The Principality of Gamarak

The Realm:

The Provinces:

--While the best way to see these provinces will be the interative map, below is a map with broad descriptions of the type of govenments that exist in the provinces.

for information on Gamaraks Geography, see Geography of Gamarak 

-- For specific names of each province, go to the maps page, click the book in the bottom right hand corner, and follow the links and instructions to the interactive map. The flat maps provided do not include province names and the only way to hover over each one and see the names/types of local goverment is the interative map located off site.

Red- Andris Royal Prefecture

The Port and Capital of Andris is the largest city in Gamarak. it also contains the the largest international market in all of Aurmera. This region also encompasses the lower Eldtertide river and Solovka Fork, two of the most important river trade routes and population zones within Gamarak. Due to the economic and political imporance of this region, The High Prince of Gamarak owns this region as his own fief. This makes the sovereign's titles the High Prince of Gamark, the Barrow-Lord of Andris, and Duke of Eldertide.

Orange- High Barrows

the remaining 11 provinces within Gamarak all fall into the category of a High Barrow. These divisions are feudal in nature, being similar to Sertian Counties. Each High Barrow is helmed by a Barrow-Lord. These function similarly to the feudal relationship between other forms nobilities, just with a Gamaraki cultural influence. The Barrow-Lords are far more involved with management of trade and the economy than other such lords in Aurmera, and are often experienced tradesmen and sailors themselves.

Government:
The Gamaraki live in a feudal Principality. This operates similar to a Kingdom or Duchy, exept with differing echelons of noble titles. This is due to their culture history being rooted in the old Eastern Kingdom of Men, when the Dalor were still unified under a Triumvirate. For the Gamaraki, Ofenlanders, and Irvernians, the title of King was only used to signify the old dominion over all three lower powers. since the dissolution of the Union of the Dalor, none of those separate realms has adopted the title of king, keeping to the old tradition. Below the High Prince, there are the Barrow-Lords. These Lord rule over the various Barrows of Gamarak. These function similar to counties. Below the Barrow-Lords are Barons, Sheriffs, and all other manner of lesser nobility given landed charges under their leige lords. Within Gamarak, the title of Knight is more common than in other realms, with the lords at every echelon able to appoint their own at their own discretion. A key difference in the operation of the Gamaraki Principality compared to other feudal realms is the economic competition among lords. While outright inter-domain land grabbing and terrirorial war is rare, the various guilds and Barrows constantly jocky with one other for better economic positioning within Gamarak and across Aurmera. Two Barrows may not be in formal conflict, but it is not an uncommon sight for rival factions to attack one anothers shipping or trade stations at home and abroad. The cut-throat nature of mercantalism is the largest driver of confilct among the Gamaraki.
People and Culture:

Nestled within woodlands and along the rivers and marshes, the Gamaraki people thrive. A realm where the Barrow-Lords, varying in competence, are united by a common focus on trade and economic growth. Masters of navigation and trade, the Gamaraki have turned their resource-scarce home into a maritime powerhouse, renowned for crafting the finest ships and hosting bustling ports that welcome goods from across the realms.
The Gamaraki Principality is marked by a feudal structure, with lords overseeing territories that vary in both size and prosperity. Despite differences, all share a common ambition—trade and economic prosperity. The lords understand that their Principality's strength lies not in the abundance of native resources but in their mastery of trade routes and commerce.
The Gamaraki people make their homes in along the rivers and coasts, bordered by dense rain forests, where the intertwining of forests and rivers offers a picturesque setting. However, the lack of abundant resources necessitates a reliance on trade for both sustenance and wealth.
Due to their resource-scarce environment, the Gamaraki have become adept tradesmen and sailors. Their navigational skills are unparalleled, allowing them to traverse the seas with confidence. These skills, honed through generations, have transformed them into sought-after traders, facilitating the exchange of goods and cultures with distant lands.
The Gamaraki are renowned for their shipbuilding prowess. Their ships are hailed as the finest on the continent, combining exquisite craftsmanship with practical functionality. The hardwood that only grows in Gamarak is sought after across Aurmera for its strength and quality. The art of shipbuilding has become a revered tradition, passed down through skilled artisans who carve the Principality's reputation into every vessel they construct.
Gamaraki ports bustle with activity, serving as vibrant hubs of commerce that attract merchants from across the realms. The Principality's lack of native industries is offset by the diversity of goods that flow through its ports. Exotic spices, agricultural goods, fine textiles, rare woods, and more find their way into Gamaraki markets, creating a tapestry of trade that paints their realm as a melting pot of cultures and their goods.
To further their economic interests, the Gamaraki have established formidable trade guilds. These guilds not only regulate commerce but also serve as centers of expertise, nurturing the skills of traders and shipbuilders. Economic alliances are forged with neighboring realms, ensuring a steady flow of resources and fostering diplomatic ties.
Given their extensive interactions with diverse cultures, the Gamaraki people have developed an open-minded and inclusive outlook. The exchange of goods and ideas in their bustling ports has cultivated a society that values diversity and innovation.
The Gamaraki celebrate their maritime heritage through annual festivals that honor the sea, navigation, and trade. These festivals feature vibrant parades, seafaring competitions, and displays of the latest ship designs. It is a time when the Principality comes together to revel in the richness that trade has brought to their woodlands and floodplains.
In the Gamaraki Principality, the lapping tides and rustling leaves tell tales of a people who have turned the challenges of their environment into strengths. Masters of trade and navigation, the Gamaraki sail confidently, connecting distant realms through their finely crafted ships and bustling ports, ensuring that their Principality remains a beacon of prosperity on the continent.
Notable Trades and Industries:

