Tamkaranu (pronounced tahm-kah-RAH-noo) is a republic on the eastern coast of the Chaska Sea. Inheritors of a long history of seafaring traditions, the people of Tamkaranu still look to the waves, and the nation thrives off its merchants, colonists, and navigators throughout the Chaska.
Geography, flora, and fauna
Tamkaranu stretches along the eastern coast of the Chaska Sea. Though a largely coastal nation, Tamkaranu also reaches into the arid highlands of the Kurzag Mountains that separates the temperate coast from the dry inland of the Taizzan Expanse. The area is warm but dry most of the year, with a cooler and wetter winter.
Once the domain of wide-ranging cedar forests for which the region is famous, millennia of use has seen these forests reduced greatly, largely replaced with farmland or pastureland. Once the economic centerpiece of Tamkaranu, these trees still hold great cultural significance. Certain cedar groves also serve as homes to a unique type of arboreal that closely resembles these trees.
Large herds of goats roam the highlands, well suited to the arid landscape and protected from beasts by attentive shepherds.
A small number of blue dragons reside on the eastern side of the Kurzag Mountains. At higher elevations the mountains feature snow-capped peaks that feed seasonal waterfalls, some of which fall for spectacular heights.
History
City-state period - to Y8000* (approx)
For most of its history Tamkaranu was a loose coalition of maritime city-states, not truly united but rather tied together by an ever-shifting patchwork of alliance, rivalries, and agreements. Like the surrounding Eastern Chaskan city-states, those of Tamkaranu were frequently the subject of both Khapeshan and Ishtaran ambitions, though their influence in trade meant it was typically more lucrative for foreign powers to foster mercantile relationships with Tamkaranu rather than engage in conquest.
Throughout this time Tamkaranu seafarers journeyed throughout the Chaska Sea, establishing trading posts and colonies as they did so. While many were founded in Thadria and in Hellea to trade with the existing populations there, the majority of their new towns and ports were settled on the southern and western coasts of the Chaska. For many centuries these prospered as the trade networks between them and Tamkaranu grew. Some, particularly those on the island of Nivaria at the gates of the Chaska, eventually grew to the point that they were equally as influential as the city-states of their homeland in the east, able to send forth their own merchants and navies across the seas.
Belet-Shuthnir and the Eastern Crusade - Y8031* to Y8052*
See also: Eastern Crusade
In Y8031*, the powerful necromancer Belet-Shuthnir took control of Anaharath, a city north of Tamkaranu. After consolidating power, she began an unholy war against the other polities in the region, quickly conquering south to Aradet and Gath Padalla, north up to the River Qes, and east to the frontier of the Arrajan Wilds. The city-states of Tamkaranu, long accustomed to peaceful trade rather than war, were completely unprepared for such an assault and quickly fell to Belet-Shuthnir's undead armies.
After years of study and terrible deeds, in Y8040* Belet-Shuthnir succeeded in her goal of attaining lichdom. Powers around the Chaska began to take notice and draft plans to defeat the new evil. The Eastern Crusade began in Y8046* as a direct result, a coalition between Thadrian and Hellean states alongside a variety of religious orders. Though slow and extremely costly, the crusaders were eventually successful in pushing the necromancer back to her capital in Anaharath. In the final battle outside the city in Y8052*, half the remaining allied crusader force was flash-petrified, where they remain outside of the city today at the Field of the Victorious. With her phylactery destroyed and scattered, the body of Belet-Shuthnir was entombed and warded deep below Anaharath to seal it away, where she remains today. Devastated by almost fifteen years of war, Tamkaranu took decades to fully recover from the crusade.
Kingdom period - Y8052* to Y9360*
Out of the ruins of Tamkaranu, the Kingdom of Tirione was formed in Y8052*, its founding dynasty headed by one of the most renowned of the crusaders. Initially including just the cities of Nindara and Karka as well as their outlying areas, soon through both conquest and alliance Tirione encompassed the entire territory of modern state of Tirione as well as Sarepta and Rusadir. The kingdom took its name from the language of its founders from eastern Thadria, who intentionally sought to sever the region from its historical roots.
