OOC: a little rushed in places because I wrote this while working on some homework...
Player: North King
Nation name: Essana
Capital/Cities: Karan (capital). There are no other “cities” on the island, but on the off chance you need city names for random colonies... Tanat, Shahas, Sivam.
Position: The absurdly small island marked on the map below. Also, I'd prefer the color I have myself on that map.
History: Most modern scholars would probably relate the Essanach to the Sevibriss more than any other local culture – it seems most likely that the expansion of the latter people drove others far along the coasts, and some sought refuge on the island of Essana in the midst of the Asharal Sea (the Essanat name for said sea). Some prehistoric peoples inhabited this island before then, but they were overrun by the invaders and probably intermingled with their descendants.
Though the island was fairly barren, the domesticated animals that these early voyagers took with them quite liked their new home, and communities of shepherds and fishermen began to multiply on the island.
Disunity and isolation prevailed for much of the island's history, but after a very long, rather boring period, intrepid voyagers began to connect with the cultures on the edges of the sea, and a new, urban civilization started to flourish in the city of Karan. The ruler of Karan united the island under his rule without too much trouble, and his rule was fairly secure – few invaders would be able to land an army on their shores. Most political trouble, in fact, came from enemies within the polity. Since then, little has changed politically.
Cultural values: First of all, we have the straight up values of the civilization – generally heredity, wealth, wits, and the ability to swim.
Second, a few quick notes about various aspects of the culture:
Hundreds of caverns dot the island; these were the first dwelling places of the ancient Essanach. These caves are still used for ritual and burial purposes, but the population long ago moved to brightly painted stone dwellings that dot the island – primarily flat-roofed and well-built.
Essanach are a typically polytheistic people, believing in a multitude of deities, which, while supernatural, are all too mortal. Though they believe in an afterlife, its nature is somewhat nebulous. A number of shrines dot the island (often each village will have some sort of deity or demigod to pray to), and minor sacrifices and charms permeate daily life.
The most developed forms of art on the island are murals, sculpture (typically the stone is painted in life-like colors), and music. Of the visual arts, most pieces seem to be focused on the natural, especially the vagaries of the weather, which are always a concern in a seafaring culture such as this. The music of the island uses a variety of drums, horns, reeded instruments, and plucked strings, with well-developed harmonies and unusual rhythms. Food is a beloved subject on Essana. Lamb, fish, and kale tend to be popular in their cuisine, with native salt and imported spices being used liberally – by those who can afford it, of course. Grains are somewhat harder to come by than in more agricultural societies, but are also imported en masse. Weekly feasts can range from obligatory to extravagant.
Philosophy and science might be somewhat more developed here than elsewhere in the world; at the very least, the connections the Essanach have developed with their numerous neighbors mean they are hardly in the dark about such developments.
Inheritance is patrilineal, and as a result women are somewhat devalued in this society. On the other hand, they are usually free to do as they please. The somewhat unfortunate practice of slavery has been picked up from neighboring peoples, but there is little incentive for it on a large scale here.
Entertainment includes a bizarre sport involving the use of ball and stick, and theater both high and low.
Civilization perks: The Essanat army is really not very special, owing to the fact that the only land wars they fight are against one another. Colonies on the mainland might recruit standing armies, but they are more likely to adopt the military traditions of neighboring nations. Their navy, of course, is superb, probably among the best in the world. Speed and maneuverability are prized, as is seaworthiness – the sea around Essana is rough and unforgiving. Since galleys are less favored, and thus ramming is nonexistent, projectiles, fire, and marines tend to be the main weapons against their seaborne foes.
Essana as of now is probably governed by a monarch of some sort. The kingship is hereditary, the aristocracy as of now consists solely of the wealthy.
Of old, Essana's economy centered on herding and fishing – the island was too rocky for much farming. But the growth of nearby civilizations generated trade, and the Essanach took to the activity with gusto. Now, these revenues easily outweigh all the others. Various guilds of artisans produce finely crafted goods, but are not the focal point of the economy.
Mythos: How was the world created? The first stories are always the weightiest, and the most difficult. Perhaps we shall elaborate much later, but for now a quick summary shall suffice. The world was birthed long, long eons ago, shaped by the old gods in a long and terrible process. That world was imperfect, and thus was broken and made anew, with new gods gaining mastery over it; this process was repeated a number of times before resulting in the world as it stands today.
Goals for Update 0: Surprisingly, or perhaps unsurprisingly, I don't actually have many goals for update 0. Expansion, I could see my people settling some colonies on the coasts near the island, but honestly the colonies won't end up under the control of the island – they'll be independent, though culturally similar. So, since I won't be vomiting my color over the map, what do I expect or want? The Essanach will be merchants, using their prime position in the center of the sea to exploit trade between all the coasts. They will be philosophers and artists, informing the ideas and theories of dozens of neighboring peoples. In short, they will become important without becoming big; they will never be powerful, but they might become great.