Ky'Pla, officially Military Authority of Ky'Pla, is a military government located north of Igell, on the western continent. It borders with Igell on the south and shares maritime borders with Deepsand. Ky'Pla's capital and largest urban center is Kitur, a fortified circular city at the east coast. Ky'Pla is a stratocracy: power is gained via honor and strategic wisdom. The leaders of Ky'Pla are generals, veterans, the most skilled warriors, tacticians and leaders of previous wars and battles.
Ky'Pla has the world's fourth largest economy, and a high development index. Civil rights are surprisingly respected, based on the fundamental principles that honor is bestowed to all upon entry into military service regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, gender or other characteristics. Ky'Pla was originally an orcish state, but its citizens are now a diverse mix of orcs, humans and a small section of other humanoid races. Kitur is a multi-layered defensive city built up almost entirely of brick and stone villas and mansions, with tall banners and flags of the nation waving atop most, if not all citizens' houses. Large avenues fit for military parades cut the city in quarters, and every aspect of the city's planning keeps its defense on the forefront.
Ky'Pla has a highly militaristic yet law-abiding foreign policy: while being extremely obvious with their military might and frequently performing large scale training, Ky'Pla is respectful of other nations' borders and sovereignty. Once, a Freeport fishing trawler was struck by an artillery shell during a training. As a result, a fleet of Ky'Pla warships initiated a two-week search and located the stranded fisherman, bringing them to Freeport and profusely apologizing via a donation of firearms and a load of fish equal to what the fisherman would have caught in those two weeks. It also maintains a military treaty with Norelva, Freeport, New Fromen and Igell known at the Sapphire Ocean Peace Treaty.
Ky'Pla
Motto: "Books of Glory guide us!"
Govt Type: Stratocratic military dictatorship
Language: Orcish, Norelvan Common
Capital: Kitur
Population: ~150 million
Leader: Lord Commandant Kurza
Ky'Pla culture is based on time-honored tradition highlighted in the Books of Glory, a series of ten books written by generals, admirals and military leaders of the past. Treated as a sort of constitution, they recall stories and tales dramatized into teachings about honor, strategy and personhood. Every Ky'Pla citizen is gifted with the Books when they reach adulthood by the state, together with a sword bearing their name engraved on the blade.
Military service to one's nation is at the core of Ky'Pla culture, which reflects on their worship of the orcish equivalent to Sverid, Lord of Battles, god of war and honorable combat. Serving in the army is obligatory, but seen as an act of service to one's nation, given the peculiar fact that there is no civilian branch in Ky'Pla. Public maintenance, policing, politics, economy, are all controlled by and engrained within the military structure of the nation. Even children are organized in the informal Army of Young Warriors (mostly a joke by older soldiers).
Ky'Pla life has a modest and humble quality: citizens work for good pay, and can enjoy various luxuries and benefits. The economy is focused primarily on military development, but additionally greatly focuses on citizens' health under the assumption that mens sana in corpore sano, healthy mind in a healthy body. Public pools and training centers are free, but so are libraries and education facilities. Innovative technologies are rewarded with political power and funding. Dishonor is regarded as the worst sin a Ky'Pla citizen could commit, and unjustified acts of dishonor lead to imprisonment or exile.
Ky'Pla history is long, and involves a number of conflicts and battles. Kitur was founded thousands of years ago and lives on now, with some of the original foundations still visible. Having been founded by orcs after a brutal tribal conflict, Kitur slowly evolved from a last bastion to a fortress, then to an impenetrable keep. Generation after generation, the city's defenses were tested by attacks from desert wyrms, hostile tribes still seeking vengeance for ancient battles, and a short war with a Campir fleet. It is through this common enemy that Ky'Pla, a typically orcish nation, allied with Norelva, Igell and other human nations, eventually accepting human soldiers in its ranks.
Ky'Pla, founded by soldiers, never let go of its military origins, instead relying on them entirely and, roughly in 250, receiving the blessing of Tempus, Foehammer, Lord of Battles, god of war. Under the watchful eye of Tempus, Kitur is said to be impenetrable to any with ill intent or the desire to cause Ky'Pla harm.