Burania: Difference between revisions

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===Coastal sailors===
===Coastal sailors===
[[File:Nicholas Roerich, Guests from Overseas.jpg|200px|thumb|''Guests from overseas'' by {{wp|Nicholas Roerich}} (1899)]]
[[File:Nicholas Roerich, Guests from Overseas.jpg|200px|thumb|''Guests from overseas'' by {{wp|Nicholas Roerich}} (1899)]]
Along the Buranic coasts there lived seafaring cultures, of which the {{wp|Varangians|Vaarians}} and [[Variota#History|Aloorians]] are the most notable. In peaceful times these Buranic sailors spread far from Burania, gaining control of trade routes throughout Europa, building outposts as far as the [[Orient]]. As the Aroman Empire expanded north, some Buranians served in their new neighbors’ armies and brought home Aroman maritime technology. Competing chieftains quickly refined the new ships to be even more efficient. When not at war, the vessels were used to transport goods and make trade journeys.
Along the Buranic coasts there lived seafaring cultures, of which the {{wp|Varangians|Vaarians}} and [[Variota#History|Aloorians]] are the most notable. In peaceful times these Buranic sailors spread far from Burania, gaining control of trade routes throughout [[Europa (continent)|Europa]], building outposts as far as the [[Orient]]. As the Aroman Empire expanded north, some Buranians served in their new neighbors’ armies and brought home Aroman maritime technology. Competing chieftains quickly refined the new ships to be even more efficient. When not at war, the vessels were used to transport goods and make trade journeys.


When the Aroman Empire collapsed in the 5th century, their trade partners took a heavy economic blow, leveling the playing field a bit for the Buranians. As the region revived, new and vigorous trade routes extended into and through Burania. The wealth that flowed along these routes helped create a new, more prosperous and powerful class of Buranians, whose members competed constantly with each other over trade routes and territory. Thanks to their inventiveness in the face of difficult terrain and weak economies, the Buranians sailed west, settled the [[Adlantic Ocean|North Adlantic]] and explored the [[Alharu|Alharun]] coast.
In the first centuries of the first millennium, [[Deltannia|Delmark]] and the western coasts of Burania were populated by peoples who sailed the Northern Seas and traded with the Aromans. When the Aroman Empire collapsed in the 5th century, their trade partners took a heavy economic blow, leveling the playing field a bit for the Buranians. As the region revived, new and vigorous trade routes extended into and through Burania. The wealth that flowed along these routes helped create a new, more prosperous and powerful class of Buranians, whose members competed constantly with each other over trade routes and territory. Thanks to their inventiveness in the face of difficult terrain and weak economies, the Buranians sailed west, settled the [[Adlantic Ocean|North Adlantic]] and explored the [[Alharu|Alharun]] coast.


During times of scarcity, they became mercenaries and pirates, frequently attacking ships along the Occidental coast. Zenith of the pirates' power was under the [[Volsci]]an [[Volsci#Politics|triumvirate]]. Most of their attacks were focused on trade lines and unprotected convoys, relying on ambush and surprise. The Buranic pirates attacked in large numbers, trying to steal enemy ships using underhanded tactics. Or they disguised themselves as a ship in distress, waiting for their prey to approach.
During times of scarcity, they became mercenaries and pirates, frequently attacking ships along the Occidental coast. Zenith of the pirates' power was under the [[Volsci]]an [[Volsci#Politics|triumvirate]]. Most of their attacks were focused on trade lines and unprotected convoys, relying on ambush and surprise. The Buranic pirates attacked in large numbers, trying to steal enemy ships using underhanded tactics. Or they disguised themselves as a ship in distress, waiting for their prey to approach.

Revision as of 23:50, 14 April 2020

Burania
Map of Burania.png
DemonymBuran
LanguagesOld Buranic
Largest citiesVolsci Antium
Akiiryu Nimarci

The region of Burania is a subcontinent in northeast Europa with colder climates.

Etymology

The name Burania derives from Bureas or Boreas (Βορέας, also Βορρᾶς), the Aroman god of the cold north wind and the bringer of winter.

Geography

The north of Burania edges onto the Gulf of Lanjon, with the large Lake Kitezh nearby, a rough border between the steppe Buran and coastal Buran. To the east, the Greater Karthenian Range separates the Buran inhabited steppe from the Orient. The south of subcontinent extends until the forests of eastern Akiiryu and Italgria, what they called the 'forest people'. Past this lies the Eebay and the Amutian desert. And in the west the Dusart Mountains serve as the natural barrier splitting the Buran steppe from the Akiiryan steppe. With irregular rainfall in arid summers and long, harsh winters, agriculture has never been extensively practiced in Burania, though never totally unknown. Between these barriers lies a territory of vast grassland, rolling hills and low mountains, rivers and lakes. It is a land greatly suited to pastoral nomadism.

