recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Agkistrodon

Agkistrodon is a village in the Duchy of Viperia in central Hu. The surrounding area is characterized by rough, foothill terrain and a river (also called Agkistrodon) which is shallow enough to be forded here.

**History**

Agkistrodon was the third and final major battle won by Hu in the latest military conflict with in Long. It was fought on the 7th day of the 3rd month of FD 5.

The Battle of Agkistrodon was a final attempt by Long to rally a battle-ready army. After its defeat, Long had no choice but to surrender under terms which resulted in the signing of the Treaty of Natrix

**Tactical Analysis**

Some critics argue the Battle of Agkistrodon should never have occurred: this was a desperate attempt by the Long military leadership to check the Hu host's victory. The Long army was hastily assembled and consisted of (1) exhausted veterans with low morale, (2) new levies of untrained troops, (3) soldiers who trekked to Viperia from all regions of Long many of whom travelled long distances and were given little rest prior to battle. Further, the Long troops assembled had not fought alongside each other previously resulting in a lack of coordination.

It is possible that, if Long sued for peace prior to Agkistrodon, it could have ended the conflict under more favorable terms. On the other hard, even before this final battle Long had suffered two defeats and its army was in tatters. It may be that the terms of any peace negotiated would have varied little from those imposed by the Treaty of Natrix. Even if this were the case, however, Long could have avoided the casualties and near-total depletion of its military forces resulting from the battle.

See Timeline of the Latest Military Campaign
King of Long

Priyama, Seventh King of the Varanus Dynasty

King Priyama is the current ruler of the Kingdom of Long and the seventh king of the Varanus dynasty. In the year FD 5, the King is 65 years old.

In contrast to the King of Hu who is a "warrior king," Priyama is a sedentary potentate. In his 60th year, when Priyama inaugurated the era of Filial Devotion, the king began to step back from presiding over the kingdom's political, economic and military endeavors and to leave ordinary administration of the kingdom in the hands of his older sons (Priyama has twenty sons) such as the First Prince of Long. The princes nevertheless meet with their father regularly and seek his counsel regarding the most serious and large-scale matters of state; despite his "retirement" from administration, the King is still the ultimate decision maker.

While the King is no longer heavily involved in administration of the kingdom, he continues to perform ceremonial and ritual duties. In doing so, the King has embraced the spiritual and hermetic. For example, the king sits daily on his throne facing south in order to radiate prosperity and tranquility for the benefit of his kingdom. The king has also composed special glyphs (such as those used in royal communications to represent "Filial Devotion") with the idea that these can instill contentment in his subjects. There is some precedent for this type of mystical kingship in the later stage of an older king's reign--of renunciation for spiritual pursuits. The king fathered twenty sons, but now he is celibate.

**Long Kingship**

The King of Long is almost universally considered the most powerful man in the two kingdoms. In recent military campaigns the goal of the Hu king is to have himself recognized as King of Long. The terms "Dragon Throne" is used as a metonym to refer to the kingship or the Long central government.
Filial Devotion (era)

The era of Filial Devotion (abbreviated FD) is the current era. It was inaugurated by King Priyama of Long in his 60th year (the 27th year of his reign). Filial Devotion was preceded by the era of Radiant Abundance which lasted 27 years, beginning in the year of Priyama's enthronement.

The Treaty of Natrix and the capture of King Seb of Hu took place in the year FD 5.
Castle Pantera

Castle Pantera is the ancestral seat of the Pantera clan and the seat of the Hu court for most of the year. It is a fortified castle on a rocky islet off the coast of Felidia (across the harbor from New Felix). As a fortification on a rocky outcropping, Castle Pantera is very defensible. King Omri said of Castle Pantera (and its position to the east of all major land masses) that "no one can sneak up on your from behind when you are at the edge of the map/playing board."

The heart of Castle Pantera is a keep, flanked by two large top-heavy towers. Within the walls of the castle there is also a market--and a small makeshift "village" containing the homes of the sellers and artisans that service the market. The market arose to serve the needs of people residing or sojourning in the castle. On one hand, the bustling area, which can be accessed by almost anyone, can be seen as weakening the castle's "impenetrable" defenses. But, on the other hand, having a market which traded in meat and other foodstuffs and essentials could supplement the royal storehouses and support Pantera if it needed to endure a siege.

Under the constructed castle, the rocky island itself is riddled with caves, tunnels, caverns, corridors and chambers, some of which features are natural and others manmade. In the prehistoric era the island and its cave complex were occupied by the ancestors of the Panteras. The entire network of caves is not fully mapped out. There are gates and even guarded sentry posts placed for security concerns at the end of caves. Some of the tunnels lead directly into the castle. In general these represent a weak spot in the castle's defenses, but they can also provide the royal family with a means of escape in case of emergency.

   The only transportation to Castle Pantera are ferries crossing the harbor from New Felix and, when the waters are particularly ferocious, vessels are unable to reach the Castle at all (or unable to carry courtiers back from the Castle to the mainland).

The castle structure is not very hospitable--with some rooms no warmer than outdoors and areas with damp particularly on the lower levels.

