Herdaz

Herdaz is a country in the north-eastern portion of Roshar. Covering 1,155,000 Km2, it is Roshar's seventh largest country by area. Herdaz is organized as a monarchy, ruled over by a hereditary monarch. 
The people from Herdaz are called Herdazians, and can be found in many surrounding countries.
== Geography ==
Herdaz is a coastal nation in the north-east of Roshar, covering approximately one million square kilometres of land. Most of its jagged coastline lies on the Reshi Sea, while a small part of it faces Steamwater Ocean and the Bay of Elibath. From the south, Herdaz borders Jah Keved on two rivers and Alethkar on land. Across the sea, it is close to a number of Reshi Isles. It lies around the same lattitude as Iri and Rira.
Most of the country is a series of long and narrow peninsulas jutting out into the sea, and a single larger one separating the island of Akak from the rest of the Reshi archipelago. Their territory also includes a singular island of unknown name, situated north of Akak. The Herdazian interior appears to be rather flat, with a single major river dividing the western and eastern halves of the country, and a number of smaller, shorter coastal rivers. Though there are cities there, none of them are considered to be of global importance.
It appears to be a verdant and grassy area.
== History ==
The area that would come to be known as Herdaz was once inhabited by Singers before the arrival of humanity from Ashyn. Shortly after humanity's arrival from Ashyn and colonization of the land that would come to be known as Shinovar, they began to violently expand and colonize land across Roshar, which included this land. Some Singers, in an attempt to fight back the invasion, turned to Odium and became the Fused, whilst others refused Odium's power and remained simply Singers.
During the Silver Kingdoms era, what would come to be Herdaz was part of the kingdom of Rishir, which additionally encompassed modern Reshi Isles as well as northern Jah Keved, Alethkar and Tu Bayla. 
At some point, the people living in this particular region of Rishir intermingled with the remaining singer population, birthing people with a mixed Rishir and Singer heritage. Modern Herdazians still show signs of their ancient Singer heritage in their carapace nails and higher rate of asexuality compared to other ethnicities. It is uncertain when Herdaz became its own country, though it is considered relatively new, and is said to have occurred after the scouring of Aimia.
Herdaz has a long history of conflict with the Alethi. It was one of the first conquests of the warlord Sadees, though like many others, it did not remain within his sons' grasp after his death. Following this event, various other conflicts have occurred, with Herdaz becoming known as a traditional first step in Alethi aggression.
Much later, following Gavilar Kholin's unification of Alethkar, a change of dynasties occurred in Herdaz after a Reshi house rose to power, and the new monarch began threatening the Alethi borders in an attempt to test them. The Alethi responded by sending armies led by the king's brother, Dalinar Kholin, who spent about four years campaigning in the borderlands, shaping the modern Alethkar-Herdaz border. 
Prior to the True Desolation, it seems the country wasn't doing very well, as numerous Herdazians elected to leave it, with some only coming back from time to time while others never returned. However, it appears to have weathered the Everstorm without much destruction, as the Voidbringers focused on bringing down their neighboring states. When Dalinar contacted them to get their support for his coalition, they initially believed that he was trying to trick them into letting him invade them.
Following the fall of Alethkar, a number of Alethi forces withdrew to Herdaz in an attempt to mount an organized resistance, among them forces led by Sheler and Relis Ruthar. While most refugees have been folded under the command of the Herdazian general Dieno enne Calah, the cooperation between the two armies could get heated at times, as brightlord Sheler was captured and put up for execution after assaulting the local women. During the invasion of Herdaz by the Fused armies, there was a refugee crisis of people fleeing from the war.
Despite a rebellion attempt led by the Mink, Herdaz remains under Retribution's control following the conclusion of the contest of champions. 
== Government and Politics ==
=== Government ===
Herdaz is ruled by an unnamed king from a new dynasty that has only come into power sometime before the year . Little is known about him and his family, other than that he has no daughters, and that he is from a powerful Reshi house. The kingdom has a single set of Shardblade and Shardplate that are passed down through the royal line.
Herdaz might have at least one Soulcaster, though the source on that is unreliable. It is certain, however, that there are no Oathgates there.
=== International Relations and Diaspora ===
==== Alethkar ====
Herdaz was conquered by Alethkar during the conquests of Sadees the Sunmaker until the instability following his death. They have been a typical first target in Alethi attempts at expansion throughout history, leading to a deeply bitter relationship between the two nations.
Their current border is shaped from centuries of aggression, particularly from the border conflicts occuring between and , brought about by a change in dynasties in Herdaz. This, along with previous conflicts, brought about tensions even in times of peace between them, leading to them initially distrusting Alethkar when they approached them with offers to join the Coalition of monarchs after the start of the True Desolation. 
At some point after their initial contact, Herdaz and Alethkar became allied in the war against Odium's forces. However, tensions still exist between the two nations and people due to their history of conflict, and military and governmental authorities in Herdaz are quick to punish Alethi generals for crimes committed against their people. 
A large number of Herdazians live in Alethkar as part of a wider Herdazan diaspora. However, due to tensions between their nations and general feelings of Alethi supremacy, they are victims of stereotypes and discrimination.
==== Elendel Basin ====
Following the True Desolation, some Herdazians may have migrated to Scadrial, with some known to have lived in Bilming selling chouta as of . How they are treated or thought about by wider society or by the government is currently unknown.
