Geography:

  Siyowaska lies in the far southwest of Aeltharia, a forest realm untouched and ancient, where nature endures in its most primal and immaculate form. Within its bounds lie tropical groves, temperate woods, boreal reaches, open grasslands, and pristine freshwater veins, each woven into a living balance. The land is girded on three sides by the towering Menohaska Range, a tall, steadfast crown of stone growing to the north, east, and south, guarding the realm from foreign hands. Only the Wiyohka Run flows freely, a long blue river binding its peoples through trade and passage. Thus, Siyowaska stands in careful balance, where beauty and peril dwell as one in ultimate harmony.

  Travelers from distant lands grow enamored as they journey into the deep southwest, for the wilds reveal a beauty. The mountains stand stern beneath harsh skies, yet within their hearts lie hidden caverns where ancient flora and vigilant beasts endure. So too the forests inspire awe and dread, for far beneath the world’s eternal night they whisper with unseen peril. Nowhere is this truer than the Ahotekha Vale, serene in aspect yet ruled by primeval hunters. There, great dinosaurs roam, ever eager to test their great strength against worthy prey. Thus all who traverse these lands must learn this truth, that nature offers splendor freely, but demands courage and might in return.

  This is why the Nation of Balance is spoken of as a land both ruthless and ethereal, where wildlife and wilderness are bound as one living trial. Yet the people and the creatures who dwell there share a single cause, the honoring and preservation of nature’s fragile accord. From this belief arose the law that nothing should be taken in excess, for the world is both sanctuary and proving ground, shaping those who walk it into greater beings. Some distant travelers dissent, deeming nature too cruel for sanguine lives, and thus raise civilizations for safety. The Siyowaskans do not scorn such views, for they acknowledge the truth within them, even as they choose an opposing path.

  Characteristic:

  The Siyowaskans are a people devoted to the balance of the world, seeking harmony rather than dominion over the lands they inhabit. From their elders they are taught not merely to revere nature, but to understand its behaviors, limits, and difficult laws. Such knowledge is the root of survival, for each must learn to endure within their chosen biome through strength, cunning, and a deep affinity for living magic. Thus the natives commune with earth and leaf, listening to the memory held within soil and root. From this vast communion they gather wisdom and warning alike, preserving the past so its failures are not repeated, but transformed into one of enduring progress.

  The Southwesterners are survivors, able to live from the land with limited complaint. They adapt and endure in all circumstances, even when nature proves harsh and unyielding despite their reverence for it. Among the tribes, debates sometimes arise. Some believe that lasting safety lies in measured civilization, as seen in other nations, built without surrender to ease. Others believe it wiser to face peril openly, hardening the people so ruin may never find them firmly unprepared. Yet neither side breeds scorn. Through mutual respect they reach accord, adopting careful measures of growth and shelter while preserving the trials that shape them across generations yet to come.

  To know a Siyowaskan is no difficult task. Many bear long green hair, eyes like polished emerald, and garments of artful earth woven in tribal design. Unlike most nations, save only Sha’nekht, the Southwestern tribes are all marked by bronze skin rather than the pale hue common among sanguines. The cause of this difference remains uncertain, though some deem it a sign of their innate gift for adaptation, shared also by the Sha’nekhti. Yet such traits are not borne by all. What unites every Siyowaskan is belief rather than form, the conviction that one must honor nature’s beauty and walk in balance with its everlasting will across generations and seasons uncounted.

  Politics:

  The Tlatoani stands as sovereign of Siyowaska, chief of chiefs and guide of the four great tribes who govern The Nation of Balance. Upon this ruler rests the burden of direction, for the Tlatoani must speak with clarity on the paths the nation shall walk, and on the acts required to preserve harmony with nature and shield it from countless perils. This title is granted only to one who embodies the spirit of Earth itself, gifted with the great power of communion with the living world, and with knowledge of its vast memory, thought, and soul. For Aeltharia is no silent land, and it is the ruler’s charge to teach reverence while ensuring balance endures in the lives of the many.

  The Tayowakani, the Mountain Tribe, dwell within the giant Menohaska Range, a tall crown of stone that encircles Siyowaska from north, east, and south. They stand as watchful guardians, patrolling the towering passes and guarding the borders of the Nation of Balance. In this charge they are often joined by The Ahyashka, the River Tribe, whose ships journey beyond the borders to trade with distant lands. These vessels return along the Wiyohka Run, the long river that threads the Southwest from end to end. In their long travels the Ahyashka bargain with neighboring tribes and, at times, lend aid to foreign merchants, bearing news and goodwill back to their homes safely.

