Kemper

## Overview

Kemper is a continent on Callax, consisting of three countries that enjoy a harmonious relationship with one another. Though small, the continent has a high population density. The people of Kemper are known for their distinctive physical features of red hair and green eyes, and their charming Kemperian accent is admired by many on Tarn and Rayz. The weather in Kemper is temperate and beautiful, with hardly any extreme temperatures (except in the deep south), making it a pleasant place to live.

Kemper is home one of the world's premier institutions of higher learning, Lucc University. For the past four decades, Lucc has been consistently ranked the top school in the world, much to the chagrin of Tarnish leaders. The university has produced countless notable figures, including several Strategex champions, as well as researchers and thinkers who have made significant contributions to science, medicine, and the arts.

While Kemper has made strides towards renewable energy implementation, it lags behind Tarn in this regard. Though Kemper has implemented many renewable resources, it still relies on fossil fuels for a significant portion of its energy needs. Unlike Tarn and Rayz, Kemper abolished the Stratum over a century ago (in the year A4420), which resulted in the loss of their religion of Stratism. However, Pneuology, Kemper's astrology system, enjoyed a revival in the absence of the old religion, and is now firmly woven into the fabric of Kemper society.

There are three megacities on Kemper, all located along the warmer northern third of the continent, one for each of the countries. They have sprawling suburban areas that spread across the borders of all countries and create one gigantic metropolitan area that rivals New Bray'ed. These cities are known collectively as "The Sentries." The names of the cities are "Cowb," "Elder Shores," and "Frontier."

## The Native People of Kemper

Tragically, the native culture of Kemper did not survive the colonization of Kemper from the early Tarnish conquistadors that ransacked the country in the year A2098. The leader of that expedition, Samli Feddal, is an infamous figure in Callaxian history and broadly distained. While he was brilliant, he was also ruthless and an ardent defender of manifest destiny. He was from New Bray'ed. Although, of course he did not act alone. It is a matter of some debate whether the crown at that time—who backed him—had a true understanding of the genocide he was committing. Of course via DNA tests scientists can see that not all of the native people died out immediately—there was intermixing with the Tarnish settlers—but there were so few left after Feddal's war against them that their culture is now extinct. There is an active field of research, centered at Lucc University, to discover the truth of these native people, who called themselves the People of the Charmed Island. Often referred to as "the People" informally in academic circles.

## Strategex and Hackball

Kemper's love for Strategex is evident in its thriving and lucrative professional scene. The country has a higher rate of Strategex champions per capita than Tarn, much to Tarn's frustration. Strategex champions are revered and respected worldwide, with the world's best Strategex player being highly coveted by Tarn leadership. Unlike Hackball, which is played by all countries and states of Callax, Strategex has no cultural bias against different classes playing it. Historically, Zeds were encouraged to play games like Strategex and to appreciate the arts, as a means of keeping them occupied and in line.

In a controversial practice that many in Kemper and Rayz consider racist, Kemperian Stratagex players are allowed to go to Tarn for the world championships, while Sunrunner Stratagex players are not. This is apparently due to their Tarnish ancestry.

Despite their differences, Kemper and Tarn share a love of Hackball. Some believe that the sport has the power to unify and heal. While Tarn may lead in Hackball, Kemper is not to be underestimated when it comes to their passion for the game.

## Sunrunner Relations

In Kemper, there has been a heightening of interest in Sunrunner activism, literature, and science, as many great minds in recent years have come from Sunrunner populations. Many Kemperian institutions of higher learning have robust Sunrunner scholarship programs, and despite some challenges presented on a cultural level, more and more Sunrunners—especially academics—have begun to immigrate to Kemper. In the the city of Cowb (in the country of Velseria) there is a growing section that has come to be known as the "Desert Rows" where a thriving Sunrunner community is beginning to take hold. The lauded Sunrunner leader, Dawnwatcher, has an adult daughter who lives there—Rainbringer.

## The Current State of Stratism in Kemper

The Stratum was formally abolished in Kemper over a hundred years ago, in the year A4420. Although there are a few pockets of people who still voluntarily practice it, the number of adherents has nose-dived dramatically since abolition. It seems not many are willing to act as Zeds, and without Zeds being a Ghal doesn't have much appeal. However, it is far from being a totally vanished religion, with a little less than 1% belonging to the faith.

## Countries in Kemper

The three countries of Kemper share a completely open border system.

