Somal

Somal is a country on the northwestern shore of the Encircled Sea, in the northeastern portion of Zamoroziet. It is bordered on the west by Bedin and in the east by Prem-Bol.
Up until the 1740s, Somal was part of the Northern Bolish Confederation, which had conquered and subjugated the region between the 9th and 11th centuries. The primeval Som people (a tribe very distantly related to the Yuez) were conquered. Up to the the 17th century, they remained a minority within their traditional homeland.
During the Great Northern War (a conflict associated with the 40 Years War, the Northern Bols suffered several defeats at the hands of various enemies. The Somi and the neighboring Bedi tribes both entered open revolt, massacring the local Bols while also suffering numerous defeats on the battlefield. However, this cascade of rebellions - including the Zakiri to the east - proved overwhelming for the Northern Bolish Confederation, which collapsed under the onslaught. The majority of Bols regrouped in modern Prem-Bol, although some formed/joined the enclave in Kyslev.
Somal officially received their independence in 1754, but the state has seen uncertain times since then. An attempt to seize territory from Prem-Bol in the early 1800s resulted in defeat.
Since the early 1800s, there have been occasional proposals to unify the Som people (specifically, Somal and neighboring Bedin) but these proposals have received little popular support over the years.
Somal is ruled by a monarchy led by Caetizar Valik Valikav. Valik is the son of Caetizarina Akaderenya Valikava, whom he deposed in 1899 after an almost-bloodless revolution (with the sole casualty being the Caetizarina's lover, who was thrown off a balcony to a crowd of soldiers with bayonets).
In spite of their traditional hatred of Bolish culture, language, and customs, Somal's religion is heavily based off traditional Bolish polytheism, with Som names substituted for Bolish names. Somal's broad retention of Bolish polytheism constitutes one of the major differences between Somal and neighboring Bedin.
Since Valik Valikav came to power in 1899, the government has proven more willing to conduct discussions with neighboring Prem-Bol; Valikav even dropped the traditional phrase "defiler of Bolish virgins" from his official list of titles - even most Som started to agree that it was perhaps a little more offensive than strictly necessary.
Somal has an unresolved border conflict with Bedin.
Category:Nations
Category:NPC Nations