=== Military ===
Little is currently known about the Herdazian military, however, it is known that they are strong enough to resist Alethi and Fused incursions and defend their territory, they only fell to the Singer incursion after many months of fighting. Furthermore, it is notable enough for Alethkar to quickly approach them with offers to join the Coalition of Monarchs after the start of the True Desolation. Though they are not considered to be of true strategic value.
=== Economy ===
They have prominent trade routes with Jah Keved, and Azir, formed during the time of Sadees.
== People and Culture ==
=== Cuisine ===
Herdazian cuisine uses mostly a wide variety of shellfood, as well as flatbread. Chull head is considered a delicacy. The most famous Herdazian dish is chouta, fried Soulcast meat wrapped tightly in flatbread and topped with sauce, though sometimes the meat is replaced with shellfood.
=== People ===
Herdazians are a people of Ashynite and Singer descent, although which Ashynite ethnic group or groups they descend from is currently unknown. They are brown-skinned, darker than the Alethi, but paler than the Makabaki, and brown-haired. They are most similar in appearance to the Reshi, to the point where they can be mistaken for them. However, they are also one of several races on Roshar with singer blood in their ancestry, though it's not quite as apparent as it is among the Unkalaki. The most visible sign of their heritage are their crystalline, slate-colored fingernails, which are strong enough to start a fire with a proper tool, and are sometimes described as reminiscent of carapace. Apart from that, they have a higher tendency to be asexual than other races without singer ancestors.
Herdazians are rather tight-knit people. They have large families - a single person can easily be related to half the country - and will stick together, the bonds between them stronger than whatever country they happen to find themselves in.
=== Religion ===
In ancient times, Herdazians followed a non-Vorin polytheistic religion. They retain some memory of this religion, and occasionally pray to the old gods. Exact details about this religion are currently unknown. 
As of 1175, the majority of Herdazians appear to be adherents of Vorinism, though they practice their own variety of the faith. Herdazian Vorinism has various differences from orthodox Vorinism, for example, their doctrine permits male literacy.
=== Language ===
The Herdazian language belongs to the Vorin family, much like Alethi and Veden. The language has, according to Lopen, names for all the kinds of cousins. There are numerous words in Herdazian to refer to a person without using their name, all of which have slightly different meaning.
==== Terms ====
* calah - An old Herdazian term for mink.
* chorlano - unknown meaning, used by Lopen to refer to Huio
* chortana - a woman, possibly an intimidating or powerful one
* enne - an old Herdazian honorific, roughly meaning "great."
* gancho/a - a casual way to refer a male or female superior
* gon - appears to be a generic term
* hooch - Lopen uses this one for Sigzil, and refuses to explain its meaning
* hregos - unknown meaning, used by Lopen to refer to Thaylen sailors
* mancha - Lopen sometimes uses this term when addressing Lunamor and, on one occasion, uses it to refer to himself in his own thoughts
* misra - unknown meaning, used by Lopen to refer to Cord
* moolie - A term for someone mute or quiet
* naco - seems to be used for someone younger, like a child
* ornachala - unknown meaning, possibly some sort of Herdazian food
* penhito - an insult
* velo - unknown meaning, used by Lopen to refer to Talik
=== Diaspora ===
The Herdazian people are spread across a wide disaspora covering much of eastern Roshar. According to some reports, almost half of all Herdazians on Roshar don't actually live in Herdaz, but rather in the surrounding countries, particularly Alethkar and Jah Keved. As of , part of the diaspora lives on Scadrial within the Elendel Basin, likely motivated by the dangerous situation on Roshar during the True Desolation. 
The factors on either side that motivate Herdazian migration are currently unknown. Furthermore, it is unknown if they intentionally migrate for greater opportunity, or if they are in some way displaced from their homeland. 
When a large group of Herdazians come together, they often form their own districts, such as Little Herdaz in highprince Sebarial's warcamp on the Shattered Plains. Members of this diaspora population often retain their cultural practices and identity - among others, chouta is a Herdazian street food that gained much popularity in the warcamps, and can even be bought in Kholinar.
There are numerous stereotypes about Herdazians. Many Alethi believe they all wear sparkflickers, and more malicious ones claim they're all stupid, though both are repeatedly proven wrong. Across western Roshar, they are considered extremely boastful, and the women are said to be tough and difficult to impress, even in the opinion of their kinsmen. Herdazians are mentioned, by Alethi, as looking very similar to one another, to the point where they often cannot be told apart.
It is currently unclear if the wider Herdazian diaspora includes countries or areas other than Alethkar, Jah Keved, and the Elendel Basin in demographically significant numbers.
== Notable Herdazians ==
* Lopen, the cheerful, one-armed member of Bridge Four and a third-Oath Windrunner.
* Lopen's multiple cousins, including Punio, Rod and Huio.
* Kabsal might be Herdazian, as he has the accent.
* Havarah, Dalinar's bridgelord, is part-Herdazian.
* Palona, Sebarial's mistress.
* Dieno enne Calah, the Herdazian general who led the resistance against the Voidbringers.
== Trivia ==
* Herdaz's size is roughly similar to that of Colombia, or about half of Greenland.
* Brandon created Herdazians after his wife noted that there are very few Hispanic cultures in fantasy worlds. In particular, some elements of Herdaz are inspired by Mexico.
== Notes ==
es: Herdaz