Ushira

Ushira, also known as The Haven of the Bovine, is a small village in the northwest of Purin. Its outlying hinterlands are surrounded by forest save for a northward dirt path that cuts through the settlement. This perfectly straight road, known as the Cattle Highway to locals, is the only major artery through the village. Ushira is a cattle enterprise that services nearby local settlements and many butchers, dairy farmers, and furriers ply their trade from stores lined along the street. Travelers that frequently pass through Purin and Bingzhi have made their mark on the village as many of the agricultural shops cater to 'big city' tastes with connected eateries.
"I have catalogued countless locales in my long and evil existence, but none have fascinated me quite like Ushira. The quaint village is a world unto itself, brimming with the sweetest milk and succulent meat, a true haven for the gourmand. But beneath the pastoral facade lurks a darker underbelly, a place where secrets are whispered and plots hatched. Ah, the duality of mortals, a true gem in my collection."
— Zalvador the Wanderer's notes on Ushira

Geography

Ushira's namesake is due to the two sprawling fields on the east and west sides of the village that are used as pastures for cows. The Griff Forest runs along the southern edge of the settlement, and monsters occassionally spill out of the dark woods. The surrounding areas are mostly the flat deciduous forests that Purin is known for, though a small range of forested mountains known as the Saber Mounts dot the northern ends of Ushira's domain. These mountains protect the village from the intense northerly winds that buffet Bingzhi, and have served as a natural barrier between the two nations since before the King's Ransom.
Unique to Ushiran woods are a variety fruiting plants that provide a steady source of foraging during the sisterly months. Cherry trees are particularly common, and are cultivated inside the village itself for aesthetic reasons.

Society

Cattle is the most important agricultural product in Ushira. Most of the locals rely on cows for their livelihood, both directly and indirectly. As the Cattle Highway is one of the safest routes from central Alterôs to the Verdant Fjords, many foreign Travelers are guaranteed throughout late spring and early summer. As with many other locales that cater to Travelers, leatherworkers can be seen working in haberdasheries, cordwainers, and armorsmithies. Most Purinnials visit Ushira for its quality beef and dairy, and it exports as much as it can to outlying communities. Leathers and hides are abundant in the village and are typically used to provide shade outdoors. Despite how ubiquitous tanned leathers are inside Ushira, the village lacks a tannery.

Religion

Ushira gives devotions to the Four, though their patron deity is Azrua whom they worship as both the Spring Dragon and as the Little Sister. Azrua's holy symbols can be found throughout the town, adorning the walls outside both businesses and homes. Because of the importance of cattle and ranching to the livelihoods of Ushirans, doorways are adorned with symbols of Ben Thirth, and the Shephard's mark is branded onto cows as a sign of luck. Rafflesia is honored verbally due to the bounty of game and produce that the forests around the village produce. Griff is not honored willingly, but instead to ward his wrath and keep his monsters at bay.

Holidays

The Saku Festival is the largest local holiday in Ushira. Falling some weeks before the Spring Equinox, the day is celebrated to begin the foraging season. Adherants of the festival allow cattle free reign of the village on this day. A celebration is held around mid-day that represents the beginning of the Stampede, a game in which farmers and ranchers attempt to hide a cow while adventurers and Travelers attempt to corrale the cattle back into their pastures. This event is typically sponsored by the Lodge, and many hunters partake in it. Townsfolk that are able to hide cattle and hunters that are able to corrale the most cows are given special status during an evening feast. This feast typically takes up much of the Cattle Highway and goes long into the night.

Institutions

The Blossom Lodge is the premier organization of the realm. As the largest building in Ushira, its organization of hunters is the closest thing to a constabulary in the village. Situated between two steep Saber Mounts at the northern end of the settlement, the lodge houses around thirty hunters in an egalitarian bunkhouse. The hunters are often foraging the many fruits and mushrooms of the surrounding locales, or hunting beasts that pour out of the Griffwoods. As the village lacks an inn, the lodge caters to Travelers that stay overnight. Persistant rumors from farmers posit that the strange runic symbols carved along the walls of the lodge connect the organization with malign cults.

Cuisine

Because of the importance of dairy to the local economy, cuisine is a big part of the culture of Ushira. Beef, milk, and cheeses are often eaten alongside springtime and summertime fruits and vegetables. Due to the proximity to Bingzhi, tea has become a staple drink of the village. Tapioca pearl, or boba, tea is a popular beverage on the Cattle Highway. Strawberries, peaches, oranges, cherries, and cherry blossoms are all commonly added to the teas and entrées. During seasonal and local festivals ice creams and milkshakes are served, typically also with a heavy smattering of fruit.

Ushira

Haven of the Bovine

Home of the Lodge of Blossoms

Type: Woodland Village in Purin

Population: 200

Humans

Demonym: Ushiran

Religions:

Azrua

Rafflesia

Ben Thirth

Griff

Attractions:

Saku Festival

Lodge of Blossoms

Cattle Ranching

Type

Village