Shiane

Shiane, officially the Arcane Emirate of Shiane, is a culturally rich and vibrant nation spread throughout the known world of Abexilas. It is ruled by an Emir, with support from various Magistrates who oversee different aspects of governance. 
As a nation it is quite uniqe as instead of having a centralized homeland it is instead spread throughout multiple continents with various trade ports and holdings. It's current capital is Ravenfeather Roost located off the coast of Tiberia.
The Shiane people themselves are known for their deep connection with nature, spirituality, and intellectual pursuits. The nation thrives on its distinct cultural heritage, strong values, and strategic trade routes. An oft made claim of a Shiane Navigator is that they could take you to hell and back within a fortnight.
== Government ==
Government positions
Position 	Domaine
Emir 	Highest political and magical authority
Magistrateof Commerce 	Trade, markets, and economic affairs
Magistrateof Records 	Historical records, archives, legal documents
Magistrateof Diplomacy	Foreign relations, treaties, alliances
Magistrateof Resources	Natural resources, land, minerals, magic
Magistrateof Welfare 	Social welfare programs, charities
The Arcane Emirate of Shiane is ruled by a powerful Emir, who holds supreme authority both politically and magically. He is supported by various Magistrates, each responsible for a critical sector of governance.
== Demographics ==
The Shiane race itself is known to have long straight greasy dark hair and have a warm skintone ranging from olive to chestnut brown. They are tall approximately 6'5 on average with well defined muscles across all genders.
Being located across the world the Shiane peoples come in various shapes due to interracial relationships. They are notably tall with no matter to their mixed heritage and known to have a particular wanderlust. A notable example of this is the current Emir of Shiane, Dr. Garroth Delahoya being Half-Dwarf and being taller than the average Shiane.
Shiane cities known to have a extremely large population of various races and species the world over. Census has yet to be fully taken.
== Culture ==
Shiane culture is rooted in a harmonious balance between nature, spirituality, and intellectual pursuits. Poetry, oral traditions, and epic storytelling are central to Shiane identity, passed down through generations.
=== Ethics ===
The ethical code of Shiane society revolves around the guiding principles of honor, balance and compassion. Honor, referred to as T'shin in Shangian, demands people to uphold personal and familial honor in all actions. Balance, or Kahal, concerns the maintaining of harmony between nature, the community and the self. Ramas, translating to compassion, means that one should show empathy and kindness to others, particularly those in need.
=== Language ===
The language of Shiane is known as Shangian and comes from the ancient Yun-Tsau as civilization where the Akashiro Shogunate is located now, and is an ancient language that can be seen in ruins across Abexilas. There is a dictionary of the language and its various scripts located here however is at this time incomplete, however there is a translator availible here.
=== Calendar ===
The Shiane calendar is based on the Lunar Cycle and is known as the Calendar of the Five Moons. Each moon cycle is tied to one of the five core elements (Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, and Metal/Lightning), and their alignment with the seasons reflects the natural rhythms of life.
The Shiane calendar consists of 12 months, each corresponding to a full moon. The year begins with the New Year Festival (Thunder’s Reckoning), which is tied to the element of Metal/Lightning and symbolizes new beginnings. Every month is named after a particular aspect of Shiane life, either mythological or practical, and each full moon signals the onset of a new festival cycle.
A tool for accessing this knowledge and completing time conversions can be located here.
 Calendar months
No.	Month 	Translation 	Note
1. 	Zuan'ke 	Lightning Moon 	Metal, Lightning, New Year Festival
2. 	Ka'tar 	Forge Moon 	Preparations for the coming festivals, quiet work
3. 	Lira'na 	Wind Blossom 	Elemental balance as winds change with the seasons
4. 	Ve'ka 	Root Moon 	Festival of Roots, Earth,
5. 	Ji'ha 	Sunrise Moon 	Time for planting, related to growth and sun’s blessing
6. 	Tal'ma 	Flame’s Crest 	Fire's first whisper into the warm season
7. 	Kal'tara	Flame Moon 	Flame's Awakening, Fire
8. 	Yen'ta 	Tide Moon 	Time for river and sea celebrations
9. 	Hava 	Water Moon 	Tides of Life, Water
10.	Rin'ka 	Whispering Moon	Winds turn cold, seasonal changes
11.	Kan'thu 	Harvest Moon 	End of gathering, preparing for rest
12.	Rin’ka 	Wind Moon 	Whispers of the Gale, Wind
Each lunar month lasts 29–30 days, and the New Year is celebrated under the first full moon of the first month. The full moon for each element is the key celebration point for each festival.
