Land of Cichol (tʃiː'kəʊl)
Geography and major landmarks
Intercedent to The Valley of Glass and the Frozen Deadlands, Cichol is more a collection of mountains, bluffs and shallows since it splintering. There are three major landmasses that make up the Kingdom, with small islands and colossal boulders interspersed throughout. As a result it is a very difficult place to traverse and live, its homes and people cling to rock faces and balance atop peaks, relying on it's prolific quarries and mines to survive.
The Kingdoms capital, Dyfed, and its throne sit eastward in the heart of the nations largest bay, The Bay of Huntnora. Whilst its sprawl reaches far and high, it is the beautiful architecture atop the karsts that incite awe. Grand pillars burgeoning upwards to touch the granite sky that rests upon their apogee.
Cichols two remaining bodies, Tryfan and Berwyn, serve as the kingdoms mercantile basin and finite farmland respectively. The north-western Tryfan is an assemblage of markets, shipyards, dealers and diplomats eager to sell Chicol's many gems and stones to the wider world. Whilst Berwyn, a low-lying stretch of somewhat fertile ground has been tailored as best it can to meet the kingdoms food production needs, even so it largely remains unkempt, chieftly supplying berries and roots foragers often come looking for.
Since The Ending, it's largely dwarven population have strived to rebuild and make the most of the land they now call home. Its people can be found concentrated in cities nestled betwixt mountains, such is the nature of its geography, where the bountiful mines and quarries have led to a stratified society where people have learnt to barter with outside alliances for what their homeland has deprived them of.
The aforementioned dwarves have naturally gravitated towards the kingdom, proficient in mining they are perfectly suited to the lifestyle, but each ethnicity, race and creed can be found in the more surfaced settlements. Cichol is considered to be quite civilized compared to some of its neighbors, the cultural focus on economic growth has seen many of the quarrels that once echoed in its hollow halls fall silent.
Over the years the kingdom has learnt to deal with their archipelago by mastering the waves. Expert sailors invariably derive from Cichol and it's rough, mentoring seas. Each doorway and household is decorated with protective runes, a cultural tradition that still holds water despite the widespread disbelief in their potency, while others choose long horns or bones from their mightiest catches.
The kingdoms monarchy is equally focused. Once a more mighty state, the crown has fallen more recently to the most shrewd, clever or frugal members of its great family. The fact of the matter is that because of the kingdoms fractured landscape they are at a loss for most conveniences. It is for this reason they seek to trade their gems and metals for the bare necessities, mainly food.
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