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somethingclevermahogony · 15 days ago

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Hello everyone! This is the next entry in a "guide" I'm creating here on my blog for one of the cities in my WIP, Labisa. To see chapter one click here.

Here are some other posts that you may want to check out : Intro, Language, Phrases, Food Pt1, Food Pt2, Maps, Magic, Status Symbols, Labisa Tour, MC intro.

This is a long one folks so I'm splitting it into two parts.

Btw the pottery images here come from the app Pottery 2.

Chapter 2: The Markets and the Humbalibal Festival Part 1

At the end of the olive harvest when the city of Labisa holds its annual Humbalibal Festival in honor of the city's patron goddess, the place to be is not in the grand halls and inumeral rooms of the palace, but rather in the twisting maze of streets, market stalls, beer halls, street performers that the people of Labisa call, Enun Tu-Shet Tabun, The 26 Streets.

While the palace complex serves as the political, military, and manufacturing core of Labisa and the lands it governs, if you want to learn about the people and culture it is essential to visit the markets. Visiting during the Humbalibal Festival provides the added benefit of getting to meet an learn more about the thousands of foreign visitors who pour into the city for the celebration, providing a glimpse into the hundreds of cultures that make up the Green Sea and beyond.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through one day in the 26 Streets during the height of the Humbalibal Festival using a hypothetical scenario to introduce you to the sounds, sights, and oddities of Kishetal's largest city.

Continues Below!

Part 1: Entering Labisa

If you are not a Kishite from another city-state or a Makurian, chances are you arrived in Labisa via boat, landing at the bustling docks, the largest and most prosperous freshwater port in the Green Sea. Around you, people carry a variety of goods, from grain and livestock to copper ingots, jewelry, weaponry, and even exotic beasts like tigers and ostriches.

You spy a cage with a rarakalu (yap dog), a strange magical creature more closely related to hyenas than actual canines. These creatures are able to perfectly imitate human speech, quite eerily, in their native arboreal habitat where they swing with prehensile tails. But this one has been captured and is now being used for entertainment. You feel a twinge of pity for the creature as it belts out an Ikopeshi sailing song at the behest of its purple-haired master, but before you can think more about the topic, you are beckoned towards the city by the man who brought you here. After all, you paid good money to see this festival.

You are far from the only person entering the city. During the days before the festival, hundreds of people are guided through the Serpent Gates, so called because of the two massive stone-horned serpents that stand guard on either side of the grand cedar doors. Before you even enter the city you catch a glimpse of three great hills. The largest is the palatial hill, atop which stands the palace of Labisa, a city unto itself. The second is the Temple Hill, topped by the sprawling Temple of Humbalibal, the largest temple dedicated to a Kishite deity in the entirety of the Green Sea. Even from here you can smell the burning of sacred herbs and meats, and see the column of smoke rising from the great stone altar.

The last and smallest hill is not a hill at all, but a manmade structure, the Tomb of Tamel. This gargantuan structure is the resting place of the city's founder, the demigod Tamel. The trees growing on the tomb are fig, date, and pear. Visitors to Labisa often pay to purchase these fruits from the priests. It is believed that using one of the fruits from Tamel’s tomb for a sacrifice or offering will serve to better win the favor of the gods.

There will be time to gawk at the Tomb later, your guide reminds you. He insists on pushing you past the Grand Square where the Tomb resides. You catch glimpses of dancers dressed in animal furs or else draped in copper bells, men banging on drums, and strange forest folk with horns and tusks. The delicious smells of dough and tiny fish frying in freshly pressed olive oil waft from the little huts and stands that have been propped up in the square to feed eager visitors. These pleasant smells mix with the less pleasant aromas of the city.

You're hurried forward down the main street, past priests and priestesses and prostitutes calling down at you from the windows of brothels. A chariot rumbles past you, its owner dressed in his bronze armor, polished for the festival.

Your guide brings you to a beer hall, the place where you will be staying. As the name suggests, the primary function of a beer hall is to serve beer. Throughout Kishetal, beer has traditionally been brewed and sold by women. Labisa alone has 19 beer halls, all but one of which, including this one, are run by women. These halls typically serve five varieties of beer (see below) and may also serve some food, though not always. This particular beer hall is owned by a woman by the name of Huma who has agreed to board and feed you for the next couple of nights, for a small fee of course. Your guide has already taken care of this.

Aruhakishar/Akishar: (Aruha- Dry, Kisharu- Beer) Unadulterated, typically plain beer, this sort of beer is the basis for the other varieties. These vary from brewer to brewer and can differ greatly in terms of strength, flavor, color, etc. This tends to be the cheapest option. Ishkishar: (Isha- Sour/Bitter Kisharu- Beer) Aruhakishar typically with the addition of various herbs, nuts, and even minerals. This beer is typically seen as invigorating, good for lifting the energy and strengthening the resolve against wicked spirits. Few people drink this casually. Wakishar: (Wawa- Sweet, Kisharu- Beer) Similar to the above but rather than the addition of herbs to promote bitter and sour flavors, this variety of beer is typically sweetened with the addition of various sweeteners, most often date syrups, honey, and fruits like fig. These tend to be the most well-liked variety of beer and fall in the middle when it comes to price. Olikishar/Olkishar: (Oli- Blood/Red, Kisharu- Beer) This variety of beer is similar to Wakishar but is flavored specifically with the addition of red fruit, like pomegranate, cherry, and various mountainous berry, giving it that crimson appearance. Some beer halls may add other additives to increase this sanguine appearance. Depending on the quality, this may be the most expensive variety of beer sold at a hall. Ihikishar/ Ihiki: (Ihi- Giggle (haha), Kisharu-Beer) This particular variety of beer is not sold in all halls and tends to be the most expensive, and is viewed among the common folk as more of a treat. This beer can be any of the above with addition of the treated oil of the magical Kasikur plant, also known as jit(from a Forestfolk word). Drinking jit mixed with wine may cause various effects, most commonly a slight high, similar to cannabis. However the use of jit is highly regulated as its magical effects, when consumed in sufficient amounts can have dangerous and bizarre effects.

