Xadir
(zah-DEER)
Contents
Location and Description
Xadir is the largest city-state of Caulis, and perhaps the known world as well. It is a bustling port and important center for trade, and is at the crossroads of major land and sea trade routes. It sits on the Bay of Xaan, at the mouth of the River Caul. The waters of the bay are calm for most of the year and well-protected from pirates. The weather in and around Xadir is sunny and pleasant on average. Boats and caravans by the dozen, loaded with goods, enter and leave the city and its port every day. And adventurous souls from hundreds of miles around flock to the city in search of fame and fortune. Some find it; many find only danger and misery.
According to legend, the city was founded by the mythical hero and explorer Xad. Depending on the version, he was led to the Bay of Xaan and the location where Xadir now sits by either a gigantic whale or a beautiful fish-woman. Xad found the region to be to his liking, and quite bountiful agriculturally, and so stayed and founded the city that bears his name. (Xar, third son of Xad, supposedly travelled south to the source of the River Caul and founded Xadir's sister city Xaros.)
Residents of Xadir refer to themselves as Xadiri. The population of the city and the small towns and villages surrounding it is approximately 30,000, with 15% (4,500) of that made up by slaves, and another 10-15% (3,000-4,500) at any given time being foreigners in permanent or semi-permanent residence. Of the remainder, around 2,000 Caulisian residents of Xadir are citizens and have the appropriate rights (see Social Structure below). Though the wealth of the city and surrounding area is quite considerable, it is concentrated in the hands of the 10% of the population that are citizens.
Political System
The ruling monarch of Xadir is known as the Archon. The Archon is undisputed master of Xadir and the towns and villages adjacent to it. He makes all the laws and has the power of life and death over every man, woman, and child within the city and its environs. The monarchy is hereditary and can only be held by a man. The Archon rules from his stone palace atop Xado Hill, just west of the River Caul. It looks down on the waterfront and main market square, and is situated in the midst of a lush, three-acre garden. The palace and its grounds are off limits to everyone save the Archon, his family, advisors, and slaves, noblemen (and their slaves), and the army unit assigned to be the Archon's personal guard. Treasures from across the region including weapons, armor, and coffers full of coins and precious stones are housed within the palace. The Archon's scribes and their ledgers and records (primarily scrolls) are kept in buidling adjacent to the palace.
The Archon has very few real duties to fulfill. He hosts visiting royalty and dignitaries from foreign lands, and holds a large banquet for his nobles and other men of importance once or twice a week, where matters of state, trade, and alliances are discussed. Some archons of the more recent past have spent most of their time in the pursuit of leisure activities such as hunting, dining, and amassing wives and concubines. Others have been more interested in amassing knowledge and exploring lands beyond the borders of Caulis.
Men of the noble houses are constantly vying for position and favor in the Archon's court. There is no real political power to be gained by such games, though the Archon has the ability to grant lands and such lucrative positions as sinar (judge) and olaghi (port official) to those nobles he favors.
Should the Archon die without a male heir, the noble houses gather behind two or three likely candidates from within the nobility and vote for a new Archon; a simple majority among the 200 or so nobles is sufficient to take the throne. The process is always full of intrigue and power brokering, as well as the occasional violent episode.
Archons up until Attamun IV (297-252 BCE) have claimed direct descent from Xad, the founder of the city. Some Archons since have said they are of the House of Xad, but none has been able to substantiate the claim.
Social Structure
The social structure of Xadir 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, sailors, 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 privileges.
Nobility -- 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. As a result, the nobility remains securely under the Archon's thumb and wield no real power or influence beyond what they are given. 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 Hirmun of the House of Zulbek). and can be identified by a large, bronze crescent moon 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.
Citizens -- In order to be considered a citizen of Xadir, 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 Xadiri army of not less than 20 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.).
Commoners -- 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 shopkeepers. 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 Xadiri 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. There are many tales in Xadiri folklore of men from the lowliest levels of society rising to the highest heights of nobility.
Slaves -- The slave trade flourishes in Xadir. Slaves are typically imported from other regions, and the majority are barbarians captured through the conquests or military actions of more warlike city-states. A quarter of slaves in Xadir are former residents convicted of crimes or enslaved as a result of debt. Noble houses and citizens generally keep a household staff of 4 to 6 slaves of either gender, but the majority of slaves labor in the fields surrounding the city, or building and maintaining structures and roads. Dealers from the other coastal city-states of Caulis travel to Xadir for the monthly slave market held in the main square of the city. The cities of Southern Caulis do not typically acquire slaves in Xadir, as it is considered far too costly to transport them to the south. Slaves are easily identified by the leather collars they must wear at all times; to remove a slave collar is a serious crime. A slave-owner may treat a slave as well or poorly as he likes, but it is considered a minor crime (though generally unenforced) to beat or kill a slave for any reason. A slave may be freed only with the Archon's permission.
Military
Xadir maintains a relatively small professional military (about 2,000 men) made up of men from the city and the surrounding towns and villages. Soldiers enlist for life, but can be discharged after fulfilling 20 years of service, upon which time they are granted citizenship and a small plot of land somewhere on the outskirts of the city. The vast majority of men who enlist in the army (75%) come from the lowest levels of commoners--those who have no money and no prospect of a life better than grueling labor. Men who commit crimes not punishable by death are given the option of military service or enslavement, and always choose the army. Any man over the age of 14 can enlist, but must pass a physical test to be admitted, The Xadiri army is primarily for the defense of the city and almost never engages in military conquest. If necessary, any suitable man may be drafted or pressganged into service in the army for as long as necessary; citizens and nobles are exempt from such involuntary service.
