Gedersov

A once proud, if poor feudalistic empire, the Gedersov have been taken and dominated by the Urial for the last eight kani. However, they are not discouraged from speaking their language or worshiping Isal, freedoms they fear could vanish any minute. It.s cold in Gedersov. Only a hardy race could have taken it amidst the harsh winter.

General Statistics

The Holy Empire of Gedersov. 503 years since founding, population: 8,000,000, area: 6,600,000 square miles. Largest land area, second largest population size in the world. Religion: Isal. Government: Traditionally monarchy, currently unknown. Languages: Gedersov (official), Urial, Oalien? Borders: in the south and from west to east - Dtai, Ghirak, Urial ancestral lands, Al-Dasar, Kohn.

Comparative populations: Dtai - 4,500,000 (Andar - 105,000), Lantyre - 2,500,000 (Lantyre capital - 35,000), Previn - 4,800,000 (Previn capital - 65,000), Ghirak - 4,500,000, Kateene - 5,000,000, Kohn - 11,000,000 (Kohn capital - 1,300,000), Oalien - , Al-Damir -3,000,000, Al-Dasar (Persia) - 5,000,000, Sosen - , Urial -

Comparative land areas (square miles): Dtai - 116,000, Lundei - 285,000 (Lantyre - 105,000, Previn - 180,000), Ghirak - 134,000, Kateene - 50,000, Oalien - 146,000, Kohn - 3,700,000, Al-Damir - 154,000, Al-Dasar - 270,000, Sosen - 30,000, Urial - 40,000

History

Gedersov was officially founded some 500 years ago. Since then, several families have held claim to the Grand Prince's throne. Some obtained power in bloodless coups, others in bloody revolution. Some names and events known to foreigners and the years they occurred (given in number of years that passed between the country's founding and the event): 

about 30-50		Suzdal is Grand Prince
95			"Great Mercy" to Dtai
99-101			"Great Mercy" to Al-Dasar
234-242			Ghirak-Gedersov conflict
about 470			Kivala Lotra becomes Grand Prince
482-present		Urial invade, Nieta Lotra becomes Grand Prince
Suzdal
Concerned over problems of succession frequent in neighboring nations, he ordered and officiated over the drafting of rules of succession, which were written and placed in several locations. The rules make for succession by bloodline but include many bylaws to cover cases of disputes. A law that members of the royal family who marry foreigners must live in the homelands of their spouses, designed to limit the leadership of Gedersov to Gedersovians, angered many foreign nations and has resulted in the entrenchment of Gedersovian royalty in foreign courts.

"Great Mercy" to Dtai
Dtai experienced tremendous political upheaval as their ruling family was torn apart by several bloody coups. Gedersovian monastics and other do-gooders crossed the southern border in the hundreds, bearing loads of donated clothes, herbs, and finer supplies.

"Great Mercy" to Al-Dasar
As the Great Mercy to Dtai was drawing to a close, another neighbor suffered calamity. Al-Dasar, while quite politically-stable, was hard-hit by plagues amongst their livestock. Again, Gedersov intervened on their behalf.
Ghirak-Gedersov conflict
In 234, the Ghirak invaded the forests in the south of Gedersov. 8 years later, a cease-fire was announced.
Urial invasion
The invasion was brief and bloody. In the 21 years following, the country has been mostly cut off from the rest of the world. But most trade and communication has ceased. The Lotra continue to rule, but Nieta, the Urial. s choice of a puppet Grand Prince, holds the throne in place of the murdered Kivala.
Then again, now that the Oalien have also invaded, who knows what.s going on. Maybe the Oalien have taken control of trade, maybe they've left things as they found them, maybe they.ve restored control of the country to the Gedersovians. Who knows.

Architecture

Homes
Gedersov seems to follow the same class tendencies as other Isalite countries. There.s probably a noble mansion for every few towns under the rich family's jurisdiction. There seems to be no indication that the average home, be it a peasant.s or a nobleman.s, is really different from those you could find in other Isalite nations.

Churches and Cathedrals
Churches are distributed through the country with the same frequency as in Dtai or Lundei but are known to be differently constructed.

Monasteries
All word has it that monasteries are extremely frequent throughout the country, often containing the town.s cathedral. Who knows why the Gedersovians need so many monks. They.re apparently quite convenient for travelers, though, most of them having a whole room designed just for visitors.

Clothing

Everyday clothing is said to be on the whole identical to the wear of a peasant in Dtai, Ghirak, or Lundei.

Customs

Gedersovians are well-known for being extremely superstitious and for having some very strange superstitions. Visitors to the country have said that the people are both very welcoming and very easily offended.

Diet
By all accounts, Gedersov has the most bland foods imaginable, even by the standards of Ghirak and Lantyre. No spices are native to the country. The alcohol is especially vile, though it.s an unwritten requirement for men to drink lots of it. Travelers have warned that men resting overnight in a village will likewise be expected to partake, and that anybody relying on Gedersovian hospitality will find themselves expected to eat truly vast amounts of meats and thick soups.

Other Etiquette
Men shake hands upon meeting or concluding a sale. If each man does not know the other.s name, gloves must be worn by both. If each knows the other's name, gloves must be removed.
Before leaving on a long trip, sit quietly for two minutes. On the decks of boats, the entire crew comes together to perform this ritual before departure.
Never underestimate Gedersovian patriotism. Insulting Gedersovian ways, leaders (except the Urial), religion, or people is, of course, a very poor idea. Gedersovians are renowned for being easily offended and reacting swiftly and harshly to any insult.

Justice and Law
Most of the punishable offenses are the same as in other Isalite nations, but some punishments vary in severity.

Military
Foreigners, especially those with highly-organized military forces, use the word "military" loosely when describing Gedersov. In the Gedersov-Ghirak conflict, it was peasants with hoes out doing the fighting. Nothing has changed since then.

Language
Notoriously long-winded and difficult. A couple letters look like Kateene. Those literate in both languages recognize that they produce different sounds. Some sounds are absent - kw, w. The untrained ear hears the language mostly in the sounds sh, ch, and zh.