Kingdom of Umeda-Kokora

The Illustrious Kingdom of Umeda-Kokora, known to most people simply as 'Kokora', is the rising star of Makal. The Kokoran ideal is in many ways the face of the new order of Makal - faithful but commercial, mercenary but principled. It seems inevitable that they will dominate the Western coastline of Makal, for better or for worse.
Kokora is best known for its mercenaries, paladins, and war-doctors. The culture here idealizes nomadism and travel, pushing many of its youth to tour the world as merchants, mercenaries, sailors, or adventurers before reintegrating back home. The mercenary paladin is perhaps the archetypal ideal of Kokora - the faithful healer that takes life abroad to heal their home. To create as many of these paladins as possible, the Kingdom hosts the continentally famous Moonsign Citadel - the great warhall of Paladins of every Lunar God that is something of an 'Adventurer's Guild' for wandering warriors across Ekraht.

Structure

The Kingdom of Umeda-Kokora is an elected monarchy, where the most prominent elites vote for the new monarch from among the royal family. Beneath the monarch are the Grand Generals, who manage the military. And while there are elite families, they do not own land directly. Rather, the monarch leases feudal titles (with attached obligations) temporarily to families. While certain families are de-facto aristocracy, everything is extremely temporary and dependent on royal favor.
The current monarch is Mezenzu I (also known as 'Mezenzu the Mad'), an aging Dryad with a very mixed public reputation. Once, Mezenzu was extremely popular; they were clever, ambitious, charismatic, and had a reputation as a masterful mercenary captain. In prior decades, they were practically worshipped for bringing prosperity to the land and one-upping foreign merchants. But their addiction to public worship and attention slowly devolved into a string of mental breaks, scandals, and corruption - Mezenzu seems willing to do anything for attention, even negative attention, and the shine of their victories has slowly dulled. Now, Mezenzu is respected and tolerated, but has become so abrasive, dictatorial, and scandalous that many wish he would simply retire.

Culture

The Balance and the Journey

To create, one must destroy. Creation without destruction, or destruction without creation, will be corrected by the universe with a sudden burst of disruptive creation or destruction (which is to be avoided). That is a fundamental of Kokoran philosophy, that has infused every level of society. Medicine requires sacrifice or death of some sort, and is best done by one whose hands have taken life. Mercenaries are encouraged to be healers, midwives, or caretakers; and healers are to be killers. To satisfy this balance, lifelong specialization is not seen as necessary or natural. Rather, people drifting between different specialties and professions is seen as normal and balanced. 
A sign of godliness, maturity, and wisdom is experience with the foreign, which can then be balanced with experience with the domestic. Youth are encouraged to go on 'Life Journeys' as a passage of adulthood: a time of several years spent abroad, before returning as a full-fledged adult. What qualifies as 'abroad' depends on local custom: remote farming villages generally don't demand their youth leave the country, while big cities might encourage youth to journey abroad as mercenaries or sailors. Regardless of how far you go, a Life Journey will always include an Oath of Travel - a divine pact to alter one's behavior during their time abroad. Oaths of Travel can range from something simple like loyalty to one's family, to something personal like abstaining from drink, to something moral like charity work. The difficulty of one's oath is a sign of competence and status, and heirs to the wealthy and powerful and pressured to swear long and complicated oaths akin to those of paladins. Oaths are not actively policed or monitored, but it is a great public shame to be found in violation of one. 

Food Culture: Fusion Cuisine

Kokora-Umeda is a true melting pot of culinary styles. The international nomadism of the population brings ingredients, styles, and tastes from across Ekraht and even beyond. Mixing cuisines is encouraged as a sign of worldliness and maturity, so don't expect consistency if you do a food tour across the country. Traditional food here involves a lot of yoghurt, a lot of flatbreads, and a lot of mixing sour with spicy or sweet flavors (dried mango powder is a big ingredient here, as is the sour Tamarind fruit).

