Ashraban

A country in the centre of Osnyux, bordered by Sedral to the west and The Conhal Concord to the north.

### History

Up until a mere 330 years ago, Ashraban was known to the rest of the world as Ashrua, a nation of god-king worshippers who sacrificed children and ate any foreign spies they uncovered. Largely through the works of Guenhywar bin Arrock, the wider world learned of the true nature of the inhabitants; a majority oppressed population uneducated of lands beyond the borders. No one knows the true end to the tyrannical dictatorship but poets and lore-tellers describe a gripping tale of stoic heroism and overcoming slim odds by a small group known only as The Walkers. To signify this dramatic change in the political landscape of the nation, the capital was renamed to Corasova, the borders opened to trade, and faith was no longer policed. Corasova quickly became the central hub for all practices of the soul, life and death, harming and healing; priests and scholars alike travelling far to take part in the new movement. Soon Corasova acquired the tag “The City of Black and White” due to the robes swarming the streets. On the eastern coast of the nation, a tower-shrine was raised to the being Lyftan, gaining a cult following of wizards and warlocks trained in emotional manipulation. The land nearby became immensely fertile, the weather mild, and seas calm. Even so, superstition arose about the place, disconnecting it from the outside. There were many rebellions and uprisings by the former elite within Ashraban in its first century, seeing an exodus of the orc population to Zogro, and a large emigration of peasants to Hundor. These rebellions were suppressed by the superiorly trained and equipped National Guard. In recent years, elite divisions of the National Guard have become known as Boom Squads due to their use of firearms.

### Politics

Ashraban is ruled by three individuals called consuls: the Defence Consul, the Culture Consul, and the High Consul. Every Lunar Year the current Defence and Culture consuls are reviewed by the High Consul to determine if they are still fit to rule up to a maximum period of 12 Lunar Years. If they step down or are deemed unfit, the next consul is appointed from a pool of candidates chosen by the High Consul. However, this is very rare and consuls usually retire before they are ordered to leave, a mark of good leadership. The only known case of a consul being forced out was in the new government's infant stages when Defence Consul General Karasu was deposed by First High Consul Harut Kivalton and exiled in 388th Khuy. Kivalton died shortly after, leading to rumours around Karasu cursing or assassinating the man, his name becoming synonymous with vengeance to this day.

#### Defence Consul

Charged with the security of the nation from within and without, and from magical and non-magical assailants, the Defence Consul's responsibilities are vast. As Ashraban has not been at war in over a thousand years, there has been little need for a standing army. However, there have been many internal uprisings and rebellions since the revolution. These caused the construction of the Northern Sentries, a line of forts across the north of Ashraban to cut off rebel supply lines from the Concord. Reopening the huge castles in the borderlands at the same time made Ashraban the heaviest fortified country on the continent, quickly quelling any rebellions and ensuring peace. These fortresses stand to this day, maintained by the Defence Consul but not manned. Recent Defence Consuls have focused on fighting the endless battle against smugglers and reinforcing security within the larger cities and countryside of Ashraban.

#### Culture Consul

The Culture Consul is responsible for everything the Defence Consul is not; trade, agriculture, education, taxes, etc. After the revolution, a wide world was revealed to Ashraban and the first Culture Consul, Vol'ik Jarfane, did not want to be taken advantage of. He made sure Kivalton was known to the international community as the leading voice on death magic, a powerful but frowned upon profession. However, his plan worked and Corasova quickly became both an educational centre and tourist attraction. Previously a merchant, Jarfane also ensured trade deals were largely advantageous and import taxes were fair. Giving the new nation the best start he could, Jarfane retired from Culture Consul after 8 years to explore the world with his brother.

#### High Consul

A title passed down through primogeniture from First High Consul Harut Kivalton, Ashraban is currently governed by Ninth High Consul Yenpher Kivalton. The responsibilities of the High Consul extend beyond supervising the secondary consuls and forming pools of candidates for consulship. They act as a mediator for disagreements between the two halves of government; when a decision must be made that will be beneficial to one but detrimental to the other, the High Consul makes a definitive decision that is best for Ashraban. They are also the primary face for the nation, travelling on diplomatic missions and attending international summits.

### Geography

Ashraban has an unusually high variance of terrain with three mountain ranges within its borders, two swamps in the south, and a rare northern desert under a week's ride from a jungle. In general, Ashraban is slightly warmer than The Conhal Concord due to being more southern, and with this comes more frequent, but milder, storms. With Sedral to the west, the Concord to the north, Zogro to the south, and even eastern facing ports to Fréyy Plad and Hundor, Ashraban is very central within Iloris and has become a buzzing hub of international trade. However, this is a double-edged blade and trade in the Twilight Archipelago has taken a large hit recently due to rampant pirate attacks causing Ashraban to not only lose ships and goods, but reputation also.

### Culture

Since the revolution, the people of Ashraban have been given many privileges including religious and travel freedoms. To say they have taken advantage of these would be an understatement with all six of the primary deities showing presence in every major city. It is not just religion that swept the land once the borders opened; tourism was encouraged, bringing a wide range of new foods, customs, and jobs. Many new farms, mines, and quarries were opened as natural resources were found in Ashraban, increasing its trade even further. The country was also a hotspot for explorers as adventuring was discouraged during pre-revolution times. Many ancient sites have been discovered over the years, and it is speculated that a lot more are still to be found. Since the emigration of the peasants to Hundor and orcs to Zogro, Ashraban called out for workers, offering transport and housing to those who would fill the gaps needed. This resulted in a mixture of races and backgrounds working any and all jobs throughout the country, and therefore a very unique mix of national identity. As the country was reformed so recently, people born in Ashraban since the revolution fiercely believe their way of doing things as the best way: the best government, the best jobs, the best food, etc.