Kingdom of Ka

Introduction

(Flag of Ka)

The Kingdom of Ka is a sovereign nation on the eastern continent of Droskarin, known historically as the former region of Bolborkia, homeland of the human Bolborkian tribes. Once conquered and absorbed by [[the-erulian-empire]] in 74 A.H. under Emperor Talios I, the region later broke away and reestablished independence in 516 A.H. following a successful uprising led by Joriel I. The nation was renamed the Kingdom of Ka by its most recent monarch, King Marek I, after himself and the capital city. Following Marek’s death, the kingdom is currently governed by a ruling council, awaiting the emergence of a legitimate heir.

At a Glance

Category	Information
Capital City	Ka
Languages	Erulian (official), Bolborkian (near-extinct), Common
Currency	Hexic Crown (ɌH)
Calendar	Erulian Calendar
Existence as a Kingdom	Over 100 years
Religion	Predominantly atheist; minority Hexadem adherents
World Population	~1.42 billion
Population of Ka	”Bolborkian” or “Kaian” ~198 million (~14% of global population)
Size	8.4 million km²
System of Rule	Council governance (no current monarch)
Law Enforcement	Court-based judicial system
Military Ranking	#4 globally
Wealth Ranking	#5 globally

Origins and Foundations

Pre-Imperial Era (Bolborkia)

The region now known as Ka was originally inhabited by the Bolborkians, a human tribal group culturally distinct from the Erulians. Historical records indicate longstanding hostility and competition between the two peoples.

Imperial Conquest (74 A.H.)

In 74 A.H., Emperor Talios I invaded Bolborkia, defeating local resistance and incorporating the territory into the expanding Erulian Empire. For centuries the region remained under direct imperial rule, though local identity persisted.

Restoration of Independence (516 A.H.)

The first King of Bolborkia, Joriel I, led a full-scale rebellion against imperial authority. After a four-week siege of the capital city, Ka, the empire was expelled and the region regained independence.

Renaming to Kingdom of Ka

Under the later rule of King Marek I, the nation was renamed the Kingdom of Ka, honoring both the capital and his personal legacy.

Geography/Borders

The Kingdom of Ka borders:

Neighboring Region	Direction
Kelar	South
Erulian Empire	East
Permatesh	North
Shersian Channel	West

Its position grants it strategic maritime access toward the Western Continent and Sershia region. The country also holds many geological wonders within and along it’s borders.

River Theras

One of the largest rivers in the world, cutting across nearly the entire nation from north to south, forming major trade routes and agricultural basins.

River Ka

Runs directly through the capital city, shaping the urban structure and serving as a historical point of conflict during both the siege of 516 A.H. and earlier imperial campaigns.

Sand Moore Desert

A subsection of the Erulian Desert located within Ka territory, known for migratory giant worm species, making it one of the most dangerous regions on Omain.

Dead Man’s Lake

Shared territorial control with the Erulian Empire. The site is heavily scarred by centuries of military conflict.

Cavehide Cavern

The deepest known cave system in the overworld, located in southern Ka. Estimated depth: 9.4 km, connecting partially to fissures believed to lead toward the Underdark.

Politics & Factions

1. System of Government

The Kingdom of Ka traditionally functions as an absolute hereditary monarchy, with rulership passed through direct bloodline descent from House Flamebrand, the royal house tracing lineage to Joriel I, founder of the kingdom. Monarchs historically held supreme authority over military, law, foreign policy, and cultural doctrine.

Following the death of King Marek I, the realm has entered an interregnum period due to the absence of a confirmed heir. With no proven direct successor from House Flamebrand, royal authority was temporarily transferred to a governing council composed of senior military leaders loyal to the late king.

The kingdom is currently administered by the Council of Eight, who collectively wield executive authority until a legitimate monarch is recognized.

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2. The Council of Eight (Current Government)

The Council of Eight consists of former high-ranking generals and officers who served under King Marek I. They hold equal voting power, and decisions require a majority ruling.

