Kushan

Kushan, also called the Sunset Republic, is a maritime republic located on the northern shores of the Great Sea. It is a realm of narrow coastlines, soaring mountains and chilling winds. The Kushani live their lives by a strict code of honor that is rooted in their strong military traditions. Their society is cultured, civilized, and deeply religious, governed by a divine dynasty of emperors and empresses.
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Env 01 - fishing village by Jérôme Lalande

Location and climate

Kushan is bordered in the west and north-west by the impassable Shattered Mountains, in the south by the Great Sea, in the east by Daggerguard Bay and in the north by the realm of Nordgard. Being situated so far north, Kushan has a temperate climate of long winters and cool summers. The land is characterized by soaring mountains and cliffs, verdant archipelagos, steep canyons, evergreen woodlands and long stretches of beaches broken by tall cliffs.

Societal structure

Kushan functions as a crowned republic in which the hereditary position of Sun Emperor holds substantial power over the elected government. The imperial Otsuko family has served as emperors and empresses as an unbroken dynasty through the centuries. It was some 150 years ago that Sun Emperor Nakatsune reformed the feudal structures of Kushan and re-established the nation as a republic. Nowadays goverments are elected by vote every 5 years, and the democratic procedure allows every adult kushani to either run or vote in the election.
Having abandoned its feudal traditions long ago, Kushan functions as a unitary democratic state. Municipal power is divided to regional administrators according to the laws set by the government. The military functions as a separate governmental organization. Unlike in many other modern counties, noble families hold no special political power but they still retain the respect of others for their ancient lineages.

Religion

The organized religion of Kushan is the Way of the Four Winds. Both religious tradition and state law strongly direct worship, focusing entirely on the four deities known as the Four Winds themselves: Kotoamatsukami, Amaterasu, Fuji and Raijin.
According to mythic history, the Four Winds were humans in life and ascended to divinity following deeds of legend. The domains of these deities encompass the most important aspects of Kushani culture. Few Kushani find the desire to worship other gods.

Magic

Due to the strictness of worship, there is a lack of druids in Kushan. Whenever a need for a druid arises, the Kushani are forced to barter with some of the wood elf clans residing in their largest forests.
There is a single college of magic in the capital city. Clerics, monks or paladins can be found in every city and even most smaller settlements.

Culture

The nation treasures its history and traditions, and military tradition is no exception; a career in the military is considered one of the most honorary pursuits available to a citizen, and soldiers are given great respect even outside their uniform.

ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Sunset Republic
DETAILS
Civilization type
Republic
Founding Date
?
Government System
Crowned republic
Power Structure
Unitary state
Current leader
Nobutake
Leader title
Sun Emperor / Sun Empress
Capital
Shiwa

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DEMOGRAPHY AND POPULATION
Kushani
City gnomes
Notable minority populations
Grey elves
Wood elves
Wood gnomes
Demonym
Kushani
Languages
Common
Kushan

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Religions
Way of the Four Winds
Wonders
Fujo's Canal in Shiwa

Mountain Serenity by AndreeWallin

Shinden Asahina by noahbradley

Tomb Raider Concept Art by Scribble Pad Studios

Military

Kushan fields a standing army and a large navy. Both of these are organized and funded by the government, which also holds the lawbound right to conscript the populace in times of war. Although feudal traditions have been abandoned in Kushan, the traditional titles of daimyo, shogun and samurai live on in Kushani military ranks. Due to the strong military traditions of Kushan, the army has an overabundance of eager volunteers to begin honorable careers in military service.
The kushani favor combined-arms strategies in war. Their army is comprised of expert skirmishers and heavy infantry supported by highly trained longbowmen. Cavalry is emphasized strongly, and the army fields both heavy and skirmish cavalry as well as mounted archers. Most infantrymen are also taught the basics of mounted combat. Clerics and wizards are common in the military and are separated into their own regiments to perform specialized functions on the battlefield.
The Kushani navy is equally varied in its forces. The various fleets and flotilas of the navy contain an impressive array of ship types, ranging from hulking dreadnoughts to graceful frigates and smaller escort vessels. In the north, Kushan has no equal in naval superiority, finding its closest challenger in the south-eastern Summer Kingdom of Caraegwyn. Perhaps to consolidate its reputation of indomitability, the navy is known for its garish displays of power in the form of parades and other demonstrations.

Foreign relations

Kushan has cool relations with their northern neighbour of Nordgard. The nation is on friendlier terms with their trade partners of Bhaskar, Shang, Caraegwyn and Egea. The tribes of Vormark make no contact with Kushan.

History

TBA