With such a drastic change in their homeland, many of the Tamkaranu settlements across the Chaska Sea began to look in other directions or more strongly assert their independence. Most became part of the patchwork of the Western Coast, absorbing waves of new colonists from elsewhere, while those on Nivaria instead formed their own independent nation of Korymbos. By and large the monarchs of Tirione made little effort to stop this, as they were far more interested in consolidating control in the eastern Chaska than in maintaining the vast web of trade networks to faraway towns and ports. Tirionite merchants still plied the waves, but their influence and reach was vastly reduced.
The kingdom persevered for almost a millennia and a half before collapsing in Y9360*. The cyclical droughts in the lands along the eastern Chaskan coast, historically weathered by the smaller communities of the region, had become the kingdom's responsibility to mitigate as the cities centralized and grew greatly in population. Years of mismanagement following the start of particularly severe drought in Y9348* caused increasing unrest in Tirione, as crops failed and large segments of the populace had little to eat. Protests turned to violence, as groups of discontent commoners seized grain from storehouses and the small professional military of the kingdom refused to intervene. Across Tirione monarchist city leaders were removed from power in a series of events known as the Victory of the Empty Stomachs. By early Y9360* the drought had abated, but so had the power of the monarchy. A new republic was declared later in the year, re-adopting the name Tamkaranu in honor of its history.
Republican period - Y9360* to present
Loosed of the monarchy, Tamkaranu once again began to turn to the sea, seeking to reestablish its position as the foremost maritime mercantile power of the Chaska. Though its previous colonies had moved on in the ensuing centuries and gone their own way, new ones were established, ranging from large-scale efforts between trade coalitions, like Ashnan and Ellu, to small, largely independent ports.
Demographics
Tamkaranu is primarily human, with sizable dwarven, half-elf, and half-orc minorities. There is also an unusually large oread population. Due to the importance of Tamkaranu's ports for trade within the Chaska, visitors and permanent inhabitants of almost all ancestries can be found as well.
Culture
Religion
The inhabitants of Tamkaranu mostly follow the Chaskan pantheon, with a particularly strong focus on Hasamel and Usumu. Grand temples to the two gods exist in the city of Nindara, and smaller temples to both, as well as to their peers, are found throughout the country. The large merchant class of Tamkaranu is particularly devoted to Hasamel, following the god’s tenets in hopes of greater rewards and business opportunities. Meanwhile, Usumu is worshiped by those that sail from Tamkaranu, who pray to the deity for safe travels. Small shrines to foreign deities, particularly those of the Khapeshan and Hellean pantheons, can be found in Tamkaranu cities as well, visited primarily but not exclusively by travelers from other lands.
Many believe Tamkaranu to be the first place where the Chaskan pantheon was worshiped, based on the age of the many ancient temples and ritual sites that can be found in the foothills of the Kurzag Mountains.
Society
Through millennia of contact with faraway places Tamkaranu has become a strongly multicultural nation. The culture and traditions of the region inherit from those of the eastern Chaskan coast, of course, but also take influence from those of Khapesh, Hellea, Thadria, and Amshan. While most of this cultural diffusion is the result of Tamkaranu's maritime trade, it is not the sole source. During the nation's period as a kingdom, crusaders from both Thadria and Hellea remained in the region after the necromancer threat was vanquished, becoming a significant part of Tamkaranu's upper classes. Over the centuries their traditions and practices became less distinct from others in Tamkaranu, as a result of cultural shifts in both directions - not only did the new upper classes adopt aspects of the culture of the Tamkaranu majority, but so to did the rest of Tamkaranu draw influence from the crusader transplants. This legacy can be seen in many parts of Tamkaranu culture, but especially clearly in personal and family names. Names drawn from old Telan origins are widespread in Tamkaranu, often bearing a strong resemblance to Ishtaran names, as are those that are clearly Thadrian.
Tamkaranu has relatively high levels of population growth, partially as a result of immigration from other parts of the world, but at the same time a steady stream of people leave for the colonies. By and large, however, those that depart are the lower classes who are in search of better employment and living conditions elsewhere, while those who arrive are mostly wealthier merchants or the like.
The cities of Tamkaranu maintain only a large enough military to serve as local guards. The nation as a whole is broadly uninterested in war against its neighbors, the many city-states of the eastern Chaska, preferring to grow and wield their strength in mercantile form instead.
