Kalrax
Contents
Location and Description
Kalrax is the second largest city-state of Caulis and a major trade hub. It is located at the western end of the Bay of Xaan, in the crescent of land between the Bay and the northeastern slopes of the Mo'Krai Mts. It has a fairly large population (18,000) and is considerably wealthy.
The city was founded by a Xadiri nobleman named Miliga of the House of Kalriga, circa 325 BCE. Miliga, an ambitious man, was banished from Xadir for attempting to overthrow Archon Hettimun I (354-297 BCE). He journeyed west, intending to leave Caulis altogether, and came to a small village in the area where Kalrax nows stands. He and his family and followers settled there and began to grow and expand the city. The Archons and nobility of Kalrax still hold a grudge against Xadir and attempt to disrupt their trade whenever possible. There are signs that outright war may erupt in the decades to come.
Residents of Kalrax refer to themselves as Kalracian, and speak Caulisian. Some residents are able to understand and speak Samredan, as well as rudimentary Ilkaran, Lutian, Molenorian, and Zosu. Kalracians are--like other Caulisians--a friendly people, but are very distrustful of Xadir and its satellites. Merchants and travellers from other lands are always welcome in Kalrax; but like other such large and densely populated cities, danger abounds.
Political System
The ruling monarch of Kalrax and the surrounding area is known as the Archon. Unlike the other city-states of Caulis, the throne may be held by either a man or a woman, and the current ruling dynasty is descended directly from its first Archon, Miliga.
The Archon's duties are similar to those of other Caulisian city-states, and takes in large amounts of wealth through taxes, tributes, and the like. The Archon Ninenna (320-269 BCE), daughter of Miliga, set up what she called the Uncael Renna (or Council of Twelve) to advise her on matters of state, and subsequent Archons have continued the tradition. The Council of Twelve is made up of the heads of the twelve oldest and wealthiest noble houses of Kalrax. Both men and women sit on the council, and offer advice to the Archon on such matters as trade, the military, and alliances.
Religion
Kalracians worship the gods of the Caulisian pantheon in the same way as the other city-states, with one major exception. Somehow, the god Gemmuc has undergone as transformation from a malevolent trickster and souce of ill fortune to a benevolent force--the god of wisdom and of magic. He has taken a position equal to Hommut (though still below Eldraad). Priests of Gemmuc (also known as eetari or "magi") believe they posses magical knowledge obtained directly from Gemmuc, and can use this magic to affect such things as the weather or the sea, portend the future, perform enchantments, and transmute materials. The Archons of Kalrax have typically been very interested in magic and mysticism, and spend a great deal of time studying with the magi. A highly secretive school of magic--the Gemukaria--was formed in Kalrax circa 80 BCE, but it is notoriously difficult to gain entrance.
Eetari are known by their distinctive black ona and black cloaks. As a symbol of their dedication to the mystic arts, they forgo shaving and cutting their hair ("He is as wise as his beard is long.") The eetari are given money and gifts by the populace to pray on their behalf, to bless marriages, births, business undertakings, and perform healing ceremonies, as well as perform magical ceremonies for a variety of purposes (the stronger the magic, the higher the cost). As such, the priesthood is fairly lucrative, though the Archon takes a healthy portion for him/herself.
There are temples and shrines dedicated to all the major gods and goddesses of Caulis throughout the city, and the temple to Gemmuc nearly rivals the temple of Eldraad. Thanks to Kalrax's status as a major trade hub, shrines to various foreign deities can be found throughout the city.
The major religious festival of Eldraad takes place at midsummer. The Festival of Gammuc takes place at midwinter; the highlight is a massive bonfire in the main square.
The calendar year is 365 days, divided into 10 months of 36 days. A week is 6 days (and thus, 6 weeks per month), each devoted to a different god. Midsummer's Day and the 2 days preceeding and following--5 days that are essentially a month unto itself--are considered the end of one year and the beginning of the next, and are filled with festivals, feasting, and worship.
Social Structure
The social structure of Kalrax is nearly identical to that of Xadir (Miliga did not hate Xadir so much as to invent a new society from the ground up). It is made up of a small group of nobles (1%), a larger--but still relatively small--group of citizens (10%) consisting of landowners and wealthy merchants/traders, and commoners (approx. 90%). Commoners include tradespeople, fishermen, shop owners, laborers, and so on. Soldiers, priests, bureaucrats, and scholars are generally included within the ranks of commoners, as individuals in those positions seldom possess any special rights or priveleges.
