Rukania

The **Kingdom of Rukania** (Rukansij: **Volodistj Rukanija**, Володість Руканія) is a large nation to the south of Sevraeja and southwest of Olossa and Baniorel. It is located to the east of Zarijana across the ocean, and north of Tirkiatlor.

It is also known as **Stokruhia** (Sto Krugy, Сто круги, Стокругія), the **Hundred Counties** or **Hundred Circles**, for the one hundred component provinces of the land, not counting the outer islands to the tropical south.

In ancient times, Rukania was known as the **Far East**, due to its distance from Vozolaz and other civilisations. In Sarmelonid, Rukania was known as "**Rōriz**" or "**Bazaiglyaz**", the latter also meaning "the Far East".

The capital of Rukania is **Chudosvo Vysokii** (High and Wonderful Light), a fine river port with splendid buildings. It is commonly known as **Chuvysa** or **Chovysa**.

## Flag and symbols

Rukania's flag is blue and yellow, representing the land and sea and the two gods Dazhbog and Stribog. It is divided vertically with a sunflower trident right at the middle.

One symbol used for the royal family is a stylised trident shaped like a sunflower, representing the two gods' blessings. The trident, known as a *trjezab*, was originally the crest of Oruzla's family, but it became popularised after his spear's blade was broken into three tips, which he used to kill a mighty vampire.

Before any Crown Prince may become king, he must draw his own *trjezab* on October, at the month before Dazhbog's holy day.

The number one hundred, an unlucky number in Vozonid culture, is a happy number in Rukania, because it represents the hundred clans who founded the nation and its hundred provinces.

### "Rukanian pink"

Magenta, known as *malynovyj*, is a traditional colour in Rukania, as it was the old flower-dye banner of Oruz. It looked like pink, but of a darker shade, as seen in surviving depictions and copies of ancient Oruzii banners. The Kingdom of Roriz also used a pink and gold flag, symbolising the flowers that grow all over the southerly tropical coast. Merchant ships from Roriz flew pink pennants on their masts with golden suns and storks.

This has led to Rukanians, even men, proudly displaying pink as a national colour. In some eras, the national jousting team wore blue uniforms and shields, and in other eras, the sportsmen painted their shields and armour in pink. Contrary to popular belief, Rukanian men who wear pink still wear masculine attire, but being a nation of knights, they do not go to the extent of wearing pink wigs or hair dye as these are not fitting for proper, gentlemanly behaviour.

### Other symbols

Flowers are a major part in Rukanian culture, that any flower native there would also be a cultural symbol in the kingdom. But three flowers are of greater significance as national symbols: the sunflower, the viburnum (kalyna), and the orchid. The sunflower represents Dazhbog, or the Gods who keep the land and people alive; the viburnum for the vitality of the people; and the orchid (with its pink in ancient banners) for the nation and its long history.

The national musical instrument of Rukania is the drezhinj (bandura), an ancient zither beloved for its beautiful tune.

The national bird of Rukania is the white stork. In Rukanian tradition, storks represent spring, and when a stork builds a nest on a roof, the owner of its house will have every loss restored.

Rukania has its own royal anthem, which calls for the Gods to bless the King, the land, and the people.

## History

The many historical accounts of this civilisation, including those that faded into legends and myths, were condensed into a vast book known in modern times as the "Royal Annals of Rukania" or "The Honeycomb Tome". Its most recent editions date back to 1989 AT and 2024 AT, around the present day.

Aside from this, many other treatises and records also exist, some of which are more precise than the Royal Annals. They tend to be compilations of journals, administrative documents, reports on weather conditions and battles, and histories from noblemen to even peasants, owing to a high culture of literacy since ancient times.

### Ancient history

Rukania was first founded as Oruz during the Second Age, making it the oldest civilisation to emerge from the Slavonians who migrated to the continent from the north polar ice wastes. It was known for the hundred clans who unified the land and its people who built many stone circles all over the land. It even influenced the culture of Darros far in the north, especially the religion of Zoltokrugism. Sevraeja's ancestors founded their civilisation later, being influenced by Oruzii culture, and other Slavic nations emerged due to its influence and that of the pre-Sevraejans, such as Baniorel, Plaeskovia, and the more distant Forest Slavs.

The first of its kings was Kujora, who led his tribes to rich meadows. For helping his people thrive, he was chosen as the first of their kings, and venerated as a god after his death.

They later learned to ride on raptors from the Tirrian kingdoms of the south, but mostly the easterners still use raptors as most of the land relied on horses.

### Fourth Age

The "Fourth Age" in Jerdiskar history is known locally in Rukania as "Oruzla's Years", or "Years of the Trident". The ancient calendar used back then started its years from Oruzla slaying the great vampire, starting on the spring day when the king's speartip was broken into three fangs, forming a trident.

Later, the people of Oruz built a great wall to the north of the border to keep out hordes of vampires. To stop their siege rams, the Oruzii placed round shields on the battlements to reflect the sun's rays and burn the rams. The accidental discovery of a serum that cured vampirism (from a crystal or salt mixed with some herbs) allowed the Oruzii to easily defeat the last of the vampires after several expeditions led by King Oruzla.

In one battle, the golden tip of Oruzla's spear was broken into three fangs. The sun happened to rise behind the king as he raised his spear at the charging vampire brute, blinding the cowering, scorching monster. The triple-fang started bursting into flames, and the king thrust it into the vampire's heart, burning it to a charred skeleton. The broken spear, later a trident, first became a national symbol to celebrate Oruzla's victory against the vampires, and the blessing of Dazhboh in aiding their northern crusade.

Oruzla's knights were mostly Sevraejan survivors who sought to slay the vampires who slaughtered their people, but after they freed their homeland from the vampires' anarchy, some stayed behind to protect the wall out of gratitude, becoming the Valjad people.

One of the greatest musicians of his day, Memajon, was a court bard who lived with the Valjad knights and played his songs for them. After his death, he was venerated as the Rukanian god of music.

