Difference between revisions of "Scythirus"

Revision as of 09:44, 14 April 2007

Scythirus

Flag of Scythirus
Motto: "Enlighten the unenlightened."
[1]
Region	Middle East
Capital	Jihamed
Official Language(s)	Persian
Leader	Emperor-Priest Jorzo Mafil
Population	5.7 billion
Currency	Scythlon
NS Sunset XML

The Sacred Holy Empire of Scythirus is a large, wealthy, and powerful nation renown for its great military strength and prosperous international trade. Dominating many parts of Persia, Scythirus has access to the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea. It is a monarchy led by an Emperor that rules from the capital, Jihamed. Other notable locations are the unequatable port city of Abu-Dahbi located on Indus Mound, and the secondary capital city, Stratika, formerly New Rome in the conquered territory of old New Harumf, now styled Western Scythirus. The city of Belgash is best known for its markets, second only to Abu-Dahbi and Jihamed respectively.

Geography

Terrain

Political map of Scythirus.

The terrain of Scythirus is mostly a continuing, unforgiving stretch of desert land. The country hosts many forests which are currently dwindling due to deforestation by loggers and nearby civilization. Thanks to Scythirus' many advanced and perfected irrigation projects, water is readably available and the wells are kept from drying out. Life is abundant along the verdant banks of the Indus River and hosts the large city of Abu-Dahbi at its delta where the river meets with the Arabian Sea.

A range of mountains dominates the north-eastern part of Scythirus. There are very few settlements in this part of the nation, and is home to the species of large lizards known as dragons which are endangered due to the encroachment of civilization. These mountains are also where Scythirus places its high level nuclear waste from the reactors of its several nuclear power plants which further endangers the dragon population.

Scythirus' southern shore covers much of the Arabian Sea and its navy is found regularly patrolling the waters. The recently conquered territory of Western Scythirus, detached from the rest of the country, allows Scythirus influence inside the Persian Gulf thanks to its shoreline. Most of Western Scythirus was blasted away by warfare from the Harumfian Folly during the First War of Succession leaving much of the land sparsely populated and left in disarranged chaos, and only recently recovering. Scythirus has been spending a fraction of its Gross Domestic Product to rebuild this land. Stratika was the first functional city that didn't lie in a majority of rubble.

Scythirus borders the countries of Langarra, Tirabia, and Bactria from the south, Idaniztan, Sarawakh, Kasnyia and Ammochostos from the west, Al Araam from the east, and effectively surrounds Wadj, The Knights Hospitalars, Menhad, and Al Islamya from both the east and west.

Climate

Most of Scythirus is a harsh, dry desert with consistently high temperatures. Precipitation is rare and quite welcomed when it occurs. Sand storms are not uncommon in Scythirus.

Culture

Race and Ethnicity

Scythirus' population is primarily composed of people with Persian descent. During the rise of religions like Christianity, Judaism, and Islam in the west, these Persian people fled into the lands of Scythirus to escape religious persecution because of their anciently held beliefs. The second largest group of people found in Scythirus are Arabs who immigrated into Scythirus after the nation was officially settled.

Finally, there is a mixture of many small minorities counting for only 5% of the population in Scythirus. The most prominent minority is of Indian ancestry. These minorities are forced to live in slums.

Language

The official language used primarily in all international affairs is Persian. All natives of Scythirus know this language, and thus speak primarily in it.

Scythirian Culture

Scythirus is often recognized as a rather aggressive nation by the rest of the Middle East and its people reflect this. Heroic warriors from the country's past constantly receive praise in the history books. Dates of past wars fought are memorized to heart and victories annually celebrated. Scythirian citizens are reputably recognized as being rude and unpleasant to be around.

The Scythirian people are increasingly xenophobic and is bound to be recognized by even the most casual of travelers. Outsiders and all that relates to the Western World are readily shunned and scorned. Scythirus harbors a fierce and quaint hatred for the United Nations, believing it to be a ploy of the West's to conquer the world. As a result, the government has never joined the world's governing body of nations.

Scythirus' television and media often fuel the anti-West propaganda and mentality of the country. Despite all of this hostility, the Scythirian people are a grateful people and if a favor is done for them, a friend is usually guaranteed for life. Unfortunately, treachery has been displayed in the past by the government, and this has added to the perceived unpredictable nature of the people.

Religion

The nature of the religion in Scythirus is a closely guarded secret. Little is known about about the faith in this brutal land even by the faithful that practice it; however, it is believed from observations to be a derivative of Zoroastrianism. The followers refer to Scythirus' strange religion as the Sacred Religion. The Sacred Religion is a religion of secrets. They boast that it is older than Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

The Sacred Temple in Jihamed is the central site of the Sacred Religion. It is here where many of the Sacred Religion's secrets and higher practices are held. Tourism of the temple is strictly limited by the priests. The current High Priest of the Sacred Religion is Emperor-Priest Jorzo Mafil. The High Priest oversees Scythirus' many annual festivals and holidays. The High Priest's power is second only to the Emperor of Scythirus, although the current High Priest holds both positions.

The priests are only allowed to tell the Sacred Religion's basic ethics and moral codes to its followers. The religion is monotheistic and it is forbidden—considered blasphemous—to utter or write the deity's name. For this reason, He or She is referred to the faith's followers as the "One True God."

History

Rising From The Tribes

Scythirus was once a loose collection of waring clans and tribes spread throughout eastern Persia. For ages, these people fought one another for dominance over the land, sometimes great Empires rising and falling throughout the widespread struggles. The primary religion among these conflicting groups was a peculiar developing version of Zoroastrianism that had caused them to settle here in the first place to avoid the rise of Judaism and Christianity in the west. The priest who began this spiritual movement was named Ijitibal Gavros and was claimed to still be alive 700 years after he founded the religion and personally oversaw the migration to eastern Persia. Whether this could have actually been possible, no one is certain and it's speculated that it was actually a descendant of his that led his people to escape the persecution from Jews and Christians.

One day, a great warrior arose from the tribal strife of wars and began a large scale military campaign that would unite the tribes of Scythirus. His name was King Atta Jihamed, and he controlled the largest army in eastern Persia for his time. King Jihamed's campaign was so successful, that it saw through to the deaths of all his enemies and his later deification as the first incarnation of Ahriman on Earth. Scythirus was united and established as an empire at last. The central capital was renamed Jihamed after the great king, now emperor, who ruled over it.