Aute

The **Kingdom of Aute** was an ancient kingdom that thrived at the southern parts of Palkyras during the Second Age. It lies to the south of the federation of New Assuwas and the elective monarchy of Prumthesan.

In modern times, it is part of the southeastern section of Rabydos. The native republic of Nartathi; the Paltuan, Galatua, and Nedathar peoples; and the Aukarin tribe of Porashon are its modern-day successors.

## History

The southern tribes were caught between two civilisations: the Kingdom of Assuwas to the north, and the Pelgir realms to the west. Threatened by the Assuwelli abuse and enslavement of the Paharallian tribes, the southern natives formed six vassal kingdoms, the largest of which was Aute, which sent its men to explore the frozen mountains of the deep south. The six kingdoms spread throughout the land: to the west, they welcomed thousands of Pelgir to serve them and live among them; along the eastern shores, they conquered the Assuwelli settlements and annexed them as part of their realm; and they welcomed the Mahurilli tribes as fellow-subjects. Later, the other five kingdoms willingly submitted to the King of Aute, Malkrons, seeking to unite their realms to withstand the coming Assuwelli invasion.

The Assuwelli were alarmed by the loss of their far southern colonies to the Kingdom of Aute, but even though many of his officers called for another expedition to wage war against the Auteans, the Emperor of Assuwas instead sought to make peace with Aute. The stone cities of Aute and its vast armies were enough to convince the Emperor to send emissaries to trade with Aute and navigate the frozen wastes of the south.

The Star of Erzesas visited its major cities to help their people build defences against the Celestial's invasion, but when the Assuwelli were angry that they lost their colonies in New Assuwas to the natives, the Celestial Bariwas forced them to accept and make peace with the triumphant natives.

As the Ente-ruri invaded the planet, it and the other colonies were cut off from their rulers as Assuwas was ruined by the aliens. So the King of Aute and the Duke of Walkorudur formed an alliance to support each other and the colonies between them. They were supported by the crew of the Star of Erzesas, who provided them with Anevondir technology to prepare for an alien invasion.

Its modern descendants are the native peoples of southern Rabydos, who intermarried with other tribes after the collapse of Aute. Among them are Falturia and Nartathi.

## Geography

There were sixteen duchies that made up Aute, and the royal household of Aute did not belong to any of them. The old kingdom of Aute ruled over five of those duchies before unification. If the three duchies of Mahar Island were included, they would add up to nineteen duchies.

### Kingdom of Aute

* Aute Habirja - a city of marble along the pine-swept southern shores.
* Golden Hall - the royal palace of Aute Habirja
* Temple of the Moonset - an octagonal temple located to the west of Aute Habirja, along the southern shore.
* Autedor - the old capital of Aute, now a major seaport. Governed by Lukhans.
	+ Lukhans commands three thousand men, seven hundred Moon Guard women-soldiers, and five hundred and three men and women under Princess Winjari. All of them are tasked to defend Autedor and support its people, and they helped the poorer residents get out of poverty.
* Shiraukor - a city to the north of Autedor, known for the trees on its roofs.
* Sronkeraz - a city to the north of Shiraukor, known for its red roofs. Governed by Lady Hilasden.
* Tepnars - a tribal duchy at the northwest
* Menkhenars - a tribal duchy at the north. Home to the Limekhanon clan.
* Angedars - a tribal duchy at the west
* Arrathers - a tribal duchy at the west
* Hethnars - a tribal duchy at the centre
* Autilare - a peninsula at the east. Governed by Zathilkar, friend of Lukhans.
* Reunthar - a tribal duchy at the southwest. Full of fragrant pine forests and cold winds.
* Ruskurz - a city to the southeast of Autedor
* Jeturask, Jarandar, Mahur - three cities along the northern coast of an island to the east of Aute
* Mahar - a large island to the east of Aute. Home to the seafaring Mahurilli tribes, who were masters at carpentry. The island of Mahar was ruled by three duchies, but they were not counted among the sixteen duchies of Aute because of their autonomy.
* Fasnea - a town to the south of Ruskurz and to the north of Aute Habirja
* Zelathlos - the northernmost port in Aute, bordering the Kingdom of Prumthesan. The architect Kethlara designed much of its buildings. Governed by Lord Halthalom.
* Tibarrin Islands - several islands to the south of Aute
* Akilaisra - a village to the northeast of Reuntar.
* Reuntar, Kiflasar, Reunte, Reundares - four inland cities along the west. Reuntar became a fortress-city to defend the land from the Celestial invasion.
* Tepirars - a border city in the north, known for its tower known as the "Eye of the Falcon God" (Ess Tiars-Faheres-ka).
* Senthukans - a city in the middle of the country. To the east is a snow-capped mountain, which the Auteans built an observatory and a temple at its eastern slopes.
* Fahans - a border city in the south. Beyond Fahans are some freezing mountains and the ice wastes of the far south.
* Lukmo - the southernmost settlement beyond Aute, within the frozen wastes. Considered the southernmost part of the known world, and a station for hunters. Ruined during the Celestial Invasion.
* Olarwan Mountains - a red mountain range along the northern borders to the Paharal Jungle

### Minumakh

Minumakh, a neighbouring land to the west, consists of many kingdoms. Further west is Pelgir and the western ocean.

* Kingdom of Khletirol
* Ikhlatum - capital of Khletirol
* Crossroads of Tlesna - a major city near the southern mountains. Fifty inns and taverns there were havens for travellers going to or returning from the far south.
* Autean West Way - a great highway leading westward to the kingdoms of Pelgir.
* Khrusal Gate - a gate to the southern ice wastes.
* Cave of Murderous Wraiths - a cave further south in the ice wastes.
* Palukhan Hill

## Politics

Aute is ruled by a king. The founding and ruling dynasty of Aute is the Limakhnoka Dynasty.

