Belsegallia (Aurora)
Kingdom of Belsegallia Belasegaiya Koletsa | |
|---|---|
| History | |
| Location | Auroran Sky |
| Notable castles | Terenata • Larinata • Yusugo |
| Places of note | Dorinata • Tourmaline Wastes |
| Government | |
| Type | Feudal monarchy |
| Ruling House | L’aderina |
| Head of State | Queen Xana |
| Head of Government | Archduchess Hana L’orika |
| Legislature | Mages’ Circle |
| Military | ~8,000 women |
| Socio-cultural characteristics | |
| Capital | Terenata |
| Official languages | Belsedori |
| Races | Belsedori Cloud Fae |
| Religion(s) | Belsedori Ditheism |
| Demonym(s) | Belsegallian |
| Population estimate | ~2.0 million |
| Currency | Aiya |
”Of the many realms described in this tome, the kingdom (the little information that I have at hand suggests that this is a misnomer) of Belsegallia remains one of the most enigmatic. What rumors and myths have reached me are vague, fantastical, and often contradict each other, though some common themes are present; the most believable of the stories regarding its inhabitants describe them as a cryophilic, harpy-like people (as is suitable for inhabitation of an aerial environment) with a notably high aptitude for all manner of magical arts.—Darius of Reva, Atlas of Realms
Belsegallia (Belsedori: Belasegaiya), officially the Kingdom of Belsegallia (Belsedori: Belasegaiya Koletsa) is a nation located in the southeast of Terra Aurora. Belsegallia’s territory is entirely composed of magically levitating landmasses of various sizes, with the eponymous land of Belsegallia being the largest; the climate on them is perpetually freezing year-round due to the high altitude that they reside at, and Belsegallia is perpetually blanketed with permafrost and snow.
Etymology
The etymology of the name “Belsegallia” is obscure. The closest matching word in Belsedori is “Belase”, which translates to “snow.”
History
Founding
The Old Kingdom
The Larinata Disaster
Reformation of Belsegallia
Current Events
Politics
Economy
Demographics
The native inhabitants of Belsegallia are a race of cryophilic, semi-avian humanoids called the Belsedori, also sometimes colloquially known outside of Belsegallia as “Snow Harpies.” Belsedori comprise 95% of Belsegallia’s population and hold all positions of importance within its government, economy, and religion.
Culture
The culture of Belsegallia is dominated by the customs and social structure of the Belsedori who inhabit it. Belsegallian society at large is extremely matriarchal; women are tasked with performing all governmental and military functions in Belsegallia and hold all positions of power, relegating men to domestic roles like housework and childcare. Skill in magical arts is valued highly by both sexes, and virtually all Belsegallians know at least the basics of magic.
Cuisine
Due to environmental constraints imposed by the perennial snow cover and inclement weather, grain farming is highly impractical in most parts of Belsegallia; Belsegallian food is instead typically made with fruit, meat, dairy, and/or fish. The flour in dishes like varieties of bread and dumplings is made with starchy fruits rather than grain. Belsedori milk, as well as the cheese, butter, cream and other dairy products that are made from it, are used extensively in Belsegallian cuisine; uses range from savory soups and sauces to desserts like milkshakes and ice cream.
Dress
Clothing-related customs in Belsegallia are influenced strongly by the specific physical traits of Belsedori. Belsegallian clothes for women and men are often viewed as greatly resembling each other from the perspective of a non-Belsegallian, but differ heavily in the specific materials used and the method of styling. Customs regarding sex-segregated clothing types are especially strongly enforced and do not commonly match their counterparts outside of Belsegallia; the archetypal example of this occurrence is the fact that Belsegallians view pants as women’s-only clothing and expect men to wear shorts instead.
Gender Roles
Magical Arts
Magical practices of all varieties hold a prominent position in Belsegallian society, including spellcraft, alchemy, enchanting and magical forging, and other pursuits. Cultural restrictions on acceptable magic are often divided by gender; men typically learn alchemy, whereas women usually study enchanting. Manufactured magical objects like jewelry, clothing & armor, and weaponry that originate from Belsegallia are typically of unusually high quality due to a combination of exotic reagents, the higher skill level of the average Belsegallian artisan, and the natural magical predisposition of the Belsedori.