Official National Name: Grazhni Pordlandia; Empire of Greater Nalydya
Short National Name(s): Imperial Nalydya; Naydya; Nalydian Empire; Pordlandia
National Government Type: High Hunter Council
Prevalent Sentient Species: Pordish
The Pords are a race of beings that emerged from the planet Nalydya many millions of years ago. It is said the gods themselves willed them into existence (along with the rest of the ecosystem of Nalydya) and this is why they are so adapted to the cold; Pordish bodies are highly resistant to to low temperature and throughout their blood flows a natural anti-freeze. Generally, Pords are in the five foot range, and heavily built, with weights in the high 140kg range being fairly average. This is due to their heavy bone structure and powerful muscles that move them. Black is the by far the most common hair colour, with brown being a bit less common; eye colour is predominately blue, although within that colour a wide range of shades and hues can be found. Reproduction is generally done on a cycle (relative to the winter), with the net result being most Pords are born around the same time each year.
Important Cultural Information:
Religious festivals and observing certain dates is very important. Jlokhemit and Rekazhnar - being the primary two gods - are highly respected, and celebrations in their honour are not uncommon. So that the winter will not be overly harsh, many do their best to curry favour with Jlokhemit, and so the oceans are calm and do not sink their vessels, others celebrate Rekazhnar.
The Hunters and High Hunters are the primary officials in the nation of Nalydya. The primary function of the Hunter class is to maintain internal order and to represent the Empire abroad. To accomplish this task, they are divided up into a number of different "levels" of "Hunterdom."
At the very lowest, are the standard Hunters. These are the Hunters that are often found in many of the small villages dotted throughout the tundras of the various Nalydian realms. They are not elected per se, rather, their positions are gained through mutual agreement and through their own demonstrated abilities. At this lower level, actual ability to hunt and provide for and protect the village is generally what decides who becomes a Hunter and who does not.
Above these low Hunter are those who have gained regional influence, generally through much contact with other communities. Their primary concern is maintaining the peace and ensuring the people in their "jurisdiction" have what they need to survive. They often bring items of note to the attention of higher Hunters, who will do their best to aid them. The range of these Hunters is considerable, and can range from a few village clumps to even entire regions of a planet.
The High Hunters are at the top of the Hunterdom. It is quite an achievement to rise to the position of High Hunter. High Hunters are greatly respected throughout the nation, and are the ones in charge of overall supervision of the day-to-day activities of the nation, as well as representing the nation on the international stage. Generally speaking, when a High Hunter organizes something (such as a relief effort for a region in drought), Pords are quick to react to get the job done. For obvious reason, High Hunters tend to be aged men and women, who have served their communities for nearly their entire lives.
Hunters generally convene in buildings labeled as "Villas," which tend to be located centrally in whatever village or city they live in. The Palatial Villa in the capital of Tnem-Fragg and the Grand Hall of the Great House of Yamsai are the two largest and most important of these. In these two structures, the most important of the High Hunters gather to discuss matters of great relevance to the nation.
Hunter attire ranges from the modest tunics, trousers and coats the lower Hunters wear to keep warm in the tundra to the elaborate blue and white robes many of the Higher Hunters are known to wear. Although the traditional weapon of the Hunter is the spear (and to a smaller extent the trident), many Hunters carry two swords with them, in addition to a water satchel. It is a rarity for a Hunter to not know the art of waterbending.
The Hunters are also active in the realm of law, keeping order throughout Nalydya by virtue of their knowledge of the Hunter Code, an unwritten code of ethics that binds Nalydian society together. Although things such as theft, murder, rape, etc are not technically "illegal," the Hunter Code does give guidelines as for what should be done to those who would upset the natural order of things. With this in mind, those who cause chaos within society are generally dealt with in an efficient manner, allowing the Pords to retain order in their otherwise lawless society.
Galactic Quadrant Location: Not in the Milky Way. Located in the Barbarossa I Galaxy in a quadrant aptly named after Nalydya
Other Pertinent Information:
About half of the nation lives in the cities that dot the Empire's planets. Those that live in the cities have many jobs, mostly that pertain to keeping the nation running. With scarcity mostly a non-issue, many jobs are volunteer work, with others paying in resources. While in theory there is plenty of time for leisure, most Pords do not take part in such activities, preferring to keep themselves busy with a wide variety of activities. For the most part though, life in the cities is not terribly difficult.
Elsewhere in the nation, many live in small towns and villages dotted about the tundra. These hunting communities are comprised of very closely knit individuals who hunt together to bring food back and spend most of the day tending to the basic amenities that they need to survive. Although most can easily move, most chose not to.
Tnem-Fragg is the capital of Imperial Nalydya. It is a large, sprawling city with mostly shorter buildings, many of which are thousands of years old and retain the marks of previous wars and conflicts. The city stretches over an area of almost 350,000 square kilometers, and is surrounded by one hundred meter tall walls constructed out of ice (mostly) with limited support from other materials.
Tnem-Fragg serves as the meeting place for the Hunters and the birthplace of the Great House of Natynozh, the historical rivals of the Yamsai. Deep within the walls of the city (and behind its own walls) is the Palatial Villa, a large structure where the Hunters meet to discuss policy and direct the nation. Many Hunters live within the Villa, still others do not.
Grazhni Yamsai is the capital of the Great House of Yamsai. First settled by Yamsai'an Hunters many thousands of years ago, it was the first planet the Pords brought into their realm via peaceful means. The Hunters of the Great House of Yamsai take great pride in the planet, and many have died defending its orbitals from aggressors.
Yamsai is a semi-autonomous state, ruling over its domain mostly independent from command from Tnem-Fragg. Thus, it is possible for it to go into agreements with foreign entities separately from the rest of the nation. Nevertheless, many of the High Hunters of the Yamsai still meet at the Palatial Villa in Tnem-Fragg on Nalydya.
Factbook Link: factbook