Eretrebus, formally the Kingdom of Eretrebus, is one of the major mercantile naval powers of the Chaska Sea. Eretrebus has become fabulously wealthy since the widespread adoption of the Prophecies of Kalistrade.
Geography, flora, and fauna
The Kingdom of Eretrebus spans a number of islands in the Chaska and Ersas seas, but most of the landmass of the kingdom is split between the two islands of Eretrebus Primus and Eretrebus Secundus. These islands hold most of the population of the state - others with large populations include Avgo (Elis), Trafos (Cora and Ophos), Valenti (Canthi), and Kefali (Odarta). These are joined by many other small islands and islets that dot the sea.
Eretrebus Primus and Secundus both have highly mountainous interiors, which by and large limits agriculture and large scale settlements to the coasts. The mountains are not particularly tall, but they are very rocky and unsuitable for most purposes.
The island kingdom enjoys a very pleasant climate. Temperatures are mild throughout the year, with some minor seasonality. It very rarely drops below freezing, except in the higher mountain peaks. Cool breezes off the sea are typical along the coasts, and are greatly appreciated by dockworkers on warmer summer days. Weather in Eretrebus is likewise quite mild - major storms are rare, though enough rain falls to support the plant and animal life, as well as fill the mountain reservoirs.
Much of Eretrebus once again grows wild, due in no small part to the centuries-long effort of the Kalistocrats. A large percentage of the inland mountains are covered by forests, including oak, cedar, tamarisk, and cypress. Closer to the water, and on some of the minor islands, small palm forests thrive. The open spaces are filled with wildflowers in the spring, including poppies, chamomile, and lilies.
Eretreban land animals tend to be fairly small, both in size and number. A variety of birds make their nests in the trees and rocky mountains, including both sea birds and those that remain near land. The Eretreban wildcat is one of the last remaining predators on the island, though it is rather diminutive and not much of a threat to people or farm animals, aside from young goats or sheep. The goats kept by Eretreban farmers are descendants of a unique species native to the island, known for their long, corkscrew horns - small numbers of these goats still live wild.
In the waters around Eretrebus live a wide variety of fish, squid, molluscs, and oceanic mammals. Seals frequently sun themselves on the docks of Eretreban ports, often to the consternation of the dock workers who must then find ways to move the massive creatures.
Rumors of scylla continue to be passed around, particularly reports of their sighting on the southern coast of Eretrebus Secundus. Little concrete proof has ever been presented of their existence, but merchant crews do occasionally go missing in this area, and this has proved enough for many maritime workers to be highly skeptical of voyages that travel along this route.
A number of volcanoes can be found in the Sea of Ersas, and one of the largest ones is Mount Odarta, on the island of Kefali. While there is clear evidence that the volcano erupted in ancient times, including a layer of ash that covers the main islands of Eretrebus as well as parts of what are now Alyma and the Ersas City States, it has been dormant for the entirety of this era. Today it is known as a pilgrimage site for certain sects of monks and ascetics, who meditate near the peak and gaze over the seas.
History
The tenets of the Prophecies of Kalistrade took root in Eretrebus around Y6300, quickly finding many devout followers.
Demographics
The population of Eretrebus is mostly human, with significant minorities of undine, sylph, half elves, and tengu. There’s a notable class divide in demographics. The Kalistocrats, the wealthy merchants of Eretrebus, are almost entirely human or half elven. Meanwhile, the common laborers are disproportionately tengu (though still largely human). A very small number of cyclops live in Eretrebus, though most have left since the Kalistocratic Transformation.
Culture
See Hellea for more information on culture, geography, and history that is common to the nations of the peninsula.
Religion
While followers of many faiths live in Eretrebus, the dominant religion of the state is the Prophecies of Kalistrade. Though not unique to the region, or even originally from this area, this secular religion has found many eager followers within the maritime kingdom.
Rather than worshiping a deity, the Prophecies hold that amassing great personal wealth to be the true calling of life. This philosophy, when introduced about six hundred years ago, found immediate interest from the merchants of Eretrebus, and quickly grew until it became the de facto state religion.
