The Kingdom of Susa
The Kingdom of Susa is the largest autonomous territory within the Great River Runway. While individual city states exist in Bloodcove, Matakali or Nantambu, only Susa boasts of full naval, military and political supremacy with the larger Runway. Senghor is the largest city in Susa. It is also the most prominent port in the Gulf of Minara and the greatest exporter of manufactured goods and services in the region.
Alagaa is the royal capital, and serves as both a cultural and religious site of interest for the Susan people. Alagaa also serves a second more secret purpose however, just a few miles northwest of the royal capital are the Pillars of Kirisita. While the majority of the population believe this great crystalline forest has existed since prehistory, this is a lie. Instead at the center of this forest are the remains of a great extraterrestrial spaceship known as a Spelljammer. The population of this ship were thousands of Giff colonists on course for a distant planet, before malfunctions in the ships navigation system caused it to crashland on Celasper.
Susa is famous for its peerless engineering and towering harbor walls, unbreached despite several sieges by the strange remnants of Tambraha and the pirates of Bloodcove. Susa sees itself as a quality supplier of merchant goods, sold at fair prices. Their tradesmen, specializing in firearms, weapons, armor, grains, seafood, textiles, spices, and exotic materials found from the Giffs alien biozone, pride themselves on their ability to make a sale. Ironically it is these quality goods that have most made them a target for pirates from Bloodcove, seeking to undermine their trade so that they may push far cheaper and shoddier alternatives. Slavery is banned in Susa, and they will openly attack any ships that are affiliated with the slave trade.
Susa was originally founded by the Bonuwat as a permanent settlement with which to store goods in between naval voyages and trading missions. However, when the Caldarus arrived from over the black over the black mountains, the two societies came together to form a permanent alliance. The Kingdom of Susa is the result of their combined union, with a Caldarus leader marrying a Bonuwat leader to unite the two ethnicities politically. The first King Oba I declared that a city be built upon the shoreline to house the Caldarus people, and so the city of Senghor was built.
The people of Susa are pragmatic and value trade above all else. In doing so they hope to grow their individuals families prosperity, but it is also a sign of status within their social hierarchy. The people of Susa equally value fairness and independence however, and are rare to compromise on either of these values. Pirates, slavers and criminals are scum to be hunted down, not traded with, regardless of the potential for profit. As a result, the marketplaces of Susa are sacrosanct and well guarded.
Structure
Susa is a constitutional monarchy. While the monarch of the nation holds supreme executive power, that power is tempered by two chambers: a Merchant's Council and a People's Council. These councils can in theory overrule the monarch, but thus far, the royalty of Susa and the council chambers have acted in a unified alliance.
The royal family always consists of a member of the Bonuwat people and a member of the Caldaru people. Twice in the nation's history has a monarch died without an heir to continue the line of succession. In both cases, the Merchants and Peoples Council have acted to "elect" candidates for the monarchy in arranged marriages.
Culture
Susan culture can largely be divided between the two native ethnicities who inhabit their kingdom. The Bonuwat people, originally from further east in the Great River Runway, and the Calduru, immigrants from the region of Matanga further north before the Eldritch Scar's creation.
The Bonuwat:
The Bonuwat people are commonly seen along the coastline of the south and west of Mana Jalqabaa. Their original homeland is unknown, but for as long as people can remember they have been proficient sailors straddling the coastlines to take advantage of the oceans bounty. Many of them are strong swimmers as a result of this seafaring lifestyle. Many keep their hair short, in cornrows, or bald for the sake of being hydrodynamic.
Bonuwat society is clan based, and most of those clans differentiate themselves by what they primarily seek on their voyages. Most of these clans fish, specializing in intricate methods of capturing a particular species. They take care not to overhunt particular populations however, thus ruining their livelihoods. Other clans take advantage of water breathing magic to deep dive and hunt for treasure at the bottom of the sea. Some of the more hardened sailors will dare to venture into the Krakens territory to pillage destroyed ships, or to rescue hapless survivors.
