The largest nation among the fuliginites: Harkanians. Harkanians live in a brutal monarchist culture. Their High King rules with a fuligin fist, demanding tribute and taxes monthly from his vassals. He has a powerful military with a core of warriors called the Knights of Harkanheim. These fearsome knights bear fuligin arms and armor. The High King's vassals are kings, dukes, earls, barons, and the landed gentry. Each pays tribute up the chain, with the High King taking the largest cut from the collected wealth. The main underclass are the serfs, who are not free to move from fiefdom to fiefdom, unlike peasants, of which there are none. The other workers and servants are all slaves, who can be bought and sold, unlike serfs. The only way a serf or slave can get out of enslavement is by joining the military or being chosen for the priesthood.

As mentioned above, all Harkanians are rejected by their parents at birth as part of a ritual ceremony that gives them the powers of the Harkanian nation. The children are left to their own devices for seven years, at which time they are either taken to the schools run by the church (see below) if they are noble or by serf or slave families if they are not. If they end up with the serfs or slaves, they will be taught whatever work that family does. If they are taken to the church schools, they are taught to be ruling class. Their parentage is never discussed, even if they are children of nobility, except when they are sorted between church or slavery. Even children of the High King live this way.

Noble rank is determined by ruthless political maneuverng, assassination, betrayal, and military force. There are constant small wars between the lesser vassals. The High King is the king who has the most power and can hold the Throne of Harkan.

When a noble child reaches the age of 16, they are tested in combat, in scholarship, in faith, in esoterica, in politics, in stealth, in athletics, and in social skill. This sorts them based on which they did best at: military officer (combat), advisory council (scholarship), the church (faith), the esoteric branch of the church (esoterica), noble rank (politics), intelligence corps (stealth), royal sports (athletics), or courtier (social skill). In any of these they retain their rank. If they fail all categories, they are killed. At similar age, serfs and slaves are also tested, but in a general way, as the nobility look for "more skilled" roles like entertainers, scribes, craftsmen, or apronmen.

Once a noble is 25, they are eligible for a fiefdom. Competition for these is fierce, and every year, a few folks die in the process.

Gender is strictly enforced based on biology among Harkanians. Because they sometimes have features of species that have different kinds of sexual organs, there are more than two genders among Harkanians, but they are all rigidly adhered to for fear of the Church's wrath. The genders are male, female, neuter (nedra), and multigender (trith). Men are considered the leaders of society, and only men can own land, be knights, or serve as leaders in the Church or military. Women are considered nothing more than vessels for reproduction. Barren women are seen as useless. Nedra are always slaves, even if born to nobles. They are seen as weaklings, fools, and pathetics, even though there is much evidence they are anything but. And trith are considered mysterious, special figures who are always taken up by the Church and trained in use of void, rending, or entropy.

Marriage among nobles is seen as solely extant for breeding new nobles. A vassal can only marry with their lord's permission, and a woman can only marry with their lord's permission and the permission of the Church, though this latter is usually a matter of form if the lord permits. If a woman does not give birth within three years of marriage, divorce is automatic unless their husband deems otherwise (for instance, if the husband has been away at war and thus unable to attend their duties toward reproduction). Noble women are highly prized if they are considered good for breeding. This means they have passed the right tests at age 16.

Marriage among serfs is only possible if their lord permits for both men and women. What happens after that is left to the serfs, unless there is a shortage of new serfs. Then a lord may require breeding of his serfs or threaten to separate them for more suitable mates. Slaves--and thus nedra--may not legally marry, though they often have their own commitment ceremonies in secret. Some lords take an interest in breeding slaves, but this is rare. Mostly there are always enough people to be made slaves, so no one cares.

Trith are allowed to marry if the Church allows it, but permission is only granted if there is a belief more trith might result from the pairing. In rare circumstances, trith can breed asexually, and their children are seen as abominations to be destroyed. The trith in question will also be killed if they go through with it.

Serfs and slaves have their own secret sign language that they hide from the noble class. Nobles sometimes suspect there is secret communication going on, but historically, none have admitted awareness of the sign language if they know of it.

Harkanians have traditions of music, food, and prose that are esteemed even by those who fear or hate them. Their food is one of the few things that is not tainted by fuligin, and only Harkanians know the process they use to remove the taint. Their music is largely minor key, murder ballads, and laments, and their prose is verbose, florid (and disturbing) romances, adventures, and courtly epics.

Harkanians honor the founder of their nation, Harkan the Black, who died toward the end of Second Shem. It is said his skeleton is part of the throne the High King sits on. Every year, they hold a massive tourney that honors their founder and features jousts, melees, feasts, balls, concerts, and readings among the nobility. Serfs and slaves get extra food servings and little more, though they have their own celebrations in secret.

The Pit also has special significance for Harkanians. It is not only of religious significance, but also political and cultural significance. Among nobles, there is a tradition of claiming ownership of a part of the rim of The Pit. This is controlled by the Church and must be bought with political and financial resources. Those who do own a piece of the rim have ownership therefore of Pit-monsters and a right to the use of them. Pit-monsters are ferocious creatures who come from The Pit and are useful in combat.

Harkanheim has a worldwide reputation for brutality and danger. Other religions view them rightly as blasphemous. Other countries fear them. Harkanheim trades with some Ansulymic or Wymmeran countries. There is a common saying the gist of which is "thank God the seas around Harkan are rough." This prevents a more effective naval presence that has kept them from greater conquest.

Xorcrans, who live as nomads in the Fuligin Field, view Harkanians are interlopers and often raid their pilgrimages. The dragons in the Fuligin Field and The Pit always take on the powers of a fuligin dragon. These are close allies to the Harkanians, who bribe them with slaves, livestock, and esoteric treasures.

A Harkanian who travels out into the world will often either be mistaken for an Agikaani halfbreed or seen as a Harkanian because of their usually unique appearance. This makes them subject to prejudice in most countries save for those they trade with and a few who are far enough away not to know of them.