Shen Sherin

Shen Sherin

General Information

Shen Sherin is the largest city by population on the Khusari Sea with over eighty-five thousand, distributed on fifteen islands in the North Teroma Inlet. It has the largest deep-water harbor in the region and with the only North-South major road west of the Dragon Spine Mountains makes it an ideal shipping hub. The road to the east is the only direct route to the Twin Rivers, taking three months across the mountains. Merchants no longer make the journey, because of an increase in attacks. The only other major pass across the mountains is thousands of miles to the south. Most buildings have two or three floors with the bottom floors contain shops, stores, and other business, while the residents live on the upper floors. The general style is four to eight buildings surround a rectangle common area of barns and stables. Only residents and guest may use the facilities there. On important buildings, the corner beams of gracefully curved roofs sit up to eight distinct carved figures. The number of figures represents the building importance. The outside islands have fifty foot walls grown from the bedrock in a hexagonal tower, with smooth flat surfaces. A thousand feet of tidal pool separates city from the mainland. Palisades made of treated lumber protect the inner sections of the islands. Between them are bridges with gatehouses to protect each section of the city. Streets of precisely laid stones fill the thoroughfares and alleys, with grates leading to a sewer system. Each night street cleaners to wash the spray off the sides of buildings, sidewalks and streets, sending the dirt and debris down the drains. The average high tide is fifteen feet, and with multiply full moons, the water level reaches over forty. Each sewer drain has a floatable flap while the gates interlock, both preventing water from entering the streets. The outer islands are six feet with the inner islands sitting at nine, and the Castle Island is fifteen feet, above the average high tide. Only two of the islands are natural, and the Thesilans grew the rest during the first fifty to seventy-five years of the Thesilan calendar. Powerful mages grew the island from the bedrock, creating over fourteen hundred square acres of usable land in the North Teroma Inlet. Shen Sherin became an important shipping hub for over nineteen-hundred years after their completion. Every island maintains their own guards, along with a company from the city garrison, with a commander who answers to the city captain. Individual regions deal with minor offenses, locally. While Tiswaj is where a three-judge panel decides the fates with people committing a major crime. On rare occasions, the high court on the island of Strasev will hear a case, with the emperor watching. The waters around the city are teeming with aquatic life including Crabs, mussels, and other shellfish with large halibuts and sharks in the bay and sewers. The farms around the city grow a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and many types of grains. In the spring and fall, a variety of salmon making their way up the Shen Sherin River fill the bay. During high tide, finned boats transport goods between the islands using the current for power. The richer patrons use magic for power for a fee to the guild. Beginning in the 23rd year of the Jarve Dynasty, the city closed its gates to any new residents with few exceptions. One way is a resident must sponsor you. The citizen provides accommodations and a retainer to the island magistrate. Should the guest break any law, during the next five years, the guards escort them out of the city and the sponsor loses the retainer. When a person performs an exceptional service for the city, the emperor may grant them the title of zojzas or thane, with a small estate on Audiluam Island.

Economy

Shen Sherin uses magically enhance flat resin marbles about 1-inch diameter and weighing ten to an ounce. Green is the most prevalent color. Ten green equal a yellow, ten yellow for a blue, ten blue for a red. The everyday person seldom sees a red-jade. The upper class will also have violet, black and star all at the same increase. One Star-Jade is worth 10,000,000 green. But, because of its rarity, it is worth a lot more. An unskilled laborer might make 4 or 5 blue in a year, while a master carpenter could make 2 red. A barrister could pull in 120 red during a good year. When local cities have financial dealings, they deal with notes. Seldom do black or star spheres leave the city, instead they remain locked in a magical vault. Shen Sherin exports lumber, artistic jade, potatoes and fish. Spices, wool, grains and fruit arrived from all over. Shen Sherin is the primary shipping port on the Khusari Sea, with six or more ships in port. Attacks on caravans over the last ten years have increasing the risk of shipping goods. Half the caravan merchants have quit, leaving only a handful of traders willing to risk everything.

Climate

Shen Sherin climate is cool and wet, stabilized by the cold Khusari current flowing counter clockwise around the bay. The summer months receive little rain with highs in the seventies during Pinothuv. The long days of summer bring lots of coastal fog, sometimes lasting for weeks. The winter months can be close to freezing with lots of rain or snow. About a decade ago they received over 12 inches in the month, Davina. The coldest temperature being in the high forties. Most of the year the temperature ranges between mid-fifties, to low seventies.

