Dual Khanate of Hlysa
Steeped in mystery and tradition, the Dual Khanate of Hlysa shows what a society of honor is capable of, and limited by, as well as what is feasible between species then they commit.
Structure
Hlysa is a Dual Khanate, meaning that an Elf Khan and Human Khan rule the land with equal authority. The bands, tribes and settlements of the west listen to Dramori Ylise, the human Khan, while the east belongs to Kado Kojo, Elvish Khan
The groups under the khans are typically extended family groups. being very transitory, and intermixed, it is common that these 'tribes' do not have members of the original ancestor, but follow banners or names of their founders.
Culture
Hlysa is a culture that is largely self contained. Surrounded by forests, snow, and violent neighbors to the east, their world is much smaller, and much simpler. Self preservation remains their primary concern. Maintaining their ancestral traditions is an immediate second: to live to see another day but to no longer be Hlysan would be a fate worse than starvation or torture. Hlysa is interesting in where some cities or kingdoms have a diverse culture by accident, Hlysan is one of the most deliberately collaborative socities in T'sara. Elves and Humans could not survive without each other, so far as Hlysan's believe.
This camraderie manifests itself in an unusual way, regarding their understanding of monogamy and families. Elves and Humans cannot have children together; nor can any other race. Hlysa is not unique in this problem, but their resolving of the problem is. They've simply separated the understanding of marriage as being to create and raise children from lifelong comittments. So long as the married partner knows the true heart, it is not considered to be outside of marital fidelity to humans and elves to copulate. It is also common for Elves and Humans to marry, and either adopt a child, or have another woman provide a child for them via surrogacy
History
Legend has that Hlysa became ruled by two sepearte Khans from a rivalry that had turned into a relationship. In the early parts of the First Age, the area was lightly populated but chaotic. Two warlords would rise concurrently, uniting different parts of the area under their name and pooling resources. One, a calculating elf of middling age known as Keido. The other, an ambitious, daring human woman named Bolormaa. News traveled over time, but the two Khans would avoid each other to focus on consolidating power. They would not be able to avoid each other for long. Appealing to honor, the two Khan's agree to settle everything quickly and with honor: a duel, in front of both armies, the greater warrior would be fit to rule all. The two proved evenly matched, and equally stubborn. Wiser heads put a stop to the duel before the injuries would kill them both. The matter was not settled, but the two recognized the strength and skill, and with it, respect grew. The Khans both recognized that large conflicts would come to blows with equal bleakness. The gain of territory would not be worth the destruction and loss to gain it, not when there were more pressing concerns.
The Respect would grow closer in quick fashion, as circumstances dictated the two work together. A monstrous incursion threatened the region, and was too strong for either Khan to handle alone. Coordinating forces, fighting alongside, brought Keido and Bolormaa together in a way not anticipated. Through the battles and the loss, the two would find romance and would even wed after the victory had been at hand. The two would pray to the Gods for years to Phoenicia to have a chance at children, but such would never happen. Relations of different species had never born children before, this would not be any different. Resigned to their fates, Keido and Bolormaa would physically separate, but their union would last longer than either of them, creating the Dual Khanate. Each would find new partners of their own species in order to continue their family lines, with the promise that the families would always love each other and respect each others friendship and strength.
SInce that time, the union has remained strong, and the territory of the khans become so vague that outsiders have long recognized Hlysa as one nation. This would not be the last time that the Khans would be more than allies or co-leaders of governance. The first Khan to name herself Kojo, Khalija, would become romantically involved with no less than three subsequent human Khans over the span of her elvish lifetime.
Hlysa was able to stand tall against the sinister invasions of the Triumverate War. Although Orcs would quickly swoop in, they would find that the assymetric guerilla warfare waged by the Khans made them hard to defeat. Knowing the land and relying on surprise and mobility, the local conflict quickly turned sidways against the invaders.
Demography and Population
Hlysa has a roughly even split in the populations between Elves and Humans. Humans tend to have more children, but with their shorter lives, the population balance tends to even out. There has been an increasing exodus of young adult humans towards Suka in the Northeast, a fellow Khanate. More worryingly, a greater number of them are being pulled by the lure of Intransican propaganda and supremacy. That the explicit depictions of humanistic supremacy and divine purpose is having an affect on Hlysan humans is causing concern among the the elders, especially the Khans.
Territories
Hlysa covers the Southwest corner of T'sara's eastern continent. This is mostly thick woodlands in the the north and cold dry tundras further to the south.
Foreign Relations
There is a peaceful, but chilly relationship with Bronzebark, who find Hlysan society too antiquated, too obsessed with honor and their relationship customs being too open. Some of the land in Hlysa is conquered territory from Bronzebark, but even by Elvish customs, was too far gone for most residents to care.
Hlysa tends to be dismissive towards the Humans to the east, namely the Vilorian and Grushtan despotates. Their history roughly resembles Hlysa's, but never unified like the Khans did. Unlike Bronzebark to the North, Hlysa is openly dismissive of Vilory's claims to have been chosen by the God of War, and that their two kings were sired by Glokrei. The army of the Khans have contended with the Vilorian war mongers and bested them, questioning the alleged militant supremacy they claim to possess.
Although the Intransicans were to be celebrated for driving back orcish invasions and saving most of the continent, Hlysa has a restrained adversarial relationship with the Empire. They live and fight without honor, and have become the tyrannical threat they claimed to be fighting against. Most of all, Hlysa knows that their tight bonds, including the large permissiveness of physical intimacy between Elves and humans would be discouraged if not completely outlawed.
Linthalia are cultural allies and trade partners. Both nations have very open beliefs pertaining to relationships, and each has valuable commodities the others do not have. Hlysa does not have the industry to make ships traveling such distances, and so rely on having marketable exports to attract foreigners to their shores.
Capital
Demonym
Hlysans
Leader
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Tribalism
Currency
Hlysa uses a combination of gold and silver coins called Kheks. Coins from Bronzebark are also accepted, though generally thought to be less valuable.
Major Exports
Major Imports
Hlysa will import Maiden Tea from Linthalia. Prices here are a little unusual for this monopolized good. On one hand, Hlysa is about as far of a trading partner as is feasible. On the other hand, the propensity that elves and humans engage in open relationships for the purpose of avoiding children reduces the demand, relative to other countries like Bronzebark or Khartoum.
Neighboring Nations
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