Sikel City
Sikel City is one of the earliest settlements in the Ginen region, known for its practitioners of the Old Way. Words like Phasma and Brane may be uttered by the passing traveller, but any true follower of the traditions will address the Phasma as Lwa, Orsha, Nkisis. 800 years of synchronization of West African and Afro-Caribbean religions have resulted in an overarching tradition known as Vodu (Fon for Spirit). But it should not be confused with the voodoo/Vodou practices of Earth. Different traditions practice Vodu in different ways and different Phasma are petitioned according to their individual manifestations throughout West Africa and the Diaspora beliefs.
And with Practitioners comes the tourist model of shops and street vendors and workshops, all with the express goal of drawing travelers into the mystic world of the Old Tradition without actually teaching them anything of value. A traveller needs to be ready to settle down in Sikel City if they truly want to gain knowledge.
With all the Brane running throughout the city, there are bound to be humans and Phasma who cause some chaos with that power. The under-the-law The Fi Warriors help to mitigate any damage, with the tacit approval of the monarchy.
Visit Sikel City soon . . . but make sure you stay at indoors at night.
A Monarchial City-State, Sikel City is well-known across Ginen and the world for quite a few things. First, the plethora of Old Way Practitioners . Some of the most powerful practitioners of the Vodu traditions provide training for novices eager to commit to their path. However, petitioning these Phasma should not be taken lightly, as the spirits are known to be quite particular when it comes to working with humans. Whether they are too zealous in filling out your requests (you didn't mean you wanted them to burn down the house of a rival, just give them a bit of a scare). Or easily offended if you forget to honor them on their day (two years of petition down the drain all because you decided to take a long weekend).
What has truly drawn all of these people to Sikel City, however, is Gem Mines of Sikel City gem mines operating beneath the Samhedi Plateaus. Ginen is known for its abundance of Branstones , which are well-known conduits of power. Allowing practitioners to store their Phasma's powers to use for later or even buying them new for the scant amount of natural Brane that is housed within. Buyer's beware, however. It isn't uncommon for street vendors to sell knock-off branstones to unsuspecting travelers. It is best to only purchase these gems from authorized dealers to ensure they you're getting the proper quality gemstone for its price. The gemstone market is volatile, so if a dealer presents you with a low cost, it is better to buy now because tomorrow it could be double or triple the price.
Even if magic is of no interest to you, Sikel City is still worth the visit. Griot Chariots often travel through the City, staying for weeks at a time. And even if you miss their arrival, there is always a festival celebrating some Phasma or another.
And it's hard to forget the wide variety of seafood that can be found in the city. One such delicacy is the Sikel Crab, a purple freshwater crab that can only be found in the Uncharted Swamplands. It's best to hunt them at night, when they emanate a soft glow, and although their legs are too spindly to provide any real meat, their meat of their bodies contains a slight spiciness to it that pairs nicely with a bitter cocoa.
Visit Sikel City soon . . . but make sure you stay at indoors at night.
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