The Tiefling Malgian Empire
Structure
The Malgian are currently ruled by a Sultanah named Surlamin. She commands a powerful army and has made the most of their territory's strategic location on the continent, surrounded on all sides by Halflings, Gnomes, Dragonborn, Elves, and Humans. She is an influential player who has navigated politics and conflict alike. While not considered very bold, she has often publicly declared friendship with other nations. Generally speaking, she is quite easy to befriend and has been known as a loyal, trustworthy ally. Surlamin is more focused on improving the culture and quality of life of her people. In addition to developing infrastructure, she has invested in building a defensive militia consisting primarily of fast-moving mounted and armored units. It has been rumored that Surlamin is also utilizes espionage in order to maintain both diplomatic and militaristic tactical advantages. She frequently attempts to befriend and protect city-states.
Culture
While some Tieflings living alone and abroad may suffer in small minorities, the Malgian Empire prospers as a home to many. Living adjacent to the desert, the Tieflings of this land found success through cultivating their skills as both diplomats and fighters. As the native expression goes, "Tongue and sword, sharp in equal measure," they are experts at deescalating conflicts but can hold their own should it come to steel meeting steel. They respect honesty, generosity, and work to support those in need. They measure the success and strength of their nation by the treatment of their most vulnerable. Conversation is treated both a focused, professional skill as well as a revered common pastime. If you were a guest in a Tiefling's home in Malgian, you would be fed until you couldn't physically eat anymore. Being a gracious host is a point of pride and honor.
Language
Common and Infernal are the official languages of the Malgian. Foreign languages, particularly Draconic, Elvish, Gnomish, and Halfling, are widely spoken in urban centers such as Kachmorah or Barrath. With all of these languages, code-switching is an omnipresent phenomenon in Malgian speech and performance.
Literature
As ancient Malgian society primarily practiced oral tradition, the history of Malgian literature started in the late ancient era. In the late classical era, there were a few important Malgian writers, especially in the fields of religion and poetry.
Music
Malgian music is characterized by its great diversity from one region to another. For example, the celebrated musical styles heard in Fessime are a result of a large migration of Malgians from Barrath. They involve more instruments than the more purely vocal styles heard around Kachmorah. Songbooks dating back to 2800 are the source of many traditional songs that are still played at celebrations and formal events. Popular music consists of numerous varieties which are descended from the multifarious forms of Malgian folk music. It was originally performed in markets, but can now be found in any kind of celebration or meeting.
Visual arts
The decorative arts have a long and important history in Malgian. One of the traditional elements of artistic expression in Malgian is manifest in architecture. Plaster surfaces are carved with decorations based on rhythmic linear patterns of scrolling and interlacing foliage, tendrils, or plain lines. Mosaic tile-work consists of individually hand-chiseled tile pieces set into a plaster base. Carved wood and other expressions of religious geometric patterns are typical features that can be observed.
Tattooing
Tattooing is a popular tradition in the Kachmorah and Barrath territory, particularly among rural populations.
Cuisine
Malgian cuisine is generally a mix of traditional Tiefling diets, as well an influence from High Nogg, Nessian, Tangloveen, and Zillbien cuisines with slight Moricanna influences. Malgian had food staples such as Citrus fruit and Bananas as well as prepared lamb and poultry dishes frequently. This has heavily influenced Malgian cuisine as all of these are used in abundance. Malgian is known for dishes such as couscous, tajine, and pastilla. Many herbs are used, including cilantro, parsley, and mint; spices such as cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, cumin, and saffron; and produce such as tomatoes, onions, garlic, zucchini, bell peppers, and eggplant. One of the defining features of Malgian cuisine is the interplay between sweet and savory flavors, as exemplified by tfaya, a mix of caramelized onions, butter, cinnamon, sugar, and raisins often served with meat.
