Genabhon

The history of Genabhon begins in the later years of the First Age, when wandering tribes of Kottur from the Pitted Sands (the Desert region east of Harka) began to settle along the riverbank. 

While the riverland was fertile, the wildlife proved to be highly dangerous. In order to survive, many Kottur developed a practice of ambush hunting - a natural skill they enhanced with time. Despite this commonality, the tribal infighting proved fierce: each tribe fighting over farmable lands where the trees were less dense and the wildlife less deadly. 

This competition paved the way for more detailed camouflage techniques, like the dying of fur. A handful of tribes, particularly the Arasti and the Flenn, managed to build the first economies of the region, strongly based around the production and trade of these dyes. 

During the early years of the Second Age, the Flenn tribe formed an alliance with the early Turangan humans. In exchange for land, dye and workers, the Turangans sold the Flenn their first iron weapons and armour, and shared some of their agricultural techniques that had won them the peninsula. The Flenn utilised these new weapons, along with their superior numbers, camouflage and food supply, to conquer their way up the Veladon River, enslaving the Kottur they defeated. 

The most fierce fighting was with the Arasti; guerilla experts in their own right, who were able to counter the Flenn’s numbers using hit and run tactics. Over time though, the Arasti would be forced upriver, fighting the Flenn advance and scorching the earth behind them. However, they would eventually meet resistance from the north due to expansion of the minor Guildhold of Burudeg. Seeing the opportunity to challenge their Ryekan rivals, Burudeg sent in their own soldiers to reinforce the Arasti, forming a somewhat heavy handed alliance. 

With their support, the Arasti were able to set stronger borders against the Flenn, with Burudeg Minotaurs (Harkan cousins) at their back. Though border skirmishes would continue for the next two centuries, the twin nations shifted focus to internal development. The Flenn dubbed their nation Flenndena and began expanding east, while the Arasti lands were renamed Bara-Gekden (literally "Land of Shaped Lesserkin"). 

After these two centuries; in the year 760 SA, the Fourth Gate would open in what is now Umridel. As the conflict expanded eastward, many of the Kottur tribes living in the modern Mirengar region were forced to run. These tribes, collectively called the Loosin, would wander across Tyrrell for the next thirty years, until eventually arriving in the lands of the Flenn. At this time, Flenndena were being threatened by the Lazuul Magocracy; an Elven nation allied with Turangar. Both nations were wary of the Flenn’s ambitions, and were shoring up borders and limiting trade to dissuade the Empire from advancing. 

The Loosin’s migration took them through Lazuul lands first, and the Elves saw them as an opportunity to sow dissent within Flenndena. The Lazuuli Duke of the time gifted the Loosin weapons and directed the tribes towards the Flenn, saying the land would be theirs to conquer. The Loosin, however, did not wish to fight. When they travelled into Flenndena their elected leader, Oolen, went with his family to the capital to negotiate a place of refuge for his people. Upon arriving, however, his family was seized and Oolen was instead asked to bow to the Flenn Emperor. Oolen refused. 

The Flenn sent Oolen’s head, and the heads of his family, back to the Loosin. They were received by Oolen’s youngest son Genabon, who had led the tribes in his father’s stead. Genabhon, enraged, stirred the tribes into a fever and swore vengeance on the Flenn. Though the Elven weaponry did prove highly effective, Genabhon primarily focused on freeing the enslaved Kottur within Flenndena’s borders. Many of these Kottur joined the Loosin’s ranks, weakening the power of the Flenn significantly. 

Genabhon was also renowned as a phenomenal strategist as the war drew on. Proving himself in a number of battles where the enemy greatly outnumbered his own troops, he would often find a way to victory or successfully retreat. The war lasted nearly thirty five years, with Genabhon and the Loosin gaining favour and support with each consecutive battle. Finally, after besieging the capital for months, Genabhon and his forces struck down the Flenn Emperor and took control of the nation. 

