Khalimar

The nation of Khalimar encompasses the region to the west of the Barrier Cliffs between itself and Valistria and into the Burning Expanse. The region is known for its arid climate with occasional reprieve via the remnants of storms that make their way over the Cliffs. The major source of water in Khalimar is dependent on the storms that pass over their neighbor, Valistria, as the water collects on the short mountains that make up their side of the Barrier Cliffs and flows down towering waterfalls into rivers that flow through the region and enrich the land along their banks. This has led to a dependency on the water from Valistria and caused no small amount of strife between the two nations.
The people of Khalimar are often dark skinned and wear clothing that gives protection from the winds and dirt of the desert to the west (such as turbans and robes), but tend to be adorned with colorful dyes, wrappings, or charms.

Khalimar is ruled by a monarchy with the king as both the head of government and the religious high-priest.

Khalimite religious practices revolve around a complex polytheistic belief in many gods that embody parts of the nature and society. The pantheon ranges from a set of greater gods that embody larger aspects to lesser gods, more akin to powerful spirits, that embody specific parts or places of the world. Some of the great priest-kings of the past have even been placed as part of the pantheon, and some are believed to be slumbering beneath the sands and rocky desert of the Burning Expanse. The role of the priest-kings in this is to perform religious rituals in order to appease the gods to keep order within the cosmos and, in so doing, keep chaos at bay.

Culture

Khalimar culture comes primarily from the surviving pieces of the cultures of the kingdoms, empires, and nations that once lived in the Burning Expanse before it's creation. Namely, the Onyx Empire with some influence from the raeikyn who trace their lineages back to the Realms of the Dragon and other cultures that have influenced the survival of the Khalim people.

• Ancestry, family, and bloodline is very important to the Kalim people. Most homes in Khalimar are kept for generations within a family. Few people move from Khalimar lands, and those who do often return before they die so they can die in their homeland.
• Hospitality is a virtue for the Khalim. A host is always meant to make a guest feel comfortable, provide enough to eat and drink, and be generous. When eating at the home or some restaurants owned by Khalim, finishing a plate of food is seen as a sign that there was not enough food, and the host is meat to ensure that the empty plate is filled. Leaving a small amount of food shows that the host has provided plenty.
• Resourcefulness.
• Courage.
• Loyalty and Unity.
• Justice and Truth.
• Conquest and War.
• Glory and Nobility.
• Magic.
• Astronomy.
• Divination and Prophesy.
• Knowledge and Logic.
• Names.

Mythology & Lore

The Khalimite religion is polytheistic, with followers worshipping several main gods and dozens if not hundreds or thousands of minor gods. The "high gods" are represented by constellations of stars while the minor gods are terrestrial beings who keep to landmarks, locations, or settlements. In some places, a local god is placed above the high gods in terms of which are more widely worshiped.

Type

Geopolitical, Country

Demonym

Khal or Khalimite