Vienta

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**Vienta** /vi̯enˈta/ is a nation located on the north coast of the continent between Keraruk to the west and Ciçíosi to the east. The country's capital is *Kërohto* /kɤroxˈto/, named after the central river, the *Këro* /kɤˈro/.

## Technological History

Basic Statistics

Shortly after consolidating his Power, King Pikönen Otarï Ulanïs reached out beyond the borders of Vienta for diplomatic contact with neighbouring Keraruk and Ciçíosi. Soon Keraruk sent a delegation on the order of the Voices of Negatet (*Negates Harijasen*). With the helping of the envoys the king found the first temple of Negates in Vienta to further education not only in the upper class, but the common folk as well. He encouraged the other noble families to follow his example and soon many more *Lunkuu Negateres* were founded.

With further contact to the east, Vientaini farmers learned from the Yé their techniques to tame and breed farm animals.

Vienta with time aligned its system of provincial councils to that of Keraruk and systematises common law.

In the following years Yé toy makers gained the reputation to make the very best toys and dice. Eventually some settle in Vienta and brought the knowledge of their craft with them.

With a growing population, crime rates and disputes over laws rise. So the system of law is further aligned with that of Keraruk, with judicial powers being transferred from the provincial councils to appointed judges. Additionally, the corpus of laws is unified across the country to put everyone on equal ground independant of which noble he lives under.

The *negateres* all across the country are branch temples of the main temple of Negates in Kërohto. With the youth of the nation being educated in these schools, it is not only possible to teach the next generation necessary skills, but also of the good their King and country do to them.

On command of the Voices of Negates another delegation arrived in Vienta, bringing with them carts to ease transportation and travel between the two realms. These specimens are examined by local craftspeople and soon this invention is seen all across the country.

With carts now prevalent the common dirt trails are more of a hindrance that a benefit for travel. Because of that new, wider paths are constructed to facilitate the new methods of transport.

While Vientan weapons, mainly used for hunting, were never the very best, they were enough to fulfill their duties. After prolonged commercial contact with the Yé however, they acquainted  the Vientahti with their techniques to build stronger bows and arrows.

Some time later the Voices of Negatet again ordered to teach the people of Vienta. Thanks to their help new lands could be much faster cultivated than than before. In their honour a newly built city was named after them *Rijasen Hakas*, City of the Voices.

Over the years more craftspeople came form Ciçíosi to settle in Vienta. With them they brought their architecture, which made considerable use off stone, while Vientaini houses had been made mostly out of wood up to this point. Soon, however, the more robust Yé housing styles spread to the Vientahti as well.

Correspondence with the neighouring countries had been conducted by letters written in Kasdior my many years now. Most legal documents had also been set up using Kasdior as the language of prestige and of state matters. But the *negateres* brought the ability to write to large portions of the population, who often didn‘t speak Kasdior very well, often not at all. But they still wanted to write down their native stories, letters, lists and other everyday pieces of writing. Soon and adaptation of the Kasdior script to Vientainis emerged and became standardised and an independent Vientaini literature began to develop.

Because in the southern grasslands rain is an irregular source of water, the local Kera developed a pumping mechanism that allows wells to reach deeper ground water and assures sufficient water supply yearlong. During the reign of king Pikönen Otarï Atari this invention also spreads west and east to Keraruk and Ciçíosi. The new pump type also proves valuable for pumping water from underground tunnels. This allows for miners to reach ore deposits that were until now not reachable.

Until now the common folk learnt their profession primarily by working for a master. Higher education, necessary for high ranking positions, required for most apprentices to travel abroad. In response to this and as a sign of friendship King Deshak Gonfgrasfür of Keraruk sponsored the foundation of a High Temple to Negates *Lunku Pahti Negateres* in Vienta to give all people the possibility to access a higher education.

## The country

### History

Until a couple of decades ago, the region now encompassing Vienta was a collection of small principalities each controlled by a certain family clan. Due to their strategic location at an important river crossing, the Pikönen family slowly rose to more and more wealth and prominence. While all out war is not seen as a legitimate means to gain influence, they still came to hold control over their neighbouring princes.

In the seventh year of the reign of *Pikönen Otarï III. Ulanïs* this situation was formalised with the creation of the Kingdom of Vienta and the nobles pledging allegiance to their new king. But despite his power, the king had to make concessions in power sharing with them.

### Capitol

The Capital *Kërohto* is located at the central river of Vienta, the *Këro*, after which it is named. It is the traditional seat of power of the *Pikönen* family, the clan that was the driving force in the unification of the region’s other local powers.

### Government

The current King of Vienta, the *Pan Pahti Süvan* or Highest Ruler is *Pikönen Otarï IV. Atari*. The king decides on the policies of the state but is advised and limited in power by the Council of Rulers, the *Panen Hüöskön*. This body comprises the heads of the noble houses, who if unanimous can veto a decision made by the Kings until the two sides come to an agreement. These noble houses are the decendents of the ancient clans, each being located in on of the areas that united under the initiative and leadership of the house of *Pikönen*. In theory kingship could be granted to one of the other houses at the death of the current king, but partly because of the uniter’s high prestige and partly because no faction in the Council would be able to unite the others behind them, this does not seem very likely for the near future.

Local government in the provinces is organised similarly to the national, just on a lower level. The local noble ruler reigns with a Provincial Council (*Pejatüö Hüöskön*) made up of the leaders of the large families that originate there.

