The Skydom of Gondia

Common races: Humans, Gnomes, Dwarfs. Minority races: Til’tins, Honoured Dead, Elves, half-elves and Halflings Called: Gondians, Forge-Born, The Steel Faithful Prejoritives: Blacksmith Pigeons, Splinters, Tin Soldiers, Coggies
Languages: Shanty (a mix of Dwarfish and Gnomish) High Worship (Common but spoken only by Forge Nobles and higher within the Faithful. Considered the language of authority.)

History

Originally pilgrims of the Gondian faith, they travelled through the portals from the Isle of Mist during the Age of the Gods and ended up in the Broken World. Using their God granted Technology the Gondians settled on floating isles of The Splinter that are said to descend from the Shattered Sun and Moon, high in the skies. A series of aerial fortresses contain the majority of their military, The “Faithful”, with a number of settlements on the ground amongst The Teeth Mountains providing the majority of the civilian population of the “Cog Populai”. Though obviously both Cog Populai and the Chapple Core can be found in both environs.
The Skydom of Gondia is in perpetual war with the creatures that reside above the clouds. Eons ago it was said these creatures would bring around the end of the world. But the Skydom bravely held the tide and pushed back their assault. This has led to the Gondian’s being highly militarized, as even now the battle is ongoing. Should they fail in their eternal vigilance then the End may yet reach the world below.
The Gondians practice a form of Monarchy, lead by the Forge Gerent. But their rulers are chosen by “selection”. They have no crowns, instead relying on the possession of the “Master Arsenal” an ancient Aegis Driver that is both weapon and key. The Gerent-to-be attempts to establish a connection with the Driver. Success results in acention to Gerent. Should the Master Arsenal reject the wearer it can cost an entire arm or worse. Those that prove worthy of the ancient system, take the throne in Primus, and will gain access to the Royal Vaults, containing the most powerful and dangerous tech the Gondians ever created. It is only by order of the Gerent that can allow them to be used. Obviously this has led to various attempts to “control” the Arsenal over the centuries. Even amongst the noble duty of the Gondians, greed and pride can twist reason.
Gondia is the only civilisation who worked out how to process and forge “Orichalcum”, the metal found on their floating isles. It displays a number of unusual properties, as well as being incredibly light and hardy. Making it perfect for the Gondian’s living mechanisms, Aegis Armours, Swooping Harriers, and Drift Barge Battleships. Blessed by their God, they stand ready to give their lives to defy the horrors beyond the limit of the sky.
Humans and Gnomes make up the majority of Gondia’s population. With minority populations of Dwarfs, Til’tins, Elves, half-elves and Halflings. All are required to openly worship Gond. The Forge Father. Though worship of other gods is also allowed in private. The society of Gondia is inherently uneven. With noble houses of invention ruling over the working population. Military enlistment is heavily encouraged, but the Scions of the Houses are granted officer positions by right. Enlistees have to earn their Officer positions through skill and careful politics. Those not suited for battle are put to work in the Forges to churn out the equipment and luxuries that Gond has provided to them. Many then moving to private workshops, and competing to gain the favour and patronage of one of the Noble Houses.
Those less skilled at Crafts are put to work in the fields, and grow caverns common among the Civilian population dwelling in the southern mountains. These settlement, known as the “colonies” also act as their major trade hubs with the populations to the North. Most citizens of Gondia live their lives within the Mountain Holds. Their tech allowing them to farm the otherwise useless soil, and raise animals for meat and pelts. Far more useful is the Grow-Caverns. Where fields of mushrooms, moss, and spores are farmed and harvested. These tunnels are also where the citizenry flee to should they come under attack. Finding shelter amidst the mechanically bore out chambers and tunnels, and Gondian war defences.
Gondia fields a Mix of Artificers, Clerics, Paladins, Fighters, and rarely Wizards. They prefer heavy armour, and use a mix of Magic, ranged, and Melee troops. Moving their troops between fortifications via Large slow moving sky Barges. Supported by mounted “cavalry” using “Swooping Harriers” one-two person crafts that perform hit and run attacks, or scouting purposes. They also employ massive siege and artillery weapons commonly. Among their troops can be found the Aegis Knights. Often pulled exclusively from the Royal and Noble Houses. Aegis Knights are blessed with armour that can be donned in an instant, and provide powerful defensive magics and weapons. Under their watchful protection, Gondia’s defences have yet to break.
Also of note, are the Honoured Dead. Those who’s service to Gondia is considered too invaluable to lose, have their souls transferred to a mechanical shell from a close to dead state. A rite similar to one once performed by Gond and Moradin. Though conceptually similar to Warforged, their creation method differs significantly. For those valued for their physical abilities the Shells are inserted into a Combat Rigs, with focus on modability and easily swappable parts for ease of upkeep. Those who were valued for their mind are given Thinker Shells, these Shells lack full mobility. They instead continue living their life supported by a raft of servants. Or otherwise sleep within a special chamber of the royal palace. Awakening to give advice and guidance when required. Regardless of their role, Honoured Dead are just that, Honoured. They always hold a high rank within the Skydom, and if currently active, they’re always found in charge, or directly under the Forge Master.

