Kintaka (pronounced kin-TAH-kah) is a nation governed by a pre-Sangiran dynasty who have reasserted their rule after being reduced to a symbolic role under the Empire. Though a largely pacifistic society, the nation maintains a large standing military that has a reputation for callous efficiency on the few occasions they are called to fight. Other Kea Rachan nations generally respect Kintaka's neutrality and position as mediators.
Geography, flora, and fauna
Bordered by the imposing mountains of the Suzerain's Scales to the west and the Mhasmuth Ocean to the east, Kintaka is geographically somewhat isolated from the rest of Kea Racha, a factor that has long served well in its defense. Tropical forests, turning into rainforest towards the south closer to the Bay of Bianti, cover much of the landscape. In these rugged and often mountainous forests can be found many waterfalls, including some of truly massive heights.
While countless rivers run through Kinaka, the two largest are the Aao River and the Winding River. The Aao begins in the Suzerain's Scales in central Kintaka before flowing east and somewhat north into the Mhasmuth Ocean, while the Winding River charts an unusual path almost parallel to the Scales as it makes its way south into the Bay of Bianti.
Located not far south of the equator, Kintaka is hot year-round. There is little seasonal variation in temperature, though the rains of the summer monsoon season often bring with them cooler winds.
History
Early Kintaka
Of all the nations of Kea Racha, Kintaka was perhaps the first to unify in a manner that resembles its present self. Unlike many other regions of the island, the people of Kintaka were from their early days governed not by disparate city-states or dragons or other fragmentary rulers, but by the monarchs of the An dynasty, who conquered outwards from their early stronghold of River's Eye, where many of their ancient ancestral tombs still rest. Around this dynasty formed the nation of Kintaka in the early fifth millennium - the official date recorded by court scribes is the ninth day of Y4230* - which would last until its absorption into the growing Sangiran Empire many centuries later.
Accession to the Empire
By the late sixth millennium the Eternal Suzerain had set their sights north past the Scales, and imperial forces began to cross the mountains into the Kintakan borderlands. There, however, they found far more resistance than they had encountered elsewhere, even in Lelwani, as Kintakan soldiers fought fiercely against the invaders. After nearly two centuries of sporadic conflict, brief fits of violence interspersed with long periods of calm, the Suzerain had enough, and approached the Kintakan monarch, Queen Shei, with an offer of peace. Under the terms of the Suzerain's offer Kintaka would join the Empire yet the An dynasty would remain, without all their former powers yet far more than figureheads. The queen, likewise tired of the war that had begun before she was born, accepted.
The prowess and expertise of the professional Kintakan soldiers was not allowed to languish under the Empire. They were re-tasked with building a new army, the Suzerain's army, to protect the people of the Empire and expand the dragon-god's grasp throughout Kea Racha and across the sea. When the first imperial forces stepped onto the lands around the Gulf of Timakal decades later, it was Kintakan soldiers under the command of Kintakan officers that first disembarked, and over the ensuing centuries they would continue to take the lead in defense of the Empire.
Post-Suzerain Kintaka
The most recent death of the Eternal Suzerain in Y9606* affected Kintakan politics and governance remarkably little. The An dynasty had been permitted to retain the throne of the province with many, if not all, of their previous powers and duties, and it did not take long for them to assume the rest. Many of the imperial forces abroad returned home to Kintaka, where they shored up the renewed independence of the monarchy against the Divine Inheritors of New Era.
Like the rest of the Sangiran Empire, however, the social fabric of Kintaka was still torn, even if it remained politically stable. The people of the nation had, as with others, come to worship the Eternal Suzerain as their leading deity, and with their death they were shaken - even today, centuries later, many Kintakans still search for religious meaning after the departure of their divine guide of the past millennia.
Demographics
The population of Kintaka is primarily humans, elves, half-elves, kobolds, and gnomes. Individuals of other ancestries, such as nagaji, ratfolk, and dragons can be found in Kintaka as well, a result of widespread movement through the provinces of the Empire.
Culture
Religion
For millennia followers of the Eternal Suzerain, today the people of Kintaka have largely returned to the ancestor worship that characterized their religious life prior to their accession to the Empire. Many mix this with a form of animism centering around mountain and river spirits, or more precisely around flowing water. Post-Suzerain faiths are not unknown in the region - the Weaver of Eighty Thousand Threads and the Crowned One being two prominent examples - but they have not taken root quite as much as they have in many other regions of Kea Racha.
Society
While long renowned as the finest soldiers of Kea Racha and the Sangiran Empire, Kintakan culture is fundamentally pacifistic, abhorring violence and avoiding it if at all possible. Their ancient legends and tales are full of heroic figures who attempted to reason with, circumvent, or outwit foes rather than face them directly, largely successfully, but on the occasions in which they were forced into a fight they were sure to end it. It is this outlook and approach that in the past and present characterizes the Kintakan approach to their enemies and rivals. At both the level of the individual and the nation, Kintakans seek to avoid conflict, yet if driven into it against their desires will pursue victory with whatever means is necessary, a trait that was highly valued by the Suzerain.
Not only Kintakan soldiers and adventurers but also many common people are martially well-trained, such that they can defend themselves should the need arise.
Patience is an important trait to the people of Kintaka, instilled from a young age, as they have seen challenges come and go with no action necessary but to wait.
Languages
Sangiran, Timakal, and Common are the most-spoken languages in Kintaka, but they are joined by many others, ancestral and regional alike.
Writing
Scribes under the employ of the Kintakan monarchy have been instrumental in collecting and preserving the nation's history. These scribes have dutifully recorded all events since the earliest days of Kintaka in immense collections of tomes that are kept under constant guard in the nation's palaces. These books are valuable not only to the people of Kintaka but also to outside historians, as they are a critical source of information of with which to cross-reference accounts from across the world, for example of meteors or other celestial events recorded in many places simultaneously. Yet they are beautiful as well as practical, as these books are all illustrated in incredible detail, an effort that may take years beyond what is required to simply write their contents.
Food and cuisine
Kintakan cuisine is characterized by very distinct flavors that might at first seem clashing but which are carefully combined into something that works well together. Most dishes are eaten with rice in order to make the often strong flavors more mild.
Names
It is not unusual, and is in fact expected, for Kintakans to change their names multiple times over the course of their lives. While family names are almost always kept in such a transition, given names may be discarded for any number of reasons, ranging from the practical to the spiritual. An individual may choose to change their name upon experiencing a life-changing event or when moving to a new community - to either fit in or stand out - or simply because they feel their previous name no longer suits them. In such a circumstance use of their old name ceases immediately. As this could result in two acquaintances no longer knowing what to call each other, Kintakan greetings almost always include mentions of names, even amongst family or those who have long been friends.
Government
See also: House An
Kintaka is a hereditary monarchy ruled by the An dynasty, with the throne currently held by Queen Sedara. Their thousands of years on the throne is a source of great pride - and legitimacy - and is backed by the extensive records kept by court scribes of each monarch and the events during their reign, housed in the dynasty's ancestral crypt-complex in River's Eye. Below the monarch governance of Kintaka is largely bureaucratic, with countless administrators appointed to rule cities, villages, and manage specific aspects of the kingdom.
The monarch of Kintaka and their diplomats are widely respected in Kea Racha as mediators, and are permitted to travel freely throughout other nations, as their presence is known to bring calm to feuding parties and warring lands.