Nalanosan Federation

A Land of Equality in Survival

Many consider Nalanosa a foreign, unsettling place, where even the Elves show unnatural strength. A land plunged into polar ice, it seems unlikely that anyone would live there, and yet a civilization thrives there. Tapping into the power of their own souls, the races of the Nalanosan Federation are able to hunt, travel, and live comfortably in the snow of their homeland.

History

On the day Summer died, the northern spires faded into the mist, and the sun was devoured by the snow, and neither would ever be seen again.

Before the Fall of the Icemen, the Nalanosan mainland was lush and temperate, despite its position between the southern polar taiga and the frozen sea to the north. When the empire fell, however, this rapidly, abruptly, and unnaturally changed. Many families still pass down stories of the Murder of Summer, when the snow first started to fall and the biting winds swept across the land. Few had the luxury of contemplating the reason for this sudden upheaval of nature, but many Dwarves who had already escaped there suspected a curse from their old masters. They were not entirely incorrect, but the whole truth would prove far worse.
The first months were rife with horror, desperation, and chaos. Animals were slaughtered, wood burned through, supplies meant for winter exhausted. At first, hunts were easy for the Orcs, who already had furs to wear and whose prey were weak from the snow. The magic of the Elves could ward off cold and create lasting fires. Dwarves persevered while Humans used storehouses and insulated as best they could. But as time wore on and it became clear no end was in sight, many would starve, freeze, or devolve into panic and violence.

I'd seen dogs take their last struggling steps in the bitter cold. I'd seen dwarves I'd never seen crack a frown scream at each other over rations. But nothing truly filled me with dread until I saw Chief Murolsh march to us in peace, asking our aid.

Stories vary on how the Nalanosans survived this calamity, but some are common enough and consistent enough to show the truth. In dire need of warmth, the Orcs had turned to the Goblins, their long time allies. However, in this time of dire need, the Goblins were nowhere to be found. Infighting seemed inevitable as the rage of betrayal needed an outlet, but one chieftan called a meeting with the others. Wise, and some would say modest for an Orc, the Chief Murolsh laid out his concerns directly - they had no chance of survival on their own.
With Murolsh at their lead, the Orcs turned first to the Dwarves, hoping to find that they may have some old wisdom or knowledge of a solution, but found that their situation was just as dire. However, with their tools and skills in forging more, the two groups realized that they may have to make an even greater compromise to make use of their abilities to survive. And so it was that they went forth to the Humans, in hopes that they may have an inventive solution with the added manpower of their former rivals. The Humans, surely, were even more shocked to see the Orcs than the Dwarves were. After the Murder of Summer, however, they all understood that sticking to their old ways would lead them to their graves.
All, it seemed, except for the Elves. When the coalition went to them, they met the presence of the Orcs with hostility. The Humans tried to explain that they needed their magic, that with nothing to burn for warmth their best efforts would be in vain. But even then the hatred of the Elves ran deep, and more than that, they believed their magic alone could provide a solution. Their best minds had put themselves to the task of determining the source of this unnatural cold and returning nature to its proper course. As the last of the dying wood burned away and the pressure of the coalition mounted, they continued their work, until they discovered the truth.

What were we to do, when we discovered that truth? Admit that we had been living on the lies of the last age, and bet everything upon them? That there was nothing we could do? That nature itself wanted us, its first children, to perish for our hubris?

