Turan and Turaq
Turaq and Turan are two countries whose fates have been tied with one another from their beginning. In ancient times, the two countries where two parts of the same country which historians have now dubbed Old Turaq. It is still unclear what the catalyst was that led to the permanent separation of the two sovereign nations, yet one thing is clear: despite being neighboring countries, Turaq and Turan are world’s apart.
Turan
Turan is the most technologically advanced country in the middle east, and one of its wealthiest. Turanians like to consider their country a burgeoning oasis in a vast desert of mediocrity.
Tourism/Geography
West/Coastal
Similarly to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Turanian coastal cities like Kasha and Ghisa are premier travel destinations for the world's rich and famous. However, where Dubai has began opening it's luxurious doors to the more bourgeois jetsetter as of late, Turan has become all the more exclusive with the steady rise of its economy.
Coastal Turan enjoys a very warm climate year-round and through conservation efforts, it has maintained some the most pristine beaches on the Persian gulf. The clothing optional Lara Beach in Southern Turan has long been considered the finest beach in the world and several international stars have chosen this as their destination of choice because of the surrounding resort’s harsh policy towards paparazzi.
Truly a place of decadence, were one to venture slightly away from the coastline they would undoubtedly end up in one of Turan’s landmark casinos, restaurants, or strip clubs. Some flock to these establishments for the beautifully exotic women, others for the lax enforcement of narcotics laws, but one major draw of all these places is the drink of choice: Aja-Bijava, loosely translated to the Water of Illumination.
1 out of every 10 people who drink this delicious alcoholic drink will die within the hour, a risk that many feel is worth the incredible sense of euphoria obtained from it. Drinkers of Aja-Bijava report that unlike any other alcoholic drink, this one lowers inhibitions but has none of the common side effects like memory loss, dizziness, throwing up, and hangovers. In addition, according to common Turanian (and Turaki) legends, the drink will bestow its drinkers with unusually long lives and good fortune.
East / Iranian Border
The areas of Turan not dedicated to its vacationers are mostly industrial areas. Great oil refineries line most of the Turan/Iran border, refineries that were once in dispute among the two nations but have since been claimed solely by the Turanian government.
North / Turaq, Iraq Borders
The northern section of Turan is largely devoid of the decadence of the south. What was once a ravaged, war-torn area is now home to the central government and military establishments. This city of Bussa is home to Abassi Industries (more on them later) as well The Ziggurat, the closest equivalent to a Turanian Pentagon. The city of Sarshi is Turan’s capital and home to the presidential palace as well as the senate and congressional buildings.
The far north of Turan, near the Turaq border, is completely off-limits to any and all civilians . Both northern borders (Iraqi and Turaqi) are constantly on high alert in fear of attack.
The Turaqi/Turanian border also marks the beginning of the harsh Turaqi desert which extends to the north into Turaq. This desert is famous for its year-round sandstorms and unique wildlife.
Culture/Religion
Like with their neighbors to the East, West, and across the Persian Gulf, the predominant religion in Turan is Islam. The Turanians, however, practice a more modern form of Islam that many of the more traditional Islamic organizations have condemned for its western influence and emphasis on peace and enlightenment.
That being said, the city of Amol in Northern Turan is considered a holy city for all Muslims as it is said that the archangel Gabriel once visited the local mosque located there and was seen by several eyewitnesses. Among those alleged witnesses was influential Muslim artist Ismail Hassan who would later paint a sprawling mural of Gabriel on the city walls.
Weapons Manufacturing
Where Japan's technological prowess has translated into handheld phones, tablets, and computers, Turans equal or greater prowess has translated into the manufacture of high-grade, advanced weaponry.
Turan is the home of Abassi Industries which is a pioneer in weapons manufacturing and design. The company is one of the fastest growing on Earth and some of its products such as the Abassi railgun and the Dragonbreath Array have revolutionized the art of warfare. Its flagship product, the Abassi-2323 has, in the past ten years, unseated the AK47 and AR15 as the most used automatic weapon on Earth.
