Dawana

Dawana was part of the Lemasan Empire until the year 384LE [281SA]. In that year Dawan the All-Seeing became king. During his reign (384-412LE [281 - 309SA]) Dawan reformed Dawana's political and religious structure and withdrew from the Empire (0DA [293SA]). On his death, Dawan the Wise (16 - 42DA [309-335SA]) took the throne. He consolidated the new faith, eradicated the remnants of Lemasan tradition in the realm and diplomatically averted invasions by his neighbors.

In the year 40DA [333SA] Lemasa's Emperor noticed the change in Dawana. He considered them to be a malignant growth in the heart of his Empire and made it known to Lema and Aurisia that Dawana could be conquered. These kingdoms attacked in the year 43DA [336SA]. In the year 45DA [338SA] Lema completed the conquest. Dawan the Martyr (42 - 45DA [335-338SA]), as he watched his family being flayed before his eyes in the royal enclosure at Sscavhi, laid a curse on Lema and the Lemasan Empire (which bore fruit years later).

For 17 years Dawana resisted Leman rule. In the year 62DA [355SA], with Lema's conquest by Fomoria, Dawana regained its freedom. Free Dawana was ruled by hundreds of monastic orders. After repeated invasions by Aurisia the important Lamas formed a Council (68DA [361SA]) to govern the land and the Militant Orders (89 - 104DA [382-397SA]) to defend it. In the year 105DA [398SA] the Council of Lamas elected one of their number to be the first Holy Dawan. In the early years, under these leaders, Aurisia continued to invade the land and an invasion by Lemdan was defeated.

In the year 230DA [523SA] Homali Ghora became the fifth Holy Dawan. He led the Militant Orders in a war against Aurisia (234 - 239DA [527-532SA]) that resulted in the capture of the city of Aurisia. This ended the Aurisian wars by mutual agreement. Homali is revered as the third saint of the Dawanan faith for the peace and harmony that his actions brought to Dawana.

Beginning in the year 357DA [650SA], by order of the eighth Holy Dawan, Dawan sent missionaries to spread the faith. In the year 498DA [791SA] a group of them discovered the Eastern Lands. To maintain harmony the fourteenth Holy Dawan kept this knowledge secret in exchange for Lemasan recognition of Dawana. Since gaining this security, Dawana has strived to perfect their faith and, regardless of persecution, spread its blessings to the world at large.

Population

Dawana (21,000) is the nation's capital. The total population of the realm is 240,000. Dawana has no regular army. The Holy Guard in Dawana (200 militant priests), and 400 militants in the countryside, serve the Holy Dawan and keep the peace. When necessary, Dawana can mobilize 2,400 Lay Militants and 12,000 trained militia.

Economy

The economy depends on trade and tithes from the faithful. Dawana produces food and fine craft goods. They are known as fine weavers and metal workers.

Religion

The Dawanese worship the harmony of nature. Their gods are Omael and Manu. Their faith accords all things their place in existence and considers understanding to be man's single greatest virtue.

Personality

Dawana's life is its religion. They believe that the heavens can be attained by anyone who lives a life in harmony with nature; without needlessly compete with others or disturbing the harmony of life. They are quiet, kind and generous. A Dawanan NEVER seeks the death of an enemy, even in war. The greatest sin is overt aggression. A man may defend himself from "disharmony" but must never seek to kill, unless the needs of his body demand it. (He may kill to eat or to stay alive, if he must.)

Legal System

Dawana is ruled by the Council of Lamas, its Holy Dawan and its monastic orders. Edicts of the council, when approved by the Holy Dawan, are law. The three types of monastic orders are:

The Holy Order - The Holy Dawan is elected from the Lamas of this order. Its tenets form the personality of this land. It accepts converts but does not seek them. It is the most formal, ritualistic and reflective of the orders.

The Military Order - "Harmony stems from physical and spiritual strength" This is the central tenet of the military orders. Its members learn martial and spiritual disciplines to maximize their "harmonious strength." Monks of this order are competent warriors with some knowledge of the mystic arts. They are the most secretive of the orders. Each monastery is a law to itself, with its own secret rites and rituals. Its monks are only responsible to their Lama and the Holy Dawan.

The Missionary Order - This order seeks converts by stressing the basic tenets of the faith in an understandable way. Monks of this order follow the tenets of the Holy Order, except that their purpose in life is to spread the faith, not to seek its perfection.

NOTE - Traditionally, each Lama rules his temple and the lands around it. The Holy Dawan, the Lama of Dawana and the Lama of Dai Mound can give other Lamas "binding advice." Where this advice violates the precepts of the individual monastery it can be ignored of the violation is explained.

Formal edicts of the Council cannot be ignored. Monasteries must abide by them. Where their precepts conflict with the edict, they must change their precepts.

Crime is not punished in Dawana, as a crime most hurts the person who commits it. Those who commit minor crimes are castigated for their immorality and ostracized until they make amends. Persons who commit serious crimes are banished until their good actions outweigh the evil they have done. When necessary, monks of the militant order seek out the felon and enforce his banishment.

Allies

Dawana has no allies. Under the proper conditions, members of the faith in other lands can be counted on for help.

Enemies

Dawan has no enemies. Their missionaries and converts are persecuted in many lands.

Language

Basic Characteristics

Common Weapons

Javelin, Short Sword, Dagger

Ancestry

The Lemasan family are small and dexterous people with a good deal of stamina. They tend to have light complexions, oriental eyes and light brown or black hair.

Calendar (Astral)

Dawan's calendar began with their repudiation of all ties to the Lemasan state. It records time based on the rising of various constellations and major stars. It is the year 807 in Dawana.

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