Nionegrast (pronounced nigh-OH-neh-grast) is the oldest of Tirione's colonies in the Chaska Sea, largely under the influence of the large mercantile conglomerates.
Geography, flora, and fauna
The colony of Nionegrast is located in the middle of the Western Coast, along the Copper River. The lands surrounding the city of Nionegrast, situated at the mouth of the river, are temperate and kept relatively cool by the weather patterns off the Chaska Sea. As with most of the southwest coast of the Chaska, the lands are full of plants and animals, though centuries of extraction has reduced both significantly. Farms and small villages have snaked inland, mostly following the river.
Much of the former forests, both on the mainland and the island of Tunsiba, have been cut down and replaced with farmlands. Towards the interior, however, much of the old deciduous forests remain intact - at least for now.
The fauna of Nionegrast has changed in a similar manner. While a great deal of small mammals can be sighted, in addition to a sizable amount of larger animals like deer, populations have declined noticeably, pushed farther inland as settlement expands. Wolves remain in the area, much to the chagrin of the farmers they harass, and their howls can frequently be heard at night in the less tamed lands. Bears are also frequently spotted in the remaining forests, though they have largely learned to avoid civilization. The waters remain full of fish, and the coasts are known for the crabs that can be caught there.
Sporadic sightings of green dragons have been reported. A handful of logging communities south of the Copper River have been found in ruins, with some suspecting a connection to the dragons. It is unknown how many are actually present in the region.
While a variety of magical animals dwell in the forests of Nionegrast, few are as feared as the manticore. A number of scouting expeditions have gone missing, with only some remnants of their possessions found later, armor and equipment pierced with manticore spikes.
The rivers of Nionegrast are not necessarily safe either. A number of gowrow live in the Copper River - though they normally burrow into the river bank and hibernate for years, increased river travel has caused many to become highly irritable and wantonly attack passing boats.
Not much of the titular metal has been found in significant amounts around the Copper River, beyond long since depleted deposits near the mouth of the river. However, small fragments and chunks of gold are sometimes found in the riverbed, thought to have originated in the Kheldezir Hills to the south and west.
The climate of Nionegrast is kept stable by the Chaska Sea. Summers never get too hot, and winters never get too cold. The summer months are typically fairly dry, and the winter months bring large amounts of rain.
History
Prior to Tirionite arrival
The small community of Skulusa was founded at the mouth of the Copper River in Y8814*. A town of independent fishermen from Tirione seeking the aquatic bounties of the coast, few took much notice of the settlement for many years. As is the case with other villages and towns on the coast around it, many of which continue to exist today, Skulusa’s population focused on subsistence farming and fishing, occasionally trading the excess to passing merchant ships.
Tirionite colonization
Facing economic decline from its rapidly disappearing forests and natural resources, and more competition for control of trade in the Chaska Sea from the resurgent Kingdom of Eretrebus, by Y9527* Tirione began to look to the far coast of the sea to reverse its faltering fortunes. The lands and seas around Skulusa were one such location in which Tirione showed interest. The official history states that the inhabitants of Skulusa, at this point numbering only around 700, willingly agreed to become one of Tirione’s new colonies - unofficially, it is understood though almost never admitted that the warships that showed up one day in their harbor probably played a big role in this decision. Skulusa was renamed Nionegrast.
Under its new direction, Nionegrast grew rapidly between Y9528* and Y9802*, as Tirione directed considerable efforts in sending a labor force to log, mine, and farm its new territories. What is now referred to as the old town of Nionegrast was constructed on the site of the old fishing community, and the docks were expanded to accommodate the new traffic.
By Y9803*, the colony at Nionegrast had become wildly successful. Along with smaller colonies along the coast, the resources sent out of Nionegrast had once again made Tirione very rich. However, as expansion inland continued, the logistics of managing all aspects of the colony became too complex for the remote administrators in Tirione to handle. Two systems emerged from this, both continuing to present. First, the city was granted some control of its own administration, in the form of the city council. Second, the charter system was introduced, giving private companies rights to large tracts of land to exploit as they saw fit, as long as certain quotas were met and a large proportion of resources provided directly to Tirione.
In Y9805* the first green dragon sightings in the area were reported by scouts exploring up the Copper River. Sightings continue intermittently to the present day.
When the Silver Falcon Company's activities in Treivica came to light in Y9976*, a riot was incited by the adventurers responsible for the reveal. Nionegrast has been in a state of rising unrest since, as the inhabitants of the region find common cause to rally against.
Demographics
Nionegrast was settled by humans and halflings hailing from Tirione, and both remain the bulk of the population to this day. Within the city itself is also a fairly sizable undine population, though they are almost unheard of in the inland villages and towns. Other races can also be found, though in smaller numbers. More recently, tieflings fleeing persecution elsewhere have founded a handful of communities up the river.
Though little contact has been made, giants are known to live in the hills to the south, on rare occasions venturing to the boundary of more populated areas.
Culture
Religion
The people of Nionegrast vary in faith, but most worship the deities of the Chaskan pantheon. Faith in Nionegrast tends to be a more personal affair for most people, and it’s typical for communities to only have one or two small shrines. The major exception to this is Nionegrast proper, which has a sizable temple to Hasamel. The wealthy houses of Nionegrast tend to make a great show of their piety to Hasamel, bestowing lavish gifts upon the temple. Notably this seems to be more for social prestige than anything else, as actions of this type are frowned upon by devoted followers of Hasamel. Followers of other pantheons are less common, though not unknown. In particular, the gods of the Khapeshan pantheon have found some faithful in Nionegrast, spread there by merchants out of the desert kingdom.