It's already quite late and you have a busy day tomorrow. Before bed, Huma gives you a bowl of what seems to be a mixture of leftover Akishar and Wakishar, producing a mildly sweet if somewhat dull drinking experience. For food, you are given a large piece of barley bread, some olives, a hunk of unsalted goat's cheese which may be slightly past its prime, and some chakun from the butcher next door. Chakun is typically made from pig or lamb skin, fried in its own fat and then seasoned with salt and herbs. This is somewhat comparable to "cracklins" or chicharrons. Labisian cuisine in general holds an appreciation for crispy or crunchy textures that is relatively unique among Kishite city-states.

After eating you are brought to the underground cellar, the ground little more than dirt and reeds, where the large pots holding beer and grain are kept. You are not the only guest staying there. There are two Korithians, a Baalic man, and a Makurian. You mostly keep to yourselves as you settle onto the piles of reed and old cloth which Huma has provided for you beds. The Makurian introduces himself as Jerat, and explains that he comes the Tijik Tribe who inhabit the lands east of the Red Cedar Mountains. You both speak the Labisian dialect of Kishite as this is the most commonly taught dialect outside of Kishetal, alongside the Chibalic dialect. Jerat informs you that he was in the city for the previous festival when the current king, Akard, dethroned and killed his uncle Hutbari. He is happy to report that since Akard has become the king the city seems to be much cleaner and he wonders what the new king's conquests around Lake Shebali will mean for the festival. After a bit more pleasant conversation, you dim the olive oil lamps and go to sleep.

IMPORTANT: When talking to Makurians, it is best not to call them Makurians. Makur (Or Makia in Korithian) is the term used by Kishites and Shabalans to designate the lands east of Kishetal and north of Baban, Jezaan, and Ukkaria. In truth "Makur" accounts for a gigantic swath of land and is home to hundreds of different groups and cultures, each unique in their own right. Bonus Fact: Makur derives from the Shabalic word for east, maku.

Part 2: Starting Your Day

You are roused by the sound of singing outside in the streets. The first of many processions making its way from Temple Hill to the base of the Great Tomb. The last and grandest procession will come from the Palace and will be led by the King and his closest lords. You and your sleeping companions stumble out of the cellar to see what the fuss is all about.

This particular procession comes from the temple of Kimaba, goddess of the oven and of bread. As the small collection of priestesses and priests march down the road, they pour barley grains on the ground in supplication to the ground, unintentionally feeding the rather fat flock of birds which circles behind them. They sing ancient stories, in this instance the tale of the demigod Lat and his lover, Uridush. They carried aloft a statue of the goddess, the four-armed figure draped in the pelts of the temple guard dogs, collected upon each dog's passing and hung around the statue to fend off mischievous spirits. A few people rush forward to pluck hairs from the pelts as it is believed that adding these to grain will help to preserve them. In order to preserve these revered artifacts, one particularly sour-faced priestess wacks at anyone that comes close with a large cedar rod. A group of boys dare one another to get as close to the rod as possible, all fun and games, until one boy finds himself not quite fast enough and is left sniffling and enduring the teasing of his peers while rubbing the welt forming on his back.

Bonus Fact: Throughout Kishite History there have been several demigods or spiritbloods. The most famous of these was Tamel. Other famous demigods include the hunter Lat, the boar-headed demigod Hu(u)m, and the pirate Kilala. Still living figures like Mikrab the Mad and The War Queen Batricca often feature in songs and tall-tales.

As the procession passes on you duck back into the beer hall for a morning meal. You are not the only one, festival goers and locals alike are seated on the various benches and chairs. You are given the breakfast of choice, "gokigu", a mixture of stewed and mashed barley, old beer, and a thick variety of yogurt called ishjir. For the price of cleaning some bowls, Huma also adds a drizzle of honey and a sprinkling of black pepper to your bowl.

You ask some of the locals seated nearby where you should go first and they suggest you visit the Hall of Gods via the Dyer and Fishermonger's Streets. With a plan in place you leave the beer hall and start your day.

Part 3: The 26 Streets and the Hall of Gods

Though the market district is called "The 26 Streets", this is a bit of a misnomer. Many of these so-called "streets" actually fall on different sections of the Road of Tamel, which leads from the Tomb of Tamel to the Palatial Hill, with parts of the market then branching off from the main road to places like the Temple Hill. While to the untrained eye, the lay out of the markets may seem uneven and chaotic, in truth they are highly regulated by the palace, with each kind of business/trade limited to its own district. This serves not only to make issues of taxation easier, but in theory serves as a sort of consumer protection. By putting all of the options for a certain trade in close proximity, it allows potential customers to look around and make their own judgements before buying.

Palatial officials regularly inspect the districts in order to insure that no one is trying to sell outside of their approved district and to collect fees and taxes relating to breeches in law or conduct. One of these officials are properly referred to as an Uhwaku but you are more likely to hear store owners and locals refer to them as Tidiku or simply Tidi which means "Rat man" or "Rat", as they "steal" your grain.

The "streets" are as follows:

The Potter's Street

The Perfumer's Street

The Weaver's Street

The Butcher's Street

The Slaver's Street,

The Bronzesmith's Street

The Coppersmith’s Street

The Carver's Street

the Brewer's Street

The Vintner's Street

The Jeweller's Street

The Plantbrew's Street

The Scribe's Street

the Ropemaker's Street

The Tanner's Street

The Spicer's Street

The Painter's Street

The Dyer's Street

The Stonemason's Street

The Fishmonger's Street

The Carpenter's Street

The Basketweaver’s Street

The Papermaker's Street

The Musicians’ Street

The Farmer’s Street

The Candlemaker’s Street.

