Living in Kaos

Points of Light Amid the Darkness

Although five continents have been discovered across the surface of Kaos, only two are widely known of and connected in a way that affects most folk. Travel and communication between continents is not common or simple. The sheer size of the landmasses in question makes overland travel time consuming and dangerous.

Allegri

Home to the Allegran Government which oversees three colossal cities is led by a single ruler called the Mansa. This system has been around for centuries and was originally established after the siege and subsequent destruction of a fourth city, Medale - City of Gems. This human government is widely acknowledged as one of the most societally advanced cultures currently on the globe and are enjoying a Golden Age period, with only minor issues within their walls and outside threats are seemingly at an all-time minimum.

Of course history is written by the victors and across the centuries there has been a great deal of conflict between the various species, cultures, governments, and religions that developped. Today, the average human is relatively content inside the safety of the Allegran cities but the demi-humans that live there are hard pressed to earn a living as anything other than servants and labourers. Centuries ago, humans weren't so prosperous and aren't eager to risk their current position of power by allowing those who previously scorned them to have equal say in their lives. Despite this, there is a growing movement among the current generation of humans to forget the old transgressions and allow elves, heblin, and dwanar to have equal rights within the cities.

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Etude - City of Days

This massive walled city is the largest and most isolated human population. The city walls are thirty feet high and fifteen feet thick, made of magically treated granite dug from beneath the city and processed by the Arcane College. It lies several days northwest of the coast and the Minas Faile Plains stretch on to the southeast for weeks. Since wild vegetation is scarce the population survives mostly on herd animals and crops. The nearest port access is over a week southeast of the city - the port belongs to the city but the guard presence is nearly nonexistent. There is a small fishing community that has arisen within the past century around the port and they pay taxes and owe fealty directly to Etude.

The monarch is the ruler of the three human capitals - Mansa Desdemona Cleft. Mansa is a genderless title for any ruler descended from the previous ruler. In times of upheaval or a coup, when a new line ascends to the throne through any means, they are titled 'First Ruler' until an heir is of an age to take the reign. Any offspring spawned of a First Ruler takes the throne at age fourteen regardless of birthright, legitimacy, or gender. The only stipulation that can prevent an heir from taking the throne is race; only full-blooded humans may rule.

Residents of Etude are isolated but welcome travelers with open arms. They love their independence and privacy but take great joy in hearing stories from near or far. Despite visitors being rather rare there are several large inns within the city, and it is considered a great honor to be allowed to own an inn or other gathering place within the city.

The plains around Etude are nearly desert-like but aren't strictly hot, usually fluctuating between -0'C during the cooler seasons and +30'C during the day mid-summer. Several large bands of gnolls roam the plains southwest of the city and have mastered the local predatory fauna; taming the hyenas and wild dogs into semi-autonomous squads that patrol large areas. They do not pose a direct threat to the city or those that live nearby but are a constant nuisance to travelers and prevent farmers from establishing crops too far from the city walls.

There is one central marketplace in Etude that is regulated by a division of the city government and monitored by the city guard. Only the wealthiest and most successful merchants can afford actual buildings surrounding the market and renting a stand or wagon to sell goods requires a permit and usually significant connections. If there is any aspect of Etude that harbors corruption it is the marketplace – guards with access will take bribes to allow merchants to use empty stalls, or even forge documents for longer lasting illegal use of the marketplace. Almost anything can be purchased from the market and no items are considered taboo or illicit – although there are restrictions on selling certain products to children. Drugs, medicine, and weapons are readily available and purchased in the open.

For in-depth information on Etude, click HERE.
As with many things, this article and the article after the link are a work-in-progress.

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Clavier – City of Trees

Forest surrounds this bustling city in all directions, buried for days within foliage and brush. Natural and wild they have learned to live in relative harmony with nature. The city itself has cleared a space within the forest and unlike the elves and fey, the people here do not live in trees but instead in the traditional wood and brick buildings of human design. The natural beasts do not avoid the city nor its people, however they live separately from nature, rather than as one with it.

Governed by Ranger Antarint Stone who rules this city under the Mansa, the city pays only token tribute to the human alliance. They wish to reap the benefits of their partnership with the other cities, however, they contribute less than their share whenever possible and withhold whatever payments or taxes they can justify. This has been how the city operates since the inception of the human alliance and although the current Mansa is fully aware of their disrespectful attitude, she has not yet been able to squelch it in her brief time as ruler.

The city is defended mainly by a trained squad of rangers that patrol the forests and essentially live outside the city. Most threats do not reach the massive city walls - the rangers are able to locate and eliminate most threats before they become serious however, recently they have encountered unusual tunnels and burrows created by unknown creatures that have not yet been seen. It is believed that these creatures are observing the city and may not be from the prime material plane.

Behind closed doors the city rulers believe that these threats must have come from deep below the surface and were forced to rise aboveground for some unknowable purpose. These theories are barely based in fact, but are closely guarded – they do not want the public to know there may be an impending attack on the city or some threat lurking below the surface that cannot be found.

Clavier is laid out like a wheel, with lanes like spokes emanating from the central district where the government buildings are located. These lanes divide the city into five districts. The central district is where the upper city leadership live, along with high-end shops, inns, and parlors.

The northern district is home to the laborers and tradesmen, their shops and market stalls. The western district is mainly residential and houses the middleclass and career merchants – there is a large central market located in this district where people gather and barter. This is also where many of the less reputable inns and taverns are located. The district to the east is a religious and educational, where the magical workshops, temples, and churches are.

For the full article on Clavier, click HERE.
As with many things, this article and the article after the link are a work-in-progress.

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Stretto – City of Glamor

The western and northernmost capital city in the human alliance, Stretto has roughly 10% population of non-human races - the highest non-human population in the entire human alliance and 80% of the non-human population are elves from the nearby forest or from the fey crossing.

Too far north for reliable fishing, and too far west to consistently hunt for their large population, the government of Stretto was forced centuries ago to rely on import contracts from the most stable local connection: the Fae realm. The partnership is a permanent contract that has lasted for hundreds of years and provides the city with more wealth than any other city in the alliance. The city has kept a very strict immigration policy against elves and other non-humans living in the city or owning property - this has led to the local humans believing that elves and fey creatures are second-class citizens and are often only tolerated because of their beauty and usefulness. Despite having the highest non-human population, Stretto is the least friendly city to non-humans.

The expensive and permanent planar portal is heavily guarded and only operates at specifically scheduled times. Stable planar crossings are almost unheard of and this portal is only permanent due to some complicated ley-lines and the operation of powerful magic on both sides. It connects Stretto to an advanced urban fey metropolis on the other plane that is equally guarded and strictly monitored. The humans trade crafted goods and weapons for fresh vegetables and herd animals.

Stretto is the most affluent city in the human alliance and is not modest about its wealth. Between the wealth of trade from the fey-crossing, and the funds brought with the new fey residents requiring a rental home, all of which is taxed, means the private and public buildings within the city are elaborate and ornate.

The city also has a trained military contingent that do tours on the fey-side to help keep the aggressive local flora and fauna in check.

For in-depth information on Stretto, click HERE.
As with many things, this article and the article after the link are a work-in-progress.

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