As previously stated, the Gamaraki are the foremost shipwrights, sailors, and tradesmen in Aurmera. However, they do have a few notable industires. While not unique to Gamarak, their plentiful forests do produce ample amounts of exotic medicines produced from the native woodland flora and fauna. Additionally, these fauna also yield high quality raw pelts for export to the more adept clothing weavers of Seretia and Eldamar. As mentioned before, their high quality hardwoods are also sought after. This has led to many Gamaraki not only being adept at sailing, but many also being quality woodsmen, hunters, and lumberjacks.
History:

For a description of the events that took place across the continent during The Great Split, read A Brief History of Aurmera 
In the annals of Aurmera, the Dalor were once a unified people, dwelling harmoniously north of the formidable Pellum Mountains. A great darkness, however, descended upon the Dalor, shrouding their once-peaceful lands and propelling them on a perilous journey southward, across the treacherous mountain ranges.
In their ancestral homeland, the Dalor lived as a triumvirate, a harmonious alliance of three regional cultures. The first were the sea people, navigating the vast waters with finesse and expanding their influence across coastal regions. The second were the clans of horsemen, masters of the open plains, skilled in mounted warfare and guardians of the nomadic way of life. The third were the agrarian farmers, cultivating the fertile lands and river valleys with diligence and reaping the bounty of the earth.
A great darkness, its origins lost to time, descended upon the Dalor's ancestral lands. It swept through the triumvirate, casting shadows over their once-thriving cultures. As the forces of darkness consumed their territories, the Dalor faced a choice – submit to the abyss or flee southward, across the imposing Pellum Mountains.
The Dalor, united by a shared destiny, embarked on a harrowing exodus across the nearly impassable Pellum Mountains. The journey was fraught with peril, as they navigated treacherous terrain, faced fierce weather, and encountered unknown threats. Yet, the unity forged in their triumvirate proved to be their strength, guiding them through the challenges that sought to break their spirit.
Upon crossing the formidable mountain range, the Dalor found themselves in a new realm, the eastern lands of Aurmera. Here, they discovered the imposing woodlands, river valleys, and swamps, a stark contrast to their ancestral home. Undeterred by the scarcity of native resources, they saw potential in these lands, a canvas upon which to rebuild their lives.
In Aurmera, the Dalor adapted to their new surroundings, reimagining their triumvirate as a renewed means of providing for eachother. The seafaring people continued their maritime pursuits along the southern coasts, while the horse clans followed the rivers into the eastern coastal swamps and found a new terrain to adapt their mounted skills upon. The  farmers, skilled in cultivating fertile floodplains, continued their age-old practices along the picturesque landscape of the Staghorn River.
Despite the changes brought by their migration, the Dalor preserved the essence of their triumvirate legacy. They continued to cycle the title of Kingship between the three cultures, ensuring a balanced rule that drew from the strengths of each. The unity that had guided them through their exodus became the cornerstone of their collective properity. Eventually, these Dalor cultures organized into the Principality of Gamarak, the United Hordes of Ofenland, and the Grand Duchy of Irvernia. All distint, but all equal.
The history of the Dalor, marked by the triumph over darkness and the resilience in migration, became a living testament to the strength of unity. The seafaring, horsemen, and agrarian cultures, while adapting to new landscapes, retained their distinct identities within the broader Dalor Triumverate. Their triumph over darkness and unity in diversity became a cultural legacy, passed down through generations.
Not all unitfied people are destined to last as one. The Great Split did not spare the Dalor, just as it did not spare the Elves or the Anor. The treachery of the Drow, and the deep resentment caused by the subsequent conflict among the Dalor thoroughly divided the Dalor cultures into their own states. The Triumverate was dissolved, and animosity between the states remains to this day, with each viewing its own claim to the unification of the Dalor as the most legitimate. The lack of the title of King in all three of the modern realms of Gamarak, Irvernia, and Ofenland stands as a testiment to what was lost.
Religion:

@ Gamaraki Patrons   The Gamaraki are not a particularly boistrous people in their faith, but they are deeply superstitious. They pray to all of the Aurmeran Pantheon, however, as with all other Aurmeran peoples, they pay particular homage to their Patron Gods. Due to the uncertainty in predicting the conditions of the weather and the seas, the Gamaraki are particularly credulous devotion in their worship of their gods.
Language:

The Gamaraki speak Dalor, a variation of Common. Anor and Dalor common are different enough to make it difficult to communicate at times. Enough time has passed since the migration of the Dalor, that regional accents and terminology now divide the old Dalor language. While Irvernians, Ofenlanders, and Gamaraki all share a root language, their dialects have evolved nearly to the point of their own languages. However, due to Gamarak being a mercantile society, Gamarakis tend to be more multi-lingual than most other peoples of Aurmera.

IRL cultural analogue: Slavic peoples