Taloba

From Mizahar Lore

Current revision as of 14:24, 3 July 2014

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Taloba

Region	Falyndar
Notability	Regional Capital
Leader	Goddess-Queen Myri
Population	15,150
Races	Myrians 99% Other 1%
Languages	Common, Myrian
Currency	Bikka
Imports	Nothing
Exports	Nothing

Located in Falyndar by the Kandukta Basin, Taloba is the home city of the Myrians and the capital of the region. It is the only settlement in Falyndar that survived the Valterrian mostly intact. Surrounded by great walls and plenty of traps, despite the swelling population, Taloba still seems somewhat empty - it was built to hold much larger numbers. It is ruled by the Goddess-Queen Myri, and is entirely self-sufficient.

The City

Taloba is an exotic jewel in the middle of Falyndar. There is a deadly beauty to those who live in it, and the knowledge that you walk amongst gods. The city is ruled by one, and it's not uncommon to see any of the worshipped in residence during their travel, particularly Caiyha or Dira. For outsiders who are unused to the tempos of Falyndar, it is dangerous, intense, overwhelming, and far removed from what you might find in a more tamed region... and its people are proud of it. Where a chicken might peck at the ground, a brilliantly coloured bird may soar overhead, calling to its flock. Where family crests might rest on the wall, a skull might sit in its place.

Weather

In the core of Falyndar, the weather doesn't change very much at all. Too far in-land to be affected by the weather on the coast, many Myrians would admit that except for the floods and the Watchtowers, the seasons would run entirely together. In general, the weather in Taloba is hot and usually fairly rainy.

• Spring: Hot.
• Summer: Hot, wet, quite rainy. Kandukta Basin floods.
• Fall: Hot, the floods recede.
• Winter: Hot.

History

Taloba was built approximately 400 years before the Valterrian wrecked havoc upon Mizahar. It was built by the Myrians, meant to be a bastion, a fortress, a capital in their jungle home. Myri, their Queen, named it Taloba, in honor of her mother. Construction took years to complete. Its location was chosen for a number of reasons: was built around the Watchtower, beside the Basin, and it was meant to be a hub for the smaller villages that enjoyed living outside of Taloba's walls. It was the primary trading post in jungle. Outsiders were not tolerated, and very few ever made it to the gates.

The Valterrian devastated the outlying villages, and destroyed a portion of Taloba. Once the cataclysm was over, Taloba's inhabitants emerged and began again, rebuilding and searching for survivors. Some ruins still remain as a testament and a reminder of the power of the pantheon, although the buildings have been rebuilt.

Politics

The Myrian political system is quite simple and extremely stable. Myri, as the Goddess-Queen, rules her people. Ultimate power lies with her. Below the Queen is the Council of Nine, which is comprised of nine different advisers. Membership is fluid, but quite stable. The current members of the Council are:

• Anja of the Blackened Claws, Elder Crone: Anja, aided by some of her daughters and granddaughters, looks after the administrative necessities of the city. She knows everything that is going on in Taloba.
• Bina of the Red Orchid, Head Priestess: Bina is the Head Priestess of the Myrians, ruling over the temple, and works in conjuncture with Szarri over spiritual matters.
• Misha of the Jagged Blade, War Leader: Misha comes from Myri's blood lineage, related through her mother's line to Myri's oldest daughter. She is in charge of the military and defenses of the city.
• Rahi of the Tiger Eyed, Spy Mistress: Rahi oversees the vast network of spies that she has spread throughout Mizahar and Falyndar, reporting on the movements of others to the Queen and Council.
• Szarri of the Slitted Throat, Oracle: Szarri is an Oracle, using methods of divination to foresee future events, and works with Bina, the Head Priestess.
• Priti of the Crimson Sun, Crone: The Crone of the Crimson Sun, Priti is known for her level-headedness and ability to look at something from every angle.
• Zola of the Broken Spear, Crone: The Crone of the Broken Spear, Zola was the former War Leader before the position was passed to Misha, one of her students. It is said she is second only to Myri in planning strategy.
• Julii of the Morning Bird, Crone: The Crone of the Morning Bird, Julii is an expert at tracking and hunting, and it is said her family knows Falyndar even better than Rahi's spies.
• Cassa of the Patient Shadows, Crone: Crone of the Patient Shadows, Cassa is a priestess and healer.

