D'yadya (Nation)
West of the rocky border walls of Tarwa'kem stand vast plains and stretches of desert, salt flats and coastlines steeped in both faded glory and indomitable spirit. Once renowned for its prosperous salt and textile trade, D'yadya thrived as a hositable home amidst sometimes inhospitable terrains. Founded by nomadic tribes united by common vision, D'yadya was once a sanctuary for weary travelers seeking respite and wonders alike.
In its heyday, D'yadya boasted incredible architecture and where it stands beneath the heel of the Vociran Empire the domes, columns, and statues hewn from timeless stone still recount the history of her people. Among their treasured traditions the people of D'yadya foster a deep-rooted culture of martial arts, a commitment to hospitality, and a hope that their homeland may yet one day be theirs again.
Structure
Once ruled by shifting councils of elected tribal leaders, the people of D'yadya now struggle beneath the yoke of an occupying nation. The Vocirans have enacted a strict, dictatorial rule of the people remaining within her borders. The crown prince of the Vociran Empire, Caedus seq Magnus, sits at the top of the D'yadyan heirarchy, a reportedly heartless and cruel man. He succeeds, of course, the Vociran many claim as responsible for the most recent Cataclysm. His rule includes not only the subjugation of its people but the enlistment of their youth. Promising citizenship in the Vociran Empire, he has reportedly set D'yadyan youth against their elders with a brutal police force.
Historically the peaceful traders have had little in the way of such life. Tribes were relatively small affairs, rarely reaching above one hundred and fifty people, that lived in proximity and peace with one another. The most diplomatic fostered relations between their tribes and others, arranging trade deals and matchmaking opportunities to strengthen bonds and ensure frictionless life. These tribe leaders would find themselves as the representatives of their people by the choice of their people when the inevitability of cities became clear. Their capital was the decided upon meeting ground, and their laws were known to be well-reasoned and fairly debated.
Culture
D'yadyan culture varies. There are many left within her borders that hold to the old ways as close as they are able. The closer they live to the capital and Dagger Canyon the harder this is; Vociran control is strongest at these points, and those that live there find it difficult to leave. Now they struggle to keep their cultural practices and history alive and hidden. This includes traditional clothing like the bright thawb and margruna; worship of Demeria (for the Vocirans worship none of the Divine and their music and stories. Even language has seen a strong challenge, for the cities and villages under the strongest influence of Vociran rule have seen their texts put to the flame in favor of their new Emperor's tongue.
Those on the plains might have an easier time keeping these practices safe--until Caedus's most recent and sinister machination, the People's Front, has been put into practice. These young D'yadyans have been raised and educated almost entirely by Vociran hands, taught that their people, their culture, and their history are inferior to that of the Empire. Now weaned by their foreign masters and promised freedom for them and their families from second-class status, the soldiers of the People's Front police their own people. The system is far from perfect, of course, but the ranks of young people show a sizable population ready to embrace Vociran culture and drag their families out of the past.
Finally, not all D'yadyans were trapped in their homeland. A sizable population of refugees were able to escape into Halinor before the closing of Dagger Pass; fewer of these survived the Cataclysm to follow, but those that did have set up new lives in Tarwa'kem and beyond. These D'yadyans are almost universally poor but grateful for the chance to survive. They keep small villages across the continent but primarily in Tarwa'kem, teaching their language, their history, and their ways to their precious children. Many hold a hope that their home may one day be theirs again, but with little in the way of influence in Tarwa'kem's politics and even less military might, this seems to be a thin hope indeed.
History
D'yadya was founded in the Fourth Stygian Age as the stories go, but of course this only marks the start of their former government and the accepted influence of their capital on the world. For generations before that, tribes walked the lands west of the Dagger Canyon, searched her plains for sustenance, and interacted with one another. They were and are a nation of many races: humans, halflings, hill dwarves all lived amongst one another, embraced their differences, and worked out governance of themselves while finding common worship of the Harvest Lady.
How long might this prosperity have continued is a question for the sages. Certainly D'yadyans were not perfect, though they had a surprisingly effective way to settle their differences without unnecessary death. Bloodshed was part of it, however--ritual combat involving their tribes' traditional martial arts found a unique intersection of cultural exhibition, entertainment, and political expediency, though predominant was always peaceful debate by frequently elected tribal representatives. In the year 2125 ND this changed with an offensive blitz that left the nation reeling. Within a year the lightning-fast takeover by Vociran forces had largely succeeded.
Rule was and is not so easy; D'yadyans are a varied and proud people, but even rock eventually erodes. Bereft of their home, many D'yadyans make a new life elsewhere in Halinor.
Home and hope
Fourth Radiant Age - 25 Years Ago (2125 ND)
Type
Geopolitical, Republic
Demonym
D'yadyan
Location
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