Title	Role	Notes
High Marshal Regent	Chair of council sessions; oversees military policy	Initially appointed by Marek I
Master of Shields	Oversees homeland defense and border fortresses	Strong anti-Empire stance
Lord of Rivers	Controls trade routes along Rivers Ka and Theras	Economic authority
Adjudicator of Law	Oversees courts, legal structure, civil authority	Advocates return to monarchy
Commander of the Sandwatch	Controls Sand Moore Desert patrols	Handles strategic threat zones
Warden of the Northern Frontier	Oversees relations with Permatesh	Neutral foreign policy
Keeper of the Flamebrand Archives	Custodian of royal records and bloodline claims	Key role in choosing successor
Sea-Lance Admiral	Oversees naval forces and western maritime diplomacy	Expansionist faction

Not all council members support reinstating the monarchy; political division is increasing.

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3. Succession and Legitimacy

Royal succession is based on direct blood relation to House Flamebrand, validated by:

• genealogical proof
• archival documentation
• ceremonial approval by royal clergy

However, disputed bloodlines, incomplete records, and internal political interests have stalled coronation efforts. Several noble houses claim distant ties to the Flamebrand line, contributing to political instability.

Until a successor is named, the Council of Eight holds collective sovereignty.

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4. Internal Political Factions

Faction	Goal	Support Base
Royalists	Restore absolute monarchy under a legitimate Flamebrand heir	Clergy, old nobility, rural populations
Councilists	Make the council a permanent ruling body	Military elite, bureaucrats
Reconstructionists	Reform Ka into a constitutional monarchy or republic	Merchants, scholars, some youth
Isolationists	Withdraw from foreign conflicts and rebuild economy	Border towns, desert communities
Expansionists	Strengthen navy & challenge Empire influence	Western coastal regions

Current balance of power is fragile, and a succession crisis may lead to internal conflict if unresolved.

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5. External Political Position

Despite internal instability, Ka retains significant strategic power due to control of major rivers and access to the Shersian Channel. The kingdom is currently:

• Suspicious toward the Erulian Empire due to historic occupation
• Neutral toward Permatesh and Kelar
• Increasingly interested in western maritime expansion
• Economically weakened due to lack of centralized leadership

Diplomatic relations are maintained by the Council’s Sea-Lance Admiral rather than a monarch.

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6. Summary

The Kingdom of Ka remains a politically fractured state in transition. While it has reached the largest territorial extent in its history, the absence of a monarch has created competing visions for the nation’s future. Resolution of the succession crisis will determine whether Ka continues as a military council-state, restores royal authority, or reforms into a new political system altogether.

Culture

The culture of the Kingdom of Ka is a blended product of ancient Bolborkian heritage and centuries of Erulian imperial influence. Originally formed from the Bolborkian human tribes, Ka has since evolved into a multicultural society shaped by conquest, resistance, migration, and cultural fusion. Modern Ka identity reflects a complex balance between indigenous tradition, Erulian administrative legacy, and diverse post-independence cultural developments.

Although the original Bolborkian race has become scarce due to generations of intermarriage and assimilation across ethnic groups, elements of their language, symbolism, and spiritual customs persist in contemporary cultural practices.

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1. Social Identity and Ethnic Composition

Ka’s population consists of a mixture of:

• descendants of indigenous Bolborkians
• citizens of partial or full Erulian ancestry
• migrants from neighboring Droskarin nations
• smaller communities from Virelya and the Shersian isles

Most citizens today identify as Kaian rather than strictly by lineage, reflecting a national culture forged through resistance to conquest rather than ethnic homogeneity.

Cultural identity emphasizes:

• pride in independence
• communal tradition over imperial hierarchy
• heritage through shared land rather than bloodline

The remnants of Bolborkian ethnicity are most concentrated in southern and river-valley regions.

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2. Language and Naming Traditions

Ka uses two primary languages:

• Erulian (administrative, legal, and military)
• Common (used in trade and mixed regions)

The Bolborkian language survives in fragments—ritual phrases, family names, river and desert terminology—but is considered nearly extinct as a spoken tongue.

Naming conventions often combine Erulian structural forms with older tribal roots:

• Marek Val-Tharos
• Kaela Jor-Naesh
• Dalen of the Theras Basin

Many traditional names reference land features rather than ancestral houses.