Historically, couscous has been the staple of the Malgian diet. On special occasions, more complex meals like the traditional Malgian pastilla and some special pastries such as gazelle ankles and briwates are served for guests. Mint tea is commonly regarded as the national beverages. Coffee is also universally enjoyed from espresso to cappuccinos.
Celebrations and holidays
Religious holidays
(TBD)
Folk celebrations
The new year is celebrated over two days in the first month of the year. Other celebrations include (TBD), the tenth day of the religious calendar year, and (TBD), a folk carnival celebrated after (TBD).
Festivals
(TBD), is a traditional exhibition of horsemanship performed during cultural festivals and for Malgian wedding celebrations. There are also several annual festivals that take place in Malgian, such as the Betrothal Festival Barrath, the flower festival in Kachmorah, or the saffron festival in Fessime.
Carpets, dress and jewellery
Carpet weaving
Carpet weaving is a traditional craft for the Malgian. Styles vary dramatically from region to region and from tribe to tribe.
Traditional clothing
The traditional dress for Malgian Tieflings of all genders consists of a long, loose, hooded garment with full sleeves. Femme styles are brightly colored and have ornate patterns, stitching, or beading, while masc styles are usually plainer and colored neutrally. To accommodate Tiefling horns, the hood that comes to a point that protects the wearer from the sun (or from colder climates in the mountains). It keeps in body heat and protects the face from falling snow. For special occasions, some masc Malgian Tieflings also wear a small red cap. Femme fashion consists of a variant of a robe or tunic decorated with ornaments. It's usually made of wool, cashmere, silk, or cotton, and may be worn with a sash. Regardless of gender expression, many wear soft leather slippers with no heel, often dyed yellow. Femme variants include high-heeled sandals, often with silver or gold tinsel.
Barrath Jewellery
Among other cultural and artistic traditions, jewellery of the city of Barrath is a femme style made of silver and beads.
Architecture
Fortified villages
These typically consist of attached houses, often having collective granaries and other structures like a temple, bath, oven, and shops. They are widespread among the oasis populations of the Malgian. They are sometimes situated in mountain locations to make defense easier; they often are entirely within a single, continuous wall. The building material of the entire structure is normally adobe, or cut stone and adobe.
Fortified compounds
These are a kind of fortified communal granary found in the Malgian Empire. These structures are typically composed of a granary and a citadel, and are located in rocky, elevated locations to protect surrounding farms and livestock from enemies. In addition to harvested grains, communities inhabiting the mountainous south of the Malgian border would use these structures to store all kinds of valuable belongings, including deeds and records, money, jewelry, clothing, carpets, and sometimes clothes.
Gardens
Malgian gardens are a prominent feature of Malgian architecture. These have been used in building the Palace in Kachmorah. These gardens, which usually feature a burbling fountain, have an important role in cooling interior courtyards: the evaporation of water is an endothermic chemical reaction, which absorbs heat from the area garden and surrounding rooms.
The Malgian Empire has many beautiful gardens, including the Palace Garden in Kachmorah, as well as the central open spaces and courtyard house gardens of Barrath.
Domestic architecture
The most common types of domestic structures in the Malgian Empire traditionally adhere to a series of tenets on (TBD Religion) domestic life. The exteriors are typically devoid of ornamentation and windows, except occasional small openings in secondary quarters, such as stairways and service areas. These piercings provide light and ventilation. They are typically composed of thick, high walls that protect inhabitants from thievery, animals, and other such hazards; however, they have a much more symbolic value from an Malgian perspective. In this culture the exterior represents a place of work, while the interior represents a place of refuge. Thus, Malgian interiors are often very lavish in decoration and craft.
Consistent with most (TBD Religious) architecture, domestic homes are based around small open-air patios, surrounded by very tall thick walls, to block direct light and minimize heat. Intermediary triple-arched porticos lead to usually two to four symmetrically located rooms. These rooms have to be long and narrow, creating very vertical spaces, because the regional resources and construction technology typically only allow for joists that are usually less than thirteen feet.
