Emporer Pudu
25-09-2006, 02:27
OOC: Yes, I'm playing Calimshan, no, I didn't have to put much imagination into it. It should be fun though...
Hub Thread for Strange New Worlds (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=11690289#post11690289)
Calimshan
Capital: Calimport
Population: 43,820,000 (human, 15% slaves)
Government: Autocracy
Ruler: Syl-Pasha Ralen el Pesarkhal
Religions: Anachtyr, god of justice and retribution
Military: Large and powerful modern navy, massive land army with well-trained officers but largely conscripted soldiers, small air force
Imports: Food, slaves, wizards
Exports: Armor, books, gems, jewelry, leather goods, mercenaries, pearls, pottery, herbs, rope, ships, silk, spices, guns, wine
Calimshan is a land dominated by wealth and unimpressed by magic. Its people are heirs to an ancient empire, founded by genies and ravaged by dragons. Now both species are reviled by this desert nation. Familiar with displays of magic, the see it's ways just as any other skill that may be learned.
Calimshan is renowned for its chauvinism, exotic markets, thieves' guilds, decadent harems, desert landscape, wealthy ruling class, as well as its enormous population and many slaves.
Life and Society
Most Calishites rely upon mercantilism for their livelihood. The cutthroat politics of Calimshan involve backstabbing, layers of deception, and numerous advisors. The current ruler, Syl-Pasha Ralen el Pesarkhal reached his current position through ample application of lies, murder, and blackmail. Calishites are obsessed with titles and status, and an inappropriate look, remark, or gesture can result in serious punishment.
The people of Calimshan seek wealth not for wealth itself but for the power and status it brings. Calishites believe that wealth if the reward for a life of work, and tend to look down on those of lower economical or societal rank than themselves with extreme prejudice.
Arcane magic is relatively common here, to the extent that half of the Syl-Pasha's Imperial Guard have magical talents. Calishites prefer not to have to do the real work themselves, and enchanted items and summoned or purchased slaves are the most common result of magical enterprise.
The business underworld compromises an important sector of Calishite culture. Because a person's power on the surface and their influence in the underworld are considered two separate things, titles and ranks may vary greatly. The underworld is the only place in Calimshan where women are treated as equals to men. It is for these reasons, often alone, that a disgruntled commander may hesitate to strike an overly confident lesser, for fear of his connections outside of the lawful realm.
Justice and law enforcement in Calimshan may vary from city to city, but is often a cruel and corrupt system. Beatings, whippings, and stoning are common punishments, alongside brandings and amputations. Although a large number of people are employed by the government as Inspectors, nearly all of them are corrupt in some way, and so enforcement may at first seem slightly lax.
Major Geographical Features
Calimshan extends along the southern coast of the continent for thousands of miles and includes all the land between the Phaylaa Imperium and the realms of the Men of the Night.
Calim Desert: This expanse of sand, salt, and rocks is not a natural desert, but the result of a brutal war of magic between two powerful genies. The legends say that when the genies minds become active the desert rages with violent sandstorms. Despite its bleak outward appearance, a vast wealth of both salt and oil lie below the surface of the desert, often mined by armies of slaves or cheap labor.
Forest of Mir: This dense forest grows along the northern border of Calimshan, and its ancient trees extend for hundreds of feet into the air. It is home to a large numbers of barbaric humanoids and smaller giant kin, although a recent campaign has begun to rid this rich source of lumber of these deadly beasts.
Spider Swamp: The myths claim that this desolate marsh, lying south of the Forest of Mir and north of the great desert, was formed when a great water spirit was slain near a pair of sluggish rivers. It too is inhabited by outlaws and outcasts, and skirmishes between these and those of the forest are common, and often dangerous for those who make their homes nearby.
Important Cities
Calimshan is unthinkably ancient, older than any other human kingdom still in existence. Ancient ruins and magical sites can be found below the expansive, modern cities that inhabit one of the few hospitable places in this nation, the coastline.
Almariven (3,430,052): This port city is home to the countries largest shipbuilding facilities. Aside from it's whirlwind of mercantile and guild activities, weavers of magic know this city as the primary home of magical study and learning in the nation, a role this city has held for thousands of years. It is now also home to one of the most prestigious military colleges in the nation, the Almraiven Academy.
