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The Queendom's Flag.

Situated across Moghes’ eastern hemisphere, within the Guzan region amid the Tzuszah Wastes, the Queendom of Sezk-Hakh has managed to survive and develop in spite of the instability caused by the consequences of the Contact War. Isolated from its enemies thanks to the extensive, growing Wasteland, it is led by the elderly Lazak Szek-Hakh alongside her daughters, Zasza and Tzansa. Though the encroachment of the wastes has made resources within the previously lush province somewhat scarce, the region manages to teeter between thriving and languishing thanks to the extensive aquaculture industry that exists within the capital of Yu’kal – expanded upon by Szekzir Lazak following the death of her husband during the war. Unfortunately due to the continued growth of the wastes, distrust from more conservative Unathi, and the isolationist stance of the Szek-Hakh leadership, the future of the area is uncertain.

A note on Etymology:
The term Queendom was originally something of a misnomer borne from human mistranslation, but it was quickly adopted by enemies of Clan Szek-Hakh as well as those who see the region’s cultural shift as dangerous or degenerate. Originally intended to be an insult related to what its detractors considered insufficient strength of rulership in the region, Lazak Szek-Hakh instead embraced the human-centric term as her own. By 2468 the name was in widespread colloquial use when it was officially changed in collaboration with the structuring of the Karszekani. The area is now officially known as the Szekziran. Literally translated as “Domain of the Ruler of Rivers”, the name was chosen to highlight the region’s continued distance and contrast from the more common Szekanan or “Domain of the Ruler of the Land”. Given the changes in gender identity described below, the association to rivers was applicable as rivers are more closely associated with Taa (Healers) due to their adaptable nature, whereas the firm and solid land is more closely related to Saa (Warriors). Going forward the colloquial term and the official name will be used interchangeably.

Culture & History

Those that reside within the Queendom’s influence find themselves having to come to terms with the inverted gender roles – where the patriarchal system of the species has instead been replaced almost entirely by a matriarchal one. However, the result has caused some strife among contemporary Unathi surrounding the region, claiming the Queendom’s existence is an affront to tradition and honour; in particular the Matriarch’s Code. With a majority of both Yu’kal and the surrounding cities having seen more than half of their male population perish as a result of the Contact War, Queen Lazak sought a way to ensure both her and her Clan’s survival. First, by claiming her husband’s title, and secondly by instituting women as protectors of the realm – not merely as warriors, but as those overseeing the survival of the region through advocating for surrounding cities and villages to do the same – citing her own realm’s success as a reasonable method of surviving the all-encompassing Wasteland.

Prior to the Contact War, Yu’kal was a centre of the eastern hemisphere’s aquaculture industry, with the city nestled along the coasts of clustered lakes. It was only after the death of Lord Jzsan Szeh’Hakn, Queen Lazak’s husband, that the realm’s reality shifted, and they were confronted with circumstances that most thought would result in the region’s collapse. However, Queen Lazak took critical steps to maintain her husband’s realm – in particular instituting widespread and extensive reformation of the aquacultural industry, allowing women to be employed as a result of the scarcity of male labourers. Her quick thinking allowed many of the surviving cities to survive those first years, even supplying the distant realm of Mudki. These first crucial steps by Queen Lazak allowed the survival of Yu’kal, and served as a beacon for Clans fleeing their homes as a result of the nuclear cataclysm. Quickly, the foundations of the Queendom began to form.

By the end of the Contact War, the Queendom was a well-established political entity within the Wasteland, with Queen Lazak claiming her husband’s title sometime during the climax of the nuclear cataclysm. Women soon found themselves in prominent roles across the Queendom, where eventually the gender roles eroded, replaced instead by a system dominated by women – men instead taking the roles thought meant only to be held by women in traditional Unathi custom. Those outside the Queendom’s influence took offence to her success, even sending an assassin after her to ensure her vile customs would fall; which then failed and led to the capture of the assassin and their subsequent exile as a Guwandi. With the attempt foiled, dozens of women stormed the orchestrating noble’s manor, going to far as to challenge the Lord to a duel for honour. Though already accepted by thousands within her realm, this brought publicity to the Queen, allowing her to rise as a public and notable figure in Moghes and the greater Izweski Hegemony.