Some more elegant or modern chambers were constructed recently and "retro-fitted" into the old stone structure with smooth walls covering the original stones.

The ground floor is basically open to the public. The lower floors are occupied by governmental and administrative office, such as that of the castellan, and the second-third floor house the throne room and other state rooms, and above those is the royal residence. The castle houses many suites which may be occupied by officials who are based at court temporarily or long term and visiting dignitaries.
Historical Timeline

Foundation of Varanus dynasty | - 200 ya
 Smilodon Dynasty | - 230-720 ya
 Naja Dynasty | - 400-800 ya
 Basiliscus Dynasty | - 1,250-2,000 ya

 Decline and Fall of Basiliscus
 Foundation of Naja
 Foundation of Smilodon
 Decline and Fall of Naja
 Decline and Fall of Smilodon
 Foundation of Varanus
 Foundation of Pantera
 FD 5
Ambystoma

Lord Ambystoma was the younger brother of the Duke of Eft. Unlike his brother, Ambystoma was an adventurous man. He joined in the fray of the Latest Military campaign on the side of the King of Long.

On 15/2/FD 5, during the Battle of Thamnophis. Ambystoma engaged in one-on-one combat with the King of Hu and was slain.

Ambystoma is a member of the Neurergus clan.
Queen of Hu

The current Queen of Hu (given name Hagar) and King Seb were married in FD 3. She is the king's second wife: at the time of their marriage the Late Queen had been dead for 8 years, the Crown Prince was 16 years old and the Princess was 19.

The Queen is the daughter of Lord Vormela, a lesser noble.

The primary reason behind the King's decision to remarry was a desire to sire more children in order to ensure his legacy and the continuation of the dynasty. Most judge the Queen to be plain; the King chose to take her as his wife because of her perceived fertility--she comes from a family with prodigious offspring and she has a sturdy child-bearing frame.

The Queen is tight-lipped in public but in private she demonstrates sarcastic wit and a disdain for decorum. Her relatively humble origins, modest public demeanor and unfamiliarity with courtly etiquette and fashion all stand in stark contrast to the regal and elegant figure of the Late Queen. The Queen is known to speak Long with a provincial accent (interference from Eastern Hu which is her first language).

The Queen is despised by the Crown Prince and Princess in no small part because the two do not wish to share their patrimony with a younger brother or sister. The Princess considers her coarse and unfashionable and the Crown Prince resents the Queen for taking the place of his mother the Late Queen.

As a result, the Queen is rarely seen at court. She resides in seclusion in Castle Bos, a tall tower and keep half-covered by vines. Here her household consists of a half-dozen maids with whom she holds a strong bond, five guards and a handful of servants.

Bos is part of the royal demesne and it is located in north-central Felidia, a day's ride from New Felix. It is surrounded by woodland with denser forest lying just to the south.

This had always been a favorite hunting ground of the King who might travel to the area with a small hunting party or a few loyal retainers to visit his Queen as well as participating in a bit of sport. Sometimes the King took off on these excursions without prior announcement.

Despite everything, an intimate, loving, caring relationship developed between the King and Queen. The Queen was genuinely distraught when news reached her of King Seb's capture in FD 5 and she viewed the actions (or inaction) adopted by the Crown Prince and Princess as evidence of their monstrous nature.
Hu duchies

Eastern Hu

1. Felidia - cat
2. Ursidia - bear
3. Canidia - dog
4. Viverra
5. Mephitis - skunk
6. Cetacia-Sirenia - sea mammals
7. Herpestes - mongoose, meerkat
8. Muridia - rodents
9. Mustela - ermine, stoat
10. Chiroptera - bats
11. Folidota -
12. Leporida - rabbits
13. Hyaenia - hyaena
14. Pangolin
15. Primatus - apes
16. Bovidia - cattle
17. Cervid - deer
18. Cricet - hampsters
19. Suidia - pigs
20. Solenodon
21. Equus
22. Scriurida
City of Varanus

Varanus is the current capital city of Long, located on the eastern shore of Long Bay. Varanus is surrounded by brackish marshes and wetlands through which freshwater slowly makes its way into the sea. The city itself is built on reclaimed land with dams and raised plateaus elevating urban areas above sea level.

The temperature in Varanus is hot and humid with mosquitoes that can cause communicable diseases. A network of royal palaces occupies part of the city center together with gardens and mansions belonging to the elite. In contrast, the periphery of the city is covered in shanty towns.

Varanus has served as the kingdom's capital since the Varanus clan came to power.
Baronial class

The baronial class refers to the landowning nobility, especially to the upper nobility.

**Terminology**

In both kingdoms the highest ranking nobles who hold large provinces are called dukes but the term "baron" (especially the plural "barons") is still used to refer to the vassals of a sovereign (as in Hu's Council of Barons).

The terms "province" and "duchy" are also used interchangeably as ducal fiefdoms and lands historically considered as constituting a province are usually coterminous.

**Feudalism**

Hu is a late-feudal state and Long is feudal or semi-feudal. In some periods the King of Long has been able to impose bureaucratic rule from the center on to the kingdom's provinces although the baronial class always persisted even if its powers were shared or curtailed by centrally appointed governors and civil servants.

