Senlimas

Summary

Senlimas is a Gnome and Grippli territory in the Dohirin Coast region. Unlike the economic and military powers that surround it, Senlimas is a reletively poor land covered with forests, with only two major population centers. Its people have a reputation for peaceful co-existance both within their borders and with outsiders.

Society

Senlimas contains four main cultures: the Grippli of the Chilika Swamps are the first of these. They migrated to Senlimas only a few centuries ago but were welcomed by the local Gnomes because they made use of land most others consider deadly. The Grippli live as hunters and foragers, never staying in one place long, though most of them tend to stay within the swamp region. The other three groups are the three Gnome lineages of the area: Rock, River, and Forest. The latter group is the largest and controls the forest interior. Each community has a forest village from which they hunt for part of the year before returning to a larger lake settlement to prevent overhunting. Matataith, a large city along the Dhirum river, initially arose from one such settlement. Its inhabitants and all other gnomes who live near the river or Chilika Lake year-round became known as River Gnomes. Rock Gnomes maintain towns of stone houses, with Enscael being the only settlement large enough to be considered a city. Their territory includes a major entrance to the Underdark, so Drow, Duergar, and Svirfneblin are occasionally seen in the area.

Politics

Each of the groups mentioned above governs its own affairs. The Frogfolk don't have any unified governing structure. Senlimasi Grippli believe in rule by the eldest regardless of gender or other factors. These elders are typically in charge of communities of 50 people or less. Forest and Rock Gnomes also have gerontocratic government, but their communities are large enough that a specific group of male elders must be chosen by a vote of all century-old members of the community, including some non-Gnomes who have been given voting privileges. Special consideration to the lower lifespans of most other races is not given when awarding this privilege. River Gnomes are led by a patrilineal nobility who pick a prince to rule. This role was once filled by a king who claimed ownership over all of Senlimas, but the other Gnomes rose up to depose him, so future monarchs have symbolically styled themselves princes of Matataith. The prince's influence stretches across the river into Dohir due to the Gnome population there, but that area is also claimed by the local Hill Dwarves.

Economics

The Grippli and Forest Gnomes both trade in animal hides and meat to some extent, but the latter group spends more time hunting for their own sustenance or moving goods between the Rock and River Gnomes. The Rock Gnomes operate mines in the mountains and hills and sell tools to the other groups. The River Gnomes are farmers and traders, activities which have granted them greater wealth and prestige than Senlimas' other residents. Some other Gnomes resent them and call them Senlimasi (non-native) as a result.

Military

Due to its lack of political unity, low population, and peaceful history, Senlimas has no standing military nor the capacity to marshal one large enough to defend itself. The cities of Matataith and Enscael have armed guard, but these have been used purely to maintain the peace. Though Enscael has defended itself against bandit attacks and small noble forces in the past, both it and Matataith quickly fell to the combined Rohizzan and Jeshami forces during the Phoenix War.

Population: Gnomes, Grippli

Languages: Gnomish, Common, Aquan

Religion: Fey and/or nature spirit worship

Government: Elder's councils, Monarchy

Demonyms: Senliman (indigenous gnomes), Senlimasi (others)

Allies: Forvod Zhicham

Enemies: Ramanthas, Rohiz, Jesham

Related Reports (Secondary)