The company itself has been investigated by the UN for their alleged ties to Middle Eastern terrorism groups. However, time and time again, no conclusive links have been found between Abassi Industries and any terrorist organization.
Military
Turan is unique in the fact that the country's police force and military is one and the same with the police force being a smaller subdivision of the military. Turan is one of the most heavily-policed countries on Earth and thanks in large part to Abassi Industries, has made several advancements in security, starting with the Turanian Shadow Guard.
TSGs are elite members of the Turanian military who are trained from a young age to respond to any and all threats, from simple drunken brawls to potential terrorist plots. TSGs are implanted with cybernetic implants that allow them superhuman abilities such as: super strength, enhanced agility, and peak human performance.
In addition to the Shadow Guards, Turan also relies on the Sentinels for their every day security. The sentinels are biomechanical creatures made from the DNA of Turaqian desert cicadas and outfitted with cybernetic implants that allow it to communicate with both central command and other nearby sentinels. In addition these sentinels can place highly accurate trackers on fleeing suspects and have surveillance capabilities. The combination of the TSG and the Sentinels make Turan one of the safest places on the planet, despite being nestled in the notoriously dangerous middle east.
Foreign Relations
In the past there had been several disputes between Turan and its more traditionally Muslim neighboring countries, particularly Iran to the east and Iraq to the west. However, as Turan began to come into its own both politically and economically they began to manufacture superior weapons and defenses. Although many in these neighboring countries feared of an eventual Turanian takeover due to these technological advantages, Turanian leaders instead opted to end conflict by fortifying their borders.
Turan boasts some of the most fortified country borders on Earth. To the West and East the Turan/Iran and Turan/Iraq borders are fortified by hundreds of military installations designed to eliminate all immigration into the country as well as any attacks from its neighbors. To the North, the Turan/Turaq border is defended by more military installations most of which are armed with hundreds of Dragonbreath Array panels designed especially for any potential Turaqi threats (more on that later).
In modern times, relations between Turan and their neighbors to the east and west are mostly respectful, although that is largely due to fear from Iran and Iraq. The same cannot be said about Turan's relations with their neighbors to the North, Turaq, with whom the technological wonderland regularly comes into conflict with.
Turaq
Although only a heavily fortified border and almost impossible-to-navigate desert separate them, Turan and Turaq are incredibly different in all aspects. Although not the technological juggernaut or exclusive travel destination that Turan is, the landlocked Turaqi nation holds just as much importance in the Middle East.
Geography
Turaqi Desert
The Southwestern quadrant of Turaq is covered by the great Turaqi desert. This desert is sacred to the Turaqi who believe it to be the home of their god, Shenta Kala Todash (loose translation: "He Who Lies Beneath the Sands") The desert itself is covered year-round in a continuous harsh sandstorm.
Throughout history no one has ever been able to officially cross this desert, either ending up lost in the storm or being somehow redirected to their starting point. Native Turaqi, however, claim to have made the trip several times during their wars with neighboring Turan, citing their ability to manipulate sand as the key to their navigation.
The Turaqi desert is home to peculiar fauna found nowhere else on Earth. The large Turaqi desert cicadas (officially the largest insect on Earth) navigate this desert and are the genetic basis of Turan’s sentinel security program.
Legends also state that the desert is home to a massive species of worm dubbed the Turaqi dune worm by cryptid enthusiasts. This worm has allegedly been witnessed by large parties throughout the years and is usually described as being anywhere from 5 to 20 feet long, although both Turaqi and Turanians note that they come in much larger sizes.
The famous and ill-fated Astrinos Expedition into the desert in 1978 was said to have come under the attack of two dune worms. Survivors mentioned that the the worms must have been at least 50 feet long.
