Kashadum: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 00:41, 10 October 2024

Kashadum (pronounced kahsh-ah-DOOM) is a Tamkaranu possession in the Western Coast that serves primarily as a penal colony. Some who are deemed guilty of crimes in Tamkaranu are given the chance to serve their sentences through exile to Kashadum rather than in prisons at home, an offer a fair number accept.

Geography, flora, and fauna

Stretching across a small number of islands off the mainland of the Western Coast, the lands of Kashadum are not particularly hospitable. The islands are rocky and generally poorly suited to agriculture, though their shores are home to quite an array of sea life. Kashadum is climatically similar to the surrounding Western Coast, with warm summers and cool and wet winters.

History

Though small outposts had long existed on the islands of Kashadum, they never had large populations, with most attempts at settlement being abandoned in favor of the better lands on the mainland to the south. The site of the modern city of Kashadum is located on the ruins of an old Thadrian settlement, possibly from the late seventh millennium, which had long since been forgotten before a new community was established in its stead.

By Y9840^* overcrowding in the prisons of Tamkaranu forced the shufet to explore other options. Looking across the seas they found their solution - the modern settlement at Kashadum, which had already been independently established by colonists after the end of the monarchy, was a perfect place to house their extra prisoners, distant as it was from both Tamkaranu and other major communities of the Western Coast. The judge-council of Tamkaranu took control of the city, appointing their own shufet to rule it in their stead, beginning Kashadum's history as a penal colony.

Demographics

The inhabitants of Kashadum are a diverse mix of people from Tamkaranu, its colonies, and the Western Coast. Most are humans but they are joined by significant numbers of individuals of other ancestries as well. The city has a large tengu population in particular, largely non-prisoner arrivals from elsewhere in the Western Coast.

Culture

Religion

Religion can be highly varied amongst the people of Kashadum. The majority venerate the deities of the Chaskan pantheon. Some follow the Hellean hero-gods, but they do not have a sizable number of worshipers - much the same can be said for the gods of the Khapeshan pantheon. The tengu of Kashadum worship quite an array of gods, centering on the Great Storyteller. Worship of Marya, Laverna, Socharin, and Hasamel is particularly widespread.

Society

Though Kashadum continues to exist primarily as a penal colony, the administrators of the colony have historically been quite lax about ensuring the prisoners remain in their assigned roles. As part of the conditions for their sentence on Kashadum, all who are convicted are assigned professions based on their skills and experiences, yet once they arrive they find little binds them to these. In reality the prisoners of Kashadum are remarkably free to build new lives in the city as they see fit, or even leave if they can pay their passage - few if any efforts are made to stop this. Any crimes committed in the colony, however, are punished harshly, for in choosing exile to Kashadum the prisoners are granted a chance at a new life, but should they prove unable to obey the laws of the colony they are returned to Tamkaranu to serve even longer sentences than they would have been subject to originally.

Languages

The people of Kashadum speak a mixture of Telan, Hellean, Common, and various ancestral languages. Generally travelers familiar with any of the above three regional languages can understand enough to get by on the colony.

Food and cuisine

The cuisine of Kashadum is heavily centered around seafood harvested by local fishers and divers. This is supplemented by grain derived food like bread and beer, as well as a mix of vegetables and fruits, particularly peas, onions, and leeks. Non-seafood meat is less common. Kashadum cuisine differentiates itself from Tamkaranu cuisine by its Hellean influence, incorporating more of the methods of preparation and ingredients common to the peninsula.

Architecture and urbanization

The architecture of Kashadum is broadly similar to that of Tamkaranu, though the small population of the colony has led to a lack of the density that is characteristic of Tamkaranu cities. Aside from the city of Kashadum itself, there are few other settlements on the islands, as nearly the entire population of the colony lives in or near the capital. Those that do exist are largely seaside fishing villages.

Travel

Nearly all travel to, from, and within Kashadum is by way of the sea. Trade routes connect Kashadum with nearby seaside settlements of the Western Coast and Ellu, as well as with Tamkaranu, Hellea, and Dalbanu.

Fashion

The clothing worn by the inhabitants of Kashadum is something of a fusion, mixing typical Tamkaranu and eastern Chaskan styles with Hellean and Meklovian influence.