### Foreign relations

Vienta sees its neighbours as models worth replicating. Especially Keraruk is regarded as a beacon of culture and technology, while the Yé are seen as an example for open-mindedness. An example of their emulation is their painting of faces and arms with patterns of red ochre when doing politics and diplomacy in homage to the red skin and stripes of the Kera.

### Economy

Vienta is largely characterised by agriculture. On the sea shore fishing is an important part of the local economy and fish an integral part of food supply. In the northern, humid climate many differrent kinds of grain and vegetalbes are cultivated. Among those the matoto (*samar*, an old loan from Etleto) is a staple of local food production. The south due to its arid climate is more depentent on grain, whith wheat and rye being most common.

Grain is also the corner stone of the vientaini beer brewery. Typical varieties are dark, high gravity beers, similar to stout, with a high strength of around 12 % alcohol.

This beer also enjoys popularity across the border and is exported in large quantities to neighbouring Ciçíosi, often illegally to evade the tight legal restrictions on alcoholic beverages, to be sold on the local black market. This is supplemented with liquors from the south-west of the continent, which until recently had to be transported along the coast. With Vienta‘s expansion south and the establishment of trade with Chukma, this lucrative field of trade is beginning to be exploited by trades, also often bypassing governmental control.

Traditional crafts are the weaving of carpets and tapestry. The Kera often specialise in the production and selling of books, controlling the printing presses not only in the south, but in large parts of the country.

## The Vienta people

### Languages

The native language of the Vienta is *Vientainis*. However large parts of the upper class also speak Kasdior as a prestige language. It is commonly used as a language of trade as well. A smaller part of the population also speaks Etleto.

### Names

The Vienta name consists of three parts. The first one is the family name, which is normally inherited from the father's side, although the mother's name might also be adopted if it is of higher prestige. The family name which will be given to the children also decides on who of the spouses is seen to marry into whose family.

The second part is given according to two different systems. The dividing line roughly corresponds to the east and west side of the *Këro*. In the east, each member of a family generation is given the same name.

Meanwhile in the west the firstborn child always gets the same middle name (aside from male and female forms). While their firstborn child will have the same middle name his themselves, their second child will have the same middle name as their father's first younger sibling. Meanwhile, the second siblings firstborn gets his middle name and their second one the name of the original third child. This system requires precise agreement between the members of a family.

The third part is the given personal name. It is normally a name that has not been used by any other immediate family member.

The royal family uses the western sysem. Thus *Pikönen Otarï III. Ulanïs* is the third ruling member of the Pikönen family carrying the name Otarï. His great grandaunt, his great grandfather's older sister who was supposed to become prince, died in childless early adulthood, leaving her younger brother to become prince.

### Religion

The Vienta practise ancestor veneration. They pray to the ancient ancestors of their families as well as to deceased immediate family members for good fortune, plentiful harvest, the right decision, or any other area of life. These spirits are generally believed to be good-natured, as long as the deceased’s ashes are located in their gravestone in the family shrine. If a person dies alone and is not found and cremated, their spirit might come back angry and terrorise their relatives.

Apart from one’s own ancestors the families of the local rulers and especially the king are venerated as well. While Family ancestors might be more helpful in personal matters, ancestors of powerful people are themselves more powerful than other spirits and thus called upon if help is needed in important matters.

The ancestors are venerated at family shrines. These are often semi-publically accessable buildings with open walls that house the gravestones containing the ashes of the dead. It is custom that the stones of direct male primogenitoral lines are placed on top of one another so that shrines especially of the old and noble families have high pillars up to the roof.
Because of the family nature, religion is a relatively personal endeavour and apart from tradition not very standardised, let alone organised.

In recent times, in their veneration of their neighbouring cultures’ ways of life, the four Gods of the Kera and the Yé have gained a small but noticable following in syncretism with traditional believes.

### Traditions

The most important holiday of the year is the cleaning of the family shrine, a holiday called Visiting the great Members of Family or *Dekariren Pahtin Hadas ha Sahos*. At the beginning of autumn members of families spread all over the country gather in their family’s traditional hometown and together clean the steles containing the ashes of their ancestors and deceased family members. Altars of important figure’s families, such as local leaders and especially the king, are also visited to ask for blessing for the rulers and one’s own family.

Another festive high point of the year is Running for Shoes or *Gurïrën Sahïmus*, a joyous holiday spanning two days in late spring. The first day is spend with running and shooting competitions. The prizes are special shoes for running and hats for shooting. On the next day, the winners are allowed to wear these, while the other people spend the day barefooted and bareheaded. On this second day, the ones who lost in the competitions (as well as many children) walk around spraying water on the people in the streets as a way to playfully show their resentment. The common saying “not wanting to win shoes”, which means deliberately causing trouble, originates from this holiday.

While originally only young bachelors competed in these competitions, which started as a sign of fitness to potential brides, nowadays men of all ages and sometimes also women participate and it as the first day has evolved a folk festival character, too.

### Arts

An important way of expression is singing. The best-known style is a type of repetitive call-and-respond, in which hymns of the old heroes are told. The singers are accompanied by string and woodwind instruments.

Another art form the Vientahti are masters in is carpet knotting and weaving. It is common for families to have tapestries hanging in the house or the family shrine depicting important events from the family’s history as a way of representation.