Balúrail: Difference between revisions

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=== Tahami and the Mifajene ===

When the swamps formed, Tahami formed with them, arising from the water trapped within the hardened earth. He made his home in the northwest of the lowlands and created the Mifajene, ~~an otter~~-~~like~~ people who lived throughout the lowlands in small tribal villages for thousands of years.

When the swamps formed, Tahami formed with them, arising from the water trapped within the hardened earth. He made his home in the northwest of the lowlands and created the Mifajene, a small, furred, semi-aquatic people who lived throughout the lowlands in small tribal villages for thousands of years.

=== Human settlement ===

Humans arrived by sea from the Kingdom of Bóinbile in [[Gosterra]] in 201 ME and founded [[Saindo]]. Their settlements were colonial towns of the Kingdom until 289 ME, when they became independent as the League of Balúrail. The settlers, who became known as the Tuzquão, spread across the drier ground and the coast of the lowlands. ~~Between about 290~~ and ~~340~~ ME they conquered ~~most of~~ the lowlands and displaced the Mifajene, and in ~~342~~ ME the [[Mifajene Reservation]] was established in the northwest. In recent years Tahami has grown hostile to Tuzquão expansion, and the wetlands have begun to encroach on settled land.

Humans arrived by sea from the Kingdom of Bóinbile in [[Gosterra]] in 201 ME and founded [[Saindo]]. Their settlements were colonial towns of the Kingdom until 289 ME, when they became independent as the League of Balúrail. The settlers, who became known as the Tuzquão, spread across the drier ground and the coast of the lowlands. In two wars, the First Mifajene War (c. 320–342 ME) and the Second Mifajene War (c. 590–612 ME), they conquered the lowlands and displaced the Mifajene, and in 704 ME the [[Mifajene Reservation]] was established in the northwest. In recent years Tahami has grown hostile to Tuzquão expansion, and the wetlands have begun to encroach on settled land.

|Geography=Balúrail lies at the southwestern end of Méniail. It borders Gosterra to the north and [[Khamria]] to the east, and is separated from both by the Mazissage Mountains, which run to the sea. It covers 230,687 mi² (597,477 km²) and measures about 453 miles (729 km) from east to west and 506 miles (814 km) from north to south.

|Geography=

Balúrail lies at the southwestern end of Méniail. It borders Gosterra to the north and [[Khamria]] to the east, and is separated from both by the Mazissage Mountains, which run to the sea. It covers 230,687 mi² (597,477 km²) and measures about 453 miles (729 km) from east to west and 506 miles (814 km) from north to south.

=== Regions ===

The '''Western Lowlands''', 136,720 mi² (354,103 km²), cover the west of the region, from the coast to the [[Diate River]]. They are largely peat bog, broken by patches of dry ground, lakes and light forest, and hold the great swamps of Balúrail, among them the [[Ganze Swamp]], the largest. Most of the rivers of Balúrail rise in the highlands and flow west across them to the sea.

The '''Western Lowlands''', 136,720 mi² (354,103 km²), cover the west and south of the region: the land from the western coast to the [[Diate River]], and east of the Diate the coastal plain along the south coast, which takes in the [[Egoaldigo Swamp]]. They are largely peat bog, broken by patches of dry ground, lakes and light forest, and hold the great swamps of Balúrail, among them the [[Ganze Swamp]], the largest. Most of the rivers of Balúrail rise in the highlands and flow west and south across them to the sea.

The '''Eastern Highlands''', 93,967 mi² (243,373 km²), are the rocky foothills of the Mazissage Mountains and large expanses of boreal forest, including the [[Doye Forest]]. ~~They are bounded in~~ the south by the [[Sirilquito Hills]]. [[Lake Arrerem]] ~~lies at~~ their southern ~~edge~~.

The '''Eastern Highlands''', 93,967 mi² (243,373 km²), are the rocky foothills of the Mazissage Mountains and large expanses of boreal forest, including the [[Doye Forest]]. In the south they reach into northeastern [[Gostiria]] and end just south of the Itanha Forest, where the land falls to the coastal plain. The [[Sirilquito Hills]] and [[Lake Arrerem]] lie in their southern part.

