Nubi Hamiq {The Easter Plain} (Nu - Biy - Ha - Mik)
The Fourth Profligate Crusade shattered the politics of the Easterlands, sending everything into chaos. The new Profligate Empire has direct control of Orkhuz and Ju 'Ih Shid, with the lords of the Duchy of Qighi having pledged loyalty to the Emperor as vassals. The military strength of the settled crusaders has made the Akroni Confederacy hesitant to attack them, despite not recognizing their seizure of Akroni land and destruction of an Akroni client state.
Paradoxically, they have granted the rump states of the Hannau 'Ih client state status, while still not recognizing their existence. Most notably for the topic of this article, the Despotate of Ju Chen, the Empire of Polito Leo, and the Despotate of U' 'Ih Shid are now represented in the Akroni senate, while still being referred to as representatives of Hannau 'Ih. It has become even more awkward when they took (or helped form) competing political coalitions, complicating matters as one "representative of Hannau 'Ih" was calling for the censure and dismissal of another. The Duchy of Qighi has also been granted client state status, in the futile hopes that it will persuade them to renounce their fealty to the Profligate Empire.
During this time, the Duwa riders of U' Ih' Shid have increased their raiding against the other cities in the Plain, and have been riling up conflict with the Shafih, who attacked Ju Chen in full force. Rumours abound of a great Khan of the Shafih, who could unite them into a storm that would drive the outsiders from the Plain, and destroy their great cities, most importantly, the Bastion. While these are just rumours, every hall of power is worried that they might manifest into reality.
The Profligate Crusade's unorthodox magic has also angered the creatures from inside the Dead Man's Forest. Previously, stories of hags were considered folk tales, glorified Wyches hiding in the woods. Now, people, particularly strangers bent on destroying the Profligate Empire, have emerged from the woods with blessings of extreme power, but also facing a curse twice as worse.
All in all, the region is a clusterfuck.
Paradoxically, they have granted the rump states of the Hannau 'Ih client state status, while still not recognizing their existence. Most notably for the topic of this article, the Despotate of Ju Chen, the Empire of Polito Leo, and the Despotate of U' 'Ih Shid are now represented in the Akroni senate, while still being referred to as representatives of Hannau 'Ih. It has become even more awkward when they took (or helped form) competing political coalitions, complicating matters as one "representative of Hannau 'Ih" was calling for the censure and dismissal of another. The Duchy of Qighi has also been granted client state status, in the futile hopes that it will persuade them to renounce their fealty to the Profligate Empire.
During this time, the Duwa riders of U' Ih' Shid have increased their raiding against the other cities in the Plain, and have been riling up conflict with the Shafih, who attacked Ju Chen in full force. Rumours abound of a great Khan of the Shafih, who could unite them into a storm that would drive the outsiders from the Plain, and destroy their great cities, most importantly, the Bastion. While these are just rumours, every hall of power is worried that they might manifest into reality.
The Profligate Crusade's unorthodox magic has also angered the creatures from inside the Dead Man's Forest. Previously, stories of hags were considered folk tales, glorified Wyches hiding in the woods. Now, people, particularly strangers bent on destroying the Profligate Empire, have emerged from the woods with blessings of extreme power, but also facing a curse twice as worse.
All in all, the region is a clusterfuck.
Geography
The Easterlands are a wide plain sorrounded on all sides by the Shifting Plains to the East, North, and South, and the Mountains of Iqir S'U'Qud West. It has a few hilly areas, with one small mountain--Mount Rummua--in the East, but otherwise acts as a nomadic tribe's playground. To the West, a few forests can be found, most being smaller parts of the large forest known as Hanan Sas Qiyyiq. It earned the name due to local legends of hags having taken residence, reinforced by Shafih's refusal to enter it. Of course, many of the city dwellers see that as a good thing.
There is no part of the Sotteran that runs under the plain, however, there are entrances in the Mountains of 'Iqir S'U'Qud, making Duergar caravans a common sight. Standing apart from the natural landscape are the five great cities, and the Bastion. The Bastion is set on the far side of a river crossing, in the Westernmost reach of the Plain. A gap in the mountain range was filled by a river, known as the Ni Liwa 'U. Otherwise, the five cities and their associated farming communities are scattered about the plain.
There is no part of the Sotteran that runs under the plain, however, there are entrances in the Mountains of 'Iqir S'U'Qud, making Duergar caravans a common sight. Standing apart from the natural landscape are the five great cities, and the Bastion. The Bastion is set on the far side of a river crossing, in the Westernmost reach of the Plain. A gap in the mountain range was filled by a river, known as the Ni Liwa 'U. Otherwise, the five cities and their associated farming communities are scattered about the plain.