CAUTION: Before starting your adventure make sure that you have strong bottomed footwear. Though much has been improved in terms of sanitation since the reign of the previous king, particularly with the cavernous underground waste tunnels being properly tended, the streets are still far from clean. Broken pottery, animal feces, and other refuse are common on the streets and the last thing you need on your big trip is a cut or worse an infection.

The Butcher's Street

Your beer hall falls on the boundary between the Butcher's Street and the Farmer's Street. As the name suggests the Butcher's Street is where the majority of the city's meat is processed though it is also where products made from bone or horn can be purchased. The Farmer's Street is where produce as well as game from outside of the city is sold, it is the largest of the markets but it also one of the least well-suited for visitors such as yourself, as the traders there have little time to entertain your prodding and questioning. Luckily for you, the path to Hall of Gods takes you through the Butcher's Street.

Its still relatively earlier, which means the stalls are still well stocked. Goat, horned-rabbits, pork, mutton, and waterfowl are hung proudly for passers by to inspect and haggle for. Children paid in sausages and scraps swat away at the insistent flies with paddles made from reeds and horse hair. You won't find any chickens here as they have yet to be introduced in great quantity to this part of the world. Cattle is also another rarity, such creatures being far too valuable for consumption for any but the most elite.

You stop to inspect one stall one the owner sees you and approaches with a spoon which he claims is carved from a ram's horn. The carvings etched into the blood are quite well-done if not somewhat basic. Aside from metals, horn is perhaps the most revered material for spoons in Kishite society and owning a well-made horn spoon is a sign of status, particularly one from a well-grown ram or bull rather than a horned rabbit. Perhaps it could even be worth the exorbitant price he's asking (two silver coins). But are you confident in your ability to identify what is actually horn and if so, to haggle the price down?

Mini Lesson #1: Haggling and Money

Coins are still a new innovation in Kishetal, only being adopted a few decades before your visit. Much of the city still uses barter, though unless you have some grain or other valuables hidden up your sleeve, coins are probably your best course. While there are specific Labisian coins, any coin or even an equivalent amount of the raw metal will work for trade.

Haggling is a regular part of life in the markets and most shop-owners expect it. This can come as somewhat of a shock for people from places like Baalkes and Koritha where the prices are typically final. However, before you start randomly throwing out prices, you should know that haggling has a highly structured form that should be followed if you wish to reach a reasonable price.

1) The seller will offer an initial price, usually around twice to four times as much as they actually expect to receive. Do you like this spoon? Its horn, well-made. I will give it(this) to you in exchange for two sy(i)sbakip. Dagakila itdili fada? Jir ga, dasamigutas. Tukiwad dab fada lutuki se sisbakun. 2) You must thank them for their offer and inspect the offered item. Even if you have already looked at the item before being given the price, you should do so again. A thirty second inspection should be sufficient before offering your first counter offer. Thank you, can I see it? Oldab, hiwa ikab ekkiwaz irab? 3) After you inspect the item give a counter price, go low, perhaps about half of what you actually intend to pay. Do not go too low or you risk insulting the other person. Remember that this should be the lowest offer you give. Offer an explanation why the initial price is too much. What about (instead) three zubakips? I am a foreigner (m/f) and I do not have much (I have not much). Ekdowa kala ba zubakun? Wa zuluku/zuluma al nadana kudiwa.

After this, the exchange can be less regimented as you can go back and forth on the price. Be aware though that some sellers can be quite stubborn and some haggling matches can last hours. If you decide that trade is not worth it, bow your head and apologize and be on your way.

Mini Lesson #2: Thunderstep

With your spoon (or not) secured, it's time to continue on your way. You pass by more stalls and shops, a few owners try to lure you in with the promise of cheap or other high-quality products, waving about sausages and roasts. You manage to resist the temptation and continue onward. The street expands into a small plaza. Statues and styles surround you, including a new one which depicts the victory of the new king over the city of Naloch and its allies. The carving of King Akard, dressed in royal regalia with the Ram-horned goddess at his side, stands above you, carved in sandstone.

Four streets branch off from this plaza, including the one you just came from. The ever-growing smell of fish indicates that the path forward is to the west. Before you can get there, however, you find your path blocked by a large swell of people. You strain to see what they are looking at when you hear (and feel) something strange. You look up to search for clouds but find nothing but the blue sky stretching endlessly. Then you hear it again, a rolling boom that you can feel vibrate through your entire body. It comes again and again, each boom coming in ever rapid succession. It is only then that you realize that what you are listening to is music. You push forward from the crowd to the front. There you find a large platform, its exact construction is a mystery to you. But you have little time to ponder on the platform before you finally find the source of the music. Two Kishite women, bare save for the green paint adorning their arms, chest, and belly as well as the thin ribbons of red fabric tied to their wrists and ankles, are leaping and spinning around one another. They look at the crowd with exaggerated facial expressions, grimacing, grinning, and rolling their eyes. Each time one of their feet hits the platform it produces one of those loud booms. A third woman seated on the edge of the platform plucks at a lyre-like instrument and sings a song about the Hoopoe King.

You have stumbled upon a Thunderstep/Stormstep performance. The style of theater combines dance with music and song to tell a simple narrative. The dances are performed on specially made hollow wooden platforms, producing loud thundering sounds, thus giving the style of theater its name. Thunderstep originates from the pre-Kishite inhabitants of the peninsula, specifically the Karaki people who once inhabited the region where the Kishite city of Seha sits now. Thunderstep has historically been dominated by women, and more often, women are in romantic relationships as this is believed to improve their performances. Thunderstep has been banned off and on throughout Labisa's history, most recently by the previous King Hutbari. Luckily for you, King Akard legalized such performances yet again.

As the performance finishes, people place bronze coins, fruits, and other trinkets and small objects on the stage. You are free to do so yourself.

NOTE: Place your offering on the stage; do not throw it. Throwing it may cause another boom and is viewed as disruptive. Do not try to get the performer's attention as this will almost certainly earn you some annoyed glances from other members of the audience.

