Avunta
Avunta is in the northeast part of Jaati, on the broad plain where the Dhobe River flattens out and widens. The country is entirely under the control of a Castorhagi mercantile group, the Far East Company, and has been for 57 years. Technically, Avunta is a royal colony of the City-State of Castorhage, but company people only bother with that detail in official reports. The company’s main focus has been on some high-value spices that grow well in this area, as well as expensive hardwoods such as ebony and teak. The spices are more quickly renewable; the ebony especially is becoming scarce despite local foresters conscientiously replanting. Very little wood is designated anymore for local crafters; most of it goes back to cabinetmakers and woodcarvers in Castorhage or is sold at high prices in the large cities of Akados.
As for spices, cloves and nutmeg are those most emphasized by the factors, although cinnamon is also pushed where it will grow well. The spice plantations are mostly worked by slaves, either debt-slaves or criminals. With the company in charge, there is plenty of opportunity for both those populations to grow.
The Far East Company has not bothered to interfere in the religious practices of the native Jaati. The locals are not in the habit of taking a holy day to rest every week, so even the frequent religious festivals amount to an improvement over work habits in much of the rest of the world. The company does maintain appropriate worship facilities for its own employees; just because they are far from home does not mean they should be deprived of the comfort of the Church of Mother Grace, for example.
Region
Avunta, Castorhagi Colony of
Comments