Irinoslwen

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Irinoslwen is a nation of the Nolghas. It is led by a High Lord and give special importance to their religion. Nolghas have a special reverence of fire. It currently has Steam technology, and is comprised of an incredibly diverse society of workers, traders, and many more. In the current age, people of Irinoslwen seem to be favouring careers associated with steam, as it promises the most profit. Irinoslwen is located on the Northern Coast of the Western Continent, by a gulf to the Sea of Fangs. It's neighbours are Othenia, Argenta, Grimaföld and SenEkShkelgen.

Irinoslwen derives its name from three Nolghashin words: Iriyn [God] Nosl [GIft] Wenumn [Land]. In Nolghashin language, God and Gift combine to form Blessed [Irinosl]. Thus, Irinoslwen means Blessed Land, or God's Gifted Land

For more information on the native citizens, see Nolghas. While the Nolghas are predominant in the region, many races such as the Grimnå, humans, and a number of others are prominent within Irinoslwen.

Basic Statistics

## History

The Nolghas unified roughly 2000 years ago after living as nomads. They unified under Kornoln Illuvein, who is believed to have been the first and greatest disciple of the Nolghas' main Goddess: The Mother. In addition to being the first High Chieftain, she was also the first Iriynforh, high priest, of the Nolghas. In time however, the Chiefdom and Priesthood would become separated. The many Nolghas families unified under 4 tribes, The Korell, The Korumn, The Kormalro, and the Tribe of the Chieftains, The Kornoln. These tribes each settled lands that relate to their elemental names. The Korell, Water, settled the coast. The Korumn, Earth, settled deep in the woods. The Kormalro, Air, settle along villages that dot the outskirts of Irinoslwen. Finally, the Kornoln, fire, settled upon the cliffs where The Mother gave fire to the world.

There is very little objectively true information about the ancient tribes of Irinoslwen, as records from the nation in question are often in the form of oral storytelling. Contemporary historians have tried their best to determine myth from fact but still few things are clear. What is quite clear though is that ancient Irinoslwen had a tenuous relationship with The Old Western Empire. In Irinoslic myths, the Old Gods of Stone that predate life are thought to be a dramatization of The Empire. The stone aspect is the biggest indicator as the only remains of the empire are their ruins, which would need to be stone to last the test of time. Additionally, these Old Gods of Stome are presented as the enemy of life within Irinoslic myths. This is thought to have originated from the empire’s ambition causing large amount of conflict on the Nolstell River and sundering the ancient cultures of Northern Tribes like Othenia and Irinoslwen. This split of cultures resulted in the numerous warring nations seen in the Northern River Region.

During this same period of time, The Sunken Boreal Empire ruled much of the area that would become Irinoslwen. Most Nolghas faced great oppression during this time. However, a select few, like the ones who brought the Sunken Empire to the shores of Irinoslwen, became governors of the region under the Sunken Empire, and aided in the oppression of their people. Eventually, through the actions of Kornoln Illuvein and Archmage Elrune of Argenta, the city from which the empire ruled from was sunk into the sea. What happend within Irinoslwen next was a bloodbath. Vengeful from a century of oppression, the Nolghas took up arms and slaughtered any who were of the Sunken Empire’s lost race. This genocide also included anybody who served as a governor for the Empire.

The Nolghas and their hunting grounds lived relatively undisturbed for centuries, until the reign of Kornoln Parthur. During his reign, Wendigos, savage Nolghas, began appearing in large numbers in Spearcliff. In an effort to drive them out, the Chieftain led a war band deep into the woods, and discovered the den of the Wendigos. A battle soon ensued, but from behind, more Wendigos ambushed the war band. The war band fell into disarray, and was sent fleeing. In the fray, High Chieftain Kornoln Parthur was slain by the den's Alpha. Following his death, the Chief's son, Kornoln Melkron, took charge. He rallied more warriors and stormed the den once more. In the name of honour, Melkron sought out the Alpha Wendigo to avenge his father's death. When he successfully slew the Alpha, the Wendigos dispersed, and the day was won. When the time came to officially take up the Chiefdom, Melkron carved the bones of the Alpha into a crown, which served as one of his badges of power.

