Arduli
Arduli, officially known as the Arduli Dynasty, and also referred to as the Ardulshahir or the Tiefling Realm, is a theocratic monarchy in central-eastern Tuatha. It is bordered by Calania and Fonterre to the north, Ahagwuena to the west, Chikelu to the south, and the Coravian Sea to the east. It is divided into the southern region of Qamenkas and the northern region of Sradesium. Sradesium is further divided into the regions of East Khidiana, Suvilidas, and Asternur.
The Royal League, led by Shah Jezebeth I herself, responsible for overseeing military, judicial, legislative, and High Niranist religious matters
The Arkron League, led by Vizier Life Arkron, tasked with managing agriculture, pasturage, and hunting
The Valhiri League, led by Vizier Carris Valhiri, tasked with managing trade and transportation
The Dakdur League, led by Vizier Confidence Dakdur, tasked with managing education and non-Divine magic
The Zeyis League, led by Vizier Saygi Zeyis, tasked with managing sport, festivals, and culture
The Tahir League, lead by Vizier Decarabia Tahir, tasked with managing construction and architecture
The Perramus League, led by Vizier Aazra Perramus, tasked with managing healthcare and hospitality
The territory of Arduli is divided into multiple domains, ruled over by members of the aristocracy. Aristocratic titles of Arduli from highest-ranking to lowest are:
Emir, with sovereign emirs ruling over an Emirate (such as the Emirate of Suvilidas).
Praetor, with sovereign praetors ruling over a Praetorate (such as the Praetorate of Alvakon)
Exarch, with sovereign exarchs ruling over an Exarchate (such as the Exarchate of Setardalia)
Pasha, the lowest form of nobility, with most pashas only ruling over small estates
According to Ardulese law, a ruler does not hold ownership over a territory - their noble house does. As such, at the behest of the Shah, a ruler can be striped of their title and have it be given to someone else within their house that is seen as more worthy of that title. As well, Ardulese houses often practice a form of adrogation. Individuals seen as worthy or valued by leaders of noble houses can adopt them into the house, allowing that individual to be able to participate in matters of the aristocracy, such as rule a region as part of the noble house. This adoption must be done with the approval of the Shah, but this is seen more as a formality. These adopted individuals are given the title of Caestus (plural Caestoi). When fully addressed by this title, the house they were adopted to is added afterwards. So, for example, Exarch Ambition Voporix of Fort Casxire would be addressed as Exarch Ambition Voporix, Caestus Tarazou. The title of Caestus, and the benefits that come with it, cannot be passed down hereditarily. When translated into Common, "knight" is sometimes used for Caestus.
Similar to the Caestoi is the rank of Dematos (plural Dematoi). Dematoi are magistrates who manage a settlement with the backing of a noble house, but, unlike Caestoi, are understood to not be a part of that noble house. While only members of a noble house can install Dematoi, some have been installed at the request of the inhabitants of the settlement that they rule. Most Dematoi administer tiny ares, such as villages, that belong to the noble houses. There are also priests who wield secular power in a similar way to Dematoi, called Tarqadios (plural Tarqadioi). Tarqadios power is usually passed between the parish priests of an area, but can be removed at any time by the head of the ruling noble house.
Some areas of Arduli, mostly those in Qamenkas, are instead administered by appointed governors called satraps. Unlike other rulers of Arduli, satraps can be commoners. An example of a satrapy would be Port Euphoria.
