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|languages = [[Hellean]], [[Common]] | |languages = [[Hellean]], [[Common]] | ||
|religions = [[Hero-gods]]; Chaskan pantheon | |religions = [[Hero-gods]]; [[Chaskan pantheon]] | ||
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'''Alyma''' {{Pronounciation|ah-LEE-ma}} is a loose collection of towns and cities within the [[Alyma Archipelago]]. In addition to their other populations, the islands are home to most of the remaining [[Hellea|Hellean]] [[Cyclops|cyclopean]] oracles. Dwelling in isolated caves and huts, these oracles make prophecies that few will ever hear, let alone understand. | '''Alyma''' {{Pronounciation|ah-LEE-ma}} is a loose collection of towns and cities within the [[Alyma Archipelago]]. In addition to their other populations, the islands are home to most of the remaining [[Hellea|Hellean]] [[Cyclops|cyclopean]] oracles. Dwelling in isolated caves and huts, these oracles make prophecies that few will ever hear, let alone understand. | ||
Revision as of 20:38, 30 July 2023
Alyma (pronounced ah-LEE-ma) is a loose collection of towns and cities within the Alyma Archipelago. In addition to their other populations, the islands are home to most of the remaining Hellean cyclopean oracles. Dwelling in isolated caves and huts, these oracles make prophecies that few will ever hear, let alone understand.
Geography, flora, and fauna
See also: Alyma Archipelago
Demographics
Most inhabitants of the Alyma Archipelago are human, accompanied by sizable populations of undine, tieflings, aasimar, tengu, and a strangely high proportion of changelings. The archipelago is also one of the last remaining regions of the world with a significant number of cyclops.
Culture
See Hellea for more information on culture, geography, and history that is common to the nations of the peninsula.
Cyclops
Despite once living in grand cities across Hellea and Thadria, today most cyclops in the world reside in isolated Alyman settlements. Some cyclops make their homes in the towns of smaller folk, but more commonly live in primarily cyclops communities. Sharply contrasting with the decaying majesty of their ancient ruins, most cyclops live austere lives on the islands. Those cyclops particularly blessed with the gift of foresight often live as hermits in the sea caves of the islands, using their isolation to better focus their visions. The other races of the islands view the cyclops with respect, sometimes seeking out cyclops elders for advice (whether that involves foresight or not).
Religion
Many of the holiest sites for the followers of Hellean hero-gods are located within the archipelago. Delos, Pentelus, and Velatouri see significant numbers of pilgrims who pay visits to the shrines. At present, no hero-gods dwell on the islands, but they are known to travel to consult with cyclops diviners on occasion.
Society
The islands are a popular retirement destination for wealthy magical practitioners, especially those from Hellea and the eastern Chaska, lured by the weather, beaches, and the lack of pesky people seeking their services. These new arrivals are generally tolerated by the locals, with exceptions. Some mages use their relative isolation to continue their interest in experimentation in a less controlled context, which has resulted in some unfortunate consequences - for one, the island of Ios is still unsafe and overrun with fire-breathing dinosaurs, a fact the former inhabitants of the island have not taken well.
Languages
The languages spoken in the archipelago are similar to the rest of Hellea, namely Hellean and Common, but in addition it is not unusual to understand Cyclops as well.
Food and cuisine
Alyman cuisine tends to be much like elsewhere in Hellea, though with a particularly heavy focus on seafood.
Architecture and urbanization
Houses and other buildings on the islands are usually constructed of mortared stone which is then plastered and painted white, often with blue accents around doors and windows. On sunny days, of which there are a great many, coastal Alyman towns can be seen quite far out to sea, as the sunlight reflects off the structures.
Medicine
Many have noted the relative healthiness of the inhabitants of the archipelago - disease outbreaks are quite infrequent, and it is typical for the average person to live well into their old age. Multiple theories exist as to why this is the case, ranging from diet, magical and religious practices, and even aspects of the buildings in which they live.
Travel
There are no Anchor Sites in the archipelago - not even destroyed or disabled ones.
Government
The vast majority of communities in the archipelago operate as direct democracies. Most towns have some sort of amphitheater, its scale and grandeur depending on the size of the town, where meetings are held to discuss matters that affect the entire community. This sort of consensus-based system is made easier by the diffuse nature of the Alyman population - most towns are quite small. While the archipelago is often referred to as a coherent entity, in reality the individual towns rarely have any formal agreements between each other, instead relying on informal networks of relations.
Economy
Most communities in the archipelago focus on subsistence living, growing whatever crops the islands can support and supplementing that with food from the sea. The islands are not particularly rich in natural resources, and lack the population to support major industry or institutions.