Aelfsa ('ɛlfsa)

Aelfsa is the Thaebaean word meaning "ship." Fitting, as the province of Aelfsa is home to the largest ship route on the continent, outside the coasts. The Xihthilans originally named this region Čaelbhne for its aquatic abundance. It is the heartland of Kima, nestled in the center of the continent, and the region with the fewest sides exposed to the sea.
Table of Contents

1. Architecture
2. Economy
3. Populace
• Attire & Weaponry
• Culture
4. Gazetteer

Architecture

In addition to its lakes, Aelfsa is marked by swamps and marshes. The architecture takes this into account, with most structures built on stilts and connected by bridges. Oak and cypress trees are plentiful, and serve as excellent building material. Since the structures are built off the ground, the residents rarely have to worry about flooding. This also keeps rodents and snakes out. Homes are often built on hills to catch the breeze off the water. Most have thatched roofs, and those belonging to richer folk also have retractable woven reed walls. Some of the cities have grown so much in population that they have been forced to expand into the lakes themselves, building floating structures in which people live and work.
When conditions get colder, Aelfsans winter-proof their homes with skins and sturdier wooden roofs. The concern is less about the temperature and more about the precipitation. The region gets a lot of snow in the winter due to the lakes. For those in floating structures, they're treated much the same as boats in icey areas––lifted above the water with a combination of pulley systems and magic. They're also tethered into the lakebed so that the wind can't blow them around too much when they're in or above the water.

Economy

Hundreds of creeks and rivers wind through Aelfsa, providing fast transport between the lakes. In addition to the water routes, land-bound trade caravans await shipments at large checkpoints along the shores to transport trade materials wherever they are needed––for a fee, of course.
The largest trading organization on the continent, the Central Lakes Trading Company, is based in Aelfsa. CeLTCo controlls all the trade routes, water and land, that pass through the province. When necessary, it can also exert power over external routes, though it is significantly less. This doesn't matter much, though, as all the major routes pass through Aelfsa. CeLTCo guards this advantage jealously, imposing heavy tariffs and boasting airtight security. To interrupt the trade routes, even during war, is a death sentence. CeLTCo employs Aelfsan soldiers and mercenaries from across Kima, and thus, has one of the strongest militaries in the nation, second only to the Crownsguard.

Populace

Aelfsans are known for their fishing skills, shipbuilding, and shrewd trading tactics. The most common professions are fisherfolk, sailors, CeLTCo security, merchants, and shipwrights.

Attire and Weaponry

Clothing is often sewn from hardy materials treated with rubbery material from local trees that help keep the water out. Fortunately, the lakes moderate the temperature in the region, so the summers don't get unbearably hot. In the winter, with an increase in snow and icy conditions, residents bundle up with furs acquired from the northern provinces.
CeLTCo operatives can be most commonly seen wearing leather armor as it's less likely to drag the wearer down should they enter the water. Common folk have been known to fashion armor out of bones, fishing hooks, and leather in times of need. Soldiers typically carry "proper" weapons like swords and sometimes shields, while the average Aelfsan prefers harpoons, fishing spears, and knives. Even children are well-versed in these weapons, typically learning to fish from a young age.
Shaved or cropped hair is the most popular hair style, as it's less likely to get in the way. Long hair is often tied into a bun or braid for the same reason. Rough beards are also a common sight.
Jewelry is favored in Aelfsa, as it is in much of Kima. Piercings and necklaces are seen the most, with rings being more unusual as they're easy to lose. Most jewelry is fashioned from fish bones or old tools, rather than expensive metal, which is reserved for the upper-class. Tattoos are also incredibly favored, especially among sailors and fisherfolk. The inks used for these tattoos are traditionally created from wood, lending them a muted coloration. Magical tattoos, on the other hand, can be brightly colored. Many Aelfsans are wary of this practice, though, and it's rare to see a non-mage with this kind of tattoo.

Culture

Aelfsans are a hardy people, gruff but fair, who don't take kindly to facetiousness. The populace is made up of mostly Thaebaeans, with far fewer Xihthilans in the mix. They are notably less well-off than their counterparts, a remnant of the early days of the settlement of Kima and the Xihthilan exodus.
As the most populated province in Kima, Aelfsa has a wide range of economic and social classes. The wealthiest residents, often merchants, CeLTCo higher-ups, and those born into luxury, live in any of the seven cities situated around the lakes or major rivers; the poor fisherfolk live in the many fishing towns or in isolated homes. Those lucky few who work as servants for the upper-class also live in the cities. Then, the large middle class, made up of sailors, shipwrights, and artisans, populate the mid-sized towns.

Gazetteer

Cities (6,000–25,000)

Akalvtsa
Altsarv*
Esahord
Ikkatse
Karnaku
Keliktse
Rukasa

Towns (1,000–6,000)

Asuysi
Erselar
Eyaeng
Faevr
Fier
Irsaek
Iysun
Kayse
Liarv
Ursra
Vainis
Vantsire
Viysuru

Villages (<1,000)

Aepg
Arv
Boñ
Deanb
Ir
Irv
Kal
Kayva
Laight
Lih
Pøpør
Stsey
Thuth
Tsients
Uob
Unli
Verv
Vuka
Yaits

Landmarks

Aelfsa Conservatory of Magic
Akdaegio Wetlands
Thadaep Highlands
Lake Altsarv
Lake Ikkatse
Lake Rukasa
Vevø Lake

From the mountains to the sea.

Kima

Open full size

Type

Geopolitical, Province

Alternative Names

Čaelbhne

Demonym

Aelfsan

Government System

Corporatocracy

Power Structure

Semi-autonomous area

Economic System

Market economy

Official Languages

• Thaebaean

Neighboring Nations

• Bual
• Fuñta
• Øghe