The Colony of Zuhayras

The Colony of Zuhayras is the heart of the world. It is the ultimate nexus of all things in creation, and a dark secret boils at its depths. The diwata whispers its ancient name -- the Islands of Sanlibutang Ikiran. In modern times it became to be known as the Thousand Islands, before Al-Kaig subdued it to its divine will and turned it into Zuhayras.

The Legacy of Saffida The Islands of Zuhayras expand across the most of the center of the world, with the other closest Saffida binti Paleogia was well known for being the landmass being the Lakungdulan Island to the - West, the Tabun island to the north, and the of her empathic abilities to coerce many of the Continent of Caxia to the Near East. There are (already willing) natives to turn to the Yavuman approximately six thousand islands according to the latest Census of the Emperor. she was born into a royal family before her name was tarnished in poltics, and she was sent to the gutter, With its strategic location smack dab in the where she worked in the various carpentry and center of the world, it is a prime spot for cultural engineering professions while disguised as a man, mixing, which it has indeed become. With the before enlisting into the fourth Imperial Legion, solid base of Lakungdulan tradition mixed with where she displayed exemplary military and tactical -Kaigian ideas, prowess. Before long, the Imperial General of the Valencia Satrap, Atzazio de Kasseen, recognized her the Lands in Sanlibutan after seven years of service and promoted her to Prefect Status, before revealing her true identity. The climate usually ranges from Humid hot to Thanks to the political power being a Prefect Status is Humid wet. It is a constant state of humidity -- and with her being personally raised by the here, basically requiring the wearing of silk and Imperial General himself, who had a high rank in the light clothings. Near the last three months of the Imperial Senate -- many of the Al-Kaigians had to 12 month cycle, however, Zuhayras experiences live with the revelation. Dry Cold, although not as cold as the Isles of

Tabun or Hosk-Edur, or the Far East. Farming and agriculture as well as fishing are the most She was the head spear going into the conquest common native exports here, as well as having efforts of Lakungdula. It is rumored that the Senate the greatest natural supply of the five divine and Emperor did this so that she would be far away materials (Ginto, Platino, Tanso, Pilak, and from the Mainland. Bakal-Anino). Lately many of the barangays have become turned into factories for mass manufacturing silk, oil, grain, and also diwa Her great granddaughter, Ignazi binti Katala now energy. leads the Reconquista against the Atlu-Lakan

Polity. It is rumored that she eventually married a The four weathers here are usually dictated by Lakungdulan and that all her descendants are of heat and wetness. In a 12 month year, which is mixed descent. before dictated by harvests, but with the invention of the Saviarian Calendar, it has since become codified, the first two months is the Season of Falling Eventually the Empire of Al-Kaig arrived on Leaves, which are their shores, and brought with them the Word of - the coldest of the Yavum and the Sword of Truth. At this time, the months and also people of the Thousand Islands have already as? the season with the traded much with the free Empire of Giro'jji, second least leading to much racial mixture, as well as The suffix -as in the Al-Kaigian amount of rains. harbored Kivhran refugees. Despite that, because The next five of the harsh politics in Liway, the religion of months are the Dayawan did not have as strong a hold as it did empire have -as in the end to Season of Rising in Liway. Partly because of geographic limits signify to whom the estate belongs Flames, which are (oversea travel being inherently harder than to. (Ie. Maridas, Sayyadas, Aesias). when the Isles overland travel, although the Thousand Islands begin to warm, and people are exponentially better than the Liwayan water becomes a people at traveling over sea), and because of the bit scarce lack of unification. Each barangay was a polity eventually ending unto itself, with its own laws and own beliefs. A in the season of Thousand Islands made up of a thousand purest heat, with million peoples. little to no rain. That is, until the Empire of Al-Kaig The next six are the disseminated the teachings of Yavum. Season of Storming Waters, which begin with the The first island conquered was outside the humid wet season Makkalan Lakandoms sphere of influence - and eventually ending in numerous storms and Ugad. The Lakungdulans there fought back typhoons which usually form from the Southeast, which is where the massive Ocean of Pri Dagat wraps around the world. eventually returned and brought with them a large galleon fleet, including the now renowned History Saffida binti Paleogia.