Culture

Gondia’s culture is primarily focused around crafts, and warfare. It’s religious in nature, and hieratical. All are expected to be capable of contributing to the Skydom. Those which can’t or won’t are labelled as “slag”. Slag being the useless cast off from molten metal. These individuals are usually cast out or exiled to the Mountain Colonies in the Teeth Mountains.
Entertainment usually takes the form of mortality plays, music, and novels. Gondian Plays are heavily stylized, with immense effort going into the production value. The sets, costumes, lighting, pyrotechnics and staging are treated as more important then the actual play itself. This shows. Gondian plays are relatively bare bones. Simple plots with stock characters. Represented by large elaborate masks. But as a culture of inventors and practical creatives, reviews are very focused on the production. The acting and writing falls by the wayside.
Gondian Music however, is a point of generational divide. The older generations stick to the worship songs and choral Chorus that were emblematic of their religious history. The Younger generations however, utilize machines, magic, and what stylings they've adopted from the other cultures in an act of rebellious invention. They favour loud electric rock, industrial, and synthetic sounds. They sing of things not about Gond, or invention, about love, rebellion, freedom, and- well. Things that would make the old priests join the ranks of the Honoured Dead.

Common Diet.

Gondia enjoys a mixed diet thanks to the fruits of trade with its neighbours, but is quite capable of feeding itself on a more limited pallet. While there is a significant amount of land amidst the isles of the Splinter, the earth seems to lack the vital nutrients required for mass farming. Meaning that the heart of Gondia’s food production is in its mountain colonies. Supplemented with foods traded from the other Factions for variety.
Cave grown mushrooms, roots and lichen provide the backbone of Gondian cooking. Ground up into a powder they can replace flour for bread and pastries. Or eaten sliced and cooked alongside other ingredients. The mushrooms provide strong Umami and protein, the roots are fiberious and rich in nutrients, harvested from a large flowering plant that grows on the walls of their caves. The lichen provides similar to the roots, but are usually steamed or fried for a light crunchy leafy texture.
Goats are farmed for their fur, leather, milk, and meat on the mountains of Gondia’s Fracture colonies. Goat requires long and slow cooking at a low heat. Traditionally using Mountain grown herbs and berries for additional flavour.
The most notable herb in Gondian cooking is a mountain berry called “Forge coals”, named for it’s dark rough appearance that resembles charcoal, the berry provides a sudden surge of heat coupled with a touch of sweetness to any dish it’s added to. Giving Gondian cooking a spicy umami flavour profile, with tender muttony meat. Often pared with steamed lichen and sliced roots.
Pastries are a common sight amidst the Cog Populai work force. Cooked in batches within the Family Forges common in each dwelling. They provide an easy meal without risk of the dirt of the mines or forges contaminating them. Workers holding the corners and consuming the middle. Otherwise, curries, casseroles, stews and roasts are the usual go to meals.
The Faithful rations consist mostly of bread, made from mushroom or Lichen, goat cheese, jams, and a package of goat meat or jerky. They re-heat their meals on small portable stoves using a small metal stone imbued with a heating spell as a fuel source when on patrol.

Economy.

Gondia is a culture which is given over to the Worship of Gond, the God of the Forge. As such it’s given over to the art of creation and crafting. The Entire structure of the Faithful is built around advancing through the rolls of the forge. Outside of the Faithful, major industries are in mining, textiles, Mushroom farming, and stone-masonry.
Gondia has moved beyond a gold based currency, as it has little practical use to them beyond decoration. Instead they use family seals to denote their standing in society and the size of the family they’re responsible for. Following the principle of “From each according to their standing, to each according to their needs”. This form of distribution limits excess wastage of resources, and allows the government to keep records of how much is required by any given family. Societal standing is dictated by the work you do or the groups you belong to. Meaning that, for example, Members of the Noble Houses are afforded much greater rights and provisions then those of the Cog Polulai. Just another way that those at the top control those at the bottom. Even so, Gondia keeps an amount of currency to one side for those times that trade is required with the other factions.

Philosophy

Being a religious society, founded on the teachings of Gond, there is inevitably a degree of interpretation of their holy texts. Different groups proposing new meanings and readings, new ways to live your life in service to Gond. Different philosophy or “Mantra” as they’re called, have risen and fallen over the years.
Currently there are two ruling philosophies in Gondia, The first is the “Forge of Impurities” Mantra. Followers of this Mantra are called “Purgers” or “Purifiers”. They propose that all beings are imperfect iron, low quality beings unworthy of the perfecting crucible of the anvil, and it is only through the furnace of Gond’s tests that they can have their impurities burned away. To be capable of being moulded by the Anvil. The followers of this Mantra have a tendency towards preferential treatment towards the Faithful. As well as an expectation that the people of Fracture also need to live up to their standards. The “Anvil” within the philosophy could be life, or it could be battle, it is kept purposefully vague, but suffice to say. They believe that through Gond’s Anvil they will transform into a stronger person, able to do the impossible. Thus they believe that only through a harsh life can this be achieved. This then tends towards poorer treatment of the Cog Populai. Reasoning that without the inevitable Danger of being one of the Faithful, that the Furnaces needs to be applied elsewhere in their lives.
Notable, those who’re at the top of Gondian society who subscribe to this belief, often seem to think themselves exempt from the Furnace and the Anvil. Reasoning that they’ve already come out the other side anew. This self-justification for a comfortable life of Privilege ironically makes them least suited for any kind of hardship when it does come their way, no matter how minor it may be.