The Fishmonger's Street

As you approach the Fishmonger's street, the smell of fish and rot intensifies, there is perhaps a reason why you see fewer foreigners there. As you near the first shop you are waved down by an older woman seated before a large bronze inlaid chest. She holds out her hand expectantly and demands a single bronze coin.

One bronze. Ku Zubakip.

As you try to ponder what exactly she wants, another person slips around you and places a coin in her hand. She nods and hands the man a small clay vial, no larger than your thumb. The man pours the contents in his hand and then smears it over his mustache before walking into the fishmarket.

The woman turns back to you, raising her hand once again. After a moment of hesitation you hand her a bronze and she places a vial in your hand.

You do as the man before you did, though a bit more conservatively, and apply some of the contents to your upper lip. The effect is eye-wateringly intense. Its a perfume, highly potent. Rosemary and pine resin dominate. The purpose becomes immediately clear as the intensity of the perfume means you can no longer smell the fish, or much of anything.

Continuing into the market, you find locals buying fish caught in Lake Shebali; small minnows, trout, carp, eels, and more. Someone has caught a massive sturgeon and is now auctioning it off bit by bit to a jostling group of customers. At another stand, people crowd around to gawk at a rare import from the west: oysters and scallops. Some bid, not for the meat, which is far too expensive and will almost certainly end up at the table of nobles, but rather for the shells.

In between the shops and stands selling fish are homes. Outside some of these, the owners sit with small portable clay ovens and grills, offering to cook up the purchases of passing shoppers. However, you are still full from your breakfast and decide to move on. The sellers here are somewhat less aggressive than those on the Butcher's Street. Soon enough, you come to the base of a small hill, far smaller than those previously mentioned. At the top of the hill is what you initially mistake for a temple, its walls carved and painted with grand murals of conquests in foreign lands. You have found the Hall of Gods.

The Hall of Gods

You enter the hall and find yourself surrounded on all sides by statues of deities, their styles varying wildly. Some are simple, little more than columns with faces carved into their curved surfaces, others are animalistic, others are quite abstract. There is no rhyme or reason in their ordering. There is only one thing that all of these strange statues have in common: none of them are Kishite.

This is not a temple, it is a trophy room. The deities which surround you are captives, taken from their native lands during the wars and conquests of Labisian kings, starting with Tamel. Fifty-seven statues and idols can be found in total. Ikopeshi, Apunian, Makurian, Korithian, Baalkic, and more are all represented. Perhaps you spot a deity from your own homeland.

Workers on ladders work to fix cracks and apply fresh paint to the strange faces. As you contemplate one of the statues, you feel a hand on your shoulder and turn to find yourself face to face with a Labisian guard. You are steered out of the hall and initially assume that you must have done something wrong, but it is then that you see the procession of priests approaching the Hall. You have done nothing wrong, you were merely in the way. This particular procession, banging at bronze bells and wailing, belongs to the temple of the war god Orikki. The head of their orders holds up a dragon bone spear, as old as the city itself. Two men lead jackals with leather leashes. Gripped in their other hands are gold-sheathed knives. As they enter the hall, the doors are shut behind them. Unfortunately (or perhaps not so unfortunately) you, as a foreigner, are not permitted to see the rituals they are about to perform.

The Lower City

With exploring more of the hall out of the question, you decide to follow the road to the part of the market that seems busiest, though you have little interest in cutting back through the Fishmonger's Street. You soon enter the Lower City, so called because of its elevation in comparison to the Palatial and Temple Hills, not its location on the map. The Lower City is made up of many small, cramped hovels of mudbrick and straw, interconnected through various doors and halls to form a sort of hive. There is no such thing as a private home in the Lower City. A man could walk from one end of the district to the other without ever stepping onto the street. Peasants lie on their roofs, chatting, trading, and playing games of dice. Unlike the rest of the city, many here are practically nude, dressed in little save for a loincloth (besawi), some wear even less than this. Nudity is far less of a taboo in Kishetal compared to many other regions.

There are far fewer travelers here than in any other part of the city you have been to thus far, for it is where the city's poorest live. There are no statues, only a stele or two, the beer halls are puny, and there are no shops. Yet as you walk you find people smiling at you and waving. A few old men try to beckon you over for beer and dice. Though far from perfect, the lives of the least fortunate have improved tremendously since the assassination of the old king. Of course, this does not stop the children on the street from calling themselves Narul or Princess Ninma as they go about their games.

You almost don't want to leave as you hear the bustle and noise of the markets up ahead.

The Weaver's, Perfumer's, and Potter's Districts

The transition from the Lower City to Weaver Street is jarring. These three streets are some of the largest and the most visited of the 26 streets. Visitors rush to gawk at and purchase bits and pieces of Lebanese clothing or textiles. Garments of imported Mu silk, Apunian linen, and Kishite wool of every color are waved by enthusiastic shop owners and hawkers seated in front of the flat-topped brick and wood buildings that function as stores, workshops, and homes. Unlike the plain mudbrick homes of the Lower City, the shops here are colorfully painted with whites, blues, reds, and greens, in the hopes that their bright tones will draw in curious patrons. The pungent smell of dye lay over the district like a blanket and the squeals and clicks of the looms and wheels fought to be heard over the many chattering voices. Unless you plan on buying something and are prepared to haggle its best that you do not look at any of the wares for too long, lest you attract the attention of an overly zealous seller.

Through the dye and the ever-present stench of the city, something more appealing catches your attention. The smell of frying dough. One of the shops selling wool tunics (sakalu) is also selling fried dough stuffed with sheep's cheese (Hasolikip). The shop, it seems, is run by a mother and daughter, both dressed in rust-colored fur coats and tunics, despite the heat. The daughter tends to the cloaks while the mother tends to the bubbling pan of sheep's fat. Your stomach growls, and you approach the woman to order a treat, but she simply points to her daughter. The daughter informs you that the pastries are free, so long as you buy a tunic. Her accent is odd, as are her proportions, her arms are longer than they should be and her shoulders broader. What you assumed was a coat was not a coat at all, but rather a thick layer of fur growing across most of her body, save her face and hands. These two are Hillfolk. More specifically, they are Uteshites who have come from their home in the hills to sell their wares for the festival.

