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Island of the City-States

Page history last edited by Gillian 11 years, 8 months ago

The Island of Great Raksed

 

This large island (about 995 miles long and 360 miles wide) is about 226,000 square miles across. It is oriented mostly north-south, with a slight angle to the east. The island's climate is hot and subtropical. It is cooler in the mountains and massif area at the center of the island, and dryer on the western, more sheltered side of the landmass. The south is dryer and cooler as well, reaching nearly desert conditions on the south-western end of the island. The east coast boasts a narrow strip of coastal lowlands that are heavily rain-forested, and suffer yearly flooding from heavy monsoon rains and near-tropical heat in the summer. In the north and north-west are more coastal lowlands, where rice-farming is common. On the western side of the mountains in the central island region is an area of savannah-like grasslands where ox-like cattle are raised.

 

The Island has been home to several races and many civilizations over the past several thousand years. At this time (around year 2,600) the island's population consists of about 1.5 million human and demi-humans, living in seven city-states or as nomads in the southern extremity of the island. There are approximately another million humanoids (mostly goblins, orcs and hobgoblins) living in the rainforests, rugged hills and wastelands. The human population is about 3/4 million, while dwarves are another 1/4 million, and the rest of the demi-humans are hobbyts, elves, a smattering of half-elves, and grippli. About 20% of the population lives either in a city-state, or in a village within the shadow of the walls of said city. Each race, excepting the grippli and the half-elves, dominate at least one city of their own.

 

 

The most ancient race known to live on the island are the dwarves. The stone-folk swear that they were created here, first race to dwell upon the island, and there is some likelihood to this claim, as far as the archaeological records show. The dwarves today are found only in the central mountains, where they control  Ankarana, a large city of stone-masons, metal-workers and warriors. The dwarves are a stern people, who create strict laws and expect all who dwell with them to obey invariably. Even some of their own number find the rigidity of dwarven society to be too much; dwarves who live apart from their city are often less rigid and law-enforcing. Ankarana is ruled by King Oluruk IX, a warrior of great prestige and power; there are only 3 dwarvish clans on Raksed; Oluruk is clan leader to the Great Clan of Ferkel, while the two lesser clans of Maruuk and Korentokoth strive to grow. As is true in so many places, dwarvish stonemasons, metalsmiths and craftsmen are respected everywhere on Raksed. However, dwarven warcraft is also widely recognized as superior, and the other cities remain both respectful and fearful of the dwarven warriors who enter their city-states, for whatever stated reason. Dwarves see themselves as the true rulers of the island, and they believe ONLY they have certain rights here, including the right to "use" Ontokoth's blood - the sapphires which are found all across the island, in the rivers and stream-beds, but also within the earth itself. Any non-dwarf who bears one of the blue, purple or pinkish stones may well be seen as being deliberately insulting or even heretical. The population of Ankarana is about 75,000. 80% are dwarves, 15% are hobbyts, and the rest are a mix of humans and grippli. Very few elves live in Ankarana, and even diplomats from the elvish communities tend to live on estates outside the city and visit within its walls only when necessary, as they find the bare stone of the city to be uncomfortable.

 

Elves arrived a few thousand years after the dwarves; they were fleeing from a combination of their wars with humans and their own magical cataclysm. However, the elves who arrived here were still arrogant, strong in their belief that they were the immortal chosen of the gods; it had not yet become apparent that their offspring would all forever after be mortal beings. The elves and the dwarves ended by developing intense feuds that seem unlikely ever to be forgotten by either side. The elves have two city-states. One is Jatalaki, in the south-west, a port-city just north of the desert-region of the island, and a bit south of the hobbyt city. Here, they practice the arts of wizardry and scholarship, and are the founders of the only University on the Island. They are known to be proud and difficult, but many humans seek out the school because of the quality of education. The second city-state the elves dominate is on the eastern side of the island, on the steep slopes of the mountains, and in the narrow coastal rainforest there; the elves have perfected the art of living in the face of oncoming hurricanes, monsoon rains, and floods. Their city-state is far more state than city, the population being almost evenly dispersed across the entire region in small, flexible communities that can move quickly and easily. The single largest and most permanent of these towns is known as Bemelleh. Status in this region appears to derive very much from the ability to live high in the trees, and those who dwell lower, for practical reasons such as farming and industry, are seen as much lower in status than those who live up high, as hunter-gatherers and "at one" with the forests. However, they are sellers of rare fruits and vegetables, herbs and roots, producers of fine woven spider-silks, spices such as cloves, vanilla, and even coffee-beans. They do ornate and highly prized carvings, and they are able to tame many of the jungle animals into pets and useful animal companions. Jatalaki, the City of Thought, as it is known on Raksed, has a population of 50,000. More than half are elves, about 30% are human, a good 5% each are half-elves, hobbyts and grippli, while fewer than 2% are dwarves. Bemellah, the City of Scents and Winds, has a population of 30,000, though it is spread over an area almost 5 miles wide, so it rarely seems to have 1/10th the population, as far as outsiders can identify. 70% are elvish, and the rest evenly divided between humans, grippli and hobbyts. There are remarkably few half-elves (under 1/2%), as the elves of Bemellah actively despise them. There are no dwarves resident in the city, so far as anyone knows.

