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The Principality of Djorain
- Part of the Twelve Kingdoms
Realm: Autonomous, but legally inside the borders of the Kingdom of Ironfell
Population: 900,000
Military: 13,000 (Very Large)
Economy: Very poor. Largely based on mining, smelting, and military production. Little-to-no food production
Language: Uskal
Djorain is an overcrowded country, nominally within the borders of Ironfell but functionally independent. Its inhabitants are of the Uskalim ethnicity, native to the northern reaches of the Twelve Kingdoms. The ancestors of the Djoraini arrived in the region centuries ago, during the last great expansion of the Otessan Empire. Uskal mercenaries let the expansion, suppressing the native Calant lords, and were rewarded with land. The Empire used the Uskal population as administrators and showered them with titles and privileges.
As time passed and the Otessan Empire collapsed, bankrupted by its wars against V'Tavia and internal civil strife, the Uskal settlers found themselves without their traditional protectors and surrounded by angry Calants looking for revenge. Tens of thousands of civilians perished in the subsequent civil war, and many more were driven from their homes. When the dust had settled, the Uskal population that had once lived throughout the southern Twelve Kingdoms had been squeezed into the enclave of Djorain. Even with this measure of stability, Djorain faced a number of wars and territorial losses at the hand of its Calant neighbors.
Geologically, Djorain is hilly, verging on low mountains on its western border. Most of the overcrowded country is covered in farms, despite the bulk of the territory being very marginal farmland. Despite this intensive farming, Djorain is still a net importer of food; when feuding with its neighbors and unable to import, it is subject to ruinous famines. Djorain would be impoverished if it didn't also have substantial deposits of iron and other minerals. The resulting strip mining and smoke-belching foundries, combined with the high population densities and general poverty of the rural population, leaves Djorain as one of the least aesthetically-pleasing countries in Meditra. Expatriates, safely away from the wrath of the jingoistic nobility and priesthood, refer to the little principality as the "Armpit of Meditra."
With hostile enemies all around and little economic opportunity, many young Djoraini men turn to military service. The army is well-equipped, thanks to Djorain's mineral deposits, and in times of famine is prioritized for food. The heavy militarization only serves to even the scales, as the surrounding Calant kingdoms outnumber the Uskalim significantly.
Djorainis principally speak Uskal, though knowledge of Common is widespread.
Politically, Djorain is ruled by a coalition of seven Zlabas, or Generals. The Generals meet in council at Djorastor (Djorain Castle) and rule by majority vote. Each General holds the fealty of a number of Sverts (Barons), who handle day-to-day administration and lead bands of soldiers.
Djorain's long streak of lost wars has recently taken a sharp reversal with its invasion of its much larger neighbor, Porphia. Despite having less than a tenth of Porphia's land mass and a third its population, Djorain's armies have won victory after smashing victory and now occupy at half of their neighbor's territory. Their success is probably due mostly to the skill of General Vilnius, a brilliant and ruthless campaigner whose divide-and-conquer strategy has thus far succeeded beyond all expectations.
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