Kingdom of Pulva Ark
Structure
The Borderlands as a political entity exists as a kingdom title held by an Olash of Laran. It has been held as part of the same collection of titles, belonging to what is known collectively as Ash Muuk Khantse, effectively the Dead Ones Mesa's Northwest region, north of the Shuk Osh.
As of the end of the Long War, the region has been ruled by Kuurdemras Chan, a Makassi Lati appointed by the Baewu Muk Le, ruler of the Ash Muuk Khantse. Chan's problem, as with all of the Larani and Lati rulers of the Pulva Ark, has been finding a way to legitemize a foreigner ruling over the land. As such, he embraced a policy of ehtno-elitism. The subterritories of the Pulva Ark are divded by which ethnicity has a plurality, and rule is awarded to the aristocracy of that ethnic group. For example, a collection of villages inhabited largely by the Asinmi Pruu would be ruled by an Asinmi Pruu Cik, with the title following its own inheritance laws. The entire point of Chan's organizational policy is to keep the elites of the minorities that inhabit the region satisfied and happy, thus they will control their populace and stop a mass uprising. As such, beyond Chan's own role as Baewu Sa, most other titles are on a municipality division basis, with the specifics depending on the culture involved.
As of the end of the Long War, the region has been ruled by Kuurdemras Chan, a Makassi Lati appointed by the Baewu Muk Le, ruler of the Ash Muuk Khantse. Chan's problem, as with all of the Larani and Lati rulers of the Pulva Ark, has been finding a way to legitemize a foreigner ruling over the land. As such, he embraced a policy of ehtno-elitism. The subterritories of the Pulva Ark are divded by which ethnicity has a plurality, and rule is awarded to the aristocracy of that ethnic group. For example, a collection of villages inhabited largely by the Asinmi Pruu would be ruled by an Asinmi Pruu Cik, with the title following its own inheritance laws. The entire point of Chan's organizational policy is to keep the elites of the minorities that inhabit the region satisfied and happy, thus they will control their populace and stop a mass uprising. As such, beyond Chan's own role as Baewu Sa, most other titles are on a municipality division basis, with the specifics depending on the culture involved.
Culture
The culture of the Pulva Ark is quite segregated, as the Lati rulers have long maintained their control by keeping each local ethnicity seperate and, if not happy, not rebellious. Bread and Circusses, with each tribe having its own colloseum to watch the games.
Assets
The territory of the Pulva Ark is full of natural resources, from lumber in the forests of the southern Bastacur Basin, to the mineral deposits found throughout the mountains that define and make up the territory. Operations to extract the minerals in the Xondibian Basin have continued without fail for centuries, however simialr attempts in the mountains, especially the Pittou Sarkash Mountains have proven unsuccesful due to the hostility from the locals and the mountains themselves.
The Bastacur Basin is one of the few regions in the Dead Ones Mesa that can sustain massive food production, so the entire region has become one of the breadbaskets of the West. Grain production is shipped from Bastacur down the Zhohzh Aekaesr to the cities along the Shuk Osh, which then handle further distribution. In addition to grain, spices such as turmeric, paprika, and a Koze specialty called Ahostaelasr are produced in the region.
The Bastacur Basin is one of the few regions in the Dead Ones Mesa that can sustain massive food production, so the entire region has become one of the breadbaskets of the West. Grain production is shipped from Bastacur down the Zhohzh Aekaesr to the cities along the Shuk Osh, which then handle further distribution. In addition to grain, spices such as turmeric, paprika, and a Koze specialty called Ahostaelasr are produced in the region.
Demography and Population
A small Qoklash Osh Imperialis minority exists, largely in Bastacur and some of the villages sorrounding it. Larani presence is not restricted to just that, as communities of Qoklash Osh who pray to the Cult of Ninazu, commonly known as the Blood Cult, are commonplace. While still a minority, they at least double the numbers of the Imperialis Larani. The Blood Cult Larani are found most commonly in the Pittou Sarkash Mountains, the Bastacur Basin, the Tsiuish Gajdh Mountains, and in the city fo Bastacor itself, in equal numbers with the Imperialis there.
The Asinmi Pruu outnumber all other ethnic and religious groups, standing at about 45-50% of the population, near universally following the Blood Cult or a local Lati cult pantheon, usually a mix of both. They can be found all over the region, into the Sotteran that connects to Bastacor.
The Xondibian largely inhabit the Amchu Highlands, alongside the southern and eastern parts of the Xondibian Basin. They tend to segregate themselves from the other inhabitants of the Pulva Ark far more than the rest, so outside a small community in Bastacur , they are rarely seen outside of the outlined areas. As a whole, they follow an ancient pagan religion, said to predate the Arakan Pantheon. They are about 10% of the regions population.
The Koze can be found throughout both the flatland basins of the region, not in large numbers but present nonetheless. They are far more common in the neighboring regions of the Sotteran that open in Bastacur, so are found in large concentrations in the city. A few reclusive communities hide out in the mountains, but are generally considered as having diverged from the Koze due to only trace amounts of the original nomadic practices. The Koze tend to follow the Blood Cult mixed with their own local pantheons, with Lati and non-Lati gods folded in. They make up about 8% of the population, more if the Sotteran were counted. However, the Baewu Sa holds little more than a light grip over the region, so it is rarely included in censuses. Notably, Koze tribes are mixed Human and Drow, with halfbreeds being commonplace.
The Dituu Ulush Murk, like the Koze, exist throughout the region but mostly in their own caverns in the Sotteran. Unlike the Koze, they are almost always entirely Human. They are distantly related to the Asinmi Pruu, and exist in alrger numbers than the Koze, at about 15% of the regions population, spread throughout most of the same areas. Some Ulush communities have been spotted hiding in the Tsiuish Gajdh Mountains. Ulush as a whole follow their own mix of the Blood Cult with local pantheons mixing the Lati into their worship.
