Nikan

**Nikan** is a vast empire located south of the Hinterlands, and is the primary setting of The Poppy War. It's currently ruled by Empress Su Daji. Nikan is inspired by the geographic and military history of China.

## History

Nikan's history has been described as "a highly entertaining saga of constant warfare". The Empire was formed a millennium before the timeline of *The Poppy War*, after the Red Emperor unified multiple monastic peoples across the continent. Nikan used to span half the continent under the Red Emperor. The Old Nikara Empire has been called the birthplace of modern civilization, the center of the world. Inventions like the lodestone, the parchment press, and the blast furnace were made in Old Nikan. They were also colonial forces to the Isle of Speer and island of Mugen, bringing "culture and methods of good governance" to them, as taught in Nikara schools.

### The Red Emperor's Reign

Originating from the kingdom of Arlong, The Red Emperor would go on to conquer Nikan through a series of conquests, thus creating the Nikara empire.

After he unified Nikan, he would construct Sinegard, introduced a standardized Nikara language and script, introduced units of weights and measurements, built a system of roads that connected the nation, and many more. He essentially created the modern Nikara civilization.

During his reign, the Empire also annexed the island of Speer. Sinegardian gossip tells that this was made possible because of the love Mai'rinnen Tearza, the last warrior queen of Speer, had for the Red Emperor.

The Red Emperor was based on Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor.

### The Era of the Warring States

After the death of the Red Emperor, his many heirs started fighting eachother, dividing the empire between themselves, beginning the period of intense and brutal warfare, known as the era of the warring states.

Over the course of several years, the warfare would slowly subside, and would ultimately (At least on paper) cease. As such, the country was divided into twelve rival provinces ruled by twelve warlords, with an emperor to serve as an representative figure. On paper, Nikan was again an unified empire.

In reality however, the era of the warring states has never ended, as the warlords would often wage wars between eachother, and the warring states era would go on for several hundred years. During that time, Nikan went through numerous civil wars and repelled several invasions from the northern Hinterlands. Nikan remained an decentralised country, with it's emperor having tiny control and influence over the empire. this would be detrimental for nikan, as lack of centralization and reform would turn Nikan into backwards and weak country.

The era of the warring states would officially end with the first poppy war.

### The First Poppy War

The First Poppy War took place around 65 years prior to the start of the first novel, and was the first war between the Federation of Mugen and Nikan.

As the name of the three Nikara-Mugenese wars suggest, it was triggered by the Nikara emperor's campaign to enforce its prohibition of opium, which included destroying opium stocks owned by Mugenese merchants and triads (some of which were affiliated with the mugenese goverment), which was caused by the nation-wide opium drug epidemic, that originated from Mugenenese merchants.

With some of the most influential Mugenese triads and merchant groups convincing the mugenese emperor to resolve the issue by using force, the Mugenese federation would declare war on Nikan. During this war, the Mugenese navy would go on to annihilate the Nikara navy, and soon enough, Mugenese troops would land on the Nikara soil.

After 3 years of exhaustive war, the nikara emperor, facing imminent defeat, would sue for peace. Marked by the peace treaty that was written after the war, Mugen would occupy tiger province's northeastern coastal territories, as well as all of horse province's coastal territories and entiriety of speer. Mugen would also get concessions in Sinegard and Khurdalain.

This war would mark the beginning of the Age of Humiliation, during which Nikan would also lose two wars agains Hesperia, one war against the Morchebian Tsardom, and (although debated) the second poppy war.

### The Second Poppy War

The Second Poppy War took place around 65 years prior to the start of the first novel. At the time, Nikan was under the rule of the Federation of Mugen, weakened by a nation-wide opium addiction (the name of Poppy Wars came from this). The Warlords did little to alleviate the suffering of their people.

The legend of The Trifecta is told as a story of salvation and reunification of Nikan. Folklore describes the Trifecta as three war orphans who led the Nikara out of the clutches of their oppressors using powers granted by the gods. They were the Dragon Emperor, the Vipress, and the Gatekeeper. The three overthrew the Warlords, and the Warrior proclaimed himself the Dragon Emperor of Nikan.

Despite the intervention of the Trifecta, Nikan suffered significant losses during this war. The Isle of Speer was lost as a result of this war. The Republic of Hesperia helped Nikan gain its victory against the Federation after the Speerly massacre, moved from its inaction by the brutality of the genocide. Hesperia oversaw the peace treaty known as the **Non-Aggression Pact**, which ended the Second Poppy War.

Though unconfirmed, it has been implied that the loss of Speer may have been a strategic decision by head generals of the Nikara Militia. Whether true or not, the details have been lost and politically forgotten.

Six months after the Non-Aggression Pact was signed, the Empress Su Daji formally banned the possession, use, and sale of all psychoactive substances within Nikan's borders and instituted harshly retributive punishments for the crimes. Black markets in opium sprang up almost immediately, undermining her efforts in wiping out drug use.

### The Third Poppy War

The third Poppy War took place during the events of the first book. Almost two decades after the Second Poppy War, it began as the Federation of Mugen renewed their efforts to invade the Nikara Empire. It was ended abruptly with the genocide of Mugen, through volcanic eruption, triggered by Fang Runin's shamanic abilities.

### Vaisra's Rebellion

In the aftermath of the Third Poppy War, with the country suffering from disunity and war-associated ills (disease, famine, refugee crises), the Dragon Warlord Yin Vaisra put in motion long-standing plans of treason and rebellion of the Empress.

## Geography

Nikan is a large Empire comprising of Twelve Provinces, each controlled by a Warlord. It sits west of the **Nariin Sea**, which separates Nikan from the Federation of Mugen. To the north of Nikan lies **the Hinterlands** and the **Baghra Desert**. The Isle of Speer lies to the south.

The Twelve Provinces of Nikan are named after the Chinese Zodiac signs, which are in order:

* Rat Province
* Ox Province
* Tiger Province
* Hare Province
* Dragon Province
* Snake Province
* Horse Province
* Ram Province
* Monkey Province
* Rooster Province
* Dog Province
* Boar Province

## To be Added

1. Demographics
2. Dialect
3. Religion
4. Politics
5. Government
6. Nikara Imperial Militia