Bukran

Bukran
Capital	Dukno
Ruler	Silk Order
Government	Military rule
Demonym	Bukrani
Adjective	Bukrani
Languages	Timakal, Ysoki, Sangiran, Common
Religions	Animism; battle-totems

Bukran (pronounced BUUK-rahn) is a ratfolk-ruled nation north of the Gulf of Timakal. Located on the frontier of the Sangiran Empire before its collapse, the ratfolk tribes the empire formerly fought against are now one of the few beacons of stability in the region, as rigid and harsh as their society can be.

Geography, flora, and fauna

Straddling both the mountains of the Shields and the tropical forests below, the climate and ecology of Bukran varies greatly. The terrain of the northern reaches is rough and craggy with a great deal of seasonality, including even snow in the highest of elevations. Below them to the south is a land of tropical forests, grasslands, and swamps, which are hot and humid for the majority of the year. Monsoons seasonally make landfall in this region.

Though quite a few rivers flow south from the mountains, the largest and most significant of these is the Siltstream, named for its constantly murky appearance.

History

Ratfolk migrations

The lands south of the Shields have long been home to sizable ratfolk populations, yet the southernmost reaches near Bukran were historically on the margins of their territory. As Tarkuus expanded inland over thousands of years, more and more ratfolk found themselves first forced into the mountains and later pushed south and east away from the undead empire. Many congregated in what is now Bukran.

Arrival of the Sangiran Empire

As the Sangiran Empire expanded north out of Kea Racha, it looked to the lands around the Gulf of Timakal. While most imperial settlement was concentrated in the south, in modern-day Vaothan, the empire also established outposts around the northern shores of the gulf as well. By Y7600^* a handful of frontier fortresses and ports dotted the lands on either side of the mouth of the Siltstream.

The arrival of imperial forces and citizens was not unnoticed by the ratfolk of the mountains, whose trepidation of the new arrivals soon quickly way to opportunism. Organized raids by ratfolk forces soon began against the coasts. These would last, off and on, for centuries, forcing the Sangiran Empire to devote significant parts of its military strength to defend these far-flung outposts. Peace treaties rarely lasted, as once the stipulated tributes paid by the empire stopped the ratfolk would simply resume their raids once again.

Collapse of imperial control

When Sangiran began to collapse in the early ninety seventh century, Bukran was the first territory of the empire to fall. Disorganized and lacking in clear orders, many Sangiran commanders simply pulled their troops back to the mainland, where other priorities meant they never returned north. The ratfolk tribes quickly overran the few imperial defenders who remained.

Rise of the Silk Order

See also: Silk Order

By Y9700^*, a new force had risen in Bukran, this time led by the ratfolk themselves. Born out of a tribe that had discarded their own name, the Silk Order brought with them a new ideology fusing their unique religious practices with a commandment to subjugate what they viewed as outsiders in their lands. They quickly united most of the tribes of the mountains, incorporating old tribal leaders into their ranks as they went, before sweeping south into the lowlands and conquering the Sangiran settlements.

Demographics

The population of Bukran is roughly evenly split between ratfolk, who primarily live in the north, and the descendants of Sangiran colonists in the south. These settlers are largely human, though half-elves and others are included in their number as well.

Culture

Religion

Traditionally animistic, today the ratfolk of Bukran worship a unique faith that serves as both religion and part of the core political ideology of the Silk Order. Each regiment of their military constructs a battle-totem in a long and elaborate ritual, generally out of carved wood and bone. Through this ritual they bind a spirit to the totem who then becomes the primary subject of their veneration. Topped with flags bearing the symbols of their regiment, the battle-totem is then carried into combat, where it is believed to collect the strength of foes defeated in battle. The totems are quite large and often require four or more individuals to carry. Conflicts between the ratfolk center heavily around the capture or destruction of the battle-totem of one's opponent, as doing so is a certain way to break their morale.

Outside of the military, animistic beliefs still hold, generally focusing on the worship of mountain and stone spirits. In the southern settlements, worship of the Eternal Suzerain dissipated upon their last death, and today most have likewise adapted animistic practices or else follow one of the modern post-Suzerain religions like the Weaver of Eighty Thousand Threads.

Society

Society in Bukran is extremely structured and hierarchical. Military rank grants civilian privileges and status as well, or more correctly all who never served in the military are considered of a lower rung on the social ladder than those who did. Disputes are usually arbitrated by the highest ranked individual involved. Outside of joining a local regiment, there are few opportunities for social advancement. Tribal structures still exist but have been intentionally weakened and de-emphasized by the Silk Order.

Bukrani engineers have long had a reputation that extended far beyond their lands. So renowned are they as masters of incorporating alchemical weapons into their artillery that even as the Sangiran Empire fought against the tribes it sought to recruit these engineers for its own military. Over the centuries some left for Kea Racha, while others found themselves farther afield, including in the Blacksand Archipelago where the pirate factions were equally interested in their skills.

As with nearby Matarsah, apart from the coastal colonies and outposts Bukran was never under the meaningful influence of Sangiran culture. As a result the ratfolk's traditions from prior the influence of the empire remain largely intact, or at least changed by their own volition.

Languages

Timakal, Ysoki, Sangiran, and Common are all spoken in Bukran.

Architecture and urbanization

In the north, the ratfolk live in well-fortified mountain strongholds and warrens, with tall outer stone walls protecting the homes within. These are often located near mountain peaks or otherwise in local high points, allowing for easy visibility of any approaching threats. Most buildings are circular with conical roofs , clustered in close proximity to each other.

The coastal settlements, meanwhile, are built in traditional Kea Rachan styles.

Fashion

Bukrani ratfolk wear a unique form of plate armor, rare elsewhere around the Three Great Seas. As they rise through the ranks of their military, this armor becomes more and more elaborate and silk-laden. It is common to take pieces or decoration from the armor of defeated foes, affixing them to one's own.

Government

The rigidly-hierarchical Silk Order rules Bukran under a strict code of laws. As both military and political leaders, they hold sway over all aspects of life in the region and tolerate little dissent. The old tribes of the ratfolk still exist, yet all now fall under the control of the Silk Order, their chieftains reduced to commanders within the Order's ranks. Though multiple rebellious tribes have been dissolved and the survivors scattered across the various regiments of the Order, by and large the Order's generals prefer not to take this approach, as they continue to rely heavily on tribal and kinship ties to govern in the more remote reaches of their lands.

Ranks within the Order carry with them a great deal of prestige and personal power. Any who prove themselves through combat can join the Order, and promotion through its ranks is likewise through virtue of strength. As a result it is very common for prospective soldiers within the Order and the power-hungry alike to constantly seek sources of conflict and strife to demonstrate their prowess.

With the aid of their garrisons, ratfolk commanders rule the coastal cities and villages.

Economy

The ratfolk of the mountains rely heavily on exorbitant tribute from the lowlands and coasts, which they extract through ever-present threats of force, using their garrisons to collect payment that is then carried north in well-defended caravans. The non-ratfolk population of Bukran, meanwhile, make their living through farming, fishing, and cottage industries - resources from all are taken by their northern overlords. Trade connections to Kea Racha and other former imperial settlements around the Gulf of Timakal still exist, but are far less active than when Sangiran still held sway in the area.