=== Climate ===

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The plants and animals of Balúrail are adapted to cold winters and waterlogged ground. Most of the swamps are made of peat. The [[Balúrail Pine]] is the most common tree of the lowlands, and boreal forest covers much of the highlands. Among the native animals is the [[Aerbicar]], a large one-horned herbivore whose wide hooves carry it across marshy peat.

|Goverment and Politics=Balúrail is governed by the League of Balúrail. The League consists of the federal [[District of Têr]], which holds the capital; four states, [[Gostiria]], [[Ivaiê]], [[Ezinco]] and [[Gurverde]]; the territory of [[Eimbuver]]; and the semi-sovereign Mifajene Reservation.

|Economy=Balúrail's economy rests on its natural resources. Peat is cut from the swamps, and medicinal herbs are gathered there. The Balúrail Pine is the main source of lumber, iron is mined in the Sirilquito Hills, and gold has been mined in Gurverde since its discovery in 771 ME. Shipbuilding and sea trade are major industries, centered on the ports of Gostiria, Ivaiê and Ezinco.

|Economy=Balúrail's economy rests on its natural resources. Peat is cut from the swamps, and medicinal herbs are gathered there. The Balúrail Pine is the main source of lumber, iron is mined in the Sirilquito Hills, and gold has been mined in Gurverde since its discovery in 771 ME. Shipbuilding and sea trade are major industries, centered on the ports of Gostiria, Ivaiê and Ezinco. Fishing is the main livelihood of the Mifajene of the [[Mifajene Reservation]], who trade a little with Ezinco.

~~|Demographics=Balúrail has about 2.0 million inhabitants, about 1.7 million~~ of ~~them in~~ the ~~Western Lowlands. Most are Tuzquão, and nearly two-thirds live in towns and cities, most~~ of ~~them on~~ the ~~coast or on dry ground. The largest city is Têr~~, with ~~about 300,000 people. Smaller communities from other regions live in the port cities~~.

The Mifajene number about 67,000: about 60,000 on the Mifajene Reservation ~~and~~ about 7,000 free Mifajene in Eimbuver.

Railways have been built since 861 ME in Gostiria, the District of Têr and Gurverde: a coastal line runs from Tabe through Lusbá to Zol, and lines from Têr and from Vota Bay reach [[Arremíria]]. Ivaiê, Ezinco, Eimbuver and the Mifajene Reservation have no railways.

|Demographics=

[[File:Gorísio Estilgive Photo 01.jpg|thumb|right|A photograph of Gorísio Estilgive, president of the [[League of Balúrail]].]]

Balúrail has about 2.0 million inhabitants, about 1.7 million of them in the Western Lowlands. Most are Tuzquão, and nearly two-thirds live in towns and cities, most of them on the coast or on dry ground. The largest city is Têr, with about 300,000 people. Smaller communities from other regions live in the port cities; the largest are [[Gostaldi]] from [[Gosterra]], followed by [[Berturracio|Berturracioi]] and a very small number of [[Arânzeni]].

The Mifajene number about 77,000: about 60,000 on the Mifajene Reservation, about 7,000 free Mifajene in Eimbuver, and about 10,000 living dispersed elsewhere, mostly in Ezinco and Gurverde.

|Culture={{main|Culture of the League of Balúrail}}

Tuzquão culture is shaped by Balúrail's swamps and long winters. Its language is [[Tuzquês]], and its towns are built on dry ground and along the coast. Peat cutting is a common trade. Mavai has been the main spiritual influence on the Tuzquão since their arrival.

The Mifajene live in small tribal villages without a central government and remain close to Tahami, who created them. Mifajene cave art survives in the ~~eastern foothills~~.

The Mifajene live in small tribal villages without a central government and remain close to Tahami, who created them. Mifajene cave art survives in the [[Donal Hills]].

|Native Spirits=[[Mavai]] is the Ascendant Spirit of mystery and uncertainty. Her home, the [[House of Mavai]], is in the state of Ivaiê.

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|Gallery={{Slideshow|

Tuzquão_Peat_Cutter_Photo 01.jpg:: A common profession in Balúrail is that of the peat cutter.

