The world I'm working on is about anthropomorphic animals, the dawn of the industrial age, and how the people adapt to the changing time.

The War of 1451

In the 1450s, Alshenzia invaded its eastern neighbor and rival, Aldrakhania.

Belligerents

Alshenzia is a nation ruled by the House of Alshanza (hyena dynasty). It's an empire, but much weaker than Aldrakhan. Indeed, it has been forced into a defensive stance for much of its history, though it was initially the aggressor.

Aldrakhania is an expansionist empire ruled by the House of Aldrakhan, a lion dynasty. It conquered most of the region during its rise. However, Alshenzia remained free because its lands were rugged and barren, and thus undesirable.

Casus Belli

Alshenzian hardliners wanted to recapture the Lloegr from Aldrakhania. The Lloegr were the lost ancestral lands, conquered by Aldrakhania long ago. Thus, they pressured the House of Alshanza into declaring war on Aldrakhania.

Aldrakhania was on the decline, slow to adopt new technologies because it relied heavily on its vast amounts of resources and manpower reserve. Alshenzia, on the other hand, was modernizing and supplied with weapons by an ally in the north (coyotes). This ally propped Alshenzia up as a buffer against Aldrakhania, hence the support. The time to strike seemed opportune, and so Alshenzia invaded Aldrakhania.

Technological Capabilities

At this point, Alshenzia possessed weapons such as revolving cannons (hand crank operated) and howitzers. Aldrakhania was using older field guns, and thus outdated strategies.

In terms of small arms, both sides were roughly equal, using bolt-action rifles.

Note that at this time, the industrial age was still new. The whole world was finding its footing and learning how to utilize new technologies.

Conflict

At first, Aldrakhania was blindsided by the preemptive attack, and suffered much losses. Its artillery was inefficient and slower compared to Alshenzia's. However, the tide later turned in Aldrakhania's favor as it leveraged its raw military might.

The war dragged on with no short victory. As such, the House of Alshanza was pressured again, due to growing unpopularity, and agreed to peace with Aldrakhania, giving up aspirations for reconquest.

Alshenzia's ally, which propped it as a buffer in the first place, had a part in convincing Alshanza to end the war. They were wary of Aldrakhanian retaliation and wanted to keep the situation contained.

Aftermath

The war sent shockwaves through both societies, with the common folk of both sides wanting change.

Aldrakhania was forced to accept that its advantages were becoming increasingly irrelevant in the new era. As such, the empire began modernizing, and would revitalize its imperial ambitions with a vengeance. The losses of the war, stemming from poor leadership, stirred bitterness within the population.

In Alshenzia, civil unrest grew over the war, as progressive and nationalist voices clashed. The progressives wanted reform and more freedom, angered over a war they deemed pointless. The nationalists believed victory was stolen from them by weak leadership and foreign interference. Unable to contain the situation, the House of Alshanza opted for reform, for the nation to survive in the new era.

Additional Context

in the image, the two soldiers in the foreground represent Alshenzia.

The following map may provide additional insight on the world: Anthropomorphic Animals, Amazing Powers, and the Age of the Machine : r/worldbuilding

Let me know what you think!

The story has been in development for a decade, and I'm still figuring the world out.

My goal is to build an organized, interconnected lore book, as most of what happens in the world is connected: Karl Imran | Substack

I'll post in this community as well.

Edit: Cleaned up post body.

The "Desolator" is a short-range ballistic missile with a range of 1000 km, designed to be launched from submarine. It was developed by a Northlandic alliance, in cooperation with the wolves of the Middle South, as a response to Pantheran air supremacy. It is called as such because it is essentially a dirty bomb, made to disperse radioactive material over the target area, rendering it desolate.

The image depicts a show of force, as the "Desolator" is launched from a submarine in the Southern Sea, during the Southern War. This was done to deter the encroaching rival powers as the war heated up, approaching the brink of a global conflict.

This weapon represents the beginning of the end of Pantheran technological superiority, as it is able to reach the edge of space. This feat is a technological milestone. The Pantherans' possession of aircraft allowed them to act with impunity in the industrial age, able to destroy cities from above during conflict. However, their jet bombers are unable to reach the upper atmosphere. Thus, they lack the capability to track these missiles, and are beginning to lose the race to the new frontier: space.

Background:

The world I'm working on features anthropomorphic animals, the dawn of the industrial age, and how the people adapt to the changing time.

A big cat group (calling themselves Pantherans) industrialized first and thus gained a technological advantage over the rest of the world. Some of these Pantherans leveraged their superiority to exert their influence on the world. This resulted in the first war of industrial scale, the Fall War. This conflict was catalyzed by two rival Pantheran groups racing to the arctic for maritime supremacy, resulting in an invasion of the Northlands (a continent).

