Haza

Haza

Government
Feudalism
Capital
Beljovac
Cities
Ide Volcar, Voj Sunac, Pestyk
Major Worship
Boccob, Lirr, Olidammara, Osprem, Pholtus

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Climate
Mild
Exports
Artwork, coffee, cotton, jewelry, olive oil, rice, silver
Imports
Artwork, gems, grain, leather goods, wine

The country is bordered by Jucatta to the west, the Dark ocean to the north, Vilda to the east, and the Sarodin Sea to the south.

The Kingdom of Haza and the Protectorate of Vilju, more commonly known as Haza, is quite rich and highly developed and has been ruled by House Meloi for centuries.

Vilda, is technically an independent country but in reality a vassal of Haza.

Government

A traditional feudal system with the monarch ruling through many vassals; dukes, earls, barons, etc. forms the backbone of the nation. There are many noble families, some of more influence than others. Vassals are free to rule their fiefs as they see fit, with some restrictions such as an obligation to treating the peasantry well and upholding Hazan ideals.

Taxes are not low but almost anyone can make a good living here. Crime rates differs per fiefdom but are usually not too bad, every town or city has a town guard, called the Green Guard, paid for by the local ruler. There is also a national 'secret police', called the Kurbak, who nominally report to the monarch but seem to operate mostly independently.

Magic

It is unclear why but there are more spellcasters in Haza than in most countries. It is often referred to as Boccob's Boon. Some speculate it has to do with the coffee that people drink here, others claim that even before the Collapse and the large scale cultivation of coffee, spellcasters were common here.

Of all organizations originating from south of the Sarodin Sea, Abjura Dolana is probably the one with the largest foothold north of the sea. They have a quite close relationship with the Haza government and help with identifying any arcane spellcasters who enter the country. Said spellcasters are then given the choice to pay 5 gold pieces for a license that requires them to also swear fealty to the royal house. If they do so, they are required to visibly wear a badge that indicates they took the oath, anyone wearing one can be ordered by the town guard or other government officials to help them out. Alternatively one can pay 500 gold pieces for a license without the oath.

Religion

Pholtus is the state religion but they have lost influence over the centuries. Their temples can be found in all cities though. Olidammara represents another aspect of the populace; they are quite the bon vivants when given the chance. Boccob and Lirr found a warm welcome here after Collapse and their worship is more widespread than one would expect. Osprem worship is popular along the coast.

Geography

Bordered in the west by the impenetrable Gora Mountains, the country features rolling hills and wide valleys as one goes east. Agricultural activity here is quite varied with rice being the staple crop. This is also where the country's coffee is cultivated.

East of the Ura river valley the terrain turns into plains with just the occasional tree; mostly eucalyptus, ojcu, and sycamore. These prairies are roamed by both wild and domesticated guanacos and alpacas. The former are kept for their meat and the latter for their wool.

Going further east we come to the Minar Basin which is shared with Vilda. This area is quite warm and wet, with many swamps to the north. The southern region of the basin is known for its cotton, said to have been smuggled out of Jucatta many centuries ago.

The northern border is the Dark ocean, of which the less said, the better, its mist enveloping the coast eternally. A number of mountains to the north, however, have proven to be very rich in metals, silver in particular but gold and platinum are not uncommon either.

The Sarodin Sea forms the southern border and is used quite extensively. The country has a large fleet of fishing boats, most equipped with a distinctive single outrigger. Uniquely, they have created fish 'farms' along the coast; huge nets create pens where fish are kept and bred.

Silazni Zmaj Bay

This bay with its collection of islets featuring ridges, towers, and caves has stood as a natural bulwark against invaders. Early in the country's history extra defenses were added to the magnificent bay, somewhat diminishing its extraordinary beauty but being very effective at stopping multiple invading armadas.

Sre Planina

This four kilometer tall mountain northwest of Ide Volcar was mined for silver even before the Collapse. It wasn't until after that event that it became clear just how much silver it contained. With newer technology the Hazans extracted many, many tons of pure silver, nowadays production seems to have declined to just a trickle.

Ecology

Many rodents make their home here, including species not seen south of the Sarodin sea. There are many types of cavia, both tiny ones and a species that is over a meter long. Maras are plentiful and quite fast. Viscachas, which resemble rabbits, live both in the mountains and on the plains.

There is plenty of space for mammals, and there is a very diverse range of them. Guanacos and alpacas are very numerous. Giant anteaters are quite common on the eastern plains and tapirs in the western valley forests and rivers. Sloths roam the plains, including a huge species of over 7 meters long. Different deer species can be found all over; the gama of the plains, the huemul who live in the Gora Mountains in summer and come down for the rest of the year, and the pudu; a tiny species that is only 35 cm tall.

