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Former Staff
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Acumin/Herozzal
Posts: 949
Total Awards: 1
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Island Name: Chelseanna (Celsianna to locals)
City Name: Port Chelseanna
Population: 500 Permanent Residents in the city, 40-60 Students at the Conservatorio, 150 residents of Kountouras Fields, Numerous sailors and tourists
Population Breakdown: 75% Human,15% Halfling, 10% Other .
Political Affiliation: Nesocratic Federation of Eunesia
Abstract:
Northernmost island of Aelyria, known for it's slow pace of life and beautiful architechture. It is a popular tourist attraction and also attracts a fair amount of black market business as well.
Background and History
The Island of Chelseanna (Recent History)
The evacuation of Eunesia hit Chelseanna hard since much of it's income was built around tourism and the students attending the Conservatorio. With the mainlanders disappearance the natives of Chelseanna had to make some tough choices. The city became a clearing house of stolen and smuggled goods. Most of this business was carried out during the darkening, and none of the citizens ever talked about it openly during the brightening. It was their dirty little secret- cooperating with pirates to survive.
Geography
Geographical Overview
Nesocratic Federation of Eunesia
The islands of the Nesocratic Federation of Eunesia are a paradox among the lands in the north. It can be warm and bright in the islands of the Nesocratic Federation of Eunesia and yet just a few miles east, and blizzard snow of the Sodality of Carmelyn can be seen. All these can be put down to the fact that a warm current swirls around the islands, and that the cold northern winds of the Great Sea is not able to reach the islands. Instead, warm winds arise from the Eunesian Sea. Climate of the islands is subtropical, with a marked seasonal temperature variation, ranging from laze-inducing warmth to blistering humid warmth. Rain is also a constant feature in the climate of the Nesocratic Federation of Eunesia. On the average, rain will fall in three brightenings in a cycle. During the monsoon season, which is the raining season, this can increased to almost every brightening in a cycle. In some cases on the outer islands, typhoon may happen in summer.
(written by Joe)
Island of Chelseanna and the city of Port Chelseanna
Chelseanna, or Celsianna as many among the natives preferred to spell its name, sat on the northern edge of the Eunesian archipelago, and its position as the farthest island from the Medonian continent was reflected in the fiercely independent nature of its inhabitants and the uniqueness of its customs. The first impression a visitor would get from an approaching ship was typically far from breath-taking, as Chelseanna hardly looked like a civilized island from a distance, the elongated mass of land offering little more than seemingly untamed beaches, rich with aromatic bushes and small clusters of rocks, and thickets of strangely tall evergreen conifers, the existence of which made possible by the island's northern location. The trees hid the interior from the gazer's curiosity, and many a travelers were left wondering whether the island actually housed a city.
However, on a second inspection, it appeared that a few canals, of clearly artificial origin, opened every now and then, breaking the continuity in the blanket of trees and granting the incoming vessel access to the inner parts of Chelseanna; and by navigating through a canal, one would eventually get past the green curtain which hid Port Chelseanna from view, and the tourist would, all of a sudden, be able to behold the hidden city in all of its exposed glory. By the Chelseannians' own admission, the city had been specifically built to impress and amaze the visitor, because such was their peculiar vision of both life and art – awe and surprise made the spice of life, and boredom was the supreme evil. Home to a culture of extraordinary refinement and class, where etiquette could go as far as specifying the better foot with which to move the first step into a household, it was also a place of ruthless scheming and intrigue. The people of Chelseanna were exquisitely polite, and yet never sounded completely sincere, their complicated manners often far too forced and unnatural for the mainlander's ears, and even fellow Eunesians often felt uneasy dealing with them.
While it numbered only a few hundred actual inhabitants (the rest being tourists and aspiring musicians from all over the Empire), the town itself was a jewel of beauty, though it was self-conscious beauty. Unwalled and seemingly unprotected, since the island relied on its small fleet to fend off pirates and other attackers, it was a feast for the eyes, buildings concealing and shadowing one another as if competing for a place in the spotlight, the final result succeeding in conveying the feeling of surprise the locals valued so deeply. It sufficed to move from an observation point to the next, and Port Chelseanna would offer a different side of itself, almost looking like a different town. Its palaces, featuring a frivolous architectural style made of unnecessary columns and a wise but at the same time witty balance between full and empty spaces, were pure eye candy and could perhaps remind of Ieffreon, but with an important difference: while Ieffreonian buildings were majestic in their simplicity, shining in the beauty of bare proportions, Chelseanna showed off its assets much more blatantly, as if begging the visitor for a praise. Doors and windows could be seen in the least expected places, and oftentimes what looked like the entrance to a building was merely an optical illusion caused by a painting on the wall, a trompe l'oeil of incredible realism, and the real entrance was almost hidden somewhere else. The more impressive buildings were only visible after emerging from narrow, dark alleys in order to exploit the surprise effect to its fullest potential.
Port Chelseanna as a town was also full of secrets, and the tourists took great delight in trying to discover them. The main square, Piazza del Mare, and its surrounding buildings had been designed with acoustics in mind, and it was possible to whisper something while on the Speaker's Podium in front of the Thanal Tower and have it heard distinctly across the square. The Tower itself had several pinnacles on top of its circular marble roof, and the shadows projected by these on the paved floor would intersect a series of lines and symbols on the ground, effectively making the square an immense sundial of sorts, though the place was usually much too crowded with tourists for anyone to able to employ it this way.