While it is quite difficult for an outsider to get a meeting with the Queen (because just getting to Taloba is a hardship in itself), such is not the case with her own people. Myri pays close attention to what is going on in her city and in the region.

Economy

Taloba's economy flourishes despite the lack of any outside interference. It is entirely self-contained, and sufficient. While some merchants will take their wares to trading posts outside of Falyndar, it is mainly to get some exotic goods for resale. Carrying out business in Taloba is quite simple. Most transactions are accomplished by bartering, and bikka used when they are having a little more trouble bargaining.

Currency

Taloba's official currency is the bikka (plural: bikka). Bikka are small, round coins, generally flat, although some have a particular curve to them. They are white, but have three thin rust-red slashes on one side, as if to mimic claws. Bikka are made of bone, painted with blood, and specially treated with a herbal solution for preservation and strength, and to prevent forgeries. It is rare to see a bikka outside of Taloba.

Industry

For all their warlike ways, the Myrians are capable artisans. Their skill with leather and hides is nothing short of impressive, and rarely will anyone find such good pieces or quality outside of Taloba. Potters are also common, creating bowls, cups, plates, vases, and more. Glass is a rare commodity in Taloba, but is little more than trinkets or some decorations. Carving is also prized, be it in wood, stone, or bone.

Stones and metals are mined, but are primarily used for weaponry and armor. They are not traditionally found in large amounts, but the Myrians have found strange changes to their homeland since the Valterrian, and are slowly picking it up. The softer, more ornamental ores like gold are mostly used for jewelry and decoration.

Culture

As Taloba is a Myrian city, its cultural norms are those practiced by the savages. Despite their fearsome and warlike ways, the Myrians are not without arts, music, and more.

The Trading Square

Architecture

Taloba is an old city. Many of its buildings managed to survive the Valterrian, and its architects of old times favoured function over form. The buildings are made of stone and bones, although plenty are covered with kuzu, a tropical creeping vine that the Tskannas love. Bones are used for decoration, furniture, and sometimes in the structure itself. There are large, elaborate totems depicting fearsome creatures and gods throughout Taloba, some made out of wood, some out of stone. It is not unusual to find a number of skulls over doorways.

Cuisine

The Myrians have always lived in the jungles of Falyndar, and over time they have developed resistances to the natural toxins and poisons of the flora and fauna that live there. This enables them to ingest such substances without doing any harm to themselves. Ultimately, denizens of Taloba enjoy an incredibly varied diet of fish, animals (both hunted and raised domestically), enemies, vegetation, and thin flatbreads made from maza meal. Maza grows throughout Falyndar, and quite quickly.

There are three main meals each day. Breakfast in the early morning, lunch at midday, and dinner in the evening. These do tend to change, however, when there is a festival going on, as the meals may be added or the times changed.

Holidays

The Myrians are hard workers, but despite this, they celebrate many holidays throughout the year. They believe that they are a blessed people - they are ruled by a Goddess-Queen, and many swear that Caiyha, the Goddess of Flora and Fauna roams Falyndar in her eternal solitude, visits them periodically - many Myrians return with stories of seeing her. Being highly polytheistic, the main gods and goddesses that the Myrians worship receive their own festivals (usually lasting two or three days) and days of celebration that are dedicated to them, primarily to thank the gods for their favor and to ask that it continues. Just about the entire city turns out for these holidays, as failure to attend is considered an affront to the gods.