Fun Fact: The Hillfolk are fur-covered beings often naturally capable of very minor magic (true magic, not sagecraft, a competent human sage is typically capable of far greater magical feats, though with the drawback of physiological and psychological wear and tear). They are one of the Awakened Races alongside humans and giants. They are genetically and phenotypically most similar to the now extinct Stonefolk, and this can be seen in their typically short and broad physique. They are differentiated by their covering of fur, which can vary in color and texture in a similar nature to human head hair, and by their sixth digit found on each hand. It is not unusual for Hillfolk living in human settlements to shave their bodies in an attempt to fit in. Across Hillfolk cultures, a love of perfume and of combs is almost universal. The largest Hillfolk culture inhabiting the land now called Kishetal, are the Uteshites.

After considerable haggling and indecision, you finally agree to buy a tunic, white with green trim, and quickly also get a pastry. The pastry is split open and stuffed with a mixture of cheese, honey, and pistachio. The Labisian love of fried foods may not be particularly healthy, but it is delicious. You quickly finish your snack, your new tunic draped over your shoulder, and continue onward.

As you pass into the Perfumer's district, the smell of dye is quickly overwhelmed by a headache-inducing mélange of fragrances. Jugs and bottles of dozens of sizes, from the size of a child’s palm to the height of a grown man, line the street. Images have been painted on their surface to advertise their contents. Perfume is of immense importance throughout the lands of the Green Sea, but especially in Kishetal. No person leaves their home without first scenting themselves; slaves are typically the only exception. Indeed, among some peoples, like the Makurians and the Korithians, the Kishite people were thought of as feminine for their love of perfume, adornment, and their extravagant bathing practices. Even the presence of public toilets was at times considered to be unduly opulent.

Any combination of the scents listed below (and more) can be found. Certain shops may even allow you to combine perfumes to create your own bespoke scent. Each shop marks the jars and bottles containing their product with their own personal stamp, pressed into the clay while it was still soft. Just cataloging these stamps would take hours to complete.

Common Scents/Ingredients in Kishite Perfume: Rose Haasir (Fireflower) Peach Blossom Apple Blossom Thyme Rosemary Jasmine Cedar Myrrh Pine Lavender Fennel Lotus Dill Iris Pomegranate Cinnamon Cardamom Corriander Saffron Beeswax Clove Musk

Above: An example of a Kishite Stamp used to signify the origin of goods like perfume.

Well you could spend hours looking and sniffing the vast array of perfumes, you find your head is beginning to hurt. Perhaps its best to get away from all of these potent smells for now.

To finish this first part of the guide, we'll quickly introduce you to some of the sorts of pottery you might find in the Potter's Street.

You quickly move onwards towards the Potter's Street. Soon enough, the smell of rose and cinnamon declines, replaced by the earthy scent of clay and the sharp tang of kiln smoke. Potters line the streets, hawking their wares, hands stained with the rich red brown of freshly fired earth and glaze. From tiny, ornate perfume bottles to massive pithoi, many of which you recognize from the previous district. Some of the pots, jugs, and jars are adorned with intricate designs, some depicting scenes of daily life, others abstract patterns that seem to dance around the curves of the vessels, still others are unglazed, fiery orange or ashy gray.

Many of the ceramics being sold here were originally created for other purposes. Korithian and Apunian wine amphora, once used to ship expensive wines across the Green Sea, are now empty. A keen eye might recognize a royal pithoi, likely thrown away by the Palace, the crack in its side hastily patched by the merchant that found it. The merchant approaches you eagerly but you aren't in a position to be carrying around much of any sort of pottery, much less an entire pithoi (this one being larger than you). You politely decline and go on inspecting the wares of the various shops.

Each region produces their own distinct shapes and decorative traditions. Below are some examples: A Labisian Oil Jug

An Apunian Wine Amphora

A Korithian Water Jug

An Ukarrian Beer Mixing Bowl

A Burric (Eastern Kishite) Perfume Bottle

If you've read this far, thank you! Stay posted for Part 2, coming soon! (I am also going to try to post some story relevant content soon rather than just worldbuilding)

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@drchenquill, @marlowethelibrarian, @phoenixradiant, @pluttskutt, @3-2-whump

@dyrewrites, @unrepentantcheeseaddict, @roach-pizza, @rivenantiqnerd, @pluppsauthor

@flaneurarbiter, @dezerex, @axl-ul, @surroundedbypearls

@treesandwords, @the-golden-comet

#testamentsofthegreensea #writeblr #fantasy writing #fantasy #worldbuilding #narul #world building #fantasy world #writing #bronze age fantasy #sorry this is so long #Part 2 will come and other stuff too...eventually #drawing #wip writing #lore dump #wip

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somethingclevermahogony · 26 days ago

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Seven Sentence Sunday Thursday

Thank you for the tag @winterandwords!

As always this is from Testaments of the Green Sea...

Narul took no part in this strange little argument; he was staring at the column, or rather at what was seated atop it. A wolf was the first creature that came to his mind, though such a comparison would have been woefully inadequate. This alien creature was massive, the size of a large horse or small ox, each paw was as big as a man’s head, comparable in fact to Narul's own brutish appendages, and yet it sat on top of the column with a cat-like grace, as firmly planted as if it had been carved from the stone itself. Its silvery fur seemed to glimmer a soft blue in the sun’s waning light. It was the head in which it differed most noticeably from any creature Narul had ever seen. It was as if someone had grafted a human face onto where the snout of a beast would belong, not flush with the skull but rather jutting away from the rest of the head, creating a long, almost cylindrical shape with a smooth-cheeked androgynous face as the terminus. Narul wasn’t certain, but he believed he could make out an additional pair of eyes situated on the side of the skull.