Proclaimed as a new Emperor by his followers, Genabhon established new freedoms for his people and established new trade relations with both Turangar and the Lazuul. He also re-established the border with Bara-Gekden and helped stabilise the region.

Genabhon would reign for another twenty-three years before he contracted an uncurable disease. Before his death, however, he had asked that his councilors, including two of his children, enact a democratic policy to elect the next ruler after him. In honour of his legacy, the nation was renamed the "Republic of Genabhon" once the news broke of him passing peacefully in his sleep. His councillors, seizing an opportunity for power, weighed the policy in their favour, meaning ruling power never left Genabhon's line. 

While initially popular, the public perception dwindled as more and more power was consolidated and less capable rulers were ‘elected’. This, alongside pressure from the neighbouring Lazuul and the Guildholds of the Red Mountains, began to divide the country politically. Over the next three centuries, various revolts, coups and assassinations would play out, with new councilman and heirs electing themselves through supposed ‘democratic’ means. This time has since become known as the Withering of Genabhon. 

Much of this politking was carried out as an open secret, and involved a lot of secret police monitoring the populace for dissent. This would lead to a public focus on silence in communal places.

In the year 2025 SA, the Orcish Wars would finally cross Genabhon’s border and fracture what little peace the country had at the time. Despite being reinforced by Turangar and Bara-Gekden, Genabhonwas splintered more and more with each consecutive invasion from the Warlords of the Red Steppes. Many of their leaders and soldiers fled deeper into Turangar, taking refuge inside the mighty Turangan citadels as the hordes began laying siege. 

Many Genabhonese would take part in the battle of Lumara alongside the Turangans, where they would eventually be saved by the Elves of Lazuul, Umridel and Tassendrel. The Elderkin would go on to force the Orcs back, with many eventually settling in the Pitted Sands or the plains of Izgalif. 

In the years after the Orcish Wars, Genabhon was left shattered, with many civilians only surviving by hiding in the jungles and living off the land. When the battered soldiers finally returned, a commander named Vliss was able to pull together a small council of surviving nobles, politicians, and battlefield leaders. She held the council in an open war tent, for all to see. Vliss discussed that Genabhon had fallen so easily due to how divided their nation had become, and that the only way they could possibly rebuild was if everyone had a say. 

The nine at the table agreed to let the people vote and, after a month of bringing the survivors together, another popular commander named Bo was elected as president. Bo’s first act was to install the council as an official advisory body, with the members to be elected by those in their various fields of expertise. He also limited his own term as president to a period of five years, to which a new representative of the council would be elected. 

In the century that followed Genabhon began to rebuild itself from near enough the ground up. While they received some support from Turangar, they eventually found themselves having to aid the human nation due to the damage it’d sustained in the Orcish Wars.

Genabhon’s borders would shift constantly over the next millennia, as Orc raids, power changes in Red Mountains, famine, flood and drought all sought to break the Genabhonese spirit. Through it all, Genabhon managed to survive in some capacity, perfecting the art of silent, guerilla warfare. It wasn’t until the 2700’s SA when the debt of the Lazuul came due. The Lazuuli Perator at the time, the great-granddaughter of the Elven lord that had provided the Loosin with weaponry, viewed Genabhon as a vassal state ripe for political conquest.

With little warning, the Lazuul sent dragonriders to the ruling president and demanded they pay a tithe of exuberant cost to repay the price for her forefather’s weapons. The Council, ultimately, refused. Though they knew little of the Field directly, they knew enough to discern the Elves would be weaker in their lands if it came down to long-term war. Instead, the Lazuul sent a massive human mercenary army, pulled from Parthus, paid for from their sapphire mines. The humans landed on the southern beaches of Genabhon and began to push inland.