Oruzla spent his later years purging monsters and "evil gods" from the haunted lands of Plaeskovia in the east, winning the favour of the locals who became his allies.

Rukania's history of being invaded was why there are so many castles all over the country. Many of them became centres of its cities; Koloraju Sich was one of the oldest castles in Rukania, dating back to before the Vampiric Plague.

The latter Fourth Age was when the drezhinj, a zither, was first invented. Its "trembling" tune was considered so beautiful that it became popular throughout the kingdoms, that Memajon was remembered as its greatest musician.

### Later antiquity

On a dry summer night, a meteor storm struck the steppes, leaving behind great piles of stone "as tall as lonely, barren hills". One local king, Hlebri Ilsevich of Perjaslavets, saw this as an answer to his prayers for more bricks, as no one was killed or injured by the falling hills. This led to hundreds of mountain-cities seen all over Rukania and nearby lands, possibly the first Burrow-cities in the world.

Two notable invasions were during the Seventh and Twelfth Ages, when the vampiric horde of Maaros emerged twice in the south, seeking to rule the world using Rukania as its capital. Both of them were destroyed, but not before devouring millions of people across the world.

In the Seventh Age, the Sevraejans introduced gunpowder machinery to the Rukanians, who were considered as their allies. The cannons and muskets became very useful to drive out the vampires, as they easily burned the infected hordes' frail flesh.

### Eighth Age (Kingdom of Roriz)

Only the northern parts of Rukania were attacked by Aspuruk raiders, but otherwise much of the country remained intact, largely thanks to the sentinels of Tyarvo. Their role in defeating the stronger Aspuruks made them known as Giantslayers. However, they avoided the Aspuruks' technology due to hundreds of engineers, commoners, and knights being infected by their chemicals, until the Ecumene taught them to remake the machines to a safer form. This led to the Aspuruks' technology becoming more widespread. Roriz only became a major power after the Aspuruk Invasion.

During the Eighth and Ninth Ages, Rukania was divided into several kingdoms. At the centre was the Veitiadom ("Vechedom" or "Republic") of Vyzbori, the third recorded democracy in ancient records from this long civilisation. The southern coast, ruled by the Kingdom of Roriz, was more wealthier due to it hosting travellers from various civilisations across the East and West. Its capital, Bielgorodaz (modern: Bilboroza), was known as a city of adventure, exotic products, intrigue, extravagant silk robes and headdresses, and decadent viziers endlessly debating incomprehensible philosophy while playing bizarre board games. For being the rest for many travellers before the next parts of their voyages, "Roriz" became the name of the whole continent, angering the rivals of "Zolozia" in Darros.

For example, in Gauvajut, Darros was known as "Ruriz"; "Raeris" in Ardeschen; "Rhues" in Vilonian; "Ruchak" in Sakautari; "Reurat" in Redjeteshi; "Lusmath" in Kekhaulid (which was from a word that meant "from a dream"); "Rinyatha" in Kikorin; "Rorinjo" in Yawandian; and "Rethris" in Norse.

Eastwards in Tukshara, it was known as "Sulir" or "Sulor"; "So-lai" in Daizhouvian; "Syalora" in Sanskrit; "Zalonrae" in Eosome; and "Ho-re-ti" in Hiriwan. All these names in various languages across the world reflected which countries' ports were the first to be visited by their sailors.

The kingdoms later joined the Ecumene, lending their support and technology to assist in improving the lives of their subjects through advanced machinery. In the north, Valjadii engineers created a sort of mecha suit, leading to "cannon knights" either charging into enemy lines or firing volleys of plasma across long distances.

### Sixteenth Age

In the Fifteenth Age, the land was known as Knjezvaria, after its feudal monarchy. the nobleman Lukhondo founded several ports for his outlaws. His gang of pirates was defeated, but the other Rukanians who lived at the archipelagoes adopted his mannerisms to mock him.

Alexandros III of Archonia attempted to conquer Knjezvaria and Vystrane in the north. Aside from some pirates and naval invasions, he barely took a few capes, and his forces were driven out. He personally attempted to invade Vystrane, but was severely wounded by the prince of Vystrane. As he fled to his ship, the prince named himself after him to mock his defeat.

During the Sixteenth Age, it resisted various empires. It was one of four superpowers who destroyed the fleets of the Tuksharan Empire; it fended off the Red Darroskei and the Ardeschi hordes; and later the armies of Terrans that lay siege upon the world.

Rukania (then known as Knjezvaria) became a member of the Slavonian Brotherhood during the Sixteenth Age, after it was the first nation to be ruined by the Red Ardeschi bombardment of their seaports. It was ruined by the ice age and annexed into the First and Second Red Fronts. It managed to break free some time before the founding of the Denlotia, but in spite of the 3900 Pandemic, Rukania's people were able to resist and free their homeland. They gradually retook parts of their realm from Terran invaders who seized the east and northwest. In one battle, Emperor Sirkano's face was burned, so he wore a golden mask long after he was healed. After that, in the wars to retake their homes from the Terrans, he and his people wore golden masks, representing themselves as the judgment of the Gods that punished the Terran invaders.

Rukania managed to retain much of its technology, although it was heavily-ruined during the Ontemazei bombardment. Yet most of its people survived the bombardment thanks to their network of Burrow-Cities, allowing them to ambush the aliens when they landed on what seemed like an empty jungle. The jungles died as the toxins dissipated into a layer of crystal dust, leaving behind new temperate forests and plenty of wood for the surviving humans to rebuild.

### The Golden Peace

It started using a pink flag again as a symbol of defiance against the Ontemazei and the Exiles, but lost the western coast to an Exilic princedom. However, its preservation of pre-war technology managed to impress the Porasonids, who in turn surprised the Rukanians by being more civilised than other Ontemazei.