Traditions
The culture of Tamkaranu holds the native cedar forests in great esteem. Many of the oldest tales and legends in Tamkaranu folklore take place in the cedar groves, and the trees are viewed almost with reverence. Despite this, today the forests are a pale shadow of their former extant, having been cut down for material and profit. Today much of the remaining forests are protected by the Libani Order of druids, who tend to the remaining ancient groves, encourage new growth, and protect the trees from those who wish to cut them down.
Races are especially common sporting activities in Tamkaranu. Using chariots pulled by horses or more exotic creatures, races are team events - betting is widespread, especially if one has a preferred team. Teams are often sponsored as well, usually by wealthy individuals, cities, or guilds. Sometimes these bets and sponsorships result in fans (or teams themselves) sabotaging other teams in various ways - though completely against the rules of the sport, this behavior is widespread regardless. Winning a race not only brings wealth but also a great deal of prestige.
Seafaring
The people of Tamkaranu have a very long maritime tradition as some of the first to chart the Chaska Sea. They are still renowned as some of the finest sailors and navigators of the Three Great Seas, with ships and crews hailing from the nation found far and wide across the Chaska, Kilche, Kirnashal, and Phiora. These ships, typically galleys like biremes or triremes, are easily recognizable by their dolphin-headed prows honoring the goddess Usumu.
Languages
Though Telan and its dialects are native to the region, and nearly all inhabitants of Tamkaranu are fluent in it, the country is very multilingual, an inevitable result of being the nexus of trade through the Chaska. Usage of Common is very prevalent to bridge language gaps, though travelers through the streets of Tamkaranu will encounter people speaking in all manner of tongues, finding shared languages where possible. Signs in the cities of Tamkaranu are frequently written in multiple languages - nearly always Telan and Common, with other languages depending on the particular location.
Occupations
Tamkaranu has an outsized merchant class, who make their living shipping and trading all across the seas. The inhabitants of most cities work as laborers of some description, particularly as longshoremen. A significant bloc of craftspeople also make their living supporting the city populations and visitors. In the interior, traditional agricultural roles like farmers and shepherds remain common. The city of Karka is renowned for its apothecaries and those who run them, with many ships stopping by this city specifically to pay these shops a visit.
The economy of Tamkaranu is strongly influenced by its guilds, associations of professions that wield significant influence in setting prices, availability of goods and services, and so on. Merchant guilds in the form of trade coalitions are especially powerful in Tamkaranu. These coalitions, organizations of merchants with shared interests, are generally aligned either along geographical lines or by what they trade. They exercise sweeping authority throughout Tamkaranu, its colonies, and even in the ports of foreign nations, providing their members with mutual protection and supplying them with crucial information.
Food and cuisine
Among other crops, Tamkaranu farmers commonly grow legumes such as chickpeas and lentils, grains such as wheat and barley, and a large variety of vegetables. Eggplants, grapes, beans, tomatoes, olives, and garlic are farmed widely, as are various kinds of nuts and fruits. Goats and sheep are, by a significant margin, the most common livestock, with cattle and poultry kept to a lesser degree. Some spices and herbs are grown locally, such as anise and parsley, while many others are imported.
Tamkaranu cuisine is heavily based around fish, goat, dairy, grains, and legumes. Regardless of social status, these ingredients are available at low cost to all citizens, in large part due to state subsidies. Class distinctions arise mostly in spices and seasonings, with more expensive flavorings gracing the tables of the wealthy.
Architecture and urbanization
Tamkaranu architecture tends to favor mud brick or stone construction, usually with flat roofs made of stone, thatch, or lead. A simple yet refined architectural style similar to those used in Ishtar and Khapesh, this type of construction has been used for many centuries in the region. Travelers to Tamkaranu have remarked on the large row houses in the districts of cities inhabited by the merchant classes, often up to four stories tall with small fenced gardens in both front and back.
The population of Tamkaranu is heavily urban and primarily concentrated in the coastal cities. Inland cities have seen slow emigration towards the west for a long time as prospects for economic and social growth lessen in the interior. The rural population in particular is remarkably small and low density, to such a degree that Tamkaranu farmers do not grow nearly enough food to support the nation's population, and the state relies heavily on imported foodstuffs as a result. Many of the younger generations have given up entirely on rural life, driven by inconsistent harvests and persistent ankheg infestations.