Under the feudal system, barons hold a great deal of authority over their held provinces and the king's decision making power and mandate to rule is dependent on a consensus among his barons. In Hu, a council of barons is customarily assembled to approve any royal plans to levy taxes or troops and in Long dukes have been known to rebel against kings who were are perceived as decadent (as opposed to virtuous) or as too weak to effectively rule. Rebelling barons might assert their independence, seek to overthrow the king (perhaps replacing him with a preferred member of the ruling clan) or attempt to usurp the throne.

**Government roles**

In Hu all military and government officials have historically come from baronial families while Long has for centuries had a meritocratic civil service.

**Modern Period**

In modern time, the barons' dominance has waned with the rise of the merchant class -- families who made their fortune from trade rather than landholdings. Besides the merchants proper there is a larger class of city dwellers (especially the burghers in western Hu and the citizens of the Cetacian city states on the coast of southern Long) who are not bound to any feudal lords. In other Hu cities some inhabitants are serfs who were permitted to abandon their villages in return for paying "quit rent" to their lord. Some citizens also return to their village of origin during the harvest.
Early Hu Cultures

**Morganuco Culture** (c. 5,000 - 4,500 years ago)

The earliest known Hu civilization, the Morganuco culture, spanned a number of islands in the modern duchies of Muridia and Herpestes in west-central Hu. The full extent of territory occupied during the civilization's height is unknown.

The Morganuco peoples used canoe-like longships to travel over sea. There is no evidence of a writing system and the language they spoke is unknown. Contemporary knowledge of the culture comes from physical artifacts such as pottery and a few archaeological sites.

Some believe the disappearance of the Morganuco came about in part due to a major seismic-volcanic event. The influence Morganuco culture had on later Hu civilizations is unclear.

**Mesonyx Culture** (c. 4,000 - 3,200 years ago)

Thought by some to have originally developed in Canidia, Mesonyx excavation sites have been uncovered on islands off the coast of Felidia and on the north coast of Ursidia. Mesonyx artifacts are common throughout eastern and central Hu and have been found as far west as Cetacia and even southern Taipan.

The Mesonyx are believed to have spoken a proto-Hu language. It was traditionally held that the Mesonyx people introduced their language to islands across the Hu archipelago and that it then splintered into variant languages during a period of relative isolationism following the decline of Mesonyx power.

The influence of Mesonyx art and culture extends into late antiquity. Some scholars describe this as a "strong non-Felocentric current running through Hu culture which would later be joined but not superseded by the influence of Felidian cultures such as the Proailurus."

**Proailurus Culture** (c. 2,800 - 1,700 years ago)

The Proailurus was the first sophisticated civilization to develop in Felidia. The Proailurus people originated in southern Felidia and became the foremost Bronze age culture in eastern Hu. At its maximum extent the Proailurus territory covered all Felidia and some of eastern Canidia.

The Proailurus spoke an extinct language which is thought to be a direct predecessor of Old Felidian. They also left behind a number of tablets and stele with engravings which have not been deciphered.

Many cultural and artistic elements which originated with in the Proailurus period still had a strong presence as late as the Nimravid and early-Smilodon dynasties.

**Pakicetid Culture** (c. 2,300 - 1,300 years ago)

The dominant Bronze Age civilization in western Hu was the Pakicetid culture. The Pakicetid occupied most islands of modern day Sirenia-Cetacia. Pakicetid ruins are characterized by pillared structures which were originally painted bright colors, colorful frescos and lifelike sculptures in wood and bronze. The end of the Pakicetid period overlaps with the beginning of the Basiliscus dynasty.

The Cetacian trading routes likely began with the Pakicetids. Pakecitd culture would give way or evolve into the Basilosaura Kingdom which extended over present day Cetacia and Sirenia as well as the lower Taipan peninsula.
Ailurus

Ailurus is the elder son of the Duke of Ursidia who is chosen to be Duke of Chameleonia, largest of the new Hu duchies created in the conquered provinces. He is tall with dark red hair, a soft face and a horseback riders frame.

Ailurus received his high-ranking position solely due to his father's power and influence at court and he is often dismissed as a handsome, privileged dullard. Ailurus is a slow thinker but sometimes comes up with superior or unique ideas. He enjoys playing games and has some penchant for military strategy and combat.

Ailurus quickly rises to be an important figure in the governance and protection of the newly conquered lands.

**Trivia**

Ailurus is the genus of the red panda
Taipan Peninsula

Taipan is a large peninsula in southwestern Long.

The Taipan peninsula is a slender peninsula dominated by rainforests and wetlands and scattered with ruins many of which are hidden under the area’s flora.

The upper Taipan is ruled by the Duke of Tegu and the lower Taipan by the Duke of Pareida. In between stretches the isthmus of Ameiva (also called the Ameiva isthmus or Ameiv isthmus) which is a lawless zone of dense rainforest and the home of several "uncivilized" indigenous tribes.

The largest city on the peninsula is Pareas, located in the center of Pareida. Pareas is laid out similar to the City of Varanus with a raised, square plateau surrounded by shallow waters with walls, gardens and causeways.

