SalounSaloun Head of State: None; each clan has its own Elder. Saloun is a beautiful and violent Shadow of vast oceans and scattered archipelagoes. Little more than 5% of the Shadow is comprised of dry land; typically consisting of volcanic islands and atolls and close lying islets. Many of the larger islands are covered in thick tropical growth and rainforests and support a complex maze of estuaries and channels. These regions provide shelter from the frequent storms that occur during the wet season. Several shallower regions have transformed into mangrove forests and formed islands of their own. Sand bars and extensive reef systems provide natural barriers between dry land and Saloun’s unending oceans. The Shadow’s climate is relatively pleasant and constant due to the Shadow’s lack of land masses, which would otherwise disrupt ocean currents and weather patterns. Because the majority of the land masses are located around the equatorial regions, they enjoy a warm to hot climate year round. However, this also makes the wet season extremely dangerous as tropical storms are constantly forming. The warm waters and lack of land allows these storms to grow into hurricanes with alarming frequency. One of Saloun’s most prized resources is its biodiversity. The massive mangrove swamps strengthen the sea floor and collect nutrient-rich sediment. This in turn has transformed them into complex and thriving ecosystems. The Burning Lands, volcanic islands, offer fresh water and support larger animals. The barriers reefs offer an abundant source of food, allowing for billions of species of fish and sea mammals. Saloun’s aboriginal population, the Moklem, utilizes this resource and has grown quite wealthy from the trade of medicines, foods, and goods with neighboring Shadows. Fortunately, their relatively small population has not had a significant impact on the biosphere.  The Moklem are a nomadic, seafaring culture that lives almost exclusively on boats or in stilt-cities. They are tall, lithe folk with small ears and bluish skin. They fingers and toes are webbed and they can hold their breath underwater for hours; even at depths that would normally crush a regular diver. They practice shamanic rites and live in wide-spread clans, living on islands or floating towns. Each clan has an elder, the kahuna, that makes most of the decisions for his or her people. Each wet season, all the Moklem clans congratulate at the equatorial city of Ryugu. This virtual metropolis is built in, on, and around a vast atoll. Protected on all sides by cliffs and narrow channels, this stilt city is the thriving trade center for the entire Shadow and is also the main port for Shadow-going vessels. Because of their centralized location, the PatternFall War hit the Moklem much harder than it should have. Ryugu was razed by a Chaosian armada and has taken nearly a century to rebuild. Indeed, several sections of the former city now lie at the bottom of the atoll, possibly lost forever. Already wary of outsiders, the Moklem have taken a completely neutral and stand-offish stance when it comes to Amber and the Courts, not wishing to offend either. They do, however, maintain strong relations with Rebma, as they believe the underwater city is the ancestral home of Ebishu and Benten; the spirit god and goddess that led the Moklem to Saloun. Saloun’s technology is magically based and the Moklem are natural Sorcerers. Although the world’s technology remains roughly that of Polynesia 1100AD, the Moklem have perfected simple magics that allow them to do ‘modern’ feats, such as lighting, food preservation, controlling the winds, healing wounds, etc. This further deepens their connection to the Shadow and its natural elements. |