North, East, West
Because of the extreme difficulty presented in trying to enter the Turaqi nation, not much is known about Turaq's geography..The parts of Turaq not covered in desert are mostly plains and hills, home to the many Turaqi tribes who live a life much more humble than their neighbors to the South. The main crop and export from these parts are wheat, rice, and barley.
In the Northern city of Rusidha lies the Marabhan Oil Refinery which is one of the largest in the world and is responsible for a huge chunk of the country's income.
Further east is Turaq's capital city, Turaquil which is the location of the Turaqi Sultan's Palace. This city is totally closed off to all foreigners. Not much more is known about it.
Turaq's borders with Iran and Iraq are lined with gigantic sand dunes. It is unclear whether these dunes were formed naturally or if they were perhaps moved there throughout the years by the Turaqis as a form of defense.
Culture/Religion/Politics
Turaqis live a very sheltered life. Although there seem to be no official laws against travel in and out of the country, Turaqis almost never cross their borders. In addition, people rarely travel into the country, the notable exception being those whom are given special allowances to work in the Marabhan Refinery.
Unlike most other Middle Eastern countries, the Turaqis do not follow the Muslim faith, choosing instead to follow the Shenta religion which reveres the desert god Shenta Kala Todash or "He Who Lies Beneath the Sands." It is unclear just how old this religion is but texts dating back to ancient Mesopotamia make reference to a "Cult of the Sand God" which may be the modern religion's ancient predecessor.
The Shenta religion also ties into the country's politics as the Sultan is said to have come from the seed of Shenta Kala Todash. This Sultan exercises absolute power in Turaq and is also seen as the most powerful member of its military.
Military
Much of the Turaqi military might lies in their soldier's unique ability to manipulate sand. This strange ability grants them total control over sand, as well as the ability to camouflage themselves in the sand. The Turaqi's military penchant for sand manipulation makes it impossible to invade.
Theories abound about how this ability might wok. Altough Turaqis claim that it is bestowed upon them by their god, experts in superhuman sciences posit that they perhaps share a unique mutant gene that grants them these sand-based powers.
The most powerful user of this sand manipulation technique is always their Sultan. The current sultan of Turaq is the young "Aran The Forsaken" whom is pictured to the left. According to ancient texts, the gourd that the Turaqi sultan carries with him is filled with the ashes of all the sultans who came before him. On many occasions Turaqi sultans have shown the ability to manipulate these ashes in much the same way as they manipulate sand.
Foreign Relations
Turaq's relationship with foreign countries is almost nonexistent in modern days. In ancient times, the country was a warring nation but this was most likely due to its neighbors frequent attacks on it for its staunch refusal to accept Islam as their national religion. As Turaq continued to use their unique sand manipulation powers to dominate any conflict between nations, offensives from Iraq and Iran eventually died out. Turaq's attitutde towards its neighbors to the East and West could be classified as a guarded apathy.
This cannot be said of its attitude towards it neighbors to the South, however, whom Turaq has been in continuous conflict with for centuries since their separation. With the advent of Abassi Industries' Dragonbrath Array (which can generate enough heat to turn sand into glass), the ongoing war between the two nations is currently a stalemate, since neither country can mount any sort of offensive on the other's soil.
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Rules:
- Normal CVnU rules apply. (no godmodding, no autohitting)
- If you have an RPG idea for this location or just want to use it in any significant way, just message this account or my main, Last Guardian.
- RPing in Turaq is discouraged because of all the factors I've already mentioned. Though you're welcome to take stab at navigating the Turaqi desert (just don't make that look easy).
- RPing in Turan is encouraged for all of you who love the finer things in life. As mentioned above Turan is home to some of the finest beaches, casinos, nightclubs, strip clubs, and restaurants in the world. In addition drug laws are pretty lax (as long as you keep your hands to yourself), so go crazy on those fronts. It's basically a more expensive, more exotic Las Vegas.
- Just keep in mind that the whole country is heavily policed so blowing up buildings, attacking politicians, or robbing casinos shouldn't exactly be easy.
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