The people of Zuhayras were originally the people of the bamboo that moved east. These They arrived at the Northern Isles and converted people learned how to craft advanced maritime the powerful Datu Kiskisang Sinag, who then technology, adopting cannons, warships known gathered his barangay and fought under the Al- as karakoa, and becoming trained pirates. When Kaigian Empire. It is said that Datu Kiskisang Makkalo, the First King, rose up from Liway Sinag actually fought against the Al-Kaigian (Liway is the large island to the West of the Explorers and defeated them, killing a navigator Thousand Islands) and conquered the Thousand Islands, the already fractured people of the of the Explorer ship, Brother Owl, taught them Thousand Islands toiled in eternal unrest, for of the Yavuman belief, which the Datu found to they did not like having someone over them. tter than Dayawan. And so, the Al-Kaigian Empire gained a foothold. In a matter of a few years, the the Capital of the Colony Empire. The Polity of Datu Kiskisang Sinag (whose name was sheer size of it has caused Al-Kaig to changed to Sinag de Ibis) expanded and the Al- lose grip on its capital city and many Kaigian Empire with the large polity of Sinag other races that the Al-Kaigians would conquered the Thousand Islands in the name of sneer at have now become permanent Emperor Zuhayr. societies. It is made up of Seven Cities, of which Sanctuary is part of it. The The Conquest Efforts of Agidyo lasted from 955 seven cities are thus: Sanctuary, Issario, to 992, with the Makkalan Lakandom being a Thunderbell, Afirian, Okkosias, De worthy opponent against the Empire of Al-Kaig. Sandrio, and Si Setanta. Indeed, halfway through the Conquest Efforts, • Sanctuary City, situated as a Coastal City the Al-Kaigian Empire woul and the main city of the Indigo not for the various Agidyao Peoples converting Metropolis. into Yavuman and following their tenets, and • Firada, situated in the Island of Dawa to the North, in a valley covered by two Sinag. large mountain ranges. • Stormfront, situated in the northwest The fact that the Makkalan Kingdom suffered island of Atlu, furthest from Sanctuary, political infighting on its last few years thanks to and created on top of a plateau. Living the failure of Lakan Makkasa has certainly conditions here are notably colder and contributed to the Conquest Success. harsher. The Zuhayrans here share the plateau with the native Akatan People, At 1070, most of Agidyo save for the north-east living higher up the mountain, whom quarter has been conquered, and was under the name of Zuhayras Islands, becoming an subjugate. Their relations are not exactly Archipelago Colony for Al-Kaig. The Zuhayras amicable. Colony was then solidified with trade and the • Cathedra, in the Western Island of creation of various cities and trade routes. The Leogia, named after Saffida. Cathedra notorious Agidyo Forests were conquered with a holds the largest Arcanum College and mix of technological prowess and spiritual aid Church, headed by the Jeremian Priests from the Katalonan who helped the Al-Kaigians, who followed after the Great Prophet blazing paths through the forest and finally and Philosopher, Jerem. They are in creating land travel. Horses became prominent in the islands as well after more trading, where • Crosspost, to the west of the island of before they were only popular in Liway and Osa, acting as a large trade hub city and Tabun. a nexus for traveling to other parts of the Archipelago. A daambakal line, or a steel Various highland areas became settlements and railway, has been constructed to cities, whereas coastal areas became trading facilitate quicker shipment of goods and ports and nexuses. Notable cities are: oil and steel between the Indigo Metropolis and Crosspost.