As the times changed, so too did the people around Irinoslwen. The nations beside them kept advancing technologically, so High Chieftain Melkron thought it fit to begin advancing technologically. Firstly, he commissioned a guild of diplomats that would serve as Irinoslwen’s representatives to the world at large. In doing so, they gained much from communicating with their neighbours. They studied their histories and their technologies, and began to apply those into their own homes. From the nation of Pavnosia, Irinoslwen gained the knowledge of recreational crafts. Their greatest advancement, from their neighbours across the gulf, was the ability to tame the beasts of the wild. In recognition of these great leaps of technology, the High Chieftain at the annual Tolfynas en Solthos [Dawn Festival] prayed to the Gods for the wisdom and strength to rule his people. The gods seemingly answered his call, and as the flames of the altar burned, they grew hotter and brighter than ever before, and once they had cleared, the Nolghas found a child in the midst of the fire. The High Chieftain went up to the Altar, and upon looking at the child, declared then and there that the child would inherit the leadership of Irinoslwen, and be raised as a member of the Kornoln Tribe.

Try as they might, the Nolghas could not escape the rapid winds of change. Already the mighty Eastern Empires have established their presences in the North. In response to the rapidly changing North, High Chieftain Kornoln Melkron begun a rigorous campaign of mass progression, starting with establishing friendlier relations with Irinoslwen’s neighbours. Irinoslwen established close relations to Othenia and Argenta in order to advance technologically in regards to their military and diplomats. Eventually, this relationship between the Northern peoples would be turned into the formal alliance that is the North Eastern Imperial Alliance [NEIA]. With their armies strengthened and allies secured, Irinoslwen began to conquer the nations around the Gulf of the Sea of Fangs. Their campaign started with the conquest of Almyr, in which the Nolghas armies defeated the absent leaders of Almyr. The rest of the gulf was conquered with the same justification. Their leaders were too weak to survive the changing tides, so Irinoslwen took it upon themselves to care for the neglected peoples of the gulf. The nations of Zorak and Nunaakik Akitchatuk were next to fall, and their conquest marked the end of the so-called reunification campaign. With the end of the campaign, Irinoslwen could now begin the reconciliation of the sundered cultures of the gulf, and they did so with a period of almost complete isolation.

During Irinoslwen’s period of isolation, a plague began to spread around the world, and few places were safe. Starting in Ràl Atsèl, it made its way North via the trade with the Haven Chain Confederation, and entered Irinoslwen because of illegal smugglers who broke the isolation. The smugglers who did this were dealt with quickly. Thankfully, the HCC cleaned up their mess quickly, with Shrivipahit developing a cure and distributing it for cheap. This plague was a heavy weight on the mind of Kornoln Melkron. It made the High Chieftain realize that he may not be the correct leader for Irinoslwen anymore as he was a relic of tradition and long-past ages. There was a festival to mark the end of the period of isolation coming soon, and Melkron decided he would make his statement there. The day of the festival, the deposed leaders from the recent conquests we’re brought up from the dungeons of Irïellarth, and one by one each met their end as a sacrifice to the spirits. However, as the ceremony reached its climax, the High Chieftain stepped out in robes only for sacrifices. He placed his crown of bone at the feet of his successor, Kornoln Iristos, and stepped out onto the boats prepared for the sacrifices. As the boat was pushed out into the sea, Kornoln Melkron declared his last words. He declared that it was time for Irinoslwen to abandon relics that chain them to the past, and embrace the ideas of the future. In the end, he plunged a knife into his chest as his boat was burned by flaming arrows from the shore. The day after, Irinoslwen gained its new sovereign, none other than the divine heir. He declared himself under a new title, a symbol of moving forward from the days of tribal tradition. On that day the mountains rang “Long live High Lord Kornoln Iristos! Long live the Divine Lord!”

The first act of Kornoln Iristos was to strengthen the influence of Irinoslwen in the North. He started by sending proposals to Irinoslwen’s remaining neighbours to become protectorates and thereby subjects of Irinoslwen. Of the 4 proposals sent, 2 were accepted. Grimaföld and Pavnosia became the protectorates of Irinoslwen under the reign of Kornoln Iristos. The other 2, Onuren and Murashi, we’re merely told to prepare for war. The wars in Onuren marked the first excursion of Irinoslwen’s military that wasn’t an act of reconquest that was justifiable through historical cultural dominance. With Irinoslwen’s military affairs almost settled, the nation now turned to building alliances and advancing technology. They used information from their protectorates to make their nation mightier. Irinoslwen’s military campaigns in the North ended with the conquest of Murashi, uniting almost the entirety of the North Peninsula under NEIA rule. This last conquest coincided with the beginning of conflict on The West continent between Native Nations of The Southwest and Doqnokarr and their remaining Otino allies. During this great war, NEIA and Irinoslwen officially remained neutral. The only thing Irinoslwen did to intervene was declare that their borders will be open to any refugees displaced by the first Great War of Delthoria.

