Belekesh

Belekesh is a vast geographical region covering the west-central portion of Achuirea, dominated by major human states and forming the heartland of human civilization on the eastern continent. It has been inhabited by humans for over five thousand years, since the arrival of the People of the Ships after the end of the Schism Wars; these exiles from Orithea crossed the Emerald Ocean and landed somewhere on the Achuirean coast (supposedly at Tel Kiren), establishing themselves along the seaboard before gradually moving inland over the following centuries. Eventually their descendants spread across all of Belekesh and into lands beyond. Major states of Belekesh include Zuranthus, Sharu-Tur, Khanshoban, Tuladhar, and Xyre. The people of Belekesh are collectively known as Beleks. Etymology: The name of Belekesh derives from the archaic Tuvai roots "bel-" (in this case meaning coast or shore) and "akash" (salvation, deliverance, safety, or refuge). It is easy to imagine why the People of the Ten Thousand Ships gave such a name to the land they reached after their long and perilous flight from Orithea. Note that the "bel-" root is the same that is found in the names of islands like Bel Bheru and Bel Shemra; in ancient days it referred to a coastline (cf. Belverus) but its meaning in Chomarra has shifted over time to mean an island instead.