Once a Week Worldbuilding #2 The Countries of Aruta Pt. 1
It’s hard to pin down what exactly describes Menimoh Culture, especially since each country is unique. Aruta is split into roughly 9 different countries, each with their own religion, government, culture, and even technology! Here’s a few of them to start us off!
Asgaream is a curious little country, led by its church system and Pope, with machines powered by steam. It's a relatively small land of brass and brown, and despite the holy exterior, is run largely by organized crime. The most dangerous of these is disguised as a traveling fair, with scary amounts of control over the land and led by equally scary people. They tend to wear superficially fancy outfits, with buttoned clothing with large cuffs, ties, bandannas and flowing gowns. Live entertainment is beloved, especially the ones that are probably sketchy..! Most countries on Aruta hold the sun as a holy figure, but it’s most prominent in Asgaream.
Atluture is the self-described technological capital of the world, home to massive sprawling cities that cover almost the entire territory. It's a technocracy of sorts, a country run by an AI, with an elected official "Chancellor" acting as an interpreter and figurehead for the land. It's typically known to rain for long periods of time in Atluture, and the typical outfit here is made from a longcoat or trenchcoat, a wide-brimmed hat, shades and surgical masks to cover their mouths, to keep disease from spreading in such a huge place and to stay dry in the steady rain. Underground clubs are pretty popular, and generally hi-tech machinery is widespread. Neon signs are commonplace here, and it's said the view at night is magical.
Biophodel is a strange country ruled by the laws of nature. They're run by an Oligarchy, a high counsel made of the most knowledgeable people in the country, with a lower counsel made of various Biophodelians. This place is living, with buildings made from modified trees, biotech companions, surgery and body modification are common and even encouraged here. If you have even a little thing you aren't happy with, they encourage you to change. It's only natural, they feel, to change. This country is very rural and by far one of the most alien to human eyes, with cities that look like jungles or forests, and an absolute refusal to hurt the environment. They like to wear handmade suits, and long labcoats, all with biological themes to them. Everything here is made unique and with intention.
Olysel is a polluted land with cities of all sorts, complimented by the black oil and diesel they run off of. Everything runs on oil and gas here, like some sort of 1940's greaser movie mixed with the industrial revolution. Though, it wasn't always this way. It was once a sprawling nation that didn't use their fossil fuels to messily, but blame their current state on humans. Led by a President, one that's elected by the populace, it's a country very used to shifting. Leather stuff is common wear, as well as simple outfits made of (usually) black cloth, but the lack of funds has made their culture as a whole suffer. A lot of Olysel’s citizens are hoping their current leader, a mysterious man named Lunari, can help pull them out of their darkness.