The Archon is the supreme commander of the military. He defers the day-to-day administration of the army to 4 generals (all nobles as well) who each command a legion of approximately 500 men. Each legion is divided into 10 companies of 50 men, each led by a hattar (captain). A company is further subdivided into units of 10 soldiers, with a unit commander called a zattar (sergeant) that reports to the hattar. Since the army does not engage in any significant regular combat, it is employed generally in patrolling the city streets, the areas surrounding the outskirts of the city, and the port. A soldier has the power to arrest any man, woman, or child on suspicion of having committed a crime. One unit is charged with guarding the main entrance to Xadir, and inspecting the goods or travellers who come into the city every day. Another unit is considered the Archon's personal guard and is permanently stationed at the palace on Xado Hill. If necessary, units of the army can be used to build or maintain roads, the city walls, or structures within the city.
Xadiri soldiers are competent, though not particularly experienced or well trained. A typical soldier's equipment includes a short sword, spear, and medium-sized round leather shield. Armor consists of greaves, breastplate, and a helmet. The helmet of any soldier ranking higher than zattar includes a horsehair crest. About one-third of soldiers are trained as archers, and there are no significant horse-mounted units or charioteers.
The Xadiri navy (not considered a seperate entity from the army) is made up of 20 medium-sized galleys and a handful of smaller boats. The navy rarely sails out of the Bay of Xaan, but will occasionally escort an important shipment to a neighboring region, or accompany the Archon on state visits to major trade partners like Hellianoptis or Lutia. The navy may comandeer any civilian vessel at any time and use it as long as is deemed necessary.
Arms and Armor of a Xadiri Soldier
Religion
The people of Xadir, like the rest of Caulis, worship Eldraad and the other gods of the Caulisian pantheon. Due to Xadir's proximity to the water, Hommut has a more prominent position in the pantheon than Zithna (who tends to have more importance in cities farther inland and more dependent on farming).
Eean have no particular social standing or privileges in Xadir. They serve the gods first, the Archon second, and the people third. The Archon is considered the Supreme Religious Authority in Xadir, though this status is largely ceremonial and everyone knows it. The largest temple is the one dedicated to Eldraad and the Head Priest of that temple is called the Eldreeanos; he is considered the wisest and most learned man in the city. There are temples and shrines dedicated to all the major gods and goddesses of Caulis throughout the city, and shrines to various foreign deities erected by expatriate merchants can be found if one looks hard enough. As in other cities of the region, the eean are given money and gifts by the populace to pray on their behalf, to bless marriages, births, business undertakings, and perform healing ceremonies. As such, the priesthood is fairly lucrative, though the Archon takes a healthy portion for himself.
As elsewhere in Caulis, The major religious festival takes place at midsummer. There are great processions through the city from temple to temple and down to the waterfront. Offerings are made to Eldraad, and great feasts are enjoyed by all. The Festival of Hommut in the third month is the second most holy day of the year.
Trade
There is an old saying in and around Caulis: "If it can be found, you'll find it in Xadir." The city-state has grown to be one of the largest in the known world because of its ravenous appetite for trade. Its somewhat central location on the continent and at the crossroads of major land and maritime trade routes means boats and caravans are entering and leaving the city nearly constantly.
Xadir is full of craftsmen who produce tools, weapons, clothing, household goods, etc.; these durable goods are made well enough, if lacking in artistry or refinement. A large portion of durable goods manufactured in the city are transported to the primarily agricultural city-states further south, or to neighboring regions.
Currency
The main currency of Xadir is a copper coin known as the tek. Also in circulation is a smaller coin known as a bel (or abbel), valued at 1/6th of a tek (i.e. 6 bels to the tek). The economy of Xadir (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 a small turkey or pound of chickpeas; likewise, a shipment of lemons from Ilkara might be paid for with an agreed-upon amount of Caulisian pepper.
Education
There is no Xadir-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 fathers believe are most important. Among the nobility, having an Ilkaran tutor for one's son(s) is considered absolutely necessary. Children of commoners receive no formal education, and literacy is very nearly unheard of outside the nobility and the upper tier of the citizenry.
Clothing
The men of Xadir wear the traditional Caulisian light, thigh- or knee-length tunic known as the 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. 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 merchants and nobles like to wear colorful Hurkits imported from Ilkara (they are usually far too expensive an item for any but the richest men, and as such serve as a status symbol as well). Ona and Hurkits are secured around the waist by a leather or cloth belt.
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. Like their men, well-to-do women prefer the colorful garments of Ilkara and acquire them whenever (and wherever) possible. 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 for themselves tasteful decoration from cheap, semi-precious stones or seashells and such.
When the weather turns cool, Xadiri men and women wrap themselves in rough woolen cloaks known as niona.
Due to the large number of foreigners, it is not uncommon to see clothing and fashions from all corners of the known world, but Xadiri do not, in general, adopt non-Caulisian fashions readily.
Both men and women wear simple leather sandals. Slaves and poor residents of the city go shoeless.
Hair Styles
Xadiri men of all social classes, like other Caulisians, wear their hair cropped short (hair that hangs down past the shoulders is considered effeminate). Beards, also well trimmed and maintained, are common. Soldiers prefer to shave their heads and faces, but are not required to do so. Xadiri women wear their hair long, but do not otherwise fuss over it much. Wealthy Xadiri women with an excess of free time enjoy elaborate hairstyles and braiding techniques.
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