Demographics of The Bind

The Bind was a vast and complex society characterized by a mix of ethnic groups, each with distinct social standings and roles within the empire. As per the 7562 census, the population of the Bind was composed of several key groups, each shaped by unique historical, cultural, and social factors.

The Wolgos

The Wolgos were the dominant ethnic group within the Bind, both in numbers and status. As the only remaining human sister sub-species, they originated from the Dnkluwos Islands, where they lived for millennia in petty states that eventually coalesced to form the state of Dhonowlgos. After encountering the broader world, they expanded rapidly, conquering the northern lands of the Bind, then known as New Xedun, from the Hellish Monarchy. This discovery led to a swift settlement of Altaia and a subsequent depopulation of their homeland. Eventually, during the Containment War, the remaining Wolgos were driven from their homeland to their colony by the Hellish Commonwealth.

As the dominant force in the Bind, the Wolgos held legal dominion over all other peoples, albeit in a more "benevolent" manner compared to their rule in old Dhonowlgos. Deeply xenophobic and isolationist, the Wolgos were convinced their survival as a species was under threat from human encroachment across Gotha—a fear grounded partly in archaeological evidence but mostly driven by their religious beliefs. Wolgos culture was marked by practices such as human cannibalism and sacrifice, although economic constraints limited these traditions to special occasions.

The Wolgos' unique temperament shaped their culture, society, and interactions with other groups, forcing the other peoples of the Bind to conform to their norms, often warping traditional cultures into dysfunctional constructs.

Bind Shriaav

The Bind Shriaav were descendants of Davai Shriaav colonists who settled on the eastern Altaian coast and along the eastern Nuss River about two hundred years prior, as part of an unofficial exploratory and early colonization initiative by the peoples of Muurven. These settlers established villages, towns, and eventually petty city-states and kingdoms. As the Wolgos expanded inland, they began absorbing and enslaving Shriaav communities. The Treaty of Naga Yillan allowed the coastal Shriaav entities to maintain some autonomy in exchange for joining the empire.

Today, the Bind Shriaav were divided into two groups: the Free Shriaav and the Indentured Shriaav. The Free Shriaav were "free" in that they could work, rest, and accumulate wealth, much like the Wolgos, but in reality, they were second-class citizens with limited freedom. Many lived as field peasants or in slum-like conditions. The Indentured Shriaav, on the other hand, were in perpetual servitude, unable to marry or freely choose their paths, and were moved around the empire as needed by their handlers.

Ak'lam

The Ak'lam were the native people of the Bind lands, once numbering in the millions and organized into the former Ak'neeyuhlem Horde and the recently conquered Republic. The Ak'lam Horde was an assembly of chiefdoms united by a common cultural link but with no central governance, resulting in frequent internal conflicts. Within the Bind, the Ak'lam lived in slums constructed within large walled enclosures, typically near industrial areas where they provided cheap labor. Their living conditions were brutal, with little access to basic services, leading to high mortality rates and a generally low life expectancy.

Some Ak'lam in the exploitation territories fared slightly better, as they were kept in large confinements that were cleaner and provided adequate nourishment, primarily to farm them for human meat. However, the majority lived free but marginalized, restricted from self-sufficiency or even settling in permanent communities, as official policy aimed to dehumanize and weaken them.

Telwotti

The Telwotti were an isolated ethnic group residing in the northern wastes of the Bind. Numbering no more than a few thousand, they lived in small tribes, subsisting through hunting and ice fishing. The Telwotti were largely left alone by the Bind's central authorities and were allowed to trade freely with Bind citizens.