Ragise

The **Kingdom of Ragise** (Nimgym-ui Toci Ragise) is a country at an eastward peninsula at the eastern coast of the continent of Ragise.

It is located to the east of Daizhou, to the southeast of Tamatura, and to the west of Pinoguni.

Its capital is Ynnamu, the City of the Silver Tree, along the southern shore.

## Symbols

The flag of Ragise, the Hori-gi (Tiger Flag), is a yellow banner with a flaming taegeuk at the left, and a tiger at the right.

The coat of arms of Ragise has the same taegeuk at the top above four mountains, supported by a tiger at the left and a bear at the right.

3 October is the national day of Ragise, the date when King Hwanung descended from Heaven to lead the Ragiseans' ancestors.

## History

Ragise was most likely inhabited at the latter end of the First Age. Largely unnoticed by the Celestials, it was one of several places that were spared from the Celestial invasion of Jerde. But the sighting of the Celestial ships made the Ragiseans cautious of the outside world at first: although it also led to occasional expeditions to investigate the strange lights and fires in the horizons.

Six kingdoms were established and unified by the end of the Celestial invasion. The first of those kingdoms was Asadal in the northwest, among the oldest documented cities in the region. Its founding king was Dan'gun. Many years after Dan'gun passed away, his successor (not descendant) was Haesa Cjumo, who also ordered the construction of the pine-surrounded city of Holbon to the east.

The ancient Wonaos mentioned Ragise as the "Land of Silver", from the plentiful silver deposits in the country.

Asadal thrived during the Fifth Age, ruling over the whole peninsula from its capital of Acheomdal.

### Modern Ragise

For 65 years, the Iron King ruled over northwestern Ragise, seeking to make it into an industrial power in contrast to the more-advanced rest of the country. His eccentric policies earned him both admiration from nationalists elsewhere, and mockery from his own countrypeople in other provinces and within. After he died, his son was overthrown and jailed by a three-fold revolt that reunified the kingdom.

To the east, the Brass Kings tyrannised the land for 54 years, enslaving the people to corporate domination for their Thralondian overlords. There were three successive Brass Kings, each having murdered the previous one to seize power. The third and final Brass King was defeated by a local revolt, and his corporation was expelled.

As the usage of only native words was associated with the Iron King, many parts of Ragise began to reuse foreign words, ending a 300-year policy of nativist nationalism. Although the Ragiseans were unwilling to allow too many foreigners to settle in their country, many of them refused to return to xenophobia, as it was associated also with the Brass Kings. This has come into conflict with angry nationalists in the northeastern coast and people who did not want to become too assimilated into Daizhou. This latter faction focused on modernism, while avoiding the extremes of assimilation into Daizhou, submission to foreign rulers, and isolated xenophobia and racism. It also led Ragise to establish relations with Irajon and Bujan, sheltering some of their people from Wannaenid domination and supplying them mainly to remove the Wannaenid threat to the east.

In honour of their support for Ragise and Pinoguni, both countries aided the liberation of Irajon and Bujan centuries later.

## Geography

* Ynnamu (capital)
	+ A large city along the southern edge of the peninsula. While other cities in the rest of Ragise consists of decent stone and concrete high-rise buildings and tiled mansions, Ynnamu's cityscape consists of sprawling skyscrapers and flying cars, like the other capital cities in the region.
	+ The national temple (or royal temple) of Ragise is the Grand Congmjo, a temple dedicated to all past monarchs of Ragise's civilisation.
	+ The name means "silver tree", with the first part, yn, from a bygone Daizhouvian loanword. It refers to a huge silver mine that was converted to dozens of universities.
* Naenggi-man
	+ The summer capital. Known for being a fishing haven at summer, and a hub for ice skaters and skiiers at winter.
* Ok-gol
	+ A port known for its horse tracks and a bazaar for foreign wares, and hundreds of restaurants and cafes that serve foreign dishes such as Ardeschen bacon and eggs, Bujanski fried rice, Pelarin châteaubriand, Zarijanian rice, and Vozonid seafood and roast chicken doused in pumpkin gravy. Sometimes known as "the jousting capital of (East) Esami", often pitted against the rival city of Saptarpura (Seven Star City) in southeastern Prisapura.
* Acheomdal
	+ A southern remnant of the Kingdom of Asadal, which thrived during the Fifth Age. Has a large temple that was the tomb of King Dan'gun.
* Holbon
	+ An easterly city that was once a thriving city in ancient times. Now it is a quite border town near Afangurun.
* Palhae
	+ A port in the east that exports silk, apples, and apple juice.
* Mireu-mun
	+ The winter capital. Known for being popular among surfers and yachters everywhere.
* Pulyn-gisbal
	+ "Blue Flag", a large city at the south and a railroad hub. Known for its air force base.