There was no source, for nothing was unnatural. There was only the reason why Nalanosa, so far south, was ever warm in the first place - the climatic disruptions caused by the Icemen. With everything rapidly returning to its proper course, the Elves were confronted with the crushing reality that their hope for a solution would require fighting against nature itself, and the revelation destroyed them. More than mentally, their magical nature came to the surface, wrapped in grief, despair, and denial. In their misguided desire for a solution, the very flames they had relied upon to stave off the end became a pyre for their souls.
Many Elves would perish in the living flames their brethren had become, with those that kept a grip upon themselves retreating to warn the coalition of the calamity that had occurred. Faced with gaseous monstrosities of ash and flame, the cold had suddenly become the least of everyone's worries. Already exhausted, pushed to their limits, and braced by the constant bitter cold, it seems a wonder that this was not how the story of Nalanosa ends. The exact nature of that confrontation is drowned in local myth and folklore, but one common trait can be gleaned from the stories, especially given the current state of the federation: It was the first time most of them had witnessed the power of Ki.
With Elven healing at their backs and Dwarven steel somehow cleaving the flames, the fight was sure to end in victory. However, the elation of victory seemed that it would be short-lived. With the most potent Fire mages among the Elves lost to their own flames and no other solutions in sight, it seemed only a matter of time before the Nalanosan coalition would starve. Even the application of ki seemed it would not buy the people enough time to save themselves. It was during this time, however, that an unlikely ally returned, completing the coalition and providing a solution that would save far more people than they had ever intended.
The Goblins, who had seemingly abandoned the Orcs so long ago, had returned, having found an answer. The flammability of animal fat was not unheard of at the time, but whale and seal blubber were an untapped resource, and proper methods of condensing them into soapstones were as well. Unlike the Elves and Orcs, the Goblins and free Dwarves had not had a chance to work up such a bitter rivalry in Nalanosa, and with the Orcs as unlikely mediators, the five races were able to cooperate to survive. Progress from this point was slow, and stories are more scattered, but many contain folk tales of heroism, against massive beasts migrating from the freezing polar taiga and the harsh nature of the land itself. What is clearly known is that control of ki became shared as widespread knowledge among Nalanosans, and along with their cooperation, it allowed them to not only survive, but thrive in the unforgiving climes.

Demography and Population

Due to its storied history, the Nalanosan Federation has a unique level of racial tolerance. While they do not always mingle regularly, and many towns maintain strong racial roots, cooperation was necessary in the past for long enough that racial tensions have largely dissolved. As such, each of the mortal races has representation within the population, though not necessarily equally - Elves still have somewhat lesser numbers due to their low birth rates, for instance. Stereotypes (some debatably positive, some distinctly more negative) still abound, but the direct, blinding hatred towards Orcs or Goblins present in other nations are effectively nonexistent.

Territories

With an abundance of nearly useless land, the Nalanosan Federation predominantly holds areas on its coastline and adjacent to the continent's remaining, hardy forests, leaving other areas for game. A few settlements are deeper inland, buoyed by ki and magic, but these are predominantly ambitious hunting outposts. Despite this sparseness, no other nation has disputed these claims, so by all technicalities the entirety of inland Nalanosa belongs to the federation.

Military

Disjointed and individualistic, the Nalanosan Federation has no formal military, as its only true threats are monsters that tend to avoid civilization. Despite this, it is far from defenseless, with many strong hunters among its ranks. These combatants, used to hunting beings like mammoths, have an advantage in mobility and perception in their native snowy landscapes. Apart from the use of ki and the environment in which they hone their skills, however, Nalanosan hunters can vary immensely in tactics and styles of combat.

Technological Level

As far as nations go, Nalanosa is not particularly advanced, but they do have some notable innovations. Mud plasters are commonly used for insulation, and basic heated cavities in floors to provide central heating are frequently built into homes. The frigid nation also has common access to soap, with many hygiene benefits stemming from it. Water is predominantly boiled to remove impurities before drinking or other use.
Cooking and general food preparation are also vital parts of Nalanosan life, given their lack of variety in options. Stone - especially Corestone - ovens are common fixtures, and boiling foods in water or cooking them in fat are used to help bring out flavor and make them more palatable. Salted meat is a Nalanosan staple more for flavor than preservation. Some foods are simply frozen and crushed before eating.
Weaponry and tools are as advanced as other nations, if not more so in some facets. Examples of innovation in the region include the use of the parts of monsters from the polar south, giving a very distinct appearance. When done with proper care, this can even confer supernatural capabilities upon weapons or armor. This does not seem to be a form of runecraft or alchemy, but an occult nigh-scientific practice developed by the Snow Elves and Goblins based on their biological knowledge of these beings. Due to the difficulty of finding or killing these creatures, however, these forms of equipment are exceedingly rare, becoming as much status symbols in tribes as actual items of use.

