Batu

The Batu Khaganate is a nation located on the southern regions of Eldham, with its capital in the city of Lazodi. The nation is mainly composed of the Batu people, who found their origins within the snowy tundra and mountains located within the country. The country's culture is heavily family oriented, and as such the most basic political sub-unit is that of the Mirza, families and extended families that encompass the entirety of Batu society. Governmental functions in the country are managed by the Khural, a senate composed of the heads of the Mirzas, also known as Khans, and of representatives for the people of each Mirza, known as the Darga. The Batu Khaganate would later be succeeded by the Eldham Trade Company, with the Khaganate then being restored after the disbanding of the ETC.

Timeline
Main article:Batu History Timeline

Pre-History (lore)
The lands that today form the tundra of the Batu have been inhabited since time immemorial, however it is not until approximately 3,000 years ago that the ancestors of the peoples that would eventually come to be known as the Batu migrated to the region from an unknown location. When these early settlers came upon the land, they found a snowy, yet easily livable landscape, filled with forests and different native edible plants adapted to the local climate.

Early Batu society was composed of mostly nomadic hunter-gatherers, however even from these early days there is evidence of familial connections becoming important parts of the society of these early settlers, with the different tribal settlements being composed primarily by the chief's direct and extended family, and some scholars believe that it is from these tribal families that our modern concept of a Mirza has been derived.

Eventually, a majority of the nomadic tribes would come to settle down, forming small, permanent communities, which would slowly merge with neighboring communities as populations intermingled and families grew, leading to a merging of the many families that once dominated the Batu tribal settlements, forming the earliest recognizable form of the institutions that we now know as Mirzas.

Throughout their history, these Mirzas would rise and fall in prominence, the names of many are today forgotten, yet we see what they have begotten; many of the major Mirzas and families of today are directly descended from these ancient Mirzas, sometimes as splinter groups and sometimes as direct descendants. One thing is always consistent in early Batu society, however, and that is conflict between the Mirzas.

The First Khagan (lore)
The day came whereupon Aput looked over her domain, and saw only the devastation left behind by the warring Mirza. (WIP)

The First Khaganate (ingame)
Lazodi would be founded on the 30th of May of 2021, by player TheRealYuca, with players Jacob_Owl, I_ce, Ceibichiiii, Jubuli, and Clufiy, with Mothman of Krakonia helping them found the country. The first Khaganate would oversee a period of rapid expansion for the country and the culture, with the country reaching its territorial height under this government. The First Khaganate would see the formation of the Pact of the Tundra on the 4th of June of 2021, an alliance between Batu and Vulpinia, and would also lead the formation of the Federation of Southern Stars, with the Treaty of Lazodi declaring the birth of the union on the 14th of June 2021. The First Khaganate would end when Yuka Ukok (player TheRealYuca) would install his wife the Empress Maria van Rickerstein (player Jubuli) as empress upon his retirement.

Government of the First Khaganate
The government of the first Khaganate would see different reforms as time went one, beginning as an oligarchic republic where the Khural, the ruling senate, was composed of the Khans of each Mirza, with them all being co-equal. With the establishment of the first Batu Constitution the Khural, composed now of the elected Khans and elected representatives from each Mirza, known as Darga, would vote to choose one from among the Khans to be first among equals, taking on the title of Khagan. Eventually, when Batu would reach its territorial height, reforms would take place wherein Khans would no longer be related to the Mirza, and instead be awarded to each town owner, with further population-based representatives for each town being known as the Darga.

Yuka Ukok (player TheRealYuca) would be the Khan of the Ukok Mirza, and the Khagan of the Batu Khaganate for the duration of the First Khaganate. Sibi Eriki (player Ceibichiiii) would be the Khan of the Eriki, Cliffton Altercast (player Clufiy) would be the Khan of the Altercast, and Maria van Rickerstein (player Jubuli) would be the Khan of the Rickerstein. Following the government reforms that led to city-based Khans instead of Mirza-based Khans Yuka Ukok (player TheRealYuca), Sibi Eriki (player Ceibichiiii), Maria van Rickerstein (player Jubuli), and Mung daal(player Orbital1) would be the Khans, with Yuka Ukok (player TheRealYuca) maintaining the position of Khagan the entire time.

