Malagra (Ma 'la gra)

Malagra is a Region of Tel Rialis located along the southern coast of the Baltasar Gulf. One of the oldest regions to be settled by Kaddites upon their initial arrival on the peninsula, Malaga is the religious capital among the Kaddites of Tel Rialis, with the capital, Malagra city, being a major pilgrimage site where people gather to worship the regional patron deity of Aimar, the eagle of love and hate. The country’s economy is primarily dependent on revenue gathered via religious tourism within the major settlements, though the majority of the region is open rural farmlands.

Geography

Malagra is situated within the Baltasar Gulf, and is bordered by Vencerrado to the North, Bayt Alma to the West, and Ahumm to the South. Its most prominent geographic feature is the Malagran Peninsula, a small, winding stretch of land which juts out into the gulf. Within this protective bay is the capital city of Malagra, which shares the same name as the region itself. The northern half of the country experiences a mediterranean climate categorized by warm, dry summers, and mild, humid winters. The southern area is a continental climate categorized by hot summers and cool winters.

History

When Kaddite settlers first arrived in Tel Rialis, Malagra was among the first of the regions to be established. Prior to Kaddite arrival, the people who inhabited the land which would become Malagra were primarily semi-nomadic subsistence farmers. Once settlers and missionaries reached the coasts of this land, most of the native peoples either converted readily or were forcibly exiled. Over the course of several centuries, permanent settlements and farmsteads became the dominant lifestyle of the Malagrans.



When the Kaddite settlers came upon a large, round crater, their leader had a dream of Aimar, who built a great nest in that very spot. Upon waking, they declared the area (now called Aimar’s Nest) a sacred site, and the people sought to construct a great temple to honor Aimar. Eventually, word of the great temple spread throughout Tel Rialis and beyond, bringing many pilgrims seeking Aimar’s blessings. Over many years, Malgra has come to rely on these pilgrims as their primary source of revenue.

Government/Politics/Administrative Divisions

The region is presided over by a theocracy, in which the ruler (referred to as the Caliph) is responsible for the economics, military and civic affairs of the entire region. Under the Caliph is a series of priesthoods who serve as the regional governments in various Malagran districts, along with being direct advisors to the Caliph. The priesthood of Malagra city is particularly large and powerful, with a level of influence that rivals the Caliph. Due to Malagra’s defensive positioning within the gulf, it has a comparably weak navy among the Tel Rialis regions. Overall Malagra’s military is mainly designed for defense rather than offense, with some forts positioned near the region’s borders, especially near Ahumm. Historically, Malagra’s relationship with Ahumm has been tense, as the latter is seen as a “den of vice” by the former, and Ahumm’s control over the opening of the Baltasar gulf makes passing in or out of the greater sea a challenge. Additionally, Bayt Alma was once an enemy of Malagra due to the regions sharing a patron deity and disagreeing on how Aimar should be depicted. Ironically, though the new regime of Bayt Alma is Al Kuliyan, relations between the two have since stabilized. Similarly, Malagra maintains a somewhat unsteady peace with Vencerrado, its northern neighbor.

Demographics

Approximately 70% of permanent Malagran residents follow the state religion of Kada, and represent the vast majority of the population. However, 28% of Malagrans are Kuliyans, concentrated in the region’s northern farms and villages. Kuliyan citizens are mostly farmhands and unskilled laborers. The official stance on Kuliyans presented by the Caliph is that they are allowed to live on and work Aimar’s land, as the great eagle promotes showing love to all. However, tensions exist between the Kaddite and Kuliyan peoples, and some members of the governing priesthood have made efforts to expel worshippers of Al Kuliya. Making up a much smaller minority are the Saenians, with approximately 2% of people identifying as such. Saenians are heavily concentrated on the coastlines, with the most significant population residing in Malagra city. These land-bound Saenians are typically found working at the docks of Malagra, either cooperating with visiting Saenian merchant fleets or being employed under Kaddite merchants as laborers. The general stance of Saeians is similar to that of Kuliyans, with their presence being officially approved but not accepted by all Kaddite citizens.

Economy

Religious tourism makes up the bulk of Malagra’s economic sector, with settlements surrounding the traditional pilgrimage paths selling goods and services to travelers, such as food, shelter, and transportation. When visiting the various holy sites in Malagra, especially, Aimar’s nest, pilgrims typically buy offerings to Aimar and all the gods. Souvenirs commonly include candles, idols, artwork, and even rocks that are supposedly “blessed by the gods”. Outside of the traditional pilgrimage pathways, most of Malagra is relatively poor, with a focus on agriculture, or in the case of coastal towns, fishing. Primary exports include oils, pearls, and natural dyes. Due to the positioning of Malagra within the Baltasar Gulf, and the tenseness of its relations with Ahumm, Malagra’s trade is somewhat restricted to land trade and the regions located within the gulf.

Infrastructure

Outside of Malagra city, most Malagran settlements are small and sparse. However, the more frequented cities in particular tend to have a religious temple at their center, which is the largest and most decorated building in the town. These temples double as castle-like structures, being both the center of governance (via the priesthood) and a place of defense in the event that a city were to come under attack from hostile neighbors. As such, they are largely utilitarian buildings which keep stores of food, water and animals. A single temple usually serves wide stretches of rural farmers, who supply tribute to the temple in exchange for the defense it will provide. The pilgrimage paths of Malagra present a golden opportunity to brigands who would hope to steal from the many wealthy pilgrims who travel the worn roads. In order to prevent this, the government has organized military patrols on these routes in hopes of catching or deterring thieves. Additionally, many rural Malagrans with combat skills will take up the role of defending hapless tourists in exchange for payment.

Art and Culture

The majority of Malagran art is religious in nature, most frequently depicting Aimar or the other gods of Kada. These pieces, either funded by the temple priests, wealthy tourists, or produced with the intention of being sold as souvenirs, vary widely in form, from paintings to mosaics to pottery. Malagra has access to considerable clay deposits, which is in turn used to produce both functional and decorative pots. Pottery made for religious purposes is typically decorated with imagery of the gods and elaborate patterning, while practical ceramics are comparatively simple. Generally speaking, the further one gets from Malgra city, the less extravagant and more practical architecture becomes, with outskirt temples being simpler defensive structures. The colors favored by Aimar, and thus Malagra are ultramarine and gold. However, Malagra lacks direct access to gold or lapis lazuli, and as such these colors are imported luxuries, used mainly in the most elaborate and prized of religious works. In the absence of ultramarine pigment, less expensive blue pigments are typically used. Malagran gastronomy consists mainly of seafood and farmed fruits, vegetables, and grains. Malagran cuisine is known to forgo spices as a show of religious restraint, resulting in simpler, hardier meals. Additionally, alcohol consumption is officially restricted to special occasions, however wine is still a commonly consumed beverage, as these restrictions are not heavily enforced.

Type

Geopolitical, Theocracy