After the war was over, Irinoslwen’s next great struggle was rebellion among their vassals, Grimaföld and Pavnosia. It seems that forces conspired to convince a number of prominent citizens to rebel against Irinoslwen, and many ordinary people followed. Through swift action, Kornoln Iristos mustered his armies and the armies of NEIA to put down the rebellions. Securing Grimaföld was a necessary first move as it supplied valuable metal resources to NEIA. The army of Irinoslwen marched to meet the Grimnå rebels within their ancestral homeland, and defeated them in a crushing battle. With the rebels defeated, Grimaföld was secure, Pavnosia was next. The people were more compliant than the fierce Grimnå though many rebels still chose bloodshed. They were unable to stand against the army of the Nolghas. With the vassals restored to peace, Irinoslwen saw it fit to fully integrate them within itself.

While rebellion in Irinoslwen was being extinguished, the seeds of war began to cultivate in Othenia. Jarl Golmar’s death brought factions within Othenia to civil war. Irinoslwen’s stance on the matter was uncertain, as a rightful heir had not presented themself yet. They however, offered Othenian refugees safety while their country burned. With the arrival of Jarl Golmar’s son, the conflict began drawing to a close, and Othenia became stabilized. Irinoslwen backed him as the rightful heir. However, this recent conflict formed the thought within High Lord Iristos that the systems of their allies were becoming fragile. To avoid such a rebellion from happening in his lands, he dissolved the High Council, as they would inevitably clash amongst themselves should he and his heirs die. At the recent death of the Iriynforh, High Lord Iristos seized the chance to merge the offices of High Lord and Iriynforh together once again, just like the days of Illuvein. With the reorganization of power complete, he decided to reform The United Dominion of Irinoslwen into The Hallowed Kingdom of Irinoslwen, ruled by him and his divine heirs for hopefully centuries to come. However, in a single succession crisis, 2000 years of Kornoln Rule almost came an end.

High Lord Iristos had 4 sons, all of whom possessed the flame of ambition. 1 son however, was deemed unworthy of the Kornoln name, and was thusly disowned. The 3 remaining heirs all vied for their father’s attention, and nurtured a hatred against each other. As the High Lord aged, tensions between the brothers steadily grew, and alongside it their ambitions and boldness. Their names, in order of eldest to youngest, are: Ovinos, Kwemallir, and Vilarinos. Ovinos was a renowned and travelled sorcerer who was rumoured to partake in sinister arts. Kwemallir was a devout follower of Foronolnur, though his zealotry often alienated many within Irinoslwen. Vilarinos, youngest of the three, was always insecure about his prospects as an heir. To compensate for his lack of birthright, he studied the arts of war and became a renowned general.

Tensions heightened when the world gradually shifted into a new age yet again, and Irinoslwen needed to adapt. Iristos, as a test, had his sons plot a course for Irinoslwen, and the one with the greatest plan would be rewarded. The winner was Kornoln Vilarinos, who proposed that Irinoslwen take after the great empires of the east, and create colonies. There was even a perfect place for Irinoslwen to colonize as its first foray into the east, Old Wozdza. The High Lord, sensing his end was coming, desired one last conquest to punctuate his glorious reign. Vilarinos went alongside his father to Wozdza, and in a crushing victory defeated the native Wozdzans and established Irinoslwen’s first colony. The conquest of Wozdza also changed Irinoslwen’s research interests towards mobility and transport. New ships and transportation technologies were revolutionized as a means to connect Irinoslwen to its new colony. Wozdza however was not merely a final conquest or a testing ground,it was also a bargaining chip. Since the beginning of his reign, Iristos ruled an Irinoslwen that was split down the middle by the Empire of 5armo Tbrum. Tbrum Zorak was a territory Irinoslwen long desired. With Wozdza as a bargaining chip, Iristos’ diplomats were able to secure a deal in which Irinoslic Wozdza was traded for Tbrum Zorak. At long last, Irinoslwen was one on the west continent. They lost their first colony, but gained greater unity instead.

It is around the time of the negotiations for Zorak that new developments stirred within the territory of Grimaföld. The true heir it seemed, had returned at last to claim the throne of Grimaföld. The heir sent a letter to Iristos demanding Grimaföld’s independence one more. Iristos, perhaps because he sensed greatness in the heir, or perhaps due to foolishness in his advanced age, granted it without a fuss. Naturally, many of his advisors opposed this, but he was their monarch, and they could do nothing against him.