**Geography**

Taipan has a tropical monsoon climate with lush rainforest covering over half the peninsula, including the southern cape, the western coast and the Ameiv isthmus.

The Taipan rainforest is likely the most biodiverse ecosystem in the Two Kingdoms. Its fauna include tigers and many species of lizards, frogs and insects that are unique to the region. Its flora include a number of plants with medicinal or psychoactive properties.

**History**

   During the latter half of the Warring Dukes Period, the Kingdom of Taipan was a powerful state whose hegemony extended across Southern and Western Long as far north as the Bay of Long and as far east as the southern edge of the Long plains region. Taipan was the greatest of the petty kingdoms that rose and fell during the period and it lasted for c. 100 years, collapsing not long before the rise of the Varanus dynasty.
Royal demesnes

Both the King of Long and the King of Hu possess landholdings, residences and fortresses scattered across their respective kingdoms. These properties which is part of the family patrimony inherited by successive kings are sometimes called "crown lands."

Kingdom of Hu

The Hu royal family owns properties throughout the kingdom, especially in Felidia where lie Pantera Castle, extensive hunting grounds and within it Castle Bos and a grand palace in the city of Lynx. The Hu court was largely itinerant with the king and royal family moving between palaces and castles across the Hu archipelago. Some kings had a yearly itinerary that changed with the seasons while other kings would relocate as suited their whims.

Kingdom of Long

The King of Long holds a reserve of duchies and duke titles to bestow upon his sons. Sometimes royal children received titles at birth while other kings chose to wait for their sons to reach the age of majority or to marry before granting them titles. Other lands are retained by the sons of previous monarchs or their descendants; possession is passed down the family line and if the line should cease the land escheats back to the king.

Some of the Long crown lands were seized from rivals or enemies during periods of expansion and some were originally gained by previous dynasties.
Captivity of King Seb

Seb, King of Hu was taken captive by the Duke of Eft on the 2nd day of the 9th month of FD 5 (2/9/FD 5, the 23rd year of the reign of King Seb).

**Background**

Sailing back to Hu after signing the Treaty of Natrix on 15/8/FD 5, the king was caught in a flash storm off the east coast of Long and blown off course. The ship ended up wrecking on the reefs and shoals surrounding the island of Eft.

King Seb survived and washed up on the shore together with 12 of his men. The party attempted to evade notice by the duke's guards and skirted the coast in search of a fishing village which could supply them with the means to begin their journey home. However, on the second day after their landfall the king and his men are spotted by Eft villagers who alert the duke's guards. The King of Hu was then dragged before the Duke of Eft who charged the king with murdering his brother Ambystoma (whom the king had killed in one-on-one combat during the Battle of Thamnophis).

**Ransom**

The Duke asked for 30 thousand gold-weight in ransom in exchange for the king's release. When word reached the court of Hu the Crown Prince and Princess showed little concern for their father's predicament and refused to pay the ransom (equal in value to 2-3 times the full annual production of the Kingdom of Hu). However, the Commander General and the Queen of Hu were harder hit emotionally by news of the king's captivity and proved more eager to secure the king's return as quickly as possible.

**Place of Captivity**

King Seb was held in Castle Molge, a small fortress southeast of Castle Eft. The king's conditions fell somewhere between house arrest and actual imprisonment.

**The Duke's Proclamation/Message:**

Tell unto the Court of Hu, thus says the Duke of Eft: on this twenty-eighth day of the third month of the fifth year of the era of Filial Devotion.

*See also Timeline of the latest military campaign*
Canidia

Canidia is a duchy in the Kingdom of Hu, in the northwest of the archipelago north of Ursidia. Much like Ursidia and Felidia, Canidia is composed of one main island along with many smaller islets.

The climate of Canidia is warm and dry and the terrain is rocky with hills and small mountains covering a large part of the island. The land produces root vegetables, orange and olive trees, and goats and horses are raised on the island. Indeed, a population of wild horses inhabit a desert plain in the center of the island (surrounded by mountainous terrain). Some hunters make their living capturing these horses for domestication; they are highly prized and in high demand.

Canidia is important for the production of stone and ore including highly prized marble. There are several quarries and mines in mountains very close to the coast from which minerals can easily be loaded on ships at nearby ports. Mines are often worked by prisoners of war and criminals but there is also corvee labour.

Canidia is famous for its formidable soldiers. The harsh, unyielding land breeds hearty men and Canidian society has a strong warrior culture infamous for its harsh punishments. Desertion, undisciplined behavior, cowardice and failure in battle may be punished by execution or extirpation of the transgressor's family.

Canidia's largest city is the port of Vulpex on the southeastern coast. Not far outside of Vulpex is the castle where the royal court is seated during sojourns in Canidia, Cuon, another port in the north, is a stop on the swiftest trade route between Felidia and Long and it is growing larger and more important. Canidian cities are built of brick and stone and Cuon in particular is known for its buildings colored light brown, beige and burnt orange and lacking in decoration.

The present Commander General of Hu is originally from Canidia.
Carpofinia

Lord Carpofinia, cousin of the Duke of Coluber, is a renown explorer of the north. Carpofinia has headed expeditions to climb the highest peaks of the Aves and to find passage further north to the Ji plateau. Most of Carpofinia’s predecessors as well as several members of the lord's previous expeditions have perished: dying of exposure, starvation, falls or avalanches.

