✥ CULTURE, ECONOMICS, AND POLITICS
✥ THE CULTURE OF KENASH
When one recalls the city of Avanthal, they often speak of the intricate wood and bone carvings of the Vantha people. When one mentions Riverfall, powerful images of strong, towering structures, very much like the Akalak men who call the city home, usually come to mind. However, when an attempt is made to pinpoint the specific beliefs, values, and aesthetics that permeate the lavish City of Kenash, it become a bit of a challenge to simply draw upon the name of just one race, one clearly defined culture.
While the majority of citizens are indeed Human, even they hail from many different parts of the world. For example, one can easily find traits of a Vantha carving on the face of a wooden boat being utilized by a Svefra fisherman or discover a Drykas-designed pattern woven into a Konti-made tapestry. The distinct lines normally maintained in a blended city, have been purposefully blurred within the walls of Kenash, so that the citizens can garner the best of the best, which is often preferred over a design that is traditionally associated with one race or another. So if a race is known for excelling in a particular craft or trade, they may be sought out and handsomely paid to work with an artist or builder from an entirely different background, all in an effort to create the best possible product. Therefore, the end result of all of this blending is a culture that is uniquely Kenashian.
ARCHITECTURE
Ornate, but never overdone or gaudy, unless purposefully designed that way for a festival or party. Commanding, but rarely cold or uninviting, unless the need for function overrides form, which is rare. Kenashian architecture knows exactly how to make a statement, without being too obvious or obnoxious.
Materials that tend to be utilized in construction include stone and wood, as well as brick and bamboo. Structures are rarely more than three or four stories high, with the majority being only one or two; however, a good number of riverside builds often include a fake or sub-basement, in an effort to combat the occasional flood.
Windows and doorways are often wide and tall in design, to allow ample sunlight in, but also the rare cool breeze, which then flows freely through the spacious rooms contained within. On both openings, heavy shutters or doors can be found to protect against the driving rains that can occur without warning.
Quarters for slaves, strictly designed for function, tend to be made from leftover, yet durable materials. They are usually one floor, box-style structures that house anywhere between a dozen to three dozen individuals. These buildings are also usually built in groupings, like small villages, to reduce the amount of overseers needed to patrol them.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
If there is one thing Kenashians want to be known for, it's their ability to entertain themselves and each other. The average citizen is usually proficient in at least one performing art, be it playing a musical instrument, acting or dancing, but they don't usually stop their training there. Conducting an orchestra, directing a play or choreographing a routine tends to be their ultimate goal.
If, for some reason, they are not proficient in any of the performing arts, they will take to the visual or literary arts instead, such as painting, weaving or writing. Once again, their eye is usually on displaying a gallery full of their work or producing several volumes of great literature, which, hopefully, will be enjoyed long after they have passed on. The arts are truly the one area that Kenashians actively embrace and support as a community.
CUISINE & CUSTOMS
Great food is always a wonderful compliment to great entertainment, and the people of Kenash certainly know how to serve up some of the best home cooking there is!
With bountiful crops right outside their door, and rolling fields filled with a variety of livestock, the dishes that are often put forth tend to be healthy and nutritious, yet also manage to be flavorful and delicious, for fresh herbs and spices are also just a step or two away from most kitchens. Baking is also openly embraced, as is the crafting of sweet treats, such as chocolates and hard candies.
As for eating patterns, meals are generally shared three times a day - first thing in the morning, around mid-day, and at sunset - however, brunches, snacks, and evening dinner parties are also of the norm. Meals within the Dynasties tend to be large and lavish, while the slaves selection is often kept plain and simple.
DIALECT & LANGUAGE
The Common tongue is the language of choice around Kenash. That said, it is not unusual to see Pavi or hear Vani being spoken, as well as Kontinese and Tukant, since there is such racial diversity found within the population. Furthermore, since caravans come from far and wide, it is important to the local Kenashians to remain familiar with at least the basics of several languages, for trading purposes alone.
As for a regional dialect, there are indeed variations of common words utilized among the Dynasty and Freeborn classes, as well as the slaves. Certain words and, in particular, key phrases have been known to exist only in Kenash, for they mean little or nothing beyond its borders. While many of these variations stem from living within a swamp or toiling away in fields, some came about by mere chance, most likely during an evening of wordplay between Dynasty members.