While Vilarinos was making waves abroad, Ovinos focused on domestic developments. The Inosuri Company had long been great innovators of transport technology in Irinoslwen. To establish Irinoslwen’s superiority in a new age, he invested greatly into the company and aided their research in whatever way he was needed. Through much tribulation, the company eventually produced their magnum opus: The Inosuri. This vechicle ran on steam from Othenian coal, and was faster than most forms of transport of the time. It ran on tracks laid by the toil of many workers, and could efficiently carry cargo and people like never before. Irinoslwen and Ovinos gained much international renown for the Inosuri. Engineers from Gwanoi in particular became a close partner to the Inosuri Company, deepening Irinoslwen’s tied to the CFOP.

Iristos got to see the invention of the Inosuri, the true dawn of a new age. Having lived a full life, he died without regrets. He had ushered in many ages and been a wise steward to Irinoslwen for over a century. With his passing, Irinoslwen shall never be the same. Immediately, the trouble began as his 3 sons could not agree on who was the rightful heir to their father. Ovinos claimed the throne by right of seniority. Kwemallir claimed the throne by right of devotion. Vilarinos claimed the throne by right of accomplishment. None could agree on who shall be the ruler, so they made a temporary compromise. Irinoslwen would be divided into 3, and each heir would have a region to rule as they saw fit. Ovinos got the heartland, and Irïellarth. Kwemallir received Almyr and the regions up to the west bank of Nolstell. Vilarinos, the youngest, was given only the Westernmost regions. The regions of Vilarinos were the least developed part of Irinoslwen. With this compromise, the Triumvirate was formed. An uneasy alliance that broke down nearly immediately.

Each Triumvir courted international support from many international alliances. Ovinos, being a master of industry, courted CFOP and deepened connections with Gwanoi and Noveos. Kwemallir sought the favour of Othenia, even if he thought their worship of winter was a high blasphemy, he could into win the throne by himself. Vilarinos meanwhile garnered support from TNS, especially Yvroské. They were minds who had respect for strength and arms, it was clear why they got along.

Tensions finally burst, quite literally, with the Assassination of Kwemallir. Kwemallir’s territory was essentially a buffer between Vilarinos and Ovinos, as those two were the most likely to start a fight between each other. While hosting a party for foreign diplomats, Kwemallir was blown to smithereens by planted explosives. In the chaos caused by the blast, the assassin escaped. However, with their brother’s death, the remaining triumvirs broke their oaths and took up arms. Each accused the other of plotting their brother’s death, and used it as justification for war. It should be noted that there were 2 Assassins for Kwemallir that day, one was simply faster. Two factions emerged, and minor skirmishes were already breaking out. The Vilarans and Ovinosians quite cleanly split Irinoslwen in two. The war began officially with a surprise attack from the Vilarans. Using their great mobility, the Vilarans continuously outmaneuvered the Ovinosians out of Zorak. Vilarinos’ forces were veterans of old wars, while Ovinos’ were fresh. It was clear to see why the Vilarans quickly backed the Ovinosians against the River Nolstell.

Ovinos however, had much international support from CFOP, which kept him above water for now. Help from CFOP managed to stall the Vilaran advance and allowed Ovinos to settle into a defensive position. Vilarinos then unveiled his secret plot. Aid from Yvroské and TNS came, in the form of advanced ironclad ships that quickly took the ports of Ovinos and seized control of the seas for Vilarinos. There were many more battles and advances, but with TNS great support, many in CFOP began to stop supporting Ovinos. Noveos however, remained loyal until Ovinos’ fall. The writing was on the wall however, and soon, Vilarinos crossed the Nolstell and began plotting his march on Irïellarth. Ovinos meanwhile plotted his retreat. He could see the tides lf war clearly, but he was not out of moves yet. After all, what is the point of protecting Irïellarth if he himself should not possess it?

At sunrise, Vilarinos’ forces set out from their camp at the river and began the march towards Irïellarth. Meanwhile, Ovinos put his final plan into motion. As the Vilarans marched, they began to smell smoke through the air. Eventually, an ominous orange glow permeated the treeline, and the Vilarans could sense it was not the sunrise. They were correct. When they arrived at the capital, they found the gates flung open, civilians outside, and the city in flames. Interestingly, the Ovinosians were trying to fight the blaze. Vilarans and Ovinosians, for the first time since the war started, worked together to save Irinoslwen’s most historic city. When the blaze was extinguished, many were dead and there was much devastation. Vilarinos had won the throne by right of conquest but at what cost? As he entered the burned throne room of Irïellarth, he found the shattered crown of Iristos resting upon a charred throne.

