Geography
The Kushatani is a region more united through a common cultural heritage than by geography. The Kushatani region has diverse terrain, ranging from arid deserts in the central region to hilly and rocky terrain in the northwest. The region is separated from Ibaragi to the south by mountains and is connected to Soyotama in the west and Nakahonia in the east by land and sea. The northern connected to the Fukuyama mountains, while the Eastern part juts out into a peninsula, which is dominated by a large river running east to west near the mountain border with Izumo.
Climate
The Kushatani region has a diverse climate with arid and dry conditions prevailing throughout most of the area, although the coastal regions along the Azima and Orochi seas experience a milder and more humid climate. The western parts experience hot and dry summers with occasional wet winters due to warm sea currents. The eastern peninsula has a cooler climate due to the influence of the river and the mountains.
Natural Disasters
The Kushatani region is susceptible to several natural disasters, including droughts, sandstorms, and flash floods. The arid central desert is prone to dust storms, which can cause problems for nomads and agriculture. The region's coastal areas are exposed to flooding during the wet season and landslides due to much of the region being close to mountainous regions.
Major Geographical Features
The Azima Sea is a prominent body of water located in the western region of Kushatani and has long been a vital hub for trade and commerce. It is named after the legendary Dragon Azima, who is said to reside within the waters of the sea. According to Kushatani folklore, nearly 600 years ago, the dragon aided the Azima Cities in repelling an invasion by the Sakain Empire, and in exchange for its assistance, it was granted the right to extract taxes from ships that traveled through the Azima Sea.
The Orochi Sea is nearly entirely enclosed by land on all sides and is a major route for trade between the lucrative cash crops of the Kushan Peninsula, and the rest of the world. The Orochi Sea was named for the dragon which once resided within its waters, and which according to legend was a tyrannical dragon extracting tribute in terms of people and money until the Kami Sussano arrived and defeated Orochi in a fierce battle, and remains an important local legend in southern Kushan Penisula.
The Sabaku Desert is the largest desert in Ashihara, and because of the lack of water and extreme temperatures make it nearly impossible for settled communities to survive, and only a few hardy nomadic tribes have adapted to the harsh environment.
The Paschi Region is a problematic rocky and hilly region creating many petty nations in between. The constant conflict over the region between the Eshor Kingdom and the Astrium Empire has helped make the region a complex network of different cultures both Kushatani and Soyotama; religions both the Mirai and church of Kagutsuchi, as well as older Yomi worshipers; and causing frequent petty conflicts.
The Kushan Peninsula is the heartland of the Kushatani culture group and is named for the ancient Kushan Empire which once resided in the area.
The Taftan Mountains geographically mark the part of the border between Kushatani and Ibaragi. Although in recent centuries, the region is better known for being a buffer zone between the two great powers the Eshor Kingdom and Sakain Empire, which is due to the frequent skirmishes that have occurred between these two great powers since the end of the invasion of Kushatani by the Sakain Empire.
The Hayana Mountains mark the border between the Kushatani and Izumo and used to be a major route for trade before travel by become sophisticated enough 400 so years ago when global trade began. In addition, due to the migration of ideas, the Hayana is home to many temples, from temples to the Mirai, to the Izumo and Yamatai Kami, and temples for mediation by Tagami monks.
The Leika Canal was originally built by the Talin Republic as a way to shorten the distance between the Kushan trade, as well as reinforce their navel presence in the Orochi Sea against the Susa rebels fighting against the Anshin dynasty. While initially damaged in the great war, it has since been repossessed by the Eshor Kingdom, the orgionally owner of the land.
The Reyka River is the largest River in Kushatani, and one of the largest in the world at 1000 miles long, which is also one of the most fertile regions in the world, which has allowed the Reyka River Valley to become one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, particularly with cash crops such as Tea, cotton, and many natural dyes.
The Kjela Valley is situated between two smaller mountain ranges that extend from the main Fukuyama mountains. The valley is home to numerous dwarven strongholds, which were initially invited to settle in the area after the Sakain Invasion resulted in significant depopulation. These strongholds now form an independent kingdom and are the only dwarven state with direct access to the sea. As a result, the region experiences a high volume of trade with other dwarfs residing in the Fukuyama Mountains proper.
Cultures
Major Cultures
The Kushan culture values the caste system and views it as a means of protecting their native culture and religions. This system makes it difficult for minorities to advance and reinforces the belief in a natural order that promotes the most efficient use of people's abilities. As part of this, professions which are considered dirty such as bucthing and tanning, are usually left to minorities. Agriculture is highly regarded in Kushan society and is considered one of the most virtuous professions, along with military service, nobility, and priesthoods. However, the Kushan do not place much value on commerce and have largely avoided industrialization, relying on foreign merchants for trade. Exceptions exist in the southern Susa region, where commerce and industry are more prevalent, and in the western regions, where mining is a significant industry. Despite their aversion to foreign ideas, the Kushan are known for their friendly nature and respectful treatment of foreigners.
