[hider=Olira]
[center][h2]Olira[/h2][/center]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/0DCPMwV.png[/img][/center]

[h3]Government[/h3]
Olira is made of up 11 small kingdoms on 6 islands who act as a vassal to one larger central kingdom, Talnoc, the King of Talnoc also bearing the title of High King of Olira. The throne of Talnoc is passed down from father to son, the Ardri dynasty ruling from their capital of Rilik. The other kingdoms have varying levels of autonomy. The current king of Talnoc is High King Had.

[h3]Geography[/h3]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/sTR9NDv.png[/img]

Olira has a varied climate and terrain, from the lush forests and palms of Khasibuil to the green hills of Talnoc, from the sandy beaches of Sahil to the rocky beaches of the Seobaghs. Olira is made up of six islands; the Seobaghs (Deach, Anaghyr, Easif, and Janeas), Khasibuil, and the main island of Kamor. Khasibuil and Kamor and separated by the mighty Ulain river, on which lies Rilik, the capital and by far the largest city in Olira. Other major cities include the southern seaport of Minhu (though Rilik still functions as a port) and the Formorian capital of Malakh.

[hider=Rilik]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/KgT0EBD.jpg[/img]
[/hider]

[hider=Malakh]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/wgZkyfx.jpg[/img]
[/hider]

[hider=Minhu]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/8n1HvE2.jpg[/img]
[/hider]

[h3]Culture[/h3]
 Descendants of both the peoples of Freishann and Khandarai, the humans of Olira are a mixture of ethnicity and culture which take from both lands, these ethnic divisions forming the basis of the kingdoms. Gabhar and Sahil are primarily descended from Khandarai, with the people of Gabhar known for their shepherding and those of Sahil known for sailing. The Seobaghs, Rokai, Trabahr, and Adhmadh are primarily of Freishannese descent, respectively known as fishermen, Karkadanh riders, a mixture of fishermen and shepherds, and woodsmen. Laghad, Sciadire, Khasibuil, Talnoc, and the humans of Shasur are a mixture of both, with Laghad being known for its clergy and cathedrals, as well as being home to the Order of Laghad, a Serenist missionary group. Sciadire is home of many human warriors, but is economically stalled. Khasibuil is extremely fertile, exporting dates, figs, olives, and many other agricultural goods. Talnoc being by far the largest kingdom has a very mixed economy, while Shasur is an industrial hub, with mines dotting its landscapes and blacksmiths filling its towns. Sheepherding something that all the groups of Olirians have in common to some degree, which is why the ram is the symbol of Olira.

 Formor is home to the Formorrin; Grogars originally from Tarkima who migrated to Olira two and a half centuries ago. Formor is the most impoverished kingdom in Olira, largely due to the economic influence of the Serenist Church, which is absent from Formor. It's also to do with an Olirian mistrust of Formorians, populations of whom are prevalent all over Olira and are often discriminated against. Shasur is home to a significant Formorian population, but Formorians are completely segregated, being forced to live in separate parts of towns and cities, while Sciadire has specific laws preventing Formorians from even living there. Significant Formorian populations have also found their way to Talnoc (especially Rilik), where despite a lack of actual discriminatory laws, Formorians still often live in poverty and crime, the Seobaghs and Sahil, where due to their historic maritime prowess Formorians are actually often welcomed, Formorian sailors making up a significant proportion of the pirates and privateers of Sahil. Only in the Seobaghs do Formorians live side by side with humans without poverty or poor reputation. Even lower in society than the Formorians are the children of humans and Formorians, who, with no real place, often resort to crime, banditry, piratry, and mercenary work.

 Existing in Olira since before the arrival of humans, the Yara Ma are an indigenous people in Olira who live in the remotest regions, especially on the island of Anaghyr. Yara Ma often disappear as humans populate a region, relying on a balanced ecosystem, and even if they do not disappear, they have, in the past, been exterminated, due to their consumption of human livestock. Not much is currently known about Yara Ma society, as the only place where Yara live freely without hinderence, the island of Anaghyr, is also extremely hostile to outsiders, often killing them onsite. While the vast majority of Yara Ma encountered are male, females do exist, as do infants. Yara Ma do not fight with weapons, aside from rocks which they throw with a strange expertise, instead relying on magic and their disproportate strength for their small bodies. Yara Ma are arboreal, spending most of their lives in trees, and are thought to be carnivorous. They also have octopus-like suction on their hands, and can easily crush a human throat, which tends to be their preferred method of execution.

[hider=Yara Ma]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/h9zeqM2.png[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Khasibuilian Coastal Village]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/aQCzmi4.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Seobagh Fishing Village]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/lyJiBai.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Village in Ghabar]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/idcYj6H.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Town in Adhmadh]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/Iles9Ko.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Ghabarese Shepherd]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/b5Wv2PO.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Formorian]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/MPnylR6.jpg[/img]
[/hider]

[h3]Military[/h3]

It is the responsibility of each vassal kingdom to create their own armies, though the High King's army will protect its vassals if attacked by an outside force. Vassal kingdoms are also allowed to go to war with each other, and small conflicts occur often. Conquests, however, are rare, the last one taking place twenty years ago. Standing armies do not exist in Olira, and instead, Kings rely on various methods to raise armies when the occasion arises.

