Droyma

by Désirée Nordlund

The Droyma Mountain range is a separator of climate as well as water divide. It stretches all the way from the very north in a smooth curve to the south parts of the area. Where the Droyma Mountains are reduced to little less than shredded hills, the Mara Mountains begin. This range is broader and more challenging to pass than the Droyma Mountains and constitutes a natural border. On the west and the south side of the mountains, the landscape is green and lush with forests and farmlands. Though the storms from the sea can be harsh during autumn, the settlements — except for Asna Foter — are placed where the roughest winds don’t reach. Donkey’s Leg, with Asna Foter far out, gets all the storms from the north and there is not much vegetation that can stand the salt and windy climate. On the other side of the mountains is Tangata’s bowl which at its lowest point is under sea level — where the Karaka swamp is. The whole area between the two mountain ranges is dry steppe without many trees. Karaka swamp is lower than sea level and has its inflow of water from the sea. The swamp is therefore salt, and any fish found there has found its way there via the river. Saltwater kills most plants and does not constitute a source of water for humans and animals. When the winter’s snow is melting, the swamp turns into a lake and during spring, the level of salt is lower. On the other hand, the salt never leaves the swamp so the concentration is still too high to consume. The shores are white of salt. The place where Fith is located is really the only place north of the mountain where the climate and geography ground for an effortless living. In the north of the area, at the end of the Droyma Mountains, the climate is constantly under the freezing point. Even if a summer is unusually hot, the warmth never reaches these parts. It is too far north and higher in altitude than the rest of the country. Jemlanger River is the biggest river in the area. The water is fresh and comes from glaciers in both mountain ranges that last even if the summer is warm. Along the river, there is vegetation not found anywhere else on this side of the mountains. The river north of Tangata’s bowl is just about dry in the autumn after a typical summer. The glaciers supporting it are too small to last. The rivers on the west and south sides do not have this problem. The area gets the lion’s share of the precipitation during all seasons due to the mountains. This means the glaciers get bigger and there is more excessive water during the all seasons but winter will find its way to the rivers. The river in the east, starting at Sial’s well, has never gone dry.

Winter

During winter, everything north of the Droyma mountains needs support from warmer places, like Kanohi. If the sea freezes, they are totally dependent on their storages. The southern parts still get too cold for crops, but they have more options to hunt since there is more wildlife.

History

Nine lifetimes back, when it was spring, the Tangata people had most of the area west of the Mara mountains to themselves. They were nomad people moving their herds across the plain no matter the season. They had no written records, only oral stories, and the stories told they had been living this way for hundreds of lifetimes.

Historical map, nine lifetimes ago layer

by Désirée Nordlund

The Droyma Kingdom is not as old as the Tangata people, but according to their records, their first Queen was crowned in Midhväkt nine lifetimes back. They were farmers, fishers, and timber-men, living in permanent houses. A mountain range separated them from the Tangata people, and little did they bother each other, neither understanding the other’s culture nor wanting the other’s lands. Aboi Jemlanger founded the Town of Fith, and he used the river to reach the Droyma Mountains and then trade with the people of the Droyma Kingdom. He came from the northeast and sought a way not to have to sail around, coming from the south. The Tangata People rarely walked further east than the river. To secure his investment, Jemlanger claimed the land from the river to the Mara Mountains in the east eight lifetimes back. It was summer. Still summer, in the same lifetime, other people arrived, seeking land to claim for their country. They called the place where they had arrived at Rangatira. Even if they found little of interest, they stayed. A few from the group crossed the mountains in the north into the eternal winter. They found riches in the form of clay with minerals, but when they returned, no one was interested in their findings. So they returned and founded Cha, which they claimed for their own. When spring came again, the Tangata People found themselves blocked from both rivers. The lake at the bottom is salt and could not be given to their animals.

by Désirée Nordlund

Before autumn, Rangatira had grown into a kingdom of their own, eliminating the Tangata People. The Jemlanger Kingdom felt threatened by their new neighbor. They were easy prey for Rangatira, who trained for battle from an early age. Jemlanger had not needed to have anything but symbolic protection before.

by Désirée Nordlund

Then, the Droyma Kingdom joined the battle. They wanted to protect Sial’s Well from people who did not respect the holy place. Jemlanger and Droyma had a common interest in the site, but Rangatira had a different religion and culture altogether. Once Sial’s Well was secured, the battle continued, and by the end, Droyma was the victor. What was left of the Rangatira Kingdom was their former capital, Kahurangi Pa, where their culture and religion remained under the rule of Droyma.

Demography and Population

Droyma is dominated by bruni. There are a few with symni ancestors but they are all mixed with bruni and do not stand out in behavior. If a couple gets many children, a pair of twins, or triplets, there are plenty of jokes referring to symni ancestors. Those who have visible traits of grön do not live on this side of the Mara Mountains. They are considered less intelligent and are targets for all kinds of humiliating jokes and harassment.

Religion

The Allvaldughers

Laws

You have to pay taxes to the leaders of your village or your town. They in turn pay to the royals. There are clerks traveling the country to check up on these things. You are also expected to praise the Queen. Not that there are any laws that forces you, but the social code is to stay united as a nation. You do not prefer the land on the other side of the Droyma mountains, no matter which side you live on. Men and women have equal rights and obligations.