Religion

Every island named for a different patron. There are no less than five temples on any one isle, and many aristocrats have a shrine on the estate's grounds and businesses. During the Jarve Dynasty, the population outgrew and in 30 Jarve, Kianj Jarve decided that the practice of burying of bodies would stop within the city. A short time later, The cult of Schee raised the bodies, then infected them with plague before being sent into the local towns and villages. All bodies are cremated or protected by magic. Many of the working class place the bodies on a makeshift raft and set it ablaze with the out-going tide. The wealthy citizens have the ash entombed behind a wall with a grave plaque. The other option was to bury the ashes outside of the walls, in one of the many natural caves.

Government

Shen Sherin is a monarchy with the eldest male child succeeding until Dajuo Reetta took the throne in 1516. She changed the title from monarch to emperor or empress. They are the supreme leader for the realm, and their word is final. Many had advisers to handle the everyday task. However, since the Toivonian Dynasty, each island uses its own administrators, laws, and guards, subservient to the crown. When two islands have a dispute, they settle it in the high court. Outside the city walls, the people are under a thane or noble, who answers to the king.

Defense

Only one five-hundred-foot bridge leads from the mainland to the first island, Munthiv. There are three gate houses and draw bridges before the island, each using a lock and counter balance system. Every bridge between the isle uses the same protections. Each outer island has high enchanted walls with unforgiving tides to protect the city from attackers. Ballistae, catapults and other weapon can decimate a careless attacker, if the tides don’t take them out first. Many magical glyphs carved into the stone walls, offer different protections, but mostly magic neutralizing spells. No outside force has ever taken even one island.

Miscellaneous island information

Ancient magicians grew all but two of the islands from the seafloor into a mesa. Set in a rectangle configuration with the castle on the tallest and the furthest one from the mainland. Cobblestone roads connect them through a series of bridges connecting each of the neighboring islands. The major roads, also known as bridge street, join at the town squares with lots of small shops on the perimeter. The center of each intersection has an enchanted fountain with a statue representing isle deity. Specialized narrow wagons with stiffer springs for carrying heaver loads move goods and merchandise between the islands. Large draft horses pull most of the carts while others use a magic jet to propel the vehicle. Each isle maintains several docks for the barges used for transportation within the city. Several feet below the buildings, several eight-foot high tunnels running through islands create a sewer system. Trash flows through grates in the streets into the passages where the current from the Shin Sherin River or the tide washes it out to sea. Every island has several desalination facility with multiple wells using wind-powered pumps, built after magic pumps stopped working, and no one knew how to fix them. Every isle maintains their own guards along with a company from the city garrison with a commander answering to the City captain. The city puts criminals into several categories depending on the crime. A three-judge panel on Tiswaj tries the felonies. On rare occasions, the high court on the island of Strasev will judge a case, and only the emperor can overrule the court. However, they seldom overturns the decision. Sometime the ruler will supersede the high court listening to the arguments, but it is rare.

The Islands

Munthiv

Munthiv has the only gate to the mainland housing eight-hundred soldiers. It is the smallest of the islands, only one acre wide and twenty acres long, surrounded by a fifty-foot grown stone wall, looking like cut marble. After crossing the six hundred-foot bridge, there is a twenty-foot drawbridge leading to the first portcullis. It opens into a thirty by fifty foot courtyard surrounded by a thirty-five foot grown wall. A portcullis at the other end is usually open during from sun up to sun down. One side of the yard are two crystal pillars, which all strangers pass through after answering a couple questions. The pillars along with any magic items will glow a specific color depending on the type and strength of the enchantment, the darker the color, the more powerful the enchantment. The city only allows registered items in the city, the person either register’s the item, or the guards will confiscate it. Once through the second gate, the bridge leading to Synhom Island is fifteen-hundred yards between two twenty foot palisades. Between the two are twenty bridges over the road, and two doors, one at each gatehouse in opposite walls.

