Iozae

The **Kingdom of Iozae** or **Jotsajo** is a country in southern Esami. It is located to the south of Daizhou and north of Sai La.

Its modern capital is Tasalu.

## History

The Iozaean civilisation was founded at around the later Second Age, from tribal chiefdoms that were unified into minor kingdoms, and then into a confederation of kings. A great war broke out in Iozae, resulting in many clans migrating north and eastward on great fleets. These clans became the ancestors of all Wonao peoples. That war became known as Kuimantal, the Great Chaos or Great Disaster, from which the earliest confederated kingdoms became into Mehutok, the earliest civilisation that became into Iozae.

During the Sixth Age, it was known as Dangasol. One dynasty that ruled it used a red star as its emblem.

The peoples of the Mamaovian Ocean used to refer it as Hōkū'ula, the Land Under The Red Star, after the red stars painted on the sails of its triremes; Visengans called it Vetunlla, and Hiriwans called it Whetūkura. The Wonaos of the north called it "Wetalon", and like the Mamaovians, they also disliked Iozae as a nation of arrogant warmongers. As later emperors during the Sixteenth Age apologised and paid reparations from the vast funds back to those countries, the other nations reconciled and agreed to help it defend against the Terrans.

It was an ally of the early Ecumene.

It was Iozae's fleets that prevented the Terrans and other empires from ravaging the western hemisphere during the Sixteenth Age, when it was known as the Iozaean Empire or the Empire of Iozae. During the Denlotia's era, they were neutral, but the Denlotia was allied with it because it resisted the Terrans, at the cost of many Iozaean lives. The wars that it defended itself against made it lose its imperialist attitude, as its people became more sad from every constant loss, until they had to reconcile with the other nations to survive and avoid total conquest. They were among the Free Peoples during the Reorganisation Wars, and also resisted the Konjor invasion of Jerde.

As they were not the strongest fleet on Jerde, they lost a lot of land during the Konjor conquest, but managed to sabotage the Konjor colonial authorities, aiding local rebellions. After the defeat of the Konjors, the emperor of Iozae agreed with his new allies not to recolonise their countries, but narrowly avoided an assassination attempt by angry generals, who were later executed for attempted treason.

Iozae used to be one of the rivals of the Sarmelonid Empire during its latter days, even as the latter was a spacefaring superpower. It raised a fleet to challenge the Sarmelonids, especially to fight back against Emperor Maudolinnir's wars.

Iozae also supported early Bujan and the other nations when they broke away from the Sarmelonid yoke.

### Modern Iozae

It and Pinoguni had an alliance to fend off the Wannaenids. Both nations utilised Zvestarid technology to quickly rebuild from the worldwide EMP launched by the Second Kyrvotin Invasion.

That alliance later developed into the Zvestarid Coalition, with the addition of Hiriwa and other nations as a united anti-Wannaenid front. As the largest and the most powerful member in the region, Iozae provided much weaponry and vehicles for the Coalition to liberate the colonies from Wannaenid oppression.

Relations between Bujan and other archipelagoes are improving with Iozae, as Iozae is no longer seen as a colonial overlord, but a valuable supplier in their fight against colonial rule.

## Geography

* Ryru - ancient capital during the Eighth and Sarmelonid Ages.
* Dangsol - Sixth Age capital
* Tasalu - modern capital
* Sin'jo River
* Jus'jo River
* Pan - a southerly province, known as Phan in Sai Lai.
* Ruta - a southerly province, known as Rú Đạk in Sai Lai.

## Politics

Modern Iozae is still a monarchy, whose members observe rites syncretised from Hindu traditions. Iozae's monarchy has a network of lesser kings, but real regional authority is in the hands of various mayors and governors.

### Kings of Iozae

* Ngramakril Wheelwright, Ngramakril Ngromrakal - legendary unifier of Iozae, invented the chariot or wagon.

## Culture

Its founding people were the Nalakal people.