The Northlandic states repelled the invaders, though at great cost, and then revitalized their industrial and military capabilities. The next conflict, the Southern War, focused on repelling their enemies from the Southern Isles. These were a group of islands, potentially a dagger pointed at the heart of the Northlands. The region was also a focus because of maritime chokepoints in the bordering Southern Sea.

The Southern War was mostly a cold war involving proxy groups. The rival spheres of influence expected a large conflict... they just wanted to be careful about it.

The wolves of the Middle South (another continent) sought to align with the Northlands, as they were dragged into the conflict. They had developed early rocket technology and submarines, and so further improved these capabilities with their northern allies.

As the Pantherans were able to threaten major Northlandic cities with strategic bombing, the "Desolator" missile was developed to threaten major Pantheran cities in response.

The following map may provide more insight: Anthropomorphic Animals, Amazing Powers, and the Age of the Machine : r/worldbuilding

Let me know what you think! The story has been in development for a decade, and I'm still figuring the world out.

My goal is to build an organized, interconnected lore book, as most of what happens in the world is connected: Karl Imran | Substack

In antiquity, Khaibarat was the jewel of the southern seas. It was where the winds converged, a center of trade, and a melting pot of cultures and technologies. When it collapsed, different groups vied to shape a new order in the ensuing power vacuum.

The Zhalan Clan was one of these groups, using their fleet of merchant ships as a naval force. They were also known as the Golden Tigers, due to their influence from trade and because of their golden fur. They clashed with the Sea Wolves, who had similar ambitions.

The tiger in the image is a fighter from the Zhalan Clan, wielding an early gunpowder weapon. They favored armor with heavy metal plates, due to their inherent strength, whereas their Sea Wolf rivals preferred lighter, versatile armor. Their plumed helms represented prestige and legitimacy.

The Zhalan Clan was eventually defeated, so they left the contested area for new horizons. They eventually settled in the lands known as the Western Isles, bringing gunpowder technology. There, they gradually unified the local big cat groups, who had originally migrated from across the sea. This was done through a combination of marriage alliances, soft power, and conquest. Thus, a shared big cat identity was developed, known as the Pantherans.

This shared identity made central government more feasible, as well as diffusion of culture and ideas. It is one of the factors that enabled the Western Isles to industrialize before the rest of the world, giving the Pantherans a technological advantage.

Background:

The world I'm working on features anthropomorphic animals, the dawn of the industrial age, and how the people adapt to the changing time.

Khaibarat was a rich empire in antiquity, due to trade and fertile land. It possessed early gunpowder technology, which spread around the region. However, it collapsed due to a nearby volcanic eruption, creating a power vacuum and destabilization. The rival factions in the area raced to establish the new Khaibarat.

The following map may provide insight: Anthropomorphic Animals, Amazing Powers, and the Age of the Machine : r/worldbuilding

The Sea Wolves were a wolf group, of course! They were influential in the wolf world, known for their maritime capabilities and resourcefulness.

Let me know what you think! The story has been in development for a decade, and I'm still figuring the world out.

My goal is to build an organized, interconnected lore book, as most of what happens in the world is connected: Karl Imran | Substack

I'll post in this community as well.

The world I'm working on features anthropomorphic animals, the dawn of the industrial age, and how the people adapt to the changing time.

This map shows where I imagine everything is roughly located, with key points marked. I imagine there are more lands beyond, but they're not part of the story.

Khaibarat

In antiquity, Khaibarat was an empire that unified the Southern Isles under central rule. It was rich due to its strategic position for trade, and fertile lands (from volcanic activity). Unlike other empires, it didn't need conquest to gain territory, as the surrounding peoples willingly joined the empire for prosperity and security.

Khaibarat facilitated the spread and exchange of ideas, technology, and culture. A major technology was gunpowder.

The empire fell because of a nearby volcanic eruption. Thus, trade routes collapsed and knowledge was lost. This event was so significant that it marked the start of the new calendar.

After this, the major powers in the region competed to reshape the new order. Foremost were the Sea Wolves and the Zhalan clan (known as the Golden Tigers). Both possessed gunpowder technology.

Eastern Reaches

The Sea Wolves and Zhalan clan clashed over this region. Ultimately, the Sea Wolves were victorious, and the Zhalan clan left, eventually settling in the Western Isles.

Western Isles

The Western Isles are notable for its big cat populations, which migrated there from the savannas and jungles of Amaru. When the Zhalan clan arrived from the east, they eventually unified the big cats under a single identity. The process was gradual, involving marriage alliances, service as mercenaries, soft power, and conquest.

Due to this shared 'Pantheran' identity, central government was more feasible. This facilitated faster development of technology (just like in Khaibarat). As such, industrialization began in the Western Isles.

