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Introduction "And then the horse reared back, hurling him thirty feet onto the stony ground." A few of the soldiers winced and rubbed their backs in empathetic pain. After a few notes from his lute, Rayad cleared his throat. "Santak lept to his feet, unshaken and unharmed. Calmly, he strutted back to the horse, swearing in a soothing monotone. He raised his hand sharply to silence the jeers of his men. The horse shot his fiery eyes at Santak for a moment, and then sauntered away. Santak maintained his slow approach, not gaining any distance on the wild stallion until it paused at a stream to drink.
Several soldiers laughed, caressing their own horses' manes. The wind kicked across the plain, drowning out the musical interlude. "Finally, the stallion had drank his full. He lifted his great coal head up and stared, eye to eye with the General. They locked their gazes for many days, each unwilling to yield and break off the contest. Santak's brave guerillas ignored the contest after a few hours passed. They feasted, they practiced, and even defeated a legion of the Dono's best cavalry. "When they returned, Santak and the great stallion still glared at each other. The soldiers made camp and dreamed away the night. In the morning, they awoke to find their General lying on the riverbank, his face buried in the mud. The stallion took a step back, and with his front hoof, gently pushed Santak into the water. The stabbing cold of his sudden predicament shocked Santak into consciousness. He knelt in the shallow water, babbling to himself. 'Why? Why? Why does this great stallion follow me day and night, watching me with the fire in his eyes, tempting me with his graceful galloping and still, not letting me ride?' The horse snorted, backed away from the water's edge, and said, 'You never asked if you could ride.'" History 
Humans first arrived in the Malpighien Steppes in 2,032 BC after leaving the island of Eldoria. These pilgrims, mostly second and third born sons, wanted a vast land where they could own property and build lives for their families. Several generations after their arrival, however, primogenative tendencies reasserted themselves second born sons had to range even further to find land to claim as their own. Illegitimate children and families, who lost everything to marauding monsters or drought, formed the basis for what is now the serf class. By pledging their lives to a wealthy lord, they guaranteed the safety of their families in exchange for their eternal slavery. By 1,700 BC, all land in the Malpighien Steppes belonged to a handful of about one hundred powerful lords. They vied for power, both through political marriages and armed conflict. In warfare, the Zennonaize, as they had begun to call themselves, practiced tactics not seen beyond the Steppes. Lightly armored calvary, armed with short bows, light lances, and swords, dominated warfare. Lighting attacks left villages decimated before serfs had time to react. By 584 BC, the wars between lords had reached a critical state. Crop yields had reached a historical low, and the population had very few young men left. The lords agreed to meet at the estate of Jontik Reagan to discuss possible resolutions. The lords met for two years, and reached no agreement. The battles continued until, in 574 BC Lord Frent Darin executed a brilliant military maneuver, and accepted the surrender the four rival lords. They pledged their lives to Darin. With their support, Darin's soldiers conquered fifteen other fiefdoms by 572 BC, when, in order to avoid having Darin become an omnipotent tyrant, the lords agreed to meet again. The lords agree to name Darin the Dono, who ruled the various fiefdoms to maintain the peace. The individual fiefdoms still ruled their own estates, but the Dono accepted responsibility for a unified army, settled disputes between lords, assisted individual estates in times of disaster. The position of Dono became hereditary in 558 BC when Frent Darin died and his son, Hethral Darin, assumed the title. In 237 BC, the land around Dono Hethral Darin IXX's estate had become so populated, that he walled the most populated section and made it a permanent trading post and the seat of the royal court. He named the new city Wargun, but died before its walls were completed. In 18 BC, Ryukyu Fleet-Foot the bastard son of the Alku family defeated his older brother to win the right to be lord of the estate, by now shortened to simply states. He immediately declared war on the neighboring states. The Dono called out his army, but the Alku state was so far away from Wargun, that by the time the Dono's army arrived, he had conquered twelve states and gathered a huge army of his own. By 12 AC he had conquered all of the Malpighien Steppes, except for Wargun. He began to build the city of Zennon, and named it the capital of the Confederate States of