Calimport (8,192,795): In addition to it's huge population of permanent free citizens, Calimshan draws large numbers of seasonal residents and transient traders One of the oldest constantly populated sites in the world, it contains two massive modern sport arenas, opulent palaces, and fine examples of nearly every building one could imagine, including vast auction houses for slaves. Home too many prestigious colleges and schools of engineering and architecture.
Memnon (1,345,101): Founded by an army of the efreet of the same name, Memnon is a military city, fishing port, important trade stop, and the second largest port for the nations navy. Memnon’s warships and soldiers defend Calimshan from eastern aggression. It is currently the only walled city in the nation, walls formed from a smooth, dark rock that seemingly absorbs heat and shrugs of wear. Its importance as a strategic location is not lost on Calimshan, as a gateway to the offshore colonies and the protector of the entire coastline from the eastern direction.
Suldophor (4,956,768): A wealthy and intrigue-ridden city, Suldophor is almost independent of Calimshan's rule, paying taxes only so that its people may be left alone. It's location on the tip of a peninsula extending out into the bay occupied by the Men of the Night makes it an important military, as well as economical, site.
Regional History
Calimshan has long been a dominant power of the southern coastline, with a tumultuous record spanning nine thousand years. It has always been a hot, damp, verdant land, suitable for growing crops or grazing large herds of cattle. Its forests are filled with fragrant carving wood, and its sandbars and shoals bristle with oysters, crabs, edible fish, and rocks harboring both metals and gems. In short, Calimshan has always been a land worth fighting for - and there has been much fighting for it.
In ancient times, the great forest Keltormir cloaked the region and was home to warring giants and elves. Humans also lurked beneath the canopies, while dwarves carved out their empire below.
Then came the mighty dijinn from "otherwhere," geniekin and their slaves led by the dijinn Calim. They founded the Calim Empire, clearing trees from the nations central regions, slaughtering or driving out dragons, and establishing a domain whose borders correspond with the Calimshan of today.
The dijinn ruled over humans in the Calim Caliphates for a thousand years before and efreet of great power, Memnon, arrived from another "otherwhere" and established the realm of Memnonnar. The ruins of this capital city lie now only miles away from modern-day Memnon. The two empires broke into all-out war in the Era of Skyfire, a protracted struggle that so damaged the land that the elves used a kind of great high magic to bind the spirits of Calim and Memnon into the ground and the air, leaving them to struggle to this day in the sandy wastes of their endless battle, the Calim desert.
Humans and dwarves overthrew the few remaining geniekin in mere decades. Coram the Warrior founded the realm of Coramshan over the ruins of the genie empire. Riddled by intrigues and dynastical strife, it soon fell under the sway of evil high priests, but arose again as the reunited realm of Calimshan.
Ylveraasahlisar the Rose Dragon conquered Calimshan and ruled for over a century before being slain. Humans drove the dragon and their kin out and re-established their nation in its greatest incarnation as of yet. Calimshan established colonies all across the continent, but back at home plagues and strife weakened the empire and many colonies were lost.
Human power peaked in Calimshan under the Shoon dynasty of a thousand years past.
The current ruler of Calimshan, Syl-Pasha Persakhal, is looking now to expand his empire once again...
Calishite Military
The Calishite Empire maintains a massive standing army, supplemented by a universal draft enforceable by the Pasha's forces. The military has seen an increase as the current ruler has shown a distinct desire to see it return to its former Imperial glory.
The Calishite Army is a massive organization, maintaining more than six-hundred thousand soldiers supported by uncounted slave levies. This force also contains the Syl-Pasha's own Immortals, the elite warrior fanatics of the Emperor. The army uses bolt-action rifles and water-cooled machine guns and even has a small force of primitive tanks, but most of the soldiers still carry at least a dagger, and some have forsaken firearms all together. Cavalry is a favored tool of the Calishite generals, following a mammoth artillery bombardment and supplemented by a wave of screaming infantry.
The Imperial Navy is one of the largest and most powerful in the world today, with literally hundreds of combat ships, including some ships that themselves displace more than nineteen-thousand tons with armor up to twelve inches think in places. The Calishite navy is truly a subject of immense national pride.
A majority of the Calishite people however, still regard air combat as the territory of 'dragons and genies' and many are too superstitious or simply terrified to fly, and as such, the Calishite air force is small. Every major city maintains a single airship, supported by a fleet of a few dozen biplanes to protect it, although these craft hardly every see the sky.
