Vos

Area | 2356270 km²
 Population Density | 36/km²

Vos (Royal: *Vos*), formerly known as The Conquered Tribes *(Royal: Dedo Zin)*, was a major dominion in the Snow Empire. Most of the territory formerly under the name of Vos is now under the rule of King Caius, and is simply called the Snow Empire by its denizens. In addition, several parts of the former region have also fallen under the control of various separatist groups and gangs.

## History

Originally called Dedo Zin, it had quickly acquired that

### Founding

Prior to being conquered by the Snow Empire, the territory that became known as Vos consisted of several states.

## Languages

Though Vos is not that linguistically diverse in terms of the sheer number of languages, the amount of language families located in the region is considerable. Netkhal languages dominate the north and the east. Royal, the main language of the Snow Empire, began as a pidgin language used by the first settlers of Vos that slowly developed into a codified, standard language distinct from the blend of Netkhal languages it originated as. Though Royal predominates in the east, many of the native Netkhal languages are still spoken by those farther west. Though once extant in this region, the Lettyenic languages that were once spoken in the north were replaced by Wai languages, especially Ruubal. Aside from a small amount in Zeminar, Vos also contains the only speakers of the Gristokre language family, unrelated to any other group of languages in Gera. Another isolate spoken in the province is the Twiri language of the Urpyanic family.

## Culture

Vos is where much of modern Gera's cultural practices were popularized from. Unlike Zeminar or Efsisi, however, there is little that unites Vos as a whole in terms of culture. For most of its history, the area consisted of three primary cultural macrogroups: the primarily Netkhal-influenced Baryan and Bazan peoples in the east, the Wai and Lettyen in the west, and the Gristokre acting as a buffer between the two. The massive influx of the Yuhan people, however, dramatically changed the cultural landscape of all of Gera, though it would change Vos most of all. The primarily Netkhal practices of patrilineality, the clan name preceding the given name, the lunar calendar, and the partially base six numbering system were all spread out from the Yuhan-controlled areas of Vos. Some Netkhal practices, such as obligatory monogamy, failed to spread much beyond the areas that already practiced it. Modern Wai culture as a whole has also been influenced greatly by the Western Wai of Vos. The Western Wai in Famiimela and Ezraniyenna spearheaded the effort to create the United Waioloyan Peoples, and Wai customs and practices still predominate in these regions, somewhat unlike their counterparts in Zeminar.

Modern Vos culture has also been heavily influenced by Zeminar, seen most saliently in the near-total extinction of the indigenous Netkhal religions in the region. Battlism is highly central to the life of most of modern Vos, however, the Wai in the west still generally practice some form of Wai paganism, though there are a fair number of Wai Battlist converts in the southernmost areas of the region. The Festival of Light also became a popular holiday due to Zeminar and Battlism's influence, though it is practiced much differently than in its native Zeminar.

Among all Gera's major regions, magic culture is the least strong in Vos. The Netkhal people that originally emigrated to the land and the Wai people have struggled to catch up to the magical skill of the average Zeminaran, mostly due to the lack of a strong magical tradition prior to contact with Zeminar.

Of all the regions, Vos is renowned for its architecture. The Royal Palace first constructed by the Baryan and the enormous ziggurats built by the Western Wai are seen as some of Gera's most impressive architectural achievements. Poetry in Royal is also an art that was said to have been perfected in Vos, and Famiimela is the center of literature for Wai languages.

## Geography

Vos is one of the most geographically diverse areas in the Gera. The two largest mountain chains in Gera, the Grist mountain chain and Zharedo's bluffs are found there. The relatively temperate plains in the west of the region contrast with the desert steppes of the north. Two of the most vital rivers to modern Geran civilization and agriculture—the River Grist and the River Baza—also run through this dominion. The tributaries of the River Baza provide much of the water used in the irrigation of the crops that give the Vos its name.