 

To the south, in the desert-like region of the island, a semi-nomadic human people dwell. They claim that they were once sea-farers, driven to this land by intense storms, and that they long to return to the sea, but having been cursed by the sea-goddess, dare not do so until they have discovered the failing that drove them here. Instead, they herd the giant birds that are this land's substitute for horses, catching and training the wild flightless creatures. While the birds can be bred elsewhere on the island, the nomads are the finest bird-breakers and trainers, and a wild-born animal is considered to be the finest mount available. They have one largish "city", which they maintain as a fortress in which to retreat during times of trouble. It is heavily fortified, and while not particularly large, boasts a superior and independent water-source, and a large store of preserved foods. This city-fortress is known as Fandriana. Outside the fortress-city itself, a large semi-permanent camp of traders, merchants and herders exists, in a chaos of heat, dust and diversity. Fandriana has 40,000 residents; 60% are human, and 30% are dwarvish - this is the highest concentration of dwarves outside Ankarana; they seem to be drawn by the dry heat and stony harshness of the region. A small number of hobbyts and elves make up the rest of the population. The few grippli who come here leave quickly; the desert dryness would soon kill them, otherwise.

 

The Hobbyts of the Island have a small city-state of their own, named Imatow. It is located  on the western side of the island, somewhat north of the central region, in an area that is arable plains and mild seacoast, some of the most habitable land in the entire region. However, the hobbyts claim such a small region that at this time, and for the past hundred years or more, they have managed to keep it for themselves. The dwarves are their protectors, and "aid in the ruling" of the hobbyts, which very few of the small folk seem to resent. Their region is farmed and tilled and gardened to a state of almost parklike gentility, but somehow small bits of "wildness" are retained. Despite being a fair distance from the southern desert region, the hobbyts send expeditions to trade with the nomads who dwell there. In fact, the hobbyts highly prize the huge eggs of the flightless birds, and eagerly trade their produce for them, and in return create the egg-breads, cakes and other delicacies for which they are justly famed. Imatow is one of the smaller city-states, with only 20,000 residents; it does cover a sprawling area, though, as most of the population lives in village-mounds surrounded by gardens. There are 14,000 hobbyts, about 4,000 dwarves, and a mix of elves, grippli and a few humans. This city is built on a scale only hobbyts and grippli find truly comfortable.

 

The humans of Raksed dominate three further cities of their own, as well as having small enclaves in most of the previous locales;

 

Tomasa is the oldest of these cities, founded by the arrival of five black ships, dominated by a group of priests of Aragh and their followers. Driven off their first chosen landing-spot, they eventually came ashore far in the north, settling on the southern side of a large bay at the northern tip of the island. Even today, the city is firmly ruled by the priest-king of Aragh, Tomas the XXIII. They have come to believe that the highest peak of Raksed, a volcanic cone, which is just to the south-west of their city, is one of the holy places where Aragh stepped as the world was created. Tomasa is one of the smaller cities, but it is quite well protected by high walls, by the power of the priests, and by the skeletons and other undead they control to reinforce their armies. Tomasa sends many priests out across Raksed to all the city-states. They are welcomed in few, but because they play a critical role in the escort of dead souls to the afterlife and eventual rebirth, they are respected and accepted, if reluctantly, wherever they choose to go. Population 20,000; almost all humans and a smattering of others.

 

Sambava is a second human city-state, the wealthiest and largest city after Ankarana -on the western coast, this mercantile city is also located on a highly navigable river, at the top of a many-fingered estuary. Fine clay deposits have developed the city into a center for sculptural arts, pottery, and other crafts. Visual arts are highly prized here, as are theatrical and musical arts. A bardic college and  major theatrical school are located here. 45,000 population; it is mostly human, but with about 9,000 dwarves, 9,000 elves or half-elves, and about 4,000 hobbyts and grippli combined.

 

Voamar is a smaller city-state, on the south-east side of the island, about 1/3 of the way from the southern end of the island, and fairly far inland, between several large rivers and on a plateau on the otherwise fairly rugged and forested hills that slope dramatically down to the coast. This is good wine-making country, and the Voamarans are famed for several vintages. They are also located in a central enough region to be a center of trade for the southern half of the island. Voamarites are known to be adventurous and mercantile. Population is 20,000; about 5,000 elves and half-elves and 2,500 hobbyts, with a small enclave of dwarves (about 500) and a few dozen grippli.

 

Timeline:

 

Year
Event
minus 10,000(approx) Creation of the Elves by Aragh
minus 8,000 War of the Immortals; the dwarves are created by Mikarathlan (either on the island or they arrive soon after).
minus 7,000 Men and Elves met in the South lands
minus 6,000 War between men and elves, lasting many hundreds of years
minus 5,000
Elves arrive on the Island as refugees, fleeing from human enemies. They and the dwarves are almost immediately in conflict over land-use and settlement rights.
1 to 800 First Miraborian Empire, time of the Cloud Kingdom. This was a time of great wizards, powerful magic and world-spanning travel. Most has been forgotten, and only a few names linger in the tales of bards.
900 
Island of the City-States is lost to the First Empire for unknown reasons. Dwarven civilization cut off from all others.
1,500 
followers of Aragh arrive on Raksed in five black ships. They try to settle in the south at first, are driven off, and eventually settle far in the north, where they form Tomasa
   
   
   
   
   
   
2,600 
approximately present day

 

 

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