Kilan-Tal

Kilan-Tal (Lit: *The steps of the Kilan)* is the land east of the Blue Mountains. It stretches all the way to the Dragonback Mountains, and originally even beyond it.

## History

Originally, the history of the land and the tales of the ancestors were only transmitted orally, which lead to many misconceptions and half-truths. When the Kilan grew very numerous over only a few generations they spread far, all the way to the coast of the Wakao sea.

It was then they first came into contact with the people of Bia Thin and traders from the Tuyotuki Islands, who used paper and writing to archive trading agreements. The Kilan, with their traditional and conservative views, were resistant to the idea of writing their important knowledge down.

Only after part of Kilan-Tal was conquered by the Bia Thin (and later liberated in a bloody war) did one of the most prominent Khans at the time, Karachar, demand that the Kilan adapt instead of cling to outdated ideas. He ordered the creation of *"The Secret History of the Kilan",* which became something of a holy text to the Kilan. Karachar himself did not see his vision become reality, he died at the start of what became known as the Age of Fire.

### The Secret History of the Kilan

The history of Kilan was put into ages, based on elements. Some suspect this influence to stem from the Biathinians, as some of their wise ones were consulted and even visited Kilan-Tal after the war. Oneiromancers and Truthsayers were also consulted to bring the wisdom of the ancestors and glimpses of the future into the text.

#### Age of Wood ( 230s BR - 1150s AR approx)

The Age of Wood encompasses the time when the first humans appeared on the land that be known as Kilan-Tal. The first humans were a unified group of people that appeared in their new home without explanation.

According to legend they simply appeared upon the land, tha*t "the land (had) shifted, as if (they were) carried by The Divine Wind within a single heartbeat"*. Since the literary work was gathered from oral sources and put together into one coherent narrative many wise ones call its legitimacy into question.

The Kilan were nomadic, used horses and lived in tents. They grew strong, grew numerous - to the point their home stretched all the way to the coast of the Wakao Sea. To guide the lives of so many people was an impossible feat for one Khan, which lead to the formation of the Ulus (tribes).

During this era, mounted warriors of what would become the Haaki tribe would attack the Northern Kingdoms for the first time.

#### Age of Fire ( 1150s AR - 1250s AR approx )

The Age of Fire was a period marked by conflict, initiated when the united Khans, who had initially joined forces to liberate what would later become Qunlun, succumbed to bloodthirstiness. Intoxicated by their prowess in battle, the Khans began dreaming of an empire spanning from coast to coast, propelled by the belief that The Divine Wind was guiding them toward this goal. One among them, later known only as the Black Khan, led those who sought peace against the warmongers in Kilan's first civil war. For the dishonor of turning against his own, his name was expunged from history, and those who followed him were branded as the Kala Kilan (The Black Kilan).

While the civil war weakened their armies somewhat, the victorious Khans led their hordes against the Biathinians and Zerrikanians. Ships were constructed and sailed toward the Tuyotuki Islands, aiming to conquer the islanders as well. However, the Biathinians proved formidable to conquer in their own lands, especially with mages among their ranks. The fleet destined for the Tuyotuki Islands never returned and was deemed lost. Like a defeated wolf, the hordes retreated into their lands to lick their wounds, unaware of the cultural influences they had unwittingly absorbed from their enemies.

During this time of retreat, the Sartuuri residing on the Wakao coast declared their independence, having evolved into a blend of Biathinians, Kilantis, and a small handful of Tuyotukians. This new land became known as Qunlun, situated between Kilan-Tal and the northern borders of Bia Thin.

With the establishment of the secret history and the declaration of the first Great Khan, the Age of Fire concluded, and Kilan-Tal underwent a transformation from a confederation of khanates to a Great Khanate. Each khanate was redefined as a xeseg or province based on geographical features or agreements among the inhabitants.

#### Age of Earth ( 1250s AR - 1300s AR approx )

The Age of Earth was a period during which Kilan-Tal enjoyed relative peace and stability, reminiscent of the steadfast foundations of the earth, under the reign of the Burkhan Khaldun dynasty of Great Khans. This ruling family actively sought to establish trade connections beyond the traditional exports of silk and opium from the province of Franq to the Northern Kingdoms and the Nilfgaardian Empire, as well as to other corners of the world, thereby bringing prosperity to the Kilantis. Additionally, they endeavored, much like Zerrikania in the past with Metinna, to establish important diplomatic connections. This diplomatic effort was exemplified in the relationship between Ebbinger princess and mage Brianna Vassermiller and the future Great Khan, Zeus Burkhan Khaldun (known among Kilantis as Dobun Burkhan Khaldun, as the name Zeus was given by the Nordlings).