Spring

• Anniversary of the Valterrian: Carrying over from the last day of winter, this is a day of remembrance. The dead are remembered, and survival celebrated.
• Festival of the Lifebringer: In honor of Kihala, the goddess of life, this festival is to rejoice in the new life and birth, of their own children and of the jungle around them.
• Spring's Renewal and Rebirth: This is the festival of Navre, to celebrate the new litters of the Myrian Tigers, and to thank him for those that they have.
• Dance of the Suns: This festival is offered to Syna, the sun goddess.

Summer

• The Rain Festival: Taking place early in summer, if not on the very first day, the Rain Festival is in honor of Makutsi, asking for the rain to come, which begins the monsoon and cleanses the land.
• Night of the Orchids: According to Myrian legend, the goddess Caiyha offered the Goddess-Queen Myri a special plant. Rather than keep it to herself, Myri enlisted the herbalists to grow it and spread it throughout the city to share it with her people. In the night, orchid plants in Taloba, glow brilliantly. This festival celebrates Caiyha and her generosity, not just for the orchids, but for the life that grows and flourishes all around them.

Fall

• End of Monsoon: When the heavy rains come to a close, the Myrians celebrate once again, thanking Makutsi for her generosity.
• Harvest Festival: When the flood waters of the Kandukta Basin retreat, a special plant that can only be harvested then is available for the Myrians to gather.
• Moon Festival: Leth's nocturnal festival.

Winter

• Myri's Birthday: This festival honors not only Myri, but the Myrian race as a whole, as without her, they would not be who and what they are now. It starts on the first day of winter, and lasts a week.
• Day of the Dead: The Day of the Dead honors Dira. It is also to celebrate their ancestors and their deeds.
• Anniversary of the Valterrian: Held on the last day of winter and carrying over to spring, this festival remembers the Valterrian and those lost in it.

Military

Taloba's military stands at around 3,500 active warriors, but can, and will, swell to up to over 12,000 if necessary. Each and every Myrian spends at least three years in the military, and all know, or are learning, at least three different weapon skills, and most never stop learning new skills or practicing. Further, all learn tactics for traps, ambushes, and battle strategy.

Common weapons seen in use by the Myrians are:

• Slings
• Bola
• Bows (long and short)
• Boomerangs
• Spears
• Staves
• Swords of various sizes and weights
• Axes
• Chakram
• Daggers
• Staves
• Glaives
• Clubs

They are usually made of metal, stone, or even the ivory tusks of the Tskannas.

Locations of interest

Listed below are some of Taloba's important locations.

The Plaza

The Plaza

The Plaza is a big, open space surrounded by rows of stone that rise quite a distance, each higher than the last, to form seats. The Plaza is used for open ceremonies, for festivals, for celebrations. While the outside wall of the Plaza has become covered in vines and vegetation, the inside has lost none of its majesty. Mounted on pikes all along the upper wall are skulls, many of them marked with Myrian symbols.

The Garrison

The Garrison is a long row of stone longhouses by the training yards. This is where the military trainees are housed during their mandatory military service. It also serves as a barracks for others who choose the permanent life of working in the military, if they so choose. Some prefer to live with their families, if they've started them, and report for duties each day instead. One of the buildings in the Garrison also serves as an armory.

The Training Yards

Attached to the Garrison, the training yards are where the members of Taloba's army go to be tortured on a daily basis. Under the watchful eye of elders, this is where, as far as Myri is concerned, the real magic happens. It's not unusual to see the Goddess-Queen enter the yards to watch, evaluate, practice, teach, and train.

The Tower of Bones

Near the middle of Taloba, by the Garrison, stands the Tower of Bones. It is Taloba's Watchtower... but is so named because every inch of the obelisk, except for the magnificent stone at the top, is covered in bones. It is a testament of the Myrian attitude towards outsiders. The Tower of Bones is always under heavy guard, lest something--anything--comes through.

