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orbis [2016/08/17 13:35] – Mike Holmesorbis [2019/12/14 19:21] (current) – [Morcostu] mike_holmes
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 These routs assume, of course, that there are no essence flows in the way, which there likely are. In short, there is no safe passage to Orbis.  These routs assume, of course, that there are no essence flows in the way, which there likely are. In short, there is no safe passage to Orbis. 
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 The most common subject of discussion for the council is how to apportion the defense forces of the island (see Military below). Each clan would prefer to have more ships defending their stretches of coast, as the whole island is technically at a state of war with the neighboring clans of Verya over the strait to the east. The Veryan clans have been under pressure from a much more organized feudal state called Isra (consisting of a mostly Lydian population) to their north, which has constantly taken more and more land, forcing the Veryan clans to look elsewhere to graze their Yak herds.  The most common subject of discussion for the council is how to apportion the defense forces of the island (see Military below). Each clan would prefer to have more ships defending their stretches of coast, as the whole island is technically at a state of war with the neighboring clans of Verya over the strait to the east. The Veryan clans have been under pressure from a much more organized feudal state called Isra (consisting of a mostly Lydian population) to their north, which has constantly taken more and more land, forcing the Veryan clans to look elsewhere to graze their Yak herds. 
  
-The Lydians arrived several centuries ago, refugees from further east in Gaalt, fleeing some dark force there that rumor has has slowly and inexorably taken over that continent, and now the Northern Kelestia mainland as well (the peoples who are the face of this force are of the pale Quaidu race). In the last century the Lydians have pushed harder and harder on the Veryan clans, as they see this dark force on their doorstep. This, in turn has lead the Veryans to raid Orbis, and a couple of clans have even attempted to create holdings for themselves, if unsuccessfully. +The Lydians arrived a couple of centuries ago, refugees from further east in Gaalt, fleeing some dark force there that rumor has has slowly and inexorably taken over that continent (the Raven Queen), and now the Northern Kelestia mainland as well (the peoples who are the face of this force are of the pale Quaidu race). In the last half-century the Lydians have pushed harder and harder on the Veryan clans, as they see this dark force on their doorstep, and also as the result of the death of a God King who maintained order all over Kelestia. The Isran pressure, in turn, has lead the Veryans to raid Orbis, and a couple of clans have even attempted to create holdings for themselves on Orbis, if unsuccessfully.  
 + 
 +The raids get more and more frequent and organized every year, and soon some Veryan clan will land that will likely destroy one of those on Orbis to make space for itself. Worse, some of the Quaidu have been seen landing from the North on Orbis with their hardy Vandaran (Shay-Haid mix) thralls; apparent scouting parties. This cannot be good news.  
 + 
 +These pressures keep the vying for protection from the fleet the main subject of Sicag politics at the council meetings. Even in the clan villages, the most popular pass-time is discussing the war issue, as well as other inter-clan politics. Some are now pushing the leaders to make retaliatory strikes against the Veryan clans to dissuade them from continuing their raids, and a couple of these attacks have been mounted in the past couple of years.  
  
-The raids get more and more frequent and organized every year, and soon some Veryan clan will land that will likely destroy one of those on Orbis to make space for itself. Worse, some of the Quaidu themselves have been seen landing from the North on Orbis with their hardy Vandaran (Shay-Haid mix) thralls; apparent scouting parties. This cannot be good news. These pressures keep the vying for protection from the ships the main subject of Sicag politics at the council meetings. Even in the clan villages, the most popular pass-time is discussing the war issue, as well as other inter-clan politics. Some are now pushing the leaders to make retaliatory strikes against the Veryan clans to dissuade them from continuing their raids, and a couple of these attacks have been mounted in the past couple of years.  
  
 ==== Clan Politics ==== ==== Clan Politics ====
  
-As for the clans themselves, feuding between the clans used to be constant, long ago, causing all sorts of instability across the island. For the last century or so, however, the state of war has caused the tribes to be practical in banding together for defense, and so little conflict is tolerated. Still, in some places some of the old bad blood runs very deep, and there are occasional outbreaks of violence. These tend to be on a small-scale, however, and don't tend to upset the balance of things much in the long-run (unlike previous centuries). +As for the clans themselves, feuding between the clans used to be constant long ago, causing all sorts of instability across the island. The only thing that kept them in check was the threat of intervention by the God King of Kelestia, but that ended with his death (and the supervision was never strong, since Orbis was one of the least valuable provinces of the God King, and so saw less oversight than the others). For the last century or so, the increasing state of war with the Varyans has caused the tribes to be practical in banding together for defense, however, so little conflict is tolerated. Still, in some places some of the old bad blood runs very deep, and there are occasional outbreaks of violence. These tend to be on a small-scale, however, and don't tend to upset the balance of things much in the long-run (unlike previous centuries). 
  
