[Map: MOrient project Map]
http://pandius.com/morient/skothar.jpg
Caption: Jen, M-Tibet and M-Myanmar placements in the original Mystara Oriental project, an updated placement which takes into consideration other fan works can be seen in the Political Maps of Skothar article.
Location: Continent of Skothar, east of Esterhold Peninsula.
Area: Unknown (nomadic Jennites roam much of Skothar's central regions, see maps).
Population: Unknown (estimated at 100,000 Jennites, in clans of 50-1000 individuals).
Languages: Jennite
Coinage: The people of Jen rely on barter for trade.
Government Type: Tribal; clans are headed by a clan chieftain, who is advised by the clan's most powerful shaman (cleric)
Industries: Herding (cattle, sheep, goats, and horses), hunting and raiding.
Important Figures: The Jennite clans are divided by great distances and differing customs; each clan has its own important figures, but none has yet become an important figure in Known World politics.
Flora and Fauna: To the Jennites, the only animals that truly matter are their cattle and their horses. Likewise the only plants that matter are the endless grasses on which their herds graze. Many other animals share the steppes with the people of Jen, however. They include gazelles, marmots (rodents related to woodchucks, whose pelts are prized by the Jennites), wild two-humped camels, wild asses and horses, and antelopes. Birds abound on the steppes, especially partridges, larks, cranes, and falcons (sometimes captured and trained by Jennite hunters). Rivers and lakes of the steppes teem with fish, including trout, perch, and pike.
[Image: Jennites meeting a Minaean traveller]
Caption: Jennites meeting a Minaean traveller
From a letter to the Dahl Lam Tenzin Gyatso of Lhasa, from his humble servant, Ngawang Lozang.
The Land of Jen encompasses most of the grassy steppes that stretch across the central region of Skothar, from the western coast and the Esterhold Peninsula to the Nentsun Plateau far to the east. This land is ringed by mountain ranges to the north, the east, and the southeast, and by the forested hills of the Minaean Coast to the south.
The people of Jen are copper-skinned nomadic herders and horsemen. They rely on New Stone Age technology (well-crafted tools and weapons made of wood, bone, and stone), as the art of forging metal was lost to their ancestors. Jennite craftsmen know how to beat and hammer gold and copper, which they can find in a natural, almost pure state. Most Jennites worship the Immortal Rathanos, although some clans follow other Immortals. Women rarely hold a high position in Jennite society. Masters of the horse and of the steppes, Jennite warriors sometimes raid Alphatian or Minaean communities in Esterhold and along Skothar's southwestern coast.
Notable Sites: There are no known permanent settlements in the Land of Jen. Along the Minaean Coast, there are rumors of a distant valley where Jennite chieftains are interred with their accumulated possessions.
[Image: Jennite jewelry depicting horses] Caption: Jennite jewelry depicting horses
History: Four millennia ago, Oltecs reached the fertile shores of Skothar and colonized the continent. They called the new land jen, meaning “green.” Most of these newcomers established farming communities near the coast. Others discovered herds of wild horses and aurochs (an ancient breed of enormous, aggressive cattle) and became herders. Ultimately, the nomads began to prey on the settled farmers, raiding the towns for food and gold.
Eventually, the nomadic Jennite clans formed two separate groups at odds with one another. While many clans continued to worship Tarastia, patron immortal of justice, some clans turned to the worship of Rathanos. Tarastia took offense at Rathanos's insistence that his followers should keep women subservient to men. She incited her own followers to war. Generations of war followed and threatened to destroy both groups. Around 1600 BC Tarastia spirited her followers to the Hollow World, to keep their culture intact.
The outer-world Jennites prospered for a time before a series of natural catastrophes weakened their culture. These disasters included a deadly plague that decimated their herds of aurochs, and this loss, in turn, decimated the nomads. It was some time before the Jennites were able to build up herds of a smaller breed of cattle. The nomads gradually regressed to stone-age technology, their former glory all but forgotten and their ties with the agriculturalists and craftsmen of the coastal lowlands severed.