Arts
The most distinctive characteristic of Tamkaranu music is its extensive use of harps, alongside drums, pipes, and lyres. Most Tamkaranu bards use this instrument or variants upon it. It is considered not only an instrument for the music of the upper classes but also for the common people - it is frequently heard at religious events, fancy parties, and everyday taverns alike.
The works of Tamkaranu potters are known throughout the world. Their finished goods are not only exquisitely well-made, but also artistically decorated with depictions of animals, magical creatures, and holy symbols. Tamkaranu art, not only pottery but also jewelry, glassware, and more, can be found throughout the Chaska, both in the form of items made in Tamkaranu and those by artists inspired by Tamkaranu traditions and practices. This art is inextricably tied to the commercial interests of Tamkaranu merchants, often made explicitly to appeal to trading partners across the sea.
Travel
Most travel within Tamkaranu is either by way of sea or by way of the extensive and mostly well-maintained road system of the region. Wagons can reliably travel between the major cities and towns without running into dangerous creatures or damaged stretches of road that are difficult to pass. Farther inland, the road system becomes rather more unreliable.
Magic
The Apsium Magical Institute in Harkek is one of the foremost centers of magical learning in the world, and is especially prestigious among mages around the Chaska Sea. The Institute has cemented Tamkaranu's reputation as a desirable place to live if one is interested in the magical arts.
Education
Basic levels of education are easily accessible to all in Tamkaranu, as schools are funded by the state and are free to attend. Higher levels require the attendee to pay, though large numbers of people from Tamkaranu achieve higher levels of education regardless. Basic education focuses on subjects like mathematics and literacy, while higher education emphasizes oration, history, and related topics.
Fashion
Tamkaranu clothing primarily centers around simple tunics and robes, similar in style to those of Khapesh and Ishtar. Among the common people clothing is usually sparsely decorated or ornamented, while both are far more widespread among the upper class. Most clothes are made of linen or cotton and dyed in various colors. Purple is especially popular among the upper class.
Government
After the dissolution of the monarchy, the people of Tamkaranu revived and expanded upon their ancient system of rule by elected judges. Called shufet, two of these judges are elected by each city in Tamkaranu to serve one-year terms. While these judges have expansive executive powers, they also preside over elected city-level assemblies who advise the shufets.
In this form of diarchy, any shufet can veto the actions of their peer, thus forcing them to negotiate and reach an agreement on any issue in which they hold differing views. On certain matters the shufets must defer to their assemblies, most notably on any question of military action, trade embargo, or other such diplomatic activity.
Above the shufets is the judge-council. Formed of all the shufets of each city of Tamkaranu, the judge-council is responsible for any decision that affects the nation as a whole rather than only a single city.
Tamkaranu has universal suffrage - any adult inhabitants of a city or its surrounding regions may vote, regardless of time of residency, occupation, social status, or other factors. Like most regions around the eastern Chaska, Tamkaranu has no notion of citizenship. Still, those elected to positions in the assembles or a shufets are invariably individuals of some degree of wealth, typically prominent merchants, as these positions do not confer any salary or other personal benefits.
Tamkaranu has a long and detailed legal code. Though it once varied greatly between cities, with the formation of the kingdom and then the modern republic it has become universal nation-wide. This legal code is disproportionately concerned with maritime matters, including fishing rights, the crews of ships, and fair mercantile dealing.
Economy
Across their millennia of prosperity, the cities of Tamkaranu have greatly depleted many of their local natural resources, and therefore in the modern day have turned to importing raw resources from their colonies across the sea. These are then turned by local craftspeople into a wide array of finished products to be sold in markets and bazaars across the Chaska. Tamkaranu pottery, dyes, jewelry, and clothing are particularly sought after.
Relations
Tamkaranu is one of the few surface states surrounding the Chaska to have official diplomatic relations with most of the underwater cities and kingdoms of the sea. Though many are typically rather xenophobic in nature, Tamkaranu has managed to curry enough favor with most underwater polities to at least cause them to be open to discussions. Tamkaranu uses these relationships to the advantage of its merchant fleet, frequently creating deals with powerful undersea spellcasters to ensure calm waters or to blow the fleets of its rivals off course.