=== Festivals ===
The Shiane observe seasonal festivals that honor the elements—Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, and Metal/Lightning (for the New Year). These festivals often involve music, dance, and storytelling, where traditional instruments accompany performances that celebrate creation and mythological heroes. They also serve to mark the passage of time, the changing of the seasons, and the cyclical rhythms of life. The culmination of these festivals is the New Year's Festival, centered around Metal and Lightning. SOmething key to note is that the Shiane rever no specific God on these dates, and have no religion.
==== Festival of Roots ====
Celebrated during the month of Ve'ka in mid-Spring, the Festival of Roots celebrates the element of Earth, symbolizing growth, stability, and fertility. It is a time to honor the land that nourishes the people of Shiane and to give thanks for the abundance of crops, plants, and minerals that the Earth provides. Communities come together to plant trees, hold outdoor feasts, and perform rituals asking the Earth for a bountiful harvest. Ceremonies often include dances mimicking the growth of plants, and offerings of fruits, seeds, and herbs are left at sacred groves.
During the festival, Shiane engage in tree-planting rituals, offerings of fruits and herbs to the earth deities, earthbound dances performed in elaborate, soil-toned costumes and the creation of clay statues and pottery crafted to symbolize prosperity for the year ahead.
==== Flame's Awakening ====
Celebrated at the height of summer in the Kal'tara month, Flame's Awakening represents the element of Fire, a symbol of renewal, energy, passion and transformation. This festival serves as a celebration of personal and communal strength, focusing on the inner fire that drives creativity and passion in the people of Shiane. Ritual bonfires are lit in every village, around which people gather to share stories, dance, and make offerings to the spirits of fire. Fire dancers, with torches and flaming blades, are central to the celebration.
Shiane light grand bonfires in the center of towns and perform fire-dances with performers using flaming weapons and batons. There are also competitions of strength and endurance, symbolizing the power of Fire as well as ceremonial cooking over open flames, particularly grilling of the famed Shiane trout.
==== Tides of Life ====
Celebrated in the moth of Hava in late summer, the Festival of Water is a celebration of life’s flow, adaptability and the healing properties of Water. As the Shiane are skilled fishers, this festival holds special importance, coinciding with the high season for trout fishing. Rituals are held by lakes and rivers, where communities offer prayers for calm waters and successful fishing seasons. Children and adults alike participate in water games, swimming races, and processions where vessels of water from sacred springs are carried to the temples for blessing.
It is tradition to connduct water-blessing rituals by rivers and lakes and hold fishing competitions and community fish feasts during the time of the festival. These often include water-themed dances and performances, symbolizing the ebb and flow of life. Water vessels from sacred springs are carried in ceremonial processions to temples for blessing.
==== Whispers of the Gale ====
The Wind Festival honors freedom, change, communication and the unseen forces of life. It is celebrated in the early Autumn month of Rin’ka. The Shiane believe that the Wind carries with it the whispers of ancestors and the gods, guiding the future. Kites in the shape of mythical creatures are flown to honor the winds, and flute music fills the air as the people of Shiane celebrate the invisible forces that govern communication and transformation. Special messages and wishes are written on paper and released into the wind, believed to be carried to the spirits.
Kite-flying contests with kites shaped like dragons, birds, and mythic beasts are commonly held during the festival. Shiane also play 
flute music and hold storytelling sessions focused on legends of wind spirits, rleasing written wishes or messages on paper into the wind for divine guidance. Towns are decorated with wind chimes made from natural materials to attract blessings.
==== Thunder’s Reckoning ====
Marking the New Year in Zuan'ke, the midwinter festival of Thunder’s Reckoning is the most important of the Shiane festivals, symbolizing the raw power of Metal and Lightning, the forces of creation and destruction. It is a celebration of new beginnings, transformation, and the strength to forge ahead. The night sky is lit with fireworks, and metalworking demonstrations are a highlight of the festival. The Rite of the Crescent Moon, the coming-of-age ceremony for young Shiane, takes place during this festival, where they are formally accepted into the community as adults.
