Anaxas

The Kingdom of Anaxas is the southernmost kingdom in the Headlands, to the southwest of Mugroba and the northeast of Hesse. Anaxas enjoys a prosperous role as middleman in the trade system between the Headlands and the Vales. The prime goddess of the country is Alioe, Goddess of Time.

The adjectival and demonymic form of "Anaxas" is "Anaxi". For example, "he/she/it is Anaxi", "the Anaxi flag," and "several Anaxi".

Population

Though a proper census has not been done for years, the population of Anaxas is roughly in the area of eight hundred thousand. Humans represent 75% of the population; wicks are about 15%, and galdori (including passive galdori) represent the remaining 10%.

A significant percent of the population of Anaxas is of immigrant origin, because many nations send their children to Brunnhold to study magic. Human traders from Mugroba and Hesse often settle in Anaxas. There are representatives from nine kingdoms living and working in Anaxas. Old Rose Harbor is perhaps the most diverse city in the country, with more immigrants than indigenous people.

Topography

A primarily deciduous region, with a temperate climate and heavy rainfall, Anaxas' fertile land is dotted with farms, fields and rice paddies. It is home to many rolling hills and a few low-lying mountains. To the west, there is an area shrouded in mist; this mist is produced by the hatchers, who roam the land in small bands. There is a valley hidden within this mist, said to be the home of the wick fortress of Anhau.

History

Before the rise of sorcery, Anaxas was a nation of tribal agriculturists, exporting primarily grain, lentils and certain livestock. Its inhabitants were devoutly religious but no one church held majority sway, with each tribe having its own religious customs and practices.

Anaxas experienced a rise in their galdori population around 350 BT; immigrants came mainly from the mountainous area of Hox, lending to the physical similarities between the two cultures that remain in the present day. The galdori mainly inhabited the land to the east (where they would eventually take root) and regularly interacted with the desert galdori of Mugroba, resulting in a mixed race of river-dwellers that went on to establish a successful spice trade between the two countries. Notably, Old Rose Harbor is the hub of the spice trade, which filtered in from the Muluku Islands.

Anaxi galdori grew rapidly in number, breeding with the tribal humans and establishing a stronghold in eastern Anaxas. As tribes merged together, through peaceful negotiation or minor warfare, their numbers only grew more exponentially. The first known permanent settlement of galdori in Anaxas, nestled in foothills, became known as Bruanhald, or “Red Home” (so named for the red sandstone used as a building material). This name would eventually evolve into '''Brunnhold''', and the fortress would go on to become the first school of sorcery and the cultural capitol of Anaxas.

After the War of the Book in 98 AT, the galdori became increasingly more involved in the lives of the tribal humans. Eventually, they would take complete control. The human populations of Anaxas handled this invasive force with composure for a while, but when the galdori took control over the humans' trade routes, and forced them into settlements, they began to become hostile towards their overlords.

Currently, the capitol city of Anaxas is Vienda, with an enormous population of over fifty thousand humans and galdori. There is much civil unrest across the kingdom, and whispers of civil war are growing louder each day.

Culture

For information on Anaxi culture, please see the Culture page. For information on the cultures of specific races, see the Races page.

Cities and Towns

The cultural center for galdori is undoubtedly Brunnhold, which includes a small College Town (called the Stacks) for lodging, spirits and entertainment. The school is a city in its own right, with churches, businesses and homes as well as its academic buildings.

The commercial and political capitol is the city of Vienda, which, while ruled over by galdori, is populated mainly by humans.

Old Rose Harbor is an unchecked hive of criminal activity and black market trading. The galdori allow it to remain standing because it is vital to the trade between the Muluku Islands and the rest of Anaxas.

Politics

See Anaxi Politics.