The president, unaware of Lazuuli involvement, redirected the bulk of their forces southward. Thus the capital was relatively undefended when the Lazuul came in force. Utilizing Aurite and magical weaponry from their allies the Union of Great Holds, the Lazuuli captured the capital and executed the president as punishment for failing on the debt. They utilized their human army, dragons and magic to take control of the nation as a whole. For a century afterwards, the people suffered. 

Though not officially enslaved, the Genabhonese were more or less run by puppet presidents and the Lazuuli would frequently patrol their skies. Already a quiet society, the Elibodens would begin to revere silence. They refined their combative hand gestures into a more formal language, and began incorporating specific facial and ear expressions underneath the eyes of the Elderkin. 

Even prior to the War of the Dawn, the Lazuuli occupation had grown lax. The Lazuuli debt toll was to last an Elven generation, roughly 250 years, and many of their forces had been pulled away due to a confrontation with the Elruth Empire and Midboria. With the end of the occupation drawing near, the Genabhonese began planning an uprising in case the Lazuuli refused to leave. Several spies also began meeting with warriors from Burugek (formally Bara-Gekden). Many of that nation also wished to rid themselves of their Dwarven masters.

The Genabhonese had begun industrializing in small ways, mostly along the Turangan border. Their cities and population had all grown, with the Elderkin paying them little mind so long as the tithe was being paid. When the War of the Dawn began, Lazuul would join in support of their allies in the Union. However, Genabhon saw the opportunity and, seizing rifle patterns provided by Turangar, were able to counterattack the few Lazuul that held them captive. 

Genabhon would spend much of the WOD securing their own industry and providing support to the Burugeken. It was only afterwards that Genabhon, alongside Turangar would launch a full scale attack on the Lazuul, forcing them back towards the mountains. Ultimately, an armistice was reached, and the Genabhonese returned to their jungle homes. A buffer state, maintained as a Turangan vassal, was placed between the nations to help prevent any Elderkin counterattack, and to further security for the Genabhonese and Turangan people. 

In the modern day, Genabhon has finally been able to open their borders to the modern world, receiving tourists from both Turangar and Burukel. They are often perceived as an off putting, but unique, people. Their most recent ambition is to expand eastward into the Pitted Sands, seeking rumours of ‘liquid gold’.

The Republic of Genabhon is located along the Ruby Sea in West Ciradon. It borders Turangar to the east, the Red Mountain Dominion to the north, and Harka to the northeast. Genabhon mainly experiences a warm tropical climate noted for it's lush vegetation and sprawling savannahs. Much of the country is centered around the Veladon River, an important trade waterway it shares with much of Turangar.    

Genabhon is a democratic republic led by the Tobaralen - the Council of Nine. The Tobaralen members each represent an area of industry or societal influence, from shipping to agriculture. Each councillor is elected by their respective representatives in the Odaralen - the Council of Many.  The Odaralen consists of prominent sector leaders, nobles, merchants, land-owners, company heads, and other officials. Each is assigned to one of the Nine parties, where they will then discuss and prioritise the political topics for the Tobaralen.

The Odaralen will often make low-level region or industry specific legislative changes within themselves, so long as the Tobaralen do not disagree with the change. Beneath the Odaralen is the common people, all of which vote for Odaralen Seat based on their specific industry and occupation. Many will then voice their concerns to their local Seat member, who will then pass it up the chain to enact change.

A large portion of Elioda’s economy is built around the production of dyes and dyed fabric, as well as the farms to supply the sector. The industrial loom and sewing machinery has been massively successful there, and the Eliodans have produced several unique variants of the machines, which they have begun to export as well. In the modern day, they hold strong trade alliances with Mirengar and Turangar, especially in the canvas production for the latter's aeroplane industry.

While not opposed to the idea, locomotives and trains are still decently rare in Genabhon. Much of this is due to the dense jungles of the region making long distance networks harder to maintain, as well as the cultural taboo against their overall noise level. With that said, Genabhon does maintain a rail line into Turangar, which has begun to slowly branch upriver. 