Rukania became an attractive destination for Ontemazei across the world, as they fled from torment and death in various human nations. Initially, this led to international condemnation for housing people demonised as monsters, but the preservation and integration of so many Ontemazei into equality pleased the Porasonids, who provided the great kingdom with the technology to build a series of hydroelectric dams. That led to Rukania replacing Porashon as the richest country on Jerde at some point before the wars of Emperor Borjas, to the relief of the latter.

That era of prosperity, fuelled by industry, innovation, and long-last technology taught by the Dollfolk who took refuge in the kingdom, is known as the Golden Peace, when Rukania was the richest nation on that world. Even after Zvesta outpaced it as the global superpower centuries later, the Rukanians did not see this as a succession, but simply "lighting another torch to defend civilisation"; already, the Porasonids and Umbirabians were working together with Rukania. When Zvesta fell, the Rukanians took it upon themselves to stand with their allies to lead the Jerde Alliance against the tyrants of the world.

### Modern aeon

Before Zvesta was founded, Rukania had established digital networks for various public services, ranging from taxes to banking and postal service. As it already co-existed with standard procedures, this was locally known as "co-digitalisation" or "zollochije". The Zollochije Programme's level of efficienct may had inspired the Zvestarids to focus on upgrading their technology.

Zvesta aided Rukania and its neighbours as the Great Game raged across Randros, helping them fortify themselves into a defensive alliance. Before that, it was Rukania's biggest trade partner due to the huge size of the country. Zvesta and Porashon emerged after the global collapse to aid Rukania in contructing the Wall of Dazhbog, a series of turrets and barriers erected to defend the continent from a westerly invasion.

During the Thralondian Empire, Rukania and Sevraeja aided Zarijana's last remnants and armed them. The two nations joined Tirkiatlor and Djasilan formed a coalition to stop Thralondian advances, sinking more airships with an array of laser cannons. It is known as the Eastern Wall, the Sentinels of the Sun, the Wall of Tengri, the Wall of Dazhbog, or even The Great Game's End.

Aside from one rampage across the Rukanian countryside, all Thralondian attempts to breach the Wall of Dazhbog's members were defeated, including many portal incursions and one attack at the southern tip of the Darroskei supercontinent. The only successful Thralondian attack on Darros went on a warpath eastward through seemingly-empty steppes, until its skybarges were shot down by unseen missile grids in castles disguised as mountains. The Thralondians did not expect that even with one deceptive gap in the Wall, the Rukanians were always watching their every move as soon as they crossed the ocean.

The knights of the north and the swashbucklers of the southern isles also aided their Zarijanian counterparts against the Thralondian armies, leading to the collapse of the eastern Thralondian garrison. When the Thralondian Empire was split into three from the death of its last emperor to the Wraithstorm, the third prince in the east was the first to be defeated.

To celebrate the victory of its allies, Rukania adopted the Ardeschen classical culture that so many Randrosians took up, as among the easternmost members of its anti-Thralondian alliance. With the Thralondian threat gone, the kings of Rukania sent more aid to the Jerde Alliance, allowing the Zvestarid Coalition to liberate various countries across Jerde from the tyrannies of the Great Game.

Rukania housed much of the people of Bujan when their kingdom fell to Wannaenid rule. In the tall white castles, the exiled Bujanski were trained among the knightly houses the skills they needed in their war to liberate their homeland centuries later. Meanwhile, sixteen wars were waged by the Wannaenid Empire, usually by space invasion or using portals, to invade and plunder Rukania's vast wealth. Though it was ruined in the second and thirteenth attempts, Rukania managed to survive and repel those devastating invasions.

It also aided the Bujanski as they returned to aid King Dostagir in liberating their homeland. The King of Rukania, Izor III, also attended Dostagir's coronation and consecration to the gods of Bujan.

## Geography

See also: Provinces of Rukania

The vast size of Rukania makes its people more reliant on trains, aircraft, and portals for quicker travel.

The ocean west and south of Rukania is known as the Velmorian Ocean, after "velskyj morje" (great sea).

## Government

Rukania is a constitutional monarchy.

There are 105 noble families in Rukania - four of the extra noble houses rule over the Shistvalskyi Islands, and one more was split from the House of Hirmanor.

Due to complaints, official maps in Rukania divide the whole country into four main regions: North, Centre, South, and Sixpoints or Southern Islands. Within are the hundred old provinces, now as "duchies".

Although knights, or members of lesser families under the nobility, are ordered to do government work when needed, commoners are allowed to be members of the government, whether by appointment or election.

### Test of Succession

Many Rukanian kings tend to abdicate upon showing signs of old age that may impede their governance and thinking, preferring to ensure the country is managed by a more capable ruler.

When that happens, the oldest heirs gather to attend a test for three days, to examine which of three candidates is the most capable and responsible. The child who passes the test becomes next in line. This test, along with chivalry being a strong belief in Rukanian culture, largely prevented succession crises from killing many subjects in needless wars.

### Noble Houses

* House of Iskortalj - rulers of Khradona.

## Military

See also: Royal Rukanian Armed Forces

In spite of Rukania having half of its people belonging to knightly families, many of them do not actively serve in the Royal Rukanian Armed Forces. However, every Rukanian son or daughter is trained in basic combat and defense at the age of 13, and knightly sons are required to attend the knighthood ceremony in order to be granted a customary share of their families' inheritance money for their next birthday. Some families also train their daughters or send them to combat schools to learn defense, or send them to knighthood associations to learn morality and formal values. This eliminates the need for any conscription during peacetime, as almost every Rukanian parent willingly sends their sons and daughters to learn self-defense.

However, in some towns, some Rukanians continue their training for battle, whether willingly or by obligation. They especially begin military training if Rukania is either under attack or sending an army to aid an ally.

With their combat training, almost every Rukanian is capable of self-defence, whether commoner or knight, or male or female. In the event that Rukania would be invaded again, most of its citizenry would immediately take up arms and defend themselves. A large portion might willingly sign up to attack any who invade their homeland. But even in peacetime, every Rukanian of knightly origin must immediately obey when summoned to do military duties, usually through a phone call.

