Feared by its neighbours as a fierce, unpredictable and blood-thirsty place, Gancia is a large nation occupying the mid-west of the continent, between the wild Haniol in the north and the more settled societies of the south.
The Gancians are held together by a powerful theocracy of high priests who claim to be able to influence the weather and there-by ensure plentiful harvests, mostly by appeasing their blood thirsty god with frequent human sacrifice.
Each major settlement is dominated by a huge Ziggurat, a temple in the shape of a stepped pyramid. Captives are dragged from inside the structure and executed on the top, blood flowing to the ground below via specially made channels to the cheers of the general populace. The high priests can also be seen communing with the sun and the moon from atop these structures.
Frequent low level wars with neighbouring peoples are required to keep the flow of sacrifices constant. These mostly consist of small raids into Haniol territory to the north, although other neighbours are not immune. The Haniol return the favour by raiding for gold and food.
The Gancian citizenry are able to be called upon for war or raids, mostly being fast moving foot armed with javelins and shields. There are some more permanent warriors who are similar but better practiced, as well as some armed with fearsome 1 handed or 2 handed reverse bladed weapons that can cleave a warrior in half with one blow. Richer members of the community serve as cavalry, skirmishing with javelins from a distance.
Gancians are quite warlike and sometimes hire themselves out as mercenaries. Other nations, particularly the Mistanians, also sometimes serve as mercenaries for Gancia when the need for more stable troops arises.
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