Upon entering a home, guests move through a zigzagging passageway that hides the central courtyard. The passageway opens to a staircase leading to an upstairs reception area, which often is the most lavish room in the home adorned with decorative tile-work, painted furniture, and piles of embroidered pillows and Malgian rugs. More affluent families also have greenhouses and a second reception area, accessible from a street-level staircase. Service quarters and stairways are always at the corners of the structures.
Tile-work
Colorful geometric mosaic tile work, is a decorative art and architectural element commonly found in Malgian temples, mausolea, homes, and palaces.Public Agenda
Under the direction of Sultanah Surlamin, Malgian's seeks to leave it's mark on the world by way of ideas and cultural influence. As strong diplomats and communicators, they have found success through trade routes directed to foreign cities, allowing them to learn and develop new ideas easily and boost their economy. Trading with other nations has, for the most part, provided an incentive for others to not declare war.
That said, the Malgian Empire is no stranger to conflict and is exceptionally skilled at defending their territory. They use special type of fort to bolster their defensive militia, which also serve to bolster the potential of their territory across the desert. While others find the desert inhospitable, they have been able to cultivate additional food, gold, and production materials for their cities.
Assets
Malgian's gross national product (GNP) is estimated atz76,000,000 GP, with a net of 31,000,000 GP. The gold in the Malgian treasury is estimated to be 1,197,000,000 GP. The most notable resources include horses and citrus fruit. Additional resources include, marble, stone, salt, bananas, fish, and wheat. Crop yield is estimated at 86 million bushels, and the industrial output is estimated to be about 60 million tons.
The land area of Malgian's territory is measured at approximately 460,000 square kilometers, with a total population of about 3,644,000. 94,191 citizens are considered active duty military.
History
Demography and Population
The empire's population is primarily Tiefling. Due to their proximity and traade routes with other nations, there are some pockets of Dragonborn, Elves, Gnomes, Halflings, and to a lesser extent, Humans.
Territories
Military
Melee combat began with developing hand-axes, followed by spearman. Swordsman (and more recently long-swords) are current and most ubiquitous military unit. In addition to being expert sword fighters, the Malgian are famous for their Berivick Cavalry who excel both in desert terrain as well as within their own territory. Enemies or antagonists who have attempted to make hostile engagements on Malgian soil have suffered greatly.
Ranged combat units began with archery, and progressed to units such as chariot archers. Composite bowman are the most recent ranged unit in their military.
In terms of siege weapons, the Malgian first used catapults before adopting trebuchets.
Initially a land-locked nation, the Malgian never prioritized developing a navy. Even with the founding of Fessime on the south coast of the continent, the most advanced naval unit that was ever produced was the Trireme.
Technological Level
Ancient Era Developments (1040-2040):
The early ancient era saw the development of agriculture. The mid-ancient era brought pottery, animal husbandry, archery and mining. Some of the oldest sites across the empire include granaries, shrines and mines. After farming, roles such as operating caravans and archery where the first to become popular. The late ancient era introduced sailing, calendars, writing, the wheel, masonry, and bronze working. Here we find the first work boats, cargo ships, and Triremes. Texts were first written on stonework, and in 2360 the Stones of Rygarn were erected. Libraries were constructed, as well as watermills. The oldest military buildings include barracks and defensive walls, and archeologists have found evidence of military weapons such as chariot archers, hand-axes, and spears.
Classical Era Developments (2040-3840):
In the first half of the classical era, the Malgians developed optics, mathematics, and new methods for construction. This manifested in developments such as lighthouses, courthouses, and large oval amphitheaters. Military technologies advanced with catapults and composite bowman. The second half of the classical era brought about philosophy, drama and poetry, currency, advancements in engineering, and iron working. During this time the first temples were constructed, as well as amphitheaters, a writer's guild, markets, a mint, and aqueducts. This is also the time of the first Malgian swordsmen.