• The Metropolis of Indigo, a gigantic metropolis made up of almost race and Society class, known as the Principalia, and they are The Colony is governed by the Emperor of Al- actual descendants of datus and tumao of the Kaig, Yunus, through the Six-Man senate known barangays before the coming of the Al-Kaigians. ch created They have the same job and exert the same laws, heard supplications, and deliberated on authority, which smoothed the Al-Kaigian administration. The Governor-General conquest because of the quick and efficient (formally known as a Talon in a Serpent application of the colony government. Council) is then the direct representation of Yunus, with the current Governor-General To the natives, this system is a dark perversion being Ignazi binti Katala. The Seat of Power is in of their original class system. The slaves were Selorong in Liway for the time being, having slaves, and treated been moved from Sanctuary, seemingly because with malice. The of the reconquista efforts. Ignazi is notable for freemen were being the first Islander to become Governor- basically slaves to Wait, Serpent General, and as such she is under close scrutiny the congregation. of the Archipelagian Council. The Governor- The Congregation Council? General is in command of the navy and military, themselves seem to as well as the economic planning and the Head be the most The Senate of the Al-Kaigian Magister of the Royal Audience of Zuhayras (the powerful among administration is known as the Supreme Court of the colony). the classes. Serpent Council, headed by a Head (usually the Emperor, or The various sections of land within Zuhayras are Al-Kaigians are one of his Viziers). The second almost always highest are the Fangs, which are , the settlements principalia, and are the Viziers themselves, who also upon which the Al-Kaigians place natives (and further split into act as the head of the Supreme those Al-Kaigians who travel to the Colony). two classes -- the Council. The third highest are Heading those are the Alkadi. Unpacified Mainlanders (that the Talons, usually heads of military lands (near the Native Lakandoms and is, Al-Kaigians that Provinces and Colonies (of were born in the which the Exarch is one). Below outer rims of the Zuhayras Isles) are known as motherland [the peninsula of them are the Heads or their magistrates of unpacified lands and head of the Kivhra]) and Representations of each of the military efforts there. The classes within the Islanders (those Royal Houses. This Senate colonial empire are split between the nobles, the born in the deliberates on administration congregation, the freemen, and the slaves. Archipelago). and other such activities, and Although officially usually hold meetings once a The towns are called pueblos, and are headed by they are equal, month. there is prejudice into even smaller governments known as against the Islanders by the Mainlanders. Most barangay -- as copied from the old villages of the high positions in the Empire are only attainable natives -- headed by a cabeza, which was the by Mainlander Al-Kaigians, which has wrought senate of the pueblo. One notable aspect of the some wrath from the growing number of cabeza is that they are all part of the noble ruling Islander Al-Kaigians. In addition, the residue created from using this Especially rich Principalia usually have large Diwa is released into the air, and takes a very manors of their own, made in clearings of towns long time to seep back into nature. Thusly, it is or in islands that they have bought on their own, causing an imbalance in nature, which is causing having their own private military and business. the engkanto to roar in fury. Rebellion brews in This phenomenon is not restricted to rich the Seven Cities. It is only a matter of time. Principalia, but also to rich merchants and traders, especially Giroans and Zuhayran- Other than Selorong, Zuhayras is a hub for Giroan mixed bloods (known as Mestizo de trade, specifically Sanctuary and Crosspost, Giro). along with the four other main cities of the Colonial Empire, where they traded using Recently, with the rise of literate and educated galleons with the various races across men and women, a new social class has cropped Sanlibutan. The most notable of this is the up. The Illumined are the class poorer than the Phaedrus Galleon Trade of the Royal Al- noble-blooded Principalia, but more educated Daniado Trading Guild, which has trade routes and richer than the common man. The to almost every known world country, and has Illumined became fighters and writers, and the established a foothold in Liway through promise of revolution against Al-Kaig has begun Selorong, and Zuhayras through Sanctuary. to broil under the sewage streets of Sanctuary. Through this, various commodities and trade goods were introduced to Lakungdula, such as Also recently, thanks to the new various cloths and fruits (such as avocado), as industrialization of various commodities, the well as the introduction of riding horses that invention of the printing press, and the could be used to travel great distances quickly, Elemental Engine which uses particular Diwa which eventually led to the creation of the essences to power technology such as power kalesa. Despite this, the usage of carabao only armor, automata, the Daambakal, lighting grids, strengthened, as land trade and travel became telephones, and other new technology. The more important, karabaw wagons saw more and method of gaining these Diwa essences is long, more use. Weapons and newer technologies however, needing the coaxing of Diwa from were also traded, of which the Lakungdulans Dambanas (sacred sites, both altars and natural formations such as holy waterfalls and mountains) with the usage of Katalonan, or the them. ritual known as Siphoning from natural sources. The Zuhayran Colonial Capital is located in the The Al-Kaigians have found an easier way, great Metropolis of Indigo, a great and large city however, and one that works with the speedy chained together by the Metropolitan Train industrialization of the world: the various System, or the Daambakal, which winds through Diwata are made of Diwa. It is their corpus, their each of the cities. The Metropolis of Indigo is physical corporeal form is made of it... made up of seven interlocking cities, each one of them under the Governor-General of Zuhayras. The Al- - The Cities are: Sanctuary, Issario, Thunderbell, very lucrative job in its Industrial Revolution. Afirian, Okkosias, De Sandrio, and Si Setanta.