Religion

As free and inclusive as the federation is, some religious practices have become extremely common among its varied peoples as a result of the shared experience of life in the frozen south. Old Man Zebul is commonly revered as a much-needed source of comfort and protection and symbol of the hard work needed to survive in the region, while Atraziah is the symbol of why such hard work and cooperation is necessary. Alsvira takes a prominent role in the harsh and beast-ridden wastes, where sparse agriculture cannot hope to fulfill the needs of the people. On the other hand, the nation's tournament scene commonly uses the iconography of Dominus, God of Strength, and many of the top combatants follow his tenets closely.

Foreign Relations

At the same time, this same fact often leaves other nations in an awkward position when dealing with them. Chale nobles have no interest in associating with Orcs, and most Argends would wretch at the knowledge that their hard work was going towards keeping Goblins warm in the Nalanosan cold. At the same time, money often speaks louder than these prejudices, and trade has been fairly open. Similarly, no nation has any real interest in trying to invade such a cold and inhospitable place, so they are at little risk of war.

Agriculture & Industry

Very few crops will grow on Nalanosan soil. Some fish farms are present, but lichens are typically gathered rather than cultivated from the coasts. Domestication of dogs is a major facet of local culture, however, with these companions proving as much a means of transportation as hunting partners. Caribou fulfill roles of transportation of people and goods for certain settlements as well. For the most part, however, hunting and gathering is in full effect to cover the limited dietary needs of the populace.

Trade & Transport

Overland transportation in Nalanosa is relatively straightforward, with the use of sleds allowing transport over the snows. With some effort, groups of palette-like sleds are often used to slide huge monster carcasses back to nearby settlements. Just as often, smaller game is transported over the shoulder or simply hauled along with rope. As wood is in relatively short supply and of limited variety, most ships used by the federation are Chale in origin or simple rafts to reach other coastal settlements, hunt, and fish.

Education

Physical education is paramount for survival in Nalanosa. Wide open buildings serving as training centers are common in many settlements, where young Nalanosans are taught the initial body movements that will ease them into learning to use ki (Tai Chi, in mechanical terms). For many, this is the first and only fighting style they will learn. Ki is both a matter of spiritual oneness and physical fitness for Nalanosans, but it is also used in a very utilitarian way in many senses. Use of Necessary Energy and Elimination of Needs (as well as Elemental Immunity: Cold, of course) are common abilities, along with Weight Elimination to help traverse the often deep snows. While many other abilities are used by hunters or healers, these alone contribute to a reputation in other nations of terrifying hardiness.

Type

Geopolitical, Republic

Demonym

Nalanosan

Government System

Democracy, Representative

Economic System

Traditional

Major Exports

As a land of exotic creatures, animal products of various forms are frequently sold for considerable profit. Pristine white furs, mammoth tusks and caribou antlers, soap and candles all find their way to foreign markets. Some Dwarven-made equipment is also sold by Nalanosans, though it lacks the reputation of Argend steel.

Major Imports

The biggest imports in recent times are finely-made winter clothing and Corestone. With ki requiring significant training, the early years are frequently brutal and risky without such 'luxuries'. Chale ships are also coveted by the coastal settlements of the federation.

Legislative Body

The Nalanosan Federation is ultimately still governed by its loose set of tribes and settlements, but it has become more sophisticated about this over time. While the leaders of settlements are chosen or elected in a variety of ways, these leaders ultimately come together to decide upon matters of import. Foreign policy, what should universally be considered a criminal offense, and the punishments thereof are vital to have agreement upon among the nation's settlements.

Location

Nalanosa

Controlled Territories

• Nalanosa

Neighboring Nations

• Sen'valsai