The nobility are granted their status by the Archon, generally as a reward for enriching the Archon's coffers by a significant amount, or some other lavish gift. Great military victories or feats of heroism can secure noble status for a man, but such occurences are quite rare. Members of the twelve oldest and wealthiest noble families (the Uncael Renna) have a not insignificant amount of influence over the Archon, though they are generally careful not to overreach. The families of the Council of Twelve have not changed since the council's formation in the late 3rd Century BCE. There are no ranks or titles within the nobility, though those who have been granted noble status are referred to using the designation "seffut" (e.g. Seffut Varsun of the House of Chonumi). and can be identified by a large, bronze fish pendant given to them by the Archon. It is a crime for anyone other than a noble to posses or wear this pendant, though a nobleman's wives or children may wear a small replica to indicate their status as a member of a noble family. The status of noble is hereditary, and passes to a noble's firstborn son upon his death. If a noble has no sons, the status may pass to a suitable male relative, solely at the Archon's discretion. Noble houses generally take the name of the first man elevated to the nobility.
In order to be considered a citizen of Kalrax, a man must:
- own land, or
- have his business entered in the Archon's ledgers and be current on his taxes, or
- have served a term in the Kalracian army of not less than 5 years.
Citizenship grants a man the right to own slaves, and confers a certain legal status, such as the right to a trial should he be accused of a crime. Citizenship is hereditary insofar as it can be passed down to a son in the same manner as noble status. Citizenship can be stripped by the Archon or one of his high-ranking officials for any reason they should deem fitting (convicted of a crime, failure to pay taxes, etc.).
The ranks of commoners include everyone not noble or a citizen, and includes men and women from all levels of the social scale, from the poorest beggars to the wealthiest merchants. Commoners are expected to pay one quarter of all they earn in taxes to the Archon (on penalty of death or enslavement) and have no legal rights whatsoever. However, given the right mix of ambition, skill, and luck, commoners can ascend the ranks of Kalracian social strucure at any time, as long as they can meet the criteria of citizenship or make a big enough splash in the Archon's court.
Slaves are not as common in Kalrax as in other city-states of Caulis, mainly because the city relies less on agriculture and more on fishing. Slaves are typically imported from other regions, and the majority are barbarians or criminals of other lands brought in by Zhosuran slave traders. Noble houses and citizens generally keep a household staff of 2 or 3 slaves of either gender, but the majority of slaves labor in the fishmarkets, or building and maintaining structures and roads. When demand is higher, dealers sometimes travel to Xadir for the monthly slave market held in the main square of that city. The laws of Kalrax state that a slave-owner may beat a slave as often as he likes, but not to the point that it endangers the slave's life. It is considered a crime--punishable by fine--to kill a slave for any reason. A slave may be freed only with the Archon's permission.
Military
Professional soldiers are a rare breed in Kalrax. The laws of the city do not require military service, and able-bodied men find fishing in the Bay of Xaan to be much more lucrative (not to mention less life-threatening). Despite this, the city does maintain a small army of soldiers (anywhere from 750-1,000 men) from the city and surrounding villages. Kalracian soldiers are competent and disclipined, if not particularly fierce. Any able-bodied man between the ages of 14 and 40 is eligible to join the army, and can enlist for a stint of 5, 10, or 20 years. Men convicted of non-capital crimes are given the option of slavery or military service; around 30% of Kalracian soldiers are convicted criminals. A man who serves his time honorably is given a small amount of money and a plot of land commensurate with the length of his stint upon leaving the army.
In times of need, any man suitable to serve may be conscripted for as long as is necessary. However, the Archon and higher-ranking officers have found success in military matters by hiring foreigners to fight for the city when warranted. Kalrax has approximately 1,000-2,000 mercenaries on its payroll from year to year. These mercenaries are mostly barbarians from the south of Caulis, Mo'Krai mountain men, or the famously fierce Thritan soldiers-of-fortune. They are generally well-paid and not kept on a particularly tight leash. Archons have also been known to hire pirates of the northern Zhosur Archipelago to do Kalrax's maritime dirty work.