Although Rukania possesses one of the strongest armed forces on Jerde, built up against various invaders; it refuses to launch offensive wars. Its armed forces and knights are mostly for defense and to aid its allies.

### Weaponry

In the olden days, Rukanians used to fight on cavalry regiments or with ranged weaponry. Modern Rukanians continue to utilise artillery volleys, before sending their own troops to finish off any remaining foes. The latter method is most evident from the construction of the Wall of Dazhbog, which had an array of plasma turrets that shot down many Thralondian and Wannaenid sky and naval fleets. Some of the plasma cannons were even designed after ancient trebuchets, mainly to allow their guided missiles to reach targets around *and* over the cannons' crew by spreading the missiles.

Ever since ancient times, dating back to later Oruz on the eve of the Vampiric Plague, the civilisations of Rukania developed various strict codes of chivalry. They were formerly military traditions and warrior cultures that evolved into a philosophy applied by almost everyone in Rukania, as part of their traditional culture.

With the introduction of more advanced technology from Aspuruk wreckage during the Eighth Age, some Rukanian knights built walking suits of armour, functioning as heavy troops or fire support. They were known in contemporary records as "cannon knights", a sort of shock troop or artillery soldier that broke many foes.

The modern Rukanian military became more advanced and modernised, with each of the sixteen reckless wars waged by Wannaenid lords instead leaving behind much technology to be salvaged from the wreckage. Similarly, Thralondian technology was adapted into the royal armed forces and those of its allies, causing it and its coalition of allies to become strong enough to eventually challenge the Wannaenid Empire.

## Economy

Rukania's money is the "zolet", shortened from "zoletina", meaning "wealth" or "golden coins". In 1986 AT, three Rukanian zolets was worth a single Bujanski venchas', showing the immense wealth of that kingdom. While it is no longer *the* wealthiest country on Jerde, it already is among the richest countries on Jerde in terms of how much money it has in the national economy, and the wealth of any average citizen. Hydroelectricity sales to its neighbours are the biggest source of Rukania's abundant wealth.

Contrary to popular belief, Rukania is not a "feudal patchwork of fields and castles". It is also a very rich country in terms of technology due to its abundant resources, almost to the level of Marnos and Siangwaan.

The Rukanian economy mostly consists of hydroelectricity from water dams, manufacturing, mining, followed by agriculture and education fees. The biggest sources of Rukania's profits since millennia ago are sales of spare electricity to other nations, along with gems and gold from the Smodny Desert's mines.

### Energy

Rukania has a complete, massive electrical and network grid, perhaps the same one that also provided power to the Wall of Dazhbog's defence systems. It is fuelled by a mixture of rytoryntar, solar power, and geothermal vents, the latter two for auxilliary and backup power that is usually diverted to nearby communities and vehicles when not in use. The resulting electrical boom led to stores of raw energy that is either shipped to neighbouring countries, distributed to reactivate failed power nodes if they were repaired, or sold to other nations through international cables.

The same electrical abundance also allowed it to develop a rather advanced digital system, allowing communications and transfers there to be among the fastest on Jerde. Paltirion and Umbirab have Internet speeds that are much faster than Rukanian networks, so quick that they seem instant.

### Agriculture

Unlike many countries on Jerde, the vast farmland of Rukania makes farm-grown food more common and popular than tower-grown food. No extra fee is used in Rukanian farm-grown food due to it being too common. On the other hand, food grown from Rukania is also popular in other countries due to its cheaper prices and richer taste, resulting in agriculture being a big portion of the kingdom's economy.

This led to some countries restricting the sale of Rukanian food to non-native foods and specific packed meals, to protect local farmers from being displaced. For example, apples and grape wine are among the only Rukanian foods permitted to be sold in modern Vozolaz due to its tropical climate, and *holubtsi* buns being displayed among foreign food in an Umbirabian supermarket.

## Culture

Rukanians are also known for their love of coffee, violins, horses, jousting, and racing.

The northern reaches of the kingdom, near the Sevraejan border, are inhabited by an ethnic group known as the Valjads (Volajarjo, "Freemen"). In older times, the Valjads or Watchmen protected the borders of the kingdom from raiders, pirates, and invaders, and they lived mostly in castle-cities built from the Wall of Oruzla. They were the descendants of Sevraejan survivors trained as knights and smiths to fight the vampires that ruined their homeland.

Southwest Rukania is known for its distinctive flavours of watermelon wine.

The southern islands consist of six tropical volcanic archipelagoes that stream to the northeast, up to the cape-port of Moremul and its white lighthouse. They practice a culture similar to the swashbucklers of Black Ardesch, far in the west. They look down on the northerners as arrogant snobs, while the northerners see the southern islanders as a vulgar mob.

The eastern lands, near vast jungles and humid grasslands, are home to proud raptor-riders.

The Rukanian New Year, a traditional folk festival alongside the International New Year on April 1, is on November. It was placed on the sacred day of Dazhbog, the god of Rukania's royal family.

Education in Rukania is mostly supplied by the government, although prestigious private schools and academies exist, such as the jousting and knightly academies prized by sportsmen and gentlemen all over the world. Commoners boast that they enjoy more freedoms than knights because they can take any course they want, instead of being ordered to study a compulsory economics or engineering class.

Large gems, like spinels, are used as lanterns and streetlamps.

A notable Rukanian musical instrument since the latter Fourth Age was the "drezhinj", named after its gentle tune sounding like "trembling water". It is used in classical ceremonies, coronations, festivals, and temple prayers. A smaller lute, known as the "kobza", was created later and used by bards and muses across the kingdom alongside the drezhinj. Both instruments represent a contrast: the drezhinj's fine tones are for heaven and ethereal things; and the kobza for mundane and earthly things. The bards are also known as "kobzari", after the instrument most often used by them when recounting the tales of ancient heroes.

