Kingdom-in-the-Boughs
If one were to go into central Hr'ask'r, all one would see is chokingly dense underbrush and trees so tall they seemed to touch the sky, itself. It would seem that no civilization could exist there, but that is incorrect. These are the lands of the Kingdom-in-the-Boughs.
Structure
Despite the nation being practically entirely on treetops and made up primarily of the mostly chaotic tabaxi, the monarchy is surprisingly straightforward. The nation is ruled by a king, a monarch that has rules with absolute power, including the granting of noble titles.
Succession always passes to the first male child of the king. If this child dies, it passes to the next male child. If the king has no male child, rulership passes to the most closely related man. The crown will pass to another house before it ever passes to a woman.
Noble titles are typically fleeting, owing to the capricious nature of the tabaxi. Once in a generation, a house goes before the Nobles' Parliament, who votes to determine whether they deserve to keep their title. This is called the Culling, and the onset of this election is always the cause of a great deal of deadly intrigue.
History
It is believed by scholars that the tabaxi, as well as the tamblin are the original inhabitants of the continent of Hr'ask'r. It also stands to reason that they would take to the trees quickly in order to survive the dangers down below.
These people formed loosely organized nomadic tribal bands. They would swing from tree to tree much as modern tabaxi still do, and hunt other creatures that also took shelter in those branches. When the First Rising came, they still lived in these unsophisticated tribes. As there are no records, it is unknown how well they weathered this.
Eventually, in the wake of this terrible conflict, they began to settle down, much as their neighbors to the south and east. They built cities and towns in the treetops, with the finest of these being their capital, Finr. The tabaxi believed themselves safe and secure, and had plenty of reason to do so.
Unfortunately, when the Second Rising came, it became clear that this was not the case. Before the invasion the mind flayers took a company of tabaxi adventurers and probed their minds. The locations and weaknesses of every Boughan settlement were known to them. The clever beasts knew exactly how to exploit them.
While most nations were attacked directly, the mind flayers proved their capacity for subtlety by placing dominated agents in these places. With assassation and sabotage, the mind flayers reduced the kingdom to ruins and conquered them easily. The Boughans mounted a disorganized resistance, but were slaughtered.
The Overbrain was eventually slain, sending all mind flayers across the Twin Worlds back into The Warrens. When the dust settled, the kingdom's hierarchy was in shambles. Much of the 2nd Age was spent in civil war. It was a long process to reunite the Kingdom-in-the-Boughs, but eventually it was rebuilt stronger.
The hard-fought peace was not to last forever, though. There was one more Rising. The Boughans fought off the Third Rising much more effectively, due to their alliance with Hnng'yar. The loss of life was grave, but they could rebuild much faster and more effectively. Since then the Kingdom-in-the-Boughs has prospered.
Demography and Population
The vast majority of the kingdom's population is made up of tabaxi. The next most numerous group is the tamblin, with significant populations living in the various tree-borne communities. The kingdom's central location also leads to varying populations of gnolls, ursil, and minotaurs.
There are tribes of humans living on the ground, but these are rarer than they are further south due to the dangers involved. It is said that tribes of feral tabaxi dwell in the dark beneath the trees, but these rumors are completely unsubstantiated.
Territories
The Kingdom-in-the-Boughs is easily the largest nation in Hr'ask'r in terms of land area. However a majority of this territory is wild and undeveloped. This leads to vast tracts of land that are completely unexplored, and many adventurers who have tried have not returned.
Much like most other places in Hr'ask'r, the kingdom is made up of dense jungle. Unlike the other places, the trees grow unnaturally tall with an incredibly thick canopy. This leads to the lands below being very dark and oppressive. The frequent rainfall leads to a high humidity that seems almost suffocating.
This oppressive atmosphere leads many scholars to believe the lands below have a strong connection to the Shadowfell. This is incorrect, as the land's extremes lead to a connection to the Feywild, instead. The dark and foreboding territory on ground level is simply connected to that plane's darker elements.
Military
The land the Kingdom-in-the-Boughs covers isn't suitable for large-scale armies. Fortunately for them, the land, itself goes a long way towards protecting the kingdom, as does the construction of the settlements that serve as the people's homes.
The nation does have a military, but it is not a rank-and-file army. It more resembles guerrilla skirmishers that harry the enemy until the soldiers mutiny, or a frustrated commander simply turns his troops around. A campaign from Dolrar took several years and none of the Boughan communities were even successfully attacked, let alone conquered.
Foreign Relations
As with most nations of Kirris, their diplomatic ties tend to be ever-changing. In particular, the Kingdom-in-the-Boughs is far from a stabilizing element on the continent. The only constant ally they have is the Republic of Hnng'yar to the south. They are, however also allied with the other nations of Hr'ask'r and would be unlikely to assist with any wars that break out.
There is, however one constant threat they face, and that is the Yuan-ti Empire. They seek to dominate the Twin Worlds, and enslave the other races. Because of the martial prowess of the ursil of Dolrar, they can't launch an invasion, but their schemes are far-reaching.
Agriculture & Industry
The land makes traditional agriculture difficult, but as with many other things the crafty Boughans have adapted. They gather the fruits and nuts that naturally grow on their treetop homes in large numbers. They also grow a parasitic berry vine called a sunberry vine, as well as raising animals like sloths and monkeys for food.
Another industry that is wildly successful is the gathering of lumber and the production of woodwork. These works include practical things like bows and furniture, but that's only the half of it. The tabaxi that live here are well known for their artwork, particularly wooden sculptures that are in high demand all across Kirris.
Trade & Transport
Overland trade should be impossible in the very literally-named Kingdom-in-the-Boughs. Many of the nation's tabaxi citizens choose to travel by running and jumping through the branches as well as swinging with vines. They do recognize that not all visitors are as agile as the land's native inhabitants.
To this end, they have constructed the Tree-Roads. These are a vast, nation-wide system of suspension bridges high above the dangerous jungles below. In the most well-traveled sections, entire caravans can travel with their animals. In more isolated areas, parties have to travel single file.
The main imports of this kingdom include mostly objects made from metal and glass. These are all finished products, as the treetop structures make their creation a dangerous affair. The Boughans have a very well-deserved reputation as excellent woodworkers. Therefore wood and products made from it are their most common export.
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