[b]Empire name:[/b] [i]Pulyu Alliance[/i] [img]http://i.imgur.com/OKm7OB7.png[/img] [hider=Empire's Territory] [img]http://i.imgur.com/03pAZyk.png[/img] [/hider] [hider=Empire Territory Demographics] [b]Yumara:[/b] [i]Yumara[/i] (meaning "loom") is the capital of the Pulyu Alliance. Founded in the closest coastal location to [i]Mount Latzilil[/i], it is both a holy city and a trade node. With more than 70,000 inhabitants, its burgeoning squares host both the most noble Rain Court, the priesthood and the lowest commoners and merchants, however, there is notable social class separation in Yumara. Despite the frequent volcanism, the Pulyu alliance islands are higly populated, due to the ironical fertility of their lush jungles, which nourishes as much as endangers their inhabitants. The empire urban nodes are very sparsely populated, adapting to the harsh jungle environment, although there are many urban nodes of 5,000 to 40,000 inhabitants, which responds to the classically descentrallized political structure. In total, the astonishing populous Pulyu Alliance may have arround 3,500,000 [/hider] [b]Empire Alignment:[/b] Warring [b]Empire Anthem:[/b] Dying Sun Dances [hider=Empire's Historical Events] [b]•Founding[/b] Myths tell that the first inhabitants of the islands came from the nearby mainland, escaping from the oppressing neighbouring tribes. [b]•Early Domestic Struggles[/b] Due to the relative tranquility of the islands, the first city-states started to flourish. During this time, significant cultural tranformations ocurred, most importantly the establishment of the religion centered on the Eternal Dance and the origin of the world situated in Mount Latzilil [b]•Early Foreign Struggles[/b] During this period, contact with the mainland was notably scarce. [b]•Cultural Trends[/b] The first stheles and pyramids were built in the ancient city-states. The local language was homogeneus though it lacked any writting system. The deeply developed medical science was however developed in this early era. It is characterized by its heavy use of narcotics, abundant i nthe isles and its heavy ritualization. [b]•Middle Domestic Struggles[/b] The splendour of the city states brought the islands to a general mayhem situation for more than 800 years. Alliances were formed and broken, cities taken and recaptured, armies raised and lost. King Tuulkuan the First founded the harbour of Yumara during a long enough cease of hostilities. The city, greedely desired by the neihbouring states, only survived thanks to the skillfull management of the Pulyu Family. Eventually, the Pulyu assembled enough power to succecively diplomatically subyugate the other city states. The long-lasting civil war was ended with the Earring Pact between the remaining factions, with the clear yet unofficial dominance of Pulyu [b]•Middle Foreign Struggles[/b] During the warring period, trade between the island and the mainland tribes was common. Later, when the islands were becoming more stable, some city states sent expeditions to capture prisioners and territories in the mainland jungles. These tribes could not resist the islanders and quikly lost their political independence. [b]•Middle Cultural Trends[/b] The warring period was surprisingly accompanied with a high degree of cultural developement. A ideogram-based writing system, the development of mathematics, textile industry, masonry, naval science and other arts was prominent in these epoch. However, the highest accomplishment was the development of advanced astrology, supported by the religious sytem of the Pulyu culture. Many new pyramid altars were built as well. Tragicly, the belicous vision of the winner Pulyu led them to rewrite history and thus much heritage was lost. [b]•Current Cultural trends •Current Domestic Struggles •Current Foreign Struggles[/b] [/hider] [b]Empire's Government Type:[/b] City-state vassalage system, submited to the Pulyu ruler, endorsed by the priesthood. [hider=Government Officials] [i]Queen Anahuari Umaya (Seven-thousand Mirror) of All the Stars: [/i] The Queen is the Holder of the Pulyu lineage rights and she is the ruler of all the vassals. Her nability to carry children poses her in a delicate situation in order to keep control of the Rain Court. However, her wit has made the Pulyu Alliance trhive and she is both loved and feared by their inferiors. She is secretly called the Barren Queen, although there are few who dare to offend her, as her though police reaches every corner of the jungles. [i]High Seer Pikal Tacuitli (Speaking Branch):[/i] One of the youngers members of the priesthood, he has been gifted with visions from a young age. This natural talent, and his patience and intelligence drove him to the highest ranks in priesthood. He is deeply traditional and has recently distanced fro mthe Rain Court decision of trade with foreigners. However, nobody ever questions his wisdom and he is the most appreciated counselor of the Queen. [i]Lady Hualtzu Umaya (Plumed Mirror), of the Thousand Rivers: [/i] Sister to the Queen, she grew talented as a militar chieftain. To bekept away from Yumara, due to her bluntness, inadecuacy for the court subtleties and her sounding opinions on how she wishes for the total domination of the Pulyu among the Islands and lack of respect for the "softer" ways of the Queen. She was authorised in an expedition and she commands the raiders of the rivers of the mainland. [i]Lord Balab Hujun (Jumping Tongue): [/i] He is Lord of one of the most important city-states, Jul, and is currently engaged to Lady Hualtzu. His name reflects perfectly his personallity. As a skillfull orator and manipulator, although he has never manifested against the Barren queen, he could easily uprise the Rain Court against her. [/hider] [b]Empire's Interaction Policy/Foreign Relations:[/b] -40. With few rare exceptions, the Pulyu consider foreigners as a rightful sacrifice to the Gods. However, Pulyu elite is interested in trade and knowledge exchange, and thus recently a more welcoming attitude has been stablished. [hider=Military] [b]•Size:[/b] Less than 10% of population [b]•Composition:[/b] Typical Pulyu raiders are organized in small boat bands, mostly archers and spearmen with light or no armor. They often carry poisonous blowguns and light swords aswell. Speed is crucial in the Pulyu warfaring style which revolvs mostly about blitzkrieg, guerrilla and sabotage rather than direct confrontation. Frenzied warriors are also common in the Pulyu lines, due to their (ab)use of narcotics for combat. Archer Priests, through intense meditative training are sometimes called into battle too. [b]•Leadership:[/b] Local Chieftains obedient to Pulyu Lords [/hider] [hider=Tech] [b]•Military Tech: •Household Tech •Medical Tech[/b] [/hider] [hider=Economy] [b]•Imports[/b] Metals [b]•Exports[/b] Narcotics, dyes, refined fabrics, obsidian. [b]•GDP/GDP per capita[/b] [/hider] [hider=Customs/Religions] The faith of the Pulyu Alliance is as ancient as complex. There is an Aspect for every manifestation of reality and nature. At the top of the Pantheon there are the Gods of Creation, with a deep metaphysical meaning, [i]Puhaljáalk[/i] the Aspect of Dreams, specially venerated by astronomancers and prophets; [i]Sultuz[/i] the Aspect of Dance, the god of warfare, life and death and sacrifice; [i]Jukul[/i] the Aspect of Sun, venerated specially among artists and the cultivated and scientific priesthood; and [i]Ixil[/i], Aspect of Cloud, god of fertility, waters,agriculture and also life and death. Religion is deeply mixed with the Pulyu cosmovision, and everything is done for the Sake of the Great Dance, the eternal debt of the humans towards the Gods. Blood, treasures and other offerings are the healing that the Gods require if the world is to still exist. Pulyu people are deeply aware of the transientity and vanity of life, and they cultivate themselves as servants of their mortal Gods. The meditative priests thus justify and claim for the expansion of the Pulyu domains, to satiate the bottomless hunger of the Gods who inhabit the [i]Holy Mount Latzilil[/i] (Star Belly). [/hider]