Compiling week 23 of the project, comprised of an additional 7+ sites, this week tribal regions of the City-State of Taodeas as shown below:
Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #155
June 4th, 2023
Number: 155
Name: The Gotasi Tribal Circle
Location: Center of the plains between Lanu Maug and Tuton Maug near the Crossroads
Population (approx.): 600 (normally) up to 6,000 (festivals and meets)
Brief: Centuries ago, before the Ta’arnan Empire conquered from the south, before the Cean Peoples landed from the east, and before the Kings of Noldrune wandered from the north, the Tribes prospered across the central plains of Sudeben. Present day Taodeas is home to tribes originally native to the area such as the Taos in the west and the Mataf to the east, but central plains of the City-State are now home to the Gotasi, a patchwork peoples assembled and united over the past years from tribes nearly destroyed and scattered by the conquers of Sudeben. The Gotasi, forged in fire by warrior chiefs, formed the core of Taodean armed forces that expelled the Ta’arnans from Taodeas, driving them into the Wastelands. They could have rightfully taken Blackstone Fortress (#15) as their “circle” (the center of a tribe’s lands and influence) but instead created and formalized the Gotasi Circle in the geographic center of their lands, just southeast of Crossroads (#54).
Geography: The Circle of the Gotasi sits several miles southeast of Crossroads, joined to the main highway of Taodeas by a broad flag-lined avenue. Each banner represents a tribe that was previously or is now currently part of the patchwork quilt that is the Gotasi. The Circle is of traditional style, a circular area of ground raised 5 meters above the surrounding land, covered with a circular building built to the edge of the rise with the center open to the air. Fences run outward from the Circle, like spokes of a wagon wheel, dividing the land into sections one per each of the current Gotasi member tribes. Each has built permanent tribal buildings (a mix of tribal hall, meeting rooms and residences for permanent residents of the Circle), warehouses and stables, with clear spaces for the tents, wagons and caravans of visitors (primarily for the yearly tribal gathering).
Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #156
June 5th, 2023
Number: 156
Name: The Danthas Tribal Circle
Location: Southern Tuton Maug hills north of the Danthas River
Population (approx.): 400 (normally) up to 4,000 (festivals and meets)
Brief: The Danthas Tribe have lived between the hills and the river that bears their name since the springs and snowmelt of the Ulu Maug slopes gave life to the Danthas river. They are a people of many aspects, hosting many Kin within their bloodlines. The Danthas have numerous settlements in the hills for both mining and hunting (there being some Dwarves among the Danthas not related to nearby Clans). But they also have many small thorps along the river, where farming and fishing are the primary occupations. In between, Danthas craftsfolk create their wares, from resources from south and north, for merchants to ship and sell along the great highway that crosses their lands. They are closest in minds, hearts and relationships with the Saut across the river in the Wastelands and the Mataf to the east where the river meets the Sea of Hethichol. But the Danthas are wary of the Wosen (#126) and have been for years, hence they support the patrols of the High Plains Drifters (#91) encouraging them to keep an eye on the strange Wildfolk.
Geography: The Tribal Circle of the Danthas can be found on a wide and short mesa at the southern end of the Tuton Maug range. A great avenue connects the circle to the main highway to the south. A great wooden palisade, thick and highly decorated, surrounds the circle, reinforced with stone quarried from the hills to the north. Buildings with sharply pitched rooves, featuring ornate carvings along the ridges of the peaks, rise above the walls. Those structures include the temples to the gods of the Danthas, the Great Circle hall, residences of the permanent caretakers and luxurious accommodations for yearly visits of the Danthas’ Chief and their Council.
Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #157
June 6th, 2023
Number: 157
Name: The Taos Tribal Circle
Location: A valley between the Alavai River and the Lanu Maug hills.
Population (approx.): 200 (normally) up to 2,400 (festivals and meets)
Brief: The Taos were once one of the most populus tribes of the region, their lands at their greatest stretching from the Lanu Maug north and west across the Alavai River into the Narrows. They suffered at the hands of the Ta’arnan Legions and the following occupation, were greatly reduced but still managed to lead the rebellion that freed the lands creating the Taodeas of today. The Taos circle, before the fall, was Taosport (#17) but the tribe was forced to moved it east into the hills during the occupation. There the Taos chiefs struggle to rebuild the tribe, control Taosport versus the challenge of Ta’arnans, minor tribes and ascendant Guild-supported merchant houses and compete versus the Matui to the south. In addition, rumor suggests that Noldrune emissaries are trying to lure the Dwarven clans of the Lanu Maug Cantons (#4, #52) to join their City-State.
