Dowan Expanse
Formally known as the Dowan Holdout, it is all that remains of the great Dwarven Sky Empire is the home territory the Dowan dwarves, who one day hope to repair their ancient sky fortresses and rebuild their empire.
After the fracturing and collapse of their ancient enemy, the Svanti Empire, the Holdout expanded beyond their great walls and reconquered some its former territories, before being stopped by the silver dragon Ornothoth and his newly established Yubunin City-States. Thier new territory was renamed the Dowan Expanse.
Public Agenda
The Holdouts stated agenda is simply the protection of the Dowan people from further persecution from the Svanti Empire. but a public secret is that the Holdout is constantly attempting to find a way to return to their past glory.
Assets
The Dowan Expanse greatest asset is the sole remaining Sky Clave, whose potentially destructive power kept the Svanti Empire from encroaching on their territory. They also have access to a great number of mines and mining operations. They were often reluctantly forced to trade with the Svanti Empire for food.
The Sky Clave was greatly damaged in the Battle of the Broken Sky, and the Dowa are working diligently to repair it, much to the worry of the Svanti Remnant and the Yubunin City-States
History
The Dowan Expanse is the final remnants of the great Dowan Sky Empire. After the failure of the Sky Claves and the collapse of the Empire, the remaining dwarves were pushed northward by the newly established Svanti Empire. Eventually forced to construct great walls to protect themselves from further attacks, the Dowan Holdout was formally established; a refuge for the Dowa dwarves until the time they could return their empire to its former glory.
With the fracturing of the Empire and the foundation of the southern city-states, the Dowa have been invigorated, taking new territory beyond their walls and renaming themselves the Dowan Expanse. After a confrontation with the dragon Ornothoth, the Dowan have halted their Expanse, but many fear it is only a matter of time before they try to expand their rule over the realm once more.
Demography and Population
As the Holdout, it was populated nearly in entirety by dowa dwarves, with a small population of Latra alka and Bekuma refugees.
With the creation of the Expanse, some Kirrans now are under dowan rule, and most of the former Latra and Bekuma residents have moved south to the Hakyun City-States
Territories
The Dowan Holdout lies in the northeast edge of the realm, stretching down from the Stygian Ring to around a fifth the length of the Kura River. With the creation of the Dowan Expanse, their territory has expanded out to Mt. Kanjao, the former homeland of the Erfu, and down past the Tower of the East Wind, right up to the border of Jiyko, one of the major cities of the Yubunin City-States.
Military
The Expanse is extremely militaristic. Male dowa are required to spend at least a year in military service, usually on patrol on the Sabmur Walls, but most make their entire career out of it.
Technological Level
Asides from the mighty Sabmur Walls and the once functional Sky Claves, the greatest development of the Dowan Expanse is the Air Gears. A set of magically-infused metal footwear, the AIr Gears allow for limited flight that is unhindered by the disruption field of the Sabmur walls.
Religion
The Dowan Expanse worships most of the dwarven pantheon, with the exception of Gûnter, who is strictly forbidden. While Urûr is normally considered the head of the pantheon in most dwarven worship, the Dowa venerate him even more than usual, due to his divine aid in the construction of the Sky Claves. They view themselves as the chosen people of the dwarves, destined to lead their dwarven brethren in other realms to greatness.
Foreign Relations
As the Holdout, the area had poor relations with its major competitor, the Svanti Empire, as they blame them for the collapse of their former empire. They had good relations with the Latra, as they both had an interest in harassing the Empire. However, the distance between the areas is quite significant, and with the Empire in-between, trade and negotiation was a slow process. The Holdout often sheltered Bekuma refugees, which further causeed issues with the empire, but such Bekuma tend to be treated poorly, and are often saved to be used as political bargaining chips in times of dire need. The holdout often attempted to infiltrate the mysterious Tengo Valley, which earns them the ire of the Kyo-Fua cloud giants the protected the region.
Things have changed little as the Dowan Expanse; they continue to openly war with the Svanti Remnant, and have recently earned the ire of the dragon Ornothoth after attempting to expand into his newly established Yubunin City-States. The Bekuma and the Latra of the Hakyun City-States remember a time where the Dowa sheltered them from the Empire and have thus maintained a neutral stance towards the Expanse.
Infrastructure
Asides from the ruins of the mighty Sky Claves that litter the land of the holdout, the greatest marvel of infrastructure in the holdout is the great Sabmur Walls. These walls are massively long, stretching the whole length of the Holdout, and are crafted out of various skymetals, including a large amount of adamantine, making the nigh indestructible. They are enchanted with divine magic, giving off a strange force field that hinders creatures natural flight capabilities. This helps prevent flying enemies from encroaching on the hold.
"Hear the Lord Above"
Founding Date
3060
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Alternative Names
The Last Bastion
Predecessor Organization
Leader
Leader Title
Government System
Monarchy, Theocratic
Gazetteer
The ruins of Sky Claves litter the mountains of the Expanse, and most villiages are built them. The largest mountain in the region Mt. Alramord, is home to the Hold's capital and sole mostly functional Sky-Clave, Krinoruldor.
Currency
Inside the expanse, the dowa utilize their own currency, known as Kopans, or Imperial Sky Coins. However such coins have no value outside of its walls, and due to the expanses limitied resources, it is force to utilize traditional Kingin while reluctantly trading outside its borders.
Major Exports
The main export of the nation was ore and metal, mostly to the Latra bandits of Shugeshu, but sometimes reluctantly with the Empire.
With the collapse of the Empire, the Expanse has mostly been selling its minerals to the Hakyun City-States, but relationships are tense after they angered with Hakyuns sister city-states, the Yubunin, with their agressive expansions.
Major Imports
The nation primarily imported food, as a majority of the Holdout is in the northern, snowy section of Kirru, and the dowa themselves are not inclined much towards farming. With the creation of the Expanse, the dowa captured several large acres of farmlands, and have conscripted their inhabitants into farming for them.
Official State Religion
Location
Neighboring Nations
Related Species
Related Ethnicities
Comments