**Written Works**

A number of autobiographical essays and diaries recounting Carpofinia's expeditions have been published and enjoyed enthusiasm among members of the literate as well as among commoners who may gather to hear them read aloud or hear the stories second hand. There are several false texts which claim to be written by Carpofinia; they can sometimes be distinguished based on quality, writing style, or the inclusion of fantastical elements.

## **High Mountain People**

In order to aid in his exploration Carpofinia has befriended and enlisted help among the High Mountain People (or “Aves people”). This is an ethnic group whose members are typically short and stout and who are adapted to the high altitude and cold of the Aves. The High Mountain People raise large, horned cattle and are nomadic, drawing their small groups of livestock around frequently in order to find areas adequate for grazing—in part their itinerary is determined by the seasons as they move further south and to lower altitudes during the winter months. The High Mountain People diet is comprised almost entirely of animal meat and blood.

The Aves people speak a distinct language unrelated to Long and do not possess a writing system. The High Mountain do sometimes travel north of the Aves’ peaks, to areas in the Ji Plateau which are unknown to Long people

The High Mountain people have never been subject to the Long crown given their geographic isolation, their tendency to move regularly, and to their small numbers. The Aves tell explorers and ethnologists that their people have several fixed settlements, villages or even cities, on the Ji plateau.

**Ancient Ji Culture**

Several monumental ruins have been found high in the Aves mountains. Almost nothing is known about these structures’ builders who are commonly referred as the "Ji" after the legendary kingdom to the north. The purpose of these monumental buildings is also unknown: various experts have theorized they may be palaces, temples, monasteries, or tombs. A small number of artefacts have been retrieved from Ji civilization sites including stone tablets, metal ornaments showing fine work done in gold, pottery and a few scroll fragments. Elements present in both artefacts and in the buildings themselves have been correlated with the movement of the heavenly bodies, thus suggesting the Ji were skilled astronomers.

Scrolls, tablets and inscriptions sometimes display the Ji civilization’s unique writing system which is written in vertical columns with elaborate calligraphy.

The ancient Ji language may be the ancestor of the language spoken by the High Mountain people. The people’s relationship to the Ji civilization and its patrimony is not well understood.
Pocket Man

Pocket Man claimed to have caused the 1986 Challenger shuttle disaster.

**Pocket Man** is an American terrorist and a suspected dealer for the Chubby Bunny Gang. He is currently held in the New York Correctional Center.

## History

The only known information is that he caused the Challenger disaster on January 28th, 1986. He claims to had been part of the Chubby Bunny Gang, although its leader in denied the statement. He was listed as Most Wanted by the FBI for exporting 1.6 million tons (3200000000 pounds) of marshmallows disguised as legal cocaine. He escaped in 1993 but was later arrested 26 years later, attempting to assassinate an entrepreneur.

 **Characters**

 **Other** | Ariana Grande Venti
Trenta · Melinda Sourdough · Mommy PonyJosef Stalin I · Josef Stalin II · Josef Stalin III · Macaroni Cheddar
Seafaring vessels

During the era of Filial Devotion there are two main types of seafaring vessels in use.

1) Cargo Ships

Heavy ships with large hulls for transporting cargo, passengers or troops.

2) Skimmers

Small vessels with triangular sales which are capable of travelling swiftly and of traversing large distances of open sea. These are used by fishermen and to transport small groups of people. They are used to communicate news quickly carrying messengers and printed materials.
Entertainers

Travelling entertainers: minstrels, actors, acrobats, magicians, and forturnetellers can be found throughout the 2 kingdoms. Such troupes are more common in Hu which kingdom has more liberal policies towards free movement of persons. To legally travel across Long, these groups must obtain a special warrant from the government administration. Some instead activate illegally.

This type of entertainment is popular among all classes including peasants who might take some of the few pennies they have stowed away in order to treat their families to a spectacle or else content themselves with viewing what they could without payment.

It is common for these travelling entertainers to falsely claim exotic origins: they may present themselves as mountain people from the semi-legendary northern land of Ji. Fortunetellers and magicians might claim to possess esoteric knowledge preserved among the Long priestly clans (e.g. the Eryx).

Puffery is also de rigeur with minstrels and actors claiming to have entertained at the courts of Kings and Dukes of the two kingdoms.

The aforementioned exotic origins are particularly alluring to the imagination of the Hu people. In contrast, Hu has less exotic locations and arcane traditions to impress the poeple of Long. Instead, it is the idea of Hu modernity that captivates Long: there are the Hu burghers/merchants who are seen as brash and wealthy, sometimes comical. These figures also represents commoners who are not bound by noble obligations, something which is exceedingly rare in Long (outside of the civil administration). There is also the idea of the Hu mechanic, inventor or innovator. Their "magic tricks" involve clockwork automata and incendiary powder, often in deceptive ways. One also sees Hu (or false-Hu) charlatans peddling ineffective medicines and counterfeit innovations to Long subjects of all ranks.
Kingdom of Hu

The Kingdom of Hu is one of the two kingdoms: it is represented by the Tiger.

