Zourania
Zourania is dominated by the eponymous Zourane Mountains, which separate the Takhreib from the Zelfan Desert. Most Zourani live in hte valleys and dales between the mountains, with most of the population located in the Alizal and Radakh Valleys. The Zourani, once forced to pay tribute of men and silver to the Bagaran armies, now focus their efforts on improving the lives of the people of Zada with new technological innovations under the patronage of the World-King.
Culture
The Zourani are a peaceful people, who desire nothing more than to serve the King of Zada by producing for him and his subjects new wonders of science and technology. Many Zourani have earned positions of privilege in the World-King's court for their understanding of law, while others have created mighty weapons for his armies, and still others advance our understanding of medicine.
Not all Zourani can be scholars, of course, and much of the population dedicate their lives to producing the materials needed to supply their renowned scholars in the nation's many factories and mines. These hard working individuals are of course respected members of society within the Empire, and suggestions that they are looked down upon by, or are resentful towards, the scholarly elite are gross misunderstandings. Such is the boundless wisdom of the World-King.
History
Prior to the unification of Zada, Zourania was divided into numerous city-states, each of which was largely isolated from its neighbours due to the mountainous terrain. Although some in the larger vallies formed confederations, the Zourania people were too disparate to form an effective resistance against foreign invasion, and so were often subjugated and forced to pay tribute to the Bagaran kingdom.
During the wars of the coalitions, many corrupt and unjust leaders of Zourani cities sought to halt the World-King's ascension to power, and were thusly cast down, and their people liberated. Those cities who aligned themselves with the World-King were naturally rewarded for their heroic virtue. Since Zourania was incorporated into the World-King's domain, he has commissioned the brightest minds of the nation to develop new technologies. This has led to many momentous innovations, such as gunpowder, the steam engine, the cotton gin, antibiotics, and vaccines, and dynamite.
Territories
Zourania is largely defined by its mountainous terrain. Isolation shaped the development of the early Zourani society, and even now with railroads connecting the major cities of the nation, Zourania still feels their effects. The mountains have also shaped the peaceful nature of the Zourani people, shielding them from foreign aggressors prior to the World-King's protection. There are also numerous volcanos in the Zourane mountains, with the most famous being Mount Atal, a large volcano that rivals Mount Kohya in Marceddia, and in which the Zourani people take great pride.
Type
Geopolitical, Province
Capital
Demonym
Zourani
Leader
Subsidiary Organizations
Related Ethnicities
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