Karkand

The discovery of the Karkandiak continent marked the beginning of the Age of Oceans, the period of time in Shadre’s history where maritime exploration and colonization reached its peak.

After the discovery of the huge continent by independent adventurers, a multitude of nations rushed the virgin land to claim a piece of the cake, for Karkand was (and still is in some parts) an uncharted and exotic land waiting to be explored.

Eventually, the Karkandiak colonies grew rich, prosperous, and daring. Wars back at the old continent (mainly Teria) forced the most important colonies into unwanted conflicts. The wars in the seas, Teria, and Karkand drove a substantial part or the colonial population into Karkand’s inner territories to start anew. Some of these adventurous colonist groups founded new villages; others even decided to go back in time and form tribal societies in this pure, new land. And others were lost forever…

Given the time, the state of senseless conflicts brewed the perfect storm, where a big independent group was formed and financed by high aristocrats, generals, and philosophers. They all shared the same dream: A new great nation that could rise in this beautiful land. The nation of Karkand.

After one last big effort, the armies of the independent coalition of Karkand managed to unify the country with relative ease. After all, the foreign powers were too busy fighting each other to answer to this new threat effectively.

In the present time, Karkand’s growth has decelerated. A country with so much potential, that was once seen as a beacon of liberty in Shadre, is now seen as a libertine nation managed by uninspired and corrupt leaders.

The country’s economy would be in a hard spot if it wasn’t for Aurisoft’s huge investment, which led to heavy mining, large production complexes, and new infrastructure. While being a Helian corporation, Aurisoft mainly operates in Karkand because of the relatively cheap manpower, exploiting its resources while giving jobs to dozens of thousands.

Regarding its military, Karkand is weak considering the vast resources and high population it has. This country already had a bad performance during the War of Silence, being unable to win most of the battles against Zastravingar. Still, Aurisoft’s bigger army corps are stationed in Karkand, and in cooperation with the Karkandiak army, it could be said that the country is perfectly able to fend off almost any invader.

Karkand is a country with an (almost) stagnant economy. Life’s easy and convenient for the powerful and rich, while a bit harsh for the commoner. The common salaries are average at best, but at least the quality of life is good enough and many rights are granted to the citizens of this country.

Finally, Karkand is a beautiful, wide, and deep exotic country with the biggest variety of biomes in all of Shadre. It is not only a perfect place for adventurers and explorers, but also for common tourists who just want to visit a resort by the beach and enjoy the great views and affordable prices.

Karkandiaks are usually seen as losers, simpletons, and sometimes as superstitious individuals, but also as good-hearted, daring, and honest people.