  Yet trade and commerce are not the heart of the entire nation. Balance and harmony with nature stand above all. This very truth is most clearly seen in The Tayashka, the Forest Tribe, who dwell within Ahotekha Vale, a great woodland west of the realm, vast as two magnanimous cities joined as one. There, they teach their people the ancient art of communion with the living world, learning to read history within its extensive and long memory. So too do The Siyohtani, the Plains Tribe, who inhabit the Miyohota Plains at the nation’s heart. From the open earth they learn to cultivate various harvests, while honoring athleticism and strength through ritual, contests, and trials.

  Military:

  The Wakan’tae stand as guardians of Siyowaska, heroes of the nation and its living ecosystem, that all life may endure in peace and harmony. They are led by a Warchief who, with the others, is present among each of the four tribes, bearing the charge of representing their peoples and guiding the young. Under their watch new generations are trained as hunters, farmers, and wielders of earth-bound sorcery. Yet their greater purpose lies in unity, for they stand vigilant against dire threats, such as the demons who would bring ruin at first sight. Thus, the Wakan’tae serve every tribe as protectors and teachers, upholding discipline, wisdom, and the balance that binds all.

  Yet there are times of division, when great debate arises between the call of civilization and the ways of tribal life. In such hours, the Wakan’tae stand as mediators, walking the middle path and laboring beside the chiefs of all the four tribes to seek accord. Though differences endure, respect is not broken, for all are kin, bound by blood and land, whatever banners they follow. To preserve this bond, the serious guardians give their quiet hours to the young, teaching and befriending them in their earliest years. For the elders hold this truth above all others, that only through careful guidance may children grow wise, and through wisdom, the balance of the nation be positively sustained.

  Regardless, the Wakan’tae must stand ready for war whenever shadow rises across the land, be it demon, dinosaur, or some other fell power. In such vile hours, they clad themselves in natural green tribal armor and raiment, their faces marked with sacred warpaint, that they may move swiftly in battle and unseen through the veils of forest and field. The hue of their garb is chosen with care, shaped to the biome they guard, for strategy is held as dearly as courage. Most skilled are they in bending the land itself to their will, setting traps and concealed snares, crafting battlefields of root and stone where the enemy is outmatched and driven back into the fierce dark whence it came.

  Religion:

  The Southwesterners revere The Goddess of Creation as the embodiment of nature and balance. To them she is the Earth Mother, beloved and feared, who shaped a world both ordered and wild, its harmony ever shifting with land and season. She is honored, yet also feared, for she shows no favor to humankind above any other living race. All creatures stand equal before her gaze, alike in worth, alike in judgment. Thus, she is rumored to love and to chastise without distinction. Many believe that in ages past, when the world groaned beneath overabundance, demonkind was born through the will of the sentient world itself, and perhaps through the Earth Mother’s blessing.

  Though demonkind brought pain, the Goddess of Creation did not forsake her works. She continued to guide them toward prosperity, until humanity learned to seek ultimate balance with the living world, even as they raised the earliest and most advanced civilizations from ancient days to the present age. For this reason the traditionalists of Siyowaska strive to keep the tribal ways unbroken, despite many voices calling for wondrous progress through new magics, crafts, and devices. Yet both paths bend in reverence before the Goddess and the elves, honoring the wisdom granted during The Ascension of The Golden Age, even as debate endures between them without any end.

  It is held as truth that nature is ever both beautiful and cruel, for its first will is preservation, and all living things strive to endure in health and strength. At times life defies its surroundings, as seen in the rise of civilizations and the crafting of artifice, yet even then hearts are drawn back in longing to the lands that lovingly birthed. Thus, balance must be sought not only with the world, but within the self, and with all others, whether loved or scorned. In this belief the Siyowaskans place their faith, cherishing all that surrounds them. Stubborn as the earth, they stand in this devotion, and through such steadfast love, their beloved spirit is made enduringly beautiful and whole.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Economy:

  The abundance of Siyowaska in food and water arises from the persevering labors of its people, who have long striven to keep their lands pristine and unspoiled. From this devotion came fertile fields, where fruits and harvests flourish, nourished by waters of rare clarity drawn from lake and river alike. Such bounty did not go unnoticed, and merchants from distant nations were drawn to trade for these pure provisions, offering vast treasures of their own homelands in return. Thus the diligence of the Siyowaskans, in guarding the sanctity of their home, yielded more than sustenance alone, bringing forth a realm both prosperous and flourishing beneath nature’s soft, enduring grace.

  The Tayowakani keep watch upon all who approach Siyowaska, meeting merchants, adventurers, and travelers at the high borders of the Menohaska Range. There, they scrutinize each arrival, and at times trade in enchanted stones and deep-wrought minerals, from which relics and artifacts of power are fashioned. The Ahyashka, by contrast, journey far beyond the realm in their sea vessels, bearing goods to distant shores. They also guide travelers along the Wiyohka Run, leading them through the Southwest for commerce. Through these passages foreign merchants come to know the other tribes as well, for the Ahyashka’s roads of water bind the nation in living commerce.