History

Early History (-500 DE to 990 ME)

Kokora and Umeda have traditionally been the breadbaskets of Southern Makal. They are warm throughout the year, relatively untouched by seasonal storms, and have just the right level of rainfall to grow crops year-round. They are also difficult-to-defend flatlands for the most part, so early Kokorans and Umedans generally paid food tribute to surrounding peoples (usually Ilworans) to avoid raiding or conquest. Warriors of Umeda and Kokora generally worked with those tribute-taking groups as well rather than staying home. Loramazu of Arzida was one such Kokoran wandering warrior, who lived their life in the neighboring land of Ilwora fighting for foreign kings. Loramazu rose as a great conquering warlord in 250 ME, who sought to drive out the Zeruan foreigners and create a grand Empire of Makal. It was Loramazu who first formally conquered Kokora and Umeda, and sought to build formal cities there. And, most importantly, Loramazu brought warhorses and cattle to the grasslands of Kokora. This new livestock changed everything; the flatlands that had once been so weak and vulnerable were now one of the few places that warhorses could be bred in large numbers. 
Loramazu also brought Umeda and Kokora to the attention of the greater Lunar Pantheon. Paladins of different Gods began to compete for control of this new empire - and almost entirely usurped the legitimacy of the local priesthood. The idea of what a doctor or a priest was changed in these lands; no longer was ritual and knowledge enough, healing and divine contact was now intertwined with war. The most successful paladins were those who fought the most, after all. To survive this religious reckoning, the priesthood began to imitate and rationalize the existence of paladins with the idea of 'The Great Balance'. The idea of the world having a fundamental balance between different forces was something of a foreign idea (being extremely popular in Zerua) that had become popular in the neighboring region of Rakara. But the priests of Kokora and Umeda took it in a different direction: a priest who heals must kill in equal amounts to properly balance the forces and creation and destruction and prevent calamity. And so the priests either became apothecaries and executioners or warriors. Kokora and Umeda had previously been culturally and religiously pacifistic, but that old order was dead - God had sent warhorses and warrior-healers out of their thirst for blood, and the pious farmers would answer that call. 
The new religion of Kokora and Umeda took time to form and catch on, and did not spread across the entire Empire of Makal. In 480 ME, a massive eruption from the nearby supervolcano cut that process short and shattered the empire to pieces. Each clique of paladins seized a different corner of the region, creating a dozen religious cults of differing Lunar persuasion. These cults squabbled endlessly, and while their individual theologies never permeated society, the principle of 'priests who must kill' certainly did. The divided cult-states were easy prey for outside conquerors, and Ilwora began conquering into the region once again. And as the region decreased in relevance, the amount of Lunar interference and support waned. The Northern region of Umeda became an Ilworan province, and the Southern region of Kokora began prioritizing horse-back raiding over large state projects. 

The Umedan Federation (990 to 1710) 

Umeda was set free from Ilworan domination in 985 ME, after another volcanic eruption caused massive famine and system collapse. It was not warriors, but merchant-sorcerers who filled the power vacuum: a powerful family known as the Bamasa Clan took advantage of the chaos to expand their influence and gain allies. The Bamasas did not rule Umeda directly, but rather made themselves critical to commercial operations while avoiding affiliation with any "side" or faction. The Bamasas made themselves synonymous with the mercenary business, and spread their influence Southwards, across the Kokoran raiding bands. And when the Ilworans marched back into Umeda in the 1100s and tried to remove these pesky merchant clans, the Bamasas led a coalition of mercenaries and minor powers that was able to drive out the invaders. 
This moment of glory soon faded, as the greater clan grew too large to control or direct. In 1190, the matriarch of the clan tried to desperately formalize their dominance by fashioning the coalition into a kingdom- but it proved too little too late. The kingdom collapsed not long after it was made, and Ilwora waited hungrily in the distance. But before Ilwora had a chance to move in, a coalition of merchants led by the famous smuggler and mercenary Harkin Kidabi forced the coalition back together. The Federation of Umeda was born, and it slowly formed into a larger and larger political mass. Regular coalition wars against Ilwora solidifed the Federation into a permanent institution, and the profitable raids against Ilwora and Rakara attracted more and more new members from the Southern grasslands. These wars culminated in the grand invasion of Ilwora in 1570, which liberated the region of Rakara and brought the entire region of Kokora-Umeda together.
The decline of Ilwora, the great threat and unifier of the West, slowly killed the Federation. In 1620, Federation leaders tried to centralize the alliance into a kingdom, but that only caused more infighting and disintegration. The Federation formally disbanded in 1710, replaced by an informal network of mercenary contractors and merchant alliances. 