Geography: The Taos Circle can be found in an oval-shaped valley on the western Lanu Maug slopes just over a day’s travel east of Taosport. A bowl shaped central amphitheater is surrounded by arcs of single-story long rectangular cabins, the closest being occupied by year-round residents. The cabins serve all necessary functions such as residences, meeting halls, chapels, merchant’s stores and crafter’s workshops. The outer buildings are kept clean for visitors primarily arriving for great tribal gatherings. The amphitheater fills with thousands of cheering brightly clad Taos tribesfolk waving flags and banners, playing instruments and chanting songs of ancient legends and past heroics. New songs are few and far between.
Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #158
June 7th, 2023
Number: 158
Name: The Mataf Tribal Circle
Location: Roughly in the center of Mataf lands, north of the Danthas between the Tuton Maug and the coast.
Population (approx.): 350 (normally) up to 3,800 (festivals and meets)
Brief: Since the rebellion, the Mataf have grown to be the third or perhaps second largest tribe of Taodeas. Their lands cover the southeast corner of the City-State, comprised of farmland and pastures divided by small forests and miles and miles of wood and stone fences. The region is crisscrossed with trails and narrow roads connecting farmsteads, manors, thorps and villages. The Mataf enjoy the pastoral life, growing food and raising animals to feed themselves and trade to their neighbors the Danthas for ore and tools, the Launi for wood and furnishings and even across the Danthas River border with the Saut for exotic items from the desert and the Wastelands. Though generally friendly, the Mataf are wary of those who might threaten their quiet lifestyle like the bandits of the river (#20) and the Wildfolk beyond Gate-in-iron (#126). Chiefs of the tribe have proposed an unusual step of contacting the Mercenaries Guild for both additional protection of their borders and training of their own Fieldmarshals. The United Tribal council has heard rumor of the idea but have yet to enjoin the Mataf from proceeding.
Geography: The Mataf Tribal Circle, known as the Grand Roundabout, can be found at the end of a highway spur running to the east off the main road from Blackstone Fortress (#15) to Aai Lau (#21). The Roundabout is a series of concentric roads, the innermost encompassing a grand park of meadows and trees. In between the outer rings are numerous houses interspersed with businesses and tribal buildings. The Mataf gathers 4 times a year at the beginning of each season to celebrate the expected upcoming natural changes.
Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #159
June 8th, 2023
Number: 159
Name: The Matui Tribal Circle
Location: Along Taop Bay north of Matumouth
Population (approx.): 320 (normally) up to 2,300 (festivals and meets)
Brief: Like the Taos to the north, before the Ta’arnan occupation, the Matui claimed land on both sides of their namesake River, between the Lanu Maug and Afale Maug ranges and the coasts of the Taop Bay and Arvach Ocean to the west. They too were reduced by the Legions, and today claim the southern half of the lands between the Alavai and Matui Rivers. Unlike their neighbors to the north, the Matui are a cheerful folk on good terms with everyone including Ta’arnan expats within their lands and those south of the border with the Wasterlands. Their main foes, ably countered by the various groups of Wardens (River-, #51, and Hill-, #86, for example), are the Orcs and other aberrations of the Lanu Maug and various bandits and ne'er-do-wells south of the border. The Matui have no one specialty, supporting all forms of crafting within their borders, but their homegrown Wardens are a notable military force copied throughout the City-State.
Geography: The Tribal Circle of the Matui is in the form of a great semi-circular building complex embracing an inlet of Taop Bay under a half-day's travel north of Matumouth (#120). The circle is completed by a great breakwater, whose roots are well over a thousand years old, that enclosed the bay-ward side of the inlet protecting vs. Storms from the ocean beyond. The stone structure is pierced by 2 great sea-gates to allow vessels to enter and exit. The buildings ascend a series of terraces so all have a view of the beach and bay, the lower levels being boathouses and dry docks and the upper levels being residences for locals, visitors and topmost the nigh palatial accommodations for the Chiefs of the Tribe. Ceremonies and special events are held on the beaches and in the waters of the harbor.
Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #160
June 9th, 2023
Number: 160
Name: The Launi Tribal Circle
Location: Eastern edge of The Greatwood atop the Mautasi (the lone hill)
Population (approx.): 550 (normally) up to 5,000 (festivals and meets)
Brief: The second largest and likely the oldest tribe of Taodeas, the Launi call the Greatwood and all surrounding forests and hills between the Tuton Maug and the Sea of Hethichol their home. They are thought to be a completely arboreal peoples, but a goodly percentage of the population live at ground level throughout the woods. The Launi tribe is the most diverse in terms of numbers of Kin within their ranks, many families featuring a mix of Elven, Human and Wildfolk bloodlines. The tribe hence is on good terms with the Elven (#37 and Feystone Woods in the Narrows) and Wildfolk (#126) communities of four City-State region. The Launi were a great thorn in the side of the Ta’arnan Empire during the occupation to the point where the Legions avoided the Greatwood entirely, creating a coastal road or sailing around the area. They gladly contributed their archers and rangers to the rebellion and continue to support the armed forces of the United Tribes to this day. The Launi contribute their woodcraft to the City-States providing products from their carefully managed forests.
Geography: The Tribal Circle of the Launi was built at the peak of the tree-covered Mautasi, a large solitary hill east of Aai Lau, about halfway between that city and the coast. The hill, an ancient volcanic caldera, features a wide bowl filled with grasslands inside a rim covered with some of the tallest trees of the region. The inner trunks and sides of the caldera feature numerous buildings overlooking the circle. Ladders, ziplines and narrow staircases connect the treehouses with ground level structures and the meadow. In the center of the meadow is a single large stone rising above the grasses. Tribal chiefs and priests climb to the flattish top to address the gathered Launi during festivals, celebrations and services. The masks of the Six Gods associated with nature, life, trees and flora are revered here above all others and are indicated by smaller decorated stone obelisks surrounding the center. The Launi are the most religious of the generally secular tribes of Taodeas.
Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #161
June 10th, 2023
Number: 161
Name: Other Tribes and Chiefs of note in Taodeas
Location: Varies, see below
Population (approx.): Varies, see below
Brief:
Saut Tribe – The unofficial seventh major tribe of Taodeas, the Saut live about the Saut River in the Wastelands. As the tribes unified to drive the Ta’arnans south into the Wastelands, the Saut were not numerous enough, powerful enough or simply failed to make a case that they should be part of Taodeas and the border was set along the Danthas River. However, the Saut continue to have close relations with the Danthas and Mataf to the north and are supported by their brethren tribes in time of need.
Dwarven Clans of the Lanu Maug – Four Dwarven Clans (Lakeforge, Redgorge, Steelsons and Orccutters) make their home in the Lanu Maug hills between Lake Loloto Pogisa and the Orc territories in the center of the range.
Dwarven Clans of the Tuton Maug – Three Dwarven Clans (Highpeak, Crystalhome and Earthmule) make their home in the Tuton Maug hills west of the Greatwood and just south of their brethren Dwarves of Noldrune across the border (though the Dwarves see no difference between the Clans of either City-State).
Wosen Tribe of the Tuton Maug – The Wosen are a tribe of Wildfolk who live in the southeast Tuton Maug south of the Dwarves and west of the Mataf Tribe of the farmlands.
Geography:
Saut Circle – The Saut lands are along the Saut River from Sauville (#137) north to the junction with the Danthas at Saut Falls (122). The tribe’s circle (population: 750) is a large settlement on both sides of the waters in the center of their territory. A great platform for ceremonies rises above the river, connected by wooden bridges to each bank. Buildings cover the lands including the usual residences and businesses.
Lanu Maug Dwarven Cantons – The western Cantons occupy the north end of the Lanu Maug hills, from lake Loloto Pogisa and the settlement of Vaitaus (#4) southeast the border at Orcwatch Spire (#53). Each Clan constructed their own citadel (population: about 500 per site) in the roots of the underearth roughly equidistant from each other in a roughly diamond shape.
Tuton Maug Dwarven Cantons – The eastern Cantons occupy the northeast portion of the Tuton Maug hills from the border with Noldrune south to just north of the Wosen territories on the surface. Each Clan constructed their own citadel (population: about 500 per site) in the roots of the underearth roughly 30 miles from each other in a line running north to south.
Wosen Cavehome – The Wosen Wildfolk claim a roughly circular region of the southeast Tuton Maug hills near the corner formed by the Danthas, Mataf and Launi Tribal lands. The Wosen’s largest settlement, where their Chief resides, is a large complex of caves and adjacent open areas concealed by a carefully magically cultivated canopy of foliage. Known as their Cavehome, it is thought to be in the center of their lands. Their contact with the outside world, primarily the Launi Tribe, is at Gate-in-iron (#126) on their southeast border.
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