The Asinmi Pruu outnumber all other ethnic and religious groups, standing at about 45-50% of the population, near universally following the Blood Cult or a local Lati cult pantheon, usually a mix of both. They can be found all over the region, into the Sotteran that connects to Bastacor.
The Xondibian largely inhabit the Amchu Highlands, alongside the southern and eastern parts of the Xondibian Basin. They tend to segregate themselves from the other inhabitants of the Pulva Ark far more than the rest, so outside a small community in Bastacur , they are rarely seen outside of the outlined areas. As a whole, they follow an ancient pagan religion, said to predate the Arakan Pantheon. They are about 10% of the regions population.
The Koze can be found throughout both the flatland basins of the region, not in large numbers but present nonetheless. They are far more common in the neighboring regions of the Sotteran that open in Bastacur, so are found in large concentrations in the city. A few reclusive communities hide out in the mountains, but are generally considered as having diverged from the Koze due to only trace amounts of the original nomadic practices. The Koze tend to follow the Blood Cult mixed with their own local pantheons, with Lati and non-Lati gods folded in. They make up about 8% of the population, more if the Sotteran were counted. However, the Baewu Sa holds little more than a light grip over the region, so it is rarely included in censuses. Notably, Koze tribes are mixed Human and Drow, with halfbreeds being commonplace.
The Dituu Ulush Murk, like the Koze, exist throughout the region but mostly in their own caverns in the Sotteran. Unlike the Koze, they are almost always entirely Human. They are distantly related to the Asinmi Pruu, and exist in alrger numbers than the Koze, at about 15% of the regions population, spread throughout most of the same areas. Some Ulush communities have been spotted hiding in the Tsiuish Gajdh Mountains. Ulush as a whole follow their own mix of the Blood Cult with local pantheons mixing the Lati into their worship.
Military
The central palace in Bastacur maintains a small standing army of experienced soldiers, mostly veterans from the Long War. In addition, the most recent Baewu Sa, Kuurdemras Chan, has become fond of using individual Lati agents to destabalize any attempts at rebellion or foreign control. There is no massive need for an army due to the network of favours and blackmail that keep the local elites in line. However, that strategy of ruling has been tested by the demands of the Long War reaching the other side of the Empire, as in the last half century there have been riots against the mandatory conscription put into practice.
Religion
The official religion of the Ash Muuk Khantse is the Imperial Cult. However, this region is diverse enough, and fringe enough, that the locals' heresies are ignored or tolerated. After the followers of the Blighted Star left the lands, the Cult of Ninazu moved in, with most of the nomadic tribes and their settled cousins following some variation of the Blood Cult. Each ethnic group tends to mix in their own figures, taken from their Old Gods, along with immortalized Lati. Even some of the Qoklash Osh Larani who have migrated to the region have converted, creating a sizeable Nizan Larani minority.
Some figures that are worshipped by all include...
Some figures that are worshipped by all include...
- Ninazu: The Blood God has long held a hold over this land, but their influence is so ubiquitous than very few feel the need to prove their faith. Festival days and religious celebrations are generally the only time blood is truly spilt in Ninazu's name.
- Dalgohnju: A Lati from before the region was folded into the Ash Muuk Khantse, they were notable for being Asinmi Pruu, one of the rare occassions a non-Larani would be trained as a Lati. As a notable ruler of the region, they are venerated by most of the non-Imperialis residents as a God of Ambition, Justice, and Pragmatism.
- Vixtir: This Koze Lati is venerated for similar reasons as Dalgohnju, being a past Lati lord of the land who happened to be from one of the minorities of the region. She is worshipped as a Patron of Discipline, Planning, and Strategy
- Xantce: A Lati hailing from the Desert of the Saviour, they were immortalized for supposedly killing a demon that used to infest the Zhohzh Aekaesr. He is worshipped as the Patron of Adventerurs, Bravery, Battle, and a Righteous Death.
Trade & Transport
All previously listed natural resources act as key exports to keep the regions economy afloat. While subtle, the economy has been designed to extract wealth, leaving just enough for the locals to not get riotous. This is largely due to its rule by foreigners who treat it as a colony more than a core territory. While goods tend to pass through and leave the region, rarely do they come in and stay. Bastacur is the only place that really retains resources, as caravans coming otu fo the Sotteran pass through it and then follow the river to reach mainland Laran, or vice versa. Beyond materials for construction and the occassional luxury that the locals have grown used to, the only time rare goods come to stay in the region is when one of the local elites expressly ordered something.
Infrastructure
Due to most of the important production being in the basins, roads into and through the mountains are largely nonexistant. If they do exist, they are near always in a state of direpair, with unusually high maintenance costs whenever someone tries to maintain them. Many have the impression that the mountains themselves want to keep invaders out, to shelter those hiding inside.
Founding Date
500s~ YS
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Alternative Names
The Borderlands; The Birthplace; Home of the Asinmi Pruu;
Demonym
Khantse {Ethnicity}
Leader
Ruling Organization
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Semi-autonomous area
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
Within the Pulva Ark, there are many different forms of rule, lifestyle, and currency. In the cities, the Larani iide is used, while outside of major settlements, things largely operate on a barter system.
Legislative Body
Due to the Lord General's wish to not enrage anyone, laws are largely determined on a local level. The mostly rural nature of the region means that communities will be largely policing and judging themselves, accoridng to their respective cultures and values.
Official State Religion
Parent Organization
Location
Official Languages
Related Ethnicities
Comments