Chronicles of Petra- the 7 Continents, Shishura and Karoyagi- WIP

[themadmonarchist]

Shishura:
the land of the stars
sand-based magic

• Islamic architecture, decadence, hospitality, oil, rare jewels, deserts, ancient civilizations, ancient magic, mysterious, dangerous, hot, spices, rich, cradle of civilization, dates, geographic diversity, medicine, architecture, great food, decadent deserts, oral traditions, astronomy

Head of State: Sultan Alaudin
Ruling Dynasty: Al Thani

Shishura is considered to be the cradle of all civilization. It is said that the first humans could only practice sand-based magic, making Shishuran magic the oldest known form of magic in all of Ishgar's history. The first humans were nomadic in nature. The Shishuran landscape was not the most hospitable- hot, dry, and sandy. The early Shishurans therefore were forced to keep moving from one place to another in search of food and water in the vast desert lands of Shishura. In early Shishurian communities, a few individuals would be left near water sources. This was done to guard newly discovered water sources from other communities, as well as to make navigation to these water sources easier. In the cases of larger water sources like rivers, this strategy worked. But for smaller water sources like oases, this strategy was rarely successful. Those who were left by larger water sources eventually developed early settlements- houses made out of easily found materials such as twigs, branches, rocks and leaves, glued together by wet sand and mud from the river bed. As time passed, these primitive houses became more advanced. And as they did, their society advanced as well. Settlements progressed into cohesive societies, and by the end of the 1st century, settlements had sprouted on the shores of several major rivers, and on the coastlines.

From the early 2nd century onward, the early Shishurian settlements progressed into city-states, each with a strict social hierarchy based on profession and skill. Each of these city-states had a leader. The following decades were defined by strife and conflict among the city-states, who often fought each other for dominance and greater access to water resources. As city-states grew in size and population, their demand for water grew too. By the mid-2nd century, the Shishurian landscape was divided into 2 major civilizations- the Egyptians in the East, and the Mesopotamians in the West. Not much is known about this period. However, the existing knowledge establishes both the Egyptians and Mesopotamians to be two of the greatest ancient civilizations of Ishgar. The two civilizations were known for their complex urban centers, earliest forms of written language and record-keeping, complex mythology and religious views, medicine, mathematics, irrigation and agricultural production techniques, as well a complex architectural style and superior construction techniques. The ancient cities and buildings are still preserved in modern Shishura, and are renowned for their superior organization. Egyptian architecture in particular is known to be heavily inspired by geometric shapes and principals.

From the mid-3rd century onward, the migrations began. As cities grew in size, the desire to find new water sources grew as well. This is believed to be the primary motivation behind the migration. The first wave of migration was to Eoza, after which the migration to Karoyagi and Earen happened successively. Each wave of migration to different continents ensured the development of unique, and independent societies whose individuals practiced different kinds of magic. In 443, the first instances of a trade route between Karoyagi and Shishura was recorded- this was the earliest form of the Silk Road. Over the centuries, the Silk Road expanded into a large network of trade routes that stretched across all of Karoyagi, Shishura, and eventually Earen and parts of Northern Eoza too. Everything from Karoyagian Silk and spices, to Shishurian jewels were traded across the Silk Road. In the forthcoming centuries, a large number of city-states began to rise across the various trade routes of the Silk Road. These city-states had become prosperous because of the trade, and their sudden rise served to destabilize the balance of power across the continent of Shishura and Karoyagi itself. The old civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt eventually fell, no longer benefiting from the trade. The sudden rise of the number of city-states served to curtail the free-flow of trade. This was eventually restored with the establishment of a new power in Shishura, the Miansahar Sultanate, ruled by the Al Thani dynasty. The Sultans of Mianahar were able to dominate all of Shishura within a few decades. Originally rulers of their own city-state, Miansahar, the Sultans covered a significant amount of land by engaging in strategic agreements with neighboring city-states, allowing them not only to increase their own influence across Shishura, but also allowing them to increase their wealth significantly along with their military power. Employing various nomadic warrior groups, the Miansahari Sultans were able to conquer all of Shishhura in less than a century, and firmly established their Sultanate thereafter, in the early 6th Century. The Miansahar Sultanate provided stability not only to the Silk Road, but to all of Shishura. Uniting the entire continent under a single power, the Sultanate was able to create a cohesive, and uniform state, which would eventually develop into one of the most advanced, and wealthiest states in all of Ishgarian history.

The Sultans of Miansahar were considered to be the wealthiest monarchs of all time. Strategically placed between Earen and Eoza, the Miansahari Sultans were quick to exploit the conflict between the two continents for their own profit. Never engaging in physical battle, the Miansahari Sultans often assert their power through trade. After all, no one can say no to a bag of gold, regardless of how skilled they are. With this mindset, the Sultanate has a bad habit of pouring wealth on any problem they face, as opposed to solving it productively. Because of this, the Sultanate is a rather harsh place to survive in if you have no wealth. Wealth defines everything in Shishura- from social status, to judicial justice, and of course freedom. For those who have no wealth, Shishura is one of the most dangerous places to live in. Due to Eozai and Earenian hostility towards the half-bloods, thousands of half-bloods have fled to Shishura in recent years. Most of those who have come to Shishura do so in the hopes of living a better and wealthier life. But they are sadly mistaken. The treatment of Half-bloods in Shishura is horrid. But there is rarely any proof about this. Every now and then, a story of exploitation is heard- it creates a great deal of noise in society, and then is forgotten the next day entirely. Despite being the wealthiest continent, Shishura is also renowned for its censorship. Essentially only two things matter in Shishura- the interests of the Sultan, and of course wealth. On the basis of this, the entire Shishurian society exists.