Trebuchets were a common sight in archaic Rukania, alongside ballistas and catapults. While they were mostly replaced by cannons since the discovery of gunpowder, they are still a cultural emblem representing engineering. Some of the heavy laser and plasma cannons that sank the Thralondian sky fleets were even based on trebuchets!

P'javorta, Khradona, and Svitlochas are three cities renowned throughout Rukania as hubs of scientific and technological research. Their universities and academies train thousands of students per year, and their laboratories were among the various places throughout the Zvestarid Coalition that improvised wreckage from invading armies into making the Coalition's machinery more advanced and powerful; almost rivalling Umbirab as hotbeds of scientific activity.

### Knights

There are many knighthoods in Rukania, and jousting is a popular sport there due to its vast flatland terrain allowing the breeding of so many horses. "Knight" in Rukansji is "Vetelenj".

The two kinds of "knights" in Rukania are always differentiated, between a "knight of the blood" (vetlenj krovi), and a "knight of the lance" (vetlenj spešty, also known as "knightly association"). A "knight of the blood" is a person born into a knightly family, while a "knight of the lance" is a member of a knighthood that is usually an association or order, not necessarily connected by kinship.

There are 105 major knighthoods who represent all the provinces of Rukania, including the Southern Islands. Under them are hundreds of lesser families, known as "cadet knighthoods".

By law, all adult members of knighthood families have to take either a civics class, engineering, military, or economics, as they will be summoned to do government work. Even daughters and women are required to take one of these classes, and whenever a son or daughter graduates that class at their seventeenth year, the family throws a party. When they are summoned, a knight must accept and obey, so they might leave to handle some machine, do paperwork, or attend military training. This may be one reason why young sons and daughters leave their families and become commoners, so they can rejoin those careers whenever they feel they are ready.

Half of all Rukanians are from those knightly families. In spite of this title, most Rukanian boys and men only attend a ceremonial training as a rite of passage, and then they go back to their usual lives. Doing so allows boys to inherit a portion of their families' wealth upon reaching their 18th birthday, but refusing the knighthood ceremony will deny them from that privilege. For those who refuse the knighthood, they not only get to enjoy a "normal" life, but their friends see them as heroes for working their way on their own in the world - more heroic than a fancy snob in armour.

Some Rukanians just join the knighthood only to get their families' money, and then spend such a large portion to eliminate poverty in Rukania. These people are known as "magpies" for taking away such vast amounts of money to start charity groups and communes. The resulting training and employment led to a drop in poverty in the whole country. It also led to "informal knight clubs", or "tin cans", people who pretend to be knights only to be local clubs for fun and sports - unlike the official knighthoods that are recognised by law.

Most of Rukania's knights were peasants who were trained, or former peasant families who served the king. Many civilians in Rukania were young men who rejected knighthood for "heroism" in a normal, hardworking life; or knights who were criminals or were demoted for abusive and corrupt behaviour.

Girls and women can only join a knighthood after completing a similar ritual, but they can begin as early as after their sixteenth birthday. Women's knighthoods tend to be separate from men's knighthoods. But once they choose to renounce their knighthood families, they cannot rejoin their families as knights for life, allowing them to live as commoners. Some women consider this to be a rite of passage similar to their masculine counterparts, to join their families' knighthoods to be trained as proper ladies and heroines, and then to end their training as fellows rich in experience for the challenges ahead. Other knightly women consider it more honourable to serve the country like their men do, perhaps alongside commoner friends as politicians, engineers, and even military officers.

In a 1952 survey, most of those men and women who rejected knighthood tended to come from eastern provinces.

Knights in eastern Rukania tend to ride on raptors instead of horses. Some knights instead tame gryphons, who migrated there from the west since ancient times; the great dog-like birds may had been the influence for Simarglo, the heavenly beast.

While commoners, all Rukanians who are not members of those knightly families, only receive smaller portions from government welfare (for things like disaster relief, pensions, or support for the disabled), they enjoy more freedoms than knights. These men and women do not need to be summoned, and they have more freedom to choose any career or education as they wish. Like their aristocratic counterparts, they still enjoy the various public services funded by Rukanian sales of electricity, from high-speed Internet to affordable public transport.

Some knights wander throughout the land, teaching willing students the ways of his order and to be a greater warrior. Such wandering teachers and heroes are known as "vochytelj". They are popularly depicted as playing a lute and having a single tail of hair on their bald heads.

### Jousting

Rukania is known for being one of several nations that are very good in the popular international sport known as jousting. Its biggest rivals are Ragise, Prisapura, Kikori, and Siangwaan.

Rukanian jousting academies are seen as more prestigious for those who wanted to study jousting. Many affluent families from across the world send their sons to study at those schools, even from rivals like Siangwaan.

The jousting manual, "The Teachings of Sir Larasenko", is popular among jousters across the world. Its author was from eastern Rukania, from a clan that kept raptors, hence the dragons in its emblem. Originally, it has 378 volumes, which have been simplified to just 10 chapters in most commercial copies.

Because of Rukania's reputation for jousting eclipsing that of its birthplace, Ardesch, many prestigious jousting academies across Jerde use the Rukanian language for terminology and ceremonies. Graduations from such academies are celebrated with songs and speeches in the Rukanian language.

## Demographics

Rukania's majority is a Slavic ethnicity.

Other groups in Rukania include other Slavs, Valjads, Tirrians, Gotureans, and Tchukorjans. In spite of them not being native to Rukania, anyone capable enough from those groups and others was able to become members of knighthoods.

The vast size of the country means that other Slavic tribes also prospered or emerged since ancient times, surviving the Thralondian Invasion and to this day. It is more similar to Sevraeja and Pogimmel, where other Slavic tribes retained their identities into modern times. It also contrasts with Darros, which forcibly bound all native Slavs and Forest Slavs there into a single ethnicity, excluding the more unruly Terrans who arrived and ruled later.

