern variants or local substitutes because local materials are more plentiful than their southern equivalents. Because of the lack of accessibility, Wakątakte people have gradually stopped purchasing these southern materials; inversely, these northern substitutions possess a high demand and fetch a high price in southern kingdoms for their rarity. While these kinds of goods may be approved for sale because of their similar uses, other crops are not as welcome because of certain qualities the plants possess. Some of the crops that Wakątakte grows are considered “exotic remedies” or “spiritual cleansers” because of their purported effects, which has caused them to be excluded completely from commercial, mainstream sale and trade in certain circles. However, this ruling doesn’t stop individuals from selling their inventory.

Social Relations

The kingdom of Wakatakte is a largely militaristic society due to its natural borders and defenses along with its history of never having been conquered. Due to the military's huge impact on the kingdom’s culture, a member of the Wakatakte kingdom’s social status would heavily rely on their rank within the military. The military rank system is based on an individual’s performance within the military rather than birth or wealth giving them an automatic advantage or social status. There are three different branches within the military, these branches are called waŋblí, heȟáka, and matȟó. The highest-ranking officer within the military is appointed by the King/Queen/Ruler and is called the Oyate. The process of choosing an Oyate involves the heads of the three branches of the military competing in a series of tests that will examine their physical strength, strategic thinking, and morals. After the tests, the King/Queen/Ruler hand picks their Oyate. When the Oyate is selected a ceremony takes place where the Oyate pledges their allegiance and loyalty toward the king and the kingdom on their own life
waŋblí(infantry): The waŋblí resembles an infantry. They are the ground force of the army, using mainly hand-held weapons such as spears, swords, shields, bows, and crossbows. Members of the waŋblí are highly trained in physical ability, they are capable of traveling for long distances by foot, capable of navigating and fighting on high inclines due to the environment that the kingdom is located in, and are skilled at climbing and swimming. The waŋblí are led by their Kiyapi. The Kiyapi is responsible for overseeing the training, discipline, tactics, and morale of the waŋblí. Waŋblí is skilled at using their terrain and weather to their advantage due to being on foot most of the time and learning to navigate the harsh lands and weather themselves. They use the terrain in specific ways to set up ambushes, such as camouflaging themselves or hiding in the trees. The waŋblí also often utilize cave systems to navigate, hide, ambush, and set camp. Because of how the waŋblí is set up, the soldier within this branch grows to be so close that they will consider each other as close as family, maybe even closer. They spend day in and night out together through grueling conditions with only one another and their Kiyapi.
heȟáka(cavalry): The heȟáka is a group within the military that is skilled in riding Tokal. A Tokal is a four-legged creature with hooves that has a mystifying capability to navigate and scale mountains and angles up to 85 degrees. Tokals have unusually long that help them to navigate mountainous terrain, long horns that resemble those of a gazelle, drop ears, and a thick coat of wool to keep them warm in high altitudes. This branch of the military is a mobile and swift force because of their use of the Tokals. Similar to a cavalry force, they are trained to charge, flank, and harass the enemy lines. This group is also known for patrolling the borders of Wakatakte. The heȟáka are very widespread throughout the kingdom, unlike the waŋblí which will stick together in larger groups. This in some ways causes the heȟáka to be a more corrupt branch of the military in Wakatakte because their Kiyapi cannot oversee them all at once to make sure they are doing their jobs properly, and not taking advantage of the villages on the borders that they are occupying.
matȟó(blood magic users):
Religious: The kingdom of Wakatakte is also the religious seat of the Astorian kingdoms, as the Mami and Wahošiya are housed here. To have the religious heads in the kingdom means that the other Astorian kingdoms have a certain level of respect for Wakatakte citizens and their economy. To keep the kingdom safe and the religious life of the Astorian people stable the Mami must remain safe. People are able to journey and come see Mami as a sort of pilgrimage and this brings peace between the Astorian kingdoms. The borders need to remain open, and the military presence of the kingdom helps to do so [paths to secretly travel through the mountains, Oregon trail beat

Demographics

In Wakatakte, the census is able to relay who is in the kingdom and what significance they have for the kingdom. There are around 25,000 citizens in the kingdom and the many cultures lead to much diversity in the kingdom. The Astorians make up the majority of the population with around 17,000 people of Astorian blood.
There is a strong culture brought on Medium standing with other Hillael and never conquered Adair have okay understanding Pretend to have good standings with other astorians because we have the pope Less than 5000 Adair 15000-17000 Astorian 3000-4000 Hillael

Cultural Influences

Tokal Culture: When the Astorians were first pushed into the mountains building the terraced farms took time and in that time they began to hunt and domesticate the Tokal, by the time they had fully established their agricultural system Tokal herding was firmly entrenched in society. Most people who live outside the major settlements are Tokherds, the adult Tokal are either sold as riding animals or butchered for their meat. The most common dish made from Tokal is the Luhȩkąn a stew spiced with herbs from the banks of the hahawakpe. Merchants traveling the mountains will often purchase Tokals to act as pack animals in their caravans, as most conventional pack animals have trouble navigating the unsteady terrain.
Courtyards: Given the lack of flat land in the mountains the few inhabitants of Wakątakte who are skilled enough to be successful enough to have an estate large enough for a courtyard take great pride in how well cultivated their courtyards are, often importing fruit trees from the south of the peninsula. Incredible military and labor focused culture the people hired to cultivate these courtyards are among the few who have space for artistic expression, the combination of this and imported plants cause the courtyards to often be incredibly extravagant affairs making use of all the skilled artisans Wakątakte has to offer, and have a central fountain. Over time these courtyards have gone from being private displays to public landmarks that Astorians in outlying settlements that can manage to travel, journey to see, with many estate owners leaving their external doors open for visitors during the day.
Other Art: Wakątakte’s extreme wealth in precious stones has allowed for the few artists that are resident in the city to create grand mosaic’s, focusing on organic structures as a reflection of nature more than any specific patterns.
The Čąteiyųkȟ: The Čąteiyųkȟ having their seat of power in Wakątakte has led the population to being significantly more religious than the average astorian. It is not uncommon to hear calls to prayer from the churches at the official times for dusk and dawn. Most businesses will close for about an hour during both prayer times.

Type

Geopolitical, Kingdom