Cyrahain
Demography and Population
Cyrahain is populated by many peoples apart from the Cyrah. Felmoran communities live on their western shores, intermingling with the diverse mountain tribes further inland. Highlanders and Bori frequently settle among Cyrah communities in their northern plains, with a few even living in the Cyrahan Heartland. Within a few generations, these foreigners generally view themselves as Cyrah rather than where their families came from originally. The Cyrah are traditionalists and view themselves as one large tribe; in Myrahadan "Cyrah" literally means "the people". They view the other Therosolians as Cyrah who have forgotten the teachings of their ancestors.
The populace of Cyrahain is largely spread out among small rural communities across its territory, with ancient Vicilior providing the only true city. Though not as large, the Capstone temple is another place where Cyrah gather in larger numbers. Most goods and resources produced in the country are either bartered between individuals or communities, or brought to the city to be traded there.
Lifespans among the Cyrah are far longer than their counterparts elsewhere in Therosol, thanks largely to the Wyrdahlir. This Order presides over the balance of the natural world, and are effective healers. The Wyrdahlir are are widespread, well traveled, and service the health needs of all Cyrah.
Territories
Prior to Thol's expansions, Cyrahain did not define its borders. All of Therosol is Cyrahain in the minds of the Cyrah. After the land came under the control of King Gwyrden, its territory was defined as the lands between the King's Crown Mountains and the Aracan Forest. The Mosiva River marks the northern border, and the sea marks the south.
The southern coast of Cyrahain is the lowest point of the Therosolian coastline. The capital city of Vicilior spills down a steep slope into a stoney bay, wrought from white stone. An ancient harbor sits amid the bay, largely derelict except for the fishing skiffs that cross the shallow waters. Wreckage and ruins lay entangled in the swaying kelp forests just below the surface. Atop the slope, a great, pockmarked wall separates the city from the rest of the Isle.
Beyond the wall, a great plain stretches out to the north with woodlands scattered here and there. The woods thicken into a proper forest to the east. The Capstone temple sits upon a hill overlooking a small spring in that forest. Similar to the white stone structures of Vicilior, the temple was built in ancient times, by the Cyrahan forefathers. Towns and villages cluster nearby it for proximity to that holy ground.
Cyrahan communities intermix with Felmoran communities in the west and Bori communities in the north.
Military
Cyrahain has no organized military. Their people do not generally learn to fight, with very few exceptions. There are no guards, militia, or warrior class. The Tyridahlir preserve the fighting traditions of the forefathers, but do not serve a military function.
The Wolf King started as a leader of the Tyridahlir before he consolidated power as King in Vicilior. He and his followers could not levy warriors by traditional means due to the lack of skilled fighters among the Cyrah, so he allied with Islanders from the Green Sea, and worked ancient spells to make his own people more feral. These Islanders and beastmen provided an impressive army out of seemingly thin air, and caught most of Therosol by surprise when he launched his campaigns.
While most of the Tyridahlir were destroyed in the wars that followed, some still remain; the last vestiges of an ancient warrior tradition.
Religion
Cyrahan beliefs are grounded in the ancient tenets of Amalgamism; the belief that all life must stand united against the Darkness. Their foreign relations, laws, and day-to-day lives are all based around the religion.
Acceptance of other beliefs and thoughts is encouraged, so long as they are not harmful to the core tenets of Amalgamism. As such, many secondary religions permeate Cyrahain. Deities such as Teshir, Gardayl, and Boradan are celebrated throughout the West, where Felmoran culture intermingles with Cyrahan. Animism and shamanism come from the mountain tribes and the Bori in the North. Eastern Cyrahain is tangled with the worship of Father Oak and personifications of the Three Seasons. In the heartland these religions are regarded with the utmost seriousness, with shrines and other dedications bidding practitioners welcome. Vicilior itself has a massive Temple to the Gods with wings devoted to the many religions of Cyrahain.
The Palwadahlir preside over the secondary religions in Cyrahain, learning of them and ensuring that nothing stands out against Amalgamist teachings. If anything does, the Palwadahlir set about changing whatever tenets they find to better fit into Cyrahan ideology. They do this by either editing and dispersing holy texts, or through sermons and teachings. The Cyrah are patient, and this conversion process can last for generations before reaching uniformity. The Temple to the Gods is the magnum opus of the Palwadahlir, where all the collected religions are blended into a single entity; a massive pantheon of deities and philosophies professing Amalgamist doctrine.
Foreign Relations
The Galadahlir (diplomats) of Cyrahain frequently visit the lands of their neighbors. Their mission is to spread good will and promote unity between the peoples of Therosol, and as such they seek to maintain peace. Despite this mission, many foreign powers view the Galadahlir wearily. Often these diplomats will push Cyrahan culture and law upon foreigners. They attempt to arbitrate disputes, pass judgements, and convert the people to the Cyrahan way. Their meddling can sometimes be beneficial, but is not often well received. The Vulshik even believe this to be a tactic with which Cyrahain conquers other lands.
Despite the occasional tensions brought on by the actions of these diplomats, Cyrahain has seen very little conflict with its neighbors. The only notable exception was with the conquests of the Wolf King Thol in the late 1020s, which saw the borders of Cyrahain grow over double their original size. It was these conquests which led to Thol's eventual defeat and the rise of the King with the Burning Crown.
The actions of the Wolf King and the Galadahlir, coupled with the mysterious mystic practices of the Dahlir, make much of Therosol look to Cyrahain with mistrust. That said, there are those who embrace the Cyrahan ideals of unity and good will, and see nothing wrong with joining Cyrahain.
Education
Most Cyrah children are taught by the Palwadahlir of their village or town. They learn of the various Dahlir, as well as how to find and contact them. The Palwadahlir also teach the tenets of Amalgamism and the laws of Cyrahan society. This education starts just before adolescence, and ends around adulthood.
Young adults who excelled in their early education are often recruited into the Dahlir. Their teachers will send them to whichever order best fits their temperament, and three years of further training is given in their area of expertise. Trials then determine if a recruit is eligible to take an oath and become a Dahl. Failure of a Trial is final, and the recruit is sent back home to resume their lives as laypeople. However, a recruit may decline taking the oath on their own accord as well.
Laypeople often take apprenticeships with craftsmen, hunters, gatherers, farmers, or any other professions. Most of these are generational and taught within families. Those who trained with the Dahlir are held in high esteem among the laypeople, and often have a great deal more skills than those of the average layperson.
Fully fledged Dahl never stop learning. Many are paired with Dahl from other orders to better understand the inner workings of Cyrahain as a whole. Others plumb the libraries of Vicilior and Capstone for ancient knowledge. Every Dahl collects wisdom from across their experiences until their hair begins to grey. At that point, they may present themselves to the Dhal Cyrahan in Vicilior to face their Second Trials. Success in these elevates the Dahl to Cyradahlir, a senior rank that oversees all of the orders. The Cyradahlir can educate other Dahlir, preside over complex cases, or research whatever they desire. They are completely unbound by the responsibilities of the lesser Dahlir, intervening as they wish.
Capital
Demonym
Cyrahan
Ruling Organization
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Kritarchy
Power Structure
Unitary state
Economic System
Traditional
Legislative Body
The Great Stones
Judicial Body
The Dahlir (Orders)
Executive Body
The King and the Master of Oaks
Official Languages
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Comments