Malthuran Empire
From World of Kralis
| Regional Information | |
| Population: | 350,000 (90% Junde, 5% Isande, 5% other) |
|---|---|
| Capital: | None |
| Government: | Tribal |
| Major Religions: | Hadak, Llir, and Akiri |
| Imports/Exports: | Blankets, Pottery, Hides, Horses |
Situated in the central portion of Western Realms, the Malthuran Empire is dominated by the vast Jordea Shaar. The whole of the region is covered in tall grasses, low rolling hills and very few trees. It is bordered on the north by Solthania, the south by the Lands of Pal Hurr and on the east and west by the mountain regions of Minthirath and Bayreesh. In the center of the region lays a vast, putrid swamp and the ancient ruins of the city of Kha Ersti. While it is named the Malthuran Empire, it mostly a collection of nomadic tribes that lay claim over specific areas of the region. Yest these tribes, when faced with external threats have risen beyond their petty internal wars to form a strong alliance of a grand army that has resisted change and overthrow for thousands of years.
Often referred to as an endless waste it is primarily steppe land: flat, dry grassland. It is incredibly hot in the summer, and often too cold in the winter. It is infertile for planting crops but is a good place to raise wild horses, sheep, ox, yak, and other such creatures. The region has only a small handful of permanent settlements that tend to be clustered around a fresh lake.
While dominated in its center by the vast, treeless swamp and home to the ruined city of Kha Ersti, it is home to several nomadic tribes and barbarians. They live in tents and range fro hundreds of miles in their seasonal movements.
The land has shaped the people of this steppe. They dwell in a land that is too poor to support large scale cities, and with the ancient myths and legends of the downfall of Kha Ersti, very few desire to live in large cities or even towns. The nomads of the steppe have easily adopted a roving life, moving from one area to the another, one lake to another. This in time has made the people of the steppe a hard and tough bunch.
Each nomad tribe has defined its boundaries, invisible boundaries that each tribe is well aware of, and is well aware of not over-extending its reach lest war between tribes occurs. This has happened only twice in the history of Malthuran. One lead to a vast horde of roving barbarians falling upon the Lands of Pal Hurr and the Haarn Empire as well as into Solthania and the Lands of Talica.
While most outsiders view the people of the steppe as a single people, this is far from the truth. The barbarians, like in other parts of Kralis, are divided into many, very different tribes with its own customs, alliances and hatreds.
At the center of the nomads life is the kiresh, it is a round domed tent with straight walls made from a trellis frame of slats that are tied together with thongs, generally these are leather, but many use rope. These frames are then covered with long, thick rugs and hides. These tents or huts are incredibly strong able to hold up as many as 10 men with ease. Each kiresh is home to an entire single family, that often includes not only close family, but also grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles, and guests. Each kiresh can hold up to 10-15 individuals without feeling to crowded.
The nomads of Malthuran are a very colorful people. Long mustaches and beards are common on men, who also keep their hair short or the shave their heads except for a tail knot that they braid into a long piece. The men often dress in in trousers made of leather or wool and are loose and baggy. They also wear a long tunic that extends below the knee and soft leather boots. Women tend to wear similar clothing but are more colorful and are decorated in bright stripes, embroidery or furs. Both sexes wear hats from a tall, pointed cap with flaps, to a bowl shaped hat.
While for the most part each tribe has it various unique social customs, they all tend to follow a similar tribal organization. The organization is like a small fiefdom or ordu, at the head of the ordu is the khan who rules over the tribe and its ruling class. Each ordu is comprised of six to eight families and a tribe is made up of several ordu. Ordinarily, the khan of an ordu rules only over their specific ordu only. However, every ordu is somehow linked with every other ordu in a tribe which are made up of blood ties, marriages and obligations. Each of these connections help to ensure peace, harmony and protection from others. The title of khan is hereditary, passing from father to son. In very rare occasions has the title khan passed from father to daughter, whom are seen as equals by the other khans.