With the exception of the disastrous encounter with Alphatians on the Esterhold Peninsula, the Jennites' nomadic way of life-- herding, hunting, and occasionally raiding settlements-- has remained unchallenged for centuries. (See Esterhold and Minaean Coast)
Location: Continent of Skothar, southeast of Jen.
Area: 1,228,400 km2 (474,300 sq mi) (nomadic Lhasans roam much of Skothar's central regions).
Population: Unknown (estimated at 318,000 Lhasans, in clans of 50-1000 individuals).
Languages: Lhasan, Sian
Coinage: The people of Lhasa rely on barter for trade.
[Image: High monastery in Lhasa] Caption: High monastery in Lhasa
Government Type: Tribal; some nomadic clans, some settled clans, each headed by a clan chieftain, who is advised by the clan's most powerful shaman (cleric). Monasteries are headed by high level monks, the highest levels go by the title Lam with the supreme religious and political leader known as the Dahl Lam. Monasteries are mostly among the settled clans, some in the city centers, and others in more remote areas.
Industries: Herding (cattle, sheep, goats, and horses), hunting and farming (main crops grown are barley, wheat, buckwheat, rye, potatoes, and assorted fruits and vegetables.)
Important Figures: Each clan and Monastery has its own important figures, but none has yet become an important figure in Known World politics.
Flora and Fauna: To the Lhasans, all animals matter. They pay particular attention to their cattle and horses. Likewise, all plants matter. Anywhere from the grasses on which their herds graze, their farmed crops and the rare woods that survive are prized due to their altitude. Many animals share the steppes and mountains with the people of Lhasa. The Lhasan Plateau hosts species of gray wolf, snow leopard, domestic and wild yak, wild donkey, horses, cranes, vultures, hawks, geese, snakes, and water buffalo.
From the personal letters from Tien, student of divinity and monastic studies. Late of Sian, currently studying in Lhasa.
The Land of Lhasa encompasses most of the grassy steppes that stretch across the southern side of the Jennite Sword in central Skothar. This land is ringed by mountain ranges to the north, the east, and the southeast, and by the forested hills of Sian to the south.
The people of Lhasa are copper-skinned nomadic herders, subsistence farmers, horsemen and monasteries. They rely on New Stone Age technology (well-crafted tools and weapons made of wood, bone, and stone), as the art of forging metal was lost to their ancestors. Lhasan craftsmen know how to beat and hammer gold and copper, which they can find in a natural, almost pure state. Most Lhasans worship the Immortal Rathanos, although some clans follow other Immortals. Women rarely hold a high position in Lhasan society. Masters of the horse and of the steppes, Lhasan warriors sometimes raid Alphatian or Minaean communities in Esterhold and along Skothar's southwestern coast.
Notable Sites: There are several known permanent settlements in the Land of Lhasa, as well as nomadic groups. The Land of Lhasa isn't known beyond the neighbouring regions.
History: Four millennia ago, Oltec men reached the fertile shores of Skothar and colonized the continent.
“Although their history is similar to ours in many ways, as we have both had to deal with countries to our North, East, and South; and our countries are currently at peace with these same people, the Lhasans have had a varied outcome then we Sianesse have.
“As I am learning the long song of the Lhasan People from the Great Dahl himself, I am reminded that since history takes its own slow path to Enlightenment, so too will it take me to learn their history and accomplishments.
I pledge that I will continue with this history in my next missive. Until next time, as always, your humble student.” From the personal letters of Tien, student of divinity and monastic studies. Late of Sian, currently studying in Lhasa.
[Image: Golden pagoda in Sian]
Caption: Golden pagoda in Sian
Location: Continent of Skothar, Tangor Bay, east of Empire of Tangor, Southeast of Jennite Sword, Southwest of Lhasa.
Area: 513,120 km2 (198,120 sq mi)
Population: Unknown (estimated at 6,478,590 Sianesse, in clans of 50-1000 individuals).
Languages: Sian(esse)
Coinage: The people of Sian rely on barter for trade.
