Culture Focus: Redarkhan
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 6:52 am
This is an expansion of a Culture depicted Here.
This is also the first in a series of in-depth looks at some of these cultures, some economic info, and of course, eventually some game mechanics to go with.
The Empire of Redarkhan: City in the Clouds, City in the Mud
Lay of the Land:
The Redarkhan empire extends the length and breadth of the Redarkhan peninsula – a densely overgrown region that is dotted with tiny villages and mineral deposits in largely the same pattern. The steaming rain forests are quite literally trackless, as there are no roads connecting any of the villages to each other. The encroachment by the rain forests is constant and any open area devoid of sapient agency for more than 3 days is virtually indistinguishable from virgin jungle.
Elevations are extremely variable, with ravines and mountains crisscrossing the land beneath the thick canopy of trees in a manner which is largely unmapped by any known hand. Seasonal shanty towns are clear-cut out of the jungle and built up around quarries, farm lands, and mineral deposits every year – only to be allowed to sink back into the forests at the end of their productive cycle and rebuilt the next year (or in some case, not).
Major Cities:
The largest cities of the empire, and indeed the only major cities are Redarkhan, Dao, and Harappa. The capitol is Redarkhan. All of these cities share the distinction of being entirely without connection to the ground – being instead built atop of, suspended below, and in some cases even carved into a series of massive stones which float steadily some 3 kilometers above the leafy sea below. These cities have an enormous, if seasonally variable population which rises to as high as 715,000 people in Redarkhan, 325,000 in Dao, and 278,000 in Harappa. In addition to these formidable figures, each of these cities boast roughly four times that many golems of various sizes and strengths.
The core of Redarkhan is the Skymage Academy Tower, which is both the literal center of Redarkhan and the hub of all governmental and economic activity of the the entire empire. This massive hour-glass shaped double ziggurat is where all Redarkhan Skymages are trained in the imperial system of stone magic. It is an extremely powerful fortress, despite or perhaps because of its extremely improbable architecture. The cities of Dao and Harappa are likewise possessed of Skymage fortresses in their centers, though these are but pale imitations of the majestic imperial seat.
The cities of the Redarkhan empire produce little, what few agricultural products are grown in the tiny hanging gardens are largely constrained to luxury gourds rather than staples capable of sustaining even the slimmest fraction of the residents of the city. Nevertheless, over the course of the year the three cities play host to practically every one of the empire's 3 million residents, at least for a while. Life in any of the cities is fairly pleasant, steam and air are piped throughout the metropols in order to maintain a consistent temperature of approximately 22 degrees. Golems patrol every island of the metropols and are programmed to provide virtually any service to any resident (permanent or temporary) who requests one of them.
Architectural styles vary markedly between different islands, and it is theorized that the metropols were at some point much smaller than they currently are, and have gradually accumulated additional islands over the centuries. The islands are connected with bridges of various materials.
Economics:
The Redarkhan empire uses extremely thin clay tablets for record keeping and keeping track of their complicated and abstract financial system. The Redarkhan Empire has no taxes, but it is illegal to purchase or sell goods or services to or from any agency other than representatives of Skymage Tower. Membership in any of the guilds carries with it a waver on rent, while any other citizen of the empire must pay Redarkhan currency back to the Redarkhan Tower Authority for every day they remain within the confines the metropols.
The life of a typical resident, thus, represents a steep cycle – with a portion of the year toiling in the temporary work camps below, and a portion of the year spent in relative luxury in the cloud cities above.
Trade between villages is nonexistent, but all villages of the empire trade directly with the major metropols by way of the Skyships. These ginormous vessels are constructed of wood, stone, or clay, and suspended by bronze chains from stones. The stones are controlled and navigated by Redarkhan Skymages.
Skyships and golems from Redarkhan are seen everywhere in the known world, and Redarkhan representatives are happy to rent their powers to those who are capable of presenting them with goods or services they desire. Actualy purchasing a skyship or golem is an impossibility, Redarkhan is built on rents not sales. The Tower is no more willing to sell a skyship than they are willing to sell land in the floating metropols. Golems which stray from Redarkhan observation are usually inactive within 9 months.
Law and Order:
Travel by land outside the confines of any of the villages is strictly forbidden to non-navigators, and nominally carries a death sentence. This is largely not enforced, since the lands outside the confines of villages are in no way patrolled and the government doesn't even pretend to have a comprehensive understanding of what lies below the canopies. It is illegal to buy or sell goods from or to any organization or group other than the Tower or its representatives. This prohibition is taken extremely seriously, and its lethal enforcement is zealously pursued by the Skymage Academy Auditors.