With the war over, Irinoslwen could begin to rebuild. Ovinos’ actions earned him the scorn of the entire international community, and he is now a fugitive. Many nations sent aid to Irinoslwen for the rebuilding process. The future was bright, though the flames have left a scar that shall never heal. With the new High Lord Vilarinos on the throne, Irinoslwen shall at least be stable.

## Geography

Irinoslwen is located primarily in Temperate Deciduous Forest on the coast of the Sea of Fangs. Irinoslwen’s borders run along The River to the Southwest, just past The threshold of the Temperate Rainforest to the East, and The Nolghas have stopped their expanse North due to not wanting to deal with the too extreme climates. The region’s topography ranges from relatively flat deciduous forests in the west, to more hilly the closer one goes to the eastern temperate rainforest. The Capital city, Iriellarth, is located along a series of sharp cliffs that lead into the sea. The cliffs don’t seem to erode too quickly despite their composition, which implies that there may be an unknown compound in the cliffs that make them harder than normal limestone cliffs. The Capital and cliffs are all in the southeast region of the Sea of Fangs, and seem to be the main deviation in the flat topography of the deciduous Forest.

The Fauna in this region has bred a nation of great hunters. The Nolghas’ hunting grounds stretch all throughout Irinoslwen, so the land is fairly well mapped. The River in the center is enormous and long, so it has become an ideal fishing spot for the Korell clan and a prominent trade route for the Kormalro. The Deciduous Forest has fertile soil, especially along the Spear-like limestone cliffs. The soil is rich in limestone minerals around these cliffs, so the western parts of the forest are more rich in flora than the inner regions. The trees in this region often take a long time to fully grow due to the fertile soil. This has caused the inhabitants to make architecture primarily out of animal skins and furs. Fortunately, Nolghas have a longer lifespan than most, so they are content to wait for the trees. The trees don’t often bear fruit in this region due to the climate, and are in thick concentrations, which could be a factor as to why the Nolghas are primarily carnivorous.

### Special Fauna

**Wendigos -** The most unique fauna within Irinoslwen are the Wendigos. While technically still of the Nolghas species, Wendigos are much different from their civilized brethren. Some Wendigos have formed clans that last generations. When this happens, a drastic change occurs in these creatures. They walk on all fours, they are more savage in their appearance, constantly looking hungry and sometimes emaciated, and their coats turn darker to blend in the shadows. One of the most obvious transformations is that the skull of a Wendigo becomes a sort of exoskeleton around just the head. At this stage, Wendigos are no different to simple beasts.

**Greatwolves -** Greatwolves are not unique to the Northern Coast of the West Continent, but their application in Nolghas society is special. Greatwolves are among the top predators of the Forests of the North and South. In Irinoslwen however, Greatwolves have been tamed, which is credited to divine intervention from the Chief’s Heir, Kornoln Iristos. Legend says that he tamed the Greatwolves when a large pack of them threatened the Capital of Iriellarth. These enormous wolves are often used as mounts by the Nolghas, both in battle and recreationally. They can also be used as hunting dogs and extra soldiers when not being ridden. The Greatwolves are an asset to the Nolghas and has sharpened their hunting skills in their home country and abroad.

### Special Flora

**Cinder Trees** - These trees are known for their affinity with fire. The wood of these trees, when burned, produce flames that burn brighter and longer than those of other trees. However, it takes more energy to spark a flame. These trees have tough, ash-like bark that excels at conserving heat. During winters, a creature may stop beside one of these trees for the warmth they emit. They lose their leaves seasonally. In spring, the leaves grow back white. In the summer the leaves turn dark orange and fall during autumn. Cinder trees spread their seeds at the start of spring. They emit puffs of smoke, almost like a volcanic eruption, from holes within the trunk. This smoke carries the seeds and spores of the tree high, where the wind picks them up better. The smoke appears as a result of the heat the tree naturally accumulates and stores. Water vapour evaporates around the holes in the trunk during this time and picks up the seeds and spores.

