Ibi's Hollow

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Minor PowerIbi's Hollow

## Historical information

### Date established

12,973 PR
1611 BNAC

 Overview Trade Incentives Military

> "*Some merchants were travelling through the woods one day when they came upon a crooked tower. Atop this spire, they spied an open chest, filled with gold, jewellery, and all manner of powerful artefacts. The door, however, was bolted firmly shut.
>
> “I shall climb alone,” said the first, “for I have no need for fellowship.” But the stones of the tower crumbled beneath them. Without peers to catch them as they lost their footing, they were quickly overtaken.
>
> Soon, the others reached an open window, and the second saw the stairs above were intact. Clambering through, they promptly locked the shutters behind them. “You have served your purpose,” they called out to their companions, “and I have no use for honour.” Yet as they resumed their ascent, the rotted wood of the staircase began to splinter and snap. When they too fell to the base of the spire, no help could reach them.
>
> The last two merchants would eventually reach the tower's summit, and with hardy ropes, they lowered the chest to the forest floor. But when asked how to split this prize, the third shook their head. “You can keep it all,” came their reply, “I have no want for riches.”
>
> The fourth sold their new wares for a hefty sum, and lived the rest of their life in comfort.*"
>
> **- The Crooked Tower**
>
>

A former Princedom of Montaf, the Aldrean Kingdom of **Ibi's Hollow** is today one of the Divide's most influential nations. A fierce rival of Montaf and a former adversary to the Aldrean Empire, the Hollow is presently the centre of a flourishing trade network and host to one of Aoshtai's largest navies. In the decades following the Ascendancy War, the Kingdom has remained a staunch defender of both its own sovereignty and the right of its peers to maintain their independence outside of of Aoshtai's major power blocs.

### The Morbi-kin

As the Vaarn made their first steps towards an interstellar civilisation, a similar transition was starting to take place to the south. The avid craftspeople of Morbi had already made much progress in the manufacture of automata, now the core of their numerous feudal kingdoms. Favouring sleeper ships as a means of facilitating interstellar travel, these Morbi-kin began to spread rapidly through the locality of their homeworld, and even far beyond it, where more intrepid colonists had sought to establish themselves in isolation from potential rivals.

While truly interstellar nations seemed at first impossible, kingdoms ruling over older and more well developed colonies soon found their younger peers in need of various specialised resources they lacked the infrastructure to produce. It was in this manner that larger states began to emerge, with satellite colonies paying tribute to their overlords in exchange for trade, and eventually, protection from rival states. The relative ease through which mineral wealth could be produced in these tributaries and transferred between systems made it both respected and plentiful. With this excess of space and resources, the construction of massive edifices was a popular means of attaining prestige.

With the growth of these kingdoms came the attention of their larger neighbours. Where Aereithel had no desire to make contact, the Dlimm were more than eager to do so. The 11,200s PR saw a resurgence in Dlimm piracy, particularly around the kingdoms in the north of the Divide. While the Aldreans usually found themselves outmatched, the centuries to follow would be remembered as an age of heroes, and perhaps a prelude for the changes to come.

For the sake of simplicity, the peoples of Morbi shall hence be referred to only as Aldreans.

The establishment of an interchange is an event to be celebrated. While the scale and tone of these festivities can vary widely with the wealth and cultural background of the partners, interchanges are always treated with at least as much respect as a marriage would garner. Indeed, an interchange is no less viable than a marriage when securing a political alliance, and partnerships of this kind are about as common as interchanges between siblings.
Many interchanges are arranged before birth, with the youngest taking the name of their partner. When both Aldreans are named already, it can at times be the eldest that loses their name, when interchanging with a member of a more influential family. An "-ik" suffix is appended to the name of whichever Aldrean is in hibernation, when there is a need to distinguish between the two.
Although interchanges deal with many of the drawbacks of hibernation, they are not a perfect solution. While it is possible to form consecutive unions upon the death of one's partner, in most kingdoms the dissonance between those that have interchanged later in life is generally considered to be undesirable. Nations like Aldrea will appoint their heir apparent as a secondary monarch upon the first death of their rulers, while in others like Ibi's Hollow a half dead monarch would be expected to renounce the crown immediately. Successive interchanges are more common for those in military professions, who typically need only to swear an oath that they will perform their ceremonies at a later date if they wish for these unions to be permanent.