Traditions
Nionegrast inherited many of its traditions from the culture of Tirione. The year is punctuated by celebrations, though these tend to be small in scale. In particular the solstices and equinoxes are celebrated and used to mark the passing of the year, in addition to being excuses for excessive drinking. Festivities tend to involve extended families and sometimes close friends, but are not usually engaged in by an entire community. In the inland communities under chartered companies, excessive celebrations are discouraged as they reduce productivity, and this culture of austerity has spread throughout the region.
Languages
As a colony of Tirione, Telan is one of the most often spoken languages in Nionegrast, though speakers of Telan in Nionegrast have a distinct accent. Most people are also fluent in Common, as a matter of necessity in a city frequented by traders from far coasts. Other regional languages are also spoken by settlers from other parts of the world, primarily other regions around the Chaska Sea. Due to the relatively high undine population, many within the city also find it helpful to learn Aquan.
Occupations
The occupations of those in Nionegrast tend to be centered around the city’s docks. While there is a fairly typical number of craftspeople of various types, most of the city’s population works in manual labor, either as longshoremen or some other occupation that assists in moving the vast amount of resources that pass through the city. Outside the city, manual labor remains the typical livelihood, whether that’s as loggers, miners, or something that supports the aforementioned groups. Nionegrast also has a growing population of independent farmers, most living on relatively small plots of land. While there are some that make their home in Nionegrast, there are not a great number of scholars within the colony.
Food and cuisine
The cuisine of Nionegrast is heavily centered around seafood, both for practical purposes and owing to the city’s past as a fishing village. 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. Other meats are also common, mostly poultry, goat, and lamb. A mix of spices and seasonings are available, though these tend to be much less accessible outside the city itself. Almonds are one of the signature ingredients of recipes from Nionegrast, grown in orchards in some of the deforested old growth forests. Besides typical subsistence fare, inn- and tavern-goers in Nionegrast are likely to encounter some of the following well known dishes:
- Almond milk rice pudding
- Fried aubergines with potatoes, cauliflower, onions, and tomatoes
- Almond semolina cake, flavored with pine nuts, turmeric, aniseed, and sugar
- Fish and rice with spices and slivered almonds. This dish is also popular in Tirione, where it is generally more heavily seasoned.
- Flatbreads with minced meat topping
- Marinated chicken kabobs
Architecture
Within the city itself, much of the architecture is constructed around illusions of grandeur. A great deal of the old town appears at first glance to be ornate marble buildings, heavily influenced by the ancient Hellean cities. In reality, it is almost entirely plastered wood, built rather cheaply. The rest of the city is mostly simple wood construction, as are most outlying towns.
Society
The city of Nionegrast contains the majority of the population of the colony. Small villages and towns dot the countryside, but they rarely have more than a few hundred inhabitants each. A great many abandoned communities can be found as well - when mining prospects turn up nothing, it is common to simply leave the hastily constructed towns and set up somewhere else.
As with the surrounding regions, at some point in the distant past the land now known as Nionegrast was home to an elven population of a fairly significant size. Though long gone, surprisingly well preserved remnants of their society remain, mostly concentrated in the forests north of the Copper River. No modern elven population draws a connection between themselves and this ancient civilization - what happened to them is unknown.
Laws within Nionegrast can be tricky. The colony is governed by the laws of Tirione, with the council determining exceptions and special cases to the colony. However, within the chartered territories, in reality the laws of the companies take precedence. While technically illegal, the colony is inclined to look the other way as long as the gold flows. On occasion, companies will hire privateers to raid outgoing merchant vessels contracted by their rivals, a practice the council is vehemently opposed to but has found difficult to stop.
Magic
Though Nionegrast lacks many skilled magic users of other varieties, the few druids that live in the back country, outside the other settled communities, are known to be highly skilled. In particular, the restorer druids have begun to pose some problems for the charter companies as they interfere with company operations.
Entertainment
Among the wealthier in Nionegrast society, hunting the creatures of the backwoods is a popular sport. Some prefer to travel to the regions in which these creatures live, while others have them transported to their estates. Animals and magical beasts are both included in this practice. Some of the common people of Nionegrast regularly hunt as well, but on a subsistence basis instead of as entertainment.
Government
Though many important matters are still dictated from Tirione, Nionegrast has become increasingly independent. The city is led by an oligarchic council, with nine members elected by the wealthy and influential houses in five year terms. The council then elects from among their rank one member to serve as Lord Mayor, who serves as the public face of the council. On his sixth consecutive term, the current Lord Mayor is Abiurad Inyadar, patriarch of one of the oldest families in Nionegrast. The council controls trade, laws, and other matters. Outlying communities are governed by the same council, though many are also subject to the whims of chartered companies. Isolated inland towns also tend to be much more independent and outside the reach of their remote nominal rulers.
Rumors have circulated for some time that the council has been plotting independence and a break with Tirione. Possibly as a result of this, Tirione has recently reasserted more direct control, leading to some tension with companies and wealthy merchants used to getting their way.
Economy
Nionegrast operates a largely extractive economy, focusing on logging the surrounding forests and mining lead, silver, and small amounts of copper and gold. Resources are acquired within the interior, moving one step farther every year, and then sent down river to the city, where they are then sent off, mostly directly to Tirione. The economy is primarily dominated by large companies given charters by the state to areas rich in raw material. Agriculture keeps the city and surrounding communities sustainable, and sometimes provides a surplus that can be traded as well.