Gior
From ThornsWiki
| Gior | |
|---|---|
 Map of the Kingdom of Gior (click to enlarge). | |
| Kingdom Overview | |
| Capital | Giorite |
| University | Qrieth |
| Government | Clan Dictatorship |
| Rulers | Da Huane Family |
| Climate | Alpine |
| Estimated Land Mass | 1,700,000 sq mi |
| Population | 2.45 million |
| Race Distribution | 49.9%H, 0.1%W, 47%G, 3%P |
| Racial Breakdown | 925,000 humans; 1,850 wicks; 870,000 galdori; 55,000 passives |
| Kingdom Details | |
| Currency | Aekesk, Concord |
| Patron Diety | Imaan |
| Languages | Estuan, Gioran |
| Kingdom Information | |
| Play Status | OPEN for Play |
The Kingdom of Gior is a beautiful, natural country with many rock formations and wide canyons with rivers flowing through them. It is notable for being one of the only kingdoms where galdori do not rule over humans in any concrete way. The two races are almost completely isolated from each other within the wild landscape of the Kingdom. The humans of Gior are mainly livestock farmers, living above the canyons; however, the Gioran galdori live in cities carved into the rock faces of their canyons, away from human society. These galdori have a unique approach to harnessing magic: it is said they use the echoes of the canyons to increase the power of their spells.
The capital city of Gior is Giorite (pronounced JOR-et) but the most populous city is undoubtedly Qrieth (pronounced kreeth). This city is inside a massive temple carved into a mountain. Its many levels house well over eighty thousand galdori.
Climate & Topography
The mountainous ranges of Gior are subject to an alpine biome, though this does not mean it is one of the coldest biomes in the world. That honor belongs to Hox. Due to the high altitudes, Gior can be quite cool even in Roalis, ranging between 10 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees Celsius. In winter, it can drop to below freezing, and snow storms are a frequent event. The galdori of Gior however barely suffer this, due to the temperatures in the mountain always staying a consistent 9 degrees Celsius.
Given the precipice of Gior, rain is a frequent occurrence all year round.
Trees do not commonly grow in Gior given the hard stone of the mountains. There is more vegetation at the foothills, therefore a trade route is set up between Citeiva and Giorite. There are a number of scientific advances in the city of Giorite that have seen a rise in underground, self-contained plantations, but these must still be subject to magical and scientific intervention to be successful. Remarkably, some species of cave lichen have been cultivated for various food and drink uses.
The problem of light is quite different in Gior, given that the deeper in you go in a city, the less natural light you have. The little amount of atmosphere at such high altitudes exposes the Gioran area to sunlight, especially UV, at a dangerous level. To go out on the mountain top without full cover is to risk severe burns and cancerous growths after too much prolonged exposure.
Some of the plants in Gior are tussock grasses, dwarf trees, small-leafed shrubs, and heaths. Some common animals in Gior are: mountain kensers, wild white moa, wild chroven, Gioran osta, garmon, hingles, kluiw, beetles, grasshoppers and butterflies.
There is a special phosphorescent gem found only in the canyons and mountains of Gior. It is fast growing and seems to grow towards sunlight, almost like a plant. It is allowed to grow from seed crystals in most of the cities’ vast tunnels and buildings. It gives off a soft violet-blue glow and provides exquisite ambient lighting at night. It is commonly called pueraria. When viewed from far away it is said to make the cities sparkle like stars. It must be trimmed and kept in check however, or it can quickly take over large areas. This is easily accomplished through magic. It is thought that pueraria may be the product of a monic mistake in ancient times, as it seems to only be found in and around galdori cities and not in the Human settlements. Removing even small crystals from the cities is strictly forbidden, as they can grow on most porous natural surfaces (stone, dirt, etc) and may even crowd out plants. Without the proper spells and observation it could cause irreparable damage to the natural ecosystem. In some older areas where structural faults have cause cave-ins, when the cave-in is cleared it is not uncommon to find the area behind covered in pueraria, especially if there is a window or any source of light. It does not interfere with other gems, nor does it grow on glass. This makes pueraria ‘windows’ (panes of glass in front of carved stone depressions affixed with decorative metal frames) a common sight in buildings that don’t receive much natural light from the sun.
For more information on the temperatures and seasons, please see Current Events and the Weather Almanac.
Geography
The capital of Gior is Giorite, though it is not the most populated city in Gior. This honor belongs to the monumentally impressive temple city of Qrieth. Giorite is more of a trade city, allowing the settlement of foreigners and their businesses. Most stock and produce comes from Giorite into Qrieth.
Top Cities by Population
- Giorite (Galdori+Passive only) 35% = 325,000
- Qrieth (Galdori+Passive only) 28% = 260,000
- Ivenlath (Galdori+Passive only) 15% = 140,00
- Citeiva (Galdori+Passive only) 12% = 110,000
Another 10% of the galdori population lives tucked inside the mountains in smaller cities, towns, and villages, still separate from humanity.
The other 40% of humanity lives in smaller villages and towns in the sheltered valleys of Gior, far from their galdori overseers. Mixed within this human population are more wicks than Gioran galdori would care to admit, most of them the product of passive and human unions.