### Velseria

Located on the western side of the island of Kemper, Velseria is a prosperous country with a strong economy driven by trade, technology, and innovation. Its strong maritime tradition is due to its proximity to Tarn, which has facilitated trade and cultural exchange with its neighbors via bustling ports, despite some cross-cultural tensions. The capital city, Cowb, is a member of the Sentries and is well-known for its lively markets and vibrant arts scene. The Velserians share their language, Velsinese, with their neighbors in Lyrondia. The dialect differences are minimal, and speakers of both dialects can understand each other with ease. Norvian is also an official language, and many Velserians are bilingual.

### Lyrondia

Lyrondia is situated on the eastern side of the island of Kemper and shares a southern border with Velseria. The country is known for its picturesque landscapes, impressive mountain range, and its agriculture, with a strong focus on sustainable farming practices. Its capital city, Frontier, is a member of the Sentries and is a hub for trade and cultural exchange. The Lyrondians speak the same language as their neighbors in Velseria, Velsinese, with only slight dialectal differences. Norvian is also an official language in Lyrondia, and many Lyrondians speak it as a second language.

### Ildaria

Ildaria is the smallest country on Kemper—and indeed in all of Callax—situated in the northern region of the island and sandwiched between Velseria and Lyrondia. Its capital city, Elder Shores, is a member of the Sentries and is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and unique traditions. Ildarians have developed a vibrant and distinct culture due to their history of valuing cultural preservation, as well as a strong sense of national identity and pride. They speak Ildarian, a language that has diverged significantly from Velsinese, the language of their neighbors. Norvian is an official language in Ildaria, but not everyone speaks it fluently, as many Ildarians prefer to use their native tongue.

The distinct culture of Ildaria can be attributed to several factors. First, the Ildarians have always placed a strong emphasis on cultural preservation, allowing them to maintain their customs and traditions even as they interact with their neighbors. Second, the small size of Ildaria has fostered a strong sense of community and a shared cultural identity. This has led to the development of unique customs, arts, and traditions that set Ildaria apart from the rest of Kemper.

The Illdarian Ruust Famine starting in A4350 was a major natural disaster that claimed many lives. It brought about changes in the nutrition infrastructure in Kemper, and especially in Illdaria. It left an indelible mark on Illdarian culture. It may be the case that up to 8% of the population died as a result. It also effected, to a lesser extent, the populations of Velseria and Lyrondia.

## History of Kemper

* -A1000 - Kemper was already populated with native people, eventually known as the People of the Charmed Island.
* -A500 - As tribes grew, they established permanent settlements along coasts and river valleys. These settlements evolved into small city-states, each governed by a chieftain or ruling council.
* -A500 to A2050 - Thousands of years passed with the native people of Kemper living without interreference from outside sources, maintaining city-states, uniting, and dividing in a largely undocumented era. Stratism was largely unknown during this time in Kemper.
* A2098 - The colonization of Kemper began under the lead of Tarnish conquistadors, led by Samli Feddal. Tragically, Feddal committed genocide against the native people, this horrific series of actions mixed with a huge die out from Tarnish diseases effectively extinguished the native culture of Kemper. He is considered one of history's greatest villains, even by many who consider themselves devout Stratists. Unlike the Sunrunners of Rayz, the People of the Charmed Island are no longer a body on Callax.
* A2150's to A3000 - Reformation and Establishment of Modern Kemper took place in the centuries following colonization. Tarnish settlers established new cities and governments, forming the countries of Velseria, Lyrondia, and Ildaria. These countries adopted Velsinese as a shared language and continued to uphold the Stratum social class system. The Illdarian language had already begun to develop before the formal creation of the countries.
* A3000 to A4400 - The Age of Reform saw a growing dissatisfaction with the Stratum, which led to social and political movements advocating for change. Academic interest become more intense both in the sciences and the arts. People began to rely more on hard data and less on inherited cultural wisdom.
* A4350 - The Ildarian Ruust Famine struck Kemper. This was one of the worst natural disasters in Callax's history. Some estimates claim up to 8% of Illdaria's population died out from this famine. It also affected to a lesser extent Velseria and Lyrondia. This event highlighted some issues with the nutrition infrastructure in Kemper that have since been addressed.
* A4420 - Kemper officially abolished the Stratum, creating a more egalitarian society.
* A4400 to A4550 - Pursuit of Truth and Rediscovery of the People of the Charmed Island began. Scholars and historians started to investigate the lost history of Kemper's native people. DNA tests and archaeological studies revealed that not all natives died out after Feddal's erasure—there was some intermixing with Tarnish settlers—but their culture was lost due to the impact of colonization.
* A4550 - Present Day Kemper, a diverse region of three countries: Velseria, Lyrondia, and Ildaria. While the tragic history of colonization and the loss of the native culture of Kemper cast a long shadow, ongoing research at Lucc University serves as a testament to the resilience of humanity and the pursuit of truth and understanding.