Within the Metropolis of Indigo is the city of concepts. Many Katalonan and albularyo have Sanctuary, which is right by the harbor. It is a become literate in both reading and writing, large walled city made up of different sectors, writing down their concepts and learnings on large enough to be an island on its own. paper. Many Datu (now part of the Principalia) Sanctuary grows larger and richer as you go towards the middle. Shantytowns lie outside like furthest corners of the political mandala, one can scabs on its gray wall. The Headquarters of the find Datu attending masses of Yavuman priests, Inquest can be found in this great metropolis. and Yavuman priests who are tattooed from head to toe. Sanctuary also has no real floors, instead being made up of complex and large walkways, metal Lately there has been a cabal of literate mixed with narrawood. The bottom of Sanctuary Katalonan who have begun to transcribe old is simply the sea, whereas the part of Sanctuary myths, legends, folklore, and religious texts into that is above shore is covered in sluice streets books. Another cabal of scholars and historians, and is the poorest part of the city. Sanctuary has a mix of Zuhayran and Al-Kaigian, have begun become the main nexus for trade, and everything to record various Scripts indigenous to the passes by this large metropolis. islands so as to preserve them.

Lately, the Office of the Governor General has But not everything is beneficial. Corruption and been moved to the Harbor Trade City of racial prejudice from Mainlander Al-Kaigians Selorong, to the West of Liway, wherein they are against Islander Al-Kaigians abound. Al- attempting to launch an attack against the Warring Kedatuans. shadows, or little. Or little shadows. A derogatory term for the farmers and mountain folk. The Al- Barangays always have a plaza in the middle of and society of the diwata and anito, them, which was adopted from Al-Kaigian disrespecting all that they had known. Al- culture. This is the place for merrymaking and Kaigians missionaries and priests are prone to masses and special fiestas. It is not uncommon killing farmers and stealing from them, raping to find larger buildings near the plazas and the women and children. commoner buildings near the outskirts of a barangay, where the rice paddies can be found. The Administration itself is capitalizing on the Here they hold all the fiestas that differ from prime spot for trading and the rich natural region to region. resources of the islands for riches, and they have been becoming rich. It is well known that they The infrastructure of Zuhayras is very similar to are preparing resources for a massive war with the mandala structure of the Lakungdulans, with a main body of government being the center of a not allowed onto the Administration at all, society. In Zuhayras case, this is Sanctuary. The which has sparked outrage. Even the Middle further one gets from Sanctuary, the less the Class Illumined people and the Islander Al- overbearing influence of Al-Kaigian colonialism Kaigians have been barred from positions of and the more influence of the native cultures power. They were powerless. intermingling with colonially introduced And with the creation of the Elemental Engine gradually evolved to become Zuhayran, which and the faster creation of things, the Industrial became the lingua franca. Since the time before Revolution upon the Metropolis and Al-Kaig as Zuhayras was mostly an oral culture, and the Al- a whole, men of business and intelligence Kaigians only encountered one writing system combat the men of wisdom and science to create which belonged to a neighboring Barangay, the more and more businesses and capitalizations. barangay of Datu Sinukuang Agila. When Datu Kalesa businesses, businesses to create better books, the business of power. Children are the Al-Kaigians immediately recorded their routinely forced into labor, shoveling calcified script, which they call Kidlat (their word for Diwa into the Elemental Engines, suffering face lightning), which was the first word they made a on the debilitating effects of being exposed to character for, which eventually evolved into an too much natural spiritual power. abugida language after they tried to spell other words and failed. (The character for Kidlat now Most of the children and the poor that are used - for free labor come home -- if they have a home Kaigians found that Kidlat perfectly fit the -- blind, their tongues split in two, their hair language of Datu Kiskisang, and decided to now green or writhing as grass, or having lost all adopt that for dissemination, since it fit the of their limbs, all thanks to the mutating effect of too much raw Diwa. introduced a handful of new characters and markings to enhance the precision of the Diwa used to power the Metropolis. writing.