Since so much of a Bonuwat person's life is spent at sea, or upon the riverside, many of them worship gods associated with the water. Gozreh is chief among them of course, but Sarenrae is worshipped in her incarnation as the guiding sun. Desna is also worshipped as the goddess of night, for providing clear markers with which to travel.
The Bonuwat people prefer warmer clothing, but may put on more as night draws closer due to the intense drop in temperature at sea. Those who don't work directly on the water don't wear much clothing at all, preferring to stay cool within the Great River Runway's climate.
Marriages between individuals almost always occur at sea, as do most births. Individual land on shore such as the town of Nyse, exist as glorified trade storage for goods collected while on the water.
The Caldaru:
Outsiders tend to look at the Caldaru people of Susa as simply interested in making money, however the truth is that Caldaruns believe trade to be a means of generating wealth to support a family and a community. In short, money is not the goal on its own. That said, the overt display of affluence and prosperity is considered a positive in Caldarun culture as it demonstrates the ability to provide for others.
The Caldarun people are masters of engineering. The city of Senghor, built in the style of fallen Goya is an architectural and defensive marvel. Their ship designs, taking inspiration from the war machines made at the height of the Goyan Magocracy, are the envy of the known world. The Caldarus are an inquisitive people, and many of their engineers will travel to schools in Nantambu or further abroad on how to improve their craft or to gain new knowledge to build greater wonders.
The people of Susa take great care to venerate the environment. If the ecosystem is not health, trade isn't healthy, and if trade isn't healthy, their families aren't healthy. The Caldarun people try to use every part of an animal in a meal, or in the creation of a piece of clothing, never taking more than what they need. They similarly support cultures that feel the same way, such as the Orcish peoples of the Great River Runway.
The Caldarun people prefer long flowing robes and gowns with thin materials to take in the breeze and cool the skin rather than provide warmth. The colors of these clothes can vary but include orange, olive, pink, gold, and green.
Joint Culture:
The Caldarun people of Susa share a close relationship with the Bonuwat people of their shared region. The two cultures share similar values in their approach to nature, though Caldarus families are far more tightly bound, while the Bonuwat people are willing to be apart from each other for months or perhaps years at a time on long voyages. Each culture values the art of sailing and mastery of the ocean. There are intense debates between Bonuwat and Caldarus crews about who are superior sailors on the open waves. The relationship between the two cultures has proven harmonious, with the Caldaru building incredible ships that the Bonuwat are able to pilot better than anyone on Celapser. Patterns are important for the people of Susa, and a person's clothing may tell someone everything about their profession, social class and family. The use of patterns also extends out to homes, marketplaces, and storage houses. Even ships often have unique patterns painted upon them to reflect a vessel's history.
The Giff:
The Giff fit unusually well into Susan society. They get along well with the Caldaru as each appreciates a chain of command. They similarly bond well with their Bonuwat shipmates through a shared love of travel and navigation. Those Giff who remain in Susa often find themselves working upon Susan naval vessels or serving in some form of military function. Many Giff travel abroad however, joining the Pathfinder Society in Senghor to see the world, or join foreign conflicts. The Giff brought with them a great prowess for firearms, and provided the Susan military the means to create cannons and muskets in large numbers. Giff appreciate good craftsmanship, and will often work hard to buy and maintain items that they adore.
Giff are believed to be a native race by most of the Susan population, with stories ranging from sentient hippos granted knowledge by rogue druids, to the original descendants of the region, to the result of a failed experiment by Old Man Jatembe. As most of the Giff now present in Susa are descendants of the original spelljammer's crew, they similarly see themselves as natives as well. While marriage outside of Giff communities is rare, it has happened. The increasing ingratiation of the Giff population has caused elders of the original Spelljammer to fear that their culture and original mission may soon be entirely erased. Giff elders are currently meeting to debate on what to do about the matter, and how best to express and protect their own culture.
Life in Susa:
People are expected to greet each other by name in Susa at least once each day upon meeting as a sign of respect. This makes greetings take much longer than in other cultures. Tea is popular in Susa, especially lemon grass. Outsiders sometimes comment that the people of Susa behave like automatons while working, only to have no concept of time whatsoever when off duty. Indeed many in Susa loathe the concept of free time, choosing instead to take lulls in activity as an excuse to clean or perform menial tasks. In this way routine is important to the people of Susa, the same shops, the same friends visited, the same shrines venerated. However this routine does build community, and allow for gossip amongst the various peoples throughout the day.
