Bagara
Bagara was once Zada's military hegemon, but was conquered by the World-King when its leadership foolishly attempted to contest his rise to power. Bagarans now make up the core of the World-King's armies in times of turmoil, and work their nation's farms and factories in times of peace. Grasslands and hills make up Bagara's interior, while it borders Nelkhetia to the north-east along the Sibou River, and the Zourane Mountains to the south.
Culture
Bagaran men and women alike are well-known throughout the Empire for their prowess and proficiency in close-quarters combat. Despite the rise of modern firearms, most Bagarans still make use of hand-to-hand weapons in battle, as well as for sport and several cultural traditions. The Gauntlet of the Worthy is a pre-unification tradition where the most able fighters in Bagara test their might against one-another for a chance to win fame and the title of The Worthy. The World-King was the first non-Bagaran to win this title, following his conquest of Bagara. He was also the first person to win without killing any competitors, and afterwards forbade the ending of life in the Gauntlet. And so the might and mercy of the King of Zada was revealed.
History
The Kingdom of Bagara was arguably the most powerful pre-unification state in Zada, rivalled only by Rihal. Nelkhetia and the cities of the Zourane Mountains were historically tributaries of Bagara, and often had their youths impressed into service as auxiliaries in the Bagaran army. Birinia was constantly fought over by Bagara and Rihal, while Marceddia was able to remain independent and largely neutral due to its powerful navy and its trade relations with both powers.
After the king of the Nelkheti abdicated to the World-King, the king of Bagara raised his army due to a misguided belief that the World-King had taken his rightful throne by means of deceit and coercion. The World-King led a much smaller army to defend the Nelkheti, and destroyed a Bagaran force ten times the size of his own with minimal casualties. After this victory, he marched on Rouhelad itself, and forced the king of the Bagarans to relinquish his throne.
Demography and Population
Bagara is fairly ethnically homogenous, with the only large numbers of outsiders being Nelkheti administrators and officers, as well as a number of Marceddi merchants. Much of the population is employed in agriculture, though the nation is more industrialised than Birinia and the more desolate provinces. Nearly all adult Bagaran men, and some women, serve in the World-King's army for several years. This contributes to the nation's proclivity for combat, and ensures that Bagara is always able to provide a large supply of veteran warriors in times of crisis.
Religion
While all nations in the empire of course follow the will of the World-King, Bagarans are noted for their exceptional zeal and piety. The second largest religious structure in Zada, the Memorial of Eternal Victory, was originally a pre-unification temple of the sky-cultists that has since been converted into a monument to the World-King's righteous rule. Bagarans are universally proud of this national treasure, and all newly-inducted recruits visit the Memorial before their first deployment, to be blessed by the World-King's priests.
Comments