Officially, this continent is ruled by House Haider though its control is far from complete.
The continent is dominated by a huge forest, known as the Great Forest. House Haider manages and farms the trees. The wood is exported to other worlds and is raw material for furniture manufacture that is exported to the rest of Volod.
The army is known for its archers and crossbowmen (the Houses on Volod lack the resources to shield its regular troops, a situation the siridar-ambassador is tasked to maintain). Pozemskorite soldiers who returned home after their unsuccessful invasion, spoke of berserk soldiers who were devastating in battle.
The Dopinese are an insular people. They have no interest in intercontinental intrigues and conflicts. However, tensions were stoked when Dopon-Nam took in refugees from the Heresy War in Basat. Ecclesistic Qabbalists found a haven to the dismay of the Basatines, especially the Commissariat Chaplaincy, even today.
The locals speak Dopinese but men and women who work on the world stage and in the Imperium must also learn Volic and Galach.
Geography
The continent is dominated by an expansive forest. Much of the ancient woodland remains wild but a significant portion is farmed and maintained artificially.
The continent lacks large cities, the locals preferring to live in smaller agricultural and arboricultural communities.
Ecology
Dopin-Nam is known as the "continent that wants to kill you". There is a rich ecosystem of poisonous flora and venomous fauna. The Dopinese have learned to live in harmony with their environment. The plants are a rich source of poisons and pharmaceuticals.
The continent's ecologists are concerned about the balance of trade on Volod. There is a net export of organic material, due to sale of Dopinese wood and furniture, and the Imperial and Harkonnen tithes of people. There is a slow but steady de-carbonation of the planet. The effects of this are currently barely noticeable but the are not negligible. Opponents of Haider rule use this as an argument against them, claiming misrule and a failure to live in harmony with the planet.
Dopinese tree mamba - the Dopinese tree mamba is a venomous snake thought to be descended from green mambas from Earth via evolution and genetic manipulation. It is found in the tree canopies in the tropical region of the continent. It is an elusive snake; attacks on people in the wild are rare. However, a bitten human has little chance of survival without treatment. Its venom is a prized injection poison.
Nightshade poppy - the plant creates flowers that resemble poppies but with brown or black petals and not of the same species. The seeds can be ground to yield a potent poison that can be used to make chaumerky or chaumas. The poison is also in the petals but at lower concentrations. It is a tenacious plant that grows in fields.
Purple Purdey Chilli Pepper - this chilli Pepper is native to Dopin-Nam. It varies in colour from crimson to purple. The heat varies from mild to medium.
History
About two hundred years ago, Pozemskory invaded Dopin-Nam. Vlad III considered the continent an easy target, the first step in his plan to take over the entire planet and elevate House Perko to Major status.
Initially, the invasion went well, but this was part of the defenders' plan. They drew the invaders deep into their territory and over stretched their forces. The Dopinese counterattacked targeting the Pozemskorite supply lines and depots. This cut off the troops on the front lines. The Dopinese inflicted hit and run attacks on the invaders. They attacked at random intervals allowing the invaders little respite. The Dopinese deployed soldiers with no fear of death, reduced sensitivity to pain and unparalleled ferocity. The invasion stalled with the soldiers trapped in increasingly hostile territory. Most died from disease, starvation and predation by wild animals.
The most infamous incident of the war was when hungry Pozemskorite soldiers happened on an abandoned village. They looted the village. Unfortunately for them, the food was poisoned and all of the soldiers died. The Dopinese did not want to put poisoned flesh into the ground, so the bodies were cremated. After news of this reached Pozemskory, many felt insulted and stirred up resentment towards the Dopinese. Some still carry that resentment to this day. The Dopinese felt that the invaders deserved to die and were unworthy of being returned to the earth.
The war ended with an overwhelming victory for Dopin-Nam and a humiliating defeat for Pozemskory. The territory most affected by the invasion was under the control of the Haiders.
The Harkonnens were so impressed by Haider leadership and the Military prowess of their soldiers that they elevated the Haiders to Minor House status. The Harkonnens gave control of Dopin-Nam to the Haiders. Being given control of the continent and taking control of it are two different matters. The Harkonnens have given the Haiders little help to enforce their rule.
Religion
The Dopinese are an unusually secular people. Attempts to import Basatine Orange Catholicism have consistently been met with disinterest. Eccesiastic Qabbalism grew in popularity with the influx of refugees during Basat's Heresy War. The religion persists in the descendants of the refugees but has not spread any farther.
The Daughters of the Wise Women, acting as missionaries, have had little success converting the locals but some remain who speak of the coming of the Masih. These women use the title Abida, sometimes lengthened to Abida el-Masih (servant of the messiah) or Abidallah (servant of god).
Politics
Groups of extremists
have emerged who want to stop all exports from Volod. They want to enact
isolationist policies and outlaw immigration and emigration. They are currently
small in numbered and fractured, lacking centralised leadership. Most are
opposed to the Haider regime.
Some have formed into terrorist groups who have targeted logging operations. These violent criminals, if caught, are used to help fill the annual tithe of soldiers to the Harkonnens.
Tourism
Coastal areas have become tourist traps and are popular holiday destinations for people from all over the world. They come here to enjoy stunning scenery, and for the food and drink.
Naming Conventions
The norm is to have the given name first followed by the family name. Those without family names have a given name followed by a patronymic, "ibn" or "bin" for "son of" and "bint" for "daughter of".
Example Names
Female
Aisha, Alisha, Anna, Asha, Farrah, Kiri, Maya, Saura
Male
Abdul, Amir, Abbas, Amil, Ahmed, Akbar, Imran, Kasem, Kirin, Kwan, Laden, Munni, Omar, Sam
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