## Archaic Iozaean (Sixteenth Age)

c - "tch"

ñ - "ng"

(S) - Sanskrit loanword

* bjolan, wjolan - to go around
* cad ... - user of
* cad ocal - sorcerer
* cad ñroluka - charioteer, chariot warrior
* ce ... - high, master of a skill, headman
* Ce Na'ikrokal - Grand Scribe
* Cejocal - archmage, great sorcerer (mythological)
* Ceral - Great King, Wise King, Sage
* -(d)an - -ness, state of being
* eiru, eituru - tiger
* hinauk - crazy person, fool, heretic
* hinwak - heresy
* -kuim - to drown
* Kuimantal - Great Disaster, a great war that led to the birth of the Kingdom of Mehutok.
	+ Literally means "drowning flood", as in "the land was drowned by war".
* luoh, luon - come here
* ma-tjob - to stand
* maintal - flood
* mantaik. mantajak - a dance, an epic tale
* minuho - united, put together
	+ Related to Mehutok, earliest name of Iozae.
* mjala - time
* mjarektar - history
* mjaulerkal, mjarekkal - calendar scribe, timekeeper, historian
* mjol - year
* na'aik - intellect, gift
* na'akilan - wise
* na'ikrokal - scholar, scribe, archivist
* naom - new
* Nommjol - New Year
* ñao-ñrotjel - storm-lashed
* Ñiwanrid - ancient tales
* ñiwoan - holy, sacred
* ñra - wheel
* ñrarakel - builder of a chariot or wagon
* ñritjel - storm
* ñrolonkol - wagon, carriage
* ñroluk, ñrolukara - chariot
* ñruide - top
* oc - creativity, talent, ability
* ocal - magic, magical power, supernatural ability to create or form
* rā, rā'o - sun, radiant one
* ramul, ramiro - "one chosen by the sun", a king
* -rauokale, -rak(el) - doer of a profession, builder
* ruāna - sun
* rui, krui - top, up
* suland - a star
* tañara - red, ruddy
* toaca - creation
* Toacadan - Creation of the Universe
* toacarkal, toacarakel - creator, inventor
* tora - gate
* toruma - (S) Dharma, Hinduism, divine order or law, justice
* tjob - to stand
* 'uwacal. tuacal - create
* vrañi - night

## Modern Iozaean language (1950 AT)

Iozaean was written in a syllabary that evolved from pictograms.

* bima ... - (imperative)
* bima teip - stand up!
* col - doer
* col ñrara - charioteer
* eihuan - it was
* iru - tiger
* jar, jara - spear
* mañ- - (adjective)
* mañinda, nañinda - a great temple, a sanctuary
* mañ-ñinda - holy, divine, blessed
* modei - standing, statue, sentinel, guard
* moteip - to stand
* mu, muwdau - ground
* nolkañ - smart
* ñal, ñalnei - dark, dim
* ñinda - holy, sacred
* ñiwan - a holy site or person; a temple
* ñrara - chariot
* ñrarokal - wheelwright, wheel engineer
* ñre - wheel
* palu - road
* pavu, paowu - gold
* rā - sun
* radalmut - sun who rules the land, emperor of Iozae
* ratmul, ratmil - (modern) a king
* retel - storm
* -rokal - -wright, builder, carpenter
* ruorua - stormy night
* selun - a star
* teim - stand
* tiled - head, ruler
* tor, tiro - gate
* torimai - justice, just, fair
* Toruma, Torima - (S) Dharma, Hinduism, divine law, order, justice, righteousness
* tuñña - red
* tsule, cule - torch
* vroñña, ruorua - night

Eihuan Ruorua mañ-retel mañ-ñaretel - it was a dark and stormy night

## Religion

The Iozaean religion is made of three main pantheons, or three variants. Each variant venerates one of three main pantheons, or Divine Houses (Atang Dahanta).

* Nong'joh Dahant - Royal Gods, northwestern (N)
* Madzhirong Tehuans - Sea and Stellar Gods, eastern shores (M)
* Raidzhrong Tezang - Saffron Gods, southern hills (R)

The sacred book of the Iozaean religion is the Ñiwanrid (modern Iozaean: Ñinranna). It is mostly a collection of ancient myths, creation accounts, and morality tales, with the latest being added at the Eighth Age.

