Klagistan (Casual worldbuilding stuff for noir) (Patreon)

When I sometimes get stuck in a story, I think of some world building stuff to add to help get things moving again.  And since then, my brain has been coming up with cultural stuff for the Klagistani that I'd like to share.  Also, if you are heading to BABScon next month, be sure to look me up.  I'll be attending (assuming gas prices don't bankrupt me)!  Would love to speak to all of you!

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Klagistan is a colony on the far side of the Sunset Ocean in a region known as Starfall.  Legend has it that in antiquity the Sun and Moon had twelve children who fought and bickered so loudly that the two deities banished them to the mortal realm.  Each of these stars became a demigod hero who slew terrible beasts and did great acts.  Klagi was the eldest child and was renown for his warrior might.  The name Klagistan means 'Star of Klagi's land'.

The land itself occupies the Bay of Haimoon, one of the few deepwater ports on the continent where the Klagi River empties into the ocean.  The river is the primary source of water, and is channelled through numerous aqueducts and cisterns before reaching the city proper to mitigate floods and droughts.  What little agriculture exists is wheat and barley along the edge of the bay where occasional rainfall waters the crops.  The majority of the rest of the land is desert spotted by wells that are fed by wetter territory to the north.  

Klagistan has always known war.  It is a prize for any of the other nation states to hold, and it struggles constantly to maintain its independence.  No less than six neighbors fight over it and each other.  Klagistan is often referred to locally as 'The thornbush fruit' because while it may be delicious, you will bleed plucking it.  Klagistan's topography and trade roads allows multiple avenues of invasion, and while the city itself is fortified, it's dependence on the river limit its protections.

For centuries, Klagistan was the Starfall's portal to the rest of the world.  A mixing pot for trade and knowledge.  Klagistan was quick to adopt interesting and novel ideas.  It established the 'House of Universal Knowledge' which would house texts from all across the world, and for many years, import taxes could be paid with a text not in its collection.  The city was also home to many schools of engineering and arcanery, both put to use loading and unloading ships.

Sadly, Klagistan's knowledge sowed the seeds of its downfall.  As the city enriched itself, the monarchy focused on ever greater feats of self aggrandizement while the nobility focused on greater and greater material wealth.  The former organized and were baited into disastrous wars with their neighbors while the later squandered wealth on endless infighting.  Klagistan fell into further and further decay.  The House of Universal Knowledge was burned in an act of spiteful retaliation.

Into this vacuum of leadership, Klagistani religious leaders attempted to mediate some form of order.  The House of the Sun attempted to halt the excesses of the aristocracy and monarchy while the House of the Moon worked on family stability.  Assassinations became a tool of political control.  For a time, order was maintained, but the corruption affecting the rulers soon bled into the House of the Sun as well.  In desperation, the House of the moon attempted 'the great eclipse', attacking compromised leaders in a coup.  The effort failed.

Klagistan fall was sealed with the arrival of People before Sunrise.  While it was known the world was round, it was thought that the Sunrise Ocean was too vast to be sailed across.  However, a ship from the far east arrived on their shores and sailed into the bay seeking the wisdom and knowledge of Klagistan.  Sadly, the nation they sought hadn't existed for a century.  The local aristocrats seized the ship and took the crew as slaves and concubines.  One sailor, however, managed to escape.  It took her ten years to return home (and the story 'The Long Road Home' is a literary masterpiece based on their journey) and report what happened.

Needless to say, the monarchy (who had assumed the ship had failed to cross the ocean), learning the state of the city, dispatched a fleet of ships to take the port.  This time, the war would go against Klagistan.  Their navy was routed and captured by superior magical techniques.  Once landed, they cut off the mouth of the bay and built citadels to house supplies.  The economic starvation whipped the nobles into a feeding frenzy against each other.  The remnant of the House of Moon faith fed information and murdered key defenders.  When the kingdom finally struck, the city all but collapsed.  The King of Klag, driven mad with defeat, charged the enemies naked, believing his divine heritage made him immortal and invincible.  Decapitation demonstrated otherwise.

However, occupation would prove more difficult.  A colonial governor was appointed to administer the port, restore order, and oversee the flow of goods across the ocean.  While they achieved all these, they failed to see to the needs and prosperity of the Klagistani people.  Worse, the nation became a magnet for hostilities, which the colonial forces had to respond to.  The corrupt aristocracy worked constantly to compromise the colonizers with bribes, and this corruption, along with several other failures, would eventually lead to the rise of parliament.