Zennonaize, proclaiming himself as Dono. With no other choice but to accept, Dono Frent Darin XXV abdicated his crown and swore fealty to Ryukyu. Dono Ryukyu initiated a policy of expansion and interior growth. He increased taxes and established a construction commission. He had the city of Lartcha built in 25 AC, but his plans for a highway system ended when he died of food poisoning in 34 AC. His daughter, Adretta Alku became the first woman to accept the title of Dono. She immediately shot down plans for the highway, and concentrated instead on international trade. She built Fort Challat at the base of the Traiydeitch Pass and sent the first caravan through. They never returned. In 45 AC a great earthquake struck the Confederacy, leveling the new palace in Zennon. The Dono's army was forced to leave exploration behind in order to rebuild the city. In 154 AC Dono Mandara Alku died childless. By a majority vote, Zharn Delante, a captain in the Tono family's personal guard, was named Dono. General Santak, the highest ranking officer in the Dono's army, led four battalions of calvary on a rebellious raid of the Southern Steppes in 224 AC. Disgruntled with corruption of Zennonaize politics, the General and his 4,000 mounted men terrorized military installations along the plains. Using hit and run tactics, the General won many victories and seriously depleted the Dono's personal herds. As Santak distributed his bounty among the poor serfs, and demanded land reform, he became a peasant hero. By 226 BC, the Dono had placed a reward of 10,000 horses on his ears. The price rose to 100,000 horses and a state to Santak's capture. The General eluded the Dono's army for five more years, until a Zennon scout, named Kelkantin, located Santak's camp. He led 20,000 soldiers to the camp and slaughtered the rebellious army, defeating Santak himself in single combat. Kelkantin was granted a state the extreme south of the Confederacy, and used his new wealth to build the city of Gartcha in 235 AC. Through Olaf Samsonsonsonsonsonsonson's diplomacy, Zennonaize commits ten brigades of cavalry, which the Nerrid magically transports to Dalencroft. They fight in the Great War until Dalencroft is destroyed, and the brigades routed. Stragglers may still be found, wandering back toward the Confederacy. In 364 AC a caravan from Yaty arrived at Fort Challat. They requested permission to trade with the local loggers. Thus, a tradition of trade, along the Traiydeitch pass between the two nations was begun. The Delante family has retained the position of Dono through today. Geography
The Confederated states of Zennonaize are located on the Malpighien Steppes in Northwestern Tarien. These steppes are mostly flat, elevated tracks of fertile land perfect for grazing. Agriculturally advanced areas have been developed into large plantations, owned by the lords and usually run by relatives. More untamed areas contain tall grasses with a scattering of small trees. Both domesticated and wild herds of grazing animals inhabit the southeastern portion of the steppes. Several large rivers run through steppes, and divert easily for irrigation. Herds generally congregate along these waterways. The waterways also provide a useful way of transporting large amounts of products throughout the region.
Frequent large thunderstorms blow across the steppes. Tornadoes are a rarity, but do occur. Skies are open and distant, changing from light blue to black in an instant. Winds are often strong and biting in winter, but cool and refreshing in summer. Temperatures are moderate, especially along the coast. Closer to the mountains, temperatures can range greatly. The Zennon sea borders on the north and is extremely rough year round. The gulf of Gartcha, a warmer yet still rough body of water, is located to the west. The Malpighien Bay reaches into the northern steppes near Wargun, it is freezing and difficult to navigate. Society
Zennonaize culture is divided between landowners and serfs. Landowners live in luxury and comfort with complete control in their states. Their customs are often frivolous and overindulgent in nature. Frequent banquets and tournaments of horsemanship are grand affairs with each Lord trying to outdo his counterparts. These festivals can last for days, and generally involve much debauchery. Serf life is hard. They live in perpetual poverty, however their culture is deep in tradition and myth. Storytelling around the fire is a nightly custom in which peasants exchange words of wisdom and show off their wit. These contests can get very heated, and to an outside observer could seem insulting, however the Zennonaize know it is all in good fun. Both classes hold bards in high regard, as they are the keepers of history as there is no written language. Due to recent contact, many of these stories have been recorded in other languages [editor's note: see Janus Forsbar's The Life of a Horseman.]
