The Horse-Lord Lands
History and Government
Across the northern stretches of the Kcalsbury Continent lie the lands of the Horse-Lords. These nomadic folk are sometimes known as the Uzbari, who have their roots in migrations from the Arberian desert. For millenia, the Horse-Lords have raged across the plains and served alternatively as raiders, mercenaries, and - occasionally - as a united army. The lands of the Horse-Lords are divided amongst clans. Each clan claims a common familial root, and each root has an Yr - a territory - over which their horses are freely allowed to roam. Traveling between clan-lands is viewed as a transgression, though it happens regularly, as the Horse-Lords raid and skirmish with each other as often as they do with the external world. Historically, the Horselands were connected and stretched far into the borders of the northern nations of Kcalsbury. It is no secret that the influence of the Horse-Lords has faded greatly since then, nor is it a secret that their way of life is fading into obscurity. While some clans have chosen to adapt to modern life and at least partially settle down within their Yrs, many continue to hold on to their ancient traditions to their death. Nonetheless, external factors have contributed to a divergence in the culture of the Horse-Lords, and life in one Yr is often unrecognizable from life in another Yr. Some Yrs, such as those which compromise Zaral, have even broken away in favor of more official statemaking.Yrs
Yr Itil
Yr Itil, following the secession of Zaral, is often considered to be the most advanced of the Horselands. Its riders readily bear firearms, and discussions have even been engaged with The Protectorate-Commonwealth for its lands' participation in a trans-continental railroad. Standing atop the important Adanac River, the Itilians demand the respect of their southern neighbors by way of practicality alone. While threats of damming the river have faded into the distant past, economic ties bind Itil with The Forsmarch and the Commonwealth beyond. Yr Itil additionally lords over its neighboring territories, with the Itilians holding considerable sway over Yr Ymir and Yr Uzen. While these clans tend to be resistant and rowdy to the Itilian's demands, they have lost much in recent conflicts, and the Itilians keep their reins ahold by permitting great autonomy in the regions.Yr Urzhar
Yr Urzhar is among the most important of the Yrs - a capital, if the Horselords had one. The Godslake is revered by all Uzbari clans as the site of the ascension of the Ones Beyond. Others typically accept the Lone Peak Mountain as that site. Yr Urzhar thus views itself as the guardian of the Horse-Lords' faith, and its territory is respected by the other clans in turn. The Wold-Shamans predominantly owe their faith to Yr Urzhar, and are some of the most-feared sights on the Kcalsbury Continent.Geography
The vast expanse of the Horselands is made up of plains both flat and hilly. The Adanac River serves as the primary source of water in the south, except for the many minor creeks and temporary lakes (during the rainy seasons) which form in the north and southwest sections of the nation. The Godslake serves as a secondary source of water, though in the absence of drought or famine its use is only permitted to horses. The Forsaken Mounts serve as the only remaining direct link between the Upper and Lower Horselands. Most riders will trek through Norholm and Farholm or Zaral and Vestal when necessary, but growing hostilities (and the closure of the Zaralian border) have increasingly made this impossible. The Forsaken Mounts are considered to be cursed in Uzbari lore, and few horses can survive the trek safely, but some will nonetheless make the trip when necessary. Etheryst mined in the Forsaken Mounts is sometimes called "the tears of the horsemen," with local lore attributing its powers to fallen Horse-Lords who failed to make the trip.Resources
Yr Itil contains the Horselands' sole relevant natural resource in the Southwoods Forest, though in lieu of exporting its lumber it has signed away foresting rights to the people of Southwood. Many humans who fled the annexation of the region by Trinea have come to live on the Horselands' side of the border while continuing their lives as they had before.Ethnicities
The Horse-Lords still cling to their cultural roots as Uzbari, though the growing divergence of the clans' cultures calls the cohesion of such a culture into question. Furthermore, most Yrs no longer resist the integration of other peoples into their ranks, and Fey and Elf alike are sometimes considered to be members of a clan (though this is still a significant minority). Other cultures don't really exist within the Horselands; they are either integrated or shown the closest exit.Diplomacy
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"The Children of the Plains"
Adjectives: Uzbari (titular: Horse-Lords)
National Animal: Armalion
National Instrument: Wardrum
Ethnicities: Uzbari
Languages: Uzbari, Human Common
Capital: Yr Urzhar (religious)
Ruler: Depends on Yr
Government: Nomadic Clans
Hallmarks: Mercenaries, horse-raiders, lawlessness, shamanism
Characteristics: Free, irreverent, unwavering, warlike
National Animal: Armalion
National Instrument: Wardrum
Ethnicities: Uzbari
Languages: Uzbari, Human Common
Capital: Yr Urzhar (religious)
Ruler: Depends on Yr
Government: Nomadic Clans
Hallmarks: Mercenaries, horse-raiders, lawlessness, shamanism
Characteristics: Free, irreverent, unwavering, warlike