War against the invaders would eventually become the rallying cry for the nation.  The House of Sun promised salvation and paradise for those that fought to free their land, while multiple aristocratic groups worked to constantly harass the occupiers.  However, the moment colonial forces withdrew from a settlement, infighting would break out, leading to a reconquest.  The cycle was so devastating that many Klagistani fled the land and wound up seeking shelter in the nation of their occupiers, if only to escape the madness.

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Klagi life is a calm and serene picture of jovial civilization and music that can turn into a bloodbath at any moment.  While Klagi are primarily human, snake and lion folk both make up small minority populations.  A generic trait of the human population are 'star eyes', an irredescent shimmer caused when the light hits the iris at the right angle.  Many subscribe this to magic, but it is a natural phenomenon.  Klagistani are tan or red skinned with dark yellow to red to brown hair, which is usually straight or wavy.  Klagimen do not wear beards, as they are the trait of beasts and foreigners, and hair is usually cut short.  Klagiwomen keep their hair long, but body hair below the scalp is removed.  Again, beasts (and foreigners) are hairy, humans are not.

For Klagi, nothing defines them so much as the sun and moon.  The sun is the edifice of law, war, trade, and industry and is depicted as masculine.  Religiously, it blends the nature of Illuminex, Valur, and Jorcat (the god of commerce and wealth) into one entity.  The House of the Sun work as judges, administrators, and auditors.  'Sun' is associated with seriousness, harshness, and violence.  The Moon is the edifice of home, music, art, and sex and is depicted as female.  Religiously it blends Lexica with a host of lesser gods and goddesses into one entity.  The House of Moon acts as mediators, therapists, entertainers, and consorts.  They are also murderers.  Moon is depicted as mysterious, joyful, sensual, and tantalizing.

Klagi life is built around an extended family called an Ajira, or clan.  Most clans point to a single common ancestor, and there could be dozens of families affiliated.  Loyality is to family, then clan, then the nation as a whole.  Most of the nation's internal struggles are due to conflicts between Ajira.  Wealthy Ajira became nobles by marrying into the King's Ajira.  Aristocrats had many privilages, such as collecting taxes on behalf of the king, that lead to abuses.  While one can be born to an Ajira, wealthy or skilled outsiders can become affiliates and eventually marry one of the families.

Each Ajira maintains a compound that is usually walled off from the rest of the city.  Families live in these compounds, or close by.  Each compound has a well and cistern to weather attacks.  Some compounds are large enough to encapsulate several blocks, and woe to someone who wanders in unaware.  Every member in the Ajira is taught to fight and defend themselves.  Swords, spears, and long knives are preferred weapons.  However the weapon that is used most is poison.

Individuals without an Ajira are at a distinct disadvantage.  Individuals are referred to as 'dust' or 'sand'.  A lone Klagistani is easily targeted for abuse like slavery, assault, or conscription.  A family without an Ajira backer may be bullied by rivals.  Rarely, individuals and families can group together into a cohesive unit and be recognized as an Ajira, but it usually requires substantial 'gifts' to the House of the Sun to be granted such recognition.

Most outsiders only ever know the 'sun face' of Klagi life.  Harsh, closed off, and unfriendly, sun face is the default reaction to many outsiders before they are proven trustworthy.  Klagistani often pick fights, insult, yell, or otherwise provoke a reaction to determine the nature of whom they are dealing with.  People who are trustworthy will be rewarded with 'moon face' which is changing, nuanced, considerate, and playful.  People who betray that trust will also learn that Klagi will repay that betrayal with murder.  Family are almost always given moon face unless needing 'toughening up.'

Sexually, the Klagistani are complex.  Ajira matters more than gender, and performance matters more than sex.  Sexual desire is a 'moon face' behavior and thus only done between trusted members.  Gay male relationships are perfectly acceptable so long as they contribute something to the family.  Gay female relationships are a bit more strained as motherhood is an expectation of all Klagiwomen.  Marriage is political and economic, not sexual.  If a Klagiwoman becomes pregnant, who is responsible only matters as far as Ajira.  Beyond that, the pregnancy is welcome as an asset to the family and Ajira.  As a result, infidelity is not sexual, but treasonous, and Klagi writing is replete with stories of two people from fighting Ajira falling in love and either bringing peace or tragedy with their union.  The house of Moon also employs 'sacred consorts' who provide sexual services to those seeking them (with a donation to the temple, of course).  These consorts offer sexual education and planning to help prevent unwanted families, and product tonics to enhance or limit fertility.  'The moon waxes and wanes' is a common metaphor for birth control.  Abortion is referred to as 'a moon shadow' and is rarely done via tonic.