Queen Lazak now leads the Queendom in a precarious situation, with those aligning themselves to the Izweski’s patriarchal customs calling for her exile due to her vile methods of inverting the traditions of the species, making it harder for the ageing Queen to find allies. Walking a delicate tightrope balancing the relations of the Sk’akh Church, the Izweksi Hegemony, and the other Wasteland factions seeking to make the Queen bow to their authority, only with the coming of the future will the legend of the Queendom see itself either rise or fall.

Religion

The majority of the Queendom subscribes to Th'akh, with Yu’kal containing within it a massive temple – easily compared to a cathedral – expressly giving homage to the realm’s alignment to the religion, constructed by Queen Lazak following the Contact War. Despite the realm’s majority-Th’akh following populace, Queen Lazak has granted asylum to many journeying across the Wasteland regardless of which faith they subscribe to, and until recently even allowed Si'akh within her realm. However, by attempting to appease the Izweski Hegemony to allow her more time to seek allies, Queen Lazak agreed to the demands of representatives of the Hegemony to publicly denounce the religion and those who choose to follow the religion are disallowed from her realm; however, an open secret of the Queen’s court is that she allows members travelling through the Wasteland to reside within its borders – temporarily. Though the Queendom’s tolerance for other religions is great, Aut'akh is fiercely denounced and even despised, even by the compassionate Queen. It is not unheard of for those within the confines of her realm that follow the heresy to find their prosthetic augments looted, or proselytisers lynched in the streets.

Major Cities

Yu’kal

The capital of the Queendom, Yu’kal has been reigned over for centuries by Clan Szek-Hakh. It had long been established, even prior to the Contact War, as a major population centre of great importance; mostly owing to trading structured around aquaculture. Though the nuclear cataclysm which Moghes was plunged into almost destroyed the city, Queen Lazak reigns benevolently to ensure that her people and her husband’s lineage, survive the perilous circumstances they’ve been confronted with. Though initially aligning with the Izweski Hegemony during the outbreak of the Contract War, Yu’kal eventually saw itself shifting to becoming neutral to the conflict as it developed into the foundation of the Queendom. Now, it owes allegiance only to the Queen, and Clan Sezk-Hakh. Its architecture is similar to the other realms that pledged themselves to the Traditionalist Coalition, with the main contrast being the Th’akh Cathedral replacing the town square. It is majority Th’akh.

Gzusz

One of the newer cities to join the Queendom, Gzusz has become a refugee haven. On the outskirts of the realm’s eastern border, many from those travelling west initially arrive within the city – greeted by a growing city, which only decades before had a population of less than two-hundred. Though the Contact War has made it difficult to expand fast enough to accommodate those fleeing the Wasteland, Gzusz still maintains great importance to the Queendom, acting as a “buffer” between the Gawgaryn and Reclaimers against the Queendom. The majority of the newly arrived, in particular women, are inducted into the city’s guards, fighting off those that wish to question the Queendom’s ability to protect iself and its people. The influx of refugees means that Gzusz is rarely without round-the-clock protection. It is split between Sk’akh and Th’akh. It is ruled by Lady Zasza Szek-Hakh, Queen Lazak’s daughter.

Arch’ozal

Named after the Th’akh Spirit-God Archozmi, Arch’ozal prides itself as being keeper and distributor of knowledge. Having sided with the Queendom since its inception, it has become a place of great academic advancements – at least in terms of the Wasteland. Prior to the Contact War, Arch’ozal was the centre of academia within Moghes’ eastern hemisphere; with Clan Ghzakal reigning over it. The destruction brought on by the nuclear war, and the lack of means to sustain itself, Clan Ghzakal fled from the city – leaving it and its populace having to fend for themselves. It was only after the radioactive ashes began to set that Queen Lazak sent emissaries towards the city, eventually persuading them to follow her custom doctrines. She appointed her daughter, Tzansa Szek-Hakh, as Lady-Regent until another woman with a rightful claim to Arch’ozal returned. It is majority Sk’akh, however, the population of Th’akh has slowly been growing over the years.