The other Mantra is the “Collective of bolts”, referred to as “Bolters” or “Screwies”. They propose that a single bolt, no matter how strong, is incapable of performing to its best alone. And it’s only through the collective effort of many bolts that can impossible tasks be achieved. They preach the value of supporting everyone, with more effort given to ensuring that those struggling the most are given extra support. This obviously leads to some accusing Bolters that they want to waste limited resources on people unworthy of the effort. But the Bolters know that as untended bolts fail the whole structure can collapse. Thus they pay a lot of attention to the parts of Gondian society outside of the Faithful structure. Finding a lot of support amongst the Cog Populai. They are not blind to the needs of the Faithful ether, their Mantra can be found amidst even the Noble Houses, even amongst the Bishops. But it finds itself in the minority compared to the Purifiers.

Building Styles

Gordian buildings tend to be made of Strong stone with heavy emphasis on metal fittings. Common dwellings are square multi-roomed affairs. Heavy brass coloured pipes, work their way through the rooms. Spreading the warmth of the Family Forge, that acts as both an alter, but also the central heating of the house, and provides heat for cooking. This is especially important in the Skydom, where outdoor temperatures can be a lot lower due to the wind factor. Gondians use a smokeless fuel for their homes, only using smoke producing fuel for significant events, such as religious holidays, or to mourn the passing of a loved one.
Larger buildings tend towards more elaborate designs, and this can make heating them in the same way much harder. As such they utilize magic to produce the heat needed. These same furnaces are the core to the Gondian’s Drift Barges. A central shard of Skaron Metal, is imbued with holy magic to produce high quantities of elemental heat. Engineering Clerics maintain the consistency and output. Channeling the power to the areas needed.
Set as they are upon the floating islands of the Splinter. It would be a degree of concern that the collective weight of a Gondian Settlement might cause it to descend faster. To alley this, Gondia employs massive versions of their Drift Ship Levitation systems. This both guarantees the stability of their isle’s elevation, and allows them to redirect their drift in times of danger. However, this is extremely slow and resource intensive.
Given the highly militarized nature of the Skydom’s Splinter Settlements, the Faithful are in the majority over the Cog Populai. As such, a lot of their structure is given over to military, production, repair, and training. With additional space given to research and development and Engineering. Larger settlements have large civilian sections, where trade goods and traditional market streets can be found. As well as glass domed greenhouse park lands adapted to the high altitudes.
Each settlement boasts a single, or multiple docks for the Drift Barges that are so vital for Transport, defence, and communications. As well as Defensive emplacements and barriers pointing skywards in case of the manifestation of a Crimson Storm. Typical weapon emplacements are House Glassblower Gimbalt pattern Lighting Casters. Large blocky Brass cannons that emit a powerful lightning bolt for long range engagements. Smaller versions of this weapon are used by the Aegis Knights. Alternatively, they employ the latest innovation from House Howling Steam, the Pilgrim pattern Scatter Stars. Explosive bolts fired in clusters and guided by an Animating spell to detonate over a wide area. Smaller defensive cannons and Heavy crossbows are also set up to repel the smaller Calamity Spawn that accompany their larger brethren.

Clothing

Gondian clothing tends towards practical and hard wearing. Featuring heavy use of Goat Leather and fur. Within the Cog Populai, clothing tends towards uniformity between both genders. Thick pants, and shirt, with a binding wastecoat, with a goat fur shoulder cape and gloves amidst the mountain colonies. Individuals modify their clothes to give them a touch of their personality. All Gondians are expected to be capable of crafts in some way.
The Skydom’s fashions are similar. The Shoulder cape is replaced with a thick coat, scarf, and safety headwear. As well as a harness rig to hook to a personal safety device for working on the edge areas. No one wants to fall to their death. Amidst the families of those with higher ranks, fashionable items become possible. Skirts, intricate designs, robes, soft hats, and coloured fabrics are common declarations of status.
Amidst the faithful, the uniformity is due to practical reasons. Their rank belays the work they perform within the forges. With higher ranking providing for a higher amount of armour. Though it’s notable that those of Anvil and Forge Master are noted as having their own personalised armour, as making this is a required rite of their ascension to the rank.
The Noble Houses and Lesser Houses, wear primarily practical clothes, but have the freedom to choose to wear clothes for the point of fashion. Similar items to those of the Cog Populai, mixed with more practical items for their workshop work. Those amidst the Noble Houses also start to wear more robes and religious accompaniments.

Type

Geopolitical, Country