Burania is home to several nations.

History

The clans of Buran came from the rugged, inhospitable north known today as Burania. As the Aroman Empire flourished further south, the Buranic people live in small settlements, without central government or coinage. In Aroman discourse, the words Buran and Buranic could designate a certain mentality. Buranic people were typically depicted as being very strong, with a violent temper to match. Their nomadic lifestyle was contrasted to the urbanized agricultural civilisation of Aroma. Historically, two related yet divergent cultures are distinguished: the coastal and interior Buranic peoples.

Coastal sailors

Guests from overseas by Nicholas Roerich (1899)

Along the Buranic coasts there lived seafaring cultures, of which the Vaarians and Aloorians are the most notable. In peaceful times these Buranic sailors spread far from Burania, gaining control of trade routes throughout Europa, building outposts as far as the Orient. As the Aroman Empire expanded north, some Buranians served in their new neighbors’ armies and brought home Aroman maritime technology. Competing chieftains quickly refined the new ships to be even more efficient. When not at war, the vessels were used to transport goods and make trade journeys.

In the first centuries of the first millennium, Delmark and the western coasts of Burania were populated by peoples who sailed the Northern Seas and traded with the Aromans. When the Aroman Empire collapsed in the 5th century, their trade partners took a heavy economic blow, leveling the playing field a bit for the Buranians. As the region revived, new and vigorous trade routes extended into and through Burania. The wealth that flowed along these routes helped create a new, more prosperous and powerful class of Buranians, whose members competed constantly with each other over trade routes and territory. Thanks to their inventiveness in the face of difficult terrain and weak economies, the Buranians sailed west, settled the North Adlantic and explored the Alharun coast.

During times of scarcity, they became mercenaries and pirates, frequently attacking ships along the Occidental coast. Zenith of the pirates' power was under the Volscian triumvirate. Most of their attacks were focused on trade lines and unprotected convoys, relying on ambush and surprise. The Buranic pirates attacked in large numbers, trying to steal enemy ships using underhanded tactics. Or they disguised themselves as a ship in distress, waiting for their prey to approach.

Inland nomads

Alyp Manas leading the Buranic horde in c. 1250

The Buranic interior has long been home to nomadic steppe cultures living on the East-Europan plain. Living out of their felt tents, known as yurts, Buran families generally herded a collection of animals known as the ‘five snouts’: sheep, goats, oxen, camels and the most prestigious, the horse. They domesticated the horse around 3200 BCE, leading to a more mobile lifestyle. A herder was considered to be in poverty if he has a herd of less than one hundred animals, seen as a minimum amount needed for eating and replenishing stock after the hard winter. Overgrazing had to be carefully avoided. And indeed in modern Vetok, the expansion of the cashmere industry and resulting growth in goat herds, has led to an increase in desertification in the country.

To successfully do all of this, the Buran gained exceptional experience in logistics, moving these herds without constant loss of life. The herders themselves grew strong, forced to endure hardship, able to live off of scraps, drinking blood from the veins of their mares or their milk. This was a hard life. The Buran could endure more than other armies could. They were not reliant on baggage trains. In a land of such open space, they could quite literally see their enemy coming from many kilometres away. It is no surprise that the bow was such a favoured weapon. These steppe tribes often appear in history as invaders of the Occident and Orient.

While the steppe tribes used to live a nomadic life, around 200 CE they settled in the eastern frontier of the Aroman Empire and are slowly transitioned into an agrarian society with permanent town centers. Despite this, they still retained many aspects of their nomadic life, including their affinity with horses.

  • WIP: (Pseudo-Anglo-Germano-Russo-Fennoscandian cultures)

Culture

Battle of Cryophobae, 279 CE

The Curse of Buran is a belief that Buranic people have been under the influence of a malicious spell for many centuries. The "curse" manifests itself as pessimism, inner strife, and several historic misfortunes. The curse is also blamed for causing many personal troubles. Examples of this curse include:

  • Defeat against the Aromans at the Battle of Cryophobae in 279 CE
  • Loss of Vanarambaion to the Aroman successor states in 699
  • Buranic Spring of 2018 was crushed by Volscian military, leading to severe reprisals and mass exodus of many Europans.

See also

References


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