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3. Religion and Spiritual Beliefs

Ka historically practiced indigenous Bolborkian animistic traditions, emphasizing spirits of rivers, sand, wind, and stone. After Erulian conquest, the Hexadem became the dominant faith through forced conversion and cultural assimilation.

In the modern era:

• Hexadem remains influential, especially in urban and noble circles
• a large portion of the population is secular or atheist, identifying resistance to organized religion as a cultural stance
• ancestral, land-based folk rites persist in rural regions, often disguised as cultural festivals

Religion in Ka is less rigidly doctrinal than in Erule, reflecting its history of resistance and syncretism rather than devotion.

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4. Art, Expression & Architecture

Ka’s artistic culture is known for vivid, communal, and celebratory styles:

• colorful civic murals depicting liberation from the Empire
• mosaic stonework influenced by Bolborkian desert geometry
• large public plazas for festivals and speeches
• riverfront architecture incorporating terraces, arches, and broad courtyards

Buildings often combine Erulian imperial stonework with local desert-adapted designs such as:

• shaded patios
• carved sandstone façades
• cloth canopy roofing in market districts

Art favors themes of independence, memory, and defiance.

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5. Food and Daily Life

Kaian cuisine blends agricultural river-valley food with desert-adapted ingredients:

Common elements include:

• stews and roasted meats seasoned with sharp, earthy spices
• flatbreads and corn-based starches
• fruit-based fermented drinks
• river fish prepared with aromatic herbs
• spiced ground grains carried by desert caravans

Meals are deeply communal and often tied to festivals, military celebrations, or remembrance rituals.

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6. Music, Festivals, and Celebration

Cultural gatherings are frequent and loud, often involving:

• rhythmic percussion
• wind instruments fashioned from reeds and bone
• war chants adapted into ceremonial music
• fire-dances rooted in Bolborkian independence lore

Major celebrations revolve around:

• Anniversary of Liberation (516 A.H.)
• River-Flood Festivals
• Commemoration of Joriel I
• Sandwalker Night, honoring travelers lost in the Sand Moore Desert

Events tend to focus on national identity, shared history, and honoring the dead rather than religious exaltation.

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7. Social Values

Kaian culture places emphasis on:

• self-determination over obedience
• community bonds over hierarchy
• resilience and perseverance
• pride in ancestral struggle
• valor independent of divine mandate

Unlike Erulian culture, where glory is tied to divine purpose, Ka associates honor with freedom, endurance, and survival.

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8. Cultural Tension

Because Ka is a multicultural, post-occupation society, several cultural conflicts persist:

Issue	Cultural Impact
Erulian legacy	Language dominance and elite culture seen as both oppressive and foundational
Identity fragmentation	Debate between restoring Bolborkian heritage vs embracing mixed identity
Secularism vs Hexadem	Religious institutions remain powerful but face widespread skepticism
Class differences	Council and military elites preserve Erulian elite traditions

These tensions shape politics, identity movements, and succession debates.

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Summary

Kaian culture is defined by its origins as a conquered people, its reclamation of independence, and its continued blending of ancestral Bolborkian traditions with Erulian influence. It is vibrant, diverse, and communal, grounded in land, history, and resilience rather than faith or hierarchy.

Laws & Taboos

The legal system of the Kingdom of Ka is heavily influenced by Erulian judicial structure due to centuries of imperial rule, but diverges sharply in philosophy, implementation, and cultural values. Unlike the Erulian Empire, Ka rejects religious authority as a basis for law; legislation is secular and rooted in principles of civil welfare, personal autonomy, and communal stability.

Kaian law prioritizes fair trial procedures, civic rights, and prevention of harm rather than ideological enforcement.

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1. Foundations of Law

The legal system is built upon three core principles:

Principle	Description
Secular Governance	No religious body has legal authority; spiritual belief is private unless harmful.
Protection of Person & Family	Laws focus on preventing physical, economic, and social harm to individuals or family units.
Justice Through Due Process	Every accused individual is entitled to legal defense, trial, and impartial judgment.