The Prophecies are a secular faith. They do not necessarily prohibit worshiping the gods as well, and many Kalistocrats do. Naturally, Abadar has a large following in Eretrebus, as many find the tenets of the god of merchants to mesh perfectly with their other aims. Some of the more evil inclined Kalistocrats have turned towards Asmodeus and Mammon, with the worship of both being tolerated within the Kingdom.
A fairly stark class divide exists in Eretreban religion. While the Prophecies are the most immediately distinguishing aspect of Eretreban religious life, the lower classes do not follow them to nearly the same degree as do the merchants, bureaucrats, skilled craftspeople, or aristocrats. Laborers tend to be on the receiving end of the Prophecies’ call to exploit agreements, and as a result often look unfavorably upon it. That is not to say the Prophecies have found no followers in the lower classes, but they are not emphasized to such a great degree as others do. Instead, Gozreh, Shelyn, and Desna are often worshiped.
Except for the few centuries or millennia old structures still used for their original purpose, there are not a great number of physical temples or churches on Eretrebus. The Kalistocrats largely do not see a need for these, except for the Bank-Temples that some wealthy merchants build for themselves, and the lower classes usually pray at small shrines in their own homes.
Devout followers of Pharasma may find themselves treated in an unfriendly or even hostile manner on Eretrebus. Kalistocrats and Pharasmins have a reciprocal strong dislike of each other, mostly as a consequence of the Kalistocratic "burial" process.
Traditions
The secrecy around the burial of the wealthiest Kalistocrats has long since been broken. While very, very few can actually attain it, the basic knowledge about the practice is known by many, at least at a very basic level. At the end of a hopefully long life of acquiring as much money and wealth as possible, the most fabulously wealthy Kalistocrats perform an occult ritual that replaces their bodily fluids with precious metals they collected in life. This process is always lethal, and thus only performed if the individual is sure they are on their deathbed (or, in some cases, to avoid severe consequences in life). If successful, the practice results in the formation of a private demiplane for their soul, in which they can enjoy a custom afterlife for all eternity, free of judgement in the Boneyard.
Some Kalistocrats that undergo this burial process have their bodies interred in their opulent residences, maintained as if they were still alive for as long as the remainder of their estate lasts. The burial practice itself is very rare to perform, and this is even more rare - in any case, this arrangement usually does not last long before the remaining family of the deceased find loopholes in their last will and claw the money back for themselves.
The traditions of the kingdom are at this point largely Kalistocratic, but some older ones continue. One of these is the Day of the Lily. This holiday, in mid-autumn, celebrates the return of the cool season. Though this celebration used to involve the giving of alms, this has long since been discontinued. One aspect that continues is the gathering of bouquets for loved ones, and the planting of more lilies to grow wild.
Society
The laws of Eretrebus strongly emphasize neutrality. Just as doing evil will lead to punishment, as is common elsewhere, many actions that in other places would be considered charitable are looked down upon or even criminalized. Eretreban society holds strong stigmas against charity, viewing anyone in need of help as having a personal failing they must deal with themselves. While begging itself is looked upon with distaste, the act of giving money to a panhandler is illegal in many parts of the kingdom.
While the Prophecies prioritize little above wealth acquisition, doing so by nefarious means is an anathema and treated harshly. Theft, even petty theft, is frequently punished with the removal of a hand, and if one is caught engaging in non-codified bribery they are likely to be exiled.
Similarly, Eretrebus does as much as possible to halt pirates - in fact, it’s one of the primary concerns of the state. Eretrebus both has a relatively large navy to deal with issues themselves, and also frequently contracts privateers for extrajudicial operations.
Following Kalistocratic dogma, Eretreban society has a strong emphasis on conservation. Natural resources are managed using strict quotas, and recently some tension has arisen with city states in the Ersas over their fishermen over-fishing waters near the island of Avgo. Agriculture in Eretrebus uses polyculture in order to maintain soil quality and biodiversity. Despite the large population of the kingdom, much of the islands are left largely untouched, or at least they are now. Prior to the Kalistocratic Transformation, Eretreban society did not emphasize conservation to nearly the same degree, and many areas have been left to re-wild. Some small islands are even set aside entirely for animal sanctuaries.