The New Kingdom (1710 to Present)

From 1710 to 1810, Kokora and Umeda existed in a fragmented status quo. But one minor kingdom on the border of Kokora and Umeda, that of Klashatal, slowly rose to power over the others. And when Zeruan corporate interests flooded in after 1805 and overwhelmed the local merchant clans, Klashatal became a symbol of local unity and strength. Through guile and conquest, Klashatal absorbed the rest of the region and crowned itself the Kingdom of Umeda-Kokora in 1823. As a symbol of regional unity, the Kingdom had their head paladin (Egeretu, paladin of Haru ) unify the local paladins into a formal structure and Lunar compromise known as the Moonsign Citadel. 
The newly unified kingdom was a bastion of pragmatism - it neither embraced nor fully rejected the Zeruan corporations. Rather, it sought to carefully contain them by establishing formal relationships with each corporation and playing them against each other whenever possible. The government made itself the ultimate arbiter of mercenary work and made all non-regulated mercenary contracts illegal - if Zerua wanted their warriors, they would need to pay full price. This deeply irritated the Zeruans, but the corporations found that their new Kokoran mercenaries regularly refused to work against their original government. And rather than wait for the inevitable corporate coup, Kokora began investing in their own corporation: the Greater Makal Trading Company (GMTC). While the GMTC was based out of and largely owned by the neighboring state of Isikowa, the Kokoran state owns a large number of shares as well. 
A shadow war followed the creation of the GMTC, practically tearing Kokora apart from the inside throughout the late 1800s. But then the 1895 Youth Revolution struck the neighboring kingdom of Rakara, and drove out the Zeruan corporations. The invincibility of Zerua had been revealed as an illusion, and GMTC started to gain investors across Makal. As the 1900s progressed, Kokora went from prey to predator; the GMTC used Kokoran mercenaries to crack open smaller states, and Kokoran military might was used to puppet surrounding minor states. By the late 1900s, the Zeruan corporate interests saw more potential in Kokora as an ally than an enemy, and they accepted state regulations and power in exchange for cooperation abroad. And while the GMTC has turned on many of its own original patrons, Kokora has steadily bought more and more shares to swing it under their control. The flourishing Kingdom of Kokora is now arming up and seems ready to forge an empire for itself. Its final regional rival, Ilwora, seems to be arming up to meet them. Whoever wins this contest seems poised to dominate all of Makal.

Demography and Population

7,000,000 humanoids live in Umeda-Kokora. 50% are Dryads, 40% are Humans, and the remaining 10% are mostly Half-Dryads. Humans and half-dryads are more populous (and politically dominant) in the South, while dryads are overwhelmingly more common in the North.

Territories

Kokora-Umeda is 500 miles long and 100 to 150 miles across, and is almost entirely flat. The Northern region of Umeda is densely forested and much more humid, while the Southern region of Kokora is cooler, less humid, and mostly grassland. Regular rain and large aquifers make for fertile soils. Storms are fairly rare, but are incredibly destructive when they occur. Umeda is also home to a large number of small lakes.

Military

Kokora-Umeda has a remarkable pool of veterans and mercenaries at their disposal, which can be difficult to control but remarkably effective. The upper classes must also prove their strength as mercenaries and potential warriors to renew their land titles; the priesthood is generally good at fighting as well. Toss in the unusually large number of paladins and adventurers hosted here, and Kokora has a flexible and powerful fighting force.
Mounted combat is privileged here, with heavy cavalry and light cavalry synonymous with nobility and status. Wealthy merchants are expected to be proficient on horseback as well as land-managing aristocrats. Humans tend to dominate land ownership in the South for this reason - humans are seen as superior ranchers in Kamadan religion, making them essential assets for any noble house. The North, meanwhile, values spellcasting over pure equestrianism (though skills on horseback are all essential) - mounted Dragon Sorcerers or Bards tend to dominate the Northern nobility. 
In battle, the Kokoran military can be best understood as a heavy hammer and anvil - a disciplined infantry line is used to pin down the enemy, allowing for a mixture of lancers and spellcasting cavalry to crush the enemy flanks.

