Sydroan Population Distribution

Sydroa is mostly split between forest and mountains, and as such the Sydroan population is split. Those that live in the forest naturally have developed very different ways of life from those on the mountains. The one thing they have in common is that, excluding the capital, they all appear to have been named after the family that originally settled there, though many lines have since gone extinct leaving just the villages as a record of the family.

Life in the Forest

Those that live in the forest are divided into small villages. These villages are structured more like guilds and contain mostly assassins, spies and hunters. These villages contain a few of the oldest family lines in Sydroa and are very traditionalist.

Due to the secretive nature of the assassins and spies, these villages are semi nomadic. They seem like fully established villages to any who manages to come across them, however with the help of magic they are able to completely erase any sign of themselves. The only thing left in the old location is a clue that is only easily found and deciphered by a member of the village.

There are a few key differences between the two types of villages. Villages that specialize in espionage, will most often only relocate if one of their own is compromised or an outsider has stumbled, uninvited, into their village. Assassin villages are much more elusive as they will move every hundred years if no issues arise to force them to relocate sooner. Both will kill any unlucky soul to stumble across their villages and are anything other than Sydroan.

The villages of hunters are located at the base of the mountains. All of these villages essentially guard mountain passages to the larger settlements built into the mountains themselves. Any settlements of hunters found within the forest itself are temporary hunting camps.

Life in the Mountains

The mountains contain the largest and most permanent Sydroan settlements. These settlement only relocate when absolutely necessary, usually do to a rock slide. Most are built directly into the rock and feature elements of Jaric construction.

The largest settlement is the capital city of Sydroa. Located in the capital is a grand art college dedicated to the teachings of Pappol. The college overlooks the city and is among the largest and most elaborate structures in Sydroa. It is here that the Blessed of Pappol are sent to reside and study.

This city also contains an impressive magic school and is the trade center of Sydroa. Built underground is living areas specifically built to house the Jarai that come to trade with them or compete in the many friendly festival competitions Sydroa holds throughout the year.

A common sight within the mountain settlement are elaborate tiered gardens that often line the streets all throughout the towns and cities. Many of the flora within these gardens came from parent plants originating from the start of the settlements themselves. With the introduction of the flower festival's competition, rarer and brighter coloured flora have started to become the preferred new additions to these ancient gardens. The capital contains an extravagant hanging garden built to accent the art college. The city takes great pride in this garden and all work to maintain it, though most upkeep is done by the Blessed of Pappol.