Prejudice, corruption, and exploitation. A Only the educated or those who live in the city vicious cycle. know how to speak Al-Kaigian. Because of this, the language has since become associated with This would not stand, the Triad Gods of War -- pride and privilege. Writing Al-Kaigian is Yna Guinida, Makanduk, and Barangaw -- had different from speaking it, usually, and only said once to a small barrio. The Zuhayrans had those with formal education actually know how taken all that they needed from the Al-Kaigians. to read the Al-Kaigian alphabet. It is time to reclaim the land, they said. Travel Zuhayras, they said, shall be free. Travel between the thousand islands are usually Language facilitated by boat rides, which have been turned into businesses by the seafaring natives who The language of those that live in the Thousand have mastered the art of sea-travel even before Islands are few and far between. Each major the Al-Kaigians came. Overland travel was polity (of which there were around thirty three) scarce before the arrival of the Al-Kaigians, but had their own language and culture, and it have since been changed with the introduction t until the Al-Kaigians swept over the land of horses from the north and raptors from the that they were all unified to speak Zuhayran east. (which was based on the language of Datu Races In the mountain All forms of races -- human, demi-human, and engkanto -- all exist in societies within regions have come the seven cities of the Metropolis of Indigo. The richest cities most notably, Si Setanta the famed Bannog and De Sandrio have the highest density of humans, and they tend to be only mystiso Riders, those who or mystisa, or only Al-Kaigians. There is a distinct class divide when it comes to these ride and tame cities. Si Setanta itself has its own private military organization, provided by one of the huge god-birds richest families within: the Hamsa Family. The Hamsa has provided the Azure Guard to that lord over the protect Si Setanta, and also any other organization or even city should they have the mountains. These price. The Azure Guard are known to have the highest of military technology, and can Bannog Riders are bust out power armor if needed. widely sought after and are The other races (and the workers, and the poor people that have arisen out of usually brought industrialization) have found refuge in the various other cities within the Indigo back to become Metropolis. It should be noted that outside the Metropolis, the races are scarcer to find, military men in mostly because most of the alkadia are owned and privately seen over by Al-Kaigian the Al-Kaigian nobles, which means they can oversee what races are within their purview or not. Under Military. AL-Kaigian rule, harmony with other races have almost vanished, beginning with the demonization of the other races. Within cities, the usage of the horse Anakyawa and Anadiwata are known as abhorrent perversions of Yavum and the kalesa vision for the canvas of humanity, and are thus shunned. The engkanto races are (horse-drawn demonized the tamawo are fallen angels that use beguiling beauty to steal you away carriages) were the into their trees and kill you in your sleep or while you are ravished. The palesekan are most prominent. forest demons that sing tunes of hell and rip you apart piece by piece and attach your Raptors within limbs to soil, which eventually grow into grotesque flesh trees. Duwende are earth cities were seen as demons that cause you diseases and rashes and should be killed to prevent this. weird, but not out Tikbalang are tricksters only tricksters and one should never go into the forest of the blue. during night lest they find one of the tikbalang and become ravished. The tikbalang are demons that prefer women to rape and kill. The sarangay are bull-headed demons that The Colonial live in forest groves waiting for god-abiding men and women to cross, and then they kill Administration them, turning them into jewels that they add to their collection. Garuda are barbaric has access to relic- winged demons that raid and kill those in the alkadia, especially those after it is sleeping tech, giving them time, or those that did not go to weekly mass. access to the brass skyships powered All of these sound like propaganda, and they are. These are all attempts to demonize the by perpetual various races that have grown into harmony veer since the Apocalypse. Of course, this sorceries. never stopped the humans that knew the truth from intermingling with them. As of late, entire cities most notably Thunderbell, which is farthest from Si Setanta and Religion Sanctuary have entirely mixed races, and even the Metropolitan Guard have become amiable to them within Thunderbell. The city itself is reviled and avoided by most Al- Before the Al- Kaigians, although they do send special forces to crack down on crimes and rebellions, Kaigians arrived and a lot of the waste from kapnayan experiments are dumped onto Thunderbell, with the people of the the slightest intent of poisoning the entire city. Thousand Islands