Ivaiê Streetscene Photo 01.jpg :: A photograph of [[Ivaiê_(city)|Ivaiê]] ~~ca.~~ 884

Ivaiê Streetscene Photo 01.jpg :: A photograph of [[Ivaiê_(city)|Ivaiê]] 884 ME

~~Gorísio Estilgive Photo 01.jpg :: A photograph of Gorísio Estilgive, president of the [[League of Balúrail]].~~

}}

|See Also=* [[League of Balúrail]]

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 === Tahami and the Mifajene ===
-When the swamps formed, Tahami formed with them, arising from the water trapped within the hardened earth. He made his home in the northwest of the lowlands and created the Mifajene, an otter-like people who lived throughout the lowlands in small tribal villages for thousands of years.
+When the swamps formed, Tahami formed with them, arising from the water trapped within the hardened earth. He made his home in the northwest of the lowlands and created the Mifajene, a small, furred, semi-aquatic people who lived throughout the lowlands in small tribal villages for thousands of years.
 === Human settlement ===
 {{main|League of Balúrail}}
-Humans arrived by sea from the Kingdom of Bóinbile in [[Gosterra]] in 201 ME and founded [[Saindo]]. Their settlements were colonial towns of the Kingdom until 289 ME, when they became independent as the League of Balúrail. The settlers, who became known as the Tuzquão, spread across the drier ground and the coast of the lowlands. Between about 290 and 340 ME they conquered most of the lowlands and displaced the Mifajene, and in 342 ME the [[Mifajene Reservation]] was established in the northwest. In recent years Tahami has grown hostile to Tuzquão expansion, and the wetlands have begun to encroach on settled land.
+Humans arrived by sea from the Kingdom of Bóinbile in [[Gosterra]] in 201 ME and founded [[Saindo]]. Their settlements were colonial towns of the Kingdom until 289 ME, when they became independent as the League of Balúrail. The settlers, who became known as the Tuzquão, spread across the drier ground and the coast of the lowlands. In two wars, the First Mifajene War (c. 320–342 ME) and the Second Mifajene War (c. 590–612 ME), they conquered the lowlands and displaced the Mifajene, and in 704 ME the [[Mifajene Reservation]] was established in the northwest. In recent years Tahami has grown hostile to Tuzquão expansion, and the wetlands have begun to encroach on settled land.
-|Geography=Balúrail lies at the southwestern end of Méniail. It borders Gosterra to the north and [[Khamria]] to the east, and is separated from both by the Mazissage Mountains, which run to the sea. It covers 230,687 mi² (597,477 km²) and measures about 453 miles (729 km) from east to west and 506 miles (814 km) from north to south.
+|Geography=
+{{main|Geography of Balúrail}}
+Balúrail lies at the southwestern end of Méniail. It borders Gosterra to the north and [[Khamria]] to the east, and is separated from both by the Mazissage Mountains, which run to the sea. It covers 230,687 mi² (597,477 km²) and measures about 453 miles (729 km) from east to west and 506 miles (814 km) from north to south.
 === Regions ===
-The '''Western Lowlands''', 136,720 mi² (354,103 km²), cover the west of the region, from the coast to the [[Diate River]]. They are largely peat bog, broken by patches of dry ground, lakes and light forest, and hold the great swamps of Balúrail, among them the [[Ganze Swamp]], the largest. Most of the rivers of Balúrail rise in the highlands and flow west across them to the sea.
+The '''Western Lowlands''', 136,720 mi² (354,103 km²), cover the west and south of the region: the land from the western coast to the [[Diate River]], and east of the Diate the coastal plain along the south coast, which takes in the [[Egoaldigo Swamp]]. They are largely peat bog, broken by patches of dry ground, lakes and light forest, and hold the great swamps of Balúrail, among them the [[Ganze Swamp]], the largest. Most of the rivers of Balúrail rise in the highlands and flow west and south across them to the sea.
-The '''Eastern Highlands''', 93,967 mi² (243,373 km²), are the rocky foothills of the Mazissage Mountains and large expanses of boreal forest, including the [[Doye Forest]]. They are bounded in the south by the [[Sirilquito Hills]]. [[Lake Arrerem]] lies at their southern edge.
+The '''Eastern Highlands''', 93,967 mi² (243,373 km²), are the rocky foothills of the Mazissage Mountains and large expanses of boreal forest, including the [[Doye Forest]]. In the south they reach into northeastern [[Gostiria]] and end just south of the Itanha Forest, where the land falls to the coastal plain. The [[Sirilquito Hills]] and [[Lake Arrerem]] lie in their southern part.
