Athar

Athar (*Ashā*) is the name of a fictional continent in *Azarian Stories*, and the main setting for all the stories so far. Athar is a rich, varied continent, whose territory is divided into eleven main regions, which are in turn fragmented into districts. It is not known to border any other close-by continent, and all of its boundaries are therefore constituted by ocean.

## Etymology

The name Athar is the human transliteration of the Azarian term *Ashā*, which in turn comes from the combination of two words: *Ash*, which stands for "peculiar" or "unique", and the suffix *ā*, which indicates a place. "Athar" therefore means "Unique place", due to its vastness and diversity. However, it can also be interpreted as "the only place", because it is the only continent that Azaras have ever explored.

## Territories

the continent of Athar is currently split into eleven independent territories, each with its own local legislations, but all of which following the Law of Garoth.

### Zercuta

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Main article: Zercuta

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The largest, best known and richest region in Athar. Its landscape is extremely varied since it stretches over the three main climate bands: polar, temperate and tropical regions. However, its main characteristic is the uneven, jagged, rocky soil that composes it, which gives the region its name. To the South, a canyon was eroded by the wind, and to the North, a valley was carved by the water. The vegetation is abundant, especially near the center, where Azca, the Capital of Athar, is located. Zercuta was once considered a region of badlands, where nothing would grow, however since the arrival of Azaras, it quickly became a very healthy, flourishing land.

**Current queen:** Izkaph

**C**urrent c**apital**: Azca

### Izara

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Main article: Izara

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Izara is a very harsh, mountainous region, and it is covered by snow in the winter, and by a harsh rocky soil after the snowmelt in summer. However, not even all the snow of winter is enough to sustain the population of Azaras who live there until the next snowstorm the following year. Moreover, there are no natural lakes or rivers, so the water problem is a serious one. Crops don't grow as easily as in other regions, and the inhabitants have to rely on hunting the few creatures who live there.

**Current king**: Nirjeth

**C**urrent c**apital**: Serith

### Tathara

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Main article: Tathara

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The southernmost region of Athar. It's a narrow nation with access to an extensive coastline, therefore it's a hot, sandy region that bases its strengths in the sea. However, its strong winds can be a challenge for novice sailors.

**Current king**: Sithnor

**C**urrent c**apital**: Kera

### Kurtaza

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Main article: Kurtaza

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A boggy, swampy region to the South of Athar, the hottest together with Tathara, and especially hot due to the tropical vegetation and humidity. Kurtaza is full of water, however, only a small percentage of it is drinkable, the rest is marsh or quagmire, contaminated by being still for very long and potentially fatal if drunk. The vegetation outside of the forest areas is quite thin and sparse, the ground is barren and flat, with only a few hills. Illnesses and diseases are very frequent in this region.

**Current queen**: Lezda

**C**urrent c**apital**: Yotaz

### Biztora

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Main article: Biztora

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Composed of the two largest islands of Athar, as well as by some of the surrounding smaller ones. The southern isle, Green Island, is mainly composed of grassy plains, while Yellow Island, to the North, contains a small mountain chain, and one of its atolls is of volcanic origin.

**Current queen**: Sizkoph

**C**urrent c**apital**: Zosar

### Rukara

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Main article: Rukara

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A mainly deserted region located near the center of the continent. It has no access to coastlines and the only significant lake and river dry out in the hottest season. The landscape is very barren with occasional rocky hills, where the main cities are located. A good amount of the population is nomadic.

**Current king**: Rozgor

**C**urrent c**apital**: Gane

### Naruza

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Main article: Naruza

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Also a forest region, but unlike its neighbour Kurtaza, there are little to no marshes and the ground is very healthy and rich. With lots of water and wood, Naruzans make some of the best sailors. Pilework houses are very common in this region, as is the crafting of wood in all its forms.

**Current queen**: Rizmat

**C**urrent c**apital**: Leznar

### Aroza

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Main article: Aroza

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The wildest of the regions of Athar, a great percentage of the land is not suitable for dwelling or building cities. To the South-West, we find the upper border of the desert that covers the whole of Rukara. To the East, all along the coast, there is a chain of harsh mountains, of which many are active volcanoes. As a result, the coastline itself is very harsh and jagged. Some of the inactive volcanoes contain lakes.

**Current king**: Doznor

**C**urrent c**apital**: Tiza

### Aucata

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Main article: Aucata

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A small yet powerful region in the heart of Athar. Despite being the tiniest out of all of them, it's the region with the most abundance of underground treasures, namely precious metals. Like Izara, it's mountainous and hard to trek through, although the river flowing along its Southern border, in common with Izruca, makes it a much greener place than Izara itself. The tallest mountain of Athar, *Auk'att*, is located in this region, and also gives it its name.

**Current queen**: Zara

**C**urrent c**apital**: Izra

### Izruca

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Main article: Izruca

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A hot, semi-tropical region with scorching summers and freezing, rainy winters. Its vegetation is mainly jungle-like, and in the driest part, to the East, the sand from Rukara's desert is carried by the wind and creates frequent sandstorms, which give the region its name. Izruca's rivers are well known for being full of rapids and waterfalls, and overall unsafe to travel through.

**Current queen**: Juzir

**C**urrent c**apital**: Yareth

### Yataza

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Main article: Yataza

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The northernmost region of the continent, and the coldest as well. Winters are extremely rigid, with extensive snowstorms and frosting of the large lakes and rivers that crisscross it. For this reason, despite the large amount of water in the region, it might be difficult to find enough for everyone in winter. However, in summer, the water of Yataza is the purest of the whole continent. The landscape is composed of fjords and tundra.

**Current king**: Paryos

**Current capital**: Jumi

## Politics

### Legislative system

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Main article: Garoth

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### Military system

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Main article: Army

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## Languages

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Main article: Azarian language

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Main article: Human language

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