Empire of Diramóa

The, often simply shortened to   is an empire in eastern. The region has a long history and tradition. As early as 3500, civilizations existed along the banks of the mighty Ch’misa River, which drains northern Diramóa into the Sea of Lashoi. Around 2940, more than a dozen petty kingdoms were conquered and unified by Sunta, a warrior chieftain of the tribe from western Diramóa. Sunta founded the, which would last more than 2,000 years. By 1500, this empire included , , , , and. The great rival empire at the time was, and Ch’misa seems to have benefitted from the demise of that state around this time.

In 530, the barbarians invaded and conquered Ch’misa after centuries of frontier conflict. The Ketari were led by Hazhan Khan, a warrior of legend even among a people of renowned martial prowess. He established the Hazhan dynasty and founded the Diramóan Empire, which exists to the present day. Hazhan and his successors were able to blend Ch’misan culture with their own, thus sustaining their control. Diramóan social and political structure evolved from a system that resembled feudalism to the present centralized bureaucracy. Districts are administered by Shih, “Servants of the State,” rather than hereditary nobility. The population is organized in groups of families bearing mutual responsibility and regimented to provide manpower for public works and the army.

In the twelve centuries since Hazhan, the Diramóans have had varied fortune. When Ch’misa was destroyed, the outer empire fragmented. Since then, the Diramóans have sought in vain to regain Jankor and Kaneum but have established hegemony over Chomsun and parts of. The Empire of Kaneum has stubbornly resisted Diramóan expansion. However, Diramóa, already the largest and most powerful state in the world, is an empire on the rise and, under the rule of the present Mei-Nan dynasty, seems certain to remain the dominant state in eastern Lýthia.

Central Diramóa is the most populous region on Lýthia. The capital city of Ain Dao has more than 1,250,000 inhabitants and the various river valleys are densely populated. Contact with western Lýthia is minimal. Diramóan silks and jades are eagerly sought exports to the west but most such trade is handled by merchants of the mid-east. Another prime export is lashu powder, believed to be a medicinal cure-all by western Lýthians. Lashu powder is made from the common rhubarb plant but the buyers in and  are not aware of this.

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