 Within the clans, the members value their freedom, and outside of following the directions of the clan leader, and not disturbing the spirits, individuals have considerable personal lattitude. As there is little in the way of political structure, there is almost no corruption in this culture (conflicts instead tend to take the form of personal dramas).  Within the clans, the members value their freedom, and outside of following the directions of the clan leader, and not disturbing the spirits, individuals have considerable personal lattitude. As there is little in the way of political structure, there is almost no corruption in this culture (conflicts instead tend to take the form of personal dramas). 
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 These spirits are mostly of Orhanian origin, but they do not have any truck with their former masters, nor do they promote their worship. The inimical spirits are, in fact, either from Charon, or tainted by the unlife (which otherwise does not yet have much of a hold on Orbis yet).  These spirits are mostly of Orhanian origin, but they do not have any truck with their former masters, nor do they promote their worship. The inimical spirits are, in fact, either from Charon, or tainted by the unlife (which otherwise does not yet have much of a hold on Orbis yet). 
 +
 +For more detail, click on [[Orbis:Spirits]].
  
 == Origin Story == == Origin Story ==
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 It is on these days that the festivals are held, during which it becomes actually possible to talk with the spirits and make requests or offerings in an interactive manner. Usually the latter, as the spirits of Orbis tend to be rather demanding, instead threatening to take away their blessings if they are not propitiated, or even setting the other bad spirits upon an individual. Outsiders may view festivals (they rarely have outsiders around), but are not encouraged or helped to participate. It is on these days that the festivals are held, during which it becomes actually possible to talk with the spirits and make requests or offerings in an interactive manner. Usually the latter, as the spirits of Orbis tend to be rather demanding, instead threatening to take away their blessings if they are not propitiated, or even setting the other bad spirits upon an individual. Outsiders may view festivals (they rarely have outsiders around), but are not encouraged or helped to participate.
 +
 +^Example Ritual^
 +|At an autumnal festival (which falls near the equinox of a full moon), an offering of steel can be made to Vapros by placing it under a specially consecrated tree at one of the shrines. The result is that, for the following year, any ship upon which the individual making the offering embarks will likely not be plagued by storms. Vapros intercedes with the storm spirits. If Vapros is being particularly benevolent, or the individual making the offering is Favored by Vapros (see below), the wind spirits may even be cajoled into helping any ship ridden to move with exceptional speed.|
 +
 +The religion used to incorporate worship of the God King of Kelestia and vestiges of this can still be seen in some rituals. These influences are slowly beginning to dwindle over time, and eventually may be eliminated entirely. 
  
 == Favored == == Favored ==
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 The Sicag economy is Yaks, all the way down, except for the coastal fishing villages, where ships are the key resource. For the most part wealth is simply a matter of the count of yaks and/or ships that an individual owns. And for the most part, these resources tend to be found mostly in the hands of the leaders of each clan (the wealth itself being thought a sign of their suitability to lead).  The Sicag economy is Yaks, all the way down, except for the coastal fishing villages, where ships are the key resource. For the most part wealth is simply a matter of the count of yaks and/or ships that an individual owns. And for the most part, these resources tend to be found mostly in the hands of the leaders of each clan (the wealth itself being thought a sign of their suitability to lead). 
 +
 +=== Yaks (and Curd Peasants) ===
 +
 +Yaks are used to produce a bewildering variety of products, from meat and dairy (Yak curds are especially delicious), to leather and sinew and bone being used to make textiles, tents and all other manner of artifacts. One of the casts of the island are the "Curd Peasants" who are involved with transforming yak milk to cheese, which though not terribly profitable, does bring these peasants an almost cherished reverence from the other Sicag. There is a taboo against touching curd peasants, however, which comes from certain diseases that they can spread as a result of their handling the curds. 
 +
 +=== Minerals ===
  
 Some few of the Sicag know how to find the materials to make bronze and fashion it into tools, but the materials are found in only sparse amounts in the mountains. Most metal is imported from the few Varyan clans who have actual mines, and know how to make iron. This tends to be problematic, given the state of war with those clans, but the trade still goes on.  Some few of the Sicag know how to find the materials to make bronze and fashion it into tools, but the materials are found in only sparse amounts in the mountains. Most metal is imported from the few Varyan clans who have actual mines, and know how to make iron. This tends to be problematic, given the state of war with those clans, but the trade still goes on. 
 +
 +=== Exports ===
  