Predators certainly exist but aren't as numerous as in most places. They include many species of cat, including the jaguar and cougar. There are also the the maned wolf which might not be a wolf at all, the plains fox which might not be a fox, and the bush dog that might not be a dog.

Caiman can be found in the Minar Basin as well as various species of turtle and tortoise which range further. Lizards are not too common but there is the black and white tegu which gets up to 2 meters long. Much more dangerous are some of the snake species; boa constrictors and a very venomous pit viper named the yarará.

There is a wide variety of birds, notably hummingbirds, horneros, flamingos, herons, cormorants, swallows, and tinamous (sometimes confused with partridges). The rhea is a large flightless bird found on the plains. Hawks, falcons, and the Gora condor are the most common raptors.

Along the coast one can find elephant seals, fur seals, sea lions and species of penguin. The territorial waters have abundant sea life; dolphins, orcas, and whales. The most numerous fish include sardines, hakes, dolphinfish, salmon, and sharks; also present are squid and king crab. Rivers and streams have many species of trout and the river cougar, a voracious fish with a dangerous bite.

Monsters

The Restless (undead) are more prominent here than in most countries, some link this to the abundance of spellcasters but they consider this slander. Goblinoids here are quite hardy, bugbears and hobgoblins are more prevalent than your garden variety goblins. Gnolls are a constant danger in the north, so much so that there is quite a hefty bounty on them.

A few different types of giants can be found in the Gora Mountains but rather improbably, no reports exist of them attacking people.

In and around the swamps of the Minar basin, camps of troglodytes can be found. The real danger though are the swarming meenlocks, no one is quite sure where they come from but they have been around for centuries. Trolls are frequently seen here but can also be encountered in the rest of the country.

Along the coast tribes of koalinth and locathah share the same grounds in a tenuous peace that was brokered by House Meloi in ages past.

One of the typical Hazan monsters is the manticore, many of them roam the countryside. The shambling mound is another monster that is found in Haza much more frequently than in most countries.

A popular story claims that an ancient, gargantuan purple worm called Fialový Červ lives in Sre Planina and either mines the silver and brings it to the surface or is the source of the silver deposits in the mountain, excreting them as it goes. Either way the tale seems too fanciful to be true.

History

Before the Collapse the country of Haza was only the size of what is now the western half of the country. The nations to the south of the Sarodin Sea were always more advanced but rulers shrewdly negotiated a treaty with the Balturans who came north to mine the Gora Mountains. This brought them not money but advances in just about all fields of science.

After the Collapse the country was beset upon from both the east and west by neighbors who saw Haza's relative prosperity as their only chance of survival in a world in upheaval. These invasions were easily defeated; the Haza army had quite a bit of magical support and modern weapons. The armadas from the west were so thoroughly destroyed that the saying 'sending a fleet to Haza' is still in use these days to mean doing something very foolish.

About a century after the Collapse another desperate and futile attack from the impoverished nations to the east turned into a reverse invasion as the Hazans decided to conquer their neighbors and bring them into the fold, thus staving off any future attacks. This is when the country grew to its current size.

As a political ploy they let the tiny country of Vilju in the northeast exist as a protectorate instead of conquering it outright, also due to the fact it never attacked them. They installed Haza's royal heir as monarch of Vilju which meant their children were then princes and princesses in their own right and thus able to use those honorifics, lifting them above the other nobles of Haza.

The next centuries the country remained relatively insular. They were attacked by their eastern neighbor Vilda no less than four times but these invasions were more than ill-advised and countered with ease and little losses.

One of the defining features of Haza is its courtly intrigue. Instead of fighting for the throne with personal armies the nobility has always used marriages, pacts, and rumors instead. Thus the ruling family has changed quite a few times since the Collapse but without that hurting the country much economically. The current ruling family, House Meloi, has ruled for centuries now, the longest period one family has been in power.

The country has grown from strength to strength, mostly out of view of the southern nations. Both technologically and culturally it can now match a country like Mifora though Miforans would never admit to this. And ever since House Meloi came to power they have been going out into the world, exporting their values and gaining influence, also via their pre-eminent merchant guild, House Ditta.