Ecosystem
Rainfall is quite frequent in the plains, occurring at least once every two weeks. While it is not an especially humid place, it does allow plant life to flourish, which is then consumed by small plains herbivores such as rabbits in the forest, some omnivorous foxes, and squirrels. Bison are also present in large numbers, moving in and out of the Shifting Plains into the Easterlands. The predators of the plain count hawks, falcons, foxes, and coyotes among their number.
Ecosystem Cycles
Winter tends to bring with it reduced heat, never falling below 10 degrees Celsius, but still making growing crops difficult. The natural ecosystem uses this time to regrow the flora, as most animals either hibernate or migrate away. The summer months, reaching up to 40 degrees celsius, are when natural fauna are at their most numerous.
Fauna & Flora
Aside from the usual plains fare, there is the Duwa Hu. The Duwa Hu is a species closely related to bison. They are similar in appearance in many ways, excepting their increased size and large, very sharp fangs. They are also carnivorous, so will prey on bison and other similarly sized creatures. They roam mostly freely, excepting the Duwa riders of the Plains. One can tell them apart from bison herds at a distance due to size. Herds of Duwa work like wolf packs, numbering a dozen at most, and led by the parents/grandparents of the rest. Bison herds, in contrast, will be hundreds strong. If one would happen upon a small group of what seems like bison, the best thing to do is run in the opposite direction.
Natural Resources
The Mountains of Iqir S'U'Qud have an abundance of mineral wealth that is tapped by Dawasi, and the furs from Bison are extremely valuable, but otherwise there is little in terms of natural resources. The region can barely grow enough food to sustain itself, not counting the Bastion.
History
The Easterlands early history is undocumented, as writing was not a staple of the cultures that inhabited the plain until 2984 DS. This date is noted as the founding date of the Bastion, also known as the City of the World's Desire, or its official name, Orkhuz. While it has never reached the heights of Arlesciatre or Otanli, it has dominated the easternmost portions of Diyu as a trade hub and center of power for every major empire in the area. The five great cities set in the Plain pale in comparison to the Bastion, and to most cities outside of the plain. The inhabitants are a reclusive bunch who know little of the outside world, so those cities of roughly 10000 seem grand in comparison to any other settlement in the Plain.
Mikharish has been the dominant language of the region for as long as people have been living in the plain. It originated as a mix of Irakan and the various languages of the Shafih of the Shifting Plain, being adopted by much of the East. It is a recognized official language within the Akroni Confederacy, however the Arakan Pantheon remains the dominant religion, largely centered around the Cult of the Flowing River.
Akronis has retained official control over the plain since about 131 YS. The Plain used to count as part of the territory centered on the Bastion, part of a larger, now dead empire, known as the Hannau 'Ih--literally Undying Greatness--to the native Easterlanders. The history of Hannau 'Ih is long and complex.
In short, it dominated the Eastern region of what would be the Akroni Confederacy until shortly before Mul-Zamain did their thing. It was split to attempt to lighten the administrative load, but the Western half fell within a century due to the culmination of several factors, most notably internal corruption and invasion from western tribes fleeing the path of the devastating Nokharan Wych Hunts, colloquially known as the Great Wych Crusade. The Eastern portion held on for another millennium, shrinking and growing, reaching a point of equilibrium, until a Crusade by a Reformed Profligate coalition went catastrophically wrong, and resulted in the dissolution of the empire.
The Fourth Profligate Crusade was supposed to be directed against several Larani allied city-states positioned along the Bay of Dokhan, but miscommunication, idiocy, and a lack of proper funding led to the fall of the City of the World's Desire, the dissolution of the Hannau 'Ih, and political upheaval in the Easterlands.
Throughout its entire history, the settled peoples of the Easterlands have also had to contend with the tribes of Shafih, some simple bison herders, others traders, and others brutal raiders. They have their own long and tenuous history, with countless tribes, but those that interact with Diyu often can be divided into five distinct cultural groups.
Mikharish has been the dominant language of the region for as long as people have been living in the plain. It originated as a mix of Irakan and the various languages of the Shafih of the Shifting Plain, being adopted by much of the East. It is a recognized official language within the Akroni Confederacy, however the Arakan Pantheon remains the dominant religion, largely centered around the Cult of the Flowing River.
Akronis has retained official control over the plain since about 131 YS. The Plain used to count as part of the territory centered on the Bastion, part of a larger, now dead empire, known as the Hannau 'Ih--literally Undying Greatness--to the native Easterlanders. The history of Hannau 'Ih is long and complex.