- Susketec (Humans only) 38% = 350,000
- Verit Lie (Humans only) 12% = 110,000
- Drah Lie (Humans only) 10% = 92,000
Specific Locations
The Kingdom is divided into three sections; Upper, Middle and Lower
Upper Gior
Middle Gior
- Qrieth - Gior's most most populated galdori city
- Damna Erth - a gorge with perfect acoustics
- Drah Lie - a human village in the heartland
Lower Gior
- Giorite - capital city for the galdori
- Susketec - a relatively large human town with a coal mine
- Omn Lie - another small human village, close rivals with Dolosgonne
- Dolosgonne - a small human village
Culture
Giorans are tall and strong, with pale faces and angular features. An unusually encouraged genetic defect has caused most Gioran galdori to be born with albinism; the few that are not are often mistaken for foreigners. The defect includes all of the usual side effects of albinism, including sensitivity to sunlight and poor eyesight.
Gioran galdori live in a ritualistic society built on centuries of matriarchal family rule. They are very bold and speak their mind with no hesitation, which can often come across as blunt to outsiders. They consider the external show of emotions to be a deep flaw, and always encourage discussion over outbursts of feelings. They share their emotions in private, or more subtly with their fields.
Human towns and villages in Gior are typically controlled by mayors elected by the townspeople. These mayors are referred to as "magisters," although they are not galdori. There are no galdori towns; the galdori live almost exclusively in the cities carved into the Sourasian and Shier mountain ranges.
Everything in Gior is ritualized, including dances and public meetings. One such dance is the Ba Bieth, a hauntingly beautiful choreographed dance that is said to bring rain. (As rain is an incredibly common occurrence in Gior, this dance almost always has the desired effect.) The city of Qrieth is called "The Temple" by locals, who use many of the public locations on the cliff face for worship. Many citizens of Gior make pilgrimages to the city to see its remarkable design and worship at its many fountains, which are fed by a sacred underground waterfall.
Human culture in Gior prizes stoicism and hard work, honesty and family. Interestingly enough, the galdori value the same qualities. A good deal of the peace and prosperity of the country comes from the lack of conflict and violence between the races. A great divide separates humans and galdori, one that is hardly ever crossed except in times of emergency.
For more information on Gioran Culture, feel free to visit the Culture section of the Compendium as well as explore the links below:
Race Relations
The people of Gior are known far and wide as being simple and self sustaining, though once emerged in the culture, one would see it is a deep and profound tribal race. Humanity began to show itself in the foothills of Gior around the same time as the Da Huane took over, and whilst they have been around for a while the galdori have not engaged with them. The Gioran galdori do not associate with humanity, seeing them more like animals than people. Because of the physical distance between them, there are no wick tribes in Gior. Relationships between humans and galdori in Gior are simply unheard of.
Passives are not treated very badly here; they are viewed as cripples and are allowed to live with the galdori. When tested at the age of ten for their magical aptitude, those children who fail either have the choice of stepping into labor or priesthood. Passives make up a considerable portion of “working class” positions in galdori cities. They are seen as invalids, and are usually only offered employment in labor, academia, merchants and crafters. Gioran passives are allowed to marry and have children, begrudgingly allowed to enjoy some modicum of freedom. Only a purely albino passive may choose the priesthood. Those who choose priesthood are immediately sent to the Church of Imaan, where they are initiated into the sect by the eldest of the priests in attendance.
Giorans are very wary of immigrants and rarely allow non-Giorans to become citizens.
Economics in Gior
Gior does trade with other countries, though the trade is sectioned off according to race; the humans in Gior are primarily exporters (exports including tea, alpaca wool, and yak butter), and the galdori are primarily importers. Like Hoxian galdori, Gioran galdori prefer to be self-sufficient, and do not rely on human servitude or passive slavery. There have been great advances in hydroponics and animal husbandry in Gior because of this self-sufficiency.
Gior is a very rich country. The act of carving their cities into the mountains exposed vast veins of precious metals and stones. This lead to many skilled artisans. Gioran jewelry is some of the most prized in the world for it’s exquisite beauty and craftsmanship. Jewelry is not uncommon on galdori, and not restricted to women. Most galdori men have at least one ear pierced and may wear other forms of jewelry as well.
Politics in Gior
At high level Gior is a Matriarchal society, lead by an overarching ruling family. The current ruling family, the Da Huane, have been in power for over three centuries. They rule over the capital city of Giorite and the city of Qrieth, with two sides of the family sharing power. During their rule, the Da Huane have been involved in many feuds with the Da Fintaine, who rule over the Drigeth, a small society of rebels who resent Da Huane rule. This conflict is seemingly endless but has been largely nonviolent for the past fifty years.
The Driegeth occupy a gorge called Damna Erth.
The overthrowing of a ruling family is often violent and rife with assassination and infiltration. When the Da Huane wrested power from the Da Giore line, most of their family were killed or exiled, though some still remain in various settlements across Gior.
The ruling family oversees any civil disputes and trials for crimes. They are the final judgement and their word is law. Members of the family act in various government positions across Gior, and though there may be non-family members in employ, they are not the final sign off for official documents or contracts.
Passives may hold a place in politics, though they are usually lower level positions.
The border of Gior and Bastia has been in a long standing state of contention, the Giorans wanting to claim more of the mountain range as their own whilst Bastia are loathe to let go of any of the enormous land mass they hold.
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