Of Cypria

shKa cleared her throat, and with a somewhat mischevious glint in her sapphire gaze, began what would prove to be a reasonably accurate imitation of one of Cypria's most learned scribes, Thanis Ianakussis. "Our beautiful land lies on the southern half of the Black Gulf, west of Sartosa and the realm of Tilea. To our north, are the Border Princes, and southwards, is Araby, and The Land of the Dead. Alas, we are a little-known nation, and many cartographers neglect to include us on their maps. To them, we are just another petty kingdom, and to some, we are merely a region of the Badlands. However, if the truth is to be told, those whose in their best interests we are, know exactly where we are located: traders and merchants aplenty are to be found in our port of Lemmsos."

"For nearly two millennia now, history has been compiled by our loremasters, ever since the time of Onisillos O Kata'Cht, or 'The Conqueror', as the name is translated from the Ancient Cyprian. For it was he, who, first marked our borders, and he fought all who would not willingly rally to his banner. He acted under the guidance of the dwarfs, whose empire was then at its zenith, and who recognised our value as potential trading partners. Cypria was very heavily forested, at the time, and we had abundant reserves of timber, as well as ore, from the mountains. Thus Cypria was founded, and Onisillos was its first king, remembered and honoured today in Cyprian folklore. Of his blood were many more, among them Anaxagoras Dia'Fot, Peleas Kalmir, Grigorios Latreft, and my great friend, the last king, Aegeas Any'Pntr."

"Aegeas died, heirless. Rumour has it that he did indeed father a son, although these tales are fanciful, rather than genuine. Many names were suggested, but no successor could be decided upon. And so it became, that the twelve Guilds of Cypria would take charge of the realm. I myself have little love for the Guilds, for I believe that they are more interested in heavier purses, than the welfare of the land and people. but thus far, they have proved to be competent rulers. A Patrician, Marneus Klrid, was elected by the Guilds, and he resides in the Palace, in N'Csia. Which I don't approve of, personally, for it has always been the seat of the Cyprian Kings, not for ... Well, I'd best stop, otherwise I shall lose myself in my own opinions. Enough of our politics; I wish to have as little do with them as possible."

Of the Lie of the Land

"When the gods fashioned Cypria, they formed it like a bowl, with mountain peaks rising at the rims, save for our northern side, where there are flatlands, which lead towards the coast. Into this bowl, they scattered verdant forests, and watered them with rivers, flowing down from the heights. In time, Onisillos came, and tamed this land, felling trees to build villages, and making way for field and pasture. To this day, our land is still heavily forested, in areas, even though much of our wood has been exchanged for gold coin. Of the woodlands which do remain, most are safe, and beautiful, brimming with pine and cypress. Some however, especially those in the border regions, are home to small bands of goblins and kobolds, and steps taken there should be careful. Less hostile are the faeries, and gnomes, of the woods, who are more a nuisance than anything else."

"To our north-eastern side, lie the bleak Ironspine mountains, or 'Sidirach' mountains, as it is said in Cyprian. As their name implies, they are a rich source of iron ore. Mining networks, established decades ago by dwarfen settlers, tap the mineral veins to this day, and much is still gathered. This is exported as raw materials, or in a more useful form, having been fashioned into weapons, tools or armour at our forges. The miners are careful, not to venture too far in amongst the crags and peaks, for much is has yet to be explored. Tales have been told of hideous mountain Trolls, and of Giants, having wandered in from the Badlands. None of these tales have been confirmed, yet none have been proved to be incorrect."

"East-wardly, are the more inviting Many-Peak mountains ('Polydacht', in our Cyprian tongue). Most of the mineral wealth of these expired centuries ago, but resources still remain. These mountains form our natural border with Araby, and armies have been repelled successfully from the mountains on more occasions than once. Most famous, was the battle of nearly two hundred years ago, when a Rastafian raiding party was ambushed by mountain orcs, and massacred entirely."