Culture

Humans make up the majority of the populace with halflings being the second largest group. While there are few orcs on this side of the Gora Mountains, half-orcs are still quite common. Dwarves, gnomes, and half-elves are each a small minority of about the same size. Gnomes have been here since before anyone can remember, while most dwarves are descended from those stuck here after the Collapse. Most half-elves are more recent arrivals, having come here in the last few centuries.

Dancing is incredibly popular in Haza, from very prescribed courtly dances to the wildly flailing 'leg up' dances that can be found at any tavern. Of special note are the 'host dances' where the populace dresses up in traditional outfits and then fills entire town squares to dance in vast groups, linking arms and swaying in patterns to the accompanying music.

The Epic is an oral tradition that is still very much practiced in the eastern part of the country. These tales of thousands of verses are performed both by traveling pjesniks (poets) and village elders. It takes years to learn an epic and be able to recite it in such a way to keep the audience entertained. The practitioners are very protective of their craft and have resisted all attempts at writing down the tales.

Outside of Jucatta this is the only place where cotton is grown and since the invention of an improved spinning wheel, the kolovrat, its production has seen a meteoric rise. These days most underclothes are made of cotton as are sheets and towels. Filters made of cotton were also important for the rising popularity of coffee. Cotton clothes have become so popular that they are now exported and sold as luxury items abroad.

Outer-clothes and many other things are still mostly made of wool, specifically the wool of the alpaca. It is highly prized by the Hazans and seen as superior to sheep's wool, though there doesn't seem to be an agreed upon reason why this is so. Hazan woolen clothing is distinct for not being a single color; most have multiples bands of different colors. These can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal, depending on the region.

Hunting has long fallen out of favor with the nobility but falconry is very popular among them. Most nobles, young and old, go out at least once a week with their birds. The breeding of falcons has become big business and the best command prices even beyond those of thoroughbred horses. There is such a rivalry to own the best raptor that some enterprising individuals try to lure birds away from their owners.

Food

Haza is known for coffee and the elaborate culture around it. Most Hazans starts their morning with a tiny cup of freshly brewed black liquid, many have their own rituals for preparing it. The beans are not that cheap so the majority of the populace has no more than one cup a day. Now that export of coffee is taking off, there have been grumblings that this has increased prices for hard-working Hazans.

Hazan people have a reputation for their love of eating. Social gatherings are commonly centered on sharing a meal. Invitations to have dinner at home are generally viewed as a symbol of friendship and warmth.

One of the main characteristics of Hazan cuisine is its simplicity, with many dishes made up of few ingredients, and therefore Hazan cooks often rely on the quality of the ingredients, rather than the complexity of preparation. Some of the most used ingredients are the local long grain rice, potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, beans, olives, garlic, onions, artichokes, lettuce, eggplants, zucchini, and different types of cheese.

Most regions of Haza are known for their guanaco-oriented diet. Grilled meat from the barbecue is a staple, with steak and beef ribs especially common. This is often served with a condiment called mišuška, a cold sauce of herbs, garlic olive oil, and vinegar. Chickens are ubiquitous but in some regions maras and viscachas are seen more often on the menu. In Kolechia the gama deer is quite popular. Along the coast, fish is eaten more than meat, sardines are especially highly prized, and where there are rivers or lakes, silversides, jaguar catfish, and headstanders are much favored.

Four-Folds, small pastries of meat, cheese, beans, and many other fillings, are a common sight. They also vary in their looks, since they are folded with a traditional decorative edging that serves as a way to identify the flavor. Kazola is a traditional Kolechian dish of rice cooked with broth until it reaches a creamy consistency, onions, crushed almonds, and coriander are added during cooking.

The milk from alpacas is used for the making of both hard and soft cheeses. The hard cheeses are usually grated over many Hazan dishes. The soft cheeses are used as filling in four-folds and sweet soft cheeses are a very popular dessert. In the far north alpaca milk is drunk, but this is seen as an aberration by the rest of the country.

Other than cheeses, desserts are often made of rice sweetened with spices like vanilla and cinnamon, they often also contain many varieties of nuts. A famous dessert is Czassat, a sponge cake filled and decorated with figs, drizzled in honey. Another after-dinner favorite is cherries soaked in spirits.

The common drink is a lightly alcoholic mead made with lancepod fruits. While there are plenty of grains grown in the eastern part of the country, beer isn't very popular. Wine certainly is, but since almost all of it has to be imported, it is only for those of some means. The country is known for its many spirits, made from either rice or grain, mostly flavored with bark or berries. These are usually cheap and bountiful. Some of the most expensive spirits are more refined and flavored with herbs and spices. The top of the line is Liovy, said to be made with a hundred different ingredients.