It looks long but it is in fact 7 sentences (I think), I just can't write short sentences I guess.

Tagging @willtheweaver, @pluttskutt, @patternwelded-quill, @illarian-rambling, and @mk-writes-stuff and of course leaving it open as well

#testamentsofthegreensea #writeblr #fantasy writing #writing #fantasy #narul #worldbuilding #fantasy creature #original creature #writing tag #open tag

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somethingclevermahogony · 1 month ago

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Heads Up Seven Up Tag

Thanks for the tag @illarian-rambling!

I'm pretty sure this was seven sentences? Could be wrong.

Ninma was short, even for a child of her age. She started to pace at the river's edge.

“Is it…deep?” The girl asked, flicking a pebble with her foot.

“Oh, so very deep,” Suru said with a slight smirk, standing at the deepest point, his torso almost entirely above the surface.

“Yes very, very deep, and you best look out for the foot crabs,” Otilia said with mock sincerity, her eyes twinkling as she wrung the water from her hair.

“What’s a foot crab?” Ninma said, taking a cautious step away from the water.

“Oh stop it, both of you,” Bira reprimanded with a click of her tongue as she stepped from the water and offered a hand to the princess.

Suru and Otilia messing with Ninma.

Tagging @winterandwords @mk-writes-stuff @diabolical-blue

#testamentsofthegreensea #writeblr #fantasy writing #writing #narul #writing tag game

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somethingclevermahogony · 1 month ago

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This is my new Pinned post

So nobody gets them confused,

MY WIPS:

Jest of Royalty [JoR]

Genre: High Fantasy

Medium: Comic

Characters: Ronan, Finn, Morena, Rose, Jakkon, Wild, Phenik, Fye, Jatár, Eynalis, Vimadé, Kyrin, Caius, Sylaris, Niisuda, and Eveny

The Man with a Thousand Eyes

Genre: Paranormal Mystery (hopefully)

Medium: Uh idk, Tumblr posts

Characters: Adam, Quill, Violet, Noah, Lucas, Selene, Janus, Audra, Jasmine, Ethan, Kieran, Alan, Naomi

Fallen

Genre: Low Fantasy

Medium: Writing

Characters: Adémia, Dyn, Bard

Chomik

Genre: Fantasy Comedy (Hopefully)

Medium: Comic

Characters: Kaezal, Akea, Child, Sevari, Payekha, Etalan

#curious about fantasy comedy #spreading the word #mutual's wip!

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somethingclevermahogony · 1 month ago

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Seven Sentence Sunday (Or Monday)

Thank you for the tag @winterandwords!

Share seven sentences from your WIP

This little excerpt is from book one of Testaments of the Green Sea

“I will kill you! I will cut you down from your stolen throne, I will shatter your statues and use the rubble to pave my roads. I will chisel your name from history. I will wash your cruel residues from this city like the Aratshin washes away the winter silt!” Clash, grunt, a sharp intake of breath. “The beasts of the land will not taste you, no bird shall land on your breast, your bones will never feel the sun's warm gaze. I will tan your hide and pickle your flesh, like the butcher pickles swine!”

Tagging @mk-writes-stuff, @willtheweaver, @elizaellwrites, @illarian-rambling, and @scribble-dee-vee

#testamentsofthegreensea #writeblr #writing #seven sentence sunday #my writing #fantasy writing #writing tag

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somethingclevermahogony · 1 month ago

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Happy STS! What are your characters' relationships like with their parents or parental figures?

Oof. Is it really a fantasy without some parental angst/trauma? I'll just stick to my two current MC'S, Narul and Ninma. (To avoid spoilers this will be at the beginning of the story):

Narul

Narul never had the chance to meet his biological parents and has next to no knowledge of them. All he knows he has been told by others, primarily Bira and Hutbari. His mother was a priestess in the mountain city of Syshlum, executed by her order for breaking a vow of chastity. This is all that Narul knows of her.

His knowledge of his biological father is even more murky. He must have been a forestfolk of some sort, the origin of Narul's inhuman nature.

Narul's actual parental figure is Bira. Bira is a fellow slave and the biological mother of Suru. When the infant Narul was purchased by a slaver in Syshlum he was involuntarily put into the care of Bira. Despite this Bira was a loving and caring mother, a close confidant and the most level-headed person in Narul's life. In a sense she serves as his moral foundation.

“I killed it.” He said in hushed tones. “I shouldn’t have… I should have listened to Hutbari.” Bira’s eyes flicked to the boar and a soft sigh escaped her lips, “Oh my kind boy.” Narul was silent. “I’m sure you did only what you thought you needed to.” She chuckled softly, though not so loudly as to draw attention from the King. “If it was your brother he would be crowing at anyone that would listen. The hint of a smile tugged at the corners of Narul’s mouth, “You’re right.” “I know I am. And I know that everything will be okay.”

Though it feels strange to say, as Narul's king and master, Hutbari is probably the closest thing that Narul has had to a "father figure." Hutbari and Narul's relationship is entirely based on exploitation and emotional abuse. Not only is Narul a slave to Hutbari in the literal sense, Hutbari has worked hard to damage and limit Narul's sense of self-worth. Narul's self-loathing and his anxious nature can almost entirely be blamed on Hutbari. Narul is useful to Hutbari, but he also represents a threat, a threat that Hutbari has worked to neutralize and tame since Narul first came to Hutbari's city as an infant.

Despite this, Narul still holds a level of affection or reverence towards Hutbari. Hutbari has managed to convince Narul that his "bleeding" and Hutbari's treatment of Narul are necessary, that Hutbari is saving Narul from a dangerous and animalistic nature lurking within him. Unfortunately, Narul believes that Hutbari is right in his actions and behavior.

“Do you even understand what you are, Narul? Have I not educated you? Are you truly that idiotic?” Hutbari continued, the roar now little more than a hiss. “ Do you not understand the danger you hold? You’re not like me, not like a normal human man. Have I not managed to break through that thick beastly skull of yours? Do you think this is some joke? Does this make you want to laugh?”