Government
Arduli is a theocratic monarchy, led by a Padishah, more often referred to as the Shah. The Shah is viewed as the direct incarnation of Zhalita on Crith, and must claim direct lineage from her. Women (and girls) in the royal family who display sorcerous abilities are elevated within the line of succession. With one exception, the Shah has always been a woman. The Shah is advised by, and married to, a Spahbad, who is viewed as the divine representation of Hadyanos on Crith. Their children are given the title of Shahzade, with the heir apparent given the title of Mirza. The current Shah is Shah Jezebeth I of the House of Arduli. She technically ascended to the throne at age 13, after the death of her aunt/uncle Shah Euphoria I. Until her 18th birthday, her father, Shahzade Damakel Arduli, acted as her regent. She married Sukarno Anoda, the Pelavish human heir to a Pelavayanish mercantile fortune in 1361 MT. Within Arduli, he is addressed as Spahbad Apollos II. The marriage is political, but the two are known to be good friends. As of 1363 MT, Jezebeth I is 24 years old, and Apollos II is 34 years old. They have no children yet, but are known to be trying. Assisting the Shah in their rule are the government departments known as the Divan Leagues. These leagues, run by high-ranking noble families, are tasked with running particular ministries of government. The leagues are often named after the house that founded them or was tasked with running them, but the two are not one and the same. Heads of the leagues were referred to as Viziers. The Divan Leagues are:Culture
The territory that encompasses Arduli has a long history of powerful nations, and those nations have left behind remnants in their architecture. The earliest architectural style present in Arduli is the Akkhanian style. Constructed by the Age of Arrival Asternurian civilization of Akkha, the Akkhanian style is recognized by its angular structures, its use of columns, and depictions of guardian figures. After the Retreat, the newly emergent Tyfilion constructed buildings in the Magocratic style, named after the period of time in early Tyfilian history when the state was a magocracy. The Magocratic style is typified by its arches, its external ornamentation, and its unique use of space. Soon after Empress Kynthia I overthrew the magocracy and became the first Emperor of Tyfilion, Tyfilion conquered the territory of modern-day Calania, developing a series of cultural exchanges that would influence the emergence of the Tyfilian-Kanic style. The Tyfilian-Kanic style was typified by ornamentation using beaded motifs of orbs in the plaster or stone, smaller windows, pinnacles, and pointed arches. After the rise of the Arduli Dysnasty, a new architectural style came to prominence, characterized by exotic domes, rich mosaics, columns, and its use of marble or stone. This style is known as the Yavanitian style, named after Reverence Yavaniti, the architect that popularized it.
The history of sericulture in the city of Uneipo goes back millennia, and as such, Arduli is well known for its textile industry. The silk produced by Weavemoths, a species of giant moth native to Mount Achaema that have a strange affinity with magic, has been widely accepted as one of the finest materials in the crafting of magical clothing. With easy access to natural dyes from Khidiana, Arduli tailors and weavers create gorgeous silk outfits and furniture coveted internationally.
Arduli is famed for its visual art and calligraphy. Dyes from Khidiana and the Zaspira Sea contribute to the production of coloured ink, as well as special metals and gems from the Suvilidias Plateau and northern Asternur Valley. Valued buildings in Arduli, such as Niranist temples or monasteries and aristocratic palaces, often have detailed mosaics decorating their walls. Ardulese illustrated manuscripts are seen throughout Diaghal as a pinnacle of textual and artistic design. As a result of this, Arduli is slow to adopt the Printing Press, but some illustrators have taken inspiration from the literature of their neighbouring countries, using their talents in the Ardulese illustration style to create comics.
Ardulese people are often seen as competitive, and one way that competitiveness was presented was through sports. Cities throughout Arduli have coliseums that have been continually used since the oldest ones' construction during the period of the Tyfilian Magocracy. These coliseums are used for sports such as horse, foot, and chariot races, wrestling, and regulated gladiatorial matches. In the more aquatic regions of Arduli, swimming and boating races are also a common form of sport, especially around the Zaspira Sea. Board games are a popular pastime throughout Arduli, especially dragonchess.
Ardulese cuisine has been formed by the mountainous terrain of the Asternur Valley and the forested basin of Khidiana. Rice, mostly grown in the Karrai Terraces of southern Asternur, is the staple grain of Arduli. Fruits and vegetables common to Ardulese meals include figs, apricots, plums, pomegranates, dates, eggplants, oranges, lemons, and grapes. Typical meats consumed by the Ardulese people include pork, poultry, lamb, bat, and goat. The most used animal products in meals are dairy from goats, like milk, yogurt, and cheese, as well as honey from bees. Spices and other flavourings are widely used in Ardulese cuisine, varying from cinnamon, saffron, anise, vinegar, peppercorns, turmeric, and sugar from sugarcane. In coastal and aquatic regions, Ardulese also consume fish, shellfish, roe, and fish sauce and oil. Popular beverages include salep, made from orchids, and coffee, once grown in Qamenkas, but now imported from elsewhere. Coffee in Arduli is made in the Ardulese style, where the beans are ground very finely without filtering. For much of Arduli’s history, production and consumption of alcohol was outlawed according to Niranist law, but this period of prohibition was finally overturned as part of the Euphoric Permissives during the reign of Shah Euphoria I. While devoted Niranists still refuse to partake in the substance, popular alcoholic beverages in Arduli include grape and plum wine, retsina, and raki.