Horses are perhaps the most valued possession in all of Zennonaize. Zennonaize has perhaps the finest horses in the entire world. The concentration of horses in the steppes is extremely high, with one horse for about every person. However, since horses are such a valued possession, many families struggle for years to have own one. The Zennonaize military consists only of calvary, with the officers drawn from landed families. The majority of common soldiers are young in age, as every male must serve four years in the army. Males may not marry until this service is completed. These soldiers are well equipped, well fed and well adapted to combat on the steppes. Units remain together for the entire four years of service. This leads to comradely among the soldiers. Religion Zennonaize worship a wide array of deities that represent various aspects of pantheon. While these gods differ in name from other gods, many rituals and godly alliances are identical to the Eldorian pantheon. Many scholars believe that these are the same gods worshiped elsewhere in Tarien, but with different names. Politics Each landed family has a vested interest in politics. They maintain small, private units of cavalry to enforce their will, collect taxes, and protect the land. The each of these landed families or persons owns a state. They are considered the absolute rulers of their states, except when directly ordered by the Dono. The Dono is a hereditary position belonging to one of the various state lords. Dynasties have changed through revolution and even an election due to the lack of an heir. The Dono is responsible for matters of state, such as protecting the Confederation as a whole, and improving the well being of the landed lords as a group. His only power lies in the loyalty of his young soldiers the officers who swear him their lives. He has, in the past, deployed soldiers to quell squabbles between states, but generally assumes a laissez-faire attitude toward internal turmoil. The Dono maintains Fort Challat, and provides protection for sanctioned caravans through Traiydeitch Pass. Economics Most Zennonaize use the barter system, although exchanges in precious metals do occur among the landed class. Some trade exists with both the Nerrid Alliance and with the City-state of Yaty, through Traiydeitch Pass. These exchanges involve Eldorian weapons and tools for Zennonaize dyes, fabrics, and horses. The farmlands of northern Zennonaize produce wheat, barley, corn, and some green vegetables. Landed lords own everything on their property: the land, the tools, and the serfs. A serf may work to purchase items for their households, but they still belong to the lord. Serfs must give their lords a certain quota of whatever goods they produce, and may survive, and possibly increase their lord's belongings with the rest. Cities Wargun is the oldest city, located in Northern Zennonaize at the southern tip of the Malpighien Bay. It consists of small buildings, many now in disrepair, surrounding a huge, yet crumbling, castle. The fortunes of the Darin family have declined over the centuries, and their properties have fallen with them. The city still holds many points of historical interest. Zennon, located off a protected harbor on the Zennon Sea, is the Confederacy's current capital. It is surrounded by a great wall, and its houses boast beautiful mosaics. The Delante's estate house, a sprawling ranch, sits at the center of the city. There are five thousands horses that graze throughout the grounds. Many fountains dot the city streets, The Delante family keeps close watch over their city and the lush farmlands that surround it. They have the largest family cavalry in all of Zennonaize, and twenty five percent of the Army is stationed here. Lartcha built only a few years after Zennon. Its architecture and layout are similar to the capitals. The Ranking Family maintains a large ranch, but confines its smaller herd to a pasture in the farmlands outside the city. The harbor in Lartcha is less friendly than that in Zennon, yet the sea is bountiful. Every morning scores of tiny fishing ships braves the violent waves to catch fish, and pull in lobster and crab traps. Gartcha, the youngest of the Zennonaize cities, lies on a secluded gulf in the western steppes. It is a exceedingly modern city, as its founder spared no expense wen originally building the city. Major roads are cobbled, and even minor streets have gravel. Serfs assigned to their maintenance keep these neat. The city is laid out in a careful design of parallel and perpendicular streets that form perfect blocks. In the center of the city lies the manor of the Kelkantin family. It is a large, square building with many archways in the first floor that lead to a central marketplace accessible to all. Many merchants bring their wares from the farthest corners of Zennonaize. International Relations
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The soldiers made camp and dreamed away the night. In the morning, they awoke to find their General lying on the riverbank, his face buried in the mud.