Myri's Palace

While it may be the home of a Goddess, Myri's Palace is not as big or as luxurious or as grand as the name might imply. The three-level building is, however, rather suited to the Goddess of War. It is not unusual to find racks of weapons, or skeletons pinned to the wall. Bones are used extensively, forming furniture, decorations, monuments... particularly in the entrance hall. The hall leads to a series of other rooms, which in turn lead to the throne room. This is where Myri can usually be found. The entire upper level is private, and few rarely ever go up there.

The Trading Square

The Square is where many go to barter and trade their wares. Permanent storefronts and temporary booths are set up here for artisans to display their wares and for people to buy them. It is usually quite busy, and located near the center of the city. Stall space is not rented, but usually on a first-come, first-service basis. However, most families and sellers respect each other's usual spaces. It doesn't help to confuse your customers by jumping around all the time - it's simply not good business sense, now, is it?

The Temple

Located near the palace is the temple. This is where private worship and sacrifices occur, as well as religious ceremonies. It is a large building, and houses those who dedicate themselves to priesthood. The temple has numerous altars, one for each god or goddess commonly worshiped in Taloba. Each of these see sacrifices throughout the year, particularly during their festival days.

The Blooding Basin

Located at the very center of the temple is the Blooding Basin, a large stone bowl that contains the blood of all the Myrians that have passed their Coming of Age Trials since the day Myri achieved divinity. All Myrians who have passed their Trials are required to take a drink from this basin in a ritual called the Blooding, before adding a few drops of their own blood into it. Strangely, the contents of the bowl never seem to dry out nor does its volume change no matter how many have taken a drink from it.

Society

Talobian society is matriarchal - it is ruled by women. This is not to say, of course, that men have no rights - they do. However, they cannot, and do not, hold the highest ranking positions in the city, due to a ban Myri put in place a long time ago as a result of a male chieftain causing trouble. Furthermore, men cannot inherit land. Lesser possessions, yes, but property, no. Due to the sizes of Myrian families, there is usually no shortage of female heirs.

Laziness is not tolerated. Even young children are given chores to prepare them for responsibility. There is always work to be done, and no excuse for not having it done. There is a formal school that doesn't include only reading, writing, in both Myrian and Common, and maths. It teaches survival skills like tracking, identifying basic plants, animals, swimming, fishing, hunting of small game, and such. The children generally attend this school from when they are four years old until they are twelve. They are expected to do their lessons and pay close attention to them, in addition to what they may learn from their parents and other familial elders.

Gods, elders, and ancestors are revered and respected in Taloba. Youngsters who sass their elders are usually quickly--and harshly--put in their place, sometimes verbally, sometimes with a slap, a pinch, or even a whack with a walking stick. Respect is not freely given, it is earned. It is for this reason that Taloba has no aristocratic class - just about everyone is of the same socioeconomic class, with a few exceptions: Myri and those who have earned their rank by ability.

On the whole, Talobian society runs quite smoothly. Arguments between two parties that cannot be resolved are usually taken before the Elders of the families - usually, but not always. Fights and violence amongst differing parties is taken to the training yards. Discipline is strict. More than one mother has laid down the law to their children: either they toe the line, or the toes get cut off. Myri discourages infighting amongst her people, preferring to make better use of her people's strength against outsiders.

Outsiders who actually manage to get through the jungles of Falyndar to Taloba to visit are treated with deep suspicion and are usually trailed. It is unusual for other races, except perhaps for Kelvic, to stay very long. Dhani and Charodae are killed on sight. The Nuit are not tolerated either - they are not allowed to enter the city, much less live in it, and the moment they are discovered, they are killed and burned.

People of Taloba

The following is a short list of Talobian characters.

• Elohna
• Jakai
• Kreesha
• Myri

Out of character note: Non-Myrian PCs are not allowed to post/start in Taloba without first completing a travel thread in the Jungle Wilds. The exceptions to this are: 1) you have the Lore of Taloba's Location, 2) your PC was born/grew up in Taloba, 3) you have the ability to fly (for bird Kelvics/Inarta with Wind Eagles) or 4) you are traveling with a Myrian who grew up/lives in Taloba.