Darania

**Darania** is a kingdom located at southern Laron.

It is bordered by Ajupura, the equator, Majupura, and a vast ocean to the south; Maraming to the northeast; and Chiangrai and Mohachoi to the north.

The capital of Darania is Maha Masapura, Mahamas, or Rayamas; the Golden City or the City of Months.

## Flag

The flag of Darania is green with a star of sixteen points. The green represents prosperity and belief in God, and the star represents the people of Darania and its component kingdoms.

## Geography

Darania consists of a southward peninsula surrounded by a few large islands. Much of it has a tropical maritime climate, except for the central peaks in the peninsula and the eastern isle (Nagatanah, to the west of Klemantan) that are tall enough to have snowfall.

## History

Darania is known for being one of two mighty nations that withstood the Tuksharan Empire's invasion, stopping the latter's enslavement of the region.

While the kings of Maraming led their armies to sabotage and strike down the vulnerable expeditions; the many monarchs of Darania put aside their disputes to form a mighty army to stop the invaders. They utilised whatever technology they captured and studied from Tuksharan prisoners of war to arm their troops, and build the greatest navy in the region.

That Royal Navy emerged and overwhelmed the invaders' fleets at the Battle of Subuhan, pressuring the Tuksharan expeditions to be reassigned somewhere else and abandon their conquests. With this victory, it and Maraming joined several neighbours to create a defensive alliance.

That alliance became able to withstand later invaders, such as the Pinogunian imperials and several Terran armies. When those happened, the alliance was strong enough to rival the industrial nation of Iozae, and even help it withstand the Terran invasions.

## Politics

Darania is a federal monarchy that consists of sixteen kingdoms.

Darania is ruled by a High King, who is selected among his fellow-monarchs in a vote. He rules for a few years before the kings elect another High King.

Daily politics is managed by the Prime Minister.

## Military

Darania has a strong military that guards the region, to the extent that its army is known as the "Lion of the South".

## Economy

Darania's exports include dye, dyed fabric, fruits, vegetables, rubber, synthetic materials, medicine, and rice.

Among its fruits include bananas, pineapples, papayas, and (from mountainous areas) apples.

## Culture

Darania's culture was influenced by Dashadeshan and Zarandim arts.

Among the well-known traditions of Daranian culture include dances, kites, carving wood into splendid houses, weaving (the resulting clothes are known as *batik*, which was derived from the nearby archipelago of Aru), a table of gongs and drums, and poetry. They also have delicious dishes such as *rodzhak* and *nasi lemak*.

Daranians are known for being expert navigators.

## Demographics

Darania's majority is the Daranian people. Alongside them are hundreds of indigenous tribes who live and work alongside them as equals, although the Daranians are honoured as the rulers of the land.

## Religion

Most of Darania's people practice a monotheist religion, having left the Sandharma religion in favour of a more relaxed way of life. They refer their god as Maha Esa, and their path is Esapatha.

There are minorities of Hindus, Buddhists, and animists. There are still some Hindus among the Daranians and natives, and they still live at the southern seaports.

## Trivia

* Darania's name was derived from "dharani" (धारणी).
	+ On October 2022, the author also noticed that Darania's name was similar to Old Persian "daraniya" (**𐎭𐎼𐎴𐎹**), meaning "gold".
* Darania is based on Malaysia and the Majapahit Empire.
	+ The Daranian religion, Esapatha, was based somewhat on Islam in Malaysia.
	+ Coincidentally, the God of Esapatha, Maha Esa (The Greatest One), sounds like the word "Maheshvara", a name for Lord Shiva. There are still some Hindus among the Daranians and natives, and they still live at the southern seaports.
* The fictional countries of Gdjestrana and Port Gdjeza are located to the south of Darania.

### Why is it "peculiar"?

* Darania is one of several tropical countries that has snowfall, and it is near the equator. Several other nations with similar snowfall include Josol and Arantar, in the opposite hemisphere.
* It is also one of several countries in the world where most of its people follow monotheism.