Government

Like in Tamkaranu, Kashadum is ruled by judges known as shufet. Unlike in the metropole, however, they are not locally elected, but rather appointed by the Tamkaranu judge-council to rule the colony in their stead. Additionally, there is only a singular shufet in Kashadum rather than the traditional two. As of Y9976^* the shufet of Kashadum is Aran Ammishtamru, a native of Harkek.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{NationInfobox
-|name = Briathone
+|name = Kashadum
-|image = Flag_Briathone.webp
+|image = Flag_Kashadum.svg
-|capital = [[Briathone (city)|Briathone]]
+|capital = Kashadum (city)
-|ruler = [[Nivarian Paradise Company]]
+|ruler = [[Shufet]] [[Aran Ammishtamru]]
 |government = Colonial administration
-|demonym = Briathonite
+|demonym = Kashadum
-|adjective = Briathonite
+|adjective = Kashadum
 |languages = [[Common]], [[Telan]], [[Hellean]]
-|religions = [[Chaskan pantheon]]; [[Hellean pantheon]]; [[Khapeshan pantheon]]; [[hero-gods]]
+|religions = [[Chaskan pantheon]]; [[Hellean pantheon]]; [[Khapeshan pantheon]]; [[hero-god|hero-gods]]
 }}
-'''Briathone''' {{Pronunciation|BRI-ah-thone}}  is the western-most of [[Tirione|Tirione's]] colonies in the [[Chaska Sea]]. Originally a penal colony and now controlled solely by the [[Nivarian Paradise Company]], Briathone remains a location few willingly live.
+{{CityInfobox
+|name = Kashadum
+|nation = Kashadum
+|demonym = Kashadum
+|adjective = Kashadum
+|population = ~9,000
+|demographics = Various ancestries but primarily [[human]]
+}}
+'''Kashadum''' {{Pronunciation|kahsh-ah-DOOM}} is a [[Tamkaranu]] possession in the [[Western Coast]] that serves primarily as a penal colony. Some who are deemed guilty of crimes in Tamkaranu are given the chance to serve their sentences through exile to Kashadum rather than in prisons at home, an offer a fair number accept.
 == Geography, flora, and fauna ==
-{{SeeAlso|Nivaria}}
+Stretching across a small number of islands off the mainland of the Western Coast, the lands of Kashadum are not particularly hospitable. The islands are rocky and generally poorly suited to agriculture, though their shores are home to quite an array of sea life. Kashadum is climatically similar to the surrounding Western Coast, with warm summers and cool and wet winters.
-The island of [[Nivaria]] is on the border of two seas, with the very western edge of the Chaska Sea on one side and the [[Sea of Khoros]] on the other. The eastern coast of the island is much calmer, weather-wise, than the western side, which is frequently battered by storms from the Sea of Khoros. Generally speaking, the climate of the island is relatively stable, with fairly low seasonality and warmer weather year-round.
-While the colony of Briathone officially only encompasses part of the island of Nivaria, there are many nearby islands as well. The largest of these by far are [[Ombrion]] and [[Planasia]], though there are a great number of smaller isles too.
-Most of the coastline of Nivaria consists of either sandy or rocky beaches, but some beaches along the southern coast are instead made of high quality salt. Many islanders tell tales of brine dragons that make their lairs on the shore in these parts, but if these dragons have not been seen in many years, if they ever existed at all.
-The interior of Nivaria is primarily scrub forest, full of evergreen shrubs and small trees along with taller pines and cedars. Tar seeps dot the inland hills, far more common in Nivaria than in almost anywhere else in the world.
-In addition to plentiful smaller animals, Nivaria is home to [[wikipedia:Barbary_sheep|Nivarian sheep]], moas, foxes, and more, in addition to many kinds of seals, whales, dolphins, and other marine life. There are few natural predators on the island.
-Cauthooj, also known as puppet master birds, are large flightless birds native to Nivaria. These predators can use their hypnotic song to drive groups of their prey to attack each other in a frenzy, leaving their remains behind for the cauthooj to devour. Cauthooj have been a major problem in the past in Briathone, but as clockwork guards are unaffected by their cries, the birds have learned they can find easier meals outside of towns.
-Cypress arboreals can be found in the southern reaches of Nivaria, and more rarely closer to the Briathonite settlements. The Nivarian Paradise Company generally attempts to destroy these creatures when they are rooted near the company towns, as the arboreals do not take kindly to the destruction of their forests.
 == History ==
-=== Prior to Tirionite arrival ===
+Though small outposts had long existed on the islands of Kashadum, they never had large populations, with most attempts at settlement being abandoned in favor of the better lands on the mainland to the south. The site of the modern city of Kashadum is located on the ruins of an old [[Thadria|Thadrian]] settlement, possibly from the late seventh millennium, which had long since been forgotten before a new community was established in its stead.
