Teak Tree

The Plant

The teak tree is only found in a particular area in the Principality of Porteria; the north eastern coast in specific. Strict sanctions and heavy regulation have prevented the tree from being transplanted anywhere else – though it’s particularly picky placement has also made it difficult to transplant. The particularly humid, forest-marsh environment is perfect for the quick growing tree. At this point, there are very few teak trees that are wild or found naturally – most are cultivated in some form or fashion, be it in a plantation or managed on conversation land.

by Midjourney

Regulated Scarcity

The small lumber mill city of Sercilleville was literally bought by Zhu'Blaysku some decades ago when teak became a popular luxury crafts-wood. Cornering the market on such materials is the family’s specialty, ensuring the price tag that comes with their choice name pieces remained artificially inflated. The family doesn’t usually have to enforce the regulations, but rather, they pay Zhu'Myak to ensure that teak is only shipped from Sercilleville. Since Blaysku is primarily a resource and crafts intensive family, this outsourcing has long established a close working relationship with the shipping and sailing orientated Myak who have helped enforce the regulations. If it doesn’t have a Blaysku name, or one of their authorized Fa, it doesn’t ship.

Growth Rate & Use

Harvestable teak grows rather quickly – in roughly 5 year cycles – but those are the thinner trees used for smaller, intricate projects. For the robust work that teak wood might be specifically called for, it takes roughly 20 years for a hectare to mature and be ready for harvest. It is this mature teak that is prized and frequently sought after for high end furniture, boat decks, or any project where weather resistant wood is desired.

Sercilleville Residents

As far as the common vnou who live and work in the small town of nearly 2k residents, it’s a simple but fulfilling life. Names have made generational homes in Sercilleville and the nearby port Barignon, so it’s almost always a case of everyone knows everyone else. Outsiders are generally regarded with suspicion, a culture cultivated by the Fa that runs the town – who have been a long established name in the town.

Conservation

Because of the high regulations and sanctions regarding teak, it is illegal to cut down any of the elder trees that might be discovered in the Principality of Porteria. These few and far between naturally grown teak trees are monstrous compared to their nursery raised counterparts and frequent targets for illegal harvesting. Noble vnou won’t touch a naturally grown teak tree for a bevy of reasons – most stemming from the legality of it. The very trees are registered to the Blaysku name and most nobility would rather not get tied up in paperwork over harvesting wood they wouldn’t know how to use.

by Midjourney