Unlike Erule, religion, doctrine, and divine authority play no role in lawmaking.

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2. Structure of the Legal System

Institution	Function
High Court of Ka	Supreme secular court handling major crimes and national disputes.
Regional Courts	Govern provincial law and inter-city disputes.
City & River Courts	Manage civil cases, trade conflicts, and local crime.
Judicial Guard	Law enforcement body separate from the military.

Military courts exist, but only apply to soldiers during wartime—not civilians.

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3. Crime Classification

Ka uses three legal categories:

A. Crimes Against Persons

• murder
• assault
• forced labor/enslavement
• kidnapping
• family harm & domestic abuse (treated as severe offense)

Punishments: prison, exile, forced restitution, in extreme cases execution.

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B. Crimes Against Property & Order

• theft
• arson
• fraud
• smuggling
• unlawful seizure of land
• destruction of irrigation systems or river infrastructure

Punishments: fines, restitution, labor sentences, imprisonment.

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C. Crimes Against the State

• treason
• coordinated rebellions
• espionage for foreign powers
• intentional incitement of civil collapse
• aiding external invasions

Punishments: long-term imprisonment, exile, or execution (rare).

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4. Religious and Moral Crimes

Unlike the Erulian Empire, there are no religious crimes. Citizens may:

• worship any deity
• worship no deity
• practice ancestral rites
• form independent cults or sects

A religious act becomes illegal only when it:

• harms a person
• destroys property
• coerces others into participation
• disrupts public order or family structure

Thus, heresy, blasphemy, and apostasy have no legal standing.

This position is rooted in Ka’s historical rejection of forced imperial religion.

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5. Punishment System

Kaian punishment emphasizes civil resolution over fear or spectacle.

Method	Usage
Restitution	Most civil crimes; offenders repay losses.
Imprisonment	Standard penalty for violent or repeated offenses.
Labor Sentences	Used for property crimes; repairing public works.
Exile	Rare alternative to imprisonment for ideological offenders.
Execution	Last resort, only for extreme treason or serial murder.

Execution Protocols

• Never conducted publicly
• Performed within prisons
• Requires unanimous approval of a judicial panel

This reflects cultural distaste for state-sanctioned intimidation.

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6. Legal Rights

All residents of Ka—citizens or foreigners—are guaranteed:

• legal representation
• right to trial
• right to appeal
• right to refuse confession under coercion

Nobility does not receive reduced sentences as in the Empire.

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7. Social Taboos

Kaian society enforces a set of non-legal cultural taboos stemming from ancestral values, communal cohesion, and historical trauma.

Taboo	Cultural Reason
Public worship of Erulian gods	Associated with conquest and forced assimilation.
Burning of river offerings	Seen as disrespect to ancestral waterways.
Mocking the dead or war victims	Cultural identity built on memory and loss.
Dishonoring one’s household publicly	Family reputation is a core social pillar.
Sand Moore desecration	Region seen as sacred and deadly; travelers are honored, not mocked.

Taboos are enforced socially rather than legally, and breaking them harms reputation rather than invoking punishment.

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8. Cultural Comparison to Imperial Law (Summary)

Aspect	Kingdom of Ka	Erulian Empire
Basis of Law	Secular, civic	Religious, divine mandate
Executions	Rare, private	Common, public
Religious Crimes	None	Central to judicial system
Social Identity	Freedom & memory	Honor & divine purpose
Justice Goal	Stability & fairness	Control & righteous order

Ka’s laws evolved as a direct ideological rejection of imperial rule.

Timeline

Wars, tensions, treaties, crises, or events the party could get dragged into.

Military system

The military of the Kingdom of Ka is a feudal, decentralized force composed of warrior-led battalions, naval fleets, and regional regiments commanded by noble houses rather than a unified religious hierarchy. Unlike the Erulian Empire’s theological military doctrine, Kaian warfare prioritizes territorial defense, naval supremacy, and regional autonomy.

Originally formed from Bolborkian tribal warbands, the military structure retains heroic lineage, honor-based leadership, and loose organizational chains rooted in battlefield capability rather than formal rank.

