Hattusa

> *"Our law emphasises restitution rather than revenge. From our experience, society loses a certain practicality when it chooses to focus on the other typical response - never to forgive and never to forget." -* King Suppilum I, previous ruler of Hattusa, speaking to foreign dignitaries.
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Hattusa is a major Carrion Kingdom centred around the mountainous province of the Great Escarpment. It is currently experiencing the height of its size and influence due to the decisions of King Suppilum I, who absorbed many smaller kingdoms and made Hattusa an economic powerhouse.

Though it is a monarchy like an overwhelming majority of the Carrion Kingdoms, Hattusa is notable for being one of the few constitutional monarchies, as the ruler is assisted and advised by the Panku Assembly. This assembly is responsible for the code of law and matters of succession. Under its supervision, Hattusa has a unique code of law that focuses on punishments of repayment rather than violence. It is also notable for being one of the few remaining kingdoms that allows the public practice of the old Carrionite religion.

Nevertheless, it is still early in the reign of the current Hattusan king, Suppilum II. It remains to be seen if he will continue the legacy of his father and expand Hattusan power, or if his reign will see all his father built crumble.

## **History**

Much of what we know about Hattusan history comes from the carvings and texts that decorate the walls of the oldest palaces and temples.

It is believed that the earliest settlers of Hattusa travelled to the land from the eastern desert, likely an attempt to settle the fertile and more forgiving Red Land beyond the mountains. Nevertheless, some settlers stayed and built the foundations of what would become the capital city Hattush. These early settlers benefited from the mountains, a place that most would overlook, and thus had few external threats.

However, as Hattusa grew, it became apparent that though they lacked threats from the outside they had an abundance of threats from the inside. Crime, disorder and conflicts of succession were shockingly common. As a result, King Telipnu established the first Panku to create a new code of law and settle matters of succession. This worked and Hattusa swiftly became a kingdom of fairness and stability.

Despite its newfound stability, the kingdom would still experience a long period of stagnation, with little done to expand its power and influence. That was, until the reign of King Suppilum I (the father of the current king). Under his rule, Hattusa grew at a rapid rate. It drastically expanded its bronze trade, becoming a major economic power. Using this strength, Hattusa also absorbed many smaller kingdoms through a series of clever political confederations and threats. Upon the death of Suppilum I and the ascension of his son, Suppilum II, Hattusa was at its political and economic height - something it still benefits from today.

## **Geography**

The lands of Hattusa encompass pretty much the entirety of the Great Escarpment province, a mountain range that acts as a geographical divide between the Red Land and the desert surrounding the Iteru River. However, the real 'centre' of the kingdom lies in the area around its capital city, Hattush. The further out one goes from the capital the less real control Hattusa has over the land, though they still claim ownership over it.

The lands of Hattusa are also home to a variety of smaller groups. Various clans of Gnolls as well as Carrionite traditionalists call the caves, ridges, and valleys home. Though this is technically considered illegal and a violation of Hattusan territorial integrity, the rulers of Hattusa have typically tolerated their presence so long as they do not act against Hattusan interests. In their minds, it is better to have these people inhabit the mountains than more hostile groups like bandits or the Namiri Rebels.

## **Politics**

Hattusa is unique, for it is one of the few Carrion Kingdoms that is not some form of absolute monarchy. Instead, Hattusa has a constitutional monarch. This monarch is the designated head of state, the commander of the military, and the chief justice. They are then superseded by the heir apparent, then the Chief of the Scribes, then the Chief of the Royal Bodyguards. All of this is not too dissimilar from the typical institutions of an absolute monarchy.

However, what makes Hattusa unique is that the monarch's power is kept in check by the advisory council known as the Panku Assembly. Established to take care of lawlessness, the Panku are a general assembly that exercise judicial power over Hattusa. All people within Hattusa are subject to the Panku's code of law - including the reigning monarch. This, in turn, keeps the monarch in check without diminishing their power. It was the Panku that established the laws that Hattusa are known for. Instead of focusing on violence as punishment, the Pankus created laws that revolved around restitution. For example, in cases of theft, the punishment would be to repay the victim in equal value to what was stolen. These laws were created by the first Pankus, and have continued ever since.

Internationally, Hattusa enjoys fairly prosperous trading relationships with a majority of the other Carrion Kingdoms. This is likely in large part due to their importance to the bronze trade. However, they are also involved in constant skirmishes with the Namiri Rebels, who seek to use the mountains of the Great Escarpment as a more secure base of operations.

## **Economy**

A large majority of the Hattusan economy relies on the resources of its mountainous land. Naturally, then, its main industries focus on quarrying and mining, with its main exports being gemstones, minerals, and metals. Copper and tin, the main components for bronze, are particularly abundant in Hattusan land which has made them a vital component of the Carrionite bronze trade. Their role in the bronze trade has allowed Hattusa to become a kingdom of genuine power, where otherwise they would simply be one of cultural uniquity.

Its reliance on mining and quarrying for trade means that many of the smaller settlements in Hattusa are ones that have been built around industries. Mining and quarry towns are fairly common, places in which a majority of the settlement's population work in the mining or quarrying operation.

Hattusa also has a small tourism sector, but the mountains terrain makes it more difficult to access than many other cities. As a result, though this industry exists, it is not as prosperous as some other cities - like Shedet.

## **Culture and Art**

Being a mountain-based nation, a majority of notable Hattusan art exists in the form of stone and metal work. The capital city of Hattush, for example, is known for its impressive rock reliefs, depicting old kings and events from stories. Their statues, to, are also of high quality. The main gate to the city is guarded by a pair of large statues, depicting sphinxes, with smaller statues of lions and bulls dotting Hattush's interior. The main palace, which is carved into the side of a mountain, is also famous for its reliefs but also its bronzeworking. The throne of the monarch is said to be decorated with intricate and beautiful bronze standards.

Unlike most Carrion Kingdoms, that have outlawed the practicing of the traditional Carrionite religion, Hattusa still allows public worship. As a result, one can also find many religious pieces of art that cannot be found in most Carrionite cities. This includes small statuettes, mural paintings, and monuments carved from rock. Bull's Peak, an old temple, is a notable location for art such as this. In a similar vein, traditional festivals are also held in Hattusan settlements - though most people participate in these for non-religious reasons.

## **Trivia**

* Hattusa is largely inspired by the Hittites, an ancient civilisation from Anatolia. Even the name Hattusa comes from the traditional Hittite capital city.