Sho'lekstran Confederation

The Sho'lekstran Confederation, also known as Noklesta'eva Sho'lekstran, Sho'lekstranilsmange, Noklestani, or Sho'lekstra, is a confederation of 7 nations, located in the south of the Polar Regions. It is part of the Tulirne Sphere.

## Sho'lekstran Confederation

Official flag of the Sho'lekstran Confederation.

Map of major Sho'lekstran cities.

## History

### Prehistory

The original inhabitants of what is now the highlands of the Sho'lekstran Confederation are largely unknown. Evidence of human inhabitation is several tens of thousands of years old, but most archeological history has been lost. They were likely a nomadic hunter-gatherer people, who hunted large game in the area. It is suggested that they may have been a transhumant people like their successors, living in the north in the summer and the south in the winter, but this is highly disputed. There was a mysterious dying out around 2,000 years ago from the modern confederation, around the same time that those who would become the Sho'lekstran people would migrate into the area, suggesting that they were possibly responsible for their predecessor's extinction.

### Settlement

The Sho'lekstran peoples originated from the desert as sheep-herders and nomads within the desert, who occassionally participated in trade between the polar regions and Masrellan empire. At some point, for unknown regions, they disappeared from their original home and began to settle up north within the mountains. They formed a semi-nomadic, transhumant society, then semi-agricultural, and over time increasingly agricultural. Despite this, an upper class of semi-nomadic lords would provide animal labor to the peasantry in exchange for a portion of their agricultural goods, with the owning of animals being a strict sign of wealth and prosperity.

### The Sho'lekstran Empire

Eventually, they would expand from the mountains, creating an empire, utilizing the nobility's horse-riding prowess. The empire would disassemble and reassemble several times. While many of the areas under this empire forgot their time as subjects of the Sho'lekstran, some would become permanent adopters of the Sho'lekstran lifestyle.

### Post-Empire Period

The nobility would eventually fell out of fashion, but an upper class of animal owners would remain, and even as the value of animal labor died out, a strong upper class remained. In this time a new nation resembling the modern confederation formed, as a singular empire would successfully unite the Sho'lekstran under their banner. However, this empire was short lived, and soon small, individual states formed, roughly resembling the modern states. They would not unite again until the invasion of the sea raiders, who would bring back unity through blood, iron, and bureaucratic convenience.

### In the Great War

In the war, the Sho'lekstran would suffer through bombing and multiple attempted - but failed - landings in an attempt to seize their valuable ports and strong naval position. They would participate in the treaty.

## Government and Politics

### Government Structure

Each individual state within the confederation has slightly different governance laws, however each state has an appointed head of government and head of state, 7 diplomats for the confederation that form a sort of congress, and a semi-elected parliament. Each would individually be considered a semi-democratic, semi-presidential republic. Elections are often dominated by the upper class, but the lower classes are usually considered as to not anger them and start any riots and recent movements to partial liberalism have been made.

## Economy

### Industries

#### Entertainment

The Sho'lekstran Confederation is a major producer of a variety of entertainment, including music, anime, and manga.

##### Music

Several successful bands have spawned from the Sho'lekstran Confederation, with the most famous being the band *Soldiers Fighting Entropy*, with their album *Sea Guardian* being particularly well known.

##### Anime

The Sho'lekstran Confederation is considered one of the original adopters of Anime, with the Sho'lekstran anime *The Cities That Shake The World* considered by some responsible for the genre's spread. Today, it is still a major component of the entertainment industry.

##### Gay Manga

The Sho'lekstran Confederation is largely cited as the inventors and first ever producers of gay manga. It quickly became a major industry, and is also said to have significantly boosted the confederation's industrial capacity.

## Demographics

### Sho'lekstran

Sho'lekstran culture and language is the main unifying factor of the Sho'lekstran Confederation. 75% of the population considers themselves fully Sho'lekstran, with an additional 14% considering themselves mixed Sho'lekstran and some other race. It is believed that the amount of mixed Sho'lekstran may potentially be higher, but most are proud to declare themselves fully Sho'lekstran. The language makes up an even greater portion of the population, with 92% of the population speaking Sho'lekstran as a first language, with less than 1% of the population not fluent.

### Tulirne

Tulirne make up the second largest portion of the population, with 4% considering themselves fully Tulirne and 7% considering themselves mixed. Many years of cultural contact, and eventually, political domination, has resulted in a large impact on Sho'lekstran demographics. Additionally, 70% of the population is fluent in the Tulirne language, however only around 1% speak it as a first language.

## Culture

### Language

The Sho'lekstran language is likely related to some languages in the great desert. For a list of Sho'lekstran words, view Sho'lekstran Glossary of References.

The Sho'lekstran language is noted for its wide use of metaphors and expressions, with it often being said that "Sho'lekstran people speak in riddles." For a list of Sho'lekstran expressions, view Sho'lekstran Expressions.

### Media

#### Music

There is a wide array of Sho'lekstran bands and genres. One of the most notable genres to arise from the Sho'lekstran Confederation is the *Doctrine* genre, noted for its complex rhythms.

For a list of Sho'lekstran bands & music, view Music#Sho'lekstran Confederation

#### Anime

The Sho'lekstran Confederation is one of the major producers of Anime. They often include cultural and political commentary on society.

For specific anime, view Anime#Sho'lekstran Confederation

#### Manga

Manga produced in the Sho'lekstran Confederation is often known for its homosexual content. While gay manga are quite popular, a wide variety of other Sho'lekstran manga exists. Some consider the Sho'lekstran Confederation the proper inventors of modern manga, however its similarities to Essencian Manhua mostly dispute this.