Nayiri Federation: Hidden from the world by a steep ring of volcanic mountains, Nayiri civilization stands at five thousand or more years old. Named for the abundant rivers descending from Lajvard Range, Nayiri people speak a language with no living relatives and maintain an economic system that rejects money and private ownership. The organization of the Confederation is an uneasy mix of the Flame system–a leftover of Shirayan rule–and local, non-hierarchical governance. Bells in every Citadel call everyone for prayer five times per day, which takes place in front of the household cauldron or altar. Nayiri religious practices often mystify outsiders, and they prefer it that way. Endless invasions from Nayir’s neighbors have taught them that isolation is the only way to preserve Nayiri identity.
Shirayan Empire: The influence of the Empire on the rest of the eastern continent cannot be overstated. Finely detailed, geometric architecture can be found in long-independent territories, as well as ornate paintings, damasks, and carpets. Backflow from conquest has given Shirayan culture an eclectic character in line with the topography. The Selat Sea lies to the western side, the desert on the eastern, and hilly terrain in between. This eclecticism remains a strength. Shirayan scientific institutions, in particular, have risen above all others in this continent and across the sea.
Pahlavaneti Princedom: In Pahlavaneti, there are no kings. The Princes pay tribute and obey commands passed down from the Shirayan Emperor per their peace treaty. Pahlavaneti bridges this region of the continent with those to the south and west and has a corresponding level of cosmopolitanism. Parents across the region send their children to Pahlavaneti schools, where they learn from millennia-old literary traditions inside pastel-colored spires, clustered within the forests that make up most of the country. Coastal rainfall ensures a mild, humid climate year-round.
Obalar Nations: The massive, flat steppe provides little chance for strict delineation between kingdoms, hence the plural name. Cyan cities gem the alpine meadows, full of travelers. Outside of them are camps numerous enough to darken the entire plain. Their trades are as one would expect–cavalry, mercenaries, yes, but also porcelain tiles, brooches, specialty harnesses, and other applied arts. The Obalar are notorious for their practicality and flexibility, and the philosophy that given time and will, anyone can rise from their station to one of prestige and power.
Batar Republics: A chain of fiercely independent peoples high in the Lajvard Mountains, the ethnic groups of Batar have worked together to defend themselves from outside aggressors. A code of honor, egalitarianism, and hospitality connects them to each other and the numerous diasporas. When directed outward, this code has created philosophers, sociologists, and political leaders. For every sheath is a horsewhip. For every mosaic of flying arrows are hand-woven jackets to stave off the mountain cold. This provides a counterpoint to the narrative that all Batar has to offer are soldiers.
Karani Pentapolis: The Karani are ephemeral as the desert sands they call home. The five cities are their concessions to a sedentary lifestyle, towering triumphs of sandstone that blend in with the landscape. Only the sophisticated engineering gives it away; the Karani are known for their knowledge of local springs, which are diverted into their cities and protected through a series of codes only the builders know. The protectiveness isn’t unwarranted; the cities are wealthy from trade. Frankincense and myrrh waft through the streets.
Vibhavada Empire: The low, marshy river valley of Vibhavada has given rise to a civilization nearly as old as Nayir. Buildings are built atop ruins and atop ruins again. Industrialization and urbanization progress at a breakneck speed, though some traditional arts remain: ivory carving, sericulture, and calligraphy. The current dynasty is characterized by Shirayan influences, with floral textiles and paintings of court scenes emerging as the new artistic standard.
Uduravana Union: The Union has a centralized, democratic structure born from a revolution against Vibhavada four hundred years ago. Precious gems, sugar, and tea flow out from Uduravana along the trade routes of the northern seas, with imported goods flowing in through the complex system of canals. These are then distributed evenly between the urban, rural, and temple cores. It is the control over water that powers the Uduravana civilization, filling reservoirs and specialized bathhouses and watering leagues-wide sugarcane gardens, allowing their cities to become some of the most populous in the world.
County of Taramis: Hundreds of years ago on the opposite continent, Taramis was founded by devotees to a thunder god. They noted that unusually strong storms often blew onto the coast from the Selat Sea to the east, and decided to place their abbey there. The city grew outward from this abbey and now hosts fisheries, dairies, a small marina, and endless fields of lavender. Much of the population comes and goes with the seasons. The climate and calm atmosphere attract tourists and people seeking rest and healing by the seaside.