Southern Isles

The Southern Isles are a group of islands, rich in natural resources such as rubber, metals, and spices. After the fall of Khaibarat, much of the isles descended into disunity and war between different tribes.

In the 1430s, much of the Southern Isles was conquered by the Luisante Group. The Luisante Group is a non-state actor, run by a big cat dynasty from Lyonesse.

After the Fall War, the different spheres of influence converged in the Southern Isles due to the important maritime chokepoint between it and the Northlands.

Lyonesse

Lyonesse is the Pantheran capital in the Western Isles.

Even though the Pantherans shared an identity, there were periods of disunity, followed by wars for unity. After too many conflicts, the different states grew weary and agreed to form a new order which represented all parties involved. Lyonesse became the capital. Thus, they focused on economic stability, and began to exert their influence on the lands beyond. However, they were wary of direct conflict, and so preferred the use of subterfuge and proxy groups.

Because they were ahead of everyone else in technology, some big cat groups saw themselves as superior.

Northlands

The Northlands was a crossroad of trade and melting pot of cultures. It industrialized soon after the Western Isles.

At the end of the 1400s, it was the location of the first industrial-scale war. The catalyst was the race for the arctic between the Luisante Group and Aldrakhania, as they pursued supremacy.

Amaru

The name of the continent to the west of the Middle South. It is named after the serpent from ancient myth, said to sleep beneath the land.

A notable people in the north are the coyotes.

Aldrakhania

Aldrakhania is an empire clinging on to relevancy in the age of industrialization. Past its prime, it is plagued by ongoing civil war, social injustice, and corruption. The House of Aldrakhan (a lion dynasty that rules the realm) seeks war as a way of holding to power. It is poised to invade Alshenzia, to capture its oil fields. In doing so, it will be able to fuel further imperial ambitions.

Aldrakhania lagged behind the other Pantheran powers as it was isolated by the desert. Furthermore, it relied too heavily on its vast amounts of resources and manpower reserves.

Alshenzia

Alshenzia is a democratic republic, formerly an empire. It was a rival of Aldrakhania, but was no longer able to match its military might. The House of Alshanza (a hyena dynasty that ruled the realm), chose reform in order for the nation to survive in the new era.

Alshenzia seeks its place in the world as a developed nation, but the shadow of Aldrakhania complicates its aspirations.

Western Sea

The coyotes and Lyonesse competed for influence in the Western Sea, seeking to control strategic isles. The coyotes defeated Lyonesse in a naval battle, shattering their image of invincibility on the seas.

Middle South

The middle south is a region between the Northlands and the Southern Isles. It was isolated from major trade routes, and was slow to industrialize as a result.

It is not directly connected to the Aldrakhania-Alshenzia conflict, but will become important in a later story.

Conclusion

Let me know what you think, or if you have any questions!

I know how the story goes, but I'm still figuring the world out.

I made the map using photoshop.

My goal is to build an organized, interconnected lore book, as most of what happens in the world is connected (story has been in discussion for a decade now, and still in progress): Karl Imran | Substack

I'll post in this community as well.

"The Eye of the Hunter is upon you, revealing weaknesses. Your bleeding resistance is reduced. Additionally, suffering from the bleeding status will cause nearby Narakites to enrage."

The Hunter's Mark is a glyph, or blood rune, used by the Cult of Naraka (Narakites), an antagonistic faction. They can be described as predator supremacists. Upon attack, they can inflict this curse upon their targets, making them more vulnerable.

The mark symbolizes the eye of the Hunter, the ultimate predator which the Narakites aspire to become. It is set upon a backdrop of claw marks.

Background:

The world I'm working on features anthropomorphic animals, the dawn of the industrial age, and how the people adapt to the changing time.

In-world, predator-prey conflict doesn't really happen in society, as traditional carnivores eat non-anthropomorphic animals that exist alongside the anthropomorphic ones.

However, the exception lies with the Cult of Naraka. They oppose 'prey' being in positions of power, as they believe that only predators are able to lead society. This view stems from their creation myth.

According to the story, the Creator originally populated the world with herbivores, but their population grew out of control. As such, the Creator set predators upon the world with the divine duty to manage the population. In reality, this story is likely relatively new, pieced together from fragments of other creation myths.

The most extreme sects of the cult believe that straying from their duty will result in the Creator setting a new kind of predator upon the world. In doing so, the world can be destroyed and created anew. As such, predators that refuse to perform their duty are deemed heretics.

By performing blood rituals and ritualistic consumption of meat, the Narakites gain supernatural abilities, such as enhanced strength, speed, and instincts. Additionally, they can cast blood runes for a variety of effects. The Hunter's Mark is one of these runes. Others include sigils that drain vitality.

