Ticondera

Ticondera is a geopolitical region occupying the Western Hemisphere of the Light Dimension. At one time, all of Ticondera was united as a single empire, known in poetic recountings of Ticonderan history as "Boundless Ticondera."

Land

Ticondera includes two major continents: the massive Crescent continent in the east, and the icy Delvian continent in the northwest, as well as the tropical Delvian Isles near the equator.

The Crescent Continent

This Continent, also known as the Ticonderan Crescent or simply The Crescent, gets its name for its crescent shape. It is a very mountainous landmass, and is the largest continent in the Web of Worlds. The southern portion of the continent is the Marak region, the northeastern portion is the Abdilene region, and the northwestern portion is the Brussian region. The populous area where these regions intersect is often classified the Viper region, although culturally it is merely a blend of Delvian, Marak, Abdilene, and Brussian influences.

Delvia

The icy Delvian Continent, also known as the Delvian Mainland, has been politically and culturally linked for most of recorded history to the tropical islands far South of it (the Delvian Isles). By far, the largest of the Delvian Isles is Eygus.

People

Ticondera is a diverse land comprising several sapient races. Humans far and away make up the majority of the Ticonderan population, but Elves and Dwarves are native to Ticondera as well, along with a smattering of other non-human races. There are three main ethnicities of Ticonderan humans: Maraks, Abdilenes, and Delvians. Some consider Brussians a separate race, while others see them as merely a mixture of Maraks and Abdilenes. The Viperese are a combination of all three and generally refer to themselves simply as "Ticonderan".

Maraks

Maraks have dark complexions, along with dark hair and eye colors. As a race, they have adapted a mild resistance to toxins that allows them to consume greater quantities of typically illicit substances (alcohol, nicotine and other drugs) with less chance for long-term health effects than other branches of the human family. A widely-held stereotype would have it that Maraks actually depend upon these substances to live; but this is, in fact, not true, and is born more out of cultural prejudice than any legitimate medical science. Maraks are often considered (especially by Tasnicans) a degenerate race with loose morals, a tendency toward overindulgence (especially in alcohol), sexual promiscuity, and a propensity for cheating and treachery. Marak culture is rather gloomy and hopeless, which may explain why they often seek out hedonistic diversions. One infamously bad habit of Maraks was the buying and selling of women as property. It was stamped out under the communist rule of Caidin. Marak names have a slightly higher proportion of names with a K or hard C sound (Carter, Kordridge, Canning, Coventry, Kylenne, Bembrook, Pherik), and also a few scattered Scandish borrowings ("Arkady").

Abdilenes

Abdilenes are somewhat taller and lighter-skinned than Maraks, with hair ranging from black to dark blond. Common stereotype holds that they are a somewhat more industrious people than the Maraks; Abdilene craftsmen (especially smiths and woodworkers) are something that the region is famous for. Women were not sold among the Abdilenes, and they get along only slightly better with Tasnicans. (although the Tasnican occupation of the Abdilene region remains something of a sore spot) Despite the common Ticonderan culture, several eras of Ticonderan history were marked by competition and outright conflict between Maraks and Abdilenes, reckoned in terms of "Southerners" and "Northerners." The remnants of this conflict are mostly vestigial, but it does crop up from time to time (especially since the breakup of Ticondera). Abdilene names are nearly identical to Marak names, although it is worth noting that the suffixes "-aine", "-ene", "-yne" (and derivitives thereof) come up somewhat more often. (Telaine, Abdilene, Brynne, Jolene).

Delvians

Delvians have pale complexions and come from a colder climate, although they have long since claimed and populated the tropical Delvian Islands as well. The Ticonderan aristocracy was traditionally dominated by Delvians before communism displaced the imperial order. Delvians held this place due to their control of the spice, silk, and drug trades -- though native Delvian histories often gloss over the latter of the three major industries. Delvians are often stereotyped as arrogant, power-hungry and pampered, but as with most stereotypes it fails to bear out in many individual cases. It is true, however, that even through the communist period, Delvians were generally more wealthy and enjoyed a higher standard of living than most of their Marak or Abdilene peers -- and this was, understandably, a cause for significant resentment of Delvian people at large. Examples of Delvian personal names: Camilison, Kamil, Salynae, Esuna, Lemele, Olvan. Examples of Delvian surnames: Dowanna, Langren, Melanion, Vandole, Jaess.

Modern Nations

After the destruction of the Leviathan War and the New Wraith, the weakened Ticonderan regime finally fell apart at the seams. What was once whole has since become five distinct territories, broken down roughly along ethnic lines: The FTSR (Federation of Ticonderan Socialist Republics) is in the Marak region, the Viper District is fixed in the region of the old capital of North Viper, the BFTA (Brush Free-Trade Alliance) is in the Brussian region, and the Duchy of Delvia is on the island of Delvia. Tasnicans control the Abdilene region, which is known as the Tasnican Ticonderan Territories (TTT).

FTSR

The Federation of Ticonderan Socialist Republics, or FTSR, is a communist nation backed by the Scandian League. They are currently engaged in a drawn-out war against the Viper District. The capital of the FTSR is Pang.

Viper District

The official name of this nation is the Republic of Ticondera, but that name is rarely used. The Viper District is a militaristic dictatorship; it is nominally communist, though authoritarian might be a more accurate term. It is currently fighting a protracted war against the FTSR. The capital of the Viper District is North Viper, the largest city in the Light Dimension, and the former capital of the Ticonderan Empire, and the communist government of Ticondera that followed with the rise and fall of Caidin.

BFTA

The Brush Free-Trade Alliance, or BFTA, is a capitalist oligarchy ruled by corporations. The capital city is Brush.

Duchy of Delvia

The Duchy of Delvia is an aristocracy. It is currently ruled jointly by a Duke and a Duchess, who have pledged loyalty to the Ticonderan Imperial Family should they ever return to rule. The capital city is Port Eygus.

Tasnican-Ticonderan Territories (3T)

The Tasnican-Ticonderan Territories in the Abdilene region of Ticondera are owned by Tasnica. Unlike most Tasnican colonies, Abdilenes have not been granted the rights and privileges of Tasnican citizenship. This is a volatile situation, as Tasnicans and Ticonderans bear great animosity for one another.

History

• The Rise of Tauroch
• The Reign of Salynae XXIII and the beginning of the Great War
• The Reign of Camilison and the end of the Great War
• Caidin's Revolution and the KMT War
• The Kordridge Administration and the OmniSent Conflict
• Ticondera after Dain and the Leviathan War
• The Ticonderan Civil Wars