This Tree is reverred by the Nolghas culture because of its power with heat and flame. The Nolghas settled their current hunting grounds due to the concentration of Cinder Trees there. Sometimes, the Nolghas trade the wood of these trees with their neighbours

## Languages

The Nolghas are stubborn, so for centuries, the only language they have adopted in Nolgashin. The basic grammar rules are as follow:

1. Basic sentence structure is as follows - Noun + Verb + Object       e.g: *Tel’Umnol i wenfir Tel’Elnol [The Man is walking to The Woman]*
2. Concerning Tense. The conjoining word between the Noun and verb defines whether it’s past-tense or present-tense. e.g: replacing *i* with *il* in the last example would make the sentence past-tense: *The Man walked to The Woman*
3. Concerning Plurals. To make a noun plural, simply take out the last syllable. If the syllable starts with a consonant sound, keep the sound of its consonant, then add *as.* e.g. The plural for Iriyn [God], would be Iryas [Gods]. If it is a single syllable, simply add *as* to the end. e.g  The Plural for Arth [Home] is Arthas [Homes]
4. Concerning Adjectives. Adjectives are combined into the noun they are associated with and often precede the noun. e.g. a *bad man* is *Balnumnol*
5. Additional Words:

i - Indicates present tense in a verb

il - Indicates past tense in a verb

lin- Indicates future tense in a verb

a - implies desire before a verb

al - implies command or intention in a verb

ko - ‘that’

en - “of”

Telo/Tel’ - “The”

Te - “a”

## Politics

Leader Name: Iryul [High Lord] Kornoln Iristos

* Iristos wields the ancient staff of his ancestors and a crown of bones inherited from his adopted father. He typically dresses in fine cloths like silk and is decorated with the furs of mighty beasts he has personally hunted.
* The staff has been passed down his line since Kornoln Illuvein, the first disciple of The Mother
* The crown is a symbol of his strength. Each chief fashioned their own crown from the bones of their prey; however, Iristos inherited his crown from his father to symbolize their mutual desires to create a nation, a culture that would withstand the test of time.

Nolghas society is governed The High Lord, which are taken from the descendents of the Kornoln family. This dynamic was started when Kornoln Iristos thought to solidify the peace of Irinoslwen and his power within it. He dissolved the High Council and took the title of Iriynforh for himself, giving him unprecedented power not seen since the days of Illuvein. The clans of the lords, listed below, have had their power lessened to that of provincial governors.

* The Kornoln - The High Lords
* The Korell - The Naval Lords
* The Korumn - The Hunter Lords
* The Kormalro - The Merchant Lords

Nolghas society is topped by the The High Lord. The second tier of the pyramid are the lords and religious leaders. The third tier of the pyramid are those hired to enforce the law and warriors. A recent addition to this tier are prominent merchants in society due to trade’s increasing importance to the world. The Fourth Tier is made of average citizens with average jobs. There is talk of establishing a class between the fourth tier and the final tier consisting of immigrants not fully accustomed to Irinoslic culture. However, the proposal doesn’t seem to hold popularity. Immigrants will be considered equal to normal citizens. The final tier of the hierarchy is composed of slaves and criminals. On that note, it should be said that while slavery and slave trading is practiced within Irinoslwen, chattel slavery is forbidden. Slaves still have basic rights no matter who their master may be.

Moving up in society is determined solely by merit. A Nolghas could be the child of the High Lord and still be part of the fourth tier. A citizen in Irinoslwen must prove that they are worthy of holding power and status. Moving up as a merchant is self-explanatory, simply help trade to prosper. Moving up as a hunter or warrior is similarly simple, prove your strength. Moving up in society through religious service requires spiritual strength and the ability to gather followers to be better in their lives. To be a Lord, the test is nothing more than trial by fire. A Lord may inherit their parent’s position on the wishes of their parent, and it is dishonourable to refuse. You may be removed by your own people, so to keep power, one must rule with strength, justice, and wisdom.

The laws of society are enforced by warriors that are selected specifically by the Governor of a region. Criminals are thrown in dedicated dungeons until the people are ready to judge them. They used to throw people in pits but that was considered too barbaric treatment of criminals for a civilized nation.A committee of civilians decides whether a criminal deserves punishment or not through majority vote, but the degree of punishment is decided by a judge. These judges are appointed by a provincial adjudicator which in turn is appointed by The High Lord.

## Religion and culture

### Moral values and principles

The Nolghas believe that every life is sacred since it is a gift from The Mother. They understand the value of every life they take and senseless killing is anathema to Nolghas society.  That being said, the diet of the Nolghas always involves meat, so animal life is seen as lesser in value. If a society falls to the Nolghas, they are would likely be preserved as the Nolghas see the value in researching foreign cultures. Enslavement and sacrifice has fallen out of fashion in modern Irinoslwen.