Iozaean temples are known as nginda, and greater temple halls are known as manginda. Live sacrifices of animals are nowadays restricted to greater ceremonies, so Iozaeans worship their gods by burning food, plants, or paper notes written with prayers.

### Iozaean gods

* Rā Dahatil, Dahtaril Ro'a, Radatil, Datilon - Supreme Sun, king of heaven. Venerated in all three pantheons.
	+ In the north, he was known as Ngonshe (元始), from a Daizhouvian god of creation, Yuenshi Tienzun (元始天尊).
	+ In the south, he was known as Narajan Mahan, from the Sanskrit words Narayana Maha (नारायण महा, "the great Narayana"). Southern Iozaeans depict him wearing a crown of gold, and having four arms.
* Ōčar - consort of Radatil, queen of the gods.
* Tomrol and Wičoran - the ancestors of humanity, the first man and woman.
* Tončol - god of the eastern sea
* Rangotal - mountain gods of metalworking and crafts
* Ngamtade - wind gods from the north who bring rain
* Akuvari, Kengeri - goddess of the earth
* Akandokal - god of farming, husband of Akuvari

### Folk heroes

* Ceral Rāma, Ceral Rāmacantara, Rāma Cantara - Lord Rama, one of the visitations of Vishnu upon the world. In Iozae, he became a folk hero because of his benevolence and courage, promoted by the kings of Iozae as their role model. Iozae even has its own version of the Ramayana, in the form of a stage performance and a folk dance.
	+ The other names mean "Lord Rama the Wise" and "Lord Rama the Radiant".
	+ The "Mantajak Ceral Rāma" is the Iozaean version of the Ramayana, used as a traditional folk dance and morality play about courage and wisdom.

### Dharma in Iozae

The northern pantheon was influenced by Daizhouvian rites, while the southern gods were influenced by Dharmic (Hindu) traditions.

Hinduism is practiced along the southwestern hills bordering Mohachoi and Sai La, and is seen as a religion of intellectuals and gentlemen. Although occasionally adopted by Iozaean royalty, it influenced many customs related to the modern monarchy. Unlike the rest of the region, which mostly venerates Shiva, Iozaeans tend to invoke Vishnu or Rama, most likely because Lord Rama's name sounded like a word for "the king". Even though most Iozaeans practice their native polytheism, the king of Iozae is seen as a servant of Lord Vishnu.

Hindu scriptures are sometimes used to teach young children about morality, alongside the native Ngiwanrid lessons to encourage good behaviour. Some children's songs and folk tunes were inspired by accounts of ancient kings, and the adventures of Lord Rama.

### Iozaean morality

The Kuimantal, the ancient war in the end of the Second Age, is the setting of the ninth to thirteenth books of the Ngiwanrid scriptures, consisting of five books in total. They describe disasterous omens and the corruption of society through greed and murder, and the need for divine order to prevent people from destroying everything around them.

The five Kuimantal books are also shown with passages from Dharmic Vedas and Puranas, as lessons about self-control and irresponsibility.

## Trivia

* Iozae was based on the mythical continent of Mu and Polynesian art. In 2021, the author decided to base its civilisation's culture on the Vietnamese hill tribes and the Majapahit empire of Indonesia; and later on Hindu influences in Thai culture.
	+ The author used James Churchward's "Mu" as the basis for this fictional civilisation. Other peoples inspired by mythological places and races include Bujan (from Slavic mythology), Visenga (Penglai from Chinese mythology), Imdegabat (from the Anunnaki aliens), and the Arnadjanai (from Nordic aliens).
	+ Hinduism is seen by Churchward's work as a distortion of the Muvian monotheism or a false religion.
	+ However, in Iozae (which was inspired by Mu, and a subversion of its lore), Hinduism influenced many royal customs in Iozae.
* The "Nalakal" were based on the Naacals, a mythical race of people considered to be the rulers of Mu. "Ra" is from the Muvians' supposed sun god "Ra", and "radalmut" (emperor of Iozae) was from "Ramu", a mythical king of Mu.
* The author based the Iozaean language and its ancestor from Malay, Maori, and Hawaiian.
* Iozaeans like the Visengan language for sounding "pretty".