-The island of Nivaria was settled centuries ago by people of [[Hellea|Hellean]] and [[Meklaw|Meklovian]] descent, though their communities remained small.
-=== Tirionite colonization ===
-In {{Year|6743}}, Nivaria was declared to be part of a new Tirionite colonial protectorate known as Briathone, named after the largest town on the island, founded a few decades before by Tirionite settlers. Without being consulted on the matter, the island’s inhabitants became Tirionite citizens overnight. Briathone began the first phase of its Tirionite history as a penal colony, as prisoners from the overflowing prisons of the home territory were sent across the sea.
-Conditions on the island almost immediately deteriorated, for both locals and the prisoners - prison facilities were soon full once again, and the colonial administrators began to force the islanders to quarter the prisoners in their homes. Many of the residents of the island, as well as their descendants, sympathized with the prisoners and assisted in their escape from the already poorly guarded towns. Small communities of outlaws began to pop up in the interior of the island, away from the direct control of the colony, and some escapees later found passage to other lands by hailing ships in the Sea of Khoros. Tirionite administrators were by and large aware of these proceedings, but tolerated it as long as the prisoners were no longer a concern.
-=== Transfer to the Nivarian Paradise Company ===
+By {{Year|6840}} overcrowding in the prisons of Tamkaranu forced the [[shufet]] to explore other options. Looking across the seas they found their solution - the modern settlement at Kashadum, which had already been independently established by colonists after the end of the monarchy, was a perfect place to house their extra prisoners, distant as it was from both Tamkaranu and other major communities of the Western Coast. The judge-council of Tamkaranu took control of the city, appointing their own shufet to rule it in their stead, beginning Kashadum's history as a penal colony.
-With a completely dysfunctional prison colony and new scrutiny at home, in {{Year|6851}} Tirionite administrators transferred full control of the colony to the Nivarian Paradise Company, a new conglomerate formed for this specific purpose. The Company immediately began a series of reforms, reorienting the colony to a [[Nionegrast]]-like extractive operation. The prisoners were freed, contingent on them serving the rest of their time as workers of the Company - this arrangement continues to this day, with new prisoners and workers arriving every so often from Tirione, many of them debtors with no other opportunities to pay their obligations. Some of the guards in the colony were replaced by clockwork constructs.
 == Demographics ==
-Prior to the Tirionite takeover, the population of Nivaria was primarily [[tengu]], undine, humans, and half-elves. However, demographics have shifted greatly due to the influx of new arrivals from the eastern Chaska, and today the people of Briathone include individuals of a great many races, though tengu and humans remain a plurality.
+The inhabitants of Kashadum are a diverse mix of people from Tamkaranu, its colonies, and the Western Coast. Most are [[human|humans]] but they are joined by significant numbers of individuals of other ancestries as well. The city has a large [[tengu]] population in particular, largely non-prisoner arrivals from elsewhere in the Western Coast.
 == Culture ==
 === Religion ===
-Among the common people of Briathone, religion can be highly varied. The majority venerate the deities of the [[Chaskan pantheon]]. Some follow the Hellean [[hero-gods]], but they do not have a sizable number of worshipers - much the same can be said for the gods of the [[Khapeshan pantheon]]. The tengu of Briathone worship quite an array of gods, centering on the [[Great Storyteller]]. [[Marya]], [[Laverna]], and [[Socharin]] are all popular, as they represent an opposition to the control of the Nivarian Paradise Company. Of course the Company does not take kindly to this, and frequently deports clerics of these religions when they begin to pose a problem. The only officially-sanctioned temple is one to [[Hasamel]], in the city of Briathone. Still, the Company has faced some issues with clerics of Hasamel elsewhere, who view the Company as disregarding the lawfulness their god embodies.