While the Nolghas believe in life’s inherent value, pain is seen as perfectly fine due to their afterlife beliefs. Torture and murder are perfectly fine as long as it benefits society in some way. Society matters much more than individuals. Long ago, the people held deep belief in the spirits but technology has made them somewhat unnecessary. The spirits are still respected and on paper are still revered, but in practice they have lost much of their regard.

The Nolghas also believe that might makes right. A Lord must prove their strength before being accepted by their people. They treat those weaker than them as prey. Sometimes this manifests internally. When times get hard, Nolghas may devour their own, but there are no negative implications with cannibalism, it is simply survival. They do however believe a corpse must be burned either through cooking or after it has been devoured.

Parents teach their children to fear and worship the spirits and respect their gifts, attempting to preserve ancient traditiom. When a Nolghas doesn’t show the proper reverence to the spirits, they were named the faithless. This refusal of the spirit’s power must be great in order to be considered this term. In contemporary Irinoslwen, people aren’t labelled as faithless in an official capacity, but it is still a grave insult. This is by far the most derogatory term in Irinoslic society. The punishment for being a Nolghas, who refuses to repent their ways, is nothing as it is no longer a crime against the state. However, an ancient practice still remains for truly awful criminals. They are cast adrift at sea nailed or tied to a rickety raft and left to either starve or drown. It is believed that Nolghas corpses that aren’t burned shall reanimate and become monsters, but the sea shall swallow them before they become a threat.

When it comes to love, the word itself (Umnell) defines a relationship between a man and woman, as it derives from Earth (Umn) merged with water (Ell), so same sex marriage isn’t encouraged. However, if one’s love is strong enough to overcome the prejudices of society, then that proves that they deserve to be together and silences critics.

###### Prejudices

The Nolghas believe that might makes right, so they would treat foreigners kindly, but retain an air of superiority. They would see foreigners as weaklings unless they prove their value. Foreigners who have something to offer the Nolghas, such as Wisdom and Goods, are always well received.

The Nolghas respect both strength and wisdom, so both the young and old have equal status in society, but their roles are often different. Young Nolghas are expected to be strong workers while Old Nolghas are expected to be wise sages who preach the worship of The Creator.

The Nolghas’ history is always seen through the eyes of religion. They prefer to teach history in the context of religion and acknowledgement of the spirits. History is also usually controlled by the religious leaders and the High Lord. In the modern age however, and especially with the rise of the Ministry of Information, the state has begun to control matters of history.

### Traditions

#### Tolfynas en Solthos

The greatest celebration for the Nolghas is Tolfynas en Solthos, The Dawn Festival, that occurs at the end of winter. In it, the sarcophagus of The Mother is brought out of its chamber in the catacombs and brought into open air upon an altar so that the Creator may see her again. Additionally, people offer multitudes of tribute to a pyre at the foot of the altar. The ultimate sacrifice is a maiden selected to be burned along with the tributes. To become this maiden is one of the highest honours in Nolghas society, and it is said that they will be part of The Mother’s spirit when she rises again.

#### The 8 Nights of Ovinendi

The Nolghas believe that Ovinendi, the Darkest Nights of the year, is the time when the barrier between the spirit realm and material world is at its weakest. This tradition is observed during the week that precedes the Winter Solstice. During this time, spirits of dark and light, but mostly dark, venture into the world to give gifts and cause mischief wherever they may be found. In particular, there are 7 spirits that rule the nights of Ovinendi, that each person must look out for. Each night, a powerful spirit is unleashed upon the world. These great spirits are typically malicious, excluding the spirits that appear on the final nights, being a host of valiant warriors and the harbinger of the gods. Ovinendi is the time of the year to be reminded of the power of the great spirits, and demonstrate the reverance one holds for them.

#### Ghillusoln

In Irinoslwen, the ending to Ovinendi is celebrated with Ghillusoln, a festival of light. In Nolghashin, this literally means Beginning of The Sun. Ghillusoln is held the day after the winter solstice. In it, crowds fill the streets holding candles to celebrate the end of the darkness of the winter solstice. How do they avoid setting fire to the town? People are instructed to stay far from the homes and stay in the middle of the stone road. The festival is at its peak in Irïellarth as is typical. This was because this was the city in which the tradition itself was invented. Plenty of vendors fill the streets selling exotic goods all through the night, and the Iristos Obelisk shines with a mix of starlight and the people’s fire.