FASHION
Kenashians are an interesting lot when it comes to what they wear. While many dress to impress, there are certainly those who prefer function over flash or form. Living in an often humid, sometimes muddy, swampy setting can certainly take its toll on an individual's clothes, as well as dictate the choices they make when dressing.
It is not uncommon to see a Dynasty member dressed one way at the start of the day, another way at some point mid-day, and yet a third way in the evening. Freeborns tend to be less flashy, opting to be practical when they can, unless they are gunning to catch the eye of a particular socialite. Slaves, as would be expected, have no say in what they wear and are usually supplied a type of uniform, but this varies from plantation to plantation, as well as role to role.
Fabrics run the gambit from locally produced cottons and leathers, to imported silks and satin. Heavy brocades can be found, but are rare, and lace is only for the upper class. Reptile skins are common and come in a variety of textures and colors.
FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS
Simply put, Kenashians like to party. They like to recognize everything from births to the passing of a revered Dynasty member. They'll throw an impromptu party just for sealing a potentially profitable business transaction or the launch of a new ware or service.
Festivals are numerous, yet, in some cases, fleeting. Just because one is celebrated this year, does not mean that it will return the next. If the reception is lackluster or the turnout is meek or the post-festival reviews are mixed, it is often put to rest and a new one is introduced in its place.
Holidays, on the other hand, are nearly written in stone and honored without fail. To turn down an invitation to a holiday celebration is akin to stabbing the host in the neck, with a salad fork, before the appetizers are even served. It's just not done.
✥ THE ECONOMY OF KENASH
Kenash's economy remains fairly consistent and healthy, for the Dynasties wouldn't have it any other way. Trade is very important, both within the region and beyond. Mizas need to change hands frequently and freely for the Dynasties to be able to maintain their way of life, for without it, they would have to resort to living as others do, which is a horrible thought.
BUSINESSES
Obviously, Kenash's primary business is farming. Its plantations are, quite literally, its bread and butter. With its crops of cotton and tobacco, sugarcane and cocoa bean, bamboo and hemp, the Kenashians produce some of the richest crops in all the land. As a result of this, they then in turn produce some of the finest products, which leads them to their second largest business: the production and sale of luxury goods.
Fine linens and premium cigars, smooth liquors and luscious chocolates are just a few of the high-end items that the city produces. Add to the mix exquisite perfumes, expertly tailored garments, and beautiful, hand-crafted musical instruments and you have a dazzling treasure trove of worldly goods!
However, Kenash is not entirely a city dedicated to the production of bountiful harvests and fine wares. As with any city, it still houses many of the traditional businesses needed to keep its citizens content and living well. Therefore, there are a fair share of eateries and inns, as well as clinics that provide care and shops that sell everyday items.
While the swamp may not be the first setting that comes to mind when most are looking to launch a business, the entrepreneurs of Kenash have managed quite well for themselves.
EMPLOYMENT
Work can easily be had in Kenash if those looking for it are willing to give up their freedom for it. Joining the ranks of the slaves is the quickest way to secure a job, as well as shelter and one or two meals a day. However, by making this choice, work, at the end of a chain, is all there ever is and all there ever will be, which makes this option very unappealing to most, if not all.
Therefore, with the right set of skills, determination, and drive, an individual can earn a honest living in Kenash and maintain their freedom. As a Freeborn, employment can be garnered either in one of the city's many shops, under the watchful eye of a Dynasty owner, or in a shop of their own, with the financial support of a Dynasty member. The latter option is a bit more appealing, since it allows the individual to launch a business of their dreams, but it leaves them with a hefty debt hanging over their head.
As for the Dynasties, it is required that each family member - blood related or associated through marriage - pull their weight within the city. While their plantations will always come first, their various business ventures are just as equally important and help define who they are within the community. Viewed as a double-edged sword, success of a business can easily bring a family both wealth and clout, while failure of a venture can certainly soil a family's reputation, bringing about the waste of mizas, as well as a mark of shame.
MONEY
Simply put, the miza is the most commonly used and accepted form of currency in Kenash, and it has been since the very founding of the city. At one point, the Dynasties toyed with the idea of minting their own coins, but the project never truly took flight, for the arguments had over what would be stamped on the face of the coin were numerous and heated. So the concept was dropped and the miza was embraced.