Of course, the city is made up of magical creatures, those that can cleanse waters. But the people of Thunderbell are not stupid they know that if they stage a full-scale rebellion, they would be crushed by the Al-Kaigian War Machine. And so, they wait. Patiently. adopted the Dayawan religion. The Polity of Magic is now wholly associated with witchcraft Datu Sinag has always upheld a Supreme Being and evil, despite there being a lot more nuance over the other Diwata, which became the cause to it. Only Yavuman-approved sorcery is taught, of his conversion to Yavuman. But the which includes the Astral Academy of foundation of Dayawan is not lost, and still Salamangka in Sanctuary. shines through even in the colonial religion. Despite this, Kulam and Barang are all equally Zuhayras has adopted the Yavuman Faith, but practiced, and the calling upon other entities for has twisted it so that it fits the things that they powers have evolved from just having Dayawan find true and have believed in since the beings to also having Yavuman beings, and the beginning: the truth of the diwata and the anito. combination of ingredients and prayers to Belief in a Supreme Being is easy, and thus easily Yavum in the Kivhran tongue (although those captured. The fear of maligno was only that did their research still use Diwatan for the intensified with the coming of Yavuman, which most genuine effect) for their rituals. associated darkness with evil. This was also a useful tactic for the Priests that sought to keep The usage has had a drop off recently, but has their flock both safe and controlled. since returned with the usage of gold-carved Usbong. Usbong before the Al-Kaigians came For the Zuhayrans, they believed in a Supreme are known to be the idols and sacred images that the natives worshipped. and that he had angels to serve him in Heaven. But they also believed that the Anito are the Along with this, the usage of a Deck of Cards for spirits of their ancestors that answer to reading fate and fortune was popularized within Maykapal. So do the Diwata, which can be found the isles, which combined the usage of reading in every natural place, all being lower deities through various different mediums as well as when compared to Maykapal, and he ruled over imagery inherited from Al-Kaigian myth and them from above. This is a perversion of stories. The Deck of Cards, which was called Yavuman teachings, because the only supernatural beings in Yavuman belief is Yavum was made up of: himself and his angels, along with those that rebelled. 1. Angel (Biraddali) 2. World (Kalibutan) Maykapal is also worshipped to be the lord of all 3. Sun (Adlaw) anito, sending them off to various deeds to help 4. Moon (Bulan) their descendants. 5. Star (Suga) 6. Lightning (Linti) Maligno are now deemed Demons, and are said 7. Devil (Saragnayan) to be controlled by Sitan, the Keeper of the 8. Death (Sui-dapa) Dead. Every other deity had been either turned 9. Traitor (Rebelde) into low-ranking Diwata or demonized, as was 10. Bishop (Pamahres) the modus of Yavuman Priests. 11. Wheel (Gulong)

