Silesian
Silesia is a land set betwixt sea and desert, in a narrow band of extremely fertile land. The cities of Silesia are old--very old-- and this has created a sense of historical connection that few other people groups can claim. A common Silesian might well speak of a grudge from some long dead conflict with a neighboring city state as if it just finished yesterday, not centuries ago. The blood runs deep, and hot, in this land. For the humans who call Silesia home, they primarily fall into memberships in one of the city states (known as shahites) near the coast, though some smaller cities and outposts do exist further in. The other major people group within Silesia are the memliq (singular mamluq), which are hobgoblin converts to the Silesian way of life, either as freed slaves, or chosen allegiance. Since the fall of the Carovarian Empire, the Shahites formed an alliance with each other to create a common trade network, and to stem the tide of the hobgoblin hordes coming from the desert. Despite this, however, Silesian humans without fail identify themselves as members of their local Shahite, and not necessarily of Silesia at large. There is also a large population of expatriated members of other societies that live and work in Silesia; particularly in the port towns it is a common sight to see a green elf selling produce to a Esfarren, one of whom is a slave and one of whom is a former sailor, now convert to the Silesian way of life. Inland from the coastal cities is the great Shalasim desert, a sandy, dune-ridden desert, home to the many nomadic tribes of hobgoblins, as well as (if rumors are to be believed) djinni, and geysers of fire spewing forth from the sand. The Shahs contend ownership of the desert as a god-ordained right, while at the same time fighting a constant struggle to keep the militant tribes of “hobs” at bay. The Shahs run mining operations in the heart of the desert, and have a caravan route set up that is under constant protection, so that the great minerals and jewels and glasses of the Shalasim can make it back to the inland city of Atakar, and beyond, bringing back great wealth and influence to the Shahs from the rest of the world. And so it would have continued, except that half a century ago, Silesia fell to the Overlord, the Shahs were executed, and the prayer-houses destroyed. The land still functions as an “independent state” in name, but the shadow of the Iron Saint looms over everything they do.
There are many city states in Silesia, but the oldest, and most important are as follows:
Qalashite
From the great port city of Qalas, home of the greatest library in the world, and the birthplace of writing.
Tursq
From the port city of Pic Tursqana, an ancient trade city which is known for its grand bazaar, shipyards, and many, many prayer-houses.
Atakite
From the inland stronghold city, and caravan hub of Atakar. Atakar sits right on the edge of the Shalasim and the fertile coastal lands. It is a great walled city with three layers, built on a hill made up entirely of previous iterations of the city, Atakar was once said to be the gateway to the ancient “Highway of Flame and Glass” which led to the most magnificent city of Silesia, the now lost oasis of Ras Alshana. Most scholars now believe this to be fable, or if based in fact, greatly expanded upon. Regardless, this massive, fortified trade city to this day sits in the crossroads of most caravan routes coming out of the desert and entering the rest of Silesia. As such it is known as a rowdy, baudy hub of gambling and other services merchants and travellers are accustomed to, at least on the lower levels of the city, while the highest level of the city for the most part ignores this patent disrespect for “Silesian Ethics” and holds themselves to a very different standard. In some ways, except when a litter carries nobles through the lower levels of the city, Atakar almost seems to be two cities in one, with a pristine and highly religious central city surrounded by city of constant galavanting and carrowsing
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