The sun/ moon dynamic extends to dress as well.  Sun dress is functional, usually white linen cloth, with color trim to denote Ajira.  As much of the body is covered as possible.  Some will also carry umbrellas to shield them from the sun even more.  In the wilds, sun dress is tan or red to blend in with the rocks.  Moon dress is garbed at sunset and is far more comfortable, loose, and exposed.  While moon dress can include a cloak on chill nights, often it is transparent or translucent silk.  Moon dress can cover some, all, or little of the body and is often decorated with bells, glass chimes, or cymbals.  Moon dress is often additive and subtractive, with layers being added or removed as the situation demands.  Body paint can serve as 'clothes'.  Full nudity, however, is generally reserved for the bath or sexual intercourse.

Labor, work, and industry are all serious business.  Klagistani focus on working from sunrise to midday, then retire for a meal and prepare for the night.  Fooling around, laziness, and wastefulness is frowned on and punished harshly.  Klagistani traders are notoriously stubborn, and often negotiate outdoors with disliked traders to try to sweat one or the other into the worse deal.  Some traders have died of heat stroke before giving on a price point.  Klagistani are proud weavers, potters, and glass blowers, the latter which is world renowned.  Klagistani metalwork varies considerably, but their sword crafting is legendary, and Klagistani 'long knives' are prized weapons abroad.

Art and music begin at sundown.  Klagi music is immensely complex, with a minimum of two performers.  Stringed instruments like dulcimers are widely prized, and plucked strings are likewise common.  All Klagi art emphasizes rhythm and is meant to be danced to.  Flutes provide accompaniment.  Klagi art is largely physical, with mosaics, tilework, and jewelry being common expressions.  Moon dress is also widely artistic and expressive.  Tattoos and body piercings, however, are not tolerated, as they are widely used by some of their enemies.

Klagi food is heavy on mutton, lamb, fish, and shellfish.  Wheat and barley make bread which is a primary staple.  Both are accented with honey, dates, figs, dried fruit, and spicy preserves.  While some outsiders find Klagi food hot, it is not done to excess.  Mint, sage, saffron, and turmeric are common seasonings.  A morning meal of bread and meat is the norm, with an evening meal and a night meal, the last being most intricate and tasty.  Meals are generally eaten by hand or scooped up by bread or spoon.  Knives are not allowed at meals, and it is very rude to 'season' food after it has been presented.  Inebriation is not tolerated during the day, but at night Klagi enjoy date wine, beer, and other intoxicants at night.  A popular hallucinogen, 'moon tears' is imbibed by people seeking spiritual enlightenment.

A Klagi youth, male or female, learns to fight as a child.  They start with sticks under the tutelage of an elder and then move to wooden knives, swords, and finally crossbows.  Outsiders say a Klagistani isn't an adult till they kill a person, though this is only myth.  In reality, the frequent clashes between Ajira necessitate self defense.  Competitions are held during the day for skill, along with other endurance tests.  These are not segregated by gender in competition, but males and females are honored separately.  Contests between Ajira are rare, but not unheard of to attempt to resolve conflicts peacefully.  Usually, however, poison or knives are brought out afterwards.  Klagi are also taught to read and law, and illiteracy is shameful.  Mathematics are also required learning.  Klagi children are expected to be fit, and a 'moon body' is a sign of laziness or excess.

When children become adolescents, they study for a time in the House of the Moon, learning family skills and sexual education.  When they graduate from this institution, usually in an elaborate ceremony followed by raucous celebration till dawn, they are expected to wed and engage in trade, labor, or home life.  In early adulthood, they they go to the House of the Sun to officiate their name, title, trade, and Ajira.  Once this is set, they are a full member of society.  Before this point, there is some flexibility, but afterwards a person is supposed to stick to their place in life.