The western coast has three minor Slavic ethnicities, some of which were related to Rukanians. The centre and north have around fifty-seven minor Slavic groups, some of which were perhaps descendants of prominent clans.

### Other peoples

In later times, there are also sizeable Ontemazei, Heronoi, Lausorijo, Arnadjanai, Bujanski Slav and Wonao communities in Rukania. Not counted in major censuses are various expatriate and immigrant communities as they are not as prominent or numerous as all those communities listed before.

Arnadjanai can be found mostly at Mryjiv, Kam'jansjka, and nearby western cities. Kam'jansjka has the biggest community of Arnadjanai, that it is known for its stadiums and gyms.

Five percent of Rukania's population are descended from farmers that migrated there, due to a government campaign to allow poorer farmers to grow and sell food in the kingdom.

## Language

See also: Rukanian language, Rukanian glossary

"G" in other Slavonian languages becomes "H" in Rukanian, even though they are written with the same corresponding letter. In some words, "H" has evolved further into "R" or "B", further reflected in modern spelling.

-J after a consonant is similar to ь (-ǐ) in other Slavic languages, and is pronounced exactly like that.

### Drevo Tirsii (Ancient Tirrian)

Tirrians who visit Rukania's eastern parts might occasionally hear some words in their own ancient Tirrian court language, although they might sound very classical and old-fashioned, only found in museums and ceremonies.

* aklenni (\*aklheng) - royal stars
* ezeulzhenj (\*asaulhen) - welcome
* majombal, masompal (\*maionpal) - greetings, hello (ceremonial)
* masom (\*maionpal) - hi
* tolka - chocolate

## Religion

See also: Rukanian mythology

Two popular deities worshipped in Rukania's version of Rodnovery are Daiboro (Dazhbog) the sun god, and Strejboro the wind god. Daiboro is worshipped by farmers, represented by the sunflower. Strejboro, Lord of the Nine Winds, is worshipped as the god of weather and sailors, so he is represented by a trident.

Some western ports of Rukania have converted to Mazdajasna, Trismegism, and Hinduism. Many Rukanian Hindus proudly display the Trishula of Lord Shiva to represent divine blessing to their kingdom.

### Ridnovjarstvo (Rukanian Rodnovery)

The national religion of Rukania is a form of Rodnovery influenced by Oruzii customs, known as Ridnovjarstvo.

The exact age of this polytheistic religion, and whether it is the same as the Oruzii religion, is an ongoing debate. The Rukanians argue that their religion is the oldest form of Rodnovery in existence, and the continuation of the Oruzii faith. This is the stance adopted in most countries across the world, as they consider the modern form to be similar to the practices mentioned in surviving records, albeit "modernised" somewhat by Ardeschen customs.

The Darroskei instead claim that their form of Rodnovery, Zoltokrugism, is the true "oldest Rodnovery", with the Rukanian faith displacing the Oruzii religion. On the other hand, it was also influenced by another civilisation, being more similar to Prisapuran Hinduism.

In spite of the practice of aristocracy, egalitarianism has become more commonplace in Rukania due to its veneration of goddesses. This was how come although men were more likely to take up higher positions and were more honoured, women in ancient Oruzii society had more rights than those in Darros.

### Religious practices

Piles of sunflowers are cut and burned as offerings to Daiboro. In great ceremonies, a hundred flowers are offered to statues of Daiboro to invoke him and bless the whole land.

Many major temples in Rukania were the former stone circles built in the distant past. This could be what the sunflowers represented - little images of the stone circles.

The festival of Memajon is observed with musical performances and bardic tales through the night over a bonfire. It is held in honour of the greatest bard of his age.

Tridents are considered sacred in Rukanian culture. Leaders of knighthoods sometimes hold long tridents as their ceremonial weapons, and so do the kings of Rukania, who wield them as their sceptres and canes studded with gems. The trident in Rukania was believed to represent Streiboro, the wind god, as he was believed to use a trident as his weapon. It may have also led to the trident emblems of the Rorizian kings of the Eighth Age, which were later reinterpreted to represent Daiboro or Perun.

Rukanian temples are known as *khoromo* or *khram*. They either resemble very ornate gardens in front of a statue of their patron gods, or great halls with statues of deities at the back. The large halls have brimmed domes, some of which were coated in golden tiles. More ornate temples have a tower above the dome, with a smaller brimmed dome on top. These towers are for bells to announce religious festivals, celebrations, mournings, or emergencies.

Some temples paint their domes and roofs in different colours to indicate which god or goddess is their patron. For example, temples to Streiboro, the wind god, are painted in pale blue, while temples to Daiboro have gold or orange-yellow roofs. Perun's halls are in blue and gold, while Mokosh's halls are in red and white.

### Worship of Dazhbog

The wolf is a holy animal to Dazhbog.

November is a holy month in Rukania, as its traditional new year is on November 11. It is also when any new monarch will be crowned and recognised as King of Rukania, so before that he cannot have any power as a Crown Prince.

Wool is not allowed from November 1st to 30th, as it attracts destruction by making the wearer a target. On the other hand, devout Rukanians show their love for Dazhbog by burning their wool clothes, usually spare or old clothes to represent the deeds of their ancestors. Rukanians also tend to buy new clothes to replace their wool offerings, especially sarasa fabric from Sevraeja, which is readily-available for being quickly made in large amounts.

Lavish offerings of flowers, wool, wine, and venison and mutton were offered at temples and the Royal Palace, and then burned at midnight. The same practice is also done at the end of March to consecrate the New Year.

In both new years, watermelons are cut open to begin the festivities, a traditional custom practiced since ancient times. As soon as the torches ignite the sacrifices, the melons are cut, and the joyous cries of "Happy New Year" and "Hail to Dazhbog!" signal partygoers to light the fireworks.

### Rukanian pantheon

The Royal Pantheon consisted of several High Gods: Perun, Makosha, Daiboro, Streiboro, Khoras, and Simagro.

