Orels

The **Orels** or **Orelic people** are a group of related ethnic groups that speak the various Orelic languages. They are mostly concentrated in the Ruthenes and Kranowska, with smaller populations in Aulmierre and Fengelia. Other Orelic nations include Alskania, Keiniffia, Zakrot, Parintos and Podgria. Pan-Orelism, which is espoused by some Kranish, Ruthene and Zelgar nationalists, call for pan-Orelic unity, whether through a unified nation (very unlikely) or just friendlier relations and closer economic and cultural integration

## Origins

According to Orelic pagan mythology, Kran was the eldest of a **Great Eagle**'s five children. Being the eldest, Kran inherited the land of his father, while his five other siblings, Salgar, Parinti, Sakrot, Alsków and Ruth migrated north, west, south and east respectively, becoming the ancestors of the Zelgars, Parintians, Zakrotese, Alskans and Ruthenes. Kran became the ancestor of the Kranish people, who formed several tribes and settled each corner of Kranowska. This creation myth is refuted by the Ruthenes, as it implies that the Krans are the elders of the Orelic peoples, with the Ruthenes being a junior. The Ruthene version of the myth therefore has Ruth being the eldest brother, who was exiled by the second brother Kran, who wanted to take all the land for himself

Some nationalists also believe that the Orels are descended from the semi-mythical Precursor civilization **Slaw**, though evidence for such a theory is not concrete enough.

## Religion

Kranowska, being the seat of the Chtillic Church, is fervently Chtillic, and so are many minor Orelic nations. However, the Chtillic Church is of non-Orelic origins, and therefore some nationalists have promoted a "revival" of Orelic paganism, known as Orelic Neopaganism. This has been condemned by the conservative Kranish monarchy and Church, though it is rising in popularity alongside Precursology among younger generations of nationalist intellectuals

## Orelic peoples/nations

### Ruthenes

* Great Ruthenes (Velikaruthene)
* Black Ruthenes (Chernoruthene)
* Red Ruthenes (Krasnaruthene)

### Western Orels (Northern Orels)

* Krans (of Kranowska, with smaller populations in Fengelia, Bernich and Aulmierre)
* Zelgars (in the Fengelian states of Zansburg and Ruharberg, sometimes known as Zelgaria)
* Silzians (in Upper Silz, which is part of Kranowska; and Lower Silz, part of the Fengelian state of Dosserberg)
* Weletz (now extinct/Fengelized, used to inhabit much of southern Fengelia)
* Alskans (of Alskania, with populations in the Frentland, Kranowska and Raykoria)
* Oskovars (divided between Kranowska and Aulmierre, sometimes known as Oskovaria; Small populations in Bernich and Podgria)
* Skorlovs
* Krajn Orels (of the Frentland, with minorities in Kranowska and the Ruthenes)
* Other peoples conquered by Kranowska (can't come up with names rn)
* Other peoples conquered by Aulmierre (can't come up with names rn)

### Medimarine Orels (Southern Orels)

* Keinif or Keiniffians (fairly Lihamized, inhabit Keiniffia and some neighboring countries, with a small but influential population in Fengelia)
* Parintians (of Parintos and Tracya Oblast, which was annexed by Zakrot in the Fourth Medimarine War)
* Zakrotese (of Zakrot)
* Podgrians (of Podgria)
* Other peoples conquered by Aulmierre (can't come up with names rn)

### Beyond traditional Orelic lands

* Ulgars (inhabited Raykiva before being displaced by the Raykivans. The few Ulgar communities which remained became Lihamized and assimilated into Raykivan culture)
* Lughars (descendants of Ulgars that migrated south to Baizhar lands after being displaced by the Raykivans. Mostly inhabit northeast Cartha)
* Ruthene Lughars (descendants of Ulgars who migrated north to Ruthene lands)
* Ruthene Alskans (ethnic Alskans who migrated to the Ruthene Great Lake region)
* Orel-Varlouiese (Orelic diaspora communities that migrated to Varlouie)
* Yellow Ruthene (Zheltoruthene) (Ruthene and kozak settlers in the far east, northern Kauchin and the Longzhou Valley) (see Expansion of the Ruthene Empire)
* Raqori Orsels (Orelic-speaking peoples in Raykoria, fairly integrated into the Raqori peoples and Lihamized)
* Aurelliki (Orelic-speaking peoples in Lyínthos and the Lyínthean regions of Raykoria, fairly Lihamized)