Law is administered by the House of the Sun, and is largely used for conflict mitigation.  Crime within Ajira are settled normally, with plaintiff and defendant presenting their argument to three judges, a member of each of the houses and an elder.  Of note, if the plaintiff's accusations are dismissed without merit, they may find a punishment laid upon them, but this is only done for frivolous accusations.  If guilt is determined, then each house will offer punishments, along with the plaintiff, and the defendant must chose which punishment to accept.  This lets the plaintiff offer mercy for an eloquent defense.  The House of the Sun usually levies corporeal or financial punishments, while the House of the Moon levies indenturehood, or more creative punishments.  Trials are always conducted during the day, and the plaintiff and defendant are expected to stand in the sun while offering arguments, as an incentive not to waste the court's time.

In warfare, the Klagistani rely on their infamous crossbows.  Due to a lack of good lumber, crossbows are the ranged weapon of choice.  However, there is no standardization and the crossbows vary wildly in performance.  This had lead to persistent problems for Klagistani in battle, where they prefer to be skirmishers, ambushing the enemy with a deadly volley and then withdrawing before a counter attack can be made.  In large scale battles, Klagistani fight as Ajira, not as a cohesive force.  If an Ajira takes losses, they may fall back or flee, exposing the rest of the army to the enemy.  As a result, Klagistan has been conquered multiple times, but where the Klagistani fail on the battlefield, they thrive in insurrection.

Many invaders have found their leaders in the morning with throats cut, patrols cut down in the middle of the night, a crossbow bolt in the day, or most widespread of all, poison.  Klagistani hate poison, and will be greatly offended if accused of using it, but it is a favorite weapon of Klagistani murderers.  The Assas flower, which grows wild along the banks of the Klagi, can be ground and refined into a potent neurotoxin.  The word 'assassinate' has its roots in the poison of this unassuming bloom.  Fortunately, herders kill it with abandon when found, and growing it is a capital offense.  Still, the small pink flowers can occasionally be found innocently mixed in with others.  Klagistani have turned poisoning into an art form, overseen by the House of the Moon.  Popular are two part poisons, with one added to one food and the other to a drink, and thus killing only those who imbibe both.  Many poisons mimic drunkenness, so to elude magical and mundane purgatives.  A true artist of poison can poison every person at a meal, and kill only the target, and with no one realizing they were poisoned.

The largest and most powerful Ajira are the nobles and monarch.  Corruption in Klagistan are associated with nobility.  'Fat and favored' is an epithet for someone that gets ahead due to their favored status with the monarch.  'Living like a lord' is a double edged insult.  Many of the troubles of the land come from their privilege and the strife that foments between aristocrats.  Many nobles force Ajira to swear loyalty to them alone, and often treat them as subjects.  When this abuse gets too severe, someone winds up poisoned or their throat slit.

The ruler of Klagistan has long been an amalgamation of the nobility and royal family.  While capable of basic administration, most of the power lies in the hands of the aristocracy, with the nobility using the 'line of Klagi' to legitimize their privilege.  The sprawling palace was walled to protect against occasional insurrections, and was home to gardens, menageries, harems, temples, and other extravagances.  Insulated from the populace and dependent on the aristocracy for money and arms, the King was decreasingly effective at managing the politics of the city.  This culminated with the arrival of people across the sea.  The palace now lies a virtual ruin, eroding to theft and the decay of nobles no longer supplying it.  Many of the beasts now lie dead in their cages.  

Magic occupies a strange notch in society, as it falls under neither sun nor moon.  It is generally seen as a foreign thing, embraced and applied elsewhere.  Undeniably useful, but rarely fitting into neat categorization.  'Sun magic' is magic that is evocative or transmutive.  There is little ambiguity with a fireball or lightning bolt.  Transmutation is seen as a business exchange.  Enchantment, divination, and summoning are seen as 'moon magic', more rare and mysterious.  Frequently, they get labelled as sex magic, stargazing, and occultism.  As a result there is no strong magical tradition, and even at its zenith, magic was more something studied than practiced.

The relationship with their colonial overlords had added a new twist to Klagistani life.  The colonials do not understand Ajira, either treating them as family or corporation rather than a distinctly Klagistani unit.  Thus they will frequently try to get multiple Ajira to work together on a project, not understanding centuries of antagonism between each other.  A colonial who gets invited to see moon face thinks that privilege extends to all Klagistani, and fumbles across social lines.  The best relationship had is with the House of the Sun, who at least present a straightforward, if exceptionally stubborn, partner in dealings.  While the House of the Moon started as a partner, their relationship has become estranged, as many overlords simply don't care about the nuances of Klagistani life.  Their goal is facilitating trade, taking phenomenally valuable goods back across the ocean to the capitol.