Synhom

The island of Synhom is thirty acres wide and ten acres deep, forming a T with the Isle of Munthiv. The largest landmass, encompassing over twenty percent of the city land area while housing over half of the eighty-thousand residents. The weary traveler can find just about anything here from room and board, food and drink, replenish their supplies, and even companionship. In the center of the island is a round-a-bout with a fountain in the middle, where the four major roads leading to the other islands merge. The East end of the island between the bridges to Eposiaj and Oralub sits the Coliseums. The arena floors are below the mean sea level, filling them for naval battles or to wash the bodies out to sea. Synhom bridges connect to each of its neighbors, with Munthiv, Eposiaj, Oralub, and Kukab.

Eposiaj

Eposiaj is one of the outer islands covering about one-hundred and twenty-nine acres, with over four-thousand people living there. Looking for Horses, livestock, wagons, carriages, and carts this is the place. Blacksmiths, Cartwrights, saddle makers, harness makers, Eposiaj is the place to go. While many inns have stables for their guest, Eposiaj has boarding stalls for a price. There are three bridges, one to Treasib, Oralub, and Synhom.

Oralub

Oralub is about ninety-eight acres with a population of six-thousand. Divided into four quadrants, the northwest is for tanners and other high water users. The rest of the island has craftsmen not requiring large amounts of water. Tucked away in the southeast section a few magic shops selling trinkets and devices. The island has an abundant artisan, artificers, and craftsman. In the center of the island, a marble statue of Axtjla Oralub, the best artificer in the history of Shen Sherin. Four bridges connect with Synhom, Eposiaj, Treasib, and Cheberin.

Kukab

Kulab is eighty-five acres in size and four-thousand residents. Channels criss-cross the isle, allowing mills to turn wheat and corn into flour. The city distilleries for the fermentation turn fruits and berries into ciders, wine, and beers. In the fall, blackberry brandy is popular with the population. Three bridges lead to Synhom, Oralub, and Hulyci. Treasib Treasib encompasses ninety-seven acres with a population of twenty-six hundred. Known as the combat island, whether it is weapons or armor this is the place. Most shops have practice areas connected with ranges for the bows. The island has a few artificers for the rare magic discerning buyer. The bridges to this island are narrower, allowing only one person to pass at a time. Only bridges to Eposiaj and Ruases exist.

Cheberin

Cheberin is where the wealthy merchants and mages live. Covering about eight-one acres with a population of two-thousand. Each house has its private distillation building along with a small stable and a barracks for the owner's personal guards with a two-story main house. The narrow streets lined with ten-foot rock walls maintain the residents’ privacy. Some estates have docks for small water vessels. Only three bridges lead off the island, one to Audiluam, Hulyci, and Oralub.

Hulyci

Hulyci is sixty-five acres with fifteen-hundred few lesser nobles, many are zojzas and their children. The roads are like Cheberin with the estates, the main house, a private well, and water purifier. They have stables, barracks, with a few having smiths on hand. The only bridges lead to Kukab and Cheberin. Only the immediate children of the zojzas stay on the island on the same land.

Ruases

Ruases is sixty-seven acres with twenty-eight hundred people. Sharks and other predatory creatures fill the channels and sewers as unusable animal parts get washed into the drains. Fishmongers, butchers, meat grinders and tanners line the streets. Ruases has two bridges, one to Treasib and Meinka.

Audiluam

Audiluam is forty-nine acres housing eighteen hundred people. With the three major roads meeting in a circle surrounded by open-air shops selling richly colored silk, fine cloth, accessories with exquisite and exotic clothing. Seamstresses, weavers, dyers, and shops of unique, handcrafted, high-quality items abound on the island. There are three ways off the island by foot, one is back to Cheberin, the others lead to Tebailuam, and Tiswaj.

Tebailuam

Telailuam is one of the natural islands, being two-hundred and fifty acres for a thousand old noble families. Each house has well-armed and trained personal security, while the gatehouse has double the guards with more active patrols on the roads. Most family lots are about an acre with a few specialty shops. Only the Star Jade Inn has the elegances for visiting nobility or those without a chateau on the island. Many of the local nobles have large tracts of land on the mainland, but stay in the city for protection. Tebailuam is the only island with additional magic symbols on the buildings, walls, and even the bridge. The bridge is close to all except residents and guest.

Meinka

Meinka is one of the few islands to have direct access to Khusari Sea. Designed for the docks, it has a triangle shape covering about seventy-five acres and sitting away from the other islands. With a population of forty-seven hundred, there are enough workers for the docks to handle over a dozen ships at once. The isle has some unique security equipment, including two warships loaded with enchantments, weapons, and magic. There is only one bridge to this island from Theasib, providing access to other islands, also the finned barges transport goods to parts of the city. Anybody caught on the island without proper authorization, goes directly to the high court.