The officer class is made up entirely of nobles. While nobles are no more required to serve than commoners, at least one son of every noble is expected--by tradition and unwritten rule--to serve at least 5 years as an officer. Those who serve for more than 10 years or who have proven themselves as clever (or ruthless) enough are elevated to the rank of malkao (general) and typically serve for the rest of their lives. There are around 10 generals of the army at any given time.
Soldiers are outiftted with a breastplate of overlapping leather panels, as well as brass greaves and a brass helmet. Typical weaponry includes a javelin and curved cutlass known in the area as a lekiis. They also favor medium-sized round leather shields of the kind found in Xadir. Around 20% of soldiers are trained and equipped as archers.
Trade
The waters of the Bay of Xaan teem with sea life, so the Kalracian diet consists mainly of seafood, as well as vegetables grown on farms surrounding the city or brought in from Dyrrha. Some of the fish brought in from the bay is salted and traded to neighboring city or regions. Goats are herded in the hills to the west of the city, but are typically only eaten on special occasions.
The neighboring city-state of Dyrrha is a tributary of Kalrax. In 156 BCE, its Archon was assassinated by soldiers in the employ of Kalrax, and a puppet Archon installed on the throne. Dyrrha pays taxes to the Archon of Kalrax, and supplies the city with a significant amount of food, grain, and wood. A small garrison of 50 Kalracian soldiers is maintained there as well.
The current Archon of Kalrax is exploring ways by which Palinae might be brought under her control as well, in order to further erode the power and wealth of Xadir.
Currency
The main currency of Kalrax is a copper coin known as the kalix (or kalish). Also in circulation is a smaller coin known as a chen, valued at 1/5th of a kalix (i.e. 5 chens to the kalix). The economy of Kalrax (as with most Caulisian city-states) relies heavily on barter and the trading of goods (moreso than on minted currency), and it is not uncommon for transactions to consist entirely of goods or services. Workers may be paid for a day or week's work with fresh fish or pound of chickpeas; likewise, a shipment of dates from Molenor might be paid for with an agreed-upon amount of Caulisian olives.
Clothing
The men of Kalrax wear light, thigh- or knee-length tunics known locally as ona. Sleeve length varies, usually based on occupation or social class. Tradesmen, common laborers, and slaves wear ona with no sleeves; merchants and the wealthy prefer elbow-length sleeves. Ona in general tend to be rather plain, undyed, and without any but the most basic of decoration. Ona are secured around the waist by a leather or cloth belt. Those men for whom appearance is more than a rudimentary concern tend to set themselves apart through ornamentation--rings, necklaces, armbands, etc. Slaves are prohibited from wearing ornamentation of any kind. The wealthiest Kalracians have rejected the Xadiri obsession with Hurkits and have established a small community of garment makers to provide them with luxurious, expensive clothing.
Women wear a lightweight garment similar to the ona, but ankle-length and sleeveless. Like the male counterpart, they tend to be rather plain and undyed. Women are even more focused on ornamentation, and the wealthiest merchants' wives and noble ladies drape themselves with as many pieces of jewelry as they can afford and stand to wear at any given time. Women of more modest means will pass down items of jewelry from one generation to the next, or fashion tasteful decoration from cheap, semi-precious stones or seashells and such.
When the weather turns cool, Kalracian men and women wrap themselves in rough woolen cloaks known as niona.
Both men and women wear simple leather sandals. Slaves and poor residents of the city go shoeless.
Hair Styles
Kalracian men of all social classes, like other Caulisians, wear their hair cropped short; however, the Caulisian cultural bias against hair that hangs down past the shoulders has relaxed somewhat. It is not uncommon to see men of the city with longer hair, often braided. Beards, also well trimmed and maintained, are common. Soldiers prefer to shave their heads and faces, but are not required to do so. Kalracian women wear their hair long, and women of all social classes enjoy elaborate hairstyles and braiding techniques.
Education
There is no Kalrax-wide system of education. Noble houses and those citizens who can afford to do so hire tutors to instruct male children from the age of 6 or 7 until adulthood at age 14. There is no standardized set of subjects, and boys are instructed in whatever subjects their parents believe are most important. Children of commoners receive no formal education, and literacy is very nearly unheard of outside the nobility and the upper tier of the citizenry. Those children who show intelligence at an early age are often given over to the eetari, who educate such children not only in the realms of magic, but also in more mundane tasks as literacy, mathematics, and so on.
Creator/s: count zero