#### Sports

The most popular sport is the hunt of a random prisoner. A criminal is selected to be the prey and is hunted through the woods in order to serve as training for their hunters and warriors. The winner, whoever brings the criminal’s head to a referee, usually receives a boon of some kind from the High Lord.

Another favourite sport within Irinoslwen is duelling. This battle is often not to the death if the reason for holding the contest is sport and training. However, contests of honour also exist within Irinoslwen, and may end with a death if one party does not yield.

#### Foods

The Nolghas’ special meal is eaten around the time of The Dawn Festival. It involves a platter of bird, beast, and fish all roasted at once over a fire. It’s symbolic as each animal represents one of the four elements all united with fire. It’s typical not to do anything special with the meal so that the elements are represented in their truest form. Any animal may serve as meat for the platter, even occasionally other Nolghas.

### Religion

**Foronolnur**

The Nolghas believe that in the beginning, the only things in existence were the Creator and a vast world of stone. One day, The Creator saw it fit to carve the stone into the world as they knew it. However, it was still a world of rock, so The Creator put into the world air and water, but it began to do something else. The Creator created the other spirits to rule over the world. One day, the daughter of the creator came down from the sky to breathe life into the world. She sculpted its people and gave them dominion of the land. In doing so, The Daughter expended all her life energy and died. Before she died, she imparted to the people of the world the gift of fire. With it the people of the world would rule. The Nolghas now honour her as The Mother of the World.

The Nolghas believe that in the afterlife, they are united in a paradise world with their ancestors and their Creator. They do not believe in eternal punishment as they believe that what happens in this life will be penance enough for whatever evils they would commit.

To reach the afterlife, they believe that the physical body must be burned to release the spirit. If the body remains for too long, they believe it will reanimate to torment the creatures of the world.

The Nolghas have an organized religion that’s led by the *Iriynforh*, who wields the power of a High Priest. The *Iriynforh* is always a woman since the Mother of the world is held in highest reverence. The *Iriynforh’s* authority is highest, the *Nolforh* have the second highest authority and are akin to bishops. Each tribe has 1 *Nolforh* that may either be a man or a woman and serves as the local religious leader. The *Illuforh’s* are the lowest in religious authority and are comparable to priests. *Illuforh’s* can either be a man or a woman and travel the land preaching.

The Nolghas don’t have a very complicated doctrine. They believe that the land is a gift and they must work to protect its bounty, but they are allowed to take from the land to the benefit of their people. When it comes to hunting animals, the Nolghas believe that every part of the animal must be used. Even if they aren’t used for a practical purpose, they can sacrifice the unnecessary parts to the spirits. They believe in the sanctity of fire and value it above the other aspects of the world. They believe in sacrificing to the spirits to keep the land blessed and bountiful.

One of the oddest part of the Nolghas’ beliefs is that they have the remains of The Mother. Believers offer tribute to it often. The remains are kept in an ornate sarcophagus in the Capital of Iriellarth, which is how the capital gets its name. The Nolghas believe that one day, the Mother will conquer death and bring eternal life to the world.

### Art

Irinoslwen is a nation decorated with longhouses incorporating both stone and timber. These houses always have a hearth that is the centrepiece of the home. Cities are built around the Lord of the region’s fortress. These fortresses are typically made of wood but in the capital of Irïellarth the High Lord’s fortress is fortified with stone.

Irinoslwen is home to a Great Wonder, in fact it’s the First Wonder of the World of Delthoria. The Iristos Obelisk, named for the first High Lord, was built in the center of the capital of Irïellarth. The structure stands at 30 meters tall and is primarily made of stone. It is painted with images of the life of Kornoln Iristos so that history may remember him. At the tip of the Obelisk is a Golden Capstone. The tiny gold pyramid is meant to catch and reflect the light of the stars and sun. The capstone makes the obelisk shine like a star in the day or night, in order to signify the divinity of High Lord Kornoln Iristos. The structure took about 8 months to gather the stone and precious metals and assemble them all into the Obelisk.

They turn parts of a slain animal as pigments to give more symbolism to the art. Artists typically represent the element the slain animal is associated with when painting with the pigment from that animal. For example, pigment made from a slain deer would be used for aspects of a painting that relate to the Land and Earth.

Other forms of art include carvings into stone, but these are usually religious in nature to represent the everlasting power of the Creator and the spirits. Due to the fact that the Nolghas don’t have a writing system, the stories of the spirits are communicated through images. Below are examples of the styles of art in Nolghas culture