Tiswaj

Tiswaj has twenty-six hundred residents on ninety-seven acres. The main administration buildings for each of the islands along with the advocates, courthouse, and essential offices for the city. While each island has its own local government offices, handle most of the day-to-day operations on their respective islands. When multiple islands have a dispute, or a crime takes place, involving two or more landmass, the trial takes place in the high court. Sometimes the case finds its way to the royal court, where the emperor/empress decides the fate of those involved.

Strasev

Strasev houses only the Castle and its support buildings, including the royal court. Its high walls overlook all the islands. One eight-hundred feet bridge connects Strasev to Tiswaj and with over five-hundred feet of the passage is reachable by archers, and ballistas from the island wall. Three reverse counter balance sections provide another level of obstacles for attacking the castle. During the Reetta Dynasty, the Elves attempted to blockade Shen Sherin thwarted their plans with massive ballistas and magic from the city walls. Within a few weeks, Vamonamo rock-boats arrived to wreak havoc on the Elvin ships. The siege ended within a few months.

History

The Thesilan magistrate Deyr Khusari founded Shen Sherin almost 2700 years ago with a few nuesg or humans. Located where the Sherin river flows into the Teroma Inlet. To the East lay the only available road through the mountains and the capital city, Thesila. North and South trails connect to other villages and towns west of the mountains. The Thesilan Road follows the Sherin River through the Tuzia Kys (Tuzia pass) ending at Twin Rivers. A short boat trip downriver to Dragon Claw lake lay the entrance to the magical city of Thesila. The Thesilans wizards grew islands in the inlet to expand the town. After Castle Khusari completion, the government moved to Strasey island. Over the years they developed thirteen islands, and the locals settled as each one became available. Since its founding, Shen Sherin survived 12 dynasties and two civil wars. The Thesilan dynasty began before the modern calendar and lasted 184 years into the new era. Wizards known as khauxj created everyday magical devices used to keep the islands clean. They built sewers under the city streets, allowing river water to keep them flushed out. Enchanted spheres lit roads. Magic pipes extinguished fires and washed the trash into the sewers. Major crossroads had beautiful fountains powered by magic and so much more. As the city grew and flourish, neighboring villages sprang up in the surrounding forest, and in 139 Thesilan Dynasty, a group of human settlers killed an Elvin family. The elves retaliated and thus begin the Nuesg-Neov war. Even with superior skills and weapons, the humans overwhelmed them in numbers, stealing many spells from the elves during the conflict. In 142 Thesilan Dynasty, the two races signed the Green Bough Treaty outside Clybhir ended the hostilities. In Thesila 509, all the administrators and many Thesilan mages with their magic, left for Thesila and never returned. Many of the trade routes became dangerous and riddled with bandits becoming known as the badlands lands. With no reason to travel beyond Twin Rivers, Travel east diminished. Within a few generations, the other races in the area shut down the road East of the Mountains. The battle for the leadership of Shen Sherin continued for years until Soryan Seijag took the castle in 512. He set the standard calendar, starting a 0 for each dynasty. He was also first called himself king. The Seijag Dynasty was a cruel king, ruling with an iron fist. Demanding human sacrifices as the people lived in squalor. Every time the citizens tried to revolt, he squashed it with devastating consequences. They held the city for 138 years until Gyng Laillia assassinated the last of the Seijag family. The Laillia Dynasty encouraged the use of magic. Soon every house had enchanted items, and magic shops appeared on every corner. The city prospered, and the villagers got fat and lazy. But the Orks east of the land ripe for the taking and marched west across the mountains, starting the Ork war in Laillia 175. For many months, the elves stayed out until in 176 the Orken army destroyed an Elvin village. The invaders could not battle two front, so they retreated across the mountains in 177, taking some magic knowledge with them. The Laillia Dynasty lasted for 237 years until Zhou Kyliah took power by taking the castle in one night. Zhou did not trust magic, banning it from the city. He executed witches, wizards, artificers, alchemist, and destroyed personal enchanted items. Mages fled the city by the thousands, many of them ending up in the city of Epyfina. Mages tried hiding in the coastal cities of Clybhir and Vamonamo, but Zhou would not trade with anyone hiding a mage. Kyliah's reign lasted for 62 years after his