Ibi's Hollow was never at war with Aldrea. No attempt was made to conquer the the Hollow during the Unification, for Aldrea had judged the dense etherfog between them to be an insurmountable barrier. At times the Kingdom was even considered an ally - indeed, many of Aldrea's most wealthy houses found Iban banks more appealing than their competitors in the Empire. But as the vaults of the Hollow expanded, so did its influence. Time and time again, efforts by the Empire to expand Eastwards would be obstructed by Iban interference.
Aldrea's decline would herald the Hollow's ascent. Where once the Empire would permit only an occasional trading expedition, Iban merchants could reach their distant peers in Aoshtai with ease. The Kingdom's trade network would expand and thrive, catching the eyes of foreign powers and earning the ire of their Talven neighbours. International commerce has since grown to be the lifeblood of the Iban economy, and a highly competitive industry. The Hollow's Crown has even been known to bestow trade monopolies to prominent nobles in the stead of land.
The banks of the Kingdom continue to attract the interest of foreign actors, in no small part due to a lack of direct taxation. The standards of honour to which Ibans traditionally hold themselves have been similarly enticing. Native bankers will go to great lengths to protect the confidentiality of their clients. It is rumoured that this secrecy has drawn deposits even from elements of the Divide's organised crime, although no substantial evidence has been found.
But Ibi's Hollow is perhaps better known for its festivities. A mix of local and and national celebrations are held across the Kingdom on a daily basis. Even abroad, it is supposed that Ibans will look for any opportunity to start a fair or party, and there is certainly some truth to this stereotype.
*[Map Placeholder]*
At the core of Ibi's Hollow is the **Hollow** itself: a partial ecumenopolis carved into the surface of an arid world. While not nearly as populous as the depths of Montaf and its moons, or as majestic as the surface of Orgo, the cities of the Hollow are often described as especially picturesque, the styles of architecture dating back to a time before the Aldreans had left the orbit of their planet.
* Perhaps the most charming site in the Hollow is **Keeper's Vale**, a jumble of buildings known primarily as the home of the largest Iban banks and other such financial institutions. The Vale is also the site of the Hollow's largest villas, skewed towers emerging from an already tumultuous cityscape.
* The capital of the Hollow is known as **Knight's Warren**, which - unusually for such a well developed Aldrean world - is the only settlement that extends below the planet's surface. Festivals here are held somehow even more frequently than in the rest of Ibi's Hollow, largely due to the presence of the First House within the great halls of Ifin Palace in the bowels of the city.
* The twisting spires of **Round Table** unfurl from above and below the massive elevated foundation after which the district is named. At the heart of the Hollow's largest continuous city, the Table is famed for its resorts and casinos, most of which charge exorbitant prices for accordingly extravagant services. These entrance fees allow gambling in the Table to be unconventionally fair, and a number of casinos are famed for providing dice bejewelled with expensive Empyrean Power Crystals for their games.

## Stats

* STATS
* TRADE
* INCOME

**Helvetion, 23 NE -** +𝔛3.6 quadrillion from surplus income.
**Aresen, 23 NE -** +𝔛3.6 quadrillion from surplus income.
**Murrius, 23 NE -** +𝔛4.2 quadrillion from surplus income.
**Aulus, 23 NE -** +𝔛4.8 quadrillion from surplus income.
**Lars, 23 NE -** +𝔛4.8 quadrillion from surplus income.
**Lars, 23 NE -** -𝔛6 quadrillion loaned to the  Atasarid Kingdom.

## Diplomatic Relations

One of the most influential nations to border the Confederation, Ibi's Hollow prides itself as a champion of free trade. While the Hollow tends to follow a policy of cooperation for mutual benefit, it has mostly tried to maintain its neutrality (although never at the expense of honour). The attention the Hollow has drawn to the Divide has fostered a rivalry with the Sanctum of Aldar, to the detriment of relations of many others within Aldar's Confederation.

### Alliances & Commitments

None
None

### Trade & Support Relations

   ▲ Karstedt
None

### Rivals & Enemies

   **?** Sanctum of Aldar
   **?** Republic of Chaykorom

   **▼** Princedoms of Montaf
None

### Embassies & Diplomatic Missions

  Karstedt
WEST CONCOURSE
  Aereithel
  Aldrean Empire
  Republic of Chaykorom
  Kingdom of Iphea
  Council of Iridia
  Bonds of Kallos
  Kingdom of Stallas
  Three Rings Republic
  Kingdom of Visrea
  Kingdom of Vistallas
  Sanctum of Votum
  Kingdom of Astan
AXANAR
  Clan Gehavecht
  Little Illaria of Southern Aoshtai
ARRIVAL
  Kaikyo
  Krizovia
THE REACH
  Marric Union
  Reachian Commonwealth
  Republic of Varadinia
  Trillic Territory
SELTEN
  New Adresaas Dominion
  Karstedt
WEST CONCOURSE
  Aldrean Empire
  Republic of Chaykorom
  Kingdom of Iphea
  Council of Iridia
  Bonds of Kallos
  Three Rings Republic
  Sanctum of Votum
  Kingdom of Astan
  High Assemblage
  Kingdom of Visrea
THE REACH
  Trillic Territory