 === Climate ===
@@ Line 42: / Line 45: @@
 The plants and animals of Balúrail are adapted to cold winters and waterlogged ground. Most of the swamps are made of peat. The [[Balúrail Pine]] is the most common tree of the lowlands, and boreal forest covers much of the highlands. Among the native animals is the [[Aerbicar]], a large one-horned herbivore whose wide hooves carry it across marshy peat.
 |Goverment and Politics=Balúrail is governed by the League of Balúrail. The League consists of the federal [[District of Têr]], which holds the capital; four states, [[Gostiria]], [[Ivaiê]], [[Ezinco]] and [[Gurverde]]; the territory of [[Eimbuver]]; and the semi-sovereign Mifajene Reservation.
-|Economy=Balúrail's economy rests on its natural resources. Peat is cut from the swamps, and medicinal herbs are gathered there. The Balúrail Pine is the main source of lumber, iron is mined in the Sirilquito Hills, and gold has been mined in Gurverde since its discovery in 771 ME. Shipbuilding and sea trade are major industries, centered on the ports of Gostiria, Ivaiê and Ezinco.
+|Economy=Balúrail's economy rests on its natural resources. Peat is cut from the swamps, and medicinal herbs are gathered there. The Balúrail Pine is the main source of lumber, iron is mined in the Sirilquito Hills, and gold has been mined in Gurverde since its discovery in 771 ME. Shipbuilding and sea trade are major industries, centered on the ports of Gostiria, Ivaiê and Ezinco. Fishing is the main livelihood of the Mifajene of the [[Mifajene Reservation]], who trade a little with Ezinco.
-|Demographics=Balúrail has about 2.0 million inhabitants, about 1.7 million of them in the Western Lowlands. Most are Tuzquão, and nearly two-thirds live in towns and cities, most of them on the coast or on dry ground. The largest city is Têr, with about 300,000 people. Smaller communities from other regions live in the port cities.
-The Mifajene number about 67,000: about 60,000 on the Mifajene Reservation and about 7,000 free Mifajene in Eimbuver.
+Railways have been built since 861 ME in Gostiria, the District of Têr and Gurverde: a coastal line runs from Tabe through Lusbá to Zol, and lines from Têr and from Vota Bay reach [[Arremíria]]. Ivaiê, Ezinco, Eimbuver and the Mifajene Reservation have no railways.
+|Demographics=
+[[File:Gorísio Estilgive Photo 01.jpg|thumb|right|A photograph of Gorísio Estilgive, president of the [[League of Balúrail]].]]
+Balúrail has about 2.0 million inhabitants, about 1.7 million of them in the Western Lowlands. Most are Tuzquão, and nearly two-thirds live in towns and cities, most of them on the coast or on dry ground. The largest city is Têr, with about 300,000 people. Smaller communities from other regions live in the port cities; the largest are [[Gostaldi]] from [[Gosterra]], followed by [[Berturracio|Berturracioi]] and a very small number of [[Arânzeni]].
+The Mifajene number about 77,000: about 60,000 on the Mifajene Reservation, about 7,000 free Mifajene in Eimbuver, and about 10,000 living dispersed elsewhere, mostly in Ezinco and Gurverde.
 |Culture={{main|Culture of the League of Balúrail}}
 Tuzquão culture is shaped by Balúrail's swamps and long winters. Its language is [[Tuzquês]], and its towns are built on dry ground and along the coast. Peat cutting is a common trade. Mavai has been the main spiritual influence on the Tuzquão since their arrival.
-The Mifajene live in small tribal villages without a central government and remain close to Tahami, who created them. Mifajene cave art survives in the eastern foothills.
+The Mifajene live in small tribal villages without a central government and remain close to Tahami, who created them. Mifajene cave art survives in the [[Donal Hills]].
 |Native Spirits=[[Mavai]] is the Ascendant Spirit of mystery and uncertainty. Her home, the [[House of Mavai]], is in the state of Ivaiê.
@@ Line 59: / Line 67: @@
 |Gallery={{Slideshow|
 Tuzquão_Peat_Cutter_Photo 01.jpg:: A common profession in Balúrail is that of the peat cutter.
-Ivaiê Streetscene Photo 01.jpg :: A photograph of [[Ivaiê_(city)|Ivaiê]] ca. 884
+Ivaiê Streetscene Photo 01.jpg :: A photograph of [[Ivaiê_(city)|Ivaiê]] 884 ME
-Gorísio Estilgive Photo 01.jpg :: A photograph of Gorísio Estilgive, president of the [[League of Balúrail]].
 }}
 |See Also=* [[League of Balúrail]]