Religion

Umeda-Kokora holds Kamada as their state religion, but generally favors old local customs over international dogma. Priests here are expected to be executioners, warriors, or apothecaries, even as they are pushed to take on more academics as well. The demand for priests is high, and so are the expectations - pulling in many elites and lesser merchants. The demand for priests has outstripped this supply and provided a new opportunity for ambitious members of the upper lower class - creating social mobility and a sense of social opportunity. 
The 'Kinetics' and 'Academic' Schools of Kamada are both substantial here. Temples focus on physical and/or mental exercise of the commonfolk, curating discipline and community. The popular focus of the new religion has created a kind of 'paladin ideal' among the lower classes: the idea that anyone can rise to become a priest through hard work and devotion.

Foreign Relations

Kokora is belligerent, invasive, and has a bad habit of playing both sides in a conflict. This makes for some fairly rough diplomacy. In recent years, Kokora has become more domineering than diplomatic, and has begun extracting tribute and interfering in local politics in surrounding states. The recent efforts by the Kingdom to fully takeover the Greater Makal Trading Company have alienated some of Kokara's closest allies - but have the potential to create many more puppet states for Kokora to control. 
The only power to directly confront Kokora is the neighboring Kingdom of Ilwora (who are themselves belligerent militarists with ambition). This has blossomed into a rivalry and arms race that seems certain to erupt into war sometime soon.

Agriculture & Industry

Umeda-Kokora is predominantly agricultural, but increasingly urban. Maize, wheat, and rice are all grown across the flatlands, and the herding of cows, sheep, and horses is common in the South. Giant Lobster herding is a big industry in the Northern lakes region, as is lumber-milling. 
In recent years, economic refugees from other parts of Makal have arrived in increasing numbers. These newcomers are generally paid poorly and are consigned to rural wage labor on ranches, estate farms, and new sugar, spice, or cotton plantations. This new labor pool has enabled large landowners to encroach more and more on established villages, pushing rural populations towards the urban coastline. These ex-rural townsfolk have become laborers and a sort of "fluid population" for use as sailors, mercenaries, and hunters abroad. 
This new urban population, as well as corporate accumulation of other state's raw resources, has enabled a boom in manufacturing. Travelers abroad have also brought with them a host of foreign technologies and techniques, leading to a booming artisanal scene.

Trade & Transport

Umeda-Kokora is quite fond of tariffs and protective trade arrangements to protect local innovation and business. Guilds are still fairly local and often dominated by local elites, but are given direct government support to ensure local continued dominance. Some have experimented with jumps to corporate status, but so far the traditional guild structure has remained the status quo.
Outside corporations are present here, but with intense royal regulation. The big exception to this rule is the crown's favorite: The Greater Makal Trading Company (GMTC). The local printing presses, jewelers, and luxury shops are all operated by the GMTC, and the GMTC is largely staffed by Kokoran sailors, mercs, and adventurers.

Education

There has recently been an education boom in Kokora, with literacy rising to a historical high thanks to the new Kamadan temple school system. The rise of the priesthood has had a similar effect on higher education, with a number of flourishing royal colleges recently opening.

"Heal the Good, Slay the Wicked"

Founding Date

1823 ME

Type

Geopolitical, Country

Alternative Names

Great Umeda

Demonym

Kokoran

Government System

Monarchy, Theocratic

Power Structure

Unitary state

Currency

Zeruan Gold Dragons, Silver Storms, Copper Serpents

Major Exports

Wool, labor, medicine

Major Imports

Iron, spices, wood

Official State Religion

Kamada

Location

Makal

Neighboring Nations

• Kingdom of Rakara

Related Plots

• Moon Talks