  The Tayashka meet such merchants in their long wanderings, whether they arrive by river craft or by winding forest paths. The Forest Tribe provides in trade the medicines of the wild, herbs and sacred plants gathered and grown with careful lore, prized for healing and medical craft alike. The Siyohtani, by contrast, bring forth the bounty of their farmlands, harvests of apple and pear, of berries bright, and many roots and greens besides. Their vegetables, drawn from rich earth, are renowned for strength and nourishment. So fresh and sweet are these resources that travelers remember their taste for all their days, and through them learn to cherish the beautiful gift of unspoiled food.

  Education:

  Knowledge of earth and land, of mountain, forest, and wandering biomes, is not gained through lore alone, but through lived experience. Thus parents, mentors, and elders lead the young beyond their hearths, guiding them on journeys across the wide world, so that they may see its wonders with their own eyes. Through such wanderings wisdom is kindled, and awareness of the world’s ways passes from one generation to the next. In walking beside river, stone, and living grove, the young learn the voices of nature firsthand. These trials of sight and spirit cause them to grow and blossom, like flowers in first light, into individuals who are far wiser and more gifted than before.

  This manner of learning has shaped the four tribes into individuals who are independent, adventurous, and nomadic in spirit. Many Siyowaskans feel the call to wander, leaving their hearths to dwell among the flora and fauna of the wilds. Yet others, mindful of ancestral teachings, remain within their homes, bearing the duties of stewardship and craft. These tend the growth of their people, refining life through knowledge and trade gained from other nations. From such differing callings arises a quiet division, between those who would guide Siyowaska toward progress, and those who would keep the traditional ways unchanged, each devoted to the balance they hold dear.

  The passage from tribal life toward civilization is a matter of fair debate, its merit judged differently by each heart. Education teaches the four tribes to revere nature and walk gently within its beautiful bounds, yet it also reveals the world’s dark face. For the wild holds peril as well as wonder, and fierce creatures of great might, such as dinosaurs, stand as living trials to sanguine folk. So too do storms, relentless rain, and the bitter cold of winter test their endurance. Thus some call for the rise of civilization, that challenges may be lessened through craft and shelter. In answer, the learned seek balanced compromise, urging mutual understanding between the two opposing paths.

  The Menohaska Range:

  The Menohaska Range rises in vast dominion, a towering wall of stone that guards Siyowaska from the north, the south, and the east, encircling the Nation of Balance upon three sides. Its high crowns and deep-hewn halls are the dwelling of The Tayowakani, the Mountain Tribe, who keep tireless watch upon the borders, greeting all who come, be they traveler, merchant, or distant envoy. To those who draw near the greatest range in all the world, an unspoken dread often stirs, as though unseen wardens mark their every step. For the Tayowakani stand ever vigilant, sworn to defend their heights with life and spirit alike, and all who approach must tread with reverence.

  When one passes within the mountain’s gates, wonder soon overtakes them, for in the deepest caverns lies a thriving and fortified realm, a civilization wrought to endure beneath living stone. Their tribal custom and measured craft are woven in rare accord, as the clans of the long Menohaska Range honor ancient ways while remaining open to meaningful change. Thus, the Tayowakani, like the river-faring Ahyashka, receive outsiders with guarded welcome, trading enchanted minerals, gems, and lore of old for treasures of distant lands. And as one climbs ever higher toward the peaks, the tall path reveals a city set upon the rampart walkways, carved against the sky itself.

  The Tayowakani are guided by a council of chiefs, warriors and merchants alike in strength and wisdom. They hold their high charge with solemn care, standing ever ready to defend their nation, yet placing the welfare of their people above all else, guarding the many halls and dwellings deeply carved throughout the range. Thus they do not wholly embrace the ways of distant civilization, for life within the range is shadowed and cold, though warmed by the gentle glow of living crystals. Still, they are not without cunning, for they employ magitech and subtle devices to tend their hidden fields, raising powerful mirrors to draw the moon’s light down upon their lunar harvests.

  The Ahotekha Vale:

  The Ahotekha Vale is a vast forest of the western lands, broad as two great cities, and home to innumerable trees whose living rings hold the memories and mysteries of ages past. There dwell The Tayashka, the Forest Tribe, who walk the shaded groves in quiet study, reading the lore of the world as it is written in bark and root. From such wisdom they deepen their magic, and craft potent herbs and elixirs through the blended arts of biology and alchemy. Among certain clans the study of outward sciences has taken root, and with it the cautious use of foreign devices, though many traditionalists dissent, holding that magic alone should guide a land kept pure and pristine.