Education is important in Susa, and most children will be paired with a mentor, especially amongst the Bonuwat peoples. Drinking is very common amongst the whole populace, especially amongst the sailors of Senghor. The people of Susa can be very superstitious and there are many who tell dark stories at night of curses, blights and bad luck at sea.
Birth, marriage and death are the most important concepts for the people of Susa. Generous gifts are often provided at one of these three occurrences, or the next of kin in the event of a death. To many foreigners, a Susan funeral may come across more joyous than a birth, which stems from a desire to see the dead off without regret so they do not linger. These funeral celebrations may go on for days, depending on their position within the community. Even minor acquaintances are expected to pay respects, if only briefly. Other festivals are often determined by royal augers, who take great care to read signs and omens before declaring a feast day or a celebration. These celebrations can last for up to a week forever, during which lights never go out in any of Susa's settlements.
Public Agenda
1. Maintain a navy to protect against Tambraha and the Krakens armada.
2. Defeat pirates from Bloodcove wherever they may be found.
3. Defeat slavers wherever they may be found.
4. Seek out new trade alliances to replace fallen allies.
Demography and Population
Susa is overwhelmingly represented by humans within their population. There are two main ethnicities present, the Caldaru and Bonuwat. Giff make up the next highest population, integrating well into every city in the nation. Other ancestries do exist within Susa, but their population is relatively tiny by comparison. Planar Scions are often looked upon with suspicion within Susan culture, and many are even disowned by family members.
Territories
Alagaa: The capital of Susa and home to the crowned monarchy. Queen Ayaba IV rules alone at present, and has for close to ten years since her husband's death. Many in the People's Council have begun to demand that she remarry a member of the Bonuwat, but so far she has refused to do so, supposedly out of mourning. Many of the Bonuwat within Alagaa as a result have grown frustrated and there are fears that the monarchy may soon trigger a constitutional crisis in the region. Alagaa is also home to a number of strange and unique pieces of technology salvaged from the Giff Spelljammer, and the royal palace utilizes teleportation technology to allow for quick travel between different areas of the estate.
Anion: Home to the prominent Eku family, Anion is a center of textile production across Susa. Carpets, silks, and Mbe'ke cloaks used throughout the Runway are produced in this small town as samples, and mass produced in Senghor's warehouses. These originals are highly valued by collectors however, and highly sought after as a result. However, the Eku family has become more manic with their designs, stemming from the increasing influence from the Eldritch Scar. The patterns now printed in several of their carpets have led to madness, and the potential mass productions of these designs could spell disaster.
The Black Mountains: Separating Susa from the Eldritch Scar, the Black Mountains are home to eldritch abominations, dust goblin cultists and rampaging machines that lurk within its caves. The Susan military stationed at Fort Pentecor does an adequate job of protecting the border, but they cannot be everywhere. From time to time rampaging creatues do enter into the countryside and have to be put down by local militias. Treasures from the original exodus of the original Caldaru people do lie within the mountains however, along with relics from the Magocracy of Goya, but few are eager to explore the Black Mountains caves, and the maddening horrors that lurk within.
Fort Pentecor: Fort Pentecor has always served as the bastion against unholy machines that dare to pass over the Black Mountains. Recently however, word from the fortress has gone silent, and many fear that perhaps the latest attack from Goya has proven more treacherous than the stalwart defenders of the mountain pass can handle.
Nyse: Little more than a waystation and farming village between Senghor and Alagaa, a number of Giff have made it their home in recent years. Retiring in the countryside many Giff have taken to new pastimes here, including opening up a fine museum to allow their fellow compatriots to bring back great stories or treasures from overseas.
