Arithasia
In the oceans of Amaun, there are two floating islands, drifting lazily on their way from one side of the world to the other. These are the nations of Tarador and Arithasia, places unique in all the Twin Worlds.
Arithasia is a place famous for its beautiful women, and fierce warriors. Especially famous is the fact that these are quite often the same people. Indeed, tales of this place say the women here are the most beautiful in all of Amaun, but few are willing to travel to such an unfriendly place.
Structure
Arithasia's government is often seen as baffling to outsiders and few can truly say they understand it. Few Arithasians are even willing to explain it to foreigners, and since foreigners tend to be kept at arms length, few truly need to know about it.
They are ruled by a ruler known only as the High One. She rules the floating island from her birth until her death and is treated with a reverence usually reserved for the divine. Her word is law, treated almost as religious gospel by any Arithasian, to be obeyed without question.
As soon as the High One dies, the next girl born on the island becomes the new High One. She is then taken from her mother and raised in the Grand Palace in Ellentev. Throughout her life, no male is allowed to touch her. If she is touched by a male, even an animal, she is considered impure and the next girl born on the island becomes the new High One.
From there, she gives her blessing to other families on the island, who serve as a prosperous upper class living in one of the palaces in the capital. In theory, any family can gain this blessing from the High One. However, in practice, the same ones tend to keep their positions and homes, effectively becoming a pseudo-nobility that serve as a permanent upper class, vying madly for the High Ones's favor.
Culture
The culture of the Arithasians is determined primarily by gender roles. In particular, they are very matriarchal, with women being seen as far capable than men in just about every aspect. As such, most skilled positions, including martial and magical ones are filled by women. Men, on the other hand, serve primarily as laborers, as well as other necessary, but lower-class roles such as farmers or fishermen.
Since the women of Arithasia think so poorly of their men, relationships with them are not nearly as valued as those between women. Very famously, sexual relationships between Arithasian women are the norm and are considered far more intimate than heterosexual ones.
The Arithasians are also known for their warrior culture, although this label can be quite deceptive. Unlike other cultures, such as the Erochans or Dolrarans, they value both martial and magical might. Indeed, it's not uncommon for Arithasian women, both warriors and mages to travel beyond the island to prove their might to foreigners. Such people frequently take up the adventuring profession.
Arithasian culture as a whole also greatly values beauty. As such, the arts are held in very high esteem. Colorful frescoes frequently cover the walls of their buildings, and the streets are often filled with the sounds of music. Particularly famous across all of Amaun are the Blade Dancers. These performers combine the Arithasian love of battle and art and are renowned for their beauty, grace, and sheer deadlines.
History
Much about the history of Arithasia is very unclear. It is recorded that the people who would become the first Arithasians fled a terrible war for the sanctuary of the floating island. Arithasian legend states that their warrior tradition began to ensure that they would never be helpless again.
Scholars have long debated just how true this story is. Even those who believe this story are unsure of exactly which war they fled. Most believe it was either the Second Imperial War or the Second Rising.
Since no details can be gleaned from the surviving writings of the time, scholars can't agree on which. The prevailing belief, however, is that it was the Second Imperial War against the Ancient Elven Empire. The mind flayers are such a terrible and distinct foe that surely every history would mention it.
Since their flight, the island's history was very stable. As it is isolated from the mainland and doesn't even have a consistent location, few nations even have the inclination to invade, let alone the opportunity. Any wars it has seen are mostly naval affairs, usually against Tarador, or Qandaq.
Demography and Population
The only citizens of the island are human, further evidence that the earliest Arithasians were fleeing from the Elven Empire in the Second Imperial War. If they were fleeing from the Second Rising, it is thought there would be a greater diversity of citizens all fleeing from the common enemy of all the Twin Worlds.
Of course, not all people on the entire island are human. Traders and even adventurers often stop there, and some even settle there long-term, but these foreign settlers are very few. Most of these settlers are elves or halflings, but there are a few goblinoids that visit for trade as well.
Territories
The climate of the floating island of Arithasia varies based on its current location in the world. Mostly, it tends towards warmer temperatures, occasionally bordering on tropical. Rarely, when the island drifts north, its climate gets colder. On the rare occasion it drifts into the Sea of Claws, it gets so cold as to be called subarctic.