Ninma

Ninma is the daughter of Hutbari and his youngest wife, Zibatha. Zibatha was born in the Jezaaic city of Jagumit and was the the result of a tryst between the king of that city and a visiting Namutian dignitary. As a teen Zibatha was sent to Labisa to marry Hutbari in order to soldify economic and diplomatic ties between Labisa and Jagumit. Unfortunately Jagumit and along with it, the king, would be burnt to the ground by a rival city just a few short years after Zibatha left. Zibatha is deeply unhappy in Labisa. Hutbari has little time or care for her, preferring the company of his elder wives and of various attendants. Similarly the other wives dislike Zibatha, and largely ostracised her. Besides her own attendants and a few of the palace slaves/servants, Ninma is the only person Zibatha has any sort of regular contact with. Her grasp on the Kishite language is limited which has made communicating with Ninma difficult as Hutbari has refused to allow Ninma to learn the Jagumitic language, save for a handful of words and only allows Ninma to see her mother in for limited stretches of time. Ninma was primarily raised by wet nurses or by Hutbari himself. He does so because he worries that allowing his children to become too close to their mothers could potentially be a threat to him or his heir (after all it was his own close relationship with his mother and her favoritism that allowed him to betray and depose his brother, Kurush.)

Because of all this when Zibatha does have the opportunity to be with Ninma she cherishes the moments as does Ninma, even if her energetic and at times petulant nature make that difficult to see.

Zibatha stood from her stool and moved to stand beside her daughter. Without a word she took the comb from the slave’s hands and ran it through her daughter’s inky curls, an exact match for her own. “Maba be careful…” “Mama…” Zibatha said, correcting her in the Jagumitic tongue. “Mama…” Ninma watched her mother’s face in the mirror, as quiet and still as a statue. “Ifayi. Pretty.” Zibatha muttered, a gentle smile on her lips. When the last tangle was tamed, Zibatha leaned forward, pressing her lips to the top of the princess's head. “Thank you, Mab…Mama.” After a moment Ninma climbed up onto her mother’s lap, head resting on her breast.

Hutbari spoils Ninma, constantly plying her with gifts and attention. She is his "hoopoe". She accompanies him at almost all times, padding behind him throughout the palace. Of all Hutbari's children, their relationship is the closest. This would seem sweet at first, but all of this love and affection is, as is always the case with Hutbari, ultimately self-serving. He does love Ninma, but not in a healthy way. He is simultaneously possessive of her, trying to shut her off from her mother and from possible outside influence, while also planning on how to best use her as a political and diplomatic token as she grows older.

"Ninma, my little princess. You’re mine. I’m your father. You’re my little treasure. You know this. Your maba gifted you to me. That was the agreement that we made when she came to live in this palace and to live off of my coffers. And in exchange, I make sure her blankets are soft, her wine is sweet, and her stomach is always full. That’s marriage, see?” “I think so…” “You are my pretty little songbird, and you sing for me, and you brighten my day, and you make me laugh!” He beamed down at her, and despite herself, Ninma couldn’t help but smile back. “But…is that what it will be like when I get married?” “Yes! One day you’ll be married to a great king or prince or lord…or merchant, and you’ll be his songbird. And one day you’ll do your duty, and you’ll give him a new songbird, maybe even a whole flock of pretty little birds. And then you’ll get to live as a queen, in luxury and comfort. But even then, when you’re far away in your warm nest of silk and gold, you’ll still be mine. You’ll understand this all one day, and you’ll know the way of things and the sacrifices we all must make.” He pressed his lips into her curls, where just minutes before, her mother had kissed her. He leaned back and rested his palm on her cheek. “Paba…does Mam… Maba, love me?” “Yes…yes, of course, she does. But I love you more; I’ve made sure of it.”

#testamentsofthegreensea #writeblr #fantasy writing #writing #narul #fantasy #story writing #writing wip #wip excerpt #thanks for the ask

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somethingclevermahogony · 1 month ago

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The last 3 months. The same goes for Tumblr (I really don't want to look at my drafts rn)

Writers on a random Tuesday: Sits down, locks in, giggles, writes 10k, does not sleep

Also writers on a random Tuesday: writes one sentence and then stares into the abyss for five fours

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somethingclevermahogony · 2 months ago

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🌊 — WIP Introduction — 🌊

— 🌊 —

Title: Unfathomable

Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi, Adventure

Target Audience: YA and up

Tags: Currently planning to use #unfathomable wip, though that could change.

Progress: As of April 2025, I have currently written about half of the first rough draft, and I have a complete outline for the remaining chapters!

Synopsis, setting, themes & tropes, and cast of characters (with art!) below the cut.

— 🌊 —

Synopsis

Marlo Finear is terrified of the deep ocean. This is a problem for someone living in an exclusively underwater society. Luckily, Marlo’s life so far has not required him to face his fears head on, except for the occasional field trip to the Capital on the same continental shelf. The small mining town he grew up in, situated in a cozy underwater cave full of brightly colored bioluminescent plants and harmless fish, is safe and boring - just the way he likes it. So when Marlo’s best friend Keeley Magorian asks him to accompany her to investigate a mysterious energy signature, believing it could be the location of a powerful new energy source - at the bottom of the ocean - Marlo vehemently turns her down, hurting her feelings. But before he can smooth things over with her, terrible news reaches the town. Unfortunately, the Capital doesn’t believe this safe, boring little town is producing enough resources to justify the cost of keeping the lights on, so they’ve decided to shut it down, forcing the residents to relocate to other settlements before the town’s air production is shut off and the structures are allowed to flood. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, Keeley has disappeared in her modified sub…and Marlo knows exactly where she went. This changes things. He’s still afraid, of course. Now more than ever. But no matter the horrors of the deep - the creatures and environments beyond his wildest imagination waiting for him down there - he’s not going to make his best friend take on the responsibility of finding that new power source and saving the town all by herself. He’s going to find her. He’s going to be there for her, just like she asked. He’s going to follow her every step of the way if that’s what it will take to ensure she makes it back home alive. If only that didn’t mean following her to the bottom of the ocean…

Setting

As implied by the synopsis, the setting for this story is a deep-sea underwater environment inspired heavily by the Subnautica video game series and the Ethersea season of the Adventure Zone podcast. This world will feature both fantasy and sci-fi elements, operating on its own set of “rules” separate from real-life oceanography (though there may be some aspects inspired by the real world as well).

