Nistra
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| “ | Nistra is the last surviving fragment of Axonia, the great empire of old. The mountainous realm is home to many peoples, all ruled with iron fist by the Great Despot. | „ |
Nistra, the so-called Council of Peoples, is a dominantly human country that consist of 4 distinct nations under the rule of the iron fist Great Despot. Located at the west of Aldor near Aldwynn, led both Nistrian Despotate and Kingdom of Aldor in a constant war and skirmishes across the border.
Geography and Economy
Geographically Nistra are only bordered by 2 countries that is the Fjall clans up at the North and Aldor at the East while their West and South borders the vast sea. Nistra is a mountainous place, especially the north part bordering Fjall that of course dealing with their frequent raids across the border. Meanwhile the south and west part of the Despotate are filled with a line of coastal leading Nistra to be one of the great nation to seafaring. There's also an island at the south-west of Nistra that is under the rule of the Nistrian Despotate.
The east part of Nistra that borders Aldor is usually the place where skirmishes or great wars were fought between them from decades or longer. Although after many wars they fought, both Aldor and Nistra have adapted and learn their respective weapons, armors or warfare tactics.
And after the civil war in Aldor that led them to be separated into three factions, some of Nistrian traders now can easily and comfortably open their business in Brynn. This boost the exchange in products and armaments between the two rivaling countries. Nistrian traders usually brought their many unique shields and weapons, such as their famous Flame Flask, but also their many textile products like cloths and woolen threads. In return Nistrian traders bought many commodities such as timber and grain or wine that may or may not hard to grow on their mountainous and coastal areas. Economically, Nistra has quite many coastal cities that passed by the Azure Thread route because most traders won't go to Nistra by land knowing their border with Aldor is a grey zone of war.
Government and Religion
Just like their name, Nistrian Despotate is ruled by single person titled as The Great Despot. Because of that, Nistra is a country that filled with many cities and only 1 capital state that is the Hieropolis where The Great Despot lives and rules. Most notable cities of Nistra usually spread across the coastal and the island of Nistra, where only two cities (Biest and Reshvan) are still thriving on the inland of Nistra.
The Great Despot ruling Nistra with iron fist and strict rules. Everyone that dare to defy The Great Despot usually executed on the spot or thrown into dungeons to be punished far more brutal than giving them the mercy of death. This old tradition of Despotate are nurtured 'till this day to preserve their lineage as the last and the true descendant of the Ancient Axonian Empire. But with how diverse the Nistrian people are, separated by their own customs, only the minorities of Ksifits people are the true descendant of Axonian that mostly consist of nobility, high clergy, and great Despot candidates.
Because of their diversity, Nistrian people have many ways to worship The Host, the main teaching of Nistrian Hieronism dogma or usually called the Path of Tradition coming back from the Axonian era are taught across the coastal area of Nistra to the East near their border. But some areas notably the inland area are more keen to follow their Aldorian neighbor teaching of Gnostic Hieronism. Meanwhile the north-west of Nistra follow the Northern Hieronism or Path of Stoicism mainly because of numerous Chervenians people that have ties with the distant land of Skadia.