Talas

**Talas,** or the **State of Tala,** is a nation along the Hecian Coast. It is bordered by Averi to the west, Dahna to the north, and Qyeani to the east. Talas is mostly a mix of rainforest and tropical grassland and lies on the eastern banks of the Drassanic River. The capital Psitili is one of the oldest continually occupied settlements along the Hecian Coast and currently has a population of 5.6 million people.

Modern Talas is made up of what is known as the Hecian Coast, or region. This region was one of the last regions in Trea to be settled by Leatixans. The first evidence of settlement occurred in the early Fifth Era by Ossinic colonizers seeking access to the prosperous Drassanic River. The region would be home to the Drassanic Empire (-2956 to -850) and become an extremely strategic positon between the Trean and Reinzan regions. After the collapse of the Drassanic Empire in -850, the region would splinter into a series of warring states. They would be conquered by the Callahanic Empire in the -250s and remain under its dominion until the +300s. The region would be briefly occupied by the Emperaels, but eventually become a protectorate of the Castinean Empire. During the early Sixth Era, the region would be controlled by Qyeani kings who often sparred with the Averi states to its west. In +1786 the Qyeani throne would grant the region independence, officially forming the Talaic State. The Talaic State would be a close ally to the Eva Pydon (EP) and support their Holish Campaign of 1800. In +1813 the state became a protectorate of the EP and remain a staunch Pydonian state until +1964 when it surrendered to the Allied forces during the Nine Year War (+1955 to +1964). It would become an occupied territory of the Crodilian Union until +2001 when an autonomous government was declared, forming the modern state of Talas. During the +2100s, Talas would remain neutral during the First and Second Merlay wars, although it was temporary occupied by Qyeani towards the end of the Second Merlay War. Throughout the +2200s Talas would be an increasingly valuable partner to the HMR and would actively support efforts to reduce Traditionalist influence in the region. It would declare neutrality during the Jelerican War, although it remaining a staunch Holish ally throughout the 24th and early 25th century. Talas is a member of the International Consortium of Nations (ICN) and a founding member of the Trean National Organization (TNO).

Talas has one of the largest ethnically Drassanic population in the world. It also hosts a small Qyeani population. Fasstics do live in Talas, but have been victims of countless ethnic violence and persecution. Talas is currently locked in a brutal conflict with Fasstic and Dahnian insurgencys in its more rural regions, placing it on the lower end of the ICN *Peace Index.*

## Etymology

The term Talas likely comes from Old Drassanic, referring to the root word *Tala,* or "homeland". The term Talas as a means to refer to the modern day region is relatively new. It was first used to describe the area between the Drassanic and Misa rivers around the +1200s by Qyeani warlords who conquered the region from the Castineans. Under Qyeani rule, the region was referred to either as *Hecic* or *Talaic.* In +1786, Drassanic revolutionaries would overthrow their Qyeani rulers and establish a purely Drassanic state. These new leaders would select *Talaic* as their countries name in reference to its geographical term.

During the Pydonian Period, the Talaic State would become a protectorate of the EP, where its name would be Pydonized into 'Talas'. This name would remain into the modern period.