The Batu Empire (ingame)
Following the retirement of Yuka Ukok (player TheRealYuca) from politics, his successor and wife Maria van Rickerstein (player Jubuli) would declare the Batu Empire on the 4th of July of 2021. The Batu Empire would oversee the dissolution of the Federation of Southern Stars, with it being one of the first member nations to leave the federation, along side their vassal Nova Azcoria and their ally Vulpinia on the 9th of July of 2021. The Empire would see its end, when on the 10th of July of 2021 Empress Maria (player Jubuli) would step down from her position and instead install Kilustme (player Kilustme) as king of the Batu Kingdom.

Government of the Batu Empire
The government of the Batu Empire would be composed of the Empress at the top of the government, with the Empress being advised by the Council of Risen Minds, composed of the Khans of the Mirza and appointed advisors.

The Batu Kingdom (ingame)
The Batu Kingdom would be formed with the coronation of King Kilustme (player Kilustme) on the 11th of July of 2021. The Kingdom would oversee the reintegration of territories lost under the Empire, such as the reintegration of the Republic of Shakumagu. The Kingdom would promptly be abolished on this same exact date after a coup performed by pro-Bardonian forces composed of Senior Batu citizens, government officials, and founders would be successful in establishing the Eldham Trade Company.

Government of the Batu Kingdom
The government of the Batu Kingdom would be composed of the King at the top advised by a group of Courtiers in the King's Court. This would be the first government to completely remove the Mirza from any and all positions of influence.

The Eldham Trade Company (ingame)
The Eldham Trade Company would be established following a successful coup by pro-Bardonian forces. The ETC was independent from the Bardonian Empire, however it would be heavily influenced by it as the Governor-General, Crezyman (player Crezyman) would be a government member in Bardonia, with Crezyman being the Grand General of Bardonia at the time. The ETC would see the first, and as of the 17th of August of 2021 the only, war in Batu's history, the Horse War.

The Mirza
While Mirza are ever-changing as families rise in power and decline in prominence, current Batu society is dominated by the following major Mirza: The Altercast Mirza: Born from centuries of conflict over the scarce resources of the tundra, the Astercast are highly skilled warriors. Preferring to always be prepared for any situation, the Astercast have a tendency towards living in highly fortified settlements and always training for battle in their free time. The Rickerstein Mirza: This family is known for the prominence of its architects, the bravery of its miners, and the skill of its smiths. The lords of the underlands, the Rickerstein were molded by the great caverns of their ancestral home, filled with buried treasures and ancient ruins from empires of days gone by. The Rickerstein tend to be warm and welcoming to travelers seeking refuge in their hearths. The Eriki Mirza: Known for the influence of its merchants in international commerce, as well as the fertility of the lands where their farmers produce their crops, the Eriki are influential suppliers of essential supplies for the Khaganate. This family is known for having a tendency towards isolationism and protectionism, often finding themselves arguing against the belligerent attitudes of other Mirza. The Eriki are warm and welcoming to fellow Batu, however they have found themselves being accused of being cold to foreigners.

Ukok Mirza: Made up primarily of religious functionaries, wizened scholars, and gregarious diplomats, this Mirza feels most at home socializing with foreign individuals and teaching them about their faith and culture. Members of this Mirza typically prefer to maintain friendly relations with their neighbors. Pass-times of this Mirza include drinking and socializing with folks, as well as eating good food over an interesting conversation around the meal table. They may have a propensity to being on the heavier side

Religion
Batu has a native Shaman spiritual culture, informally led by the Shaman Carado Spheniscidae. The Shaman conducts rituals to lead anyone who asks through a spiritual journey.

Batu Shamanism is very loose in accuracies, and mainly includes tales of ancient Spirits who shapeshift into certain beasts, such as Gan, Kutsal, etc. The main Spirit of Batu Shamanism is Aput, the Ice Maiden known to roam the frozen landscape that is the traditional Batu homeland. She is seen as a defender of the tundra and it's inhabitants, but is aggressive towards anyone or anything that damages the tundra.

The Batu religion is heavily connected to their natural environment, and the ultimate goal in life for a Batu citizen is to live out a good life which honours the family and their environment, with the hopes of passing on to become a guardian spirit for their house after death.