Traditionally, there are firework displays representing lightning’s energy and power as well as metalworking exhibitions showcasing the skill of Shiane blacksmiths. The festival also features the Rite of the Crescent Moon, marking the transition of youth into adulthood. Families commonly exchange gifts of metal charms or symbols of strength during this festival.
== Cuisine ==
Shiane cuisine is a dynamic fusion of local ingredients and cooking methods from all around Abexilas. The freshwater trout, (a major export from Ravenfeater Roost), and artisanal cheeses are key elements of Shiane Cuisine.
Popular dishes include Fire Trout Soup, a spicy, fragrant soup made from herbs native to the highlands of. Khan's Delight is likewise a very common dish, consisting of creamy, earthy cheese paired with herb-infused bread. Zhu Cakes are commonly served at festivals. They are small honey-and-nut pastries, symbolizing prosperity.
Common staples include grains, hearty stews made from mountain herbs and root vegetables, and fragrant teas brewed from aromatic leaves. Sweetened rice pastries and fruit tarts topped with spiced syrups are popular desserts. Everything and anything suited to long distance travel is fair game for the Shiane
== Economy ==
Trade is a vital part of the Emirate's prosperity. Shiane markets are renowned for their diversity, offering an array of local goods, particularly freshwater trout and specialty cheeses. These items are traded across international markets for metals, luxury items, and exotic goods.
Shiane marketplaces are not just centers of commerce but also hubs of cultural exchange, where stories, songs, and knowledge are freely traded alongside material goods. You can find a Shiane Marketplace or Merchant on every Continent.
== Weapons ==
=== Asanaga Longbows ===
The Asanaga Longbows are longbows made from ebony and ivory. Those trained to wield this weapon are prized hunters of big game due to its penetrating power and draw weight of 300 lbs. Asanaga Longbows are closely linked with the Asanaga no Arashi techninque. This martial art focuses on the Asanaga Longbow, emphasizing precision, power, and stealth. Asanaga archers are known for their ability to hit targets at extreme ranges and in various conditions. Their techniques often involve using the bow's weight to their advantage, generating powerful shots with minimal effort. It also entails using the bow, arrows, and a side dagger in close quarters combat to round out the weakness posed by archery.
=== Illkhwa Spear ===
The Illkhwa Spear and Hide Shield have long been used by the Shiane. This is the most common weapon of their infantry and City Guards as it is made from an incredibly light and durable brass and has a wider than average spearhead to assist in creating fortifications. When used by an Shiane soldier, can become an extremely practical tool as well as a devastating weapon.
The False Winds or Sagekai Fao is a spinning spear technique used to penetrate heavily armored foes. It often consists of a myriad of strikes onto a singular critical location and multiple defensive techniques to divert and deflect blows. The Wind's Embrace builds on the principles of the Sagekai Fao but instead using dual blades, this style incorporates deceptive movements that mimic the natural flow of wind. Practitioners train to deliver rapid strikes that mislead opponents, often using feints and misdirection to create openings. The focus is on speed and agility, enabling practitioners to evade attacks while simultaneously launching their own.
=== Ono War Axe ===
The most famed Shiane weapon is the Ono War Axe. It symbolizes familial heritage and is often passed down through generations. Its ornate design often tells a family story or represents a myth. This is the weapon prioritized in the Shiane Martial Art, Onosaou. In Shiane culture the axe is passed down from Mother to son, then given as dowry to their future spouse.
The Onosaou or "Speed of Heavy Blade" is an axe-based Martial Arts Style that utilizes a weighted axe, often an Ono War Axe, and centrifugal force to create blinding fast strikes. Loggers used more simplified techniques to defend themselves against bandits in the past. More recently, Onosaou was developed and honed to be more effective in battle and practical in logging.
=== Other weapons ===
Similar to the ancient Atlatl, the Ahoan can hurl spears of magic with extreme ease. Each Infantry carries the device to turn their spears into immediate projectiles of massive force, enabling mid to far-range combat.
The Usgwiga Decorated Shields are exceptionally flexible, stiff, and light.