In short, it dominated the Eastern region of what would be the Akroni Confederacy until shortly before Mul-Zamain did their thing. It was split to attempt to lighten the administrative load, but the Western half fell within a century due to the culmination of several factors, most notably internal corruption and invasion from western tribes fleeing the path of the devastating Nokharan Wych Hunts, colloquially known as the Great Wych Crusade. The Eastern portion held on for another millennium, shrinking and growing, reaching a point of equilibrium, until a Crusade by a Reformed Profligate coalition went catastrophically wrong, and resulted in the dissolution of the empire.
The Fourth Profligate Crusade was supposed to be directed against several Larani allied city-states positioned along the Bay of Dokhan, but miscommunication, idiocy, and a lack of proper funding led to the fall of the City of the World's Desire, the dissolution of the Hannau 'Ih, and political upheaval in the Easterlands.
Throughout its entire history, the settled peoples of the Easterlands have also had to contend with the tribes of Shafih, some simple bison herders, others traders, and others brutal raiders. They have their own long and tenuous history, with countless tribes, but those that interact with Diyu often can be divided into five distinct cultural groups.
Tourism
The main reason people come to the Easterlands is either to see the Shifting Plains or the visit the Bastion. Otherwise, it is functionally a backwater.
Five Great Cities
Ju 'Ih Shid, the Western Great City, is the first of the five great cities. It controls the western lands of the Easterlands, up until the Ni Liwa 'U. It has the most fertile farmland, so makes most of its income from selling the excess to the Bastion. Currently, it is under the direct rule of the emperor of the Profligate Empire. Its population is mostly Drow Aelfs, Humans, and BeiNar Humans, the norm fo the cities. Historically, it was rivalled to Ju Chen.The Despotate of Ju Chen, City of the Cursed Forest, is the most "international"--so to speak--of the great cities. Its name is Gui Biaozhun and it has a large foreign population, with a fair amount of Strati and Duergar in addition to the native urban population (listed above). It is situated on the outskirts of the Dead Man's Wood, over an entrance to the Sotteran under the Mountains of Iqir S'U'Qud. The entrance is not large enough for any significant force to cross, acting mainly as the entrance for caravans and mining operations. Ju Chen has also faced many rumours of idolatry and Wych worship from the other cities, stemming from the large quantity of Wyches found there, and the high status of many. Some say it comes due to corruption from the hags in the woods. Currently it is under the rule of the House of Raq'au, a cadet house of the deposed ruling family of Hannau 'Ih.
The Duchy of Qighi is the third great city, situated at the southernmost tip of the Easterlands, before the natural plain becomes the ever-changing untraversable Shifting Plain. It is home to a large enclave of Dirvani, brought through the shifting plain from Dirvan by Shafih traders. Despite this, while the Dirvani are allowed within the city, the Shafih are not. It is currently ruled by the House of Aduwal, vassals of the Emperor in Orkhuz. This was due to the influence of Kirish Aduwal, one of the commanders of the Fourth Crusade, who earned (bought) himself a semi-independent Duchy at the Crusade's conclusion.
The Empire of Polito Leo is another Hannau 'Ih rump state, ruled by the nephew of the former Emperor, Mitlar Khusjurbut, set in the Easternmost reach of the Plain. It is considered by most to be the easternmost settlement in Diyu. Set on the far side of Mount Rannau, it has a large Shafih plurality due to being extremely close to their holy site. For those wishing to make contact with Shafih traders, this is the perfect place. Most of the city, even the non-Shafih, follow some version of Shafih native traditions, though it varies depending on which culture group they draw from, and what other traditions it mixes with.
The Despotate of U' 'Ih Lun, a mistranslation of City of Great Beasts, is technically a Hannau 'Ih rump state, but even when the empire lived, it was oft considered nominally independent. It earned its name from the local tradition of riding a beast native to the region the Duwa Hu. An offshoot species of bison, these large creatures were difficult to domesticate, being bison, but larger, with huge teeth, and carnivorous, but a coven of Wyches, the Coven of the Beaten Hoof, taught the city how to do it and so has ruled the city as a council for centuries. The Duwa riders have contested control of the Plain away from the urban centers. The legions of the Bastion would often sally forth to reign in the ambition of the Duwa riders, and the Shafih would not take kindly to their raiding. The current ruler of the city is a Duwa rider known as the Lame, a mocking insult that was coined as her slogan during elections. She currently leads the coven, and therefore, the city.
Maps
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Nubi Hamiq {Easter Plain}
This map details the physical geography of the Easter Plain, alongside the five grand cities, the largest villages, and the Bastion. Similar colours denote allegiance, however the dark red and purple communicate a vague promise of loyalty with functional independence.
Alternative Name(s)
Easter Plain ; Easterlands ; Bastionlands ; Turiye ;
Type
Plain
Owning Organization
Inhabiting Species
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