* Perun - King of the Gods, god of thunder, trees, war, and life
* Makosha - Queen of Heaven, goddess of rain, weaving, earth, and death
* Daiboro - god of the sun and farmers
	+ His symbol is either a rising flame as a diamond, or the sunflower.
	+ His sacred animal is the wolf, seen as his messengers.
* Strejboro - Lord of the Nine Winds, god of the winds, sea. Holds a trident.
* Berehynja - goddess of the earth, guardian of Rukania.
* Khoras - god of the sun and fire
* Voloz - god of cattle and wealth.

## Diplomatic relations

See also: Foreign relations of Rukania

The entire continent of Darros is often known as the "**Far East**" in the civilisations of Palkyras, especially the Gauvajuts and the Vozonids. Rukania was the first country to come into mind for being the most convenient and well-known station for travellers taking the distant trade route across the world.

Across the ocean east of Darros is the continent of Esami, known conversely as the "Far *West*", as they would appear at the opposite ends of world maps centred on Vozolaz. Therefore, a jade fan of Daizhou and a spinel peacock from Pju are considered "Far West"; while a wooden ship from Sevraeja and a rare sunflower perfume from Rukania are considered "Far East".

Conversely, Rukanians refer the entire continent of Palkyras as the "Far West", both for its location in a map and in mockery of the Gauvajut and Vozonid views of their continent's distant, exotic location.

As part of their chivalry, Rukanians are also taught to be more considerate about other people, as long as they do not attack Rukania or its people. If any fool does wage war, the Rukanians will be merciless, as other Jerdiskar nations always are.

For example, in light of other nations restricting the sale of Rukanian food to non-native crops, the Rukanian government offered farmers elsewhere to buy farm manors, open offices, and sell their crops in Rukania. The hundreds of farmers who accepted and went to Rukanian embassies ended up becoming wealthy, due to the resulting boom in foreign restaurants and its sales. They served under their nations' diplomatic staff for several months, and afterwards they were ordered by their own rulers to return home with any profits they earned from working in Rukania. These formerly-poor farmers became among the richest people back home, while a portion of them chose to naturalise themselves as Rukanian citizens to keep their new homes.

## Terminology

### Positive

* Land of Flowers
* Land of Knights
* Land of Life (Ontemazei)
* Our Teachers (Bujanski, Heronoi)
* The Orient
* The Far East (Vozonid)
* The Dawnlands (Heronoi)
* Land of the Stork
* Land of Mist-Shrouded Castles

### Negative

* Snobland
* The Pink Land
* The Land Behind Time
* Outdated
* Old-Fashioned
* Sunburnt Country
* The Ancient Foe, The Ancient Enemy - Wannaenid
* The Obstacle - Wannaenid
* The Boulder - Thralondian
* They Who Challenge Us, They Who Dare Defy Our Godhood - Wannaenids
	+ Simply because after the fall of Zvesta to Wannaenid rule, Rukania was one of the strongest nations to successfully resist and fight back against several Wannaenid attacks.
* (Various slurs - Tyrskan)

## Gallery

An Ontemazei woman in Rukania, dressed in the local attire. The Ontemazei were welcomed into Rukania because its people liked these aliens' pink hair, which resembled the flags of their ancient kings.An Ontemazei squire and a farmer. The squire is wearing a zhupan, and his girlfriend is wearing a vyshyvanka.During the Eighth Age, the Valjadii knightly houses utilised arm-cannons built from alien wreckage. Soldiers who used those plasma arm cannons were known as "cannon knights", mostly used for fire support and siege units.Vertical Rukanian flag. Commonly seen alongside magenta banners on castles.Royal banner, vertical form. Usually raised in the presence of royalty or at buildings related to the monarchy and government.Dazhbog, or Daiboro, national god of Rukania and patron deity of the kings.An Ontemazei man, clad in traditional Rukanian vyshyvanok. In most of Rukania, this is everyday wear, although modernised clothes are allowed. Urban Rukanians tend to wear Ardeschen suits, while castle-town dwellers and knights wear *zhupany* robes.An Ontemazei knight raised in Rukania.
### Flags

Flag of King Oruzla, traditional symbol of Rukania. Commonly used in royal ceremonies and national festivals. Pink, or magenta, is considered as the royal colour due to its association with ancient Oruzii monarchs.Eighth Age Roriz.National flag.Royal Flag of Rukania, used by the monarchy.Flag of the Royal Armed Forces of Rukania.Rukanian war flag.A traditional banner used by knights.One of the Rukanian flags used during the Buyanski Revolution and against the July massacres. The usage of Buyanski colours represents seeking help from the Rukanian knights, or to emulate their chivalry against fanatical anti-Terran hate.
## Trivia

