Liath

Pronunciation: (LEE-ath)
Galactic Region: Perseus Arm
Galactic Branch: Sikhara Branch
Galactic Sector: N4
Star System: Sol
Planet: Terra
Continent: Inis
Land Area: 1,377,000 square miles
Length: 1,550 miles north to south
Width: 1,100 miles east to west
Coordinates: 37° N to 26° S, 90° E to 155° E

Country comprised of both islands on Inis, this mysterious and isolated land is often sought by adventurers and travellers in search of answers or peace

• Arutal - Primate city, Inis' capitol and sister city to Soledad
• Fornye - Perched on a beautiful bay in northwest Inis
• Kiyume - Trade hub for goods from Koroingo and Pragat
• Koroingo - Mining town in the mountains of the northern isle
• Pragat - The bread basket of Inis
• Soledad - Sister city to Arutal, though much smaller
• Talasa - Located on the marshlands of the northern coastline

• Bay of siochana - Bay between the northern and southern islands of Inis
• Deireanach isle - Small island between Mahi and Mothira islands
• Diercha islands - Group of islands off the southern coast of Mothira island in Liath
• Ghear river - Runs east from the Mehwensyll mountains of southern Inis to the Ocean
• Iargulta river - Runs east from the Mehwensyll mountains, through the Nirimir forest to the ocean
• Irdheis sea - Southeastern sea below the Thoir sea
• Kaleluwe savanna - Savanna on the southern third of Mothira island
• Karralai forest - Giant cactus forest on the northern continent of Inis
• Koura grasslands - Grasslands on Mahi island between the mountains and the Bay of siochana
• Mahi island - Northern island of Inis
• Mehwensyll mountains - Range on the southern isle of Inis
• Mothira island - Southern island of Inis
• Mount tresgynel - Soaring peak within the Sunglai mountains
• Nirimir forest - Giant Mushroom forest on the southern Isle of Inis
• Oerken river - Runs southwest from the Sunglai mountains of Inis to the Bay of siochana
• Siolta river - Runs south from the Sunglai mountains of northern Inis to the Bay of siochana
• Siwatew desert - Desert on northern Mothira island
• Sunglai mountains - Range on Mahi island in Inis
• Talasa islands - Islands comprising the Talasa wetlands
• Talasa wetlands - Wetlands on the northern coast of Inis, location of Talasa city
• Taoidi island - Island in the Bay of siochana
• Tepeki forest - Jungles of northwestern Mahi island in Liath
• Thoir sea - Sandwiched sea between Gerth and Liath
• Tikari delta - Delta on Mahi island of Liath, emptying into the Talasa wetlands
• Treunka plains - Plains in northern Inis between Tepeki forest and Sunglai mountains

Liath formed late in terra's Iron Age when refugees landed on Inis, fleeing the war between Akkaus and Khan'laheeri. At the time, the kingdom was called Aru'taal, and the nation flourished, remaining neutral through the much of the Blood Wars. Even when Akkaus officially declared war on Aru'taal, it maintained a defensive posture. Eventually the country joined the Aimsir Alliance, though only officially

When the Blood Wars ended with the Council of Ceilidh, Aru'taal became Arutal and gained a reputation for possessing a healing quality. Many terran's would make pilgrimages to Arutal in order to find themselves or to cure their ailments

In the First Age of Balance, Arutal sent people back to the Korahan Coast to rebuild their original homeland, efforts which would lead to the establish the nation of Koraha. The two nations continue to share a strong bond

Timeline

• 39.2M BCE: Refugees flee the fighting and arrive on the isle of Inis, form the kingdom of Aru'taal
• 19.8M BCE: Aru'taal builds the Sole'tal bridge
• 8.4M BCE: Akkaus declares war on Aru'taal
• 3.8M BCE: Aru'taal joins the Aimsir Alliance
• 2.0M BCE: Council of Ceilidh, Aru'taal becomes Arutal
• 1.871M BCE: Arutal sends colonists to return to Koraha and rebuild Kohanga
• 1.602M BCE: Arutal sends colonists to establish Pragat
• 1.581M BCE: Arutal is formally renamed Liath
• 1.316M BCE: Liath colonizes the marshes in Talasa

Cities in Liath are led by Guides, a life long post which roughly resembles a mayor. The Guide has some direct authority, though it is minor. Guides draft legislation and changes to legislation, which are voted on by the citizens of that city. All proposed changes requires two thirds of the vote. When a Guide dies, a series of elections takes place, until a new Guide is chosen, which requires four fifths of the vote

When a vote is held, all members of the city need to cast a vote in order for it to be valid. Exceptions to this rule are very rare. Due to this law, votes are only held once or twice a year

At the national level, the Council of Five votes on legislation proposed by its members or by a Guide. Laws or changes to laws at the national level require four out of five votes, or in some cases, a unanimous vote. Members of the Council cannot be Guides or have ever been Guides, though they must have completed an apprenticeship with a Guide. These apprenticeships can last several years, typically no less than five years. Council appointments are for ten years, after which members cannot serve again. Elections are held once every two years, and two thirds of the national vote is required to gain an appointment. Voting for the national council is different from typical voting and from elections for Guides. Voters are presented with a list of applicants, and they vote for or against each applicant

Laws in Liath are exhaustive when it comes to violence, against humans but also against animals. Harming humans and animals is a serious offense. Additionally, the government does not have the right to harm its citizens. Detaining citizens can only be done on a temporary basis. As a result, punishments for serious crimes often involves exile

Religion
The prevalent religion of Liath is Ahle'ala, which dictates all aspects of daily life within the country. Laws are often informed by its tenets. Some believe that all laws within Liath are simply the evolving interpretations of the tenets of Ahle'ala. The philosophy of Ahle'ala centers around the Five Pillars