Hub Thread for Strange New Worlds (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=11690289#post11690289)
Calimshan
Capital: Calimport
Population: 43,820,000 (human, 15% slaves)
Government: Autocracy
Ruler: Syl-Pasha Ralen el Pesarkhal
Religions: Anachtyr, god of justice and retribution
Military: Large and powerful modern navy, massive land army with well-trained officers but largely conscripted soldiers, small air force
Imports: Food, slaves, wizards
Exports: Armor, books, gems, jewelry, leather goods, mercenaries, pearls, pottery, herbs, rope, ships, silk, spices, guns, wine
Calimshan is a land dominated by wealth and unimpressed by magic. Its people are heirs to an ancient empire, founded by genies and ravaged by dragons. Now both species are reviled by this desert nation. Familiar with displays of magic, the see it's ways just as any other skill that may be learned.
Calimshan is renowned for its chauvinism, exotic markets, thieves' guilds, decadent harems, desert landscape, wealthy ruling class, as well as its enormous population and many slaves.
Life and Society
Most Calishites rely upon mercantilism for their livelihood. The cutthroat politics of Calimshan involve backstabbing, layers of deception, and numerous advisors. The current ruler, Syl-Pasha Ralen el Pesarkhal reached his current position through ample application of lies, murder, and blackmail. Calishites are obsessed with titles and status, and an inappropriate look, remark, or gesture can result in serious punishment.
The people of Calimshan seek wealth not for wealth itself but for the power and status it brings. Calishites believe that wealth if the reward for a life of work, and tend to look down on those of lower economical or societal rank than themselves with extreme prejudice.
Arcane magic is relatively common here, to the extent that half of the Syl-Pasha's Imperial Guard have magical talents. Calishites prefer not to have to do the real work themselves, and enchanted items and summoned or purchased slaves are the most common result of magical enterprise.
The business underworld compromises an important sector of Calishite culture. Because a person's power on the surface and their influence in the underworld are considered two separate things, titles and ranks may vary greatly. The underworld is the only place in Calimshan where women are treated as equals to men. It is for these reasons, often alone, that a disgruntled commander may hesitate to strike an overly confident lesser, for fear of his connections outside of the lawful realm.
Justice and law enforcement in Calimshan may vary from city to city, but is often a cruel and corrupt system. Beatings, whippings, and stoning are common punishments, alongside brandings and amputations. Although a large number of people are employed by the government as Inspectors, nearly all of them are corrupt in some way, and so enforcement may at first seem slightly lax.
Major Geographical Features
Calimshan extends along the southern coast of the continent for thousands of miles and includes all the land between the Phaylaa Imperium and the realms of the Men of the Night.
Calim Desert: This expanse of sand, salt, and rocks is not a natural desert, but the result of a brutal war of magic between two powerful genies. The legends say that when the genies minds become active the desert rages with violent sandstorms. Despite its bleak outward appearance, a vast wealth of both salt and oil lie below the surface of the desert, often mined by armies of slaves or cheap labor.
Forest of Mir: This dense forest grows along the northern border of Calimshan, and its ancient trees extend for hundreds of feet into the air. It is home to a large numbers of barbaric humanoids and smaller giant kin, although a recent campaign has begun to rid this rich source of lumber of these deadly beasts.
Spider Swamp: The myths claim that this desolate marsh, lying south of the Forest of Mir and north of the great desert, was formed when a great water spirit was slain near a pair of sluggish rivers. It too is inhabited by outlaws and outcasts, and skirmishes between these and those of the forest are common, and often dangerous for those who make their homes nearby.
Important Cities
Calimshan is unthinkably ancient, older than any other human kingdom still in existence. Ancient ruins and magical sites can be found below the expansive, modern cities that inhabit one of the few hospitable places in this nation, the coastline.
Almariven (3,430,052): This port city is home to the countries largest shipbuilding facilities. Aside from it's whirlwind of mercantile and guild activities, weavers of magic know this city as the primary home of magical study and learning in the nation, a role this city has held for thousands of years. It is now also home to one of the most prestigious military colleges in the nation, the Almraiven Academy.
