#chelast

#387 Turtwig

DeviantArt

Ko-Fi

Turtwig © Nintendo / Game Freak

What are some of the primary imports and exports of each country (if any)? The world of Chelast actually doesn’t have very many countries, and they tend to be self-serving. There’s the main continent which houses the most massive Kingdom in existence, having been conquered corner to corner by the human King Edwynn.  They do not import anything as all the treasures to be offered are for the nourishment of their people alone. **There’s the series of tiny islands which house the Northern Gnomish kingdom of Hurrah, which have fertile soil for growing plants, and the Southern Gnomish knigdom of Huzzah, who use their tiny caves as homes and keep large, brutish beasts to eat and do manual work. Hurrah and Huzzah refuse to trade with one another, but will both trade with the varying fae tribes of the “Type”wood (i.e. Stonewood, Bloodwood, Sugarwood) forests on the Unowned Continent across the sea. The Huh’s trade their gems and berries for the different types of wood and spices. **There’s the “Beneath”, which houses no more than 10 different territories of varying degrees of ally-ship and trade proclamations that changes with the Overworld’s weather. **Finally, there are the highly esteemed Guardians of Chelast, an Elven kingdom split between their personal territories, and small encampments inside other territories in order to keep the Green Spirit alive and well. They will share with everyone, and will find it quite odd and silly if you think you own a resource enough to control it’s usage.

Are there strict social classes?  If so, is there the possibility of upward mobility among them or are people basically stuck in the class into which they’re born? Unfortunately, there are, in fact, standard social classes dictated by both wealth and hereditary “quality” of which is determined by noble status or name. This status can be bestowed and revoked by the King or one given that authority by the king, such as the High Priest of Chelast. **The Guardians have a Protector who is born with the spirit of the previous, and who, upon birth, is given the task to nurture the planet. They cannot be chosen, but are determined by a simple ritual test. They cannot give up their spirit, and often don’t want to. **The Faeries rule by a system of mutiny, with one gaining power until their natural or unnatural death. In the event of murder, the murderer becomes Ruler. The Eldest fae are given considerable respect by their local population due to their apparent wisdom or strength. **The Gnomes have clans of great respect, and clans of lesser respect. If you a person of disrespect, you can be disowned by your family; or adopted, if you happen to be a miscreant’s hero child. However, rulers are determined by the passage of the title from parent to child, with no set law as to which child is chosen other than the wish of the parent -- the ruling one, if possible.

Are non-heterosexual relationships generally accepted?  Does it vary from country to country? Generally speaking, people don’t care the gender of the person you’re with, but their status or race. A Northern Gnome will disown their child for dating a Southerner, and humans have all but completed a genocide against children of celestial beings or demons from their lands.

How highly educated are the average citizens of each country? Not very for the humans, gnomes, and fae. To the point of near child abuse for the Beneath and the Elves. 

What are some customs related to marriage and family in each country? Well, the human kingdom has a variety of traditions, with the survivors of the great war maintaining their individuality. As such, the customs are depending on the area you’re in at the time. However, it is generally practiced that children will hold their mother’s name, in the cases of those who have names to pass on. **The Elves and Faeries tend to not get married, but will sometimes throw a ceremony in respect of a relationship.

What jobs/skills are considered most valuable, noble, respectable, etc.?  What about the culture makes them value these skills over others? Soldiers are the most respected job, coming with the highest government-paid salary, and the most benefits. As the country was formed with war, the King knows that with war it could all be lost, and promotes an active participation in military patriotism. As such, mercenary groups are more on par with modern country clubs than they are with brutal vigilantes. **Most non-human cultures put more value on jobs that will provide for the population, whether it’s farmers, fishers, or even masseuses. The glaring exception is the Beneath, where headhunters who venture to the surface world in order to kill carry the sort of mysterious and dangerous air that make them celebrities when they come home with their gains.

What was the longest war in the world’s history?  How did it start, and how did it (or will it) end? The longest war is the feud between the Faeries and the Elves. Once upon a time they were a singular race, but interracial breeding caused them to split into two very different cultures. Faes will refer to Elves as “Blood Traitors”, while Elves consider the Fae to be outdated and backwater in their thinking. It may never end, as the hatred between them is so ingrained in their cultures.

What are some geographical elements that have been influential on the development of civilizations in the world? Where there is a mountain, there is a city, usually carved on one side of it. The Dwarves chose the lazy path of carving up the mountains for their homes instead of transporting shaped and smoothed stones, like the humans do. Only the richest humans have a home made of stone. Most every culture makes their homes out of or in the trees, as the forests are thick and grow fast. **The people of the Beneath have hollowed out one of the volcanoes, and use it as the base for their “overworld” museum -- one of the largest collections of natural resources on the planet.

What are the largest cities in each country?  Are these always the capitals or not? There are so many to name, and many have yet to have names. However, the second question is easy to answer -- NO. The largest city in the human kingdom is actually home to the largest mercenary guild, and is known as part of the Diamond Hills. It is just south of the Capital City of Alfblaed, which is, surprisingly, one of the smallest cities. **The Faeries don’t have capitals. **The Gnomes’ capitals are the birthplaces of their bloodlines, and are the second and third largest cities. **The Elves consider the Aelfwood to be their homeland. It is located in the Northern part of the human kingdom, and they consider the border to be wherever the trees end. As such, they heavily protest whenever that border draws in a little. **The largest city of the Beneath also happens to be the capital, and resides just below the volcano.