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1. Structure and Philosophy

Ka does not use standardized military ranks. Instead, the army operates through a traditional hierarchy of authority based on lineage, battlefield merit, and regional leadership.

Level	Description	Equivalent Concept
Monarch (or Council)	Supreme commander of all military forces	Head of state
Lords	Commanders of regional regiments; rule troops from their own lands	Feudal generals
Harias (“Heroes”)	Elite warriors commanding battalions	Champion-commanders
Cells	Small tactical units led by a chosen veteran	Squad-level units

Authority flows downward through loyalty rather than institutional rank.

When no monarch sits on the throne (as in the current interregnum), the Council of Eight collectively commands the military, though naval power is disproportionately controlled by coastal council members, causing internal imbalance.

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2. Army Composition

Ka’s land forces are organized through a regiment → battalion → cell structure.

Regiments

• Raised by noble houses
• Region-based rather than specialized
• Size varies widely (8,000–40,000 troops each)

Battalions

• Commanded by Harias
• Typically 600–1,200 soldiers
• Composed of mixed infantry, cavalry, bowmen, and skirmishers

Cells

• 8–15 fighters
• Led by an experienced warrior selected by the Harias
• Operate independently in skirmishes or reinforce main formations

This system results in highly flexible, mobile warfare suited to defensive campaigns, river-based logistics, and harsh desert environments.

Support Corps

While not ranked formally, dedicated groups exist for:

• Logistics caravans
• Siege engineers
• Armorers and weaponsmiths
• Field medics
• Mapmakers and scouts

These parallel the Empire’s Oghma and Tetford roles, but without religious doctrine.

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3. Military Size

Category	Personnel
Standing Army	~720,000
Reservist Forces	~1.1 million
Auxiliary & Support Personnel	~270,000
Total Mobilizable Force	~2.1 million troops

Ka’s army is smaller than the Erulian military but heavily reinforced by naval dominance and geographical defense advantages.

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4. Naval Forces (Primary Strength)

Ka possesses the largest naval force in the world, owing to its strategic position along the Shersian Channel. The navy serves as both defense and international projection of power.

Fleet Size

Type of Vessel	Approx. Count	Purpose
Heavy Warships	~280	Line combat, sieges, naval dominance
Medium Warships	~1,100	Escort, patrol, mid-range combat
Light Patrol & Transport Ships	~2,020	Scouting, trade protection, troop movement
Total Ships	~3,400	Largest navy globally

The navy is responsible for preventing invasions from the west and controlling key waterways between continents.

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5. Naval Hierarchy

Unlike the army, the Kaian navy does employ formal ranking due to coordination demands.

Rank	Role
High Admiral of Ka	Supreme naval commander (currently council-appointed)
Sea-Lance Admirals	Command entire oceanic regions or major fleets
Fleet-Captains	Command squadrons of ships (5–20 vessels)
Shipmaster	Captain of a single vessel
Deck-Officers	Senior crew overseeing navigation, weapons, or logistics
Crewmen	General sailors and marines

Naval forces are professional and merit-based rather than familial.

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6. Strategic Advantages

Ka’s military strength derives from:

• Natural maritime positioning
• Fleet dominance securing trade routes
• Flexible decentralized command
• Deep cultural experience fighting deserts, rivers, and coasts
• Defense-first doctrine making conquest difficult

Invasion of Ka by land is improbable without naval superiority.

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7. Weaknesses

Despite a powerful navy, Ka’s army suffers from:

• lack of centralized command during monarchless periods
• inconsistent training standards across noble regiments
• logistical strain during prolonged inland campaigns
• mistrust between regional forces

If succession remains unresolved, these weaknesses may deepen.

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Summary

The military of the Kingdom of Ka is a hybrid between heroic tribal warfare and feudal organization, backed by the largest navy in the world and positioned to dominate maritime routes. While Ka boasts unmatched strategic naval power, its land forces rely heavily on charismatic leaders rather than unified national command, leaving the kingdom strong at sea but potentially fractured on land.

Notable figures

Great people of the country.