[hider=Qurns]
Qurns are Olirian hunters who are recruited into a Kingdom's armies as light infantry, skirmishers, scouts, and raiders or simply just to hunt for the army's food during a campaign. Qurns carry ranged weapons such as bows, javelins, and darts, as well as a melee weapon, weather it be a dagger, an axe, a sword, or a sqian; a long, traditional knife in Olira. Qurns can also be recruited from bandits, with Kings sometimes offering amnesty to Qurns who join their army.
[img]https://i.imgur.com/bbR4rlL.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/lgSNcl9.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Levy]
The backbone of a poor king's army, when a king needs to fill the ranks of his army, he simply enlists them from his peasantry. With each kingdom having a different structure in administration, the costs and effectiveness of the levy vary from kingdom to kingdom, with the more feudal kingdoms being able to create much larger levys at a much cheaper costs. Levys tend to be armed very simply and utilize their "strength in numbers" mentality. Levy troops are either armed with spears and shields or with bows and arrows, to be fired en masse towards the enemy army.
[img]https://i.imgur.com/X6vvOEJ.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/hmcMrUd.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Taisafirin]
Taisafirin are the true symbol of Olirian warfare. Mercenaries, Taisafirin learn war as a profession, and wield heavy weapons such as greatswords and battleaxes, in addition to simple sword and shield combos, and wear heavy armor. They don't work year-round (in most cases); instead, in times of war, mercenary captains will be hired to go from town to town recruiting Taisafirin, who can also be employed for small-scale conflicts, brawls, and guard duties. Some are employed year-round to act as bodyguards, and most retire as they age, usually using their money from adventuring and fighting to buy a homestead. Many Taisafirin are Formorian or half Formorian, and even some human Taisafirin use Formorian weapons.
[img]https://i.imgur.com/nTJUbcm.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/aCfFuWj.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Karkadanh Rider]
Horses never really caught on in Olira. That's because of the Karkadanh; carnivorous unicorns native to Olira. While Karkadanhs are used by civilians as both guard dogs and pack animals, they also compose the entirety of Olirian cavalry. Though Karkadanhs are much faster and far more dangerous than horses, their backs aren't quite as strong, and require much more skilled rider. That's why outside of Rokai, though Karkadanh riders are used, they never quite make or break a battle. In Rokai, however, Karkadanhs are an emblem of war, with riding societies exist around the kingdom.
[img]https://i.imgur.com/pE6WgMA.png[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Mages]
While mages are used in combat in Olira, only healers are recruited by Kings, combat mages being far too expensive. Instead, most mages who end up on a battlefield are volunteers. The Serene Church will also sometimes send deacons to fight if an enemy strays too far from order.
[/hider]
[hider=The Black Band]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/ZOCVtUY.jpg[/img]
Founded by Gultar the Stick around 35 years ago, The Black Band is made up of perhaps the most elite Taisafarin in Olira. Based out of Svawad Castle in Talnoc, the Black Band, unlike most groups of Taisafarin, exist year round, and can be marked by their black banner. The Black Band is made up of a couple thousand, with new applicants piling up around Svawad everyday, although hardly any making it in. What makes the Black Band so effective as a force is not only the skill of the individual mercenaries, but the cohesiveness and solidarity of the units, this being a major part of Black Band training. Aside from acting on a battlefield, the Black Band can also be contracted to destroy bandits, act as bodyguards, train forces, recruit groups of Taisafarin, kill dangerous wildlife, and advise generals.
[/hider]
[h3]Heroes[/h3]
[hider=Superior Hero: Gultar the Stick]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/RmI5UX0.jpg[/img]
The head of the Black Band, Gultar has a taste for war, and has boiled down battle to a primary sense. For the first few years of the Black Band, Gultar lived in squalor, all of his money going to paying for his men, his only payment being in food. His big break came 20 years ago. For years, Laghad had been paying Rokai for protection, but the King of Laghad, a notorious gambler, was short on money. Sahil took advantage of this, and launched a full scale invasion, seeking to conquer Laghad, and cornering the King into his castle, besieging it. All seemed lost, when Gultar snuck into the castle and offered his aid in exchange for monetary compensation. The King of Laghad agreed, giving him the last of his funds, and miraculously, Gultar and the Black Band broke the siege, crushing the Sahili forces. Gultar and the Black Band became famous around Olira, and the construction of Svawad Castle began, with new applicants, funds and resources. The fame of the Black Band reached international levels eight years ago during the war between Olira and Freishann, when Gultar took charge of the Olirian forces and destroyed the Freishannese army. Gultar uses a variety of weapons in combat, but usually relies on a simple arming sword.
[/hider]
[hider=Captain Bahar]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/1VVPihU.jpg[/img]
Sailor, privateer, and captain of the Liba, Captain Bahar is a well known seaman who first rose to prominence in the conflict against Freishann. A young captain of only 20 at the time, not only was he an effective privateer against Freishann immediately before the war, but his was the only ship that managed to break past Freishann's royal navy at the Battle of Minhu, and he personally opened the gate for 
the Olirian forces to enter the city. Now, he still works as a privateer, but performs less shady work, and has a much higher price. He can usually be found with his Formorian first mate in Minhu, and prefers to fight with a scian.
[/hider]
[hider=Albas]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/4JGF5rT.jpg[/img]
Having fought in almost every conflict in Olira for the last few decades, Albas began his experience fighting as a Qurn, but soon became more of a Taisafir, fighting in the capacity of a mercenary tied to no land. For many years, he served at the Gate of Y'vraine, and was offered a position in the Olirian Guard, but refused. He also utilizes magic when he can, though is certainly not an expert. He prefers to fight with a longsword and bow.
[/hider]
[hider=Admiral Nadurtha]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/RnI9cs3.jpg[/img]
Born to a poor farming family in Talnoc, Nadurtha from a young age felt nothing like the other girls in her village, and only felt kinship with her brother, a Taisafir, who taught her how to fight. Ten years ago, when there was a call for privateers to fight Freishann, she felt a call to action, and, stealing a Karkadanh from her village, she took on the guise of a man, Nadur, and went to the sea. She joined up with the Liba, headed by the charismatic young captain, Bahar. She rose to be his first mate, and, after Bahar discovered she was a woman, the two became lovers in secrecy. After the Liba became the most distinguished ship in the war, Bahar was offered to be the High King's admiral as he revamped the navy. Bahar turned it down, but when it was offered to Nadurtha, or more to Nadur, she/he took it, leaving the Liba to Rilik. A couple years into being the admiral, Nadurtha's rival uncovered that she was a woman, and as they attempted to blackmail her, she decided instead to reveal her identity to the High King and the public. While this caused a great controversy, she was not demoted.
[/hider]
[h3]History[/h3]
It's not quite known when humans arrived in Olira, but the displacement of the Yara Ma began almost immediately. As the human migrants to Olira began to settle, different ethnic groups began to form, which formed into clans, which formed into small kingdoms, who remained isolated, warring against each other for hundreds of years. The world of the early Olirians was shook 250 years ago, when Grogar supremecists from Tarkima, seeking to form a true Grogar homeland, invaded Olira, and thus began half a century of war. Eventually, the different kingdoms began allying each other to form larger ones, when two families from two large central kingdoms married to form the Ardri dynasty and the Kingdom of Talnoc. Talnoc sought support from the Serene Church, who sent them funds, and soon the other kingdoms bowed down to Talnoc to lead them, thus creating the title of High King of Olira. Talnoc soon drove the Formorians, or 'Outlanders' back to the seat of their invasion, planning to force them from Olira for good, when the King of the Formorians also swore loyalty to Talnoc, thus ending the war, and bringing Formor into the fold of Olira.

