Chawso

In the early 1700s Vol, linguistic evidence pointed researchers to a single human origin across the ocean's Western Gap. An exploratory fleet retraced the predicted path, and in 1719 Vol oceandwellers set foot on the vastland for the first time in eight thousand years. Another quarter century passed, however, before any oceandwellers were finally allowed to visit the city of Chawso, named for the "river's spreading hand" in which it sits.

Further exploration of the river and delta area have been agonizingly slow. The vastlanders are friendly, even welcoming, but also cautious. In the intervening three centuries, oceandwellers have only been allowed to go as far inland as Dokei, a short distance up the Swiftwater river. Even so, there has been much learned about history of humans in the vastland and on the ocean.

Contact with oceandwellers seems not to have affected Chawso at all. The residents have so far refused to incorporate any Cluster Island technology into their lives. It is a mystery why they would continue to rely so heavily on fire as an energy source, when far safer alternatives exist.

History

Although it is not the oldest city in the Vastland--Dokei lays claim to that--Chawso predates the Oceanic Era by at least two centuries.  It is recognized as the place where the River Culture bands ended their travels, even though their descendants continued to migrate along the coast and out into the ocean.  The site has been continuously inhabited since then, despite several periods of intense flooding over its history that submerged the entire area.

Points of interest

At the center of the city stands the monument called Journey's End, a series of five stone figures carved with images depicting the Songs of Journey.  These are claimed to have been created by Source of Life, one of the heroes of the sagas.

Tourism

Restrictions on occupying a previously inhabited territory prevent any kind of tourism to the vastland, even if its great distance from the Cluster Islands were not already a barrier. Any expansion beyond a basic outpost requires permission from and compensation to the inhabitants, which has been repeatedly declined.

Architecture

Like island architecture near volcanoes, Chawso's construction tends toward the simple and easily replaceable, a necessity in a region where natural disasters strike with great frequency. Many of the smaller bulidings are raftlike, made to detach from their foundations in high water, giving Chawso its nickname of "The Floating City".

"It doesn't feel twelve thousand years old--it's too alive.  It feels more as if twelve thousand years ago is now."

Type

City

Location under

The Vastland

Included Locations

• Journey's End

Related Tradition (Primary)

• The Touch of Life