TRADE
From the sale of crops to locals or luxury goods to foreigners, to the selling and reselling of slaves to anyone who will pay the right price, the people of Kenash are certainly familiar with the art of the honest deal, but they are also usually savvy enough to recognize the signs of a scam from a mile away. That said, they are not above attempting to pull a fast one of their own if it can gain them the upper hand or bring them a sizable gain. On the whole, they know how to haggle and persuade until an agreeable transaction is made, but they also seem to have a knack for being able to hinder or completely evade any deal that feels off, if even just a little. Trade is a way of life for most Kenashians. It's the backbone of their existence, the lifeblood that keeps them going. To deny it would be like denying them air.
✥ THE POLITICS OF KENASH
The political landscape of Kenash ebbs and flows rather freely from Magistrate to Magistrate and, in turn, season to season. For the most part, it is stable, and kept that way by the ruling families, both in office and not. The thought of chaos erupting at anytime, for whatever reason - be it big or small - does not sit well with any one of the twelve Dynasties. Therefore, they do their best to keep things in order and in line, by privately overseeing their lands and publicly supporting the city with a revolving Magistrate. The Rules & Regulations of Kenash are yet another tool that they use to keep things running smoothly.
Are there disputes? Yes. Do they get resolved in a timely manner? So far, they have been. However, Kenash is starting to make a name for itself, not only within the area, but the region. So there's a very good chance that outside forces may start to apply pressure to those who have been living the good life for a bit too long.
CITY DEFENSES
With the changing of the Magistrate, comes the changing of the guard, which means the City of Kenash and its surrounding territory - that which is not owned by a Dynasty and protected as they see fit - may or may not be patrolled, protected or defended to the same degree or in the same manner as it was by the previous administration or how it will be by the next.
Each Magistrate comes to the office with their own style of defense. For example, when a Magistrate of the Paille Family is in power, additional horse patrols are usually utilized, but when an Ackina Magistrate rules, they tend to enlist their most trusted Kelvics as part of their guard. Twelve families, twelve unique styles; however, they all share the common goal of protecting and defending the people of Kenash, which they have managed to do for many years thus far and, hopefully, will continue to do for many more to come.
LAWS & ENFORCEMENT
While the people of Kenash may give off the impression that they are laid-back and carefree, when it comes to their laws and enforcing them, nothing could be farther from the truth.
Quick to react and even quicker to resolve an issue, it is rare when a criminal finds themselves in a state of confinement for longer than a day or two. There truly is no official prison in Kenash because there has yet to be the need for one. Instead, criminals are held in a small cell within the building that houses the Magistrate's Office, they are swiftly brought before the Magistrate - or someone of the office, depending on the severity of the crime - and they are sentenced.
Expulsions from the city are common, but so are executions at the end of a rope. Dynasties tend to take care of their own and slaves are usually dealt with on the spot. Freeborns are the ones to watch the most, since they walk that fine line between the two worlds, but, again, even they are handled in a quick and efficient manner.
THE MAGISTRATE
A position that was born more out of necessity than want or desire, the role of the Magistrate - depending on who you ask - can be considered a blessing and a curse.
One of the most influential people in Kenash, he or she has the final say in all matters involving the city and its surrounding territory, save the land owned and overseen by the twelve ruling Dynasties. Selected by said Dynasties, the position is rotated each season, through each house, giving them not only control for a limited number of days, but a forum to express themselves, leaving a mark - good or bad - on the city and its people.
Knowing that each Dynasty will have its turn in power, more or less keeps the other families in line for fear of retribution at a later date. That said, each Magistrate is permitted to amend the Rules & Regulations of Kenash as they see fit, regardless of the outcome. So, for example, the Paille Family often allow horses to be freely ridden throughout the city, when they are usually only permitted for the purpose of trade or service, as well as tents set up in parks and on beaches, which, again, is not the norm.
Magistrate's usually bring with them a personal staff, as well as an expertly-trained security detail. Several have held the position more than once in their lifetime, but, regretfully, more than a few have been assassinated while in office. So a trusted staff is key.
It is a position of power and pain, glory and grief, yet many crave it and most will do nearly anything to obtain it. . |
by Vice on April 28th, 2014, 11:58 pm 