WAs part of their cultural practice of quietness, Genabhon has developed many interesting methods of reducing and soundproofing their newly built factories and machinery. Whilst some of these are more for form over function, this has led to some interesting developments in the wider world. The first firearm suppressor is often attributed to a Genabhonese inventor named Bullie Armol, a Kottur who suffered hearing loss while fighting in the Lazuul Revolt when a rifle discharged next to his ear. 

The most well known cultural practice of the Genabonese is their quietness. Though they aren’t mute, as many tourists believe, they do limit their speech and even noise in general when in public. Much of their verbal communication is also emphasized with hand gestures, facial and ear expressions, or otherwise communicated through writing. Even in private, the Genabhonese still tend to be quiet and poised, though their speech will become more informal.

The main exception to this social taboo is laughter, as it is seen as a sign of peace and proof that the people of Genabhonare no longer living under oppression. 

Perhaps due to their quietness, a lot of Genabhonese culture, performance and storytelling is displayed visually. Many Genabhonese wear clothes of vibrant colours and patterns, often accessorised with fabric jewellery, buttons, broaches and other similar items. Even in lower-class regions where high quality fabric is harder to come by, people will often dye their fur to match or accentuate their clothing, often in patterns, shapes or words. 

Due to this, many of Genabhon's largest industries are based around dye and fabric manufacturing and the various farms that facilitate them. Foreign inventions like the industrial loom, though initially unpopular, have been cemented into the Genabhon economy, and helped put their exports onto the world stage. 

Genabhon’s most popular religion is known as Heliovinism, and is structured around the worship of the god Heliovin and the various deities he fathered. In modern Heliovinist worship, it is said Heliovin found Tyrrell as a barren rock, ruled by darkness, and screaming beasts. However, he saw potential on the rock, and so planted Tyrrell’s first tree. This tree would then extend outwards to combat the darkness that had corrupted the world.

From the trees he would pull forth the Elves, from the skies he would pull the Cyclopes, from the ground; the Dwarves. Then, he would uplift the various beasts of the realm and give them their voice, their intelligences, their sense. He would task all these creatures with fighting back the demons, and gave them the power to seal them away. Heliovin would then father many children, all of which would rule different aspects of the natural world and the emotions of its people. These deities and their stories vary slightly across Genabhon, but certain ones like Barumm, Lady of Lightning, and Vlud, the Lord of Blood, are present nationally.

Throughout the Third Age, the worship of Ga-Lin, Lady of Progress, Krida, Lady of Civilisation, and Sool, Lord of Metal has increased drastically and their teachings are pushed strongly by the national temples.

There are many texts and stories within Heliovinism, many built around a specific deity or historical event. However, their primary book is known as the Odian Compendium, which contains most of the major stories, events and teachings of the religion. It is the only Heliovonist book printed and distributed at a national level, and the one most commonly used by the temples. 

The primary tenets for Heliovinism are as follows:

-Speak softly, for those above will hear your heart before your mouth.

-Treat your brothers well, in defiance of how they have treated you.

-Hide yourselves from evil acts and their actors, and be watchful.

-If you must fight, do it with mercy and with swiftness.

Much of the Genabhon army is made up of infantry, though vehicles and tractors are beginning to crop up as the country modernises. Still, the use of lion and manticore cavalry has been a staple within the country for centuries, and still employed liberally. Genabhon’s military focus, however, lies in stealth and guerilla warfare above all else. Each soldier is a master in camouflage, moving without sound and living off the land. Though they train in squads, each soldier is taught to be a one man army should the need arise.

In modern times, Genabhon has placed a great emphasis on training their sniper and rifle corp, producing extremely deadly attack and recon troopers and scouts. 

• Genabhon was first developed by Werewolff Studios. Originally known as "Elioda", the country was renamed at his request. All lore and images developed by Werewolff Studios has been used with his written consent.     

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