12. The Three War Gods have introduced more ways of interacting with (Barangaw, Yna Guinida, technology, as well as more ways of reading the Makanduk) stars, and the Bakhthir have introduced an epic 13. Justice (Katarungan) form of writing that seems to have worked in 14. Temperance (Timpian) parallel with the oral epics of the Lakungdulans. 15. Sword (Kampilan) 16. Love (Dihan-Ma-Salanta) The Karanduun are mysterious and new, and 17. Four Natives (Tagabundok) not much mentioned in the Yavuman Texts, 18. Magician (Salamangkero)

Each one having different meanings depending and have on placement and on where they were put. created a specific branch of the Church -- the Those that practice card reading are held in the Inquest -- focused on eliminating the Dukes same regard as Mangkukulam. (alongside other maligno and Aswang beasts).

Every tenth day of the month, Zuhayrans go to mass, where they are taught the tenets and truths what they are, and usually will either classify of Yavum. If an Al-Kaigian Mainlander were to them as an angel or a demon depending on the listen to a chapel preceding in the countryside, context of their meeting. In outer regions, they are classified as Engkanto or Diwata when they from those from the city -- they are not teaching are seen showcasing their Halo, and the outside the true teachings of Yavum, but rather, are people often mistake them for Saint-Kings. teaching the Zuhayran Folk Yavuman that the Zuhayrans have built for themselves. Architecture

Despite this, much of the original Dayawan Most architecture were either stone structures Gods are now lost and/or have been demonized. for those living in the northern islands near Many have said that they have encountered the Tabun, or those living in the Gods themselves, the Apo, doing their usual Mountains/Plateaus. One popular building duties despite the loss of worship, and have found by the Al-Kaigians were the Hill Stone expressed their sadness at what has happened. Forts, that is, large stone fortified fortresses built But more of them express that something is not upon hills, only found in the farthest of the right with Al-Kaig itself. And even more express northern islands. It is speculated that these Forts the broiling contempt and rage of those actually came from Tabun, which the Al- subjugated to Al-Kaigian rule. Kaigians have yet to penetrate.

The religion of the Giroans have also been Before the coming of the Al-Kaigians, the transported to the Zuhayran Colony, leading to architecture was mostly cultural and different. a rise of Qirong-mideumians and Omists. The Those that lived in islands usually had ships that religion of the Balaarians and the Bakhthir could work as houses. The most common type of Desert Nomads have also arrived through way of housing is the nipa hut, or the bahay kubo, with from the thatched roofs and wooden walls and bamboo Balaarian City-State of Effisia. The Balaarians slat floors. The torogan, a house made of stone that usually housed Maginoo and the Datu an apparent revolutionary army being garnered classes were popular as well, and have actually underground. survived until the coming of the Al-Kaigians. Longhouses have also seen use as well. The Zuhayran branch of the Yavuman Army is constructed of two halves, each filled up of 5 When the Al-Kaigians came, they brought with legions. The first half is the Military Half, the them their architecture, creating brick and ones tapped upon by the Colonial cement houses with wooden windows, but the Administration for conquests and protection. usage of the nipa hut has always been in use, and Each legion is composed of 1,000 to 2,000 men, a never really went out of style for barrios outside mix of heavy and light infantry. Special emphasis the larger cities and barrios. Farmers usually is put upon naval warfare in the 4th and 5th stuck to nipa huts as well, which are cheaper to Zuhayran Legions, each which is led by a construct and are effective against the constant Principalia who used to belong in thalassocratic monsoons. polities -- Datu Kayaan, now known as Marshal Kayaan Servante, and Datu Gibo, now known as With the arrival of the Al-Kaigians they Marshal Gibo Saralian. The 4th Legion, led by introduced a number of new architecture, Marshal Kayaan, is also a widely feared for its notably the cathedral, the large buildings, and irregular combat strategies, with the usage of the first few locomotives, as well as the horse- natural terrain and guerilla tactics. It is said that driven kalesa. The Smoke Rail Locomotive is the various conquest efforts from Effisia have been first locomotive to have been finished and is thwarted thanks to them. mostly used for transporting goods and a small number of passengers rich enough to pay for it. The 5th Legion, led by Marshal Gibo, is known The Smoke Rail starts from Sanctuary and ends at Crosspost. flying sharks in the sea. They have repelled

