Khord

Khord is a towering mountain Castle, located between Mandesore and the Birsanid Empire. Khordians do not boast extensive lands or a large population, but have remained unconquered and independent for centuries. A strong political power, as the important Ironwood Route crosses their highlands.

Government
Type: Feudal Monarchy

Khord is ruled by a warrior king and his retinue. Succession is decided by the current king, usually passed to the son, but only if he is worthy enough.

Princes often fall in battle fighting in distant lands, but when they do return, power is often seized from the current King the moment they retire from adventuring.

Economy
Income is gained through caravan taxation, selling of slaves, mercenary work and export of steel and copper. They produce very little food of their own, as arable land is scarce. Unique windmills power a water supply system carrying fresh water up into the mountains.

Exported goods
Steel metalwork & weapons, slaves, copper, dairy products.

Imported goods
grain, rice, fruits

Religion
Khordians revere the wind god Baad above all others and have formed a splinter cult from the Mandesorian traditions, branding them as heretics in Mandesore, Therkhand and Alluvia.

Birds are seen as the eyes and ears of Baad and gusts of wind can have prophetic meaning, as they represent Her Divine Will. Storms and other intense weather is studied and interpreted by their meteorological priests. Their studies of climate, weather and their interconnectedness is their explanation of their interpretation of the holy scriptures

The start of a new year in the Khordian Celestial Calendar is celebrated with the Lantern Festival, Illuminating the sky in honor of Baad as the unseen ruler of the world.

Military
Fly Rukhs (giant bird of prey). Lordlings joust with these to hone the shock effect of their attacks. Fighters that have no access to Rukhs use gliders, which is very risky. Most warriors wear fearsome masks to protect their faces from the biting wind and to scare their opponents.