## Politics

Ragise is a constitutional monarchy ruled by a king, the Nimgeum; and managed by a prime minister.

Every summer, the Nimgeum-monarch moves northwards to his summer palace at Naenggi-man (Chill Bay); every winter, he goes south to the port city of Mireu-mun (Dragon Gate); and for the three between he works at Ynnamu's royal palace. His wife and any children over the age of 18 may choose whether to follow him or stay as they like while her husband is away for three months.

## Society

Ragisean society is modernised, with heavy Ardeschen influences, like its eastern neighbour Pinoguni. In spite of this anarchonistic aesthetic, everyone there uses futuristic devices.

"R-Pop", a trend that existed thousands of years ago involving male and female bands dancing to bright colours, is now regarded by nearly most Ragiseans there with mockery.

The most popular sports in Ragise include archery, soccer, hockey, rifle-shooting, and jousting. In fact, the headquarters of the regional jousting association is located in the port of Ok-gol at the north, the Okgol Equestrian Park, with thirty-six jousting tracks, seventy-two race-tracks, and ninety-six obstacle courses.

Ragiseans like to eat spicy noodles, buckwheat, buns, beef, and seafood.

## Language

Although the Ragisean language has been purified of foreign influences, some Daizhouvian and Ardeschen words remain. While younger people are starting to adapt Bujanski words into their slang, some Ragiseans support using more Daizhouvian words to avoid associations with the Iron King.

### Vocabulary

* alp (앒) - south, front
* balljeok - green
* Bu-nal - Tuesday
* cas (잣) - castle
* ceol - Buddhist temple
* ceumeun (즈〮믄) - thousand
* Da-nal - Monday
* dal - mountain
* daseos (다섯) - five
* deol (덜〯) - cost, reduction
* deolda (덜〯다〮) - to subtract, to take away
* doih (뒿〯) - north, back
* dois (ᄃᆡᆺ) - a tower
* dul (둘) - two
* dulh (둟) - dual, duo, pair
* eozi > eoi (어ᅀᅵ〮) - parent
* gas (ᄀᆞᇫ) - edge
* gasi - a minor king, a prince, a duke
* geom - black, dark coloured
* gireum (기름) - oil
* gisbal - flag
* gomak - a bear
* gyico (긔ᄌᆞ) - a duke
* hai (ᄒᆡ〮) - sun
* haimo - a year
* hajoswoi - silver
	+ Became one of the Wonao words for "silver", "hoja"
* hajota (하〮ᄒᆞ다〮) - white
* hana (하나) - one
* hanyui (하늬) - west
* Hae-nal - Sunday
* hol - castle, fort
* ho (ᄒᆞ) - big
* ho-da - to be big
* honimgym (ᄒᆞ님금) - great king, emperor
* hori - tiger
* Hylg-nal - Saturday
* kkosh (꽃) - flower
* mad'i (맏이) - firstborn, prince
* mae - a river
* mom (몸) - body
* mu - priest
* mudang - priestess
* Mu-nal - Wednesday
* na-da (나다) - to appear, to be born
* nal (날) - day
* nal-da (날다) - to fly
* Nam-nal - Thursday
* namu (나무) - tree
* nara (나라) - country, realm
* nes (넷) - four
* nimgym (님금) - king
* nimgym-ui toci - kingdom, monarchy
* olh'yl (옳을) - righteousness
* palh (ᄇᆞᆶ) - arm
* pareolh - sea
* puryn - blue
	+ Pronounced as "pu-lyn" in southern dialects
* sadang - temple
* sae (새) - east
* ses (셋) - three
* Soe-nal - Friday
* swoi (쇠〮) - metal
* ssu - buffalo
* toci - (CD) realm