• The Pillar of Energy - Using one's strength and one's ki in a balanced, unified, and good way
• The Pillar of Mind - Having a proper awareness and knowledge of, and view of, your environment
• The Pillar of Will - Having proper desires and intentions
• The Pillar of Action - Keeping one's actions pure, doing no harm to sentient beings
• The Pillar of Speech - Keeping one's speech pure, speaking the truth, avoiding abusive or divisive speech

Values
The citizens believe in peace with all creatures, and a life of happiness and fulfillment. Achieving this is pursued by adherence to the Ahle'ala. Liath is very welcoming of immigrants and refugees, and has become very diverse as a result. Its people are well known for their good nature

Dress and Appearance
Due to the nation's origins and its open policy regarding immigration, the population of Liath is extremely diverse. Skin, hair, and eye color vary wildly, including combinations not found in any other nation

Styles of dress are consistently unvaried, by comparison. Clothing is exclusively white or lighter greys. The foundation is a vest or short sleeved tunic that extends past the knee and as far as down to the ankle. The tunics are typically close fitting. When needed, a high cropped coat is worn over the vest to cover the arms. Footwear typically consists of sandals made from cloth or wood, or simple cloth bindings. Simple jewelry of wood or stone is common, and is often attached via piercing the skin. Traditional tattoos are ubiquitous and cover large portions of the skin. Hair is shaved on the sides of the head and otherwise worn long in braids, dreads, or left straight

Food
Agriculture and animal husbandry are woven into the fabric of Liath's culture and society. Vegetables an fruits from around the world thrive in Liath's inviting climate. Smaller scale farms and personal gardens are a staple of Liath's landscape, while larger scale agriculture exists in the Treunka plains, centered around the city of Pragat. The Koura grasslands has less agriculture but is home to many shepards. Raising animals for their eggs, honey, and milk is a critical part of Liath's food supply, and much of it is exported, a rare phenomenon.

Rice based dishes with a vegetable medley is a staple meal in Liath. Wines and ciders are produced in many varieties and are a prized export. Meat and products made from animals are illegal to produce in Liath, though not illegal to import, possess, or eat. Very few restaurants will serve these products, and all of them are located in Arutal

Music and Arts
Music is an important part of life in Liath, accompanying celebrations and meditation rituals. Violin and cello are the foundation of musical composition, which includes long, arching melodies designed to soothe the mind and the soul. Bells, drums, and a wide assortment of eclectic instruments are peppered into to performances. The citation of Mantras and throat singing are commonly featured. Dance is also widely enjoyed in Liath, and includes sweeping, graceful movements

• Aardvark - Among the Siwatew desert, higher concentrations in the foothills
• Buffalo - Among the Koura grasslands
• Bumblebee - Found in the grasslands and forests
• Camel - Found in the Koura grasslands, west of Arutal
• Cat - Primarily found in and around the cities of Liath
• Chameleon - Found on the Kaleluwe savanna, and Nirimir and Tepeki forest, Tikari delta
• Chicken - Found in the Tepeki forest
• Cougar - Found throughout the nation's mountains, forests, and grasslands
• Desert Ant - Found in the northern Kaleluwe savanna, Siwatew desert
• Falcon - Small populations in the Kaleluwe and Koura grasslands, Mehwensyll and Sunglai mountains, and in the Tepeki forest
• Firefly - Found throughout the Nirimir forest
• Frog - Found throughout the Nirimir forest and the Talasa wetlands
• Gaelen Blue Jay - Found in the Nirimir forest and the Tepeki forest
• Giant Fly - Found across the Kaleluwe savanna, and the Siwatew desert
• Hippopotamus - Found in the Talasa wetlands, in the Bay of siochana, and in the rivers of Liath
• Hyena - Found across the Kaleluwe savanna, southern Koura grasslands, and the Siwatew desert
• Iguana - Found in the Talasa wetlands, Deireanach isle, Taoidi island, and Tepeki forest
• Komodo - Found on Deireanach isle and the Diercha islands
• Lemur - Found in the jungle canopy of the Tepeki forest
• Lion - Found in the Kaleluwe savanna and in the southwestern Koura grasslands
• Marmoset - Found in the Tepeki forest, Karralai forest, and the Nirimir forest
• Northern Raven - Found in the Koura grasslands and the Talasa wetlands
• Ostrich - Found in the Kaleluwe savanna, Koura grasslands, and Treunka plains
• Pelican - Found on the Bay of siochana and the Talasa wetlands
• Porcupine - Found throughout the nation's forests and grasslands
• Rabbit - Found throughout the forests and grasslands of Liath
• Rhinoceros - Found throughout the Kaleluwe savanna
• Rhinoceros Beetle - Found in the Nirimir forest and the Tepeki forest
• Scorpion - Found throughout the Kaleluwe savanna, in the Tepeki forest, and the Siwatew desert
• Sheep - Domestic herds found in the Koura grasslands, and the Treunka plains
• Snake - Wildly variant species can be found in the wetlands, jungles, grasslands, and deserts
• Squirrel - Found gliding through the canopy of Nirimir forest
• Striped Buzzard - Found in the Kaleluwe savanna, the Siwatew desert, and the Karralai forest
• Turtle - Found commonly in the waters of the Bay of siochana and along its shores

• Dawn's Kiss - Found in the Nirimir forest
• Indigo - Found on the Kaleluwe savanna, the Koura grasslands, and the Treunka plains
• Lavender - Found in the Koura grasslands
• Manai Lily - Found in the Tikari delta and the Talasa wetlands