The Eshor people are highly religious and principled people who follow a strict set of rules which dictate an individual's behavior for the good of the group. From diet laws to social rules, the Eshor people believe there is a right thing for everything, deviations from those rules must be corrected. They are very focused on living a pure and disciplined life, and industrialization has only reinforced this with a boom in domestic manufacturing although a great deal of effort has been put towards the safety of people as responsibility rules dictate. This in turn has seen a boost to commercial activities, although due to rules against loaning with interest, Eshor lacks a robust domestic Finance industry. In addition to being highly religious, Tagami is more common than the Mirai and many people are part of religious orders. However, the most valued position for Eshor is the Miliaary as it is seen not as an aggressor, but as a defender of righteousness, defending the people from Sakain, Astrium, and Ayakashi alike.
The Azima are a people who are highly focused on commercial and naval professions, as such Azima with its back against only moutnians is centered around the Sea with majority of Azima being involved, from fishing, to shipping, to shipbuilding, with many making their fortunes in foreign markets. Although since the great war, Azima have been forced to create domestic industries they had previously relied on trade routes to supply them with goods. Being former Colonies, the Azima maintain an important link to their ancient homeland by tracking linages, and despite the caste system not existing within the Azima cities, one ansestor caste can bring both positive and negative social impacts, As well as their ancestors roles they held in the colony. This in turn has meant the class of natives which have largely assilimated, remain locked out of many positions lacking any anstory to Kushan Colonies in the region.
MInor Cultures
The Paschi are a fierce and independent people who value their differences from each, although they rarely agree on anything except the desire keep their independence.
The Harika, like the Azima were originally colonials, but have been far less successful, and have most focused on agriculture, and rich iron ore resereses in their land.
The Kjala Drawves have relatively recently divated from the Ascos Drawves, and even more recently gained their own nation state, although during the period under Kushan rule, they devolped a strict adarance to the principles of the Tagami Philosophy. Since the great war they have developed a robust financial and commercial sector, as their position enables them to tap into the largely untouched Fukuyama mountians and Ascos Drawves with relative ease.
The Sabaku Nomads live islated from the rest of Kushatani, where they mirgate from place to place in search of water for their livestock they relay on, because of this the Sabaku are highly skeptical of outsiders, and frequently come into conflict, although trade is also just as common.
The Kusei desend from the Third Izumo's Empire effort to considate its position within Kushatani by settling Izumo within Kushan, today the Kusei are largely concentrated in the east where historically oversaw the Kushatani and Izumo trade until this declined and Kushan closed their doors to non Kushatani. The Kesei themselves are similar to the Sansei, being commerce driven, with a combination of beliefs to the approach towards commerce being seen part of the same natural order the Kushan beilive in. As such historically the Kusei have been highly influence in driving the industrization of Kushan, although with the recent indpdenet Kusei nation state since the great war, many have left Kushan proper.
The Keltan are an ancient people who once the majority in Kushan but were overtaken when the Kushan first arrived with their superior technology. Today, the Keltan remain a tribal people, who while are not hunter gathers, focus on basic agriculture and production of goods at the village level. Notoably they are also well known for their worship of the Yomi Kami, much to the hatred of their Kushan neibors.
The Kushan Elves originally started out as exiles fleeing persecution of Izumo, the Kushan Elves settled In the central hills and mountians where they established strong fortified camps which over time turned into fortresses. The Kushan Elves are highly islationist and maintain a form of their ancient culture, with worship of the dead Kami Anhua being a major facit of their culture. Although the Kushan Elves are frequently forced to integrated with the rest of Kushan, and their have been many concentrated efforts by Kushan officials to remove them from their mountain forts, and relocate them into urban gettos where they can be much more easily controlled instead of making problems with constant revolts.
Religion
The Mirai
The Main Faith in Kushatani is built around the Mirai, originally founded during the Kushan Empire. The Mirai are three Kami, Bisha is the kami of Justice and Law, Benza is the kami of wisdom and Creativy, Daiko is the Kami of craftsmanship, who collectively are the Kami of Fate and reincarnation. This system places individuals into different castes based on what the Mirai chose for them, with social status and roles determined at their coming-of-age ceremony. The Mirai serves a major part of everyday life, with all three usually being the center of personal actions and morals.
Tagami Philosophy
Around the time of the Vendi Empire Tagami Philosophy emerged from the musings of a local prince turned hermit. This philosophical religion proposed that mortals and Kami were subject to universal laws based on the principles of Wisdom, Courage, Justice, and Temperance. Tagami's teachings emphasized the importance of moral behavior and self-improvement, encouraging individuals to strive for personal growth and enlightenment.
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