Assets
Arduli’s largest exports are Weavemoth silk, natural dyes and inks, glasswork, and magical ores. Recent growing trades that have manifested in the past few decades are the exportation of Ardulese alcohol and artifacts retreived from Qamenkas.
Demography and Population
Those from Arduli are known as “Ardulese”. People from the mountainous north of Sradesium are known as “Sradesine”, divided further into the “Khidianans” or "East Khidianans" from western East Khidiana, "Suvilidine" from central Suvilidas, and the “Asternurians” from eastern Asternur. Those from the desert south of Qamenkas are referred to as “Qamenkasian''. The largest racial population in Arduli are Khiravi tieflings, with large minorities of Rathin, Thyan, Nimadu, and Kane humans, Njaronse dwarves, Tavanuan dragonborn, and Obolinn orcs. The primary language of Arduli is Ardulese Infernal, but other widely spoken languages include Common, Kanic, Nkejidi Dwarvish, and Tavan Draconic.
Territories
Arduli is divided into two primary regions: the southern desert of Qamenkas, and the northern mountains of Sradesium. Sradesium is further separated into three regions: the western rainforest basin of East Khidiana, the central plateau of Suvilidas, and the eastern river valley of Asternur.
These regions are connected together by the Dynastic Roads, magically-crafted stone highways. Many of the roads in Sradesium were constructed during the time of the Tyfilian Empire, but others were made during the Dynastic era. All of the Dynastic Roads in Qamenkas were destroyed during The Great Charybdis, so all paths of similar construction, such as the ones connecting The Four Forts, were made during the Dynastic Era. Dynastic Roads were also constructed in regions controlled by Tyfilion, such as Nkejide, Karnawne, and Calania, though in those places they are usually called by their older names, such as the Imperial Roads.
Sradesium contains the Ardulese holdings of the Wensuas. Most of Sradesium has a temperate or cold desert climate, with the exception of the Khidiana basin, which is a temperate rainforest climate. The entirety of Qamenkas has a hot desert climate.
Asternur is the oldest and most populated region of Sradesium. It is based around the historically significant Asternur River, which begins at the Iulanar Spring in the north and feeds out into Alavrakuo Bay in the south. Sheltered within Alavrakuo Bay is the port city of Kyanos, the primary trading location of Arduli’s Coravian coast. Upriver from Kyanos are the Karrai Terraces, named for the Magistrate of the Tyfilian Magocracy that initiated the carving of massive rice fields within hills and mountains surrounding the southern reaches of the Asternur River. Overseeing and operating the farms and villages of the Karrai Terraces is the city of Arkron. North of Arkron, the Asternur River splits into the Weeping River, which feeds into the Zaspira Sea. The sea is named for the ancient mythological queen who supposedly drowned within its waters. At the southernmost tip of the Zaspira Sea is the university town of Makaris, which hosts the primary campus of Dakdur University. Separating the Karrai Terraces from the Suvilidas Plateau is the town of Sum. Sum, which literally means “dam” in Ardulese Infernal, is responsible for magically purifying the water of the Asternur River from the runoff of the mines upstream, making it suitable and nutrient-rich for the farms to the south. Further north, where the Asternur and Syndarto rivers diverge, is Kesatolia. The seat of the Shah and the capital of Arduli, Kesatolia began life as a dragonshard mining town, which is still practiced in the regions surrounding it today. The Asternur river begins at the Iulamar Spring, home to the Monastery of Nassellis and the nearby town of Setardalia.
In the center of Sradesium is the Suvilidas region, named for the plateau that covers most of the area. The two primary theories of the Suvilidas Plateau’s existence is that it either formed from a combination of glacial and volcanic pressures, or that it is a ginormous caldera. Regardless, volcanic activity is common within the region. In fact, the name Suvilidas comes from suvira eplidas, “flat glass”, a poetic epithet for obsidian. The largest settlement in the Suvilidas Plateau is the city of Gokolios. Also within the Suvilidas region, but not within the Suvilidas Plateau, is the Syndarto River of the north, and the town of Eokamikon, widely famous for its hot springs.