### Pronunciation

* c (ㅈ) - [t͡ɕ], [d͡ʑ-], [-ɕ] (as -sh)
* ch (ㅊ) - [t͡ɕʰ], [-ɕ] (as sh)
* eo - [ʌ]
* eu, y - [ɯ~ə]
* h - [h]
* -h - [-x~χ]
* hj - [ç-]
* -lh - [-lx]
* o (ㆍ) - [ɒ~ɔ~o(ː)]
* woi (ㅚ) - [woj]
* wi, oi (ㅟ) - [oj, ɔj]
* z (ㅿ) - [z], [-s] (as -s)
* "wi" in Korean is pronounced as "oi" in Ragisean.
* Final -s remains as "s", not "-t".

## Religion

Most Ragiseans are Buddhists, with a large portion worshipping the native gods under the Mu religion. Buddhist temples in Ragise are known as "ceol".

Priests and priestesses of the native Ragisean gods are known as "mu", mudang (priestesses), baksu (male physicians), tangol (hereditary priests), and musogin (priests who convey the messages of the Gods). Temples to the shin-Gods are known as "sadang".

Popular gods in Ragise include:

* Hanyllim - the god of the heavens and the king of the Gods. Invoked in great events or national ceremonies to bless the kingdom or an ally.
* Dan'gun - the founder of Asadal, the earliest incarnation of Ragise. Son of the heavenly king Hwanung. Invoked during ceremonies involving the king or queen, such as coronations or royal birthdays, to grant courage and wisdom to the royal family and prime minister.
* Munsin - guardian gods who watch after the doors and gates
* Nulgupcisin - the god of grain
* Jongsin - the god of wells and water
* Samsin Halmoni - the three goddesses of fate and birth. They are invoked at every birthday celebration in prayers for longevity and a good future.
* Seongcu - lord of the house and cattle
* Cowangsin - goddess of the hearth and fire. Invoked when lighting sacred bonfires.
* Teocusin - goddess of the earth and foundations
* Haemosu - god of the sun. On his chariot, Orjonggeo, he listens to prayers and brings them to Heaven.
* Sansinrjeong - gods of the mountains
* Chilsungsin - the nine gods of the Great Plough constellation. These bearded kings bring good luck to their worshippers.
* Rjongwang - dragon king of the sea
* Jeomra-wang - king and judge of the dead. Corresponds with Yamaraja. Like his Daizhouvian counterpart, he has nine other co-monarchs who judge the dead by their respective sins.
* Gangrim Dorjeong or Gangrim - the god of the dead who brings souls to be judged by Jeomra-wang. He has a pale face, he uses a black scroll with the names of the dead, and his weapon is a halberd or a spear.

## Trivia

* Ragise is based on medieval Korea, with bits of Victorian England, cyberpunk (in urban areas), and prewar Germany. It was also partly inspired by the controversy of Japanese shrines in the expansion pack "Snowy Escape" for the Sims 4.
	+ The Iron King in the northwest was based on North Korea; and the Brass Kings of the east were based on corporatism and American domination in South Korea.
* The Ragisean language is based on medieval and archaic pronunciations of Korean and native Korean words. For example 꽃 is pronounced "kkot" in Korean, but "kkosh" in Ragisean.
	+ Some Ragisean words were based on placenames from the Samguk sagi.
* "J" in Korean is spelled as "c" in Ragisean.
* "Y" in Korean is spelled as "j" in Ragisean.
* "Eu" in Korean is spelled as "y" and "eu" in Ragisean.
* The words for Monday to Saturday in Ragisean are: Da-nal, Bu-nal, Mu-nal, Nam-nal, Soe-nal, Hylg-nal, and Hae-nal.