Magical Traditions:
Redarkhan society is based upon earth magic, with every Skylord, farmer, and child being taught the basics of the shaping of clay and learning the ways and forms of stone. The dominant school of thought is unquestionably that of the Skymages themselves, who have a stone gauntlet firmly grasping every artery of society, economy, and communication in the empire. The Skymage Academy is itself composed of three separate guilds:
[*] The Sculptors. The Sculptors are taught ways of shaping stone and clay above all. The pinnacle of sculptor magic is the city of Redarkhan itself. The Sculptors are possessed of the secret arts of making stone move. It is they who have lofted the great metropols, and it is they who maintain their position above the earthbound. Sculptors also create the golems who make staying in the great cities so effortless. It is rumored that the Sculptors also produce war golems of some kind, but reports are spotty at best. Upon completing their apprenticeship, each Sculptor is given a hammer and a chisel, of a material and quality befitting their new station.
[*] The Navigators. The Navigators are taught the forms and positions of stone. Navigators are, with sufficient concentration capable of finding virtually any stone anywhere in the world. So ingrained upon the Tower are they during training that every Navigator is constantly aware of its precise location relative to themselves, even while asleep. All navigational charts in the empire take advantage of this fact, and the Tower's relative location is used rather than such changeable and inconsequential items such as the sun or the stars. While the public face of the Navigational Core is one of being a cog in the wheel of communication and trade, guild members are also called upon to track down unwarranted acquisition of Redarkhan equipment and secrets. Upon completing their apprenticeship, each Navigator is given an entirely functional and magically hardened marble dagger.
[*] The Auditors. The Auditors are taught the secrets of evaluation and identification. Only the Auditors know the secret rubrics that determine the methods for determining the prices that are required and offered for goods and services throughout the empire. The Auditors are charged with the monumental task of making sure that all wealth that is produced in the empire is put to good use. It is said that you cannot fool an Auditor, because he knows what your bags and heart contains better than you do. Upon completing their apprenticeship, each Auditor is given a carved and personalized amulet which doubles as a personal stamp.
Government:
Redarkhan is controlled by the three guilds, with a high council of 9 members that meets at the apex of the two conjoined ziggurats that are the Tower. Three of the members are selected by each guild by their own rules, which are secret even from the other guilds. Every expedition of the empire has at least one representative from each guild. A skyship, for example, has at the very least one Sculptor, one Navigator, and one Auditor.
-Username17
This is also the first in a series of in-depth looks at some of these cultures, some economic info, and of course, eventually some game mechanics to go with.
The Empire of Redarkhan: City in the Clouds, City in the Mud
Lay of the Land:
The Redarkhan empire extends the length and breadth of the Redarkhan peninsula – a densely overgrown region that is dotted with tiny villages and mineral deposits in largely the same pattern. The steaming rain forests are quite literally trackless, as there are no roads connecting any of the villages to each other. The encroachment by the rain forests is constant and any open area devoid of sapient agency for more than 3 days is virtually indistinguishable from virgin jungle.
Elevations are extremely variable, with ravines and mountains crisscrossing the land beneath the thick canopy of trees in a manner which is largely unmapped by any known hand. Seasonal shanty towns are clear-cut out of the jungle and built up around quarries, farm lands, and mineral deposits every year – only to be allowed to sink back into the forests at the end of their productive cycle and rebuilt the next year (or in some case, not).
Major Cities:
The largest cities of the empire, and indeed the only major cities are Redarkhan, Dao, and Harappa. The capitol is Redarkhan. All of these cities share the distinction of being entirely without connection to the ground – being instead built atop of, suspended below, and in some cases even carved into a series of massive stones which float steadily some 3 kilometers above the leafy sea below. These cities have an enormous, if seasonally variable population which rises to as high as 715,000 people in Redarkhan, 325,000 in Dao, and 278,000 in Harappa. In addition to these formidable figures, each of these cities boast roughly four times that many golems of various sizes and strengths.
The core of Redarkhan is the Skymage Academy Tower, which is both the literal center of Redarkhan and the hub of all governmental and economic activity of the the entire empire. This massive hour-glass shaped double ziggurat is where all Redarkhan Skymages are trained in the imperial system of stone magic. It is an extremely powerful fortress, despite or perhaps because of its extremely improbable architecture. The cities of Dao and Harappa are likewise possessed of Skymage fortresses in their centers, though these are but pale imitations of the majestic imperial seat.
