The Gholar Empire

Written by ElrondofImladris

Description: The Gholar Empire is located far beneath the Wilderness. Their vast goblin empire is only now reaching the surface with their highest tunnels, and they are almost completely ignorant of the rest of Ashnuw. Their only connection with surface world is a tentative trading agreement with Bergenstaat. They are beginning to reach the surface at other points as well, however, and the consequences on this are unforeseeable.
Peoples: This is a fully goblin (or, as they call themselves, ‘Ghola’) nation. Short in stature with long arms, they are perfectly suited for underground travel. When moving in low tunnels they run on all fours and when climbing up or down they use their long arms like apes. Otherwise they walk upright.

Structure

Political Climate: The Gholar Empire is ruled by one representative from each of the six cardinal directions—up, down, north, south, east, and west. The territory of the Gholar Empire is divided between these six regions. The representatives from these districts are collectively called the Summit, and they are elected every twelve years. The elections are staggered, however, so there is one election every two years. Nearly all politics and policy revolve around the expansion of the empire and coordination of the food supply.

Culture

The Ghola have an unusual communal-individualistic relationship. They live largely independently, though come together frequently for construction or other large-scale activities.
Family units function differently among the ghola. The couples will come together and live for a year in the same house, then separate to live in nearby—though distinctly separate—houses. The mother then raises the child for the first seven years of life, while being supported by the father, then the father takes over the care for the next seven. One, and only one, child is produced every five years.
Six times a gholar-year (which is about one and a half of our years, since they are not dependent on the sun as a calendar. For the remainder of this article I’ll be translating everything into earth-years.) they gather to hold a ‘Kawlkalla’ or ‘Digfest’. During this week-long event thousands of ghola come together and take shifts to work around the clock in digging a certain direction. They dig a different direction each Digfest, so they end up digging in each of the of the six directions once a year: Up, Down, North, South, East, and West.
Food: Their entire food production system centers around the rivers of water that run underground. By farming the mushrooms that grow alongside these and by harvesting and farming the bacteria, they are able to cultivate vast fields of edible mushrooms and vats of jelly and seaweed-like soup.
Music: The ghola sometimes chant during ceremonies, but instruments are not used.
Language: They speak Gholar.
Travel: Travel is typically just walking or climbing, but sleds are used to travel on slopes occasionally.
Combat Style: Not much warfare is conducted, since the entire civilization is united under one rule. Occasionally wurms or other dangerous underground beasts will threaten the ghola, and at times like this that use makeshift daggers an club to subdue the enemy. No rebellions have threatened the safety of the empire as of yet.

History

Unknown to Ashnuw at this time.

Territories

Size: Very large
Terrain: Completely encased in rock.
Climate: Varies greatly. Most places it is very hot, but cold pockets can be found in certain areas.
Prominent Locations: About a five square mile section in the center of the empire is called the Wakashere, and is where the Summit meets. The giant ladder/tunnel that runs up and down the height of the empire is known as the Mount.

Technological Level

Crop-rotation, bacteria management, and subterranean engineering technology have been tuned to a fine art. Otherwise, due largely to the lack of wood, cloth, and fire, tech has not made much progress.

Religion

There is no set religion, but most ghola believe that they were place like a seed in the center of the universe, and that the god or gods that created them intended that they grow and spread outward through the earth.

Agriculture & Industry

Goods Produce: Rock. A lot of rock. Seams of moldable ore are found occasionally, but without the capacity to refine it, they remain brittle. Magnetic stone is abundant, but technology hasn’t advanced enough to make full use of it and it remains a largely untapped resource.