Ghiskans

Originating likely from natives who conglomerated into a megacity, the Ghiskans are known for their trade monopolies which sporadically dominate eastern Kronis. Ghiskans as a people are cunning, trustworthy, honorable, and can be especially diplomatic.

Home Region: Ghiskan Coast & Eastern Gateway, Barakon
Origin: The First Ghiskan Republic c. 500 BR
Presence: Steadfast
Common Religions: Ghiskan
Real World Influence: Dutch, Genoese, Portuguese
5e Additions:
Magic Proficiency: Air/ArcaneAbjuration
Non-Magic Proficiency: Persuasion

History

The Ghiskans purport themselves having originated from their first established republic in 500 BR. Such claims are somewhat unfounded, but it is undeniable the existence of great Ghiskan influence about the region by 300 BR. First records of outside interaction date back to this time with the Iananosian chiefdom of Muros.
Around the 100s BR, the Ghiskan merchants began attempting to influence the affairs of foreign governments through their connections and clients. This soon turned into a large-scale operation for attempts to influence the Poscaean Artakral. However this backfired, and the covert disruption was uncovered. In the ensuing century the Poscaeans would invade Barakon and Ghiska a number of times. As a result, the Ghiskans were set back in trade and they lost many of the influential cities under their control.
The Ghiskan republics recovered their strength with the fall of Poscaea in 23 AR and Neo Poscaea in 144 AR. From this point on, the Ghiskan governments vowed never to interfere with foreign power struggle again. They would go on to create a free trade treaty with Poscaea's conquerors - the Seleutines, where a prosperous trade partnership would soon result.
In the centuries that followed, Ghiska would set up a number of proxy and puppet governments along the Ghiskan Coast in an effort to avoid war. This worked in large part due to the economic boost they give countries whom they trade with. The Ghiskans, like the Knori, are said to know of further eastern continents and conduct trade with the inhabitants of these places frequently. They hardly ever bring anything back from these continents and so have thrown their true existence into question.
Aside from overseas contacts, the Ghiskan influence on Kronis commonly stretches as far south and west as Podrusa, and as far north as the Salkans and Ismatians. There is no real competition between the Ghiskans and their western counterparts of Knoros and Cytos, as the distances are simply too great in most places for one or the other to reach.

Traditions

The Ghiskans value networks and prosperity of course, but strangely place an even greater emphasis on the pursuit of knowledge and innovation. This has led to the creation of strange ship designs which they claim are used to traverse the deep waters of the wild oceans.
At least every year, a voyager laden with goods will sail his ship east to live in the "new worlds" and never return, but some claims have found these very same people in the regions of Salka and Rhal. Overall, great mystery surrounds the Ghiskan tradition, and no Ghiskan can be relied on to tell you anything except that there are indeed continents somewhere beyond the eastern horizon.
Ghiskans also throw celebrations with their clients as a method of further networking, but also maintaining relations. Relations with Ghiskans are said to be the most mutually beneficial things in the world.

Fantasy Additions

The Ghiskans are largely human dominated with a degree of orcs and half orcs as well. The Ghiskan language shares some commonalities with Iananosian, but also has words equivalent to "avast", "matey", "ahoy", "hearty", "jib" and "aye" in its common vernacular to a high degree.

Venetian ship | ©Vladimir Manyukhin