The known history of Yukhengu begins with the arrival of humans on the islands during the middle Second Age. In an migration starting from the easternmost island in the chain these early humans intermarried with and slowly displaced the islands’ original inhabitants, known in the islands’ legends as Thiwuye and believed to be some form of Beastfolk. These humans adopted the language and many customs of the Thiwuye and settled into petty chiefdoms fighting for fishing and hunting rights. 

Towards the latter half of the Second Age the Yukhenuye tribes were placed under the vassalage of various elderkin states that made contact with them; a few tribes having resisted and been cast down in shows of force. An effort was made to colonize and enslave the islanders but failed due to the islands’ distance from the nearest leyline. Within a few years the colonizers had left and a system of yearly tribute was enacted. Though the cost in tribute was steep the Yukhenuye were otherwise left to their own devices other than the occasional confrontation with Hvel’Xiren ships over a kraken hunt or Tide-Toll incident.

Industrialization only took hold slowly on the islands, but its effects would still have a massive impact on the lives of the population. The war between Voskgard and Tassendrel didn’t come as a surprise to the Yukhenuye and neither did the increase in demanded tribute. Without enough material wealth to accommodate, many Yukhenuye gave labor instead. Kawra of the Etayne was one of the many men who would dig trenches and drive wagons in the rear of the front. There he was exposed to the raw power of industrial weaponry and worse to him the sheer disdain the elves held for him and his fellow men for no more reason than their being human. 

Kawra returned home a very different man. When he succeeded his father as chief of his clan, he used what he’d learned abroad to conquer the islands. When next the elves came to demand their tribute, they were not granted concessions by Etayne, Tawsakh, or Seyar but a united Yukhengu backed by Kawra’s new army. In the years that followed, new mines were opened and factories rose at the mouth of the river where Kawra established a new capital for the islands.

Though the process is proving slow, Yukhengu builds towards a turning point. When the next war comes they’d rather like to dictate their own terms rather than have their destinies written for them. 

The Confederation of Yukhengu is located on three major islands plus numerous smaller islets located in the North Sea. They are located to the west of West Ciradon and to the north of Elysia. The islands experience a subarctic climate characterized by cool, short summers and long cold winters, though it's oceanic location does help to moderate the weather somewhat. The capital of Yukhengu is the port of Takweynut. 

Yukhengu is a loose confederation of high cheifdoms who's ruling body is known as the Chief’s Council. The current head of state as of 40 TA is High Chief Etayne Kawra.  The nation is governed by the High Law, Petayeng, a federal system consisting of a council of representatives and the High Chief. The High Law trumps all regional bodies while where it has not ruled the chiefs of the various clans rule their lands as they have for generations. 

The Yew Tusta is a council of 64 representatives appointed by their clans to vote on matters which pertain to the nation as a whole. The number of representatives each clan is entitled to is established through a complex system accounting for land, population, historical vassalage, and economic output. Despite the complexities, the 4 largest clans hold 42 of the available seats. 

Legislation proposed must achieve a simple majority of each clan’s representative body or a supermajority of all representatives in the Yew Tusta to advance the legislation to the High Chief’s office, where he can either accept the act as is, veto it outright, or send it back for amendment. The Yew Tusta cannot override the High Chief’s veto. 

Representatives serve at the pleasure of their clan’s chief and can be recalled at the end of a legislative session. If recalled, a representative must be replaced by the beginning of the next legislative session or the seat will be vacant for the duration.

Yukhengu pursues neutrality for many reasons. Low population, incomplete industrialization, and geographical isolation all factor into the decisions of the High Chief and his advisors; seven million islanders armed with everything from modern rifles to bows and spears, without a navy capable of holding off neither elf nor man and too far away for the other to help. Yukhengu would just be speedbump and an unpleasant occupation if it went to war with or along with any of the great states of West Ciradon. 

For all those practical reasons, though, the chief reason is the Yukhenuye just find little in common with either power. Their time as elven vassals was mild compared to many and what did the continental men have to offer them but a chance to get killed in someone else's war. The islanders feel that they are different to both, descendants of things neither elf nor man. Despite scientific consensus bearing out that the legend of mixed heritage was just that the opinion of the common islander has little changed.

Yukhengu has a major fishing industry and also exports wool and livestock. 

This section is work in progress. 

The military of Yukhengu is split between Federally controlled forces and the personal levies that each clan can call upon. Federal forces are commanded by officers appointed directly by the High Chief. 

The Federal Army (Kichan Iri) is moderately equipped, primarily with breech loading rifles domestically manufactured by government arsenals. The artillery arm fields a dizzying array of imported and domestic pieces ranging from passably modern field guns to hopelessly obsolete smoothbore cannon.  The cavalry are sparse and almost entirely consist of squadrons of mounted riflemen. All branches are equipped with domestically produced wool uniforms patterned on those of elderkin armies; rifle green coat, black trousers, and accoutrements of sheep’s leather. 

Where the Kichan Iri falls short in equipment it makes up for in training and élan. Etayne Kawra and the first officers of the army were not military geniuses, but they were effective organizers and had access to firsthand observation of both the Umrinor Cordiale and Voskgardian armies during the War of the Dawn. The men of the Iri are well drilled and practiced, their small-unit tactics well refined during the Unification War. They are resolved that even if their nation wouldn’t last long against the outside world they will fight like wounded kraken. 

The Air Force (Nay Iri) consists of two dozen outdated aircraft imported sparingly from human nations and a pair of grass airstrips at A’muytak and Uramkunut. Without a domestic school to train them, aircrews are required to seek education abroad. Because of the cost and limitations this confers, the Air Force is not expected to play a major role in any short term conflicts and is primarily engaged in near-shore patrol and kraken spotting. 

The Navy (Ne’etingu) operates primarily sail and oar-powered vessels with a mission to protect the islands’ coastal waters and assist merchant kraking ships when necessary. To fulfill this duty, the Navy operates several brigs, schooners, and other small craft. To supplement this, a quartet of small, iron-clad steamers are under construction. The same problems the Army’s artillery faces also plague the Navy, with standardized weaponry being a pipe dream. In truth, until enough modern steamships can be acquired the navy stands very little chance of fending off any powers Elder or Lesser.

Clan Levies assist the Army in local policing and security under the command of their chief. Highly varied, they range from small, elite companies comparable to regular troops to deputized villagers handed a musket without a flint and told to look intimidating in their civilian clothes. In theory these troops would be called into federal service if Yukhengu went to war.

• Yukhengu was created by Sammie J form the World of Tyrrell discord.