The Narakites generally do not hold much influence in the world, and mainly operate in the shadows. There have been Narakite insurgencies in the Northlands (a continent), though they were stopped by the authorities. The Luisante Group (a powerful non-state actor) supplied them during its invasion of the Northlands, in order to destabilize the region. Elsewhere, the empire of Aldrakhania (ruled by a lion dynasty) is tolerant of the cult, and thus it serves as a bastion. This fuels further resentment among its population.

Let me know what you think, or if you have any questions!

My goal is to build an organized, interconnected lore book, as most of what happens in the world is connected (story has been in discussion for a decade now, and still in progress): Karl Imran | Substack

I'll post in this community as well.

Better version to replace an earlier post. Art is for a story.

Some art for my story.

Depicted in the image is the seal of Luisante, a big cat dynasty that runs the Luisante Group. It is one of the primary antagonists of the story, alongside Aldrakhania (an empire ruled by a lion dynasty, clinging on to relevancy in the new era).

The Luisante Group is a "trading company" which conquered much of the Southern Isles, a continent. It exploited the land for resources like rubber, vital for the industrial age (maintains wires for telecommunication networks).

The Luisante Group was originally sent to facilitate trade in the Southern Isles, and it eventually went rogue, tempted by the allure of power. It established a rogue nation in the Southern Isles, with military capabilities that rivaled most sovereign nations. Its private army mostly consisted of mercenaries, local and foreign, but its most formidable asset was its air force.

The exact origins of Luisante are murky, as the family values an air of secrecy. They are suspected to leverage criminal elements for financial and political pressure, to climb the ranks of big cat society.

The Luisante Group and Aldrakhania catalyzed the first war of industrial scale, the Fall War, as they both raced for the arctic to control maritime routes. Global supremacy, in some form, was close, but things didn't go as planned.

Background:

The world I'm working on features anthropomorphic animals, the dawn of the industrial age, and how the people adapt to the changing time.

The big cat groups were generally ahead of everyone else in technology, especially small arms and aircraft. They industrialized faster because of a shared 'big cat' identity, and early use of gunpowder. This identity also created sentiment of superiority over other species.

Generally, the big cats do not like engaging in direct conflict, preferring to use proxy groups or subterfuge to exert influence. They were tired of too many wars of unification, and wanted to focus on stability and economic development.

The exceptions are the Luisante Group and Aldrakhania.

Luisante is reputed for its aggression and willingness to use force to exert its influence. It is said that competitive ruthlessness is promoted within the family, as only the most ruthlessly efficient heir is chosen as successor. This ensures the family fortune is held in an iron grip, rather than going to an incompetent heir. As such, other big cat groups are wary of and intimidated by Luisante. They see the group as a dangerous rival, exhibiting the worst elements of predatory capitalism.

Aldrakhania is also aggressive, but lags behind its peers in technology. This is because it has leveraged its vast amounts of resources, throughout its history, to force opponents to submit. The other big cat groups cautiously support Aldrakhania as an asset, but are wary of sharing too much tech because they don't want it becoming another Luisante.

Let me know what you think, or if you have any questions!

My goal is to build an organized, interconnected lore book, as most of what happens in the world is connected (story has been in discussion for a decade now, and still in progress): Karl Imran | Substack

I'll post in this community as well.

Here's an element from the world I'm working on, featuring anthropomorphic animals, the dawn of the industrial age, and how the people adapt to the changing time.

Depicted in the image is a member of the Aldrakhanian warrior-elite, in this case a sable antelope. The military nobility mainly consisted of the descendants of the Warrior Kings. Alternatively, one can join the ranks of this class through feats of heroism in battle.

They governed territory and served as military commanders.

Metal armor was rare in Aldrakhania, as most of the realm is arid. Heavy cloth armor was the norm, with greater coverage symbolizing wealth. Intricate and colorful patterns are also featured. In this case, the patterns on the cloak represents flowing water, which is a valuable resource in the region.

The military nobility had significant clout in society, and were potentially problematic for the Aldrakhanian regime during its many civil wars. Thus, the regime eventually restructured the class into the Aldrakhanian Royal Guard Corps, more suited for the industrial age. They lost many of their privileges and their power was balanced by another branch, the Aldrakhanian Inquisitors, mainly consisting of the working class.

Context and Background:

Aldrakhania is an empire clinging onto relevancy in a changing world. It is ruled by the House of Aldrakhan, a lion dynasty. Its imperial ambitions make it one of the primary antagonists of the story, as the regime seeks war as a way of holding onto power.

The Warrior Kings mentioned were rulers of the realm who agreed to recognize the House of Aldrakhan's authority, when the empire was founded.

Originally, the House of Aldrakhan sought to stabilize the land, but as time went on, its ambitions turned to conquest.

Let me know what you think, or if you have any questions!

My goal is to build an interconnected lore book, as most of what happens in the world is connected (story has been in discussion for a decade now): Karl Imran | Substack

I'll post in this community as well.