Surely one of the most impressive structures is invaders from the Far East -- the Qirong Empire. the Inquest Cathedral in Sanctuary. A large edifice with gothic embellishments, baroque The warriors of Classical Zuhayras find this to architecture made with the highest beauty. A be a new thing, for most of their military large convent that stands half the height of the adventures had been a band of men with swords, great Sanctuary wall. fighting for honor, glory, or vengeance. They were well adapted to their environment, lending Sanctuary itself is an architectural wonder -- themselves to guerilla warfare, but strategy was shanty towns and houses built atop each other in more or less lost. The only strategy they needed a neverending stack, held in place by suspension was the intimate knowledge of their bridges, never taken over by the sea below. surroundings and their oneness with nature. This gives the Zuhayrans a significant advantage Military when fighting in their home base, so much so

standing military is the Al-Kaigian allowed into the Heart of the World because he Army, but the latest Governer-General has begun to conduct investigations and probes into largely considered to be true. Lakungdula, because of the Lakungdulans usage Each Legion is split into 12 companies, which of elephant mounts. were further divided into subdivisions known as different subdivisions. The foot infantry known A special subunit known as the Sakay-hari unit as the pangil, the cavalry unit known as the permeate the skies and see more use, but are kawalerya (which have their own subunit of elite more rare. They are riders of great god-birds - known as bannog, which are large enough to pick up karabaws. Sakay-hari are usually not 5th legions have their own elite naval subdivions brought out save for the most dire of circumstances, and are usually accompanied by Al-Kaigian Skyships. Whispers broil beneath the P skin of Zuhayras: much of the Sakay-hari have Zuhayran, are made up of 20 - 30 people. These become part of the inner rebellion. companies were usually made up of a mix of land infantry -- pikemen, musketeers, The heavy infantry of Baluti are usually made up swordsmen, and arquebusiers, using their of heavily armored men, with large chainmails pneumatic riflings. with karabaw leather hide armor overneath, with large narrawood kalasag shields and thick A special unit in every Legion, separate from a karabaw leather helmets. Spears are the mostly used weapon, with a kalis as a sidearm. They are maharlika is a social class in Lakungdula and usually the frontline, made to counter powerful Pre-Colonial Zuhayras that functioned similarly fire and cavalry, while the pangil units use to a knight and usually had better physical arquebuses and muskets to pick off the enemy prowess. A maharlika unit is usually made up of line. able-bodied natives well-trained in the art of the native weapons, and were usually trump cards The special unit of Pating are mostly limited to against enemies, with their knowledge of the the naval legions of the 4th and 5th. These naval environment. Marshals would even go so far as legions also constitute the navy, and even the Al- to say that they were blessed by nature itself. The Kaigian Emperor himself cannot argue that 4th Legion is notable in that they have a total of 20 Maharlika Units spread across their companies. Most of the men of this unit are of naval movement and sailing, with an intricate tattooed from head to toe, as their native culture knowledge of barrier reefs and edgy coasts. The had expressed them to do. Pating units are known for their heavily tattooed bodies (similar to Maharlika), so much so that The kawalerya division is the cavalry unit, made they treat the tattoos as clothing (as was their up mostly of horses and raptors (which were an native culture). They rode on karakoas, a native earlier introduction because Giroans have traded invention (of which the Zuhayran Naval Legions with Zuhayrans before the arrival of the Al- use more than Al-Kaigian ships), with recent Kaigians). These were usually used within the karakoas being outfitted with lantaka cannons. larger islands of Osa, Dawa, Atlu and Leogia, or These karakoas were a match even for the outside of the islands themselves. They have hardsteel turtleships of the Giroan navy, mostly become important in the Conquest of because of its speediness and the mastery of the crew over the sea.