Zhakria

Map of Zhakria

Zhakria is a mountainous subcontinent, and is believed by some to be the birthplace of humanity. The Kurul Empire, the first multicultural civilization in the world was established in Zhakria at the beginning of the First Era, and was the primary example for most civilizations to try and live up to as a military power.

The beginning of the Third Era saw the sun darkened and a flame dancing in the sky for the whole world to see. The flame landed somewhere in Zhakria, beginning more than two hundred years of endless religious warfare in the heart of the region.

Though their empire is gone, it is still occupied by the Kurul people, who have been oppressed by occupying empires for thousands of years since. Their current overlords are the Imperium Taygis, who occupy the capital city of Turos.

## Geography

Zhakria is a subcontinent in Asurin that encompasses the regions Awar, in the North, Ahma, in the South, and Kodama in the West. It borders Kheer, Zhongbu, and Kuz to the East. The region has coastal regions along three major bodies of water, the Dengiz Sea to the North, the Chau Ocean to the Southeast, and the Numai Strait to the Southwest.

Zhakria has a fairly diverse environment. Central Zhakria is cool and mountainous, though the peaks of the mountains reach well below freezing temperature. Awar is temperate and arboreal, relying rivers that form from the snow runoff and the small inlets from the Dengiz Sea that allow for a fertile piece of land. Ahma is hot and dry and mostly desert, though the coast along the Numai strait is warm and humid. Kodama is hot and humid with healthy soil that allows for easy farming.

## History

### First Era

Hasar, the first city in history, was established by the Kurul poeople, marking the beginning of the First Era, when cultivation of the land, domestication of livestock, and the beginning of metallurgy. Hasar was ruled by the Taloran Korrde, the founder of the Korrde Dynasty. Taloran developed the first professional army, using the ample supply of copper from mining to create armor and weapons, which were effective at fighting the less equipped Zarta and Elijite peoples. At some point after Taloran's reign, the Zarta and Elijites settled their own cities.

Taloran's grandson, Lotai II began territorial expansion beyond outskirts of Hasar, and established more villages and towns that would pay taxes in exchange for Kurul protection, thus forming the Kurul Empire. Relying on an ever growing military, Lotai II seized thousands of miles of land from the Zarta and Elijites. The Elijites were completely forced out from their base in Kodama and retreated to Nel. Shortly after, the Zarta were fully conquered, agreeing to become a vassal-state for the Kurul, agreeing to send many captives and slaves to work the fields that the Elijites abandoned.

With Zhakria secured, Lotai II turned his sights eastward, but died from illness shortly before the beginning of the campaign. His son Solotar the Merciful greatly reduced the size of the military and focused on cultural and economic developments. Not unwary to the threat of attack, he had dozens of fortresses made from stone and clay built within the mountains, securing Hasar from possible invasion from the East. As a sign of the Korrde's wealth, he began the tradition of burying the Kings with massive fortunes in tombs hidden in the mountainsides, as well as great statues of their gods spread to strike fear in possible invaders.

When the Elijites were forced back into Zhakria by the Heptites, the Zarta supported their rival and pushed the Heptites back into their territory of Nel. Worried of unified front to challenge the Korrde, Taloran II spread rumors to successfully incite war between the two factions so they could begin an Eastern campaign with their West mostly secured. The Elijites would return to their old master, Ptelamaes IV of the Heptites for assistance, inviting Nel troops on Zhakrian lands. Taloran II halted his Eastern campaign and turned back West. Fighting would continue through the five-year reign of Lotai III before being ended by Lotai IV, whe returned to the East.

The Eastern campaigns continued for several hundred years, ending with the death of child king Lotai VII, ending the Korrde line. The court official Palteria from Zarta lands used the opportunity to sow chaos in the Empire, fast-tracking its collapse and paving the way for Zarta dominance in the region.

Zarta reign would be short lived, as the new Kingdom of Fazil from Ahma would seize control of Hasar and conquer the whole region. The Fazil would establish peaceful relations with the East, and begin Westward expansion from Kodama into Bospotia, with peace in the realm. After two hundred years of peace, the Fazil would be challenged by King Philos of the Thrakans, who swiftly conquered Kodama in six months. No more than two years later, the Fazil were completely crushed, and the Thrakans established their authority, changing the name of Hasar to Turos.