C'Saidin

Rovers of the Scarlet Sands

(language convention: Romani)

Geography

C'Saidin hugs the southern coast of Aerith, a land sculpted by wind and sand. The heart of the nation lies within a vast desert, the Scarlet Sands, a sea of red dunes dotted with nomadic settlements and hidden oasis towns.

The unforgiving desert gives way to a rugged coastline to the south, where fierce storms and crashing waves have carved out dramatic cliffs and hidden coves.

The northern border is marked by the imposing Jalla Mountains, a formidable barrier and a source of rare minerals.

Culture

Free Spirited and Adaptable: The people of C'Saidin are a hardy and independent lot, shaped by their nomadic past and harsh environment. They value freedom, adaptability, and a deep connection to nature.

Oral Traditions: C'Saidin culture is rich with storytelling, music, and vibrant dance. History, songs, and legal codes are passed down through generations through oral traditions, ensuring a strong sense of shared identity.

Fierce Loyalty: Family and community are paramount in C'Saidin. They are fiercely loyal to those who earn their trust, but vengeance is swift for those who betray them.

Desert Mysticism: C'Saidin spirituality is interwoven with the desert itself. They worship the harsh sun and the shifting sands, believing the desert holds a deep magic that can be harnessed by those who live in harmony with it.

Society

C'Saidin society is semi-nomadic. Large extended families travel together in caravans, herding desert beasts, trading goods, and offering entertainment in towns with their music and dance.

Skilled trackers, navigators, and desert survivalists, the C'Saidin people are renowned for their horsemanship and their ability to find hidden oases and navigate treacherous sandstorms.

C'Saidin boasts a strong tradition of swordsmanship. The C'Saidin Medjay are a revered sect of fighters. They are not just warriors, but men and women who live, breath, and die by the sword. Becoming a Medjay is a long and arduous process, requiring mastery of various weapons, desert survival skills, and a deep understanding of C'Saidin martial philosophy.

Geopolitical Landscape

C'Saidin's past as pirates has left a legacy of distrust with some neighboring nations. However, their growing reputation for martial prowess and their strategic location have also garnered them respect and alliances.

The Jalla Mountains are home to a reclusive race of djinn, powerful desert spirits. C'Saidin maintains a cautious relationship with them, respecting their power and occasionally bartering with them for magical trinkets or passage through treacherous mountain passes.

Tensions simmer with the opulent Empire of Sharapov to the east. The C'Saidin see the Empire as decadent and expansionist, while Sharapov views C'Saidin as unruly and backwards.

Points of Interest

Qal Simshar: The "floating city" of Qal Simshar (an optical illusion created by the sand and heat) is the nomadic capital of C'Saidin. Built on massive, magically enchanted sand skiffs, the city can travel the desert sands, allowing the C'Saidin people to maintain their nomadic traditions even with a centralized government.

Zari'Akka: This port city nestled amidst the coastal cliffs, is a haven for traders, smugglers, and adventurers. It's a city of hidden secrets, bustling markets, and taverns filled with tales of desert exploits.

The Jalla Mountains: A hidden cavern holds the legendary tomb of Shah Reza, the pirate king who united the C'Saidin people and led them from a life at sea to establish a great desert nation. The tomb is said to be guarded by sand elementals and hold countless riches, but its location remains a mystery.

Formation: 750 PS
Government Type: Monarchy
Imports: spices, timber
Exports: luxury goods, wheat
Regional Dialect: Spoken C'Saidin has only a very subtle accent with an emphasis on rolled "r"s.

Those roamin' Tinkers that fix anything and everything? The ones you can find in those wagon caravans all over the world? Some folks say they're descended from the old C'Saidin pirate crews themselves. Back when the pirate king went all landlubber, they say the Tinkers weren't keen on giving up their freedom, but the pirate king issued a command that any C'Saidin vessel found not sanctioned by the crown would be sunk on sight. So the Tinkers dismantled their ships, used the timber to build those fancy caravan wagons of theirs, and took to the open road instead, captains of their own destinies.