The cities of the Redarkhan empire produce little, what few agricultural products are grown in the tiny hanging gardens are largely constrained to luxury gourds rather than staples capable of sustaining even the slimmest fraction of the residents of the city. Nevertheless, over the course of the year the three cities play host to practically every one of the empire's 3 million residents, at least for a while. Life in any of the cities is fairly pleasant, steam and air are piped throughout the metropols in order to maintain a consistent temperature of approximately 22 degrees. Golems patrol every island of the metropols and are programmed to provide virtually any service to any resident (permanent or temporary) who requests one of them.
Architectural styles vary markedly between different islands, and it is theorized that the metropols were at some point much smaller than they currently are, and have gradually accumulated additional islands over the centuries. The islands are connected with bridges of various materials.
Economics:
The Redarkhan empire uses extremely thin clay tablets for record keeping and keeping track of their complicated and abstract financial system. The Redarkhan Empire has no taxes, but it is illegal to purchase or sell goods or services to or from any agency other than representatives of Skymage Tower. Membership in any of the guilds carries with it a waver on rent, while any other citizen of the empire must pay Redarkhan currency back to the Redarkhan Tower Authority for every day they remain within the confines the metropols.
The life of a typical resident, thus, represents a steep cycle – with a portion of the year toiling in the temporary work camps below, and a portion of the year spent in relative luxury in the cloud cities above.
Trade between villages is nonexistent, but all villages of the empire trade directly with the major metropols by way of the Skyships. These ginormous vessels are constructed of wood, stone, or clay, and suspended by bronze chains from stones. The stones are controlled and navigated by Redarkhan Skymages.
Skyships and golems from Redarkhan are seen everywhere in the known world, and Redarkhan representatives are happy to rent their powers to those who are capable of presenting them with goods or services they desire. Actualy purchasing a skyship or golem is an impossibility, Redarkhan is built on rents not sales. The Tower is no more willing to sell a skyship than they are willing to sell land in the floating metropols. Golems which stray from Redarkhan observation are usually inactive within 9 months.
Law and Order:
Travel by land outside the confines of any of the villages is strictly forbidden to non-navigators, and nominally carries a death sentence. This is largely not enforced, since the lands outside the confines of villages are in no way patrolled and the government doesn't even pretend to have a comprehensive understanding of what lies below the canopies. It is illegal to buy or sell goods from or to any organization or group other than the Tower or its representatives. This prohibition is taken extremely seriously, and its lethal enforcement is zealously pursued by the Skymage Academy Auditors.
Magical Traditions:
Redarkhan society is based upon earth magic, with every Skylord, farmer, and child being taught the basics of the shaping of clay and learning the ways and forms of stone. The dominant school of thought is unquestionably that of the Skymages themselves, who have a stone gauntlet firmly grasping every artery of society, economy, and communication in the empire. The Skymage Academy is itself composed of three separate guilds:
[*] The Sculptors. The Sculptors are taught ways of shaping stone and clay above all. The pinnacle of sculptor magic is the city of Redarkhan itself. The Sculptors are possessed of the secret arts of making stone move. It is they who have lofted the great metropols, and it is they who maintain their position above the earthbound. Sculptors also create the golems who make staying in the great cities so effortless. It is rumored that the Sculptors also produce war golems of some kind, but reports are spotty at best. Upon completing their apprenticeship, each Sculptor is given a hammer and a chisel, of a material and quality befitting their new station.
[*] The Navigators. The Navigators are taught the forms and positions of stone. Navigators are, with sufficient concentration capable of finding virtually any stone anywhere in the world. So ingrained upon the Tower are they during training that every Navigator is constantly aware of its precise location relative to themselves, even while asleep. All navigational charts in the empire take advantage of this fact, and the Tower's relative location is used rather than such changeable and inconsequential items such as the sun or the stars. While the public face of the Navigational Core is one of being a cog in the wheel of communication and trade, guild members are also called upon to track down unwarranted acquisition of Redarkhan equipment and secrets. Upon completing their apprenticeship, each Navigator is given an entirely functional and magically hardened marble dagger.
[*] The Auditors. The Auditors are taught the secrets of evaluation and identification. Only the Auditors know the secret rubrics that determine the methods for determining the prices that are required and offered for goods and services throughout the empire. The Auditors are charged with the monumental task of making sure that all wealth that is produced in the empire is put to good use. It is said that you cannot fool an Auditor, because he knows what your bags and heart contains better than you do. Upon completing their apprenticeship, each Auditor is given a carved and personalized amulet which doubles as a personal stamp.
Government:
Redarkhan is controlled by the three guilds, with a high council of 9 members that meets at the apex of the two conjoined ziggurats that are the Tower. Three of the members are selected by each guild by their own rules, which are secret even from the other guilds. Every expedition of the empire has at least one representative from each guild. A skyship, for example, has at the very least one Sculptor, one Navigator, and one Auditor.
-Username17