Dominant Race: Goliaths
Government: Confederation of four Goliath clans, with clan Kadir as the most powerful
Population: 528,600
Geography: Qamaria is an immense and unforgiving country of mountains, river valleys, and desert. Rivers descend from the mountains and sustain most of the country’s farmland, settlements, and trade routes. Along these waterways, the landscape can be surprisingly fertile. Further inland, however, the rivers disappear and the country gives way to vast dunes, dry valleys, rounded hills, and barren wasteland. Centuries-old dead trees dot the desert, preserved by the relentless heat. Isolated pools can occasionally be found, but many are too salty or magically tainted to drink. Rainfall is scarce and unpredictable, particularly across the interior. Qamaria covers approximately 672 thousand square kilometres. Around 9% (60 thousand square kilometres) is arable land, concentrated mainly along the mountain rivers. The remaining 91% (612 thousand square kilometres) is wilderness. Much of Qamaria’s wasteland was created during the Thousand Years War between the noble houses of Borro and Lofus. Most of the war was fought in Qamaria. Its rivers were diverted, its fertile interior was scorched, and entire regions were reduced to magically scarred wasteland. Glass-covered craters, buried fortresses, dead forests, and corrupted ruins can still be found throughout the desert.
Culture and Society:
Qamaria is ruled by four powerful Goliath clans. Each clan governs part of the country and protects the rivers, settlements, roads, and resources within its territory. Matters affecting all of Qamaria are decided through negotiation between the four clan leaders. Their interests do not always align, and disputes over water, territory, trade, and ancient rights regularly create tension between them. Clan Kadir is the most prominent of the four clans. Its authority originates from the age of the Seven Lords, when one of these legendary rulers governed Kadir and its surrounding lands. Clan Kadir continues to draw legitimacy and prestige from this connection, often presenting itself as the natural leader of Qamaria. The other clans acknowledge Kadir’s historical importance but do not always accept its dominance.
Although conflict between the clans is common, open war is rare. The survival of Qamaria depends upon cooperation, particularly in maintaining river channels, defending trade routes, and protecting the population from the dangers of the interior. When Qamaria faces an outside threat, the four clans are expected to set aside their rivalries and fight together. Strength is highly respected in Qamarian society, but it is understood more broadly than physical power alone. Endurance, loyalty, wisdom, self-control, and the ability to protect one’s community are also considered forms of strength. Clan identity is deeply important, and an individual’s family connections, deeds, and reputation often determine their position within society.
Economy: Qamaria’s economy is concentrated along the rivers descending from its mountains. These river valleys produce grain, dates, legumes, fruit, and other drought-resistant crops. Livestock herding is common on the drier grasslands surrounding the valleys. Beyond agriculture, Qamaria depends on caravan trade, salt, stone, metals, desert minerals, and artefacts recovered from ancient ruins. Its merchants maintain routes across the wasteland, connecting the northern and southern regions of Eredonia. Each clan levies taxes and tolls within its own territory. Competition over river access and profitable trade routes is one of the main causes of political conflict between the clans. Clan Kadir controls several of Qamaria’s most important routes and consequently possesses the greatest wealth and influence.
Notable Locations:
The largest city, Khar Benidir, has approximately 84 thousand inhabitants and serves as Qamaria’s principal centre of trade, diplomacy, and government. Representatives of the four clans gather there to negotiate matters affecting the entire country. The second-largest settlement, Adarq, has more than 25 thousand inhabitants. Qamaria has one major city and seven recognised cities. Most of these settlements lie beside rivers or important caravan routes. The remainder of the population lives in river villages, mountain communities, desert hamlets, nomadic camps, and isolated dwellings.