Tilenno

Tilenno, formally known as the Federation of Tilenno (Tilennan: Puurena Tilenno), is a country located in the North-western region of Avalonia. It is comprised of 5 regions, the autonomous region of Zesha and the desert of Kaesami. Each region contains multiple self-governing city states with the biggest Glikaero, in total there are 33 of such states. The capital state of Hireno is not part of any region. The autonomous region of Zesha has her own functioning parliament and functions separate from the other regions. The Kaesami desert is largely uninhabited and is solely under the control of the federal government.

Tilenno is mainly shaped by its rugged nature and small pockets of life in between. Her national flower is the Tilennan Lavender and her national animal the sunrise hummingbird. Bordering countries include Brigantica to the east...

Tilenno is home to one of the earliest recorded human civilizations surrounding the lake of Gantes, making it one of Anterra’s cradles of civilization. From 4200 BCE till 1200 BCE Tilenno housed many kingdoms, mainly situated around the lake and delta and some on the islands. it was only in 1200 BCE with the formation of the city states that Tilennan culture flourished. With the introduction of the sweet potato from the South in 200 BCE, combined with some major natural disasters, the city states were devastated and new dynasties took rule. They lasted until the military coup of 400, starting the age of Imperial Tilenno. The Steppe wars in 1000 added Zesha to Tilenno, but left the empire in ruines, causing it to split in 5 dynasties. They lasted until the Colonial wars of 1500, which started the modern era for Tilenno and trade with Artemia.

Origin of the word Tilenno
Over the years there have been many discussions about where the name Tilenno comes from, but nowadays there are 3 leading theories.

The first one, and generally accepted one, says that the name is derived from the Old Tilennan words tilera (Tilennan: tilae) and henas (Tilennan: houres), meaning land and people respectively. So Tilenno would translates to land of the people.

The second one claims that it comes from the old words for to us and sea, ti (Tilennan: xa) and leenas (Tilennan: loona). Translating to sea given to us, referencing the lake of Gantes. It also claims that the name is the genitive of the country because people would state that they were from Tilenna, which becomes Tilenno.

The last theory seeks the origin in the old word for sailing, hiileenarei (Tilennan: hooloonarii). This is in reference to the ancient sailing culture of Tilenno and could translate to land of the sailing people or the sailing country.

Lake of Gantes
The lake of Gantes is considered one of the cradles of human civilization. It provided a patch of fertile land in the arid mountainous desert of Tilenno. With its regular flooding twice a year, once from the river of the north and once from the river of the south, the land was perfectly suited for agriculture.

They mostly grew tiresta, a thick, calorie heavy grain which served many culinary purposes. Other cultivated crops included honey tomatoes, white carrots and sereela, a sweet berry used to make the traditional Tilennan drink, shiizo.

They also kept a variety of animals mostly in the grass patches near the mountains, which were unsuited for agriculture. Idk alpacas are cool, but maybe a more useful animal would be nice?

We can divide this time period up into 3 distinct era’s: the first civilizations, the Teeruukian era and downfall of the ancient civilizations

The first civilizations
The earliest recorded evidence of human civilization can be dated back to 4200 BCE, but researchers speculate that there may have been earlier ones. Some claiming as far back as 6000 BCE, but this remains open for speculation.

Clay tablets with proto-Tilennan script were found in the ruins of Teeruuko, in modern Ytriva. Translated in 1987, they explain multiple ancient myths, trading details and wars. The most well-known myths are the Tilennan creation myth and the story of Mareiso. These tablets also proved the existence of an ancient trading route through the Kaesami Desert, nicknamed the Canyon Trail.

The last big discovery made in these texts was the epic tale of the Pan-Gantian War, in which all the big kingdoms surrounding the lake of Gantes clashed in a war so enormous, the sun didn't set for an entire month, not to miss out on the events of war. Eventually the kingdom of Teeruuko won, and established its dominance around the lake, starting the Teruukian era.