### Kings of Aute

* Kolesans Limekhanon, Kolesans the Great, Kolesans the Golden - founder of Aute. He was considered to be favoured by Solinda, the sun god, which was why he seemed to shine like gold or he was always happy.
* Matulnos Limekhnoka
* Meklasis Limekhnoka - during his reign, four duchies joined him as his vassals
* Kathsos Limekhnoka - established relations with the kingdoms of Pelgir and Minumakh to the west
* Nethna Limekhnoka - sent expeditions to explore the eastern seas and the southern ice wastes
* Knewans Limekhnoka - founded two orders worshipping the Sun and Moon
* Knewes Limekhnoka
* Taithals Limekhnoka - an engineer
* Palomithas Limekhnoka - he annexed the western tribes into Autean rule, as they wanted more of his wealth.
* Menlos Limekhnoka - he welcomed the Pelgirs and Minumakhins to populate and build his kingdom. He himself was heavily influenced by Pelgir art.
* Malkrons Limekhnoka, Malkrons the Unifier, Malkrons the Great, Malkrons the Golden, Malkrons Sunchild - during his reign, the Assuwelli marched south to wage war against his northern allies. Alarmed by the quick conquest of the northern Paharal Jungle, the Prumthesankhe and Auteans unite into two kingdoms to fend off the threat.
* Aitalun Limekhnoka -
* Maksulars Limekhnoka - he moved the capital from Autedor to Aute Habirja after the moon god Thurimas visited him in a dream. Just as he was building his new capital, the Celestials and Anevondir invaded the world: to help his people defend themselves, the gods granted hundreds of his people their powers.

## Economy

Aute's exports include marble, pinewood, fish, gold, and dyes.

## Culture

See also: Autean language

Aute's culture is a mixture of Assuwelli, native, and Pelgir influences. Because they Auteans built cities of marble, gold, silver, and precious minerals, they regarded themselves as a more advanced civilisation, blessed by the gods with knowledge.

Sculpting and architecture are popular hobbies among Autean men and women.

## Demographics

The native peoples of Aute were the majority of all Auteans: they were a human race with warm, russet skin and wavy black hair.

Assuwelli lived at the eastern shores in their cities, or intermarried with richer Auteans. Along the north were cities built by Prumthesankhe who fled the tyrannical armies of New Assuwas, and thousands of Pelgir farmers and blacksmiths lived at the western highlands of Aute.

## Religion

See also: Kekhaulid mythology

Like many Gauvajut colonies, Aute primarily worships Tarhunz. However, its people and king venerate native deities, and the deeds of their deities and heroes were commemmorated in songs played with fiddles and lutes, and sculptures along the walls.

* Ancestral Gods - Ten men and ten women who were considered as the first humans. Among them were Raun and Wair, the first man and woman.
* Ikatei - High Queen of the gods, goddess of the stars and creator of the world. She created the Night Gods and Moon Goddesses as her companions.
* Knaito - Falcon god of war
* Zamkari - Goddess of rain
* Swaler - Goddess of thunder
* Halkhos - God of the earth
* Ara - God of fire
* Tinkar - Goddess of writing and wisdom.
* Tholkad - God of the sea
* Roisad and Droisad - Goddesses of the northern and southern seas. They are wives of Tholkad who produced their royal court.
* Solinda - God of the Sun.
	+ In some cities, hundreds of young men wear gold armour as the warriors of the god, the Sun Guard. They serve to defend their cities from attack.
	+ It is acceptable for a Sun Guard and a Moon Guard to marry, but if they have any children, sons will join the Sun Guard, while daughters will join the Moon Guard. Men cannot join the Moon Guard, and women cannot join the Sun Guard.
* Luinda - Goddess of the Moon.
	+ In some cities, hundreds of women wear silver armour as the warriors of the goddess, the Moon Guard. They serve to defend their cities from attack.
* Nerad - Goddess of the new or dark moon and dreams. She represents stress, fear, desire, and yearning.
* Rukhal and Rekhal - Gods of the night. Rukhal became Luinda's husband, and Rekhal became Nerad's husband. From their union and love, the stars were born.
* Thurimas - God of the moon and architecture, son of Luinda and Rukhal.
* Norotia - Goddess of fate.
* Kalor - Goddess of death and the underworld. His symbol is the black wolf.
* Atikelia - Goddess of the earth

## Diplomacy

It is a close ally of the duchy of Walkorudur and the federated colonies of New Assuwas. It holds friendly relations with the Pelgir and indigenous Minumakh kingdoms to the west.

At first, the tribes of Aute regarded their northern counterparts at the Paharal Jungle as rivals, although small alliances were formed between some of the tribes. The most well-known of those alliances were between the kingdoms of Mekhenars and Aisorins, Neus, and Tulars. With the coming of the Assuwelli armies, both the Paharallians and the Auteans formed their own kingdoms to withstand the Assuwelli attacks, and they regarded themselves as brothers.

## Trivia

* Aute was inspired by some shops at the lower ground floor of KLCC, a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur. Those shops were located near an ice-cream store, a grocery store, and a branch of Maybank (a local bank in Malaysia). The author used to call them "The Golden Hall" due to their appearance: like the earlier stages of "Star of Erzesas", he first thought of that place on December 2017.
* Initially, the author wanted Autean (the language of Aute) to be based on Etruscan. In March 2021, he also applied the Etruscan influence on the native tribes of the Paharal Jungle as the kingdom of Prumthesan.
* The author added a greater role for Aute and Prumthesan after reading about complaints about the Hilichurls from Genshin Impact.