"Towards the coast, our land is less fertile, and vegetation is sparse. Small clumps of woodland occasionally break the monotony of rocky ground and stray olive trees, but for the most part, our coast-line is rugged, and charming because of it. The coastline itself stretches for a long while, mile upon mile of clear white sands, caressed endlessly by sparkling, mediterranean blue waters. As well as the more regularly sighted seabirds, the waters are frequented by beautiful pink flamingoes, during summer - a sight unseen anywhere else, in the Old World. Here and there, are also watch-towers, guarding from seaborne invaders. The most famous of these, are the Twin Towers, in Lemmsos."

Of the Villages of Honest Peasants

"All over Cypria are the villages, hamlets and farmsteads of the common folk, and around every settlement are fields, and open lands to graze livestock. These were the very first of our communities, from the time of Onisillos. Stables and cowsheds are aplenty, as the farmers rear horses and cattle, as well as herd sheep, goats and swine, for purposes of food. The people of the villages spend most of their day in the fields, working the land, or at sea, bringing in fish to sell at the markets. The crops grown are mostly wheat, barely, corn, vegetables and a variety of pulses, along with the uniquely Cyprian root - 'kolokassi', not to be found anywhere else in the Old World. A steady stream of produce is sent to the capital N'Csia, where it is sold to locals or visitors. Of all in the land, it is the villagers who most typify the Cyprian personality. They are reliable, hard-working folk, hospitable at the best of times, though a little narrow-minded, especially when it comes to new ideas. They have put great faith in tradition, in methods which have been tried, and tested, and the knowledge passed down from generation to generation. It comes as little surprise then, that Cyprians are highly respectful of their elders, and look to them constantly for guidance and approval. A quality which, I must say, has its merits!"

"Our people have a distinctive appearance: for the most part, they are dark-haired, and dark-eyed. Their skin is tanned, and their builds are stocky, with strong arms and legs. We enjoy our food and drink immensely, and like to indulge in great feasts of grilled meat, accompanied by much merriment and song, and fishing and hunting are favoured pastimes. The great banquets, which we so often have, are usually in the honour of some great hero of the past, or, more commonly, religious festivals. Cyprians worship the deities of F'Yiss, Mathis, Stratos, Y'Ch, Glent, Y'nos, Eromeni, and Thalass. For us, nothing is by chance; everything is decided by the benevolence, or malevolence, of those eight supernatural beings. Understandably, priests are very powerful, in our society, and are constantly looked to, for advice on how to win (and how not to lose!) the favour of the gods."

Of the Manyfold Towns and Cities

"After the time of Onisillos, came the towns, and these are more wealthy and sturdily built than the villages. N'Csia is our capital, and one of the very first townships. Indeed, the whole city has been re-built, and now the splendour of New N'Csia, casts a shadow upon the Old. As well as being the most densely inhabited city in the realm, housing nearly a quarter of the Cyprian population, N'Csia is also the most splendid to behold. It spans threescore full square miles of gleaming marble guildhouses, aristocratic villas located strategically upon high vantage points (probably so as to be admired from afar, rather than for the residents to enjoy the view), glittering Universities and Colleges, solid common-houses, and several busy markets. In the centre of all of this, at the heart of Old N'Csia, the Grand Palace of Cypria is situated, the ancestral home for the Cyprian Kings and Queens of the past two millennia. The Palace grounds are vast; at least a square mile of beautiful, immaculate flora, dotingly cared for by the royal gardeners, while the building itself is a marvel of modern architecture."

"Cypria's second largest city, and its main trading point, is Kyros. Merchants flock from all around to sell their wares, or to purchase local produce, with wine and foodstuffs being most popular. The city centre is a veritable hive of activity, as merchant wagons, carts and stalls mass, and the air becomes thick with the cries of salesmen. Indeed, the nucleus of the city is so densely occupied by travelling traders, that there are few residential areas in Kyros, until the outskirts and suburbs of the town. Unsurprisingly, security is particularly tight in the city, and the Kyros Watch is the most proficient in the land."