Themes, Tropes & More

Coming-of-age adventure

Facing your fears

Ace/aroace leading characters

A focus on friendship and platonic love

Learning to look past surface level assumptions and make an effort to understand others’ true selves

Fantasy and sci-fi woven together; magic *is* technology

No human characters, fantasy races only

An underwater setting full of fantasy flora and fauna species (and monsters? maybe? 👀)

Small town drama

Arranged marriage drama

Personal values clashing with societal expectations

The importance of broadening your horizons and finding your community

Cast of Characters

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the character designs I’ve developed so far (some may be subject to change). Drawn in Procreate over the course of several weekends while listening to many random multi-hour video essays.

(From left to right)

Marlo Finear - The main character. Kind, helpful, and a fiercely loyal friend. Loves his family and his pets. Suffers from recurring nightmares. Avoids conflict and things that scare him, resulting in him being somewhat complacent and not particularly ambitious.

Keeley Magorian - Marlo’s best friend. Brilliant, ambitious, idealistic, independent, introverted. Self-taught scientist and engineer. Tends to sway between two extremes of meticulous premeditation and impulsively throwing all caution to the wind, with little in between.

Bracken O’Fallahan - The mayor’s only son, and not a big fan of all the responsibility that entails. Likes to tease others to feel better about himself. Will do just about anything for attention. Somehow has YouTuber hair in a world with no YouTube.

Dougal MacDuff - A skilled tinkerer and mechanic from a neighboring town. Reclusive, thoughtful, intelligent, underestimated and misunderstood. Has an octopus-shaped holographic sprite buddy.

Vivian Squall - An intrepid scavenger, survivalist and freelancer who gets things done. Fond of adventure and seeing new sights. Prefers to work alone, but is not as antisocial as she may appear. Cares deeply about her friends in her own way.

— 🌊 —

Since this WIP is brand new, I’m tagging a bunch of Writeblr peeps just this once to get the word out. If you see this post, please take this as an opportunity to introduce your own WIP and/or share a WIP Wednesday update! (And tag me so I can see it.)

@willtheweaver @finickyfelix @leahnardo-da-veggie @tildeathiwillwrite @queen-tashie

@talesofsorrowandofruin @chauceryfairytales @sunflowerrosy @akindofmagictoo @somethingclevermahogony

@melpomene-grey @agirlandherquill @illarian-rambling @kaylas-words @thewritingautisticat

@melpomenelamusa @teriwrites @aalinaaaaaa @missnaomijean-writes @daisywords

...and OPEN TAG for anyone who wants to make a WIP Wednesday/WIP Introduction post :)

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somethingclevermahogony · 2 months ago

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A Quick Ramble about Bronze Age Fishes and Worldbuilding

This is a minoan larnax, aka a "bathtub" sarcophagus. I had the privilege of seeing it along with many others while I was in Crete. Many of these sarcophagi, like the one below, had lids. However, this particular example (above) was not displayed with a lid, though it was presumably meant to have one.

What caught my attention about this particular larnax were those three fish. Many of these vessels have marine scenery (marine life, ships, water-like patterns, etc.). It is theorized that this imagery may be indicative of the Minoan afterlife, which was innately linked with the sea, or perhaps waited beyond it. But that is a whole different issue.

Why I found those fish so interesting is because they were located not on the outside of the larnax, but inside, meaning that when the deceased was interned and the lid placed, they would have only been "visible" to the dead, keeping them company in a way.

I wonder if the person who this coffin was intended for had a part in its design or, if not, what the loved ones who commissioned it were thinking. Maybe it was a bit of flair from the artisan that was never explicitly requested.

Regardless, I find something charming about those strange, seemingly inconsequential little human details that appear on ancient artifacts. They're not images of deities, and nothing indicates to me any deep explicit cutic or ritualistic meaning. They seem to just be fish. I hope those three little fishes were able to help the occupant on their journey.

I think when it comes to world building or just imagining the past, an important aspect is remembering little quirks like this. It's easy to use generalities, particularly about the material and physical aspects of a culture, but I think occasionally sprinkling in these little quirks helps to make your world feel more alive.

#testamentsofthegreensea #writeblr #bronze age aegean #minoan #ancient history #writing #fantasy #worldbuilding #world building #more vacation photos #fish #bronze age #minoan crete

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somethingclevermahogony · 2 months ago

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one last, one more, one everything

the past week has been an incredibly busy one - i've written more than i expected to (i beat my personal daily best of 8,000+ words in a single day, which i still can't quite believe) and because of that - i've got plenty of snippets of Doubtless to share with you all!

and because i'm almost consumed by my excitement for this story, i thought i'd start with one of my favourite scenes!

“Are you calling me a thief?”

“I’m simply reminding you of your own nature.”

“I’m a Pirate.”

“You commandeer vessels when it suits your liking. You pillage, which is a politer term for thieving I might add. And when anyone asks why you’re doing it - You tell them because you like it, and then you take it!”

“And when did I do that?”

“With me!” She smacked his arm. “You commandeered my ship and the people inside it. Because you thought I was important. Because you wanted me for some ridiculous, impossible plan that won’t be happening because at this rate I’ll be very, very surprised if we make it to the Isle at all!”

“I might’ve said that then, but, the thing is Adalia,” He chuckled ruefully, leaning a hand to the doorway at her back, “I never had a hold over you, and I quite liked it.