As such, the life on the island has to be very adaptable. The animal life includes such staples as deer, foxes, raccoons, and bobcats. Magical creatures also tend to be simpler, such as griffons, hippogriffs, and owlbears. There aren't a lot of room on the small island for dragons, but there are a few oceanic dragons, particularly bronze and topaz dragons.
Military
The military of the island of Arithasia answers directly to the High One. Many Arithasian women are warriors or mages but relatively few get the honor of working directly for their nation. Of particular honor are the famous Blade Dancers. Relatively few are members of the military, however. Instead, most are independent artists, supported by their patrons among the more prominent families.
Males also have a role in the Arithasian army, but they exclusively fill unskilled support roles from cooks to simple laborers. They are trained with simple weapons such as short swords and handaxes, but few gain any talent with them. Even those that do aren't valued.
The Arithasian navy is also the pride of the seas of Amaun. Their shipwrights are practically legendary, and their sailors are some of the best in the Twin Worlds. With the Arithasian talent for battle, their marines known and feared among any who sail the seas.
As with the army, men have a place among the navy. Also like their brethren in the army, they are limited to support roles, specifically they maintain and sail their ships. With their talent for sailing, they actually do gain an uncharacteristic level of respect from their female counterparts.
Religion
As with the rest of the Twin Worlds, the people of Arithasia worship the Twin Worlds Pantheon. In particular, the worship of Selai, Colrum, and even Golath are especially popular, as befits a warrior culture like theirs. In addition, the artistic proclivities of the Arithasian people leads to the popularity of the worship of Bellesmin.
Unlike all the rest of the Twin Worlds, the Arithasians depict all the gods as female, no matter what sex they are. Even Bellesmin, whose only consistent trait is his masculinity is still depicted as female, as is Ilovar, who was once a male human and exclusively appears as such.
Foreign Relations
There aren't many nations as a whole that interact with Arithasia. Those that do are usually the nations that the island drifts near in its slow journey around the oceans of Amaun. These nations are frequently worried due to the power of the Arithasian navy. These interactions rarely lead to war, however.
Arithasia's primary rival is its fellow floating island, Tarador. When the two islands drift near to one another, the Arithasian navy and the Taradori corsairs engage in combat with one another. Occasionally, these conflicts escalate into ground invasions. Due to the martial culture of Arithasia, they usually defeat the Taradori handily.
The last people who primarily interact with the Arithasians are the sahuagin. It is not uncommon for the shark-folk to raid the island's coastal communities, such as Rostonst. Both cultures consider these conflicts a test of their worth.
Agriculture & Industry
On account of Arithasia's travels through the sea, the people there try to be as self-sufficient as possible. As such, farms on the interior of the island produce a large portion of the food. However, what is actually grown varies, but is usually such things as grain, beans, corn, or potatoes.
Much of the rest of the island's food suitably enough comes from the sea. Fishermen pull fish, crabs, and lobsters. Again, the specific creatures caught vary widely due to the floating nature of the island. The times tend to be leaner when the island drifts far into the open ocean.
Fortunately for the Arithasians, lumber is common enough on the island to keep up with the demand of the shipwrights. Unfortunately, the other resources of the island aren't so plentiful. As such, the quality of other craftworks aren't quite so high quality.
Trade & Transport
The varying location of the island makes having consistent trading partners difficult. Unfortunately, the lack of resources makes some trade a necessity. Their main import are the raw materials they simply don't have, particularly the iron they need for their weapons and armor.
On their own they don't have much to trade in return for these necessities, but they also trade with ocean-dwellers such as the sea elves. They often trade things the ocean-dwellers consider luxuries and curiosities for things that are considered just as strange on the surface world. This is then traded to other peoples for the necessities they need. The coin brought in by Arithasian mercenaries covers the difference.
Infrastructure
Most of the architecture built by the Arithasians is made of white stucco that almost seems to shine in the sun. These buildings tend to have great ventilation and more than one fireplace that work to keep the buildings cool in the hot southern summer and warm in the cold northern winter.
To many, the dramatic coloration of the walls would be enough to make an impression, however, it's not enough for the artistic Arithasians. The walls tend to by covered in dramatic frescoes that make their communities awash with vibrant color.
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