**Geography**

Hu is comprised of an archipelago lying to the south of Long. Felidia, the large island in eastern Hu, is the homeland of the ruling Pantera clan. Other large islands include Ursidia (a fat island to the south west of Felidia) and Canidia (north of Ursidia).

The Duchies in Western Hu, such as Cetacia-Sirenia, are comprised of a number of smaller islands.

For many the kingdom is divided into Eastern Hu, Western Hu, Chiroptera to the south, and the uninteresting "sail through provinces" of central Hu.

**History**

Hu is the "younger" of the two kingdoms with high culture first developing during the Naja Dynasty era. At that time many aspects of Long culture such as art, fashion, architecture and language were adopted by the Hu nobility.

Modern Hu has led the way in technological innovation such as the invention of the printing press, advances in military technology and modern irrigation. The Sirenian and Cetacian peoples of western Hu are also responsible for most advances in seafaring such as the large modern cargo ships and the small fast "skipper vessels" powered by triangular sales.

**Hu Duchies**

Eastern Hu

* Felidia
* Ursidia
* Canidia

Western Hu

* Cetacia-Sirenia
* Muridia
* Herpestes

Southern Hu

* Chiroptera

Central Hu
Basilosaura Kingdom

The Basilosaura Kingdom is a state which arose during the later Basiliscus Dynasty. It is noteworthy in that its dominion extended over territory in modern day Long (the Taipan peninsula) as well as modern day Hu (Cetacia and Sirenia).

The introduction of Long linguistic elements into Cetacian Hu began during this period.
Minister of Rituals

Minister of Rituals

Minister of Rituals (also called Minister of Rituals and Ceremonies) is a position at the Hu court. The Minister of Rituals is the utmost expert on the customary and obligatory ceremonies of the Kingdom of Hu, as they have been established from time to time, many of which date back centuries. This knowledge includes dates and occasions on which certain rituals must be carried out, taboos which must be observed, and the protocol for carrying out said rituals. The Minister is often called upon to officiate or oversee ceremonies such as royal births and coronations.

**Code of Rituals**

The Kingdom of Hu’s corpus or rituals and ceremonies was preserved and transmitted orally for centuries, committed to memory by the Minister of Rituals and passed on to his apprentice(s). Undoubtedly some rituals have been forgotten and others have become corrupted do to failures in memory and communication.

During the Pantera dynasty, the ministry of rituals began compiling a written code memorializing the kingdom’s many rituals. In FD 5 this is an ongoing project continued by the current minister—who supplements text created by his predecessors with annotations and commentary.

**Current Minister**

The Minister of Rituals in FD 5 (given name Mardukai) has held the office for 10 years and is 65 years old. He is a commoner and a Vesper with pale skin, prominent nose and ears, and a completely bald head (it is likely the minister does not have total alopecia but that he shaves off what hair still grows on his head).

The Minister of Rituals has a rivalry with the Minister of the Left, although the former’s position is strictly a court office whereas the latter plays a lead role in the kingdom’s administration.

In addition to studying the kingdom’s ceremonies and rituals, the Minister of the Left is interested in mysticism and esoterica.
Mustela

Mustela is the largest province of Hu in terms of land mass and overall area. It lies west of Hu's center with Canidia and Ursidia to its east, Chiroptera to the South and Sirenia-Cetacia to the west.

Mustela is divided into eight counties

* Gulon
* Lutrinia
* Melinei
* Mellivorna
* Mustelinia - largest of the counties and location of the province's capital
* Taxidiinia
Northeastern expeditions

During the era of the Benevolent Dragon there were several expeditions launched from Monodon to explore the fjords and coastlines of eastern Sphenodonia and to venture inland into the region they referred to as Leioleimus. The entire area is characterized by glacial ice and rocky terrain with high plateaus and mountains to the north (the mountains here are not as high as the Aves to the west). The inhabitants of the region are semi-nomadic who speak a language unrelated to Long. They raise livestock such as yak and reindeer and they hunt and fish with meat making up almost the entirety of their diet.

There were five campaigns to explore and exploit the Leioleimus lands to the north each of which whom were headed by a separate child of an important Monodonian potentate. The explorers who returned came back with stories of mountainous demesnes controlled by chieftains: some of whom (according the the travellers' stores) ruled like monarchs and some of whom governed one or more tribes with the consensus of the people, a counsel of elders and/or petty chieftains who headed different tribes.

In their accounts, explorers seemed most impressed by the bellicose and independent nature of the peoples and claims these lands hid silver and emerald mines.

One expedition attempted to establish a new colony in the extreme northeast but this community collapsed due to conflicts with the native peoples.

The first expedition was carried out by the eldest son who is celebrated for his bravery and good fortune: he chose to camp out there during the winter when travel was too difficult and came back with their hulls filled witih native goods and resources. This earned him glory and enough money to live a very comfortably. The second brother is famous for being the first civilized person to die in the region (fatally wounded during a skirmish with the locals). The third brother travelled with his clever and beautiful wife who remarried a talented member of the original expedition after the leader died of illness soon after they set out. And the fourth child, the only daughter, was a strong-willed but shrewish woman--she was also motivated by the prospect of wealth.

