Ikela

A nation of humans and kalasaa (primarily) located near the north-west corner of Soefra. Despite being in the Great Rift, it maintains a level of civilization not common in that place.

Major Cities & Geography

Ikela Cities, ca 250 AC

Ikela has twin capitals: Ikela City and Ikel'Mer.

Other major cities (in descending order of size):

• Mirzapur: one of the oldest human settlements in Soefra.
• Varanasi: Port city and cosmopolitan rival to Mirzapur.
• Rewa
• Jhansi: Major grain area.
• Calabar: Gateway to the Moonshell Treaty Lands, known for being friendly to dragons.
  • Pasona: small village near the north border.
• Bayannur: Dwarven clanhold, allied but not assimilated.
• Sheopur: Gateway to the unclaimed lands to the south.
• Surat: Newest of the major cities, fighting for recognition.
• Jaora: Considered somewhat cursed by the memory of the ancient evil dragon Kozhun, who made his lair nearby.

History

See Ikela History for the full overview. Main events

• Founded ~1100 years ago when Noefran settlers landed near present-day Mirzapur.
• Contact with the north was lost during the War of Souls, leading to decay of civilization
• ~600 years ago, Kingdom of Mirzapur was founded.
• ~100 years later, the Dragon Tyrant Kozhun arrived and conquered
• After 350 years of slavery (about 150 years ago), Kozhun was defeated and destroyed.
• King Ikel I, in conjunction with kalasaa forces from Ikel'Mer, founded the modern Ikelan state in 135 AC.
• Ship Folk of the Southern Expeditionary Fleet arrive, conquer northern cities in 229 AC
• In 235 AC, the Treaty of Kal'Mer is signed, ending the war with the Ship Folk
• In 247 AC, a mysterious event called the Reweaving alters memories and histories. Written records now state multiple contradictory ideas. Reports of strange creatures, places, and peoples grow, especially outside the borders.

Neighbors

• To the NW lie the Moonshell Treaty Lands, the domain of the Moonshell Flight of dragons, and traditional allies of Ikela, although that relationship has weakened in recent years.
• NE, dominating the north side of the Bay of Homecoming (name needs work) is the Southern Expeditionary Fleet and the conquered cities of (name), (name), and (name).
• Directly east is the nation of Merais, a reclusive state with one underwater city of Merais (home to kalasaa and mkhulu) and one surface port city, Fatehpur, home to a mix of people. One of the few nations in the region friendly to the arcane arts.
• To the south are the expansive Colony Lands, where a mix of freeholding villagers, large sharecropped plantations, native tribes, and treasure seekers hold sway.
• SW of Surat lie the lands of the Nightmare Scar, a particularly unfriendly and tenacious group. Oddly, these are a mix of human and zandolit tribes, both of whom claim to be the original holders of that name, yet both cooperating.
• Further into the mountains to the east is Clan Sunud, another dwarven clan.

Government

Ikela is an nominally-monarchic oligarchy, with the surface controlled by the 8 First Families (said to be descendants of the heroes that defeated Kozhun). The Royal Family, headed by King Ikel XIV, rules from the Coral Throne in Ikela City and officially rules over the surrounding area. Each of the other major cities other than Bayannur is the home of one of the First Families, who take their name from the city. Generally, the First Families are the major landowners for their seat of power and the surrounding villages, making their money off of rent. Several, especially those of Surat, Sheopur, and Jhansi, have significant investments in the Colonies. Together with the four Sea Families (their counterparts under the waves), they decide policy for the nation with the king acting as first among equals.

The branch families and assorted nobles, including life-title holders, make up the Second Families, of which there are many. They own and operate much of the lands outside the major cities, paying tribute and fealty to the First Family of the region.

While the Families have much power, they do not hold the criminal judicial power. That is allocated to the Judges, who are chosen out from the people (a mix of commoners and nobles) and form a separate class. Judges cannot own property, but are almost inviolate and their decisions can only be appealed to the full council of the First Families.

Titles

• Majaraja -- head of the Royal Family, occupant of the Coral Throne. Addressed as "Most Serene Highness".
• Raja -- head of any of the other First Families, rulers of the major cities. Addressed as "Highness".
• Prince/Princess -- members of the First Families. Addressed as "Your Grace".
• Rao -- Head of one of the Second Families or life-title holder in their own name. Addressed as "Your Excellency."
• Lord -- Members of the Second Families or spouse of a life-title holder. Addressed as "Sir" or "Madam".

Economy

Ikela is mostly self-sufficient (lacking many neighbors to trade with), although trade with the dwarven communities and with Merais is fairly strong. Fishing in the bay and in the rivers, agriculture (the main staple grain is rice) are the dominant occupations for commoners. Exotic goods such as spices, dyes, and silks are produced primarily in the south and in the Colonies; metal goods flow from the mountains to the east and west. Some trade happens with the Ship Folk, although that's less common.

Commoners either have free-hold on small pieces of land (much more common toward the fringes of the nation) or are sharecroppers and renters on the big plats of land owned by the Families. Even free-holders have to pay taxes (usually in-kind) to the local nobility, as well as provide labor for road maintenance and militia duties. Slavery is outlawed and commoners do have rights of appeal even against nobles. Generally, taxes are held fairly low, although some exceptions exist.

Society and Culture

Ikela is a stratified society, with the First Families at the head, followed by the Second Families, the great merchant houses, the independent crafters, and then the common folk. Below them are the "tribals" from outside the lands or from the Colonies. While the nobility is relatively race conscious (with humans ~ kalasaa > dwarves > dragon-touched ~ sher'ka >> zandolit), that prejudice wanes quickly as you go down the social ladder. Gender is fairly egalitarian. Inheritance does not use primogeniture; land, in particular, is held in common by the entire Family, overseen by the head of the family (who is chosen differently in each family). For the First Families, the family proper only includes the current head, his or her siblings, and his children. Nephews and nieces of the head, born after a head is chosen in a generation, take their non-Family parent's family name. Those born while the previous head is still alive have their names formally changed on handover. This makes genealogy...interesting.

Education is widespread, with most people (outside the tribes) able to read and write Ikelan, which is a relative of Old Imperial (like Common), although heavily influenced by the native tongues and with substantial drift from the northern languages. It is written in the same alphabet as Old Imperial. Several major schools and universities exist, with Mirzapor and Varanasi having the largest and most notable. The Royal University of Mirzapor is considered more prestigious and exclusive, as well as more hidebound, catering to the Families, while the Sea-Sky School of Varanasi is more accepting of outside ideas. It operates in conjunction with the Sea-Song Academy, the school mentioned below.

Attitude toward magic

Ikela is mildly suspicious of arcane magic, especially wizardry. Sorcerers of more elemental or divine bloodlines are less suspicious. Dragon-blooded sorcerers are most common in Calabar. Divine magics are relatively common, especially in the older lands near the bay but mostly low power. As you move away from the bay, more primal magics become more common, as do elemental powers. Harmonic magic is relatively common throughout, with a famous school founded by a notable bard in Varanasi, catering both to harmonic magic users as well as the weird and different of every variety.

Religion

Ikelan religion is a mix of worship of the Congregation (especially Selesurala in her aspect as Ruler of Oceans) and veneration of kami and minor ascended heroes. There is no state religion, although priests and priestesses are generally drawn from the Second Families, while ranking priests of any major city are generally part of the local First Family by blood or adoption. In addition, the Listeners are a conservative organization of kami-servants and primal practitioners spread throughout the land. They generally "speak for the land" and push back against expansion and development.