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Asurlis

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Asurlis

Adrift in an endless sky, the micro-nation Asurlis (AH-shurr-liss to locals, although most foreigners will mispronounce it ah-SURR-liss) is a series of floating islands connected by a few tenuous, crumbling bridges. Compared to other realms, Asurlis is quite small geographically. There are only a few major islands, and other than the capitol, all are extremely underdeveloped by comparison. Populated by winged humanoids, Asurlis is often mistaken for some kind of heaven - but for most, it is not a nice place to live.

Due to its small landmass, Asurlis must import all its food and much of its other necessities. The resulting exorbitant prices have made Asurlan society highly stratified, with even the most successful of merchants having to expend most of their profits on the simple cost of living. The various classes are segregated to different districts, and the lowest classes often segregated to entirely different islands. Districts are designated vertically: the higher up you are in society, the physically higher your place of residence. Consequently, it is considered a privilege to work for one of Yala's wealthy, as servants often live on the estate for the convenience of their employer. Such workers are usually envied more than even merchants, who still must return to their own meager homes on the lower levels.

Although government in Asurlis is technically considered a civil duty, with citizens called on to serve time in parliament the way one might be required to serve on a jury, it is well-known that the selection process is rigged, and parliament is entirely dominated by Yala's aristocracy. Between (and sometimes during) their society events, these 'noble civil servants' engage in numerous petty rivalries and constant upper-class espionage for their own amusement. Actual government is typically left to the head of the military; thus, Asurlis has long been a police state governed by martial law. Unrest and the uneven economy are fostering rebellion, but thus far it hasn't come to more than whispers in the dark.

As a consequence of Asurlis's high crime rates (the result of its extreme wealth divide), 'justice' is swift and merciless, with capital punishment - the removal of a criminal’s wings - becoming a frequent occurrence. Although the painful amputations are performed behind closed doors, it serves as a powerful public shaming tool, functioning much like a brand. Wingless humanoids are second-class citizens, treated with constant suspicion and mistrust. Systemic discrimination frequently leaves them homeless and unemployed, and their deaths typically go unrecorded. Although rehabilitation programs for criminals exist, these services have minimal funds and are often the subject of harassment from both the justice system and the general public.

Within the capitol, foreigners and the aristocracy are largely insulated from the worst Asurlis has to offer - but the winds of change are stirring.


Yala, Crown Jewel of the Four Winds

At its top level, Yala (YAH-lah), the capitol city of Asurlis, is a pinnacle of city planning. Twelve walkways fan out from a circular central plaza that also serves as a giant sundial, with numerals carved in its pavers and an exquisite gold gnomon at its center. Around its rim are high-end boutiques, cafes, and specialty shops, all gleaming with bold colors and accents of gold and silver, often with vibrant window displays of the latest in upper-class fashions. The walkways culminate in guarded bridges to the neighborhoods and estates of the Yalan aristocrats, with the exception of one bridge that leads to the parliament building and another to the next largest of the islands, where the majority of Asurlis’s lower classes live.


Beneath those bridges lies the working heart of Yala: the small homes of the craftspeople and merchants who run the shops above, and further below, the slums and workplaces of the laborers who toil to maintain Yala’s most basic luxuries - electricity, heat, running water, sewage. The lower levels are a tacked-on afterthought, paths barely wide enough to accommodate a single person worming between the buildings. Although guards prevent foreigners from accessing these lower levels, they and their residents are essential to the island’s daily functions, and evidence of such periodically rises to the surface.

There are four main goddesses that are said to oversee those in Asurlis and favor those in Yala.

            Shabaha: The Goddess of Love and War.
            Fashahal: The Goddess of Time and Productivity.
            Ah-Sher: The Goddess of Creation and Thought.
            Hanssia: The Goddess of Peace and Prosperity.

Due to their popularity, many themed items  have been created in tribute to these goddesses, overshadowing the lesser gods that work under them.


Culture/People:

Asurlan aristocrats dress in elaborate layered robes made from richly colored silk. Most upper-class clothing features delicately embroidered silver or gold feather patterns and wing motifs, and jeweled metal plating that decorates and emphasizes the wings is particularly fashionable. Kohl eye makeup is common for both men and women. The lives of the elite are typically as shallow as they are expensive: as political puppets, there’s little for them to actually do, so they fill their time with conspicuous consumption and petty one-upmanship. Foreigners are often exoticized by the elite and “collected” (i.e. bribed or even flat-out hired into pseudo-friendship) to be shown off at parties like prized zoo animals.

The middle classes tend to dress in simple linen clothing resembling the Roman toga or stola, usually in solid colors. Although jewelry is difficult to come by, gold and silver headbands are common, with more decorative headbands being used to advertise comparative wealth. Middle-class Asurlans will treat foreigners as they would any potential customer - though don’t be surprised if you’re quoted ridiculous prices, as most Asurlan merchants will try to take advantage of anyone they might be able to bleed another gold piece from.

The lower class and the impoverished usually dress in basic chitons or shifts in dulled colors, if the cloth is dyed at all. Wool cloaks were once common among the middle and lower classes, but now they are associated with crime and rebellion, and those who would cover their wings (or lack thereof) are typically regarded with suspicion. Lower class Asurlans have no time for foreigners, whom they perceive as being in the pocket of the aristocracy. Most will be curt at best and rude at worst.

Creatures:

Asurlis is distinctly lacking in native animal populations. However, many nobles have private menageries of imported animals. Exotic birds are especially popular and are frequently sold in pet stores. Feathers are also valuable.


Missions:







Credits:
Art @ TheChinesePalmTree 
Description @ Daeranilen
Property of WorldTrain
Image size
682x542px 892.88 KB
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