+Religion can be highly varied amongst the people of Kashadum. The majority venerate the deities of the [[Chaskan pantheon]]. Some follow the Hellean [[hero-god|hero-gods]], but they do not have a sizable number of worshipers - much the same can be said for the gods of the [[Khapeshan pantheon]]. The tengu of Kashadum worship quite an array of gods, centering on the [[Great Storyteller]]. Worship of [[Marya]], [[Laverna]], [[Socharin]], and [[Hasamel]] is particularly widespread.
+=== Society ===
+Though Kashadum continues to exist primarily as a penal colony, the administrators of the colony have historically been quite lax about ensuring the prisoners remain in their assigned roles. As part of the conditions for their sentence on Kashadum, all who are convicted are assigned professions based on their skills and experiences, yet once they arrive they find little binds them to these. In reality the prisoners of Kashadum are remarkably free to build new lives in the city as they see fit, or even leave if they can pay their passage - few if any efforts are made to stop this. Any crimes committed in the colony, however, are punished harshly, for in choosing exile to Kashadum the prisoners are granted a chance at a new life, but should they prove unable to obey the laws of the colony they are returned to Tamkaranu to serve even longer sentences than they would have been subject to originally.
 === Languages ===
-The people of Briathone speak a mixture of [[Telan]], [[Hellean]], [[Common]], and racial languages.  Generally travelers familiar with any of the above three languages can understand enough to get by on the island.
+The people of Kashadum speak a mixture of [[Telan]], [[Hellean]], [[Common]], and various ancestral languages.  Generally travelers familiar with any of the above three regional languages can understand enough to get by on the colony.
-=== Arts ===
-Though the Company does not sponsor such efforts, the inhabitants of Briathone nonetheless produce their own art and music for their own entertainment. These are generally of similar styles to traditional Tirionite art and music, though often done with homemade instruments and materials. The Company strictly watches all items that enter the colony, and will frequently deny requests for artistic or entertainment items on the basis that the cost of shipping is not worth it.
 === Food and cuisine ===
-The cuisine of Briathone is heavily centered around seafood. This is supplemented by grain derived food like bread and beer, as well as a mix of vegetables and fruits, particularly peas, onions, and leeks. Non-seafood meat is less common, though the native Nivarian sheep is sometimes hunted. Large amounts of food are imported, as the colony’s harvests can be inconsistent and frequently not enough to feed the entire population. Briathonite cuisine differentiates itself from Tirionite cuisine by its Hellean influence, incorporating more of the methods of preparation and ingredients common to the peninsula. The following is a list of dishes one might find in Briathone:
+The cuisine of Kashadum is heavily centered around seafood harvested by local fishers and divers. This is supplemented by grain derived food like bread and beer, as well as a mix of vegetables and fruits, particularly peas, onions, and leeks. Non-seafood meat is less common. Kashadum cuisine differentiates itself from Tamkaranu cuisine by its Hellean influence, incorporating more of the methods of preparation and ingredients common to the peninsula.
-* Fish and rice
-* Sheep kebabs
-* Flatbreads with minced meat topping
-=== Occupations ===
-Almost the entire population of the island works for the Nivarian Paradise Company, whether they are the descendants of those that were present prior to Tirionite colonization or they were sent to the island to serve their prison sentence. The Company has a tight grip on economic activity in the colony, and unless one turns to the black market (which is sizable despite continual crackdowns) there is little work to be found unless one is willing to work for the Company.
-=== Architecture ===
-The architecture of Briathone is broadly similar to that of Tirione, though with some changes. For one, most buildings are designed to be built quickly and cheaply, and therefore little thought is given to their aesthetics - most are simple wood and stone constructions. Some of the older buildings in the colony, those that pre-date the Tirionite presence, are rather more nice in appearance but also very different aesthetically, drawing far more inspiration from Hellean architecture.
-Aside from the three major port cities, a large number of small towns dot the landscape in Briathone. Very similar in purpose to the company towns of Nionegrast, these are usually rapidly constructed to extract resources in the surrounding area before being abandoned once they are no longer profitable. Ghost towns (sometimes literally) are common closer to the shoreline, as the oldest settlements were along the coast.
+=== Architecture and urbanization ===