The position of the Long kings has been that the area was not worth the effort to conquer. They did however extract tribute from some of the nations and all Long kinds were interested in the mines. It was thus left to merchants of Cetacian-Sirenian heritage like the ones who founded Monodon. The first expended to be abandoned due to hositility with the natives, and a failure a large source of silver and/or emeralds. One resource which is available only in Sphenodonian is ivory and ambergris.

After the siblings further efforts were abandoned deterred by the climate and tense relationship with the natives.
Messengers Guild

The Messengers Guild (or Messengers' Guild) is an international professional association with over one thousand members.

* The Guild was created in large part to ensure fair treatment of messengers. In the past princes employed personal messengers to carry missives and, if the recipient wished to show his disdain for the sender or his message, he would often do so by beheading the messenger.
* In return the Guild's members pledge to remain politically neutral
* Guild messengers also take an oath to protect the missives entrusted to them and to keep them confidential
* Guild messengers have access to skimmers and the guild itself keeps an updated timetable of arrivals and departures of seafaring vessels. All this means that messengers are able to deliver their charge faster than ever
* Messengers can be identified by their red cloaks. Harming or detaining a guild messenger when he is going about his duties is a punishable offense
* Inside their cloak messengers have several cylindrical cases for holding scrolls.
* Messengers often fade into the background and, due in part to their identical dress, outsiders often have difficulty telling messengers apart
* Princes or other parties may be fined or even blacklisted for mistreatment of guild messengers.
* Some Guild messengers are based in a particular court but they are formally independent and not to be subjected to the lord's control
* Standard rates for sending messages between one city and another or sending messages a certain distance are set by the Guild, the situation is slightly different for messengers tied to a court who may receive a steady salary. Either way part of the messenger's earnings are paid to the Guild as dues/commission.
* The Messengers Guild has offices in major cities (where members can obtain the latest timetables and where messages are sometimes passed off by one messenger to another).
* The Messengers Guild maintains good relations with the Merchants League.
* A small number of Guild Messengers are female: the messengers' uniform dress mean they can rarely be distinguished from their male counterparts. This is one of the few ways a woman can travel the seas and highways alone without fear of molestation. The Guild has no official or unofficial stance on women messengers, in part because this is such a new phenomenon and the women themselves do their best to keep their sex a secret.

Example of Messenger's pay:

Message from Eft to New Felix = 220 silver (x2 certified message) + 60 (6 days) + 50 (speedy delivery bonus) = 550 - 30% guild cut = 385 silver total
Tara the Bold

Tara, Duchess of Eft, called Tara the Bold was the 5th member of the Neurergus clan to rule the Duchy of Eft.

Tara was the only child and heir of Duke Phyco of Eft. She inherited the Duchy upon her fathers death in BD 31 at age 20.

Tara's chief concern during the first half of her reign was preserving her demesne's territory and independence. She thus married a Hu prince within months of her succession. Due to her inheritance of a wealthy, de-facto autonomous duchy, Tara had many suitors.

Her husband, Prince Uncio was a grandson of King Omri of Hu and a younger cousin of the contemporary King Pardus. They were married in BD 11 and her first son, the current Duke of Eft, was born the next year when Tara was 21. Tara would survive her husband who died of malaria in RA 5.

The first half of Tara's reign also saw Eft embroiled in near constant warfare with the King of Long as well as the mainland Dukes of Anguis and Xenoshire. Help from Hu was intermittent. By RA 3 Tara had lost all the Neurergus territory on the continent.

After this, however, the remainder of her reign was spent in peace until the Duchess's death in RA 15 at age 39.
Keelback Mountains

The Keelbacks is a mountain range that twists through the center of the Long like a spine and extending 7/10 of the way down the Long peninsula. It is a natural barrier separating the eastern plains from the wetter lands to the west.

Thanks to the Keelbacks, the Varanus homeland in western Long is largely removed from the military campaigns fought in the south and east. This geographic protection has led to resentment by barons whose territory is more exposed to invasions and the destructive power of battles.

There are several forts built into the eastern mountainside, the largest and most famous of which is Fort Xenochropis, located near the southern extremity of the steep mountain range.
Basiliscus Dynasty

The Basiliscus Dynasty is considered the Classical Period in Long Kingdom history. This is viewed as the first era of unity and central authority. Historians assign 650 years to the Basiliscus Dynasty.

This period saw the first flowering of high Long culture producing many of Long's most celebrated philosophers and poets. During the Basiliscus era the Glyph writing system was created. Also noteworthy is the creation of a number system (the Quaternary "Base-4" system)

**Territory**

The Basiliscus Dynasty controlled a territory 60% the size of modern day Long encompassing most lands west of the Keelback mountains, the Taipan peninsula and the southern coastal and plains region. Other states west of the mountains paid suzerainty to Basiliscus Long.

**Decline**

During the late Basiliscus period tribes invaded from the north. Independent states splintered off in the south. This eventually lead to the Dark Age in Long history.