During this era, Fabio Sachs and his expeditionaries visited on behalf of the kingdom of Lyria & Rivia with the intention of establishing a trade treaty, which eventually came to fruition. Furthermore, the Great Khan's kindness also brought about some enlightenment to the then-present Nordling obscurity regarding the country that had been confused with Haakland.

#### Age of Metal ( 1300s AR - 1350s AR approx)

The Age of Metal, known to the Nordlings and other parts of the world as the Kilanti Invasion or Haaki Invasion, witnessed the Kilanti, through various conquests, establish one of the largest empires on the continent, second only to the Nilfgaardian Empire. Many years prior to the rise of the Kilanti Empire, oneiromancers and other truthsayers spoke of the people of Kilan-Tal *"sweeping over the world like a swarm of locusts, feasting upon foreign carcasses."* Many young Kilanti dreamed of being the ones to usher in the Age of Metal, but it was the mage Dobun Burkhan Khaldun (known as Zeus by the Nordlings) who eventually brought it about after rising among his brothers to take the title of Great Khan following the death of his father.

However, his empire quickly collapsed after the defeat of the Kilanti in their invasion of the Northern Kingdoms in the Battle of Mahakam, and their subsequent expulsion.

#### Age of Water ( unknown )

The Age of Water has not yet come to pass, and is seen as an equivalent to the end of the world. According to those with the third eye the world will end in water, that water shall come over the people of Hakland like great storm, consuming all that have an inner fire and leaving only a world where water alone exists.

## Structure of society

### The Ulus

Kilan are easily identified by the shape of their eyes, their dark hair and thin smaller build. The people of Kilan-tal are divided into tribes (called Ulus) that usually cooperate, but do sometimes make war onto each other.

* Xanx
* Naimaun
* Kala Kilan
* Haaki
* Darkhad
* Hatagin
* Ordu
* Sartuui
* Jalayir

### Xesegs

Kilan-Tal is split into 11 xesegs (technically khanates) or provinces based on geographical features or agreements between the inhabitants. These provinces are governed by a Khagan or a Khanum. And in turn are divided into departments or other administrative divisions, which are governed by a Gahan or Gahun. These include:

* Ariun Xabhan
* Moctai
* Hakgan
	+ Gadny-Gür or Franq\*
		- Patyak
* Taalud
* Sankigan
	+ Savmeda
* Meceh Sper
	+ Thamhegek
* Meceh Khuruu
* Elsec Banshin
* Lulu Tonroc
* Zhurkgan
	+ Gutac Vatr

## Notable People

* Burkhan Khaldun Family
* Hulegu
* Karachar
* Kala Kilan

## Language

The majority of people in Kilan-Tal speak Unen, each with their respective regional dialects of the language. The only exception is the province of Gadny-Gür, which is bilingual due to its foundation by Nordling immigrants. The inhabitants of Gadny-Gür speak a dialect of the Common Tongue that is significantly influenced by Unen, in addition to speaking Unen itself.

## Religion

The Kilan practiced shamanism, where animals played a vital role. Hunters would offer sacrifices to the spirits of the animals they were hunting and wore pelts from the same animals during the hunt. Festivals marked the catching of the first fish and wild game, and annual animal sacrifices were made to the sky, earth, ancestors, mountains, rivers, and others. Among all animals, the horse held the utmost importance. In fact, a religion derived from this shamanism resembled a cult similar to that of the Nordling goddess, Epona.

Upon encountering the Bia Thin and their religious views, the concept of the Divine Wind became one of the primary religious tenets for the Kilan. Many aspiring Great Khans based their claims on the belief that their rise to power was destined by the Divine Wind. Natural catastrophes such as floods, forest fires, dry periods, and sudden bursts of monster activity were interpreted as omens indicating that the current Great Khan was going against the Divine Wind.

After coming into contact with the Wozgor who were forced to escape to the east, another religion gained relevance, although it held lesser importance compared to the cult of the Divine Wind. This was the cult of Niya, particularly popular in territories near the border with Zerrikania.

## Trivia

* Due to its foundation by Nordlings, the province of Franq. does not have as much autonomy as others, and is under the supervision of Hakgan\*.
* Hulegu is a character who appears as the ruler of Haakland in a The Witcher CK2 Mod from the late 2010s.

## Notes

* The article is mostly a transcription of the Kilan-Tal and Kilan articles written by Neverwitcher for The Witcher RPG.