Bulwar

Bulwar as illustrated by Evindal síl Gera

**Bulwar** is a large and diverse region, called the 'Birthplace of Humanity'. It is the bridge between Haless to

its east, the Salahad to its south and Cannor to its west, via the Divenhal sea.

### Etymology

Since antiquity, the local Bulwari have referred to their homeland from Bahar to the Salahad as Surakeš, meaning 'Land of the Sun'. Despite this, the region is known in Cannor and beyond after the city of the same name. Bulwar was the seat of the Castanorian Council called the Bulwar Accord, and thus Castanites started the habit of talking about the region by using the city name.

### Geography

#### Sub-regions

Bulwar is often divided in 5 regions :

* Bahar: the wooden lands of the Northwest
* The Harpy Hills: the mountains and hills stretching from the Sad Kuz to Lake Jorkad
* Bulwar Proper: the plains of the Suran from Brasan to Sareyand along with the mountains of the Sad Sur
* Far Bulwar: the upper Suran and Lake Naza lands
* Far Salahad: arid lands and the Eastern Harpies nests

#### Notable rivers and mountains

The Suran and the Baranun are two biggest and most important rivers. They join in Medurubar and were connected by canals in the city of Bulwar before they fell into disrepair. It's generally agreed that the rich soil brought by the numerous rivers of the Suran Plain is one the main factor the first human cradle of civilization emerged in the area.

#### Limits

As a part of the main continent, Bulwar is often understood as separated from Cannor by the Ourdian pass, from the Deepwoods by the Lake Jorkad basin, from the Forbidden Plains by the Invader Pass in the West and the Harpy Pass in the East. The Serpentspine constitutes most of its northern border outside of those passes. In the East, the Paravimvata range separates the Salahad from Rahen with notably the Davarhal pass along the Gulf of Rahen. As for the Southern limits, it is often understood that anything below the Sad Sur mountains and the Maqeti homelands is part of Sarhal (although there are disagreements as whether Maqet itself is part of Sarhal or Bulwar).

### History

Bulwar's history is ancient and vast. The oldest known text dates from 4000 BA but the recorded history is very scarce until 2500 BA, which marks the beginning of the Bulwari Antiquity.

The region has one recurring theme throughout history: being subjugated by foreign conquerors, until the inevitable fall of their empire and arrival of a new one.

Chroniclers categorise Bulwar's history into the following periods:

* Ancient Bulwar (2500 BA - 1134 BA)
* Age of Monsters (1134 BA - 568 BA)
* Castanorian Age (568 BA - 41 BA)
* Damerian Age (41 BA - 321)
* Draconic Period (321 - 488)
* Era of Petty Kingdoms (488 - 1001)
* Age of the Phoenix (1001 - 1170)
* Age of Cinders (1170 - 1494)
* Age of the Dancing Sun (1494 - 1722)

### Races

Bulwar is one of the most diverse region in terms of race with the presence of:

* Humans, with the majority of the population concentrated in the Suran Plains and Bahar
* Elves in the same areas since their arrival in 1001, as well as Far Bulwar since the return of Jaher's legions
* Gnolls, with an historical presence in the Salahad, Šad Sur and the eastern par of the Suran Plains, as well as the rest of Bulwar at some points of history
* Harpies in the homonymous hills and the easternmost part of Far Bulwar
* Goblins in Bahar since the end of their exodus in the 15th century
* Dwarves in the Tûngr Mountains, as well as in Azka-Sur due to the influence of the nearby hold of Seghdihr

### Religions

#### Sun Cults

The Sun Cult religions focused on the dualistic nature of good and evil, and the idea of a chosen people waiting to be saved by their god, Surael. They are practiced by most of the humans and elves (the latter a central piece of the New Sun Cult). The cult solidified as a proper religion in the 11th century BA. Two millennia latter, it split in two after Jaher's landing and the Sun Elves' arrival in the region, before knowing another schism a few centuries later with the creation of the Jadd.

* New Sun Cult: The most practiced religion of Bulwar. Its followers believe the Sun Elves are Surael's chosen people.
* Old Sun Cult: Formed by the sects of the Cult that rejected the New Sun Cult Doctrine. The Old Sun Cult was only practiced by a few humans in secrecy to avoid persecution by New Sun Cult followers. (Although some exceptions existed throughout history, like the rebel state of Dartaxâgerdim.)
* The Jadd: practiced by the former Phoenix Empire legionaries in the east. Its followers believe that any race can be part of the chosen.

#### Monstrous Religions

* Xhazobkult: Gnollish cultural religion that focused on the worship of their demonic messiah, the Xhazobine
* Goblin Shamanism: polytheistic religion containing elements of ancestor worship and animism. Goblins in Bulwar mainly follow the deities Kroozbuto Nubo and Muta Mestika.
* The Hunt: Dominant faith of the Harpies. It takes the form of songs and traditions passed down since the founding of the first Queendom.

#### Other

* Ancestor Worship: Ancestral religion practiced by the dwarves of the Hold of Ovdal Tûngr and the dwarven minority of Azka-Sur.
* Ravelian: Cannorian religion mostly present in the Drolas peninsula after the arrival of the missionary Lucian Carter in 1670. During the end of the 17th century, a few ravelian societies were established in Bulwar's largest cities and centers of learning, such as Bulwar, Brasan, Aqatbar and Ulmiš Idiqlat.

### Commerce and Exports

As the bridge between Haless and Cannor, Bulwar always greatly benefited from the trade between the two regions. The most lucrative trades for the Bulwari merchants is to import dyes from Rahen and porcelain from Haless's porcelain cities and to export to Cannorian merchants via the major ports of the Divenhal coast Brasan or Anzabad.

The trade going through Bulwar reached its peak during the Jaher's reign thanks to the unification of Bulwar and Haless under his Phoenix Empire and the construction of the Golden Highway.

#### Main exports

* Silk was initially exclusively produced in Haless, until Zanbari spies stole the secret of its fabrication and imported it to Bulwar. Since then, silk has been one of the region most lucrative exports with the main centers of production located in Zanbar and the city of Bulwar.
* While Kheterata is the main producer of grain and cereals around the Divenhal, Bulwar's production is also significant thanks to the Suran Plains' fertile soil and it has prevented many famines when the followers of the Khet where in turmoil.
* The many hills and mountains of the region are rich in valuable minerals and metals, with copper and gold found in the Šad Sur and Tûngr Mountains while iron and gems are common in the Šad Kuz and Harpy Hills.
* Cotton, produced in large quantities thanks to the abundance of sun and sophisticated irrigation techniques of the Bulwari farmers.
* Wool, mainly produced by the Gelkalis shephards and in the other hills and mountains of the region.
* Incense, created in Eduz-Vacyn and often produced by monasteries that serve as retirement homes for older Sun Elves.
* Coffee, with some of the most renowned crops grown in Azka-Sur and the city of Kufu, which is often quoted to have given its name to the drink.

#### Special Goods

* Azanerdu Glass, a red-coloured glass produced in Kalib
* Kasiyaru, a kind of spice produced in Zanšap
* Sunlily Berry, a plant cultivated in Harklum
* Jaherian Sunlight, a wine produced in Varamhar
* Azkapaš, a wine produced in Re'uyel