Calimport (8,192,795): In addition to it's huge population of permanent free citizens, Calimshan draws large numbers of seasonal residents and transient traders One of the oldest constantly populated sites in the world, it contains two massive modern sport arenas, opulent palaces, and fine examples of nearly every building one could imagine, including vast auction houses for slaves. Home too many prestigious colleges and schools of engineering and architecture.
Memnon (1,345,101): Founded by an army of the efreet of the same name, Memnon is a military city, fishing port, important trade stop, and the second largest port for the nations navy. Memnon’s warships and soldiers defend Calimshan from eastern aggression. It is currently the only walled city in the nation, walls formed from a smooth, dark rock that seemingly absorbs heat and shrugs of wear. Its importance as a strategic location is not lost on Calimshan, as a gateway to the offshore colonies and the protector of the entire coastline from the eastern direction.
Suldophor (4,956,768): A wealthy and intrigue-ridden city, Suldophor is almost independent of Calimshan's rule, paying taxes only so that its people may be left alone. It's location on the tip of a peninsula extending out into the bay occupied by the Men of the Night makes it an important military, as well as economical, site.
Regional History
Calimshan has long been a dominant power of the southern coastline, with a tumultuous record spanning nine thousand years. It has always been a hot, damp, verdant land, suitable for growing crops or grazing large herds of cattle. Its forests are filled with fragrant carving wood, and its sandbars and shoals bristle with oysters, crabs, edible fish, and rocks harboring both metals and gems. In short, Calimshan has always been a land worth fighting for - and there has been much fighting for it.
In ancient times, the great forest Keltormir cloaked the region and was home to warring giants and elves. Humans also lurked beneath the canopies, while dwarves carved out their empire below.
Then came the mighty dijinn from "otherwhere," geniekin and their slaves led by the dijinn Calim. They founded the Calim Empire, clearing trees from the nations central regions, slaughtering or driving out dragons, and establishing a domain whose borders correspond with the Calimshan of today.
The dijinn ruled over humans in the Calim Caliphates for a thousand years before and efreet of great power, Memnon, arrived from another "otherwhere" and established the realm of Memnonnar. The ruins of this capital city lie now only miles away from modern-day Memnon. The two empires broke into all-out war in the Era of Skyfire, a protracted struggle that so damaged the land that the elves used a kind of great high magic to bind the spirits of Calim and Memnon into the ground and the air, leaving them to struggle to this day in the sandy wastes of their endless battle, the Calim desert.
Humans and dwarves overthrew the few remaining geniekin in mere decades. Coram the Warrior founded the realm of Coramshan over the ruins of the genie empire. Riddled by intrigues and dynastical strife, it soon fell under the sway of evil high priests, but arose again as the reunited realm of Calimshan.
Ylveraasahlisar the Rose Dragon conquered Calimshan and ruled for over a century before being slain. Humans drove the dragon and their kin out and re-established their nation in its greatest incarnation as of yet. Calimshan established colonies all across the continent, but back at home plagues and strife weakened the empire and many colonies were lost.
Human power peaked in Calimshan under the Shoon dynasty of a thousand years past.
The current ruler of Calimshan, Syl-Pasha Persakhal, is looking now to expand his empire once again...
Calishite Military
The Calishite Empire maintains a massive standing army, supplemented by a universal draft enforceable by the Pasha's forces. The military has seen an increase as the current ruler has shown a distinct desire to see it return to its former Imperial glory.
The Calishite Army is a massive organization, maintaining more than six-hundred thousand soldiers supported by uncounted slave levies. This force also contains the Syl-Pasha's own Immortals, the elite warrior fanatics of the Emperor. The army uses bolt-action rifles and water-cooled machine guns and even has a small force of primitive tanks, but most of the soldiers still carry at least a dagger, and some have forsaken firearms all together. Cavalry is a favored tool of the Calishite generals, following a mammoth artillery bombardment and supplemented by a wave of screaming infantry.
The Imperial Navy is one of the largest and most powerful in the world today, with literally hundreds of combat ships, including some ships that themselves displace more than nineteen-thousand tons with armor up to twelve inches think in places. The Calishite navy is truly a subject of immense national pride.
A majority of the Calishite people however, still regard air combat as the territory of 'dragons and genies' and many are too superstitious or simply terrified to fly, and as such, the Calishite air force is small. Every major city maintains a single airship, supported by a fleet of a few dozen biplanes to protect it, although these craft hardly every see the sky.