"Akthos is the military capital of Cypria. Just as Kyros is primarily a trading point, Akthos is the recruiting and training centre for the Grand Army of Cypria. Understandably, the local regiments are the most well-organised in Cypria, providing the Grand Army with elite infantry and cavalry units, as well being equipped with the best weapons and armour available. The city is rife with armouries, blacksmiths and several barracks, as well as numerous night-houses, inns and taverns which ahem, sustain the soldiery."

"The city-port of Lemmsos handles the majority of sea trade, and each day it welcomes ships from all around the Old World, from neighbourly realms such as The Empire or Kislev, and from as far as the misty shores of Albion and the mysterious Cathayan islands. Merchants from these come in all shapes and sizes; rough and piratical arms dealers readily rub shoulders with the aristocratic moneylenders and silk traders, for there is many a gold coin to be made in Lemmsos. These riches are won by both fair means and foul. The suburbs of Lemmsos are well-stocked with gangs and cut-throats, available for hire as ship's crew, or just to carry out the odd back-stabbing. Almost as dangerous as the Imperial port of Marienburg, Lemmsos is a place for the mercenary, and not for the artisan."

"Located in the very centre of our realm, Ermia is quite a sleepy little town, not nearly as large as Kyros or N'Csia, but none-the-less a compact and self-sufficient society. The town itself is surrounded with thick forest, with a few winding paths providing the only entry and exit points. Secreted away, Ermians are timid and unpretentious; good, honest folk, who toil hard on their farmsteads and lumber mills by day, and enjoy themselves in the many fine oakwood inns by night. Their ale is of a very fine quality, despite the absence of dwarf brewers in the township, and their solid cuisine, has been known to to nourish entire armies."

"As one of the more industrial towns in Cypria, Lar'Nac is populated mainly by craftsmen, shipwrights and carpenters who build and maintain the Cyprian military and trading fleets. Their work is indeed, of a very high standard; be it a schooner or a massive galleon, the ships are durable and well-protected, with vast cargo holds on the larger vessels, while the smaller have angled prows for faster travelling on the high seas. The people are hard-working and efficient, but unfortunately, not completely honest, with a number of crooked characters waiting in the wings. Grey in comparison with the vivid colours of Mor'Fou or the forest green of Ermia, Lar'Nac is frequented chiefly by business-men, rather than sight-seers."

"The land around Mor'Fou has been utilised for the growth of acre upon square acre of citrus fruit: lemons, oranges, tangerines and grapefruit, as well as numerous cherry and walnut trees. The quality of the fruit is so high, that each year there is Fruit Festival, in Mor'Fou, where large amounts of fresh fruit, fruit juices and fruit cakes are made and promptly consumed. The origins of the holiday, are not known for certain. Some argue that it is to thank the gods, others imply that it is merely the inhabitants of the city giving in to the temptation of a day full of song, food and jolification, those being some of the most well-loved pastimes of any Cyprian."

Of the Mighty Fortresses

"Great bastions of stone and timber, the massive Fortresses of Sea Gold, in the North, and of Dusk, to the South of Cypria, provide accommodation for the Cyprian army, havens for travellers, and sources of supplies if needs be. The two behemoths are almost identical; both house full garrisons with their officers, as well as armourers, blacksmiths, physicians, scribes and alchemists. Between the armouries and barrack-houses, are situated several small stalls, stocked on regular visits by merchant carts from Kyros. These provide luxury items for the soldiery: tobacco, jewellery, books, and trinkets, among others. Inside the near-invincible walls of the fortresses, the militarymen stationed there enjoy not only excellent facilities and leadership, but also the visits of artisans, travelling entertainers, conjurers, and the like. The fortresses are quite a regular port of call for many visitors, be they arriving to renew old acquitances (or settle old scores), or simply seek shelter for the night. While it may be claimed that these strongholds are more akin to a point of social gathering rather than an encampment of the protectors of the realm, any who have experienced our brave soldiers sallying out to meet them, will most certainly disagree."

Having given this account of Cypria, AshKa looked pleased with herself for a moment, and then added: "Mind you, my accent needs a little work..."

Any questions concering Cypria, should be submitted here.

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