Cathai

The Empire State of Cathai, is a unitary state and a meritocratic oligarchy in the Southeast of Akonanada in and around the Lake Region. It has a small population, with almost all living in its' capital city of Ilmarin. Cathai is a non-industrial nation, and advocates against the expansion of nations into the wilderness. Cathai is culturally diverse, with a host of traditions, languages and festivals unique to it.

Geographically, it occupies about 3/4ths of the island of Tabonnes, and fully controls the island of Leiwyn, with its capital city crossing the river Marin. Caths hold a high degree of respect for nature and its preservation.

History
Historically, Cathai was never a state. Occasionally, small city-states would pop up, but then disappear just as quickly as they arrived. Significant city states were Midtarr (132BA - 92BA), Pklacoss (388BA - 145BA), and Leigorthe (34BA - 2BA). Leigorthe, the most recent city-state before the Empire State formed, was a confederacy, led by the Great Houses Concord and Katth. Leigorthe was previously based in Karinne, a ruined city to the south, before moving to Ilmarin in 3BA. Due to the distance between Ilmarin and other holy sites in Folk Mysticism, it was difficult for the central government to ensure law and order. Eventually, this lack of law and order led to its collapse just a few years before the arrival of colonisers to Akonanada.

Around the time that colonisers were arriving, Alleia of the Great House of Concord, the daughter of the previous Diaden Eureyn, who killed himself after his nation collapsed, declared the Empire State of Cathai to protect it from outside harm and to ensure its legitimacy in the eyes of other states.

Religion
Folk Mysticism is the predominant religion of Cathai, with many Caths following one of two branches of Folk Mysticism, either Thetan or Crei, the latter of which is native to the Lake Region.

The Folklings are the gods of Folk Mytiscism. They are entrusted with maintaining the cosmic balance known as the Great Rhythm. Unlike gods in other settings, the Folklings rarely squabble with one another, for any strife between the Folklings is a threat to the balance of nature itself. The Folklings tend to keep to themselves, and rarely meddle in each other’s affairs. Though each Folkling is a powerful being in their own right, holding a great degree of autonomy over their dominion, each understands that they are but a small part of a greater whole.

It is important to note that the Folklings can be separated into 3 distinct categories, Woodfolk, Shroomfolk and Birdfolk. Each category has many different gods who personify the category they are in. For example, Hanera, the Birdfolk of nature and by far the most revered of the Folk Mytiscist pantheon, is a pheasant.

Both Crei and Theta add a new god to the Folk Mysticist Pantheon, namely the god Ishmael, the manifestation of the earth. Ishmael is inherently connected to both Hath and Hanera, the gods of death and nature respectively, and in other branches of Folk Mysticism is incorporated into either of them. This has led to their respect of the earth and nature in general. For example, when they make a kill, they spare the Murch, a part of most Lake Region animals have that are rich in nutrients. It is left on the ground next to the corpse, for the earth to retake as fertiliser or other animals to feast on.

Cuisine
Cath cuisine and how it is prepared and presented is a very important part of Cath culture. Cooking and gifting food to someone is a sign of love and respect within Cathai. Because of the Cath diaspora and outside influence, Cath cuisine, table manners and the meanings of food have become mainstays in every corner of the world. Fragrance, taste and meaning are the three most important aspects of Cath cuisine, having all three fulfilled is considered to be a lucky charm. Fragrance is how good the food smells, the scent and the seasoning used.

Taste is the general taste of the food, as well as the ingredients used. Finally, meaning refers to specific beliefs attributed to dishes or ingredients, for example, fish is seen as good luck to consume, whilst vegetables and meat are seen as bringing good health and knowledge respectively. Table manners include greeting elders at a table before eating a meal, drinking soup from the bowl directly to show one's like of the food, and on certain holidays, eating under the moon.

Food is such an important part of Cath culture because as the saying goes, 'food is the way to the heart'. By cooking a meal for someone, you are telling them that you appreciate them and that you love them. Offering food is also a way of greeting, and asking if someone has eaten yet or has been eating well is a way to express concern and love. In fact, the common greeting in Allari and Irindian as a whole is not 'how are you?' or even 'hello', it is 'have you eaten yet?'