The western part of Sradesium is encompassed by the rainforest basin of East Khidiana. As the name suggests, East Khidiana is the eastern part of the Khidiana rainforest that Arduli shares with Ahagwuena. The Syndarto river feeds out into Lake Lyxia, on the coast of which is situated the ancient city of Uneipo. According to legend, the practice of sericulture on Tuatha began in Uneipo, when a woman named Archaema discovered the process of making silk from the cocoons of the local Weavemoths. She has been worshipped ever since as a deity, both on her own and as an avatar of Luna, and the nearby eponymous Mount Archaema has been recognized as her sacred site. Further south of Lake Lyxia is Lake Vaphula, and the coastal fishing town of Yuva. Within the centre of the basin is Ichamun, a town famous for its medical studies, and the supposed birthplace of Asmeklepius. On the Ardulese-Ahagwuenan border is the border town of Westherma.
Life in Qamenkas is difficult, and as such, most settlements spring up around lakes and large oases in the desert. Much of Qamenkas is dangerous to traverse, with hazards such as bandits, predators, and magical ephemera like The Circles. While Arduli claims precedent over all of Qamenkas, it only controls a few settlements directly. This includes The Four Forts located on the Sradesine-Qamenkasian Border: Castle Akthos, Citadel Nithza, Fort Casxire, and Fort Temerity, as well as Port Euphoria, the port town on the Coravian coast named after the late Shah. The town of Hukyrix Dikmiza, named for the two lakes it is situated between, has recently joined with the Arduli Dynasty. Independent towns in Qamenkas include Goldcross, which Arduli is currently trying to curry favour with, the closely allied towns of Fortune and Haven, and the towns of Springwater, Ghost’s Hollow, and Dead Man’s Stand.
In addition, a recently arisen state has contested territory within Qamenkas. The Baokish Territories, formed by Yeojin Families fleeing the fall of Hitochi, have founded the opulent city of Fu Baoki. Also known as The Jewelled City, Fu Baoki is famous for its entertainment, casinos, and resorts. The Yeojin families also created the town of Port Sandy south of Fu Baoki, and have claimed the oasis towns of Redpond, Rogue, and Big Dune under their control. Between Fu Baoki and Port Sandy is the Golden Palm Forest.
Military
The military of Arduli is known as the Dicarian Legions. It is officially led by the Spahrah of Arduli. The Legions are divided into the infantry branch of the Skutatiary Legions, the missile branch of the Toxotiary Legions, the cavalry branches of the Karacataphract (land cavalry) and Avacataphract (air cavalry) legions, the spellcasting branch of the Abyutiary Legions which is split into the divine Theiliary Legions and the arcane Siceliary Legions, the engineering Kusatiary Legions, and the naval Dromiary Legions. Each division is led by a Thematos. The gendarme of Arduli are known as the Asteramlioi. There is also the Asulian Guard, an elite force of warriors and mages, usually made up of orphans trained from childhood or foreigners from distant lands, responsible for protecting the Shah and their family. All members of the Asulian Guard are eunuchs.
Religion
A vast majority of Ardulese practice the state religion of the Court of Niran. After Niranism, other faiths followed include Urbnatism and the Congregation of the Firstborn, especially in East Khidiana. Kanes living in Arduli practice their ancestral religion, Shamashine, which is also the largest minority religion in Qamenkas.
Education
Adolescent education in Arduli is encompassed by private tutors or institutions, available to those who can afford it. The curriculum of these schools are created and supervised by the Dakdur League. University education in Arduli is encompassed by Dakdur University, which has its primary campus in the town of Makaris. The most well known Niranist seminary is located at the Monastery of Nassellis in Setardalia.
Maps
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Map of Arduli
Founding Date
1106 MT
Type
Geopolitical, Theocracy
Capital
Alternative Names
Arduli Dynasty, Ardulshahir, the Tiefling Realm
Predecessor Organization
Demonym
Ardulese
Leader
Leader Title
Government System
Monarchy, Theocratic
Official State Religion
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
