The Duchy of Donieper is far from a united entity and there are deep historical and political divides throughout the region. The common factors amongst the most numerous of the peoples that make their home in Donieper, the Kozacks, are culture and a shared history and lifestyle throughout the Don Steppes.
Geography
The Duchy of Donieper is dominated by Steppes, wide open plains some of which are fertile while other areas are barren. The Bryga Forest and Armada Bay form its northern borders, the Pale Wood and Bay of Ice its south, the Icy Spines west, and River Volg its East.
Level of Autonomy
The Duchy of Donieper is a Povitz (Provinces) of the
Velgan Empire, and is directly ruled by a noble representative of the Tsar known as an Imperial Boyar. The Boyar is responsible to the Tsar and has broad authority to rule as they please so long as they keep the peace. The
Velgan Empire’s tax collectors have a stranglehold over trade and common tax in the Povitz. The Povitz is subject to a process known as Velganisation of culture and language where practices and language are sought to be destroyed and replaced by Velgan ones; as such all official pledges, documents, and duties are carried out in the Velgan language.
Race Relations
The
Velgan Empire has remarkably and notoriously bad relations between races. The Elder Races have a long history of being opposed, abused, and conquered, a feature that is firmly still the case. Discrimination against nonhumans is entrenched in the legal system of the
Velgan Empire, as they are official second class citizens, who are restricted in terms of employment, ownership, and even where they are permitted to live. Additionally, nonhumans have fewer and worse legal recourses when a crime is committed against them by a
Human. The majority nonhuman provinces also face much greater taxes and restrictions against them.
Views on Arcane Magic
The peoples of Don Steppes have a long history of viewing magic users as useful tools, warriors, allies, and equals in a dangerous world. This view has only been slightly impacted by Velganisation. The
Velgan Empire believes that magic is an unpredictable risk, but its use is more than justified in service to the Tsar. The
Velgan Empire is a signature to the
Toc’vastil Accords, but only tacitly conforms to it, allowing various leniencies; providing
Bastille Mages prove their loyalty to the Tsar and Empire they are given more freedom that mages in virtually any other
Human kingdom save for
Aarelan, they are permitted to leave the
Arcane Bastille for pre approved amounts of time, and some are even freed from the confines of the
Arcane Bastille system itself. Mages who are not loyal can be subject to the same abuses seen in other kingdoms.
History
The Duchy of Donieper does not have a long history, as it was an artificial creation of the
Velgan Empire after they conquered disparate groups and factions of the Kozack people. The Empire then created the Duchy of Donieper which vaguely conformed to the lands of the Kozacks.
Since its creation the Duchy of Donieper has proved difficult for the Tsars to control, they do not seem to understand the Kozacks are far from a united people. The process of Velganisation has also been difficult as the Kozacks are a stubben people who cling to tradition. As a result disparate rebellions have been common and futile.
Religion
The official state religion of the
Velgan Empire is the
Ebon Flame , a sect of worship to the
Radiant Lady , it is the popular religion within the Empire, and the only one that can be legally worshipped. The dogma of the
Ebon Flame is based upon a hatred of the nonhumans, as well as the belief that the
Radiant Lady is the only true faith. The
Ebon Flame believe that those who are born with magic or learn its arts are cursed, but can be redeemed through devout faith and service to the country.
Despite the illegality, there are other deities and faiths worshipped within the
Velgan Empire, some of these are the
Seldarine is the most popular pantheon among forest gnomes and elves, and the
Morndinsamman among dwarves and rock gnomes. Likewise the
Draconic Pantheon are favoured among the draconic races.
Culture
The Kozacks are a people shaped by conflict and the Steppes. Throughout their history the Kozacks have always been surrounded by enemies, Fylkes, Velgan kingdoms, Kasari kingdoms, and the demons and devils of the
Age of Blood; with enemies abound the Kozacks have become a people well accustomed to death and war. Their women are treated as equals and also join their men in battle. The Kozacks are also shaped by the Don Steppes, wide open plains well suited to horses, which have become closely tied to the Kozacks; it is said many Kozacks learn to ride before they walk.
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