An ancient city of splendor and springwater, Smantus is an oasis of civilization in a wild, unforgiving desert. The people of Smantus cleave strongly to ancient tradition, and are quick to judge all who do not respect their Codes. If one can navigate the thorny local customs, one can make a fortune here trading spices, carpets, gems, dyes, and fabulous luxury goods.
Most noteworthy among the many ancient Codes of the Smantusi are the Code of Art and the Code of Passage. The Code of Art decrees that no constructed surface larger than a man may go unordained and undecorated; all buildings are adorned with elaborate murals, patterns of encrusted gems, panels of precious metals, and brightly colored banners. Even the houses of the poor appear lavish. (Note: art is a prominent role for women, in a culture that doesn’t allow them much else.) The Code of Passage decrees that access through a place never be denied except for very good reason. Even the grand palaces of the nobility allow lowly rabble to travel through their estates; to turn them away would be an unthinkable disgrace. (However, to loiter while they should be moving toward a destination would be unthinkable for the travelers.) For this reason, there are skybridges and tunnels throughout the city; the most remote, bizarre, out-of-the way locations are accessible. There is even a crystal-roofed tunnel that crosses underneath part of the Great Oasis Lake. Only in times of war and dire emergency are any passages sealed.
The shore of the Great Oasis Lake is a verdant paradise filled with lush foliage and birdsong – but less than a half mile inland the terrain gives way to barren desert. However, the city of Smantus has a complex system of man-made springs, aqueducts, and canals that transports water to lavish gardens surrounding and criss-crossing the city. Sky gardens are especially popular among those wealthy enough to afford rooftop plumbing. The richest neighborhood of the city is known as the Jungle District for this reason: from the sky (for example, on a flying carpet) it looks like a jungle.
Smantusi Heritage: 2nd Wave Pan-Auldrin (Norrish, Ustrachi, Sunder, and Vasa Lothran), and 4th Wave Sunder. Also some Dwarves, who are recent (5th Wave) migrants to the area (evicted from elsewhere and seeking mineral resources in the desert).
Population: 2 (45x)
Cultural Influence: 6. The visual aesthetic of Smantus is iconic, and mimicked (often unsuccessfully) throughout Terra Trema. Every surface in the city is carved or painted; visitors are awed by the sheer amount of color and intricacy here.
Outside of art and architecture, the Smantusi have made little recent contribution to the culture of Terra Trema at large. The people tend to be severely conservative, and many modes of expression (outside of art) are limited. Not to mention, the city’s population is small for a keystone city.
Economic Influence: 9. The merchants of Smantus grow rich from international trade. The city offers a dazzling array of trade goods, from spices to magically woven rugs to vibrant dyes and enticing perfumes. Smantusi products are in great demand throughout the rest of Terra Trema, and the city has an outsized influence on the international economy, relative to its population. But even to its nearest neighbors, Smantus is effectively remote and isolated. Difficulties in crossing the desert, and navigating the many locks and sandbars of the Oasis Channel, mitigate the international influence of Smantus.
There is a significant wealth gap in Smantus. Lower-class laborers see almost none of the city’s influx of gold and jewels, and have limited upward mobility.
Military Influence: 5. The armed forces of Smantus are skilled at desert logistics & combat, and manage to perform reasonably well against the tribal warriors of the high desert. Yet they appear more concerned with ritual and ceremony than actual combat. The Smantusi army has historically fared quite poorly in large battles against major powers.
The Smantusi army is one of the only fighting forces in Terra Trema that offers no roles whatsoever for women. (It’s not uncommon for Terra Trema’s armies to limit women to support, non-combat, or ranged roles – but the Smantusi army is the largest that is 100% male.)
In addition to the formal army, some of the richer merchant princes of Smantus have personal guards large enough to be considered their own armies. These forces tend to be more flexible and pragmatic; some of them even have foreigners or women in their ranks.
Smantus has no navy, but they do have a small air-cavalry of carpet riders. (Because I can’t help but use this stereotype; flying carpets are awesome.)
Defense: 9. Smantus is surrounded on three sides by vast stretches of high desert; the hostile terrain and climate is typically sufficient to deter (and/or desiccate) invaders. Furthermore, the river-like channel connecting Oasis Lake to the Ocean is highly defensible; there are multiple locks and gates along its length, so ships can’t just sail up to Smantus and unleash a barrage.
If an army does manage to reach Smantus, they’ll have to deal with its thick walls… made out of soft sandstone. A major hindrance to be sure (especially considering the spiked promenades) but not the sort of thing that can survive a carefully planned siege. (More specifically, not the sort of thing that can survive long against modern siege weapons.)
Smantus Cultural Statistics: (distinct classes BUT nearly identical culture throughout society)
Government: Four-year terms of rule by the Victors: champions who succeed above all others at tests of skill, bravery, and intelligence.
Most Common Criminal Acts: honor killings, robbery, rape, banditry, defacing artwork, barring travel
Justice: Traditional justice overseen by jury of peers; complex punishments that can seem random.
Climate: hot high desert - plus welcome misty breezes from Great Oasis Lake
Nights: Some lighting. Many people are nocturnal, to escape the oppressive daytime heat.
Food: Dried fruits, travel bread, camel jerky, pickled fish, various nut pastes. Smantusi food is not considered very good by outsiders, but it is very practical. It’s all food that keeps for a long time, and can be efficiently packaged for travel. This type of food is typically still eaten by non-travelers in Smantus. There is a separate culinary world for women (but not mixed groups) that is much sweeter and richer, and preferred by outsiders.
Clothing: xxxx
Festivals & Holidays: xxxx
City Appearance & Architecture: Intricate and colorful, with many sky bridges, curved parapets, and canals. All fabulously hand-carved - parts of the city are carved-out hills, others are cyclopean.
Common Sounds & Smells: A thousand different perfumes and spices, and dust.
Governance Building, Iconic Structures & Landmarks: Temple of the Forefathers, Great Library of the Codes, Rock of the Codes(at the Roadsmeet), Palace of Gems, Palace of Flames, Cascading Gardens, the Tangled Bridge, the Spire of Lashes, the Blade of Honor, Keseret's Dome, Womens' Well, House of Gates, Desiccation Pit.
Districts, Sectors, Zones, Regions, Wards, and other big places: The Jungle District (rich homes with rooftop gardens), the River of Trade (market district), Painter Street, Hireling District (slums), Forefathers Hill, the Roadsmeet, the Roofway, the Wayfair District (inns), the Bridge District (dock-bridges linking floating island-homes and water gardens), the Watering Yard (shore of Oasis Sea; full of herd animals drinking the sea's fresh water.)
Produces, Exports: spices, perfumes, copper, rare minerals/gems, carpets, natural dyes, salt, constructor plants
Demands, Imports: temperate food, meat, steel, lumber, art, flowers, literature, textiles
Satellite Cities & Towns: Smantus controls the costs of Great Oasis Lake, and has influence throughout the desert.
Highly optional game-related or story-related material:
Important People: xxxx
Plot Hooks:
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