Goruth

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General Khuznak of Clan Azkromun:

General Khuznak served the Empire for over 280 years before the War of the Dawn expanded to the Elruth Empire, and he continued to serve faithfully throughout the conflict. He had previously been stationed as commander of the Eastern Garrison at Yewveth when the war broke out, but he dutifully raised his forces and fought in the northern vassals. However, when the so-called General-Regent Sforzind, despite no elections for regent being held by the Chamber of voices, seized control of the Zuriss mountains and all her great cities, General Khuznak grew concerned. 

Deeply corrupt, Sforzind advanced the horrific harvesting of souls for use in horrific metal contraptions that burned souls as fuel. At first, they were used to push back the invading Voskgardian forces, but as time went on, they were turned more and more against the people of the Empire. General Khuznak could stand it no longer, he declared that Sforzind was a usurper and took his loyal army back to the east to restore order. 

There, he established a Chamber of voices in exile to guide the people of the Elruth Empire since the heart of the Empire had fallen into darkness. Untiing with the true patriots of Elruth and the loyal vassal of her Empire, General Khuznak was able to stave off the armies of the usurper, the opportunists, and the rebels. In the modern day, the Eastern provinces are all that is left of the Elruth Empire, but they stand proud, nonetheless under the leadership of General Khuznak and the Chamber of Voices.

The Elruth Empire will emerge once more from this time of Shadows. Even now, the chamber of voices are deliberating on the selection of a new Eminence now that the east is stabilized by the loyal General Khuznak. Though he is eligible, the General has rejected the calls for him to assume the crown, instead stating that it is not his place to rule, only led armies in the Eminence's name. When the proper deliberations are completed and a new Eminence of the Elruth Empire is selected, they will lead the Empire once more to glory and reunite her people under the true and traditional rulership of the Empire. 

Long Live the Elruth Empire!

 -An official Clandom of Goruth article on General Khuznak

Goruth is located in the Greater Ankass Desert and thus features a mostly hot and arid climate. Temperatures are hot year round with little rainfall. However the center of the nation is intersected by the major rivers Goru and Elru. These rivers help to moderate the climate and have created a thin greenbelt of savannah like conditions. The vast majority of the population lives around these waterways which also provide irrigation and transport. 

The Elru in particular eventually connects to the River Vosk via canal further north, allowing for transcontinental travel by riverboat. In contrast to much of the Greater Elruth Region, most of Goruth is rather flat in terms of elevation. A small hilly region known as the Eriale Highlands exists in the countries south which breaks up the otherwise flat terrain. Major cities in Goruth include Nurelgol, Vethsten, Kromkraun, and the capital of Yewveth. 

Goruth is run by an elected triarchy, and the wider political structure is largely identical to the old Empire of Elruth.

Umridel, which gained control of the mouth of the Elru following the empire’s collapse, landlocking Goruth, has not done much to stop the flow of goods and relations are positive between Goruth and Umridel. Even so, trade with the old heartland, most of which is controlled by the House of Zuriss, is all but non-existent in the present day. 

Umridel now also controls Kolchur and Mitannia has gained power and prominence in the decades following the War of the Dawn. However, this geopolitical shift has proved beneficial to Goruth. Previously required to ship most of their exports to Elruth’s core territories, Goruth’s main markets are currently Umridel and Mirengar. Despite the latter’s poor reputation, Goruthi traders have found that Mirengari merchants pay far more than Elruth ever did. 

Unfortunately rumors and conspiracy theories of Mirengar-funded mercenaries conquering the mouth of the Elru River so the plutocracy can exact onerous tolls frequently grip the Goruthi population, leading to diplomatic tensions. Finding yourself stationed in Mirengar during such flare-ups is euphemistically referred to among Goruthi ambassadors as “judgement day.”

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A majority of Goruth's population is made up of dwarves, mainly those of East Elruthian heritage. In contrast to many dwarves, the East Elruthian's are not particularly well renowned for their mining or craftsmanship. Instead are better known for farming, unique cuisine, and skill at operating riverboats. Goruthian food is legendary, combining the best of dwarven, human, and elven cooking. Their diet consists of many different types of flatbread, cheese, and falafel. In terms of clothing East Elruthian's wear intricately patterned, lightweight, and light colored cloth. Hoods, robes, and turbans are popular since they protect against the sun. 

Unlike the mountainous heartland of Elruth that Zuriss now controls, the soft riverbanks of the Elru aren’t conducive to large, labyrinthine underground cities. Therefore most Goruthi live in small, windowless stone dwellings on the surface that resemble rock igloos. Occasionally these structures are built into the side of hills or covered in grass roofs. Additionally the Goruthi are known to repurpose abandoned strip mines with underground housing that is dug into the sides of these open air pits.  

In addition to the dwarves, a minority of humans belonging to the Jadiran, Hauvek, and Vezdulan ethnicities also reside in the country. They mainly work in the field of agriculture, providing cheap labor much like they had in the days of the Elruth Empire. Other races that exist in smaller groups include elves, kottur, and even a few wandering cyclopes that have decided to call the region home.   

Goruth is generally considered to be the most religious of the Elruth Empire's sucessor states. The state religion of Goruth is the Catenic Pantheon, more specifically of the Elruthian Traditionalist branch. This religion mainly focuses on appeasing and calming the aurafae spirits of the desert and rivers. Holidays would consist of huge gatherings to celebrate the harvest and to socialize over communal meals. Goruth is about 68% traditional Catenic Pantheon, 26% Sagiraist (most humans), 1% Zoryoasist, 1% Dhazigastic, 1% Verdant Creed, 3% other/agnostic/atheist.

Additionally, as with many Elven nations, the lush jungles that dominated the Goruthi riverside are in fact highly manipulated, with selectively bred fruit and nut producing trees constituting a disproportionate percentage of the region’s floral biomass. Goruth has thus been often stereotyped as a land of ‘dwarven governance & elven culture,’ an assessment that many Goruthi take umbrage with. 

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A common joke is that Goruthi ambassadors are as skilled as they are to make up for their pitiful military. There is an unfortunate truth to the jab, as Goruth is largely at the mercy of its neighbors continued amity. Though 

Though Goruth has endeavored to rectify its lack of combat potential, the Clandom has seen only middling success on that front, due in large part to a lack of funds. 

Prior to the collapse of the wider empire, Elruth had a habit of spending as little as they felt they could on defending the region, an impulse heightened by the inherent protection supplied by the vast deserts bordering the banks of the Elru. What scant garrison was present was typically sourced from other provinces of the empire. Upon independence Goruth thus found itself having to build a local defense industry largely from scratch.

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