Dine Republic

The Dine Republic, or Dinada, is one of Makasing’s most powerful nations, shaped by historic wars with the Ezcan Empire. Although the southern border has stabilized, peace was only achieved through support from other Makasing nations, hinting at lingering alliances. Spanning vast lands with fertile inland farms, most people Dine Republic do not see Dine as militarized despite its defensive strength. Its cultural and technological advancements owe much to the invention of a duodecimal math system by a young Two-Spirit leader after a prolonged vision quest. This discovery accelerated engineering and irrigation progress, elevating Dine as a major agricultural exporter. The capital, Coyote City, at Chaco Canyon, is a hub of philosophical and spiritual thought, rivaling Cahokia, and increasingly central to political unrest.

Government and Politics:

The Dine Republic’s governance is clan-based, reflecting the country’s diversity, with clans or bands governing locally over areas ranging from 50 to 1,000 miles. Represented by matrilineal hereditary delegates, clans hold authority over regional matters. They convene annually in Kivas (major cities) to address the National Council of Dine, a structure deeply rooted in religious customs. On the federal level, a council of elected delegates, priests, and military leaders manages foreign relations, military affairs, and trade, although recent rumors suggest this structure is under pressure as power consolidates among a few elites.

Economy and Technology:

Dine’s economy is among the most advanced in the world, supported by scientific innovations and rich farmland. Coyote City is a critical research hub for biotechnology, agriculture, climate restoration, and studies of The Adanadi, driving Dine’s prosperity. The Adanadi’s study, especially in biotechnology, has led to breakthroughs that reinforce Dine’s leading role in Makasing, even while political tensions grow. The Pimu off the Sikugami Coast, initially an exploration base, now play a military role in repelling naval threats from Azayang. Increased security around these islands points to fears of future conflicts.

Society and Culture:

The Dine Republic is culturally diverse, with Hozho (The Way) as the prominent religion among the elite. This belief system promotes harmony and beauty. Albino individuals are particularly honored, and the Republic is home to the largest albino community on the continent. Despite its strong economy and religious cohesion, the Dine Republic faces internal divides, particularly linguistic discrimination against Uto-Ezcan peoples due to historical wars. Recent shifts in leadership have intensified these fractures, as certain elites seek to unify the Republic under a more rigid hierarchy that mirrors the Ezcan Empire.

Major Cities and Locations:

Coyote City: As the capital, Coyote City is a center of research and governance, yet also a hotbed of political intrigue where assassins are rumored to be active. Seat of the Tongaa Dine clan
Green Mountain: Built into cliffs, Green Mountain played a pivotal role in the All Tribes War and remains a strategic, storied site.
Ni Alnigi: A ceremonial city without permanent dwellings, Ni Alnigi has become a symbolic meeting ground for clans skeptical of centralized power. Located in the uncontrolled canyon lands and inhabited by Banta for most of the year.
Oraibi: The oldest continually inhabited town, predating the Awis, Oraibi stands as a testament to resilience but is increasingly a refuge for dissidents. Located on Ninataka controlled land along the border of The Free Lands.
Pimu: Located on an island, Pimu is both a military base and an exploratory frontier city, its strategic importance growing amid recent rumors of naval threats. Seat of the Asootan clan
Tseyi: Known as a spiritual and agricultural hub, Tseyi has seen an uptick in religious gatherings opposing recent government consolidation efforts. Controlled by the Shawaketa clan.
Waanga: A significant city in the western valleys, Yaanga has become a focal point for those wary of central power in Coyote City. Seat of the Nidineta clan.

Clans of Dine:

Asootan: This clan dominates the coastal trade.
Banta: A spread out nomadic clan held together by a shared sense of being simply the people.
Nidineta: This can has historically led the bureaucracy across Dine.
Ninataka: Clan on the border of The Free Lands that controls the flow of trade.
Shawaketa: A clan in the southwest who produce ceramics for pottery and electronic insulators.
Tongaa Dine: The strongest and most influential clan in Dine. The clan leader, The Shining Star, is the current Consul of the National Council of Dine. The clan is centered around Coyote City.

Factions and Groups:

Corn Pollen Keepers: This matrilineal group tends sacred corn groves, fostering scientific advances crucial to Dine’s economy. With new political pressures, they are wary of external control over their work.
Coyote Crime Lords: In Coyote City, seven clans control the black market in corn-based synthetics, profiting amid increased demand. The recent influx of assassins, however, threatens this lucrative underground economy.
Keepers of the Ancient Ones: An ancient order focused on preserving ancestral knowledge, the Keepers have a rising influence, quietly opposing government efforts to consolidate Hozho under a singular hierarchy.
The Ancients: Adherents to older, pre-Hozho traditions, the Ancients advocate for religious independence. Their influence grows as government factions push for a stricter religious doctrine, reflecting a deepening divide.
The Twelve: These non-binary ambassadors bridge clans and regions, but tensions over succession have challenged the Twelve’s authority, as many align with dissident factions.

The Rock Breaker Plot:

In 710, on orders of the Shining Star, Tawazi Chiiya, undercover as a member of The Council of Twelve in Cahokia, oversaw a terror campaign against the city. 2,256 people died, but the plot was stopped and Tawazi Chiiya was captured.

Dine Rising:

Since 710, The Shining Star has worked tirelessly to consolidate his control over Dine. With his uncle, Pithan, The Shining Star has led a campaign of political and religious persecution against those who stand in his way, including journalists and other clan leaders. Many of these individuals have fled to the Ti'Swaq Alliance and The Free Lands, leading to an influx of bounty hunters and assassins. Stories spread of a female assassin who is willing to burn a village to smoke out a target.

In 715 The Shining Star held a ceremony where he was burred alive and forced to claw his way out of the grave. This was a powerful ceremony that for many solidified The Shining Star's image as a god on earth.

During the Nibaathanka, the border of Dine was opened for the first time for Dine people to enter the Free Lands, but not for people from the Free Lands to enter Dine. This was to allow aid and aid workers to help suffering communities in the north. Many in the political class saw this as an opportunity to win hearts and minds.