And Shishurian interests in the High Council are equally simple- Shishurian trade interests must be preserved, at any cost.

Broad Timeline of Shishurian History

Karoyagi:
land of medicine
fire & lightening based magic

• fertile, misty, lush, resource-rich, wealthy, spices, rare jewels, silk, decadence, gold, extravagance, land of artisans and craftsmen, insane level of competition, cultural diversity, heat, culinary diversity, great food, sultry, spiritual, seductive, anti-colonial, inward-facing, secular, inter-communal tensions, not very outward looking, traders, oral traditions, agrarian society

Head(s) of State: Emperor Akihito and Empress Hisako
Ruling Dynasty: Kamakura

Karoyagian history began with the migration from Shishura to Karoyagi in 375. Till date, not much is really known about early Karoyagian history. This is primarily because Karoyagian traditions are primarily oral as opposed to written. Written records of history were only found a century later. The first ever written record in Karoyagi was of a medical cure for respiratory discomfort. This record was found in what is known to be Ancient Karoyagi. Ancient Karoyagian society was primarily agrarian. Upon migrating to Karoyagi, early Shisurains developed the magic of fire and lightening in order to adapt to their new landscape. Unlike the hot sands of Shishuria, Karoyagi was fertile, blessed with regular rainfall and bountiful lands. Therefore, it did not take long for Karoyagnian settlements to grow in size.

In 443, Karoyagians began to trade with the Shishurians in what today is regarded to be the Silk Road- a complex network of trade routes through which several goods such as Karoyagian silk and spices, and Shishurian jewels were sold. At the time, there was no concept of a united Karoyagi. Individual settlements had merchants who traveled across the Silk Road for their own benefits. Their wealth contributed to the rapid development of both their village, and secured the wealth of their families. By the 9th century, the trade routes had fully incorporated Earen as well. Earenian contribution to the Silk Road trade was unique- it was ideas. Through Earen, the concept of social hierarchy entered Shishura, giving rise to its current style of government: the Shouganate. The Shouganate is a fedual, militaristic of government, where the head of the government is called the shōgun. Under the Shouganate, Karoyagi was split into several provinces, lead by lords, also called daimyō. Below the Lords were the warrior class, followed by the artists and trades, and finally the peasants. However, this social organization was not set in stone. Provinces enjoyed a high degree of sovereignty under the Shouganate in exchange for their loyalty to the Shougan.

War and conflict is as much part of Karoyagian history as the Silk Road. Far before the Shouganate, it was common for villages to go to war with each other. In fact, it was this tradition that gave birth to the warrior class in Karoyagi in the first place- each village usually had a few families who dedicated themselves entirely to protect the interests of the village against invaders. Under the Shouganate, war between provinces was common, and nothing much has changed really. The only difference between the ancient Shouganate and the modern Shouganate is the role of the Emperor, or the Shougan. In ancient Karoyagi, the Emperor played a nominal role. The reigning emperor was chosen from the Kamakura Dynasty, whom were believed to be descendants of the Karayogian Goddess of the Sun, Amaterasu. Despite this, the Emperor never played an active role in administration- that was left to the discretion of the Lords. However, this eventually began to change in the 15th century. War among provinces was not uncommon at the time. The high degree of independence awarded to provinces meant that each province had developed almost like its own independent kingdom, with a distinctive language and unique cultural customs of its own. However, from the 15th century onward, certain lords especially in Western Karoyagi began to become closer to the Emperor's family. The best example of this would be the marriage of Emperor Fumihito's daughter Masako with the son of a Karoyagian Lord. By the end of the 16th century, the neutrality of the Emperor and his family had completely gone. Strategic alliances and marriages among the Lords had transformed the seat of the Emperor into a far more active one. Because of this, from the 17th century onward, the Emperor began to take an active role into the continent's administration, marking the start of Modern Karoyagian history.

Though the centuries have passed, Karoyagian interests still primarily rest on trade. Unlike other continents, Karoyagians tend to be very inward facing. One of the primary reasons for this is due to the vast number of provinces within Karoyagi, all of whom function almost like independent countries of their own. Because of this, Karoyagians are notorious for being neutral on almost every international issue unless it directly affects them and their trade interests.

Brief Overview of Karoyagian History

Lotria:
wind-based magic
resource rich, corn, spiritual, environmentalists, wildlife conversation, environmental sustainability, agriculture, horses, equestrian culture, spiritual, cold weather, snow, ice, fishing, sailing, hunting, tribal, oral traditions, war between tribes, peaceful, adventurous

Kilgera:
land of festivals
geothermal & wood based magic
hospitality, spices, rain-forests, environmentalists, wildlife conservation, art, trade, festivals, celebrations, culinary diversity, linguistic diversity, literature, poetry, romance, music, dance, ancient civilizations, resource-rich, geological diversity, extreme weather, limited resources, volcanoes

Aistrone:
the land of seas
weather & lightening based magic
deserts, beaches, geological antiquity, heat, limited natural resources, fishing, sailing, maritime trade, nomadic cultures, relaxed, easy-going, adventurous, isolationists, unambitious, agriculture, oral traditions, island people, balance, harmony, hunting, generally being happy, volcanoes