After the Great War, the country began to modernize rapidly with both the unified government and the new support of the Serene Church. Meanwhile, the old prophets who guided to Formorians to Olira clung tightly to their traditions, forming the Grogar Circle to lead the Formorians religiously. While Talnoc remained in peace amongst the island kingdoms, the other kingdoms still waged wars against each other, though those diminished with time and increased adhearance to the Serene Church.

After the war between Laghad and Sahil twenty years ago, the King of Laghad became extremely religious, building a new cathedral and founding the Order of Laghad, a missionary group. These missionaries soon began preaching in Freishann, and gained much support in one coastal city. After riots ensued, some of the missionaries were executed, the rest imprisoned, and a privateer war was waged against Freishannese shipping. Freishann, who's military was thought to be vastly superior to Olira, invaded, and while the navy saw success, their army was crushed by the new strength of the Black Band. After this war, Olira began modernizing their navy, and was brought in as an associate to Freishann and the Emerald Empire's trade league.
[h3]Relations[/h3]
[b]Serene Kingdoms:[/b] Devout in Serenity, Olira maintains ties, economically and militarily, with the Serenist States.
[b]Freishann:[/b] Though the two went to war eight years ago, relations have since cooled, and are actually somewhat close, with Olira now being an associate of Freishann's trade league, Freishann helping to modernize the Olirian navy, and the Black Band assisting the militaries of some parts of Freishann.
[b]Emerald Empire:[/b] The Emerald Empire being a trade partner that Olira had long craved for, victory in the Freishannese war allowed a dream to come true. Currenlty, Olira is in talks with the Emerald Empire to sell the island of Anaghyr.
[h3]Wildlife[/h3]
[hider=Yowie]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/R4SvKF7.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Minka Bird]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/OmNYVnz.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Bunyip]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/PW5yupR.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/1ILZqHr.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Pooka]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/Rz5Cl27.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Auk]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/YgSB3FK.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Thailo]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/syDL8RK.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/GSDOHN3.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Moa]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/DexGfMK.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Hyrax]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/J40Hv3r.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Reiwa]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/YmeXlXK.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Ulain River Dolphin]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/uMBWaEZ.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[hider=Tamall Crocodile]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/SNnfV4u.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[/hider]