Western Coast

Western Coast
Capital	None
Ruler	Various
Government	Various
Demonym	Chaskan
Adjective	Chaskan
Languages	Various; Common especially
Religions	Chaskan pantheon; other pantheons and faiths to lesser degrees

The Western Coast of the Chaska Sea is known as a diverse place, far less of a unified nation and more of a collection of independent towns and small cities. The political and social affairs of the region are constantly shifting as various factions and individuals vie for power.

Geography, flora, and fauna

The Western Coast stretches across much of the southwestern coastline of the Chaska Sea. Most of the region is covered in forests or plains. Many rivers begin in the hilly uplands that separates the temperate Western Coast from the drier lands to the south and west. Similar to most of the regions surrounding the Chaska, the climate of the Western Coast is largely quite mild. Summers are generally warm but not hot, and winters are cool and bring large amounts of rain.

The vast expanses of the Qutai Plains are a land of tall grass prairies. With little to serve as landmarks, the plains have a reputation for causing even experienced travelers to become disoriented easily.

Much of the Western Coast remains wild. Magical animals abound, some that are friendly and others that should be avoided if at all possible. Trolls in particular are known to gather in large groups in the Western Coast, claiming stretches of forest for themselves.

History

Most inhabitants of the Western Coast arrived in the region from elsewhere around the Chaska Sea. Colonists from Hellea, Thadria, the eastern coast of the Chaska Sea, and elsewhere have all joined this complex melting pot - a great many are descendants of settlers from Tamkaranu prior to its period as a monarchy. Unlike some other colonies nearby in the Chaska Sea, the towns of the Western Coast are not under the rule of distant realms. Instead they have charted their own course, frequently adopting new traditions and practices, sometimes discarding them just as quickly if they prove unsuccessful. The more southerly parts of the Western Coast have generally been inhabited for much longer.

Small nations rise and fall regularly within the Western Coast. Some, like Barat Tor, stick around for centuries. Others, especially those that unite under a single charismatic figure, have brief moments of success before rejoining the churn of life in the Western Coast.

Demographics

The peoples of the Western Coast are highly diverse. Humans, tengu, half-elves, gnomes, half-orcs, and many others can all be found in the communities of the region. Most inhabitants of the Western Coast reside in settled villages, towns, and cities, but some instead live nomadic lives within one of the many tribes found in area, especially towards the south.

Culture

All manner of traditions, beliefs, and practices can be found in the Western Coast. The inhabitants of the area have brought together a multitude of cultures, which have remained distinct in some communities and merged in others. In general, the people of the Western Coast are especially culturally influenced by Hellea, Thadria, and the nations of the eastern Chaska. It is often said that the Western Coast is a land where histories, legends, gods, and faiths all grow into hundreds of different forms.

The hippogriffs of the Qutai Plains have been widely adopted as mounts within the Western Coast, especially by the messengers that journey from town to town.

Displays of magical prowess are a somewhat common method of defining social status in the Western Coast, as many communities have a traditional deference to skilled spellcasters.

Government

There is no unified government in the Western Coast. Towns located a day's journey apart might govern themselves in completely different ways. Most communities are republics or autocracies of various types, though sometimes more unusual methods are attempted. For example, since Y9955^* Sarhess has used a sortition-based autocracy, using magical methods to randomly choose a group of citizens to run the city for six month terms. Wizard dictatorships, paladin protectorates, fey republics- all have been tried in the Western Coast.

Economy

Communities in the Western Coast support themselves in a variety of ways. Some in the remote reaches of the interior maintain self-sufficient lifestyles, producing all the food and other resources they require, while others are tightly integrated into the Chaskan trade routes. The economy of each town or city is highly dependent on where precisely it is located, what can be found nearby, and who lives there.