assassination, his family exiled. Cyhin Tainna, a cook in the castle, spent years putting a hallucinogen into the royal food. The Kyliah’s went insane and killed each other. Cyhin became the first Tainna king. In Tainna 60, an army of Orks, Tsaubs, Tumojs numbering in the thousands crossed the mountains. The army overran villages, killing hundreds before the invaders split, laying siege to Tenskie and Shen Sherin. The inlet and tall walls kept the attackers out of the Shen Sherin. In year 62 Syrran Tainna invited the mage’s back, promising full citizenship if they help defend the city. Within two years, the invaders retreated across the mountains with heavy losses. During the battle of Tsaub cliffs, they found a cave protected by an illusion. Dozens of confused people of distinct races huddled in the shadowy light. They spoke in strange languages, but understood each other, but not the locals. Syrran not only gave the mages citizenship but also the island Cheberin. For over 400 years peace reigns. With no heir the last of the Tainna family relinquished throne to son-in-law Lynag Lahtii, after 275 years making the Tainna the longest dynasty. The Lahtii dynasty lasted another 260 years, before civil war fills the streets, and in six months Dajuo Reetta became the first queen to rule. Within two years of her taking the throne, pirates attacked the city, but the city defenses repelled their attacks every time. In Reetta 6, rumors of a prophecy spread throughout the land. "An off-worlder will mend the moon staffs, return them to their rightful heirs, return princess Dalistra as queen, and the ancients magics will return." Most people didn't take it seriously, Dalistra disappeared during the Thesilan Dynasty. Qyua Iirro wanted to make sure the prophecy did not happen, and commands all off-worlders executed, and within a few days thousands are slaughtered, while many more escaped. Within a couple months, there are no new births in Shen Sherin. After learning the connection between the off-worlders and births, he forced them to fight in the arena. The Iirro family ruled for 295 years before they vanished without a trace. Quing Arcttu took the throne without a fight, welcoming the off-worlders back into the city and ending the bounty on them. Within a few years, children filled the streets again. However, there with a forty-year gap between the mothers and babies. Many families took in other children as the adults died. Arrena Arcttu assented to the throne just a few years before a massive army moved over the mountains from the East in 128. Xoargh led an army of orks, giants, trolls, ogres, witches, and hook-bill dragons. Their attacks organized and precise, leveling every structure in their path. It was the first time they attacked the west with magic and dragons, using both skillfully. The conflict lasted for 100 years, affecting every community between the mountains and the sea. Tain Targho kills Zieb Arrena in his sleep, ending the Arrena rule. Tain almost lost the city several times. He uses the military to keep order and leaves the people outside the walls to the fates. He holds power for 27 years until he slinks away in the dark, leaving the throne vacant. When Rhynnia Varpul showed up with a hundred Elves. Rhynnia became the first wizard to ascend the throne in Shen Sherin. By this time the pirates of Fire Island fought with Xoargh, blocking the ports and controlled the Khusari sea. Until the stone ships from Vamonamo arrived. The battle with pirates lasted for ten years, before sending them back to fire island. With their fleet destroyed, and several Vamonamo warships remained around the island, their time of terror ended. In 34, Rhynnia and Xoargh signed the Fire Jade Peace Accord, ending the 100-year war. They set up trade routes, and all sides prosper from the agreement. Some say Rhynnia was part elf, because she remained in power for 169 years. She left through the gate, leaving Alandra Toivonian as the new king. Some say that Alandra Tolvonian was part Neovs (Elf), but most thought he was Naj Tewb (off-worlder). He taught them how to build pumps using the sea breeze to get the water out of the ground. He taught them how to make lamps using whale oil and replace many items as magic dwindled and devices just stopped working. A variety of races moved in opening shops and joined the military. After 108 years, he turned the throne over to Argoria Jarve and left the city just like his predecessor. After 23 years, Shen Sherin becoming overpopulated, and he closed the city to new residents. The city expanded to the surrounding countryside. Under the Jarve family reign, the town prospered and became the shipping hub again. Until 120 Jarve, when bands of Orwks, Tsaubs, and Trolls moved west of the mountains, breaking the peace treaty. The battles were brief, and within a year they retreated home. There are still ongoing skirmishes with the eastern races.

Type

Capital