+The architecture of Kashadum is broadly similar to that of Tamkaranu, though the small population of the colony has led to a lack of the density that is characteristic of Tamkaranu cities. Aside from the city of Kashadum itself, there are few other settlements on the islands, as nearly the entire population of the colony lives in or near the capital. Those that do exist are largely seaside fishing villages.
 === Travel ===
-The roads of Briathone are well-built and guarded, though aside from a few native creatures there is little threat. There are no known [[Anchor Sites|Tempest Halls]] on the island, though some workers have reported rumors of Company expeditions to the [[Depths]] in search of an ancient site they evidently believe to be present.
+Nearly all travel to, from, and within Kashadum is by way of the sea. Trade routes connect Kashadum with nearby seaside settlements of the Western Coast and [[Ellu]], as well as with Tamkaranu, Hellea, and [[Dalbanu]].
-=== Education ===
-There are no formal educational institutions on Briathone. Children who are born in the colony generally learn from the parents and family.
 === Fashion ===
-The clothing worn by the inhabitants of Briathone is something of a fusion, mixing typical Tirionite and eastern Chaskan styles with Hellean and Meklovian influence.
+The clothing worn by the inhabitants of Kashadum is something of a fusion, mixing typical Tamkaranu and eastern Chaskan styles with Hellean and Meklovian influence.
-=== Society ===
-Similar to much of the southern coast of the Chaska Sea, Nivaria is littered with the ancient remains of elven structures, abandoned or destroyed long ago. These are mostly distributed to the eastern side of the island, along with a few on Planasia and Ombrion. The southwest corner of Nivaria also contains two of the tall marble spires that can be found around the Sea of Khoros, indicative of the ancient Syrinx empire.
-Small Milanite outposts exist on Nivaria, from which the goddess’s devotees attempt to aid the colony’s inhabitants by providing them with material and spiritual support, as well as semi-covertly sabotaging Company operations and spreading propaganda.
-Very few willingly relocate to Briathone. Almost all of the new inhabitants arriving to the colony do so as part of their prison sentence. Even once their sentence is over, few manage to leave, as the Nivarian Paradise Company manages all ships that come and go from the ports of the colony and can always find an administrative or legal reason to deny passage.
-Briathone is guarded by a small clockwork army, provided by the Nivarian Paradise Company. Clearly originally based on designs pioneered by the workshops of [[Peremoun]], many of these have been upgraded to be steam-powered, allowing them to operate for longer, move faster, and generally become more effective at their roles.
 == Government ==
-Briathone is solely under the control of the Nivarian Paradise Company, and the Company is permitted by Tirione to run the colony as they see fit. Company-appointed officials direct the activities of the colony, though they occasionally hold and respect votes, if the vote in question would not threaten the position of the Company.
+Like in Tamkaranu, Kashadum is ruled by judges known as [[shufet]]. Unlike in the metropole, however, they are not locally elected, but rather appointed by the Tamkaranu judge-council to rule the colony in their stead. Additionally, there is only a singular shufet in Kashadum rather than the traditional two. As of {{Year|6976}} the shufet of Kashadum is [[Aran Ammishtamru]], a native of [[Harkek]].
-Tirione requires regular reports and updates from the Company administrators, and also has the right to intervene in colonial affairs to their discretion. In practice, however, Tirionite administrators trust the judgement and decisions of the Company and consider their nominal oversight to be a formality.
-== Economy ==
-Briathone is a Nionegrast-style extractive colony, exporting large amounts of raw material to Tirione. Lumber from the island’s forests, pitch from the tar seeps in the interior hills, and salt from the beaches of the southern coast are the colony’s primary exports. All imports and exports are controlled by the Nivarian Paradise Company.
-== Relations ==
+{{CitiesKashadum}}
-Many view Briathone to be one of the most egregious examples of the Tirionite colonial system. Various religious orders assist the colonists and prisoners as much as possible; some also attempt to weaken the control of the Company over the island, whether by diplomatic or other means.
-{{CitiesBriathone}}
 [[Category:Nations]]
-[[Category:Briathone]]
+[[Category:Kashadum]]
 [[Category:Western Chaska]]
 [[Category:Chaska Sea]]
-[[Category:Tirione]]
-[[Category:Colonies]]
-[[Category:Tirionite colonies]]