Bengal (বাংলা) (বঙ্গ)

[Q Man]

Bengal (বাংলা) (বঙ্গ)



Gummint: Maharajate (Empire)
Pantheon: Indian

ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ: Parahadi II <compare: Samhadi> <: Maharajah Ben?>
CAPITAL: Calcutta (Pop.: 900k) <sweet Calcutta rain - Percy> <it rains every day in Calcutta>
Other Cities (and pop.): Dacca (200k)

Loc.: Azir (Hindic Section)
Language: Hindic dialect
Pop.: 10,000,000
Flag/Emblem:
Flag: Golden rhino charging
&& spouting
flames from ears &&
mouth on a green field.

Coinage: Hindoo Standard.
Companions: Rajah of Chota Nagpur, Prince of Orissa.
Friends: Burma
Foes: Assam, Bihar, Hind, Kutch.

Open Warfare/Skirmishing: Sea
skirmishing w/
Burmese pirates.
Punitive expedition
into Assam as re-taliation
for raiding.
Major campaign in
south vs. Hind.

Intrigues: Assassination
ov Rajah ov
Biharand && establishing
Bengali regency
for young rani.<>

Artifacts/Relics:
Bengal is known to
have the Dark Sky
Rod, the Flying Ship,
&& the Showering Spear,
plus some
unknown quantity ov
other weapons &&
items.



Alignment: Neutral Evil
Climate/Terrain: Sub-tropical, Tropical

Thumbnail Sketches: Bengal
is a land ov considerable
xtent, w/
cool temperatures
&& great natural
beauty in the north,
where the realm laps
up into the foothills
ov the Himalayas
plains, rain-drenched && suffocatingly hot, in the great Ganges Delta Green
AREA. In between are rich fields && forests, crisscrossed by rivers,
streams, && lakes too.

A vast majority ov the populace is ov the lower class, peasants tilling
the soil. They are not actually bound to the soil, but typically they have
no desire (or opportunity) to do other than they do. Minor offi.cia.ls &&
the regular military form an upper tier ov the peasant class. The
intermediate tiers are ov mixed sort, with land owners, offi.cia.ls, &&
military officers predominating. The uppermost strata are the priveleged
castes && nobs.

A regular military ov about 18k men
guards the the royal palace && border areas, && this force is supplemented
by nob contingents && levies when necessary. A small fleet
ov warships is also maintained for USE against pirates && in time ov war.

The land is give over to
rice paddies,
fields ov wheat and other grains,
tea,
jute<>,
cotton,
opium poppies,
etc.

Forests produce timber,
bamboo,
quinine<>,
betelnut<>,
medicines, spices && drugs.

Turmeric,
ginger,
pepper,
&& other spices are grown too.

Only small numbers ov livestock are kept--
buffalo for plowing, cattle for milk--
because the typical Bengali, as most others of the Hindoo faith,
is at worst a semi-vegetarian, && never under any circumstances eats beef
(cattle being sacred animals).

Mining ov coal is beginning in Bengal, but at this time there is little
market for the product, as transportation to lands where it is needed
for fuel is too costly. Thus, most coal produced is used in industry in
the realm || in neighboring ones such as Bihar (q.v.).

DANGEROUS JOURNEYS:
From here, you can go to:

* W: Hind
* NW: Kara
* NE: The Unknown Land
* NEE: Bihar
* E: Burma
* S: Hindic Ocean

[Q Man]

[Q Man]

Quote:
Tripura, India. Unakoti carvings.

[Q Man]

Monoclonii are found in Bengal, and they have been domesticated. According to lejend, priests of the god Tvashtri (god of technology and science) cloned the extinct monoclonius, 'ressurected' the species, and, brought it back to life. In the current day, the vanguard of the heavy cavalry of Bengal are mounted upon monoclonii: woe to those in the enemy front line. The generals of Bengal's foes (Assam, Bihar, Hind, Kutch) are very hesitant to meet Bengal in open confrontation, due to the powerful monoclonii cavalry.

[Q Man]

In Bengal, widows shave their head, and, wear a white or beige shawl. Though they are excluded from religious ceremonies, it is not uncommon for Bengali widows to take up residence in temples in temple cities. (Consider them to be cloistered clerics, some of them being of high level).