the Shumong

Shumong means "garden of fountains" in classical orcish. When Orc and half-orcish indentured workers were brought to the Straumland basin in the early 1700's, the Alcyen law prevented them from settling in any of the the established wards. Instead, they were forced to settle the marshy wetlands that seperated the growing city from the sprawling mangrove swamps further down the coast.

Despite bondage, and the prejudices of the other races, orcs have always managed to thrive in New Straum. Relying on their practicality, physical prowess, and deeply rooted culture they have endured their past hardships and woven themselves into the fabric of New Straum. While the original settlers of the Shumong came from orcish peasant families, the Shumong now welcomes all manner of immigrants from Aurkra, as well as peoples from across the globe.

The Shumong is a ward of green spaces, nurseries, and gardens. The lush flora of the ward has attracted practitioners of many faiths to establish temples in the district, as well as lovers of nature in an increasingly urbanized and hostile world. While the majority of people living in the Shumong remain blue collar or daylaborerers, the orc families living there often maintain large, beautiful households that have been handed down for generations.

Industry & Trade

In most respects, the Shumong is a bedroom community. It is a place where people live, but commute to other areas of the city to work. As such, the primary industry in the ward comes from the temples and monasteries found there. In competition for a distant second are plant nurseries, landscaping companies, and small-owner produce farming.

Architecture

While the Shumong is filled with simple, suburban architecture from the 1960's ,70's, and 80's, the high population of monasteries, temples, and the long tradition of orcish culture in the ward has married the drab functionality of New Straum middle class design with the aesthetic traditions of dozens of old-world cultures.

Included Locations