The Outer Wilds: Perhaps the greatest impact from the crashing of the Giff Spelljammer was the release of the biodome development terra-morpher, destroyed upon impact with Celasper. The strange device was designed to recreate the Giff homeworld on their new planet, but the accidental release instead introduced alien flora and fauna into the nearby wildlife. Over the centuries these forests have shifted, creating exotic and otherworldly wildlife all around Susa's eastern border. The alien life is hostile however, and despite multiple attempts from Susas forces to curb the spread of the wild's growth, the hostile vegetation continues to destroy the Runways natural ecosystem. The Giff seem reluctant to provide assistance noting that the preservation of their own worlds ecosystem seems a noble goal, and they cannot be asked to shoot the last vestiges of their homeworld.
The Pillars of Kirisita: The resting place of the Giff Spelljammer has had strange effects on the larger region. Veins of crystal not previously present have grown from the ground infused with anti-magic from the spelljammers engines. Giff guard their relics carefully, and only a select few engineers are able to visit the site at a time. That number has been increasing however, with Giff looking with increasing alarm to a potential problem with the remains of the submerged ship.
Senghor: While not the capital of Susa, it is by far its largest city with close to thirty thousand inhabitants. Senghor is a storied port of trade dominated by a number of guilds and shipbuilders. The Timneh Trade Company is chief among them, with Guildmaster Isaara serving as the chief of the Merchant's Council. Isaara doubles as an information broker, and someone who can get movements shipped or impounded, for a price. Numerous shops, magic item vendors, inns and mysteries exist in Senghor. Perhaps most notable for adventurers is the Notice Board. A quick easy way to connect people trying to sell goods and services, it is frequently used to post bounties. One of the more recent is for the great serpent Negesha, a massive spined fish with a swordlike tail and wing-like fins. The fish is said to be capable of titanic leaps or perhaps true flight, and may be a forgotten titan of legend.
Military
The royal military of Susa wear uniforms of Scarlet and Black and openly carry weapons. It is not uncommon for a Giff or two to be among their number. Within the cities, these guards often do not wear armor to show their confidence in their cultures' peaceful norms. In the event regular troops are called in however, most are lightly armored in ceramic plates to avoid issues at sea. Many of these regulars wear patterned eye slits that confuse a foe as to where a warrior is looking.
Religion
The worship of Erastil is common in Susa as the protector of the family and the home. Balumbdar and his massive might is often invoked in the building of a city's walls. Sarenrae, Desna and Gozreh are all commonly worshipped among sailors as protectors upon the open water. Brigh also has a significant following, a holdover from the days when the Caldaru first descended from Goya.
Foreign Relations
Susa maintains icy relations with Bloodcove, and would like to see it wiped off of the map. They similarly have strong distaste for Port Freedom and Freeport on the opposite side of the Runway. These cities they argue have sold out to piracy and similarly hamper the role of free trade.
Susa and Geweer share warm relations and shared envoys, both as monarchies and as beneficial trade partners. Susa similarly maintains warm trade relations with Bartsama, whom much of their trade passes through, as well as Zir, who values a trade partner in the south who shares their views on piracy.
Susas' military has avoided destroying Bloodcove for one very simple reason, the Kraken. The fear of the Kraken and their associated forces has ensured that Susa must keep their military on high alert, less the Kraken decide that the bastion of law that is Susa be the next country sunk to the bottom of the sea. Should the Kraken ever fall, Susa's assault against Bloodcove will likely be swift and total.
Susa has seen most of its allies fall over the last few centuries. Its chief trading partner, the Empire of Moeras was obliterated by the Kraken's forces less than a century ago. Its alliance with the Kingdom of Yadis has ended with the Hurricane King killing its monarch, and Port Freedom overthrew its previous monarch in a violent revolution. Bartsama has begged Susa to enter into a defensive pact with them against Zir, but Susa has no desire to offend its last great trading partner, and so has abstained for now.
Susa has attempted to enter into a trade agreement with Port Freedom, but so far the new city state is reluctant to ally with a nation that supported its previous royalty.
Towards Peace and Prosperity
Founding Date
3298
Capital
Training Level
Professional
Veterancy Level
Experienced
Demonym
Susans, Bonuwat, Caldaruns
Leader
Government System
Monarchy, Constitutional
Power Structure
Autonomous area
Economic System
Market economy
Legislative Body
The Merchant's Council
The People's Council
Location
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