* Rukania was based on Ukraine and Bretonnia. Ultimately, Rukanian traditional culture was based on that of Kyivan Rus mixed with the Zaporizhian Sich and modern Ukraine.
	+ The Valjads of northern Rukania were based on the Zaporizhian Such Cossacks and mediaeval knights. Their name was derived from "volja", an East Slavic word that means "will" or "freedom", referring to the Valjads' autononous society.
	+ Southern Rukania's islands were influenced by pirates in pop culture.
	+ Rukanian watermelons were based on watermelons used by Ukrainians to celebrate the return of Kherson on November 2022. Watermelons are a regional vegetable associated with Kherson, a southern city in Ukraine.
	+ Memajon was based on Cossack Mamay, a folk character from Ukrainian folklore. He represents the Cossacks' belief in independence and freedom; but in Rukania, he is also the god of music and summer.
	+ Pryvyscha was based on the Ghost of Kyiv (an urban legend), the Green Knight of Arthurian legend, and the Headless Horseman of American folklore. He was the ghost of a messenger who disappeared in a cave, and emerged as a ghostly hunter of the wandering dead.
	+ The architecture of Rukanian temples was based on the domes of Saint Sophia's Cathedral in Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine.
	+ The Royal Anthem of Rukania was somewhat inspired by Dzidzio's performance of "Prayer for Ukraine", an old hymn.
	+ The trjezab of Rukania was based on the tryzub of Ukraine. While the historical tryzub might had been influenced by imagery of gryfalcons and royal seals of Kyivan Rus monarchs; the trjezab of Rukania was ultimately derived from the spear of a king who slew a mighty vampire.
	+ Rukania's modern monarchy was also somewhat influenced by the "Ukrainian State", a monarchist government ruled by a Hetman; and the British monarchy.
	+ Ancient Oruz and Roriz were also based on ancient Greece and Grand Cathay from Warhammer.
	+ The castles of Rukania were based on Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle and Khotyn Castle.
	+ The advanced technology of this kingdom was partly inspired by modernised Western artillery and drones used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces during its defence against the Russian invasion.
* Rukania's name means "Land of the [Hundred] Hands". It, incidentally, is an anagram of "Ukrajina"!
	+ It may also resemble "Ruthenia", a mediaeval Latin name for Kyivan Rus and other Slavic states after its collapse.
* The author based the Rukanian language not only on Ukrainian, but also on Old East Slavic, as Rukania was mainly based on Kyivan Rus.
	+ The other Slavic tribes in Rukania were based on the Rusyns, Lemkos, Hutsuls, Poleshuks, and Boykos, other Slavic minorities in western Ukraine. He noted that this was an interesting comparison to Russian Slavs, who seemed less diverse in terms of ethnicities than their Ukrainian counterparts (with only a few ethnographic cultures like the Pomors, Cossacks, and Old Believers).
* Rukania is as large as Algeria.
	+ Marnos's total size in land is half the size of Rukania.
	+ Bujan's main island is as large as Borneo, so in comparison, Rukania's land area would fit two Bujans from north to south.
* On 16 April, many details about Rukania were added after a discussion on Discord with several friends at a Reddit worldbuilding group. More details were added from 2022 onwards:
	+ On July, he thought that Daizhou's continent, Esami, would be considered the "Far West" in a Vozonid perspective, therefore making the continent of Darros the "Far East". As Rukania is nearer to Vozolaz than the other powers of Darros, Tirkiatlor, and Bulanabek, one of its ancient kingdoms would end up becoming the name of the whole continent in antiquity!
	+ Therefore, he imagined that ancient Rukania would therefore be like the exotic Arabian cities in Western fantasy literature and Aladdin, except they were based on Kyivan Rus.
	+ Bilboroza, the capital of the aforementioned kingdom of Roriz, was named after "Belhorod", one of the capitals of Kyivan Rus, also located within Ukraine. The author instead imagined it to resemble more like Baghdad or Phoenicia.
	+ He also added raptors and a possible Mayan influence because Jerde seems more fun as an alternate Earth.
	+ Mryjiv was based on Myriv, a large Scythian site in western Ukraine. Its association with Arnadjanai was based on the real-world Myriv being a Scythian settlement, as the Arnadjanai were based on Scythians.
	+ The nearby castle-city of Kam'jansjka was based on Kamianske, another Ukrainian city.
	+ The Rukanian monarchy's invitation of poorer farmers from elsewhere may be similar to how Norwegians and Ukrainians were invited to move to America and Canada, where they settled as farmers.
	+ Khradona was based on Kharkiv and its reputation as a scientific centre of Ukraine; and P'javorta was based on Lviv, except if it were a seaport.
	+ The temples of Rukania, along with their colourful domes, were inspired by St. Andrew's Church in Kyiv.
	+ The "cannon knights" of the Eighth Age were inspired by the "Cyborgs", military servicemen who fought Russian militants at the city of Donetsk; although in the mediaeval setting of Roriz, they looked more like Cossacks equipped with a crude power suit made of alien weaponry.
	+ Svitlochas was inspired by a university somewhere in western Ukraine. Its name literally means "time of light", inspired by a friend of the author.
* Rukanians are more comfortable with wearing pink, as it is one of their national symbols. This led to awkward and embarrassing situations where foreigners complained about their Rukanian guests wearing pink clothes, as pink is associated with the hated Ontemazei or with chaos.
	+ Pink being a symbol of Rukania was based on the flag of the Kuban People's Republic, a separatist Cossack state which tried to become part of Ukraine. A friend suggested that a pink flag should be used for the author's fictional Ukrainian civilisation, so the Oruzii flag is also pink, interpreted as symbolic of the country's flowers and dyes.
	+ Some historical Cossacks' banners were magenta because those flags were dried up by the sun from their original red colours. The flag of the modern Ukrainian Armed Forces is also magenta, perhaps in honour of the Cossacks who were their ancestors.
	+ The Rukanians themselves are amused by Ontemazei - although they were disliked at first, the Rukanians were surprised that the Porasonid Ontemazei managed to retain a sophisticated civilisation. They were also glad that the Porasonids and Ontemazei refugees taught them to build very advanced machines that made their kingdom rich and powerful.
	+ The magenta or "pink" used in traditional Ukrainian Cossack banners is known as малиновий (malynovyj), "raspberry".
	+ The star-like symbol seen in some Rukanian knights' banners is from the Ukrainian symbol, an "alatyr" (алатир).
* The use of Rukanian for jousting was based on the use of French for fencing.

## Why is it peculiar?

* Rukania is the only human nation on Jerde that uses pink (more commonly magenta) as its national colour. This was because pink was the national colour of the ancient kingdom of Oruz, a way for Rukanians to proudly honour their ancestors.
* Rukania is also one of a few human nations to fully accept Ontemazei as equals, distinguishing good arrivals from enemies. This is mostly because the Rukanians like the Ontemazei having pink hair, similar to their national colour.
	+ It is also one of a few nations outside Porashon, Turodaron, Shaunetor, Gornystar, and Bujan where Ontemazei can join higher ranks in knighthoods.

## See also

* Kerason - another nation with a pink flag
* Rukthan - not to be confused