Quina

Summary

A small research Clave in southern Matheunis the cold desert in an oasis surrounding a water-filled caldera beneath which an ancient ruin is buried.
Notable for the unique substance known as Quina Silver that lines the caldera and the nanos and aeon priests whose time studying there is marked by tattoos composed of the silvery metal and whose philosophy is strongly influenced by the beliefs of the clave's founders Orina Var an errant member of The Order of Truth, and Zarah No , a once professor of The University of Doors:

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Tenants of Quina doors are meant to be opened, all knowledge is worth seeking, discoveries should be shared for the benefit of all, understanding and using the Numenera is the key to ensuring the bright future of the nine world, understanding requires one to embrace risk and the unknown

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Demographics

Primarily nanos, and a handful of jacks and their students. While a few call this a more permanent home, most others spend several years studying before taking what they have learned into the wider world and satiating the curiosity on other mysteries of the world.

Those who have studied and lived in Quina bear a unique mark, silvery tattoos of Quina Silver. Each student chooses their own pattern to be lined in a blank ink-like oil, with a small drop of the silvery metal infused somewhere in the design from which it would spread and grow over the black lines like some sort of reverse tarnish. The time spent within the community is marked by the progress of the metallic growth over these designs.

Industry & Trade

While not an unwelcoming community Quina is insular primarily to the remote location and harsh surrounding environment, which few seek to traverse without good reason. Trade and commerce with the outside world is rare, though not absent entirely. Quina imports those of curious natures and exports nanos of equally, if not greater curious natures.

History

Founded by an errant member of The Order of Truth, Orina Var and once professor of The University of Doors, Zarah No.
Investigating the relatively lush oasis they found that the entire bottom of the caldera lake and the small island located at its center was comprised of a strange metal-like substance of unknown origins with some unique properties - Quina Silver. Despite the ground and metal emanating no discernible heat the lake always remained above freezing and a perfectly circular area around the caldera was noteably warmer than the surrounding desert. And several of their cyphers and artifacts would glow slightly in proximity to the metal or show signs of almost (but not quite) activation. Intrigued, the pair lingered to study the caldera and metal, uncovering a ruin buried within the island.
At first the called on a handful of colleagues to assist them but eventually, as rumours spread by the few who traded with or stumbled on the oasis, others arrived on their own seeking the nanos who were willing to teach any clever enough and willing to assist with their research regardless of prior training. Some students would remain in the clave, content in their new home, teaching others who arrived and slowly excavating the ruins beneath the caldera, while many others return to the world seeking their own discoveries. Thus Quina became a small community comprised primarily of those driven to study the Numenera
When their daughter, Fira No'Var, turned 18 Orina and Zarah took their daughter and left the Quina in the capable hands of those they had taught, trusting the community to continue without them.

Geography

Within an oasis surrounding a caldera lake lined with a unique Numeneran substance called Quina Silver. The oasis is significantly warmer than the surrounding frozen wastes warming steadily as you approach to the lake where the air remains at a constant 10C and whose water remains at a constant 4C.
Due either to this unique environment and/or the footprint of things left behind by those that built the ruin the plant life within this oasis is utterly unique to this one location.

Founding Date

Founded a few years prior to Fira's birth

Population

40

Inhabitant Demonym

Quinan

Ruling/Owning Rank

Aeon Priest