Medieval Era Developments (3840-4900):
The first half of the medieval era brought about theology, more guilds, and the advent of metal casting. The introduction of gardens quickly became ubiquitous, and plans were first drafted for a major temple of worship called the Phiasoa to be built in the Republic's capital. An artist's guild was formerly organized, and facilities such as forges and workshop became more commonplace. In the latter half of the era, advancements in physics and the development of steel brought about plans for another major holy building to potentially be constructed in Barrath. The military began to construct armory facilites for new weapons including trebuchet and long-swords.
Renaissance Era Developments (4900/Present Day):
Currently, the Malgians are considered to be ranked sixth out of all the active empires in terms of their technological and scientific level. However, as the first nation to enter the Renaissance Era, it is rumored they have succeeded in developing a new technology that could change the very fate of the world.
Religion
Foreign Relations
| Nation Name | Political | Economic | Attitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Dragonborn Cain Empire | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| The Dragonborn Zillbien Empire | N/A | N/A | Friendly |
| The Dwarf Makraden Empire | N/A | N/A | Friendly |
| The Dwarf Mayronin Empire | War | N/A | Hostile |
| The Elf Tangloveen Empire | N/A | Trade route (x2) | Guarded |
| The Elf Ulzdra Empire | Mutually denounced | N/A | Guarded |
| The Gnome Nessia Empire | Mutually denounced | N/A | Guarded |
| The Gnome Thagian Empire | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| The Halfling High Nogg Empire | Declaration of friendship | N/A | Friendly |
| The Halfling Siapreen Empire | Declaration of friendship; Open borders | N/A | Friendly |
| The Human Irmosa Empire | Mutually denounced | N/A | Guarded |
| The Human Moricanna Empire | Declaration of friendship; Open borders | Trade route | Friendly |
| The Tiefling Undersun Empire | Mutually denounced | N/A | Hostile |
Agriculture & Industry
The primary recourse production is that of raising horses and growing citrus fruits. Additional resources include, marble, stone, salt, bananas, fish, and wheat.
Production facilitates across the land include 19 major farms, three major trading posts, four major pastures, two major quarries, two major mines, three major plantations, and a lumber mill.
Trade & Transport
Three internal trade routes have been established, as well as three international ones. A caravan route was established between Kachmorah and the Tangloveen city of Kor, first moving through floodplains and an oasis before navigating through grassland, mashes, and a forest. Another was set up between Kachmorah and Waton, which starts by using floodplains and an oasis to bypass most of the dessert through the north before cutting through hills into the Morricana capital city. A third travels out of Barrath, directly west below the southern edge of the desert to Knottom.
Current Trade Routes
Kachmorah to Kor
Revenue: Gold, Sugar, Citrus, Cocoa
Kachmorah to Waton
Revenue: Gold, Horses, Furs, Truffles, Citrus
Barrath to Knottom
Revenue: Gold, Horses, Marble, Salt
Current Trade Deals
Trade Deal with The Human Moricanna Empire
Deal began in the year 4150
Deal duration is 750 years
Moricanna Items: Gold, Iron
Malgian Items: Citrus
Trade Deal with The Human Moricanna Empire
Deal began in the year 4425
Deal duration is 750 years
Moricanna Items: Truffles
Malgian Items: Horses
Trade Deal with The Human Moricanna Empire
Deal began in the year 4550
Deal duration is 750 years
Moricanna Items: Open borders
Malgian Items: Open borders
Trade Deal with The Halfling High Nogg Empire
Deal began in the year 4575
Deal duration is 750 years
Moricanna Items: Open borders
Malgian Items: Gold
Trade Deal with The Halfling Siapreen Empire
Deal began in the year 4825
Deal duration is 750 years
Moricanna Items: Open borders
Malgian Items: Gold
Education
Childcare, eldercare & education collectives (including special education programs specifically for developing communication skill) are commonplace. Libraries and a national college have also been developed. The nation's science output is considered the second best in the world. However, despite all these developments the national literacy rate is only 31%. It has been suggested that the priority of oral traditions, rather than written, are the cause of this discrepancy.
