Estimated Population: 475,000

Year Established: 4355

Main Imports: Tailorcraft, metalcraft, woodcraft

Main Exports: Produce, precious gems

The name Tabanasta translates roughly to 'people of the holy land' or 'guardians of the holy land'. It's a nation in the isolated Taban Mountains. It's also the home to the dwarven kingdom of Galrock, the largest known dwarven community on Rykil.

History

Prior to the War of the Calling in 5261, Tabanasta did not exist as a nation. Its borders were equally divided among Alembar, Dinestaven, Anelyn, and Garè. Its people quietly began staking out their nation's borders, to encompass most of the Taban mountain range. When they declared themselves a people independent of all allegiances, there was a predictable outrage from the offended nations. Not long after, the Dwarves broke free of their slave masters and fled far north, making their home deep within the rich Taban Mountains.

Understandably, the other nations tried to retake their lands. The Taban Mountains were home to many types of ore, and it was only over centuries of time that the original nations had reached tenuous agreement over its borders. The audacity of the Tabanastans' decision incited them to pursue the battle for far longer than was wise. Armies incurred great losses hurling themselves at the hard mountains and harder people. Thirty years later, Tabanasta was finally declared an independent state.

Until the later years of the War of the Age, Tabanasta remained a neutral entity in all disputes. In the year 5470, however, Tabanasta inexplicably broke its neutrality. It captured the ill-guarded city of Falath. However, it delved no further into the lands of its neighbours. Instead it concentrated only on holding Falath and its own lands. The reason for this has never been disclosed to the other nations of Rykil. When the War finally came to a close in 5479, Tabanasta was the only nation that maintained a clearly defined set of borders.

Government

Tabanasta is a theocracy, unique to other theocracies on Khalidine in that its ruling class pays equal homage to all of the gods. The ruling body of Tabanasta is a council made up from the various high priests of the Temples. The only exception to this is Thain Grom of Khun, the current King of Galrock, who also has a seat on the council.

The Council of Tabanasta is only responsible for the defence and actions of the nation as a whole. Within the various cities and communities it falls to the Temples to run their lands how they see fit.

Foreign Relations

Overall, Tabanasta is quietly respected by all other nations on Rykil. It maintains decent relations with all the nations of Rykil equally.

Religion

Considering how Tabanasta is the religious centre of all of Rykil, all the various temples are worshipped equally here. Several of the faiths also maintain temples within the cities Galrock.

Land Ownership

Aside from the Kingdom of Galrock, it’s the Temples to various gods who own most, if not all the land in Talabasta. Each religion controls an area of land based around a grand citadel dedicated to their god. The citadel forms the foundation of a kind of religious colony, with various settlements based around it.

The Dwarves of Galrock, on the other hand, are a clan-based society. Each clan controls one of three dwarven cities within the Taban Mountains, and is ultimately responsible for the day to day running and defence of their borders.

People

The people of Tabanasta choose to live their lives in dedication to the gods. Often many choose to live as monks or priests. How they live their lives, however, often depends on the portfolio and dogma of the temple or deity in question.

The dwarves here are virtually mindless. In terms of stone, they are brilliant and instinctive smiths and workers, who are capable of wondrous feats of artistry. They tend to be hardworking but somewhat naïve, though sullen and distrustful towards strangers.

Dwarves do their best at simple tasks and things involving smithing, mining, or tunnelling. Magic terrifies them and they are deeply suspicious of theives and cannot stand travelling bards.

Economy

Tabanasta, as with much of their nation and culture, is a special case.

The various Temples of Tabanasta have a ‘protective alliance’ with the Garéans, and are their most favoured trading partners. Tabanasta trade crystals and gems of several types with the Garéans, who turn the gems into highly valued, overpriced, faction accessories. They also trade specially grown mushrooms that are a raging delicacy among the Garéan people. Trade here is conducted almost entirely overland. They do minor trade with the Gnomes and Anelyn, and the very rare packet of mushrooms to the Elves of Gallalica.

The Dwarves are, unsurprisingly, not known for their canniness in trade. Considering their limited intellectual capacities, they do well enough shipping out raw materials and finished goods. However, while they rarely drive hard bargains, they do seemingly know the value of their work and do not understand the idea of ‘barter’ or ‘bargain’, instead setting a fair price and letting a buyer take it or leave it. The bulk of trade in Galrock is massive shipments of ores, metals, and finished weapons and armour to mercantile houses. Galrock does not ‘trade’ with nations, per se, rather selling ores and goods to the organisations that represent them. Most of their imports are food. Trade is conducted via overland caravans accompanies by bands of dwarven berserkers, ensuring their safety.