Government Type: Tribal; clans are headed by a clan chieftain, who is advised by the clan's most powerful shaman (cleric)
Industries: Herding (cattle, sheep, goats, and horses), hunting and farming (rice and millet.)
Important Figures: Each clan has its own important figures, but none has yet become an important figure in Known World politics.
Flora and Fauna: To the Sianesse, forests, including dense tropical growth and valuable teak in lower Sian, cover over 49% of the country, including areas of acacia, bamboo, ironwood and magnolia champaca. Coconut and betel palm and rubber have been introduced. In the highlands of the north, oak, pine and various rhododendrons cover much of the land.
Typical jungle animals, particularly tigers, occur in Sian. In upper Sian, there are rhinoceros, wild water buffalo, clouded leopard, wild boars, deer, antelope, and elephants, which are also tamed or bred in captivity for use as work animals, particularly in the lumber industry. Smaller mammals are also numerous, ranging from gibbons and monkeys to flying foxes. The abundance of birds is notable with over 800 species, including parrots, myna, peafowl, red jungle fowl, weaver birds, crows, herons, and barn owl. Among reptile species there are crocodiles, geckos, cobras, Sianesse pythons, and turtles. Hundreds of species of freshwater fish are wide-ranging, plentiful and are very important food sources.
From the diary of Huli Jamin Fi 'ayi Makan, formally crewman of the Glorious; Faithful Explorer to Her Imperial Majesty, Eriadna the Wise; Wizard Extraordinaire; etc.; etc.; etc.
It has been my decision to leave Her Imperial Majesty's service in order to explore this strange land. Here are some of my findings.
The Land of Sian encompasses most of the jungle areas that stretch across the central region of the Skothar continent, from the western coast to the Nentsun Plateau far to the east. This land is ringed by mountain ranges to the north and the east, and by the forested hills of the Minaean Coast to the west.
The people of Sian are typically copper-skinned but range from a light yellow through copper and light tannish brown, depending on general area. They are herders, farmers, and horsemen. They rely on New Stone Age and Copper Age technologies (well-crafted tools and weapons made of wood, bone, copper and stone), as the higher arts of forging other metals were lost to their ancestors. Sianesse craftsmen know how to beat and hammer gold and copper, which they can find in a natural, almost pure state.
In a traditional village, the monastery is the centre of cultural life. Monks are venerated and supported by the lay people. A novitiation ceremony called shinbyu is the most important coming of age events for a boy, during which he enters the monastery for a short time. All children in Rohindist families are encouraged to be a novice (beginner for Rohindism) before the age of twenty and to be a monk after the age of twenty. Girls have ear-piercing ceremonies at the same time.
Most Sianesse worship the Immortal Rohindartha, although some clans follow other Immortals. Women rarely hold a high position in Sianesse society, but it is not unheard of. Masters of the river and marshes, they are accomplished small boat sailors.
Notable Sites: There is an unknown number of permanent settlements in the Land of Sian. Along the Tangor Coast, there are rumors of a distant valley where Sianesse chieftains have been buried with their wealth.
History: It is believed that the ancestors of the Sian were remnants of the Southians, who broke off from the Tangor people, who migrated to the northwest and settled in the Tangor Gulf. They may have intermingled with Afridhi and Peshwans....
“As I am currently learning the Sianesse Language, the documentation of their Great History and culture, have been an understandably slow process. I will contact you later with updates to this investigation. Regrettably, this may take some time to accomplish. I have included the notes that I have so far. Your Faithful Explorer,Huli Jamin Fi 'ayi Makan, formally crewman of the Glorious ; Faithful Explorer to Her Imperial Majesty, Eriadna the Wise; Wizard Extraordinaire; etc.; etc.; etc.
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[Map: MOrient project Map] Map of the MOrient project. |
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[Image:
Jennites meeting a Minaean traveller]
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[Image:
Jennites jewelry depicting horses] |
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[Image:
High monastery in Hasa] |
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[Image:
Golden pagoda in Sian] |