Nipan

Nipan is the biggest Catfolk village in the Jerulian Jungles.
Under guidance of Maelis Sunfur it became the biggest trade hub of the catfolk to the City of Alt'Ena. Sorrounding villages bring their wares to Nipan, which in turn organizes regular caravan from different merchants towards Alt'Ena.

Political Structure

Nipan is currently led by a council of 5 catfolk elders with Maelis Sunfur being the most famous (See The Elders of the Village Nipan. The elders were important figures in Nipan's history and shape the town in various ways that contradict or sometimes complement each other. So are the decision of the elders sometimes going back towards tradional views while also being often of more progressive nature.
Before the council led Nipan, the village was governed by a clan of Catfolk, the Tigres family. Growing population of Nipan, however, led to internal conflict which ultimaltely resulted in the assassiation of the current leader, Pride Tigres. His family subsequently fled towards Alt'Ena and started a new life there leaving a power vacuum that was filled by the 5 elders due to necessity. The change in governing structure happened 14 years ago. The only son of Pride Tigres, Cartan Tigres, was only 2 years at the time, but is now nearing his coming of age in catfolk tradition and some of the residing population expect him to take up the path of leadership his father once had. Most notably among supporters is the elder Elorin Clawheart, an grungly catfolk that still holds traditions very high. While these voices have been relatively quiet due to Cartans enrollment in the Magical Academy of Alt'Ena, his recent visit in the year 3294 due to an expedition with Professor Talamund has caused some noice among supporters of the traditional leadership.

Recent History

Nipan is a realtively young village in the Jerulian Jungle. Being founded 2958 by catfolk settlers out necessity, the village quickly grew in size. Nipan itself is far away from usual landmarks that validate village creation, like rivers or natural ressources. But it is relatively central among catfolk villages in the jungle. This likely was reason of the village place being resting oasis for many travelern between villages until Nipan was formally created. After founding it took almost two decades (2974-2975) until a central leader of the village would emerge. This was Kan Tigres and since then until relatively recently the Tigres family led Nipan. During the Necrusade, Nipan was sheltered from the biggest battles of the region. The undead armies usually halted at the Enan Swamp and did not invade into the jungle, rather around. And the warriors of Nipan were capable enough to fend of stray undead. Nevertheless, these outside conflicts left bitter feeling in the residents of the village and Nipan halted most contact with the outside world except with the nearby catfolk villages. In the year 3233 appearance of strange weapons led to conflict among rivaling catfolk villages that ultimately caused a civil war to break out in the Jerulian Jungles in 3239. Nipan remained mostly neutral in these conflicts, but since many of Nipans citizens were originally born in those villages, the civil war also affected the village greatly. It was during this time that a young Maelis Sunfur would emerge with her husband as heroes for many catfolk. They were traveling around as adventurers, and helping to resolve more conflict which ultimately led to an end of the civil war. By the year 3250, the influence of the Sunfur family and its central location has made Nipan to one of the main trading hubs especially in connection with Alt'Ena, which has begun to expand more outwards. Thus, Nipan became the most influential catfolk village in the whole region and to be known by many. Rather quickly many merchants sprung on to the opportunity and thus several merchant routes were created. In the year 3262 all of this accumulated to the opening of the "merchant hall" in Nipan. Only 4 years later, this hall would be replaced by the "Grand Merchant Hall" and would later be used as a central eating place and for social events in the village. The ever increasing influence would lead more and more people of the region to join Nipan or pass through the village. It soon exceeded the natural ressources of the location where it was build and relied heavily on the trade routes to fuel basic necassities like water and food. This created tension among the old families of Nipan and new arrivals. Claims that the leadership of Nipan was not fit became louder and some groups even proclaimed themselve to be better fit as leaders of Nipan, grasping at the prospect of power in the process. Still, for a long while the Tigres family would lead with a firm but gentle hand. Probably due to the only daughter of the Sunfur family, Purr Tigres, marrying into the Tigres family and exerting her own, uproars were smaller than could be expected the ever-growing tension in the village. But this also made protective measure rather lax. A fact that would become evident when Pride Tigres, the current Tigres leader, would be assassinated. The murder was performed at night from the 4th of Ocotber to the 5th in the year 3281. The murderer was found to be the dwarv Votorious Thumbingbridge, a known "troublemaker" from Alt'Ena and cult leader that apparently seeked refuge in Nipan. While some still claimed, he falsely confessed, the truth was that the whole Tigres family could still be in danger even if Votorious was the assassin. Thus, the remaining Purr and her children fled to Alt'Ena. This, however, left Nipan without leadership and from the remaining residents nobody could claim enough power to rule the wholve village. The only people that exerted enough influence to stir the political direction of the village were 4 elders, soon to be joined by a fifth on. Their regular meetings would soon be named the council and subsequently lead to formal creation of The Elders of the Village Nipan, which rule the village to this day. With the passage of time this council was able to stabilize the village. But its successor or how new members would be able to join the council was not determined. This is a growing problem since the same power vaccuum thus lingers in the background with some people even claiming that the Tigres family should be back in power. The later claims have been growing in noice since the only son of Pride, Cartan Tigres, has visited the village recently on an academic expedition and is soon to be coming of age in catfolk tradition. But at the same time rivals to that idea have formed formal groups as a consequence, with first meetings happening in May 3294 just after Cartan left. The most influential of these groups wants to make the council a permament part of the village, but introduce a formal voting process for council membership. However, especially those trying to cling to power themselve heavily oppose this idea, leading to a steady rise in conflict in Nipan again.

Geography

Nipan is situated beside a modest waterway, known locally as Nipan Stream, which serves as the primary water source for the village. Geographically, it is perched atop rocky terrain within the jungle, where the sparse tree growth provides a naturally clear area ideal for building.

Climate

Hot Humid. Never too hot.

History

2958 Created by some Catfolk settlers. One Dwarven joined them for a few years in search of a ore. 2974 Establishement of the village leader. First one being Kan Tigres.

Tourism

Being the biggest Catfolk village in the jungles, Nipan is usually the first venture point for people exploring the jungle.

Alternative Name(s)

The Hush Market

Location under

Jerulian Jungles

Owning Organization

The Elders of the Village Nipan

Characters in Location

• Maelis Sunfur