Thousand Cities:South

The South

Rocky coastlines mark the southern shore of the Central Sea. Atop the cliffs sprawls the city of Rakandra - birthplace of metalwork in the Thousand Cities. The southern lands are unstable, quickly falling away into the element of Fire. Great oceans of magma flow in the distant south, and the air itself glows with heat.

Elemental Pole of Fire

The Elemental Pole of Fire lies relatively close to the southern shoreline. Only a few hundred miles south of Rakandra's walls, the barren land melts away into a sea of unending flame. Narrow slivers of rock reach out into the sea, and rivers of molten metal flow towards the north. Beyond these shores, the air itself burns away and there is only searing light.

Great Plains

To the Southeast lie vast plains, settled by nomadic horse tribes. From these windswept plains arose Farrow, the red-maned horse-goddess. The tribes hunt across the savannah, moving constantly to follow the antelope and buffalo herds. Each year they return to the coast during Ascending Fire, when the southern sky grows too hot to range beyond sight of the sand dunes. The summer cities trade horn, bone and leather with the Central Islands.

The most prized commodity of the Plainsfolk are their red-maned horses. These creatures are never sold, for they are accorded equal status with the humans of their tribe. To take such a creature away from the plains requires the payment of a vast dowry to the tribe's elders - the contract is considered a marriage, as the horse becomes part of the owner's family. The Plainsfolk will not trade their horses through third parties, insisting that all members of the tribe must meet and approve of the rider.

Humans outside the Southeast consider these cultures eccentric, but they strictly adhere to them knowing that Farrow's eye is always upon her children. Many of Creation's finest warhorses can trace their bloodlines directly to Farrow's descendants.

Karim

The great pontoons of Karim appear more factory than city, but they house several thousand dark-skinned workers and craftsmen. The city drifts through the Sea of Fire, further south than any other human city. Protective wards and solid jade hulls ablate most of the searing heat, but the environment is still stifling for all but the local residents. Unsurprisingly, Karim seldom has visitors while on its voyages into the ocean of magma.

The people of Karim track plumes of molten metal as they well up to the ocean surface. Harvester ships scoop up raw metal, ferrying it to the main city ships for fractioning and refining.

Each month, a convoy of barges sails north to Rakandra, carrying ingots of base metal. Metals are sold to the ten noble houses, according to ancient contracts with the city’s rulers. During the season of Fire, the entire city drifts northwards and docks with the southernmost port of Rakandra. Guild ships ply the southern shores at this time, taking advantage of the shoreward migration of the Great Plains horsefolk and the metal farmers of Karim.

Oda Sul

The salt fields of Oda Sul provide great wealth to the Sul empire, although this wealth seldom reaches those who harvest it. Oda Sul is Creation’s greatest purchasers of slaves, using them to gather evaporated salt from the steppes.

Each year, the Calibration Tide wells up over the lowlands, and villages are relocated to high ground in its path. As the water recedes, it is trapped in tiered paddies but into the hillsides, where it evaporates in the sunlight. The highest tiers are harvested first, and the embankments rebuilt for the coming year.

The lowest levels dry out more slowly, producing intricate crystal patterns. On every seventh year, the harvesters place a garland of roses and poppies into the deepest pool, where they are covered in a layer of salt. These ‘Flowers of Sul’ are considered delicacies, each selling for the price of a hundred slaves. Even handling the delicate flowers without the permission of the Rajahs is punishable by death.

Rakandra

When Vanar left the city of Yilgarn, he travelled to the southern shores of the Central Sea. Here, he founded a great city of his own: Rakandra, home to the finest metalsmiths in Creation. The city draws on the vast mineral wealth of the South.

Rakandra is ruled by a Queen, typically one of the Chosen of Vanar. Ten Great Clans trade metal and artisans with all of Creation, buying the city great wealth and influence in the politics of the Central Islands. The richest of the Thousand Cities boast a Master Smith from Rakandra to oversee their metalworks. In exchange for unrivalled craftsmanship in weaponry and tools, the hosting city must sign an exclusive contract to purchase raw metals from the Master Smith's home clan.

Rakandra's great wealth has lured many of the Central nations, but no raiding force has ever penetrated its iron gates. The Rakandran armies are superbly trained and equipped, and the city benefits from both steep cliffs and a inhospitable atmosphere filled with the ash of ten thousand forges.

Sea of Fire

The Sea of Fire flows from the southern reaches of Rakandra to the Elemental Pole of Fire. Rivers of liquid glass give way to molten rock and metal further from the northern shore, and few creatures can survive. Fire salamanders and forge rhinoceri live on islands of slag that float on the fiery surface, as firebirds and phoenix soar overhead. The floating city of Karim ranges across the sea, gathering molten metals to sell to the blacksmiths of Rakandra.

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