Infrastructure
The majority of cities across the republic include buildings such as aqueducts, libraries, monuments, shrines, temples, city walls, water mills, armories, barracks, and granaries. Specialist buildings and sites include markets (one with is home to great merchant), amphitheaters (one of which was the grounds for a popular narrative poem called "Transformations" by the great Writer Divo), an artist’s guild, workshops, and a writers guild (currently with a writer in residence). There are also several great wonders, including a a grand temple, a national college, a pantheon, and the palace which houses a great piece of art by Ren Maltama. There is also the site of the Stones of Rygarn which were erected back in 2360.
Other physical assets include:
- Bathhouses, brothels, and massage facilities
- Public gardens
- Exercise and sporting facilities
- Facilities for providing therapy and meditation
- Public spaces for rest
- A variety of hospitals and clincs for both general and specialized medical care
- Facilities for teaching and providing healthy, cooked food
- Special markets specifically designed for the exchange or trade of goods without cost
- Worker-owned co-ops
- Credit unions
- Co-housing
- Facilities for skill sharing and mutual aid
- Major roads connecting Barrath back to the capital city of Kachmorah
- Public transportation
Cosmological Views
While both the Malgian and Undersun Tieflings align with the Infernal, the Magligan's interpretation of their heritage is quite different. They interpret the lower planes as the foundation of life-giving power, often making allusions to how so much of life on the planet can be traced back down to the dirt, soil, and all things below the surface.
Tenets of Faith
There are a few key tenets that are most frequently referenced by faith practitioners in the Malgian Empire:
The measure of the least of you shall be the measure of all.
And you shall be blessed, for the fires that made you shall grant you survival between scorching suns and sands.
From beneath the ground you came, so shall you return, one and all. The soil that births the first buds takes the last of fallen boughs.
Ethics
It is believed that the Gods will hold everyone accountable for treatment of the most vulnerable among them. As such, caring for those less fortunate has influenced a priority on systemic support systems, including healthcare, housing, and food. Care for others is expressed in both intimate relationships, as well as communal activities. There are four pillars of care that have manifested in both traditional and modern examples:
Soothing
Providing or enabling activities that offer individuals distraction and/or comfort in difficult times. These may include storytelling, bathhouses, fancy beverages, singing loudly, public gardens, time off from home responsibilities & childcare, physical companionship, exercise and sport.
Interpersonal Care
Providing or enabling activities that help others find meaning, and that support growth and becoming grounded. These may include providing therapy, meditating, exercise, financial assistance, public places of rest, massage facilitates, medical care, and cooking healthy food. This can also look like teaching and practicing communication skills such as setting boundaries, and helping others feel comforatble and confident saying “yes” and “no” when they really mean it.
Community Care
Supporting systems that inherently provide care. These may include childcare & education collectives, markets specifically designed for the exchange or trade of goods without cost, dignified and supportive healthcare organizations, the encouragement of intimate relationships outside of traditional romantic couple-hood norms, worker-owned co-ops, credit unions, co-housing, skill sharing and mutual aid.
Structural Care
Developing systems that support community care, interpersonal care, and soothing experiences. These may include comprehensive universal healthcare, environmental defense and renewal, child and eldercare, living wages, efficient public transportation, gender & sexuality liberation, racial equity & justice, and paid family leave.
It is understood that no single person can perfrom all the kinds of care that are needed all the time. As such, the individual is recognized as having a responsibility to support others in different ways.
Political Influence & Intrigue
The pillars of care have influenced policy making and infrastructural development for generations. From the highest, broadest influence of things like healthcare, to providing public access to many soothing, leisurely, and relatively luxurious resources.
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