Qeyterara

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Empire of Qeyterara
Qeyterara flag.png
Official language: Amharic, English
Capital: Terara Abeba
Largest Cities: Terara Abeba
Date founded: August 10, 3106 ASC

Number of citizens: 1.34 million (simulated)
Number of active citizens: 1

Independence: November 28, 6754 ASC
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Current leader: Negus Ajani
Currency: Aleti

Demonym: Qeyteraran
National animal: Lion
National fruit/food: Papaya
National drink: Tej
Nation's Total GDP: 3.5bn USD

Qeyterara is a small landlocked country located in southeastern Keltia, midway between Lake Cherusken and the Strait of Haifa. Although not politically linked, Qeyterara shares many of the attributes of the former Solomonic Empire of Attera and is a cultural successor to that nation. Qeyterarans inherited the Atran language (Amharic) and are descended from Atran/Atteran stock.

Etymology

The name Qeyterara comes from the Atran (Amharic) words "qey", meaning red, and "terara", meaning mountain. Thus the name of the country means "Red Mountain" and is a reference to the mountain which the capital of Terara Abeba is located at. The mountain has long been a symbol of the country, and the fortress of Terara Abeba has served for centuries as a safe haven against the violent bush tribes.

History

The Solomonic Empire of Attera settled much of eastern Keltia, at one time occupying nearly everything west of Lake Tulsa. This widespread dissemination of Atran culture and people dominated the landscape for several millennia. After the fall of Attera the Atran people went into sharp decline, displaced by the influx of Sino-Keltian cultures originating around Chi Nam, Kampong and others. After the fall of Attera, circa 2400 ASC, and upon the ruins of Argaath Perez, one-time capitol of the Atteran state of Argaal, the foundations of Qeyterara were laid.

Subject to raids from savage bush tribes, local inhabitants sought safety in the ruins of Argaath Perez. The city had once been a grand fortress and even in a state of extreme neglect still afforded some protection. As such the ruins became a redoubt against the bush tribes, frequented more and more by farmers and others who could not withstand the onslaught of the raiders. After several years of repeated retreats to the ruins, a farmer named Kamal took lead of the disorganized defenders and began rebuilding the ruined fortress. The rebuilt city offered permanent year-round protection, and locals flooded in to the safety it offered. Kamal styled himself Negus (King) and named his small state Qeyterara, for the red-tinged mountain that sits adjacent to the city. The city itself Kamal called Terara Abeba (Mountain Flower), as from a distance it appeared as no more than a small flower against the base of the great Mount Qey.

Over the next thirty years Kamal continued the monumental task of rebuilding Terara Abeba. The ruins of Argaath Perez had been left untended for millennia, and time and vandalism had left the stonework in extreme disrepair. Much of the masonry was destroyed or had been hauled away to build farmsteads, and a combination of vegetation and sand choked much of the inner city. Wells needed to be re-dug, walls rebuilt, drifted sand cleared from the roads, and other such maintenance. But Kamal was determined to have a superior stronghold that would be impenetrable to the bush tribes. As irrigation was hooked to the new wells, farms began to spread out around the city and the population began to grow. By the time Kamal died after a reign of 36 years, Terara Abeba had grown to a population of over a hundred-thousand.

Kamal was succeeded by his son, Kassa, who continued the rebuilding and eventual completion of Terara Abeba. The city's fortress walls had been increased in size so that they were now twenty feet thick and forty feet high. These walls encircled the inner city, which held the main plaza, palace and other government buildings. By this time any farms within the city had long given way to shops and early factories. The farms, requiring more extensive land and steady irrigation, came to blanket the hills outside of the city walls.

Terra Abeba, being located in the dry foothills of Mount Qey, came to rely on water from the neighboring savanna. As time went on clashes with the bush tribes to the north became more violent, often resulting in rivers and streams being blocked, denying the Qeyterarans of water. Kassa then decided to invade the north, leading the Temwagachochi (Defenders) north, deep into the savanna, and subduing the bush tribes there. This expansion led to a large swath of savanna becoming Qeyteraran, and giving Terara Abeba a permanent source of water. Kassa was a wise Negus and decreed no further expansion was necessary to the well-being of the empire, and that the new lands would sustain the country, allowing for ample growth and prosperity. The latter part of his reign was spent making peace with the other bush tribes outside the empire and establishing steady trade with them.

For many following centuries Qeyterara remained under the radar, too small to be noticed by the larger nations of Keltia. Around 4400 ASC the empire began to be encroached upon by several new countries formed by migratory groups. Not strong enough to fend off these larger groups the empire receded, sometimes shrinking back to the immediate environs of Terara Abeba itself. But by 4800 ASC these groups had quickly fallen back into anarchy and the empire was able to reassert its former boundaries.

Geography

Qeyterara is generally flat savanna leading up to rolling hills surrounding Mount Qey, which rises up to dominate the south. Mount Qey rises up to an elevation 9,280 ft above sea level. The upper slopes of the mountain are often wreathed in snow, even during summer months.

Mount Qey

The area around Terara Abeba and the the southern hills tends to be warm and semi-arid. As the elevations descends further north, towards the Strait of Haifa, the climate changes to tropical savanna. Rainfall is minimal in the arid regions, and temperatures vary widely based on daylight. The population of Terara Abeba, for example, relies on water from the nearby savanna. An extended dry season dominates the tropical savanna region, followed by heavy and consistent rains during the winter months. The semi-arid regions tend to have hot summers - sometimes reaching extreme temperatures - and warm to cool winters, with a minimal amount of precipitation.

Government

Negus

The Negus, a title meaning 'King', is the absolute ruler and head of the Qeyteraran monarchy.

Le'ul

The Le'ul, or Prince, is a title given to the heirs (sons and grandsons) of the Negus. In the case of women, Le'elt is the feminine form denoting a Princess.

Ras

Nobles of common birth (e.g. anyone not of the royal house) but who command a position of administration are titled Ras, literally 'head' of their respective office.

Derg

The Derg, or Council, is the legislative body of the empire. Day-to-day affairs are managed by the Derg, which is composed of all Ras' within

Culture

Economy

Military

The Qeyteraran military is known as the Terara Temwagachochi (Mountain Defenders) and dates back to the founding of the empire.