The local Thane, called Podestà by the locals, and the City Council held most of the power. Their meetings were usually public, and the amount of etiquette, formalities and behavior rules was simply overwhelming for a non-Chelseannian. Suffice to say that all participants, regardless of gender, were required to wear grey wigs and thick layers of make-up; and the ceremonial for requesting permission to speak involved a complex sequence of bows, gestures and even little rocks being deposited on the Council President's desk. The amount of beautifully veiled insults the Chelseannian politicians managed to exchange and receive while wearing a perfect smile was simply amazing.
Chelseanna mostly survived through trade and tourism, like its neighbors. Their northernmost position granted them a definite advantage in that they were the first island to be crossed in a hypotherical circumnavigation of the Aelyrian Empire, but because of their architectural choices and very small population numbers, the harbor was not nearly as large as Ieffreon's, or even Olympia's, which limited their opportunities for profit. Tourism, on the other hand, was something they highly encouraged, and discrimination against mainlanders was not as widespread as in the rest of Eunesia – or if it was, the very hypocritical Chelseannians knew how to hide it very well. A major point of interest which drew students from all over the Empire was the Conservatorio, the premiere center in all of Telath for studying the art of the violin. A new branch of this establishment focused on combining the Arcanic discipline of Song with the emotional capabilities of the violin, thus forming new generations of talented, heart-breaking Spellsingers.
(Originally written by Tarot)
Major Landmarks
Mount Tuli
Society and Culture
Overview
Port Chelseanna is a very insular community, wary of newcomers while trying to make as much money off of them as they can. Their two facedness is natural to them, they present a false front of politeness to strangers, but what they really think is anyone's guess. Oftentimes the most polite person you meet in the cafes of the Porto is a vicious smuggler during the darkening. Everyone pays close attention to public presentation and they always veil their true motives.
At the center of life of Chelseanna is the family. It is the most important thing above all else, and it is the most influential political unit on the island. At the head of the family is the Patriarch, an elder male who's duty it is to see after family holdings and business deals. His wife is considered the Matriarch and holds sway over the personal end of the family.
The Chelseannan obsesses over the nicities of societal exchange, and always looks to act elegantly- even when they are trying to destroy each other. Veiled insults, clever puns, all this is considered essential for being a refined individual. They are social beasts, spending most of their time in the Piazza or at gatherings or big family meals. They are fablulous hosts, but look out for the agreements you make with them, and read the fine print. Chelseannan's love contracts.
Architecture
Port Chelseanna is built to awe the visitor. Chelseannans spare no expense in construction and the more opulent the better. They try to fuse art and life into one medium and Murals, illusions, and faux doors hide around every corner. Alleyways wound through the city, bringing visitors to unexpected courtyards and dazzling manors. Collumns, statues, fountains, Chelseannans
Basic Housing
The Basic unit is a small one bedroom limestone house located in the Plata, the residential part of Port Chelseanna. While it is small, it is quite tasteful and these are inhabited by the working class of the city- the fishermen, the guards, the innkeepers.
The more wealthy families occupied small palaces situated around the Piazza del Mare and close to the harbor.
Food
Seafood, pitas along with what can be grown on the rich plains at the foot of Mount Tuli. This is usually citrus, olives, and grapes. However, the Chelseannan eats a whole lot of fish- everything from squid to sardines. Prized is lamb, but that is usually reserved for rare occasions, like weddings.
Clothing
There are two real modes of clothing in Chelseanna- the formal and the casual. Casual for men consists of comfortable loose shirts and pants to allow the wearer maximum comfort and the flair of having billowy sleeves. Casual for women is colorful and utilitarian- sundresses brightly dyed are favored. Children where the same type of clothes- usually dresses until they are about 7.
Formal wear is elegant and the goal of every Chelseannan is to look better than everybody else. The only big difference is the Chelseannan love for powdered gray wigs.
Art
Art is important in the life of the Chelseannan- both musical and visual. The island is famed for it's musicians and during the darkening there is always live entertainment in the Piazza del Mare. Chelseannan song relies heavily on the violin and vocals with a little bit of accordian thrown in for good measure.
Visual art is also integrated into the day-to-day living of the Chelseannan. Murals are painted on walls, false doors and windows are painted all over- so lifelike that it often throws visitors through a loop.
Religion
Chelseannans are not the most religious of folk and tend to keep religion quiet. However, the only temple on the island is on Mount Tuli and it is here that the devoted few trek to listen to the prophecies of the Oracle of Chelseanna.
Education
Until they are teenagers Chelseannans are taught together in small scholas where all children learn to read, write, and math. At the age of 14 however they have to make a choice about where to further their education. Many leave school and begin working with their families. They learn their family trade and that is how they continue their education.
There are two institutions for higher learning- Il Conseratorio and Delot's Fencing Academy. Those talented enough enter these schools to receive training in either music or fencing.
Government
The Island is small and so is the city government. The Thane is called the Podesta by the locals and performs many of the services himself. He acts as Aedile and has a small staff to assist him collecting taxes and helping citizens. The Thane is plugged into everything on the Island and watches over it all like a hawk.
Military
Not really much- a handful of ships for the Coastal Service and about 75 militia that train at the Fencing academy from time to time
__________________
Beat it or I'll call the Brute Squad.
I'm on the Brute Squad.
You are the Brute Squad.
AGM of Acumin
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