Eretreban society is generally matriarchal. This is not a newer Kalistocratic introduction, but rather an ancient aspect of society on the islands. Families are usually led by an older woman, who family members look to for wisdom and advice. Kalistocrats break this tradition somewhat, but it is still respected by most of the population of Eretrebus. The monarchy itself is enatic-cognatic, with male heirs only ascending to the throne if there are no possible female heirs.
Fashion
Devoted Kalistocrats wear many layers of bright silk robes, intricately crafted and sewn by the skilled tailors of the island. Some choose to wear full face masks of precious metal when in public or when receiving visitors. These masks are usually thin, so as to not overburden the wearer, but shaped into an idealized image of the wearer’s face. They are also commonly enchanted with effects to help the wearer gain an edge in personal interactions. Working people usually wear the simpler clothes that are otherwise characteristic of the broader region, though it is also common to have simple silk robes as “nice clothes”.
Despite their opulent displays of wealth, Kalistocrats avoid many material comforts, as stipulated by the tenets of their faith. These practices are mostly limited to the merchant class, but those that follow them tend to do so fervently. Wealthy Kalistocrats are known to sleep on hard stone beds covered in gold or silver, while others eat simply prepared foods with limited seasoning or complexity. One practice that pervades Eretraban society is some level of dietary restrictions, usually avoiding meat to some degree. Some may abstain from eating meat for certain days of the week, and others may do away with it entirely.
Languages
The native language of Eretrebus is Hellean, but due to all the international trade that passes through the ports of the island realm a great variety of tongues can be heard. Common is spoken by most of the population, and there are also many who are fluent in Telan, Thadrian, and racial languages.
Food and cuisine
Eretreban cuisine focuses around the ingredients that are native to the region and do well there. Among others, this includes olives, grapes, dates, figs, chickpeas, legumes, wheat, rice, pomegranates, seaweed, sheep, goats, and seafood (including fish, clams, mussels, and squid). However, Eretrebus relies heavily on food imports, as its farmers and fishers cannot provide enough for the entire population (at least in part due to the conservation quotas). The food markets of the islands contain delicious products from across the world, though much of the nicer goods are priced out of reach of the lower classes.
Architecture and urbanization
Most buildings in Eretrebus have flat, tiled roofs, plaster or flagstone floors, stone or clay brick walls, and are two or three stories tall. The neatly ordered streets of cities are kept tidy by crews that sweep and wash away detritus - many visitors to the kingdom have remarked on how clean Eretreban cities are. One cause of this observation is that most Eretreban cities have central plumbing and water. These systems are driven in part by gravity, in part by complicated waterworks, and in part by magic. Reservoirs high in the mountains on Eretrebus Primus and Secundus provide most of the clean water, supplemented by wells. Clay or lead pipes transport water and waste where it needs to go; even if not visible, some residences of the very wealthy use gold or gold-lined plumbing.
Some buildings in Eretrebus even have cooling systems. Some of these are mundane in nature, while others work by magical means. Mundane systems usually rely on hand-cranked or wind-driven fans that blow air over blocks of ice, harvested from the mountain heights.
The architecture of temples and important government buildings vary based on age. Eretrebus has many very old structures, which tend to be sprawling complexes using the above architecture but usually walled and located in elevated positions. These were usually originally designed to contain residential, religious, and bureaucratic sections, reflecting the close ties between religion and government that has always been the case in Eretrebus. Many of these old structures are built to larger scales than required for humans - though not the case now, Eretrebus once had a sizable cyclops population. While some old temples are still used for their original purpose, many have been converted into residential buildings for the wealthy, or government buildings. New, Kalistocratic important buildings tend to be circular and ringed with inverted columns. Wealthy families usually live in villas, often located a short distance from major population centers.
Many ancient mausoleums are located in higher elevations. These are generally left alone and are slowly decaying with time. Details about their inhabitants are not generally known, but many tombs are larger than they would need to be to hold a human.
