Samonios
The Summer Court, Samonios, or Samoniodunon, "Fort of Summer", is a hillfort and the capital of South Wychazel (Samos)
What's the name of your settlement? Why is it called that?
- Summer Court refers to the uphill highland terrain, which certain families have traditionally used for summer grazing. This way of life shaped many societies in the North.
- For example, the PineKiller Clan of the Phoneutria have an alliance (similar to "friend of Rome") with the Hagathorn, the Earlens of Samoniodunon
- It is considered to bring a symbol of prosperity and abundance, and the idyllic "land of eternal summer"
- The capital itself is a fortified settlement/city by the name of Samoniodunon, the region itself is called Samonios
How big is this settlement?
- Samonios has a lot of orchards in the lowlands, some of which have become untamed forests
- There ware Wyva/wasp settlements, but they are low to the ground to preserve heat
- It is about the size of West Yorkshire, and it is estimated about 1 million people live there
What’s the purpose of this settlement?
- Agriculture, the only place where they can get fruit and plants
- Citron Guilds train here, and there is a large (but dangerous) market
- Culinary capital of the North
- Part of the trade route between the Larch and Arctina Gannwyll Gwydd
- Hosts a large auxiliary population
What's the surrounding geography like?
- Moorlands
- Uplands are more mountaineous
- There are a few valleys
- A lot of orchard moorlands
What's the tone or vibe here?
- As the only place in Beltane where plants are grown, it has an exotic allure
- It is also extremely dangerous to venture unassisted or unguided here
- The culture is heavily influenced by the influx of Cynipina/wasp people, as well as the Attercops such as Phoneutria
- It seems idyllic, to be so close to nature without having to leave the North, and many will try to carve out luxury estates here
- It is separated from Ghealas by a forrested area, some of which is run by the Cynipina but some which has gotten completely out of hand
What does “a roof and a meal” look like here?
- For a unique experience, you can stay at an Gall Orchard which typically offer tourist features for visitors, such as accommodations, activities, and a Temple to Bel. Many of these orchards also have regular transportation. It can be either cheap or expensive to stay at one of these, but is usually more expensive if you go with a popular farm. Smaller farms will charge less and may offer less security or accomadations.
- Some of the Arctina farms will also host boarding facilities, but this experience is highly individualized and unregulated, basically going by word of mouth and a reputation system, this can be a way to recruit new workers, make more connections. The Arctina communities will hold festivals designed to recruit more of the population if there is an imbalance
- Most of their food is dehydrated and processed, because they are terrified of parasites and even of the food facilities themselves. Some of the common ones are a bread/cake made of ground up woad plant, which turns their lips and teeth blue, eels preserved in old cucoons or wyva, and a soup made with berries. thankfully due to the abundance of Citron magic, they are able to make a lot of inedible plants edible, but it takes considerable efford.
Demographics
It is one of the more diverse places in the Highlands due to its proximity to Ghealas and Raudan. Particularly, it's known for its high populations of Vespula, particularly Cynipina, who typically do not live this far North.
The Arctina Gannwyll Gwydd have gentrified the area somewhat, but traditionally it was not deemed a safe area to live or settle. It is only recently the cost of living there has increased due to gentry moving to the countryside. This happened due to the increased presence of Clockmakers.
Government
Samonios as a state is run by an Earlen, who hold executive power over the region. They report directly to the Queen, but are typically left to run things themselves. Legislaative and judicial matters are handled in accordance with Clockmaker law, and only exceptions are taken to the Northern or Southern Crown.
Comments