Dove

Dove was a territory in the Holy Eavonian Confederation. The territory was made up of four regions: Zabrama, Sanankronii, Sunnyslope, and Wakoro. It was also one of the primary homes of the Noma-Kai Eavons and shared borders with several territories, becoming known as the cultural heart of the Confederation if not its political center.

Zabrama

Zabrama was the southeastern region of Dove, home to the territorial capital Ekhe Kyogo, and was also where the Interterritorial Railroad Board (IRB) headquarters was established. The geography of Zabrama was once a vast flourishing savanna, but as railroad construction and urban development along said railroads reduced the tree and animal density considerably, many found the economic benefits outweighed the ecological degradation. Ekhe Kyogo was a major transportation hub with direct rail lines to the capitals of the bordering territories, with active travelers eventually finding themselves in the city at least once in their life. The capital and its surrounding towns were the birthplace of intense cultural fusion, manifesting through unique cuisine, music, and dialects found nowhere else in the Confederation. Residents of the region developed a distinct Zabraman accent, often called “railspeak” for its prevalence among IRB employees. In the final trisolars of the Confederation, there was a push to have Zabramans recognized as their own separate cultural group, but the Confederation dissolved before any formal consideration was brought to the attention of the Royal Court. 

Sanankronii

Sanankronii was the central region of Dove, a lush savanna zone known for its two distinct mountain ranges. Much of its economy was centered upon ecological preservation, guided expeditions, and traditional Articore stewardship of the land. The mountains were named after local deities of the Articore People, Moon-mother Kronii and Sun-mother Sana. Articore legends believe Sana and Kronii to have had a strong bond with one another, some oral traditions referring to them as lovers. Most surviving versions of the legend recount that Sana presented Kronii with the gift of the sun, while Kronii, wishing to return an even greater gift, created two moons. Unfortunately, the sky wasn’t big enough to hold all three objects, so it had to be split in half with each gift cycling their visibility. Sanankronii became popular among tourists for its distinct heritage and landscape, with many Articore tribes creating hiking trails through the mountains, constructing campsites near sacred waymarkers, and acting as alpine guides for seasonal employment. In the lowlands of Sanankronii, the open fields and tall trees give way to enormous herds of flol and gigantic species of megafauna, such as the protoceratherium, a hulking herbivore that reaches 5 meters at its shoulder. Domesticated protoceratherium are often used as novelty transports by local Eavons but are raised by only the most skilled Articore shepherds. 

Sunnyslope

Sunnyslope was the southwestern region of Dove, known for its seemingly endless grasslands and soft, rolling frontier hills. Sunnyslope is the coldest region of Dove on average due to prevailing southern winds, with occasional but minimal snowstorms finding their way into the land during the winter. Normally, Sunnyslope is the prime destination for migrating animals across the Confederation, offering plenty of space, food, and water. This is also one of the most popular regions for hunters of all Peoples, with plenty of opportunities for both trophy hunters and subsistence foragers to encounter carnivores and herbivores alike. While a balance was maintained for many centuries, the advent of the firearm allowed recreational hunters to wreak ecological havoc on wildlife populations. While the Royal Court made no effort to address these issues, local Sunnyslope jurisdiction established dedicated hunting grounds and licenses, making it illegal to hunt for animals outside these designated requirements. While this did help to maintain the animal populations, it also disrupted ancient Zhāng rites as hunting parties would travel miles only to find they are outlawed from hunting in their traditional spaces. Sunnyslope relied on income from sport hunters and tourists, local townships often catering to these groups with extravagant lodges and nature tours, at least on the outside. What was often less talked about were the slaughterhouses and meat packing plants in Sunnyslope which were strategically placed away from the public eye. When the new hunting ground borders were established, these factories were completely erased from the map to prevent tourists from encountering them. While these factories did breed and house innumerable livestock for their products, it wasn’t uncommon for workers to occasionally round up wild flol or even predators, slaughtering them, and packaging their meat in order to fulfill annual quotas.

Wakoro

Wakoro was the northwestern region of Dove, bordering both the Kharam and Akye desert territories. While this was one of the drier regions of Dove, it was still home to a healthy amount of yellow grasslands and resilient woods. The border settlements of Wakoro were highly popular with and influenced by Arashi caravans, who crossed the deserts from Ekhe Noshara and found respite before moving onward through their trade routes. These service towns saw much prosperity as the Arashi would pay premium prices for lodging and supplies, expanding into dedicated destinations of overpriced hospitality. Arashi traders stuck to a strict and predictable schedule when transporting their goods, so there was an expectation that they would have to return to the same town multiple times to enjoy all its amenities. With lodges becoming more competitive and the Arashi making these stops more regularly, further investments were made such as immense bathhouses, secure storage facilities, specialty repair shops, luxurious allocamelus stables, theatrical circuses, bulk food markets, and athletic grounds for sporting events. Architectural styles frequently blended elements from both Arashi and Noma-Kai traditions, while local markets routinely sold imported fabrics, jewelry, preserved foods, perfumes, and desert crafts unavailable elsewhere in Dove. Many Wakoro residents even became fluent in multiple regional dialects, facilitating commerce across territorial boundaries.

There was even a brief period where the first brothel in the Confederation was constructed, colloquially referred to in hushed tones as “the funhouse” and catering primarily to transient caravan workers. While this business saw much success for a few trisolars, local authorities forcefully closed the establishment, arresting the owner and proprietor Jennisa khe-Rigola. Jennisa was brought before the Royal Court and sentenced to life imprisonment for her commercialization of the sacred act of procreation. Shortly after, prostitution was made illegal across the entire Confederation. The heavy movement of merchants also required substantial investment in customs infrastructure and border security, much of which came from corporations and industrial tycoons who relied on Arashi goods for their enterprises. The prevalence of the railways in the last century of the Confederation did not have a noticeable effect on profits in these towns, as it only brought in more potential customers who have only ever heard of these fantastic service-based settlements.