Arts
Eretreban art has changed since the Kalistocratic transformation but remains largely intact. This includes intricate designs on pottery, frescoes, and mosaics, among other forms. Art is not a special aspect of culture, limited to high society, but rather an everyday thing, with even common house floors or walls frequently decorated in detail. Art typically depicts landscapes, naval scenes, or animals - people are less common subjects, but still there. Figures are usually depicted in profile and in a naturalistic style. Some rich families commission statues of past ancestors, which are often inlaid or covered with precious metals, and sometimes enchanted to give the facsimile of life.
The jewelers of Eretrebus are world renowned, since even before the Prophecies were introduced. Their wares include earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, hair ornaments for both men and women, circlets, and small items affixed to clothing like brooches.. Wearing great amounts of jewelry at once is a status symbol for Kalistocrats. Some also gather collections of intricately cut ioun stones, both for display and for their practical effects.
Though looked down upon by the Kalistocrats, bull leaping is an ancient tradition in Eretrebus that remains popular. Though this sport can be dangerous to both participants and onlookers, this only discourages some; some have even adopted the sport professionally, traveling between cities to perform where they risk their lives in front of audiences.
Occupations
Despite the kingdom’s vast wealth, most people in Eretreban society live and work as they would elsewhere. Farmers, fishers, dockworkers, sailors, and all forms of manual labor are the occupations of most. Eretrebus also has many skilled craftspeople, including jewelers, metalworkers, lapidaries, and tailors. There is also a significant number of mages, many of whom pass on their knowledge in a master and apprentice arrangement.
Magic
Befitting their society, Eretreban casters tend to prefer exotic familiars like parrots, toucans, dwarf caimans, ioun wyrds, calligraphy wyrms, xiaos, and other magical creatures - the farther away it came from, the better. Gem crabs are especially popular, as they can not only serve as familiars but also are as interested in gaining wealth as the Kalistocrats. Eretreban casters are dis-proportionally psychics, mesmerists, mediums, and spiritualists, but casters of all forms can be found in the islands.
Government
At this point, Eretrebus is functionally no longer a kingdom; the monarchy remains, but in a vestigial form. The power instead rests with the wealthy merchants and particularly with the High Prophet. The exact identity of the High Prophet is a closely guarded secret, but it is known that the role is a lifetime position elected by wealthy Kalistocrats. While the High Prophet and other Kalistocrats do not officially hold real power, through bankrolling the state and manipulating a complex web of agreements and contracts they are able to direct the affairs of the islands as they see fit.
The current queen of Eretrebus is Herme IV, sometimes referred to as Herme the Restorer. Still quite young, since taking the throne in Y6945 she has attempted many reforms to curb the power of the Kalistocrats. Though mostly unsuccessful so far, she has earned a reputation as being able to outwit even the most shrewd Kalistocrats in creating contracts and deals that heavily favor her own interests.
Economy
The merchants of Eretrebus have made themselves almost absurdly wealthy through their dominance of trade in the Chaska Sea and beyond. Unlike Tirione, the other major merchant maritime power of the Chaska, Eretrebus does not rely on raw resource extraction as the basis for its trade, and in fact does not produce a great amount itself at all. Most Eretreban commerce is instead a matter of creating shrewd trade deals with producers and buyers elsewhere, finding the cheapest goods and those that will purchase them for the highest prices. This often leads to Eretreban merchant vessels in far flung waters. Kalistocrats value information about trade nearly as much as their contracts and deals, as they can gain a definite edge in their arrangements by knowing about the state of commerce in foreign lands first.
The Eretreban economy de-emphasizes raw resource production due to a combination of factors. Conservation is a core part of Kalistocratic dogma, but the islands also have something of a dearth of natural resources due to millennia of habitation. Forests regrow and farmland recovers, but mineral wealth is essentially permanently gone.
The wares of skilled Eretreban craftspeople, especially that of its jewelers, metalworkers, and lapidaries, is also widely known to be of high quality and is sought after elsewhere. Some craftspeople work entirely under export arrangements, sending their finished goods to foreign shores for a high profit.