 The only export the island has is manpower, as surplus sons of a family often find work in those same Varyan mines, and other of their industries. These individuals travel home from time to time, and it is through them that the Sicag get most of their trickle of information on the situation between the Varyans and the Israns. Manpower being a valuable asset, the Sicag tend to come out on top in the trading, but this ceases as soon as the war gets hot. This leaves the expatriate workers to have to decide between their jobs, or going home to help defend the island (at which point they are likely to become persona non grata in Varyan territories).  The only export the island has is manpower, as surplus sons of a family often find work in those same Varyan mines, and other of their industries. These individuals travel home from time to time, and it is through them that the Sicag get most of their trickle of information on the situation between the Varyans and the Israns. Manpower being a valuable asset, the Sicag tend to come out on top in the trading, but this ceases as soon as the war gets hot. This leaves the expatriate workers to have to decide between their jobs, or going home to help defend the island (at which point they are likely to become persona non grata in Varyan territories). 
 +
 +This trade used to be better regulated under the God King of Kelestia, but since his demise things have gotten trickier and trickier. However old traditions still stand, which is one of the reasons that this continues to go on despite the state of war that exists between the clans of Orbis and the Varyans. 
  
 Generally the Sicag are fairly prosperous, having plenty of food and resources between their yaks, seafood, and products from the peat bogs that lie in the low places all over the island. But this situation is gradually changing as the raids from the Varyans become more and more intense.  Generally the Sicag are fairly prosperous, having plenty of food and resources between their yaks, seafood, and products from the peat bogs that lie in the low places all over the island. But this situation is gradually changing as the raids from the Varyans become more and more intense. 
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 To be clear, these ships are not so numerous as the Sicag need, being nowhere enough to ensure that raiders cannot land. Often the only hope is to be able to hear of a landing in time to send the ships to attack the raiders as they leave the island, hoping to sink as many of their ships as possible. In general the Varyans are far more numerous than the Sicag, and just don't have the resources to field enough ships to be effective. Wood alone is at a premium on Orbis, as there are no large forests at all, and the Varyan's refuse to sell any to the Sicag.  To be clear, these ships are not so numerous as the Sicag need, being nowhere enough to ensure that raiders cannot land. Often the only hope is to be able to hear of a landing in time to send the ships to attack the raiders as they leave the island, hoping to sink as many of their ships as possible. In general the Varyans are far more numerous than the Sicag, and just don't have the resources to field enough ships to be effective. Wood alone is at a premium on Orbis, as there are no large forests at all, and the Varyan's refuse to sell any to the Sicag. 
  
-==== Population ====+===== Population of Orbis =====
  
 There is one large village on Leekan Bay at the mouth of the Crowlife River known as Morcostu that one might be tempted to call a town. Perhaps if one squinted when looking at it. Otherwise the entire population lives in villages usually found in the vales of the rolling hills that cover the island, or along the coast. Few are literate, as this is simply not a valued skill to the Sicag.  There is one large village on Leekan Bay at the mouth of the Crowlife River known as Morcostu that one might be tempted to call a town. Perhaps if one squinted when looking at it. Otherwise the entire population lives in villages usually found in the vales of the rolling hills that cover the island, or along the coast. Few are literate, as this is simply not a valued skill to the Sicag. 
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 The Sicag number about 48,000, making the island very lightly inhabited. But the amount of land upon which the yaks can be grazed is very limited, which holds the population down substantially, and makes adding any more inhabitants difficult.  The Sicag number about 48,000, making the island very lightly inhabited. But the amount of land upon which the yaks can be grazed is very limited, which holds the population down substantially, and makes adding any more inhabitants difficult. 
  
 +==== Morcostu ====
 +
 +Morcostu has a population of right about 1000, somewhat more if you consider the small fishing villages that are right up and down the coast of the town proper to be part of it. It has a small port, and as such sees occasional trade ships arrive from points abroad in Kelestia (essence flow activity severely curtails trade with Iyxia, Emer or Jaiman. Occasional ships arrive from points as far away as Palia, including even skyships from Sel-kai that make their way around the essence flow through Palia (a truly epic journey). 
 +
 +Given this activity, Morcostu is home to the island's sole inn, [[Orbis:The Cursed Axe]]
orbis.1471466128.txt.gz · Last modified: 2016/08/17 13:35 by Mike Holmes

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