It was during the later Basiliscus era that the first Cetacian colonies were established in southern coastal Long.
Liodytes

Liodytes is a village in the Duchy of Coluber in the plains northeastern Long

**History**

The Battle of Liodytes was the first major Hu victory in the latest military campaign. It was fought on the 3rd day of the 1st month of FD 5. 3/1/FD 5.

This spectacular defeat was not expected by the Long nobility and the casualties, loss of supplies and morality blow Long suffered here affected Long's ability to make war and put them on the defensive.

Hu's victory was due in part to its use of modern military technology not seen on the battlefield prior to this military campaign. The Hu army also managed to cut off the enemy's supply chain which ensured Long's defeat.

See Timeline of Latest Military Campaign
Ji

Ji is the name of a legendary kingdom believed to exist to the north of Long, beyond the Aves mountain range. It is associated with the phoenix and with birds in general.

Legends describe Ji as a green land of peace and prosperity. Some see it as a true earthly realm while others believe it belongs to a more ratified plain of existence which is normally unreachable by ordinary mortals.

**King Apteryx**

The kingdom is ruled by a wise king named Apteryx. Either Apteryx is immortal or perhaps all kings of Ji are named Apteryx. Regardless, in folktales, Apteryx is always the ruler of Ji. In prognostic legends, King Apteryx rules Ji at the time it makes contact with the kingdoms to the south. According to many stories, his wisdom extends to magic and the power to control demons.

**Prognostic Legends**

Different stories speak of the Kingdom of Ji revealing itself to the two kingdoms. Often Ji is an ally which will tip the scales of war in favour of Long or Hu (depending on the legend and the kingdom in which it is told). In other stories, Ji shares the secret to harmonious peace and prosperity.

**Geography and Cultural Artifacts**

The elevated table north of the Aves is called the Ji plateau.

The mysterious ruins and artifacts recently discovered in the Aves are attributed to the ancient "Ji culture."
Neurergus

The House of Neurergus, otherwise known as the Neurergus clan, rule over the Duchy of Eft. The current Duke of Eft is the fifth ruling member of the dynasty and in FD 5 the Neurergus have held the ducal throne for the last 114 years.

**Prior Dukes of the Neurergus Clan**

* **Olm**: Consolidated power in Eft and united island under his control, married heiress to lands on NE mainland, player in Long politics
* **Triton**: Fought with Long against Hu, attempted to take power during a regency, started a civil war, assassinated
* **Proteus**: Patron of the arts, switched allegiance between Hu and Long attempting to bolster Eft and the house of Neurergus
* **Phyco**: wanted to establish an independent Kingdom of Eft. conquered territory on the mainland, died in battle
* Tara: Warrior Princess, oversaw wealthy demesne, fought to maintain power, married a Hu prince
Disorder of Kaos

The (Dis)Order of Kaos is a hermetic organization which seeks to promote chaos. The group's membership is a closely held secret and people disagree as to whether it is an actual hidden society or a fiction.

A Manifesto of the Dis-Order of Kaos was published anonymously in FD 5. The order was quickly outlawed in both kingdoms. In Long dissemination of Kaos pamphlets was prohibited and those found doing so were maimed (cutting off the offending arm) or put to death. Possession of Kaos literature was also an offense punishable by corporal punishment.

Among its tenants are

* entropy/chaos is the natural state of the world
* all systems eventually fall apart
* artificial systems hold men back from realizing their true nature
* we live in an age of reason and artificial systems
* logic and reason are small, nature and the creative are infinite
* in chaos there is a transcendental pattern inscrutable to logic
* our mission is to promote chaos over order
* in doing so we hasten in inevitable
* the hand of chaos moves in secret and we are its agents
* we are the incendiary, the shout of the mob leader, the stab in the back, the typhoon wave, the loose peg that destroys the engine, the push that topples a row of a 256 columns
* we celebrate the ecstatic frenzy of Chaos
* when the perfect opportunity presents itself we strike to topple systems or shove the world in the direction of chaos
* the right action at the right time, sabotage
* we reject all attempts to categorize and impose artificial order on the panoply of the observed world
* we reject the linear calendar
* we reject attempt to find a cause for every event
* we reject hierarchy
* we reject the notion of prima causa
* Chaos is the true causa motrix
* stasis is death

Members and code names

* Matchstick
* Pitchfork
* Powder Keg
* Spanner
* Clarion
* Mayhem
2kingdoms Wiki

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Glyph writing system

The Glyph writing system was developed during the Basiliscus Dynasty. It is a complex logographic system with thousands of characters: each character represents a word although characters can also be joined together to create compound words or kennings. The Glyph writing system has been superseded by the syllabary writing system developed during the Naja dynasty.

The fall of the Basiliscus Dynasty was succeeded by a period of illiteracy called the Long Dark Age. During the Dark Age knowledge of the writing system was lost save in a few cultural centers. As a result, modern knowledge of the Glyph system is imperfect with the meaning of some characters having been lost.

Despite this imperfect comprehension, the glyph system is used today by scholars, physics and other learned individuals alongside the modern syllabary writing system. Most members of the upper classes have at least some knowledge of the glyph system and make use of a small number of glyphs.