Kalzuranur

Location of Kalzuranur

### Religion

Predominantly Amekizite Nakkalism followed by Shurite Nakkalism, significant Muslim and Orthodox Christian minorities

**Kalzuranur**, known in Nesarian as **Calsunaria**, is a country within the Nesarian Empire. Its head of state is the President, an elected position. Its national animal is the Qaluran. Its state religion is the Amekizite branch of Nakkalism.

Kalzuranur is the same entity as the ancient empire of Adwan, which was renamed in the 4th century by decree of the Imperial Government to Kalzuranur to reflect the name of the region rather than any one city or people. This name change initially caused some controversy amongst the Adwanis, but was received well by all the other Kalzuranuris. The name Kalzuranur is made up of the components *kal*, *sura* (which became voiced as *zura*) and *nur*, respectively meaning north, river and land; so, taking into context the fact that roughly three quarters of the Calsunarian population lives along the enormous Surqan river, this means "land of the northern river". This is a near-direct translation of the Chalparni name for the country, *Mayajapore*, which was used by the Nakkalite missionaries who brought the religion to Kalzuranur.

The majority of Calsunaria's population consists of Humans. In modern times, the proportion of Humans is roughly 65%, however this proportion may have peaked at as high as 80% during the Imperial Civil War due to the race wars against the Na'Quahesto and Miaran, who are also indigenous to the country. Whereas the history of interaction between Humans and the two desert races of the Na'Quahesto and Miaran is fraught with bloodshed, Humans have always had a largely harmonious relationship with the Sand Elves (or as they are known locally, the *Elbaqarim*) who rose to prominence in the 9th century BC and eventually came to make up most of the country's ruling class.

## Geography

Kalzuranur is a hot and arid country, with most of the terrain made up of inhospitable desert. Most of the population is concentrated around the huge Surqan (lit. "great-river") river, the widest and longest of all the rivers in Inecuria, as well as the coasts. The bulk of those who live outside of the river are the Na'Quahesto, whose bodies and societies are adapted for harsh desert and mountain life, with the exception of the far northern region of Qarohayn, which receives consistent cool and moist winds, enabling a significant Human and *Elbaqar* presence.

Kalzuranur receives little rainfall, only having downpours once every few years, with variable gaps between each period of rainfall. Generally, the less frequent the rainfall is, the more severe the rain is when it comes. The most well-known example of this was during Emperor Athdus III's invasion, when a colossal, almost hurricane-force storm struck the desert after it had not rained for a record-breaking 13 years, a gap of rain which has never since been met.

## Kalzuranuri Parliament

Kalzuranur's church and state, while not the same, are closely linked. The lower house (People's Assembly) is elected, however the upper house (Holy Council) is made up entirely of Nakkalite priests. The upper house has the power to reject bills and can also vote to remove members of the People's Assembly. The Holy Council was inherited from the old monarchy, but the People's Assembly was a new invention with the establishment of Kalzuranur as a republic.

The President is elected, and serves 10-year terms with no term limit. Only male landowners over 18 or female landowners over 21 may vote. The Holy Council has the ability to reject the results of an election, however they have never done this.

Any official power the monarchy wielded was abolished in 1980 with the Bloodless Revolution. This was and still is opposed by the majority of Kalzuranuris, as this change was enacted by a liberal republican minority whose actions did not reflect the highly conservative attitudes of the populace. Despite having his power removed, the King of Kalzuranur is still respected and honoured, and he continues to wield considerable unofficial influence, in addition to having a right to sit on the Imperial Council. The liberal republicans kept a stranglehold on Kalzuranuri politics for the first decade or so, but since 1990 the right-wing monarchist parties have been growing in size and the monarchy may yet return in an official capacity.