  Those who wander the Vale speak of whispers carried among the tall trees, murmurs of what was, what is, and what may yet come. Sometimes, if one lays a hand upon the ancient bark and listens in stillness, fleeting visions arise from the memory within. Beyond these towering sentinels, the forest itself is a wonder to travelers and native alike, aglow with bioluminescence and adorned with magical flora of many hues and forms, each revealing the power it bears. Deeper within the dwellings of the Tayashka, mystical cities wrought as lofty tree-houses upon colossal trunks, their height a safeguard, lifting the forest clans above the perils that roam the beautiful forest below.

  The Ahotekhan Alliance is a council of chiefs, drawn from many clans yet united as the Tayashka, that the prosperity of their people may be preserved. In careful accord they labor to guard the forest from famine and from fell creatures that would bring ruin upon its living bounds. Great is their strong devotion to healing, for they lead many endeavors in the study of medicinal flora and its hidden virtues. Such important lore is shared in measured trade with foreign merchants, who speak often of civilization’s promise. Yet this exchange has stirred debate among the clans, as they seek ways to improve their lives while keeping their ancient traditions maintained and unbroken.

  The Miyohota Plains:

  The Miyohota Plains stretch in bioluminescent vastness at the core heart of Siyowaska, east of Ahotekha Vale. There dwell The Siyohtani, the Plains Tribe, who till the open earth and gather its harvest, tending the beasts that live beside them in quiet harmony. From their great fields arise sweet fruits, nourishing vegetables, and wondrous grains, all grown beneath the gentle power of moonlight, for the world lies shrouded in eternal night, untouched by the sun’s warmth. Yet this absence has not diminished their bounty. The Siyohtani hold such gifts as sacred, taking great care that nothing is wasted, and sharing their abundance freely with kin and travelers alike in prosperity.

  Journeys to the moonlit plains are ever marked by peace and excitement, for the people who dwell there greet each day with beaming laughter, as though life itself were a festival without end. Such elation is born in part from the land’s freedom from famine, and from the strong athletic traditions the folk uphold. Swift racing, keen archery, and contests of cunning and skill, such as stickball, are honored among them. Through these trials body and spirit are alike tempered. Thus, many foreigners come to see that the cheer of the plainsfolk is a guiding light, urging hearts to seek happiness in a vast world where wonder blooms beside madness and hidden monstrosity and shadow.

  The Siyohtani and their calculated clans are unified under The Siyohtanian Confederacy, guided by a Grand Council of Chiefs who labor to see that each clan’s voice is heard in fairness. Yet their deepest loyalty is to the tribe as a whole, and they strive for its everlasting strength. Even so, they remain wary of civilization’s spread within their own plains, though wise enough to see that other tribes may require such change to prosper. Thus they hold to a measured accord, refusing its presence among themselves, yet accepting it among their neighbors where peace is kept. For they believe it is essential to understand diverging and challenging paths without surrendering their own.

  The Wiyohka Run:

  The Wiyohka Run is a river long and far-reaching, its waters threading the breadth of Siyowaska from end to end. Upon this living and long road dwell The Ahyashka, the River Tribe, who sail in silver and blue vessels of tribal make, far grander than the longboats of older days. These strong ships serve as wandering villages, ever in motion, binding the nation through business, kinship, and passage beyond its borders. Within their decks grow measured gardens of living flora, and crafted lunar fields where food is raised beneath artful light. Thus the Ahyashka are unbound by shore, free to wander where the waters lead, bearing commerce, news, and unity across the whole realm.

  Many clans of the other three major tribes watch the waters with eager eyes, marking the hours when the vessels of the Ahyashka will appear upon the wide course of the Wiyohka Run. Great is the welcome that follows, for the River Tribe bears goods, tidings, and travelers from distant lands. Greatest among their dealings is Sha’nekht, the Nation of Trade, where numerous Ahyashka journey as envoys of commerce and council alike. Through such voyages they carry the interests of Siyowaska beyond its tall borders. Thus, outsiders often find the Ahyashka most familiar of the tribes, for they speak with worldly knowledge, shaped by the ever-changing tides of all Aeltharia.

  The Ahyashka are guided by the Ahyashkan Admirals, who stand as rulers of their wandering fleets, each commanding the vessels that bear the clans upon the waters. For Siyowaska and the wider world are spectacular beyond measure, and thus the fleets keep careful distance as they traverse the long Wiyohka Run, the outer rivers, and even the open sea. Long labor and keen skill are required to chart each course, as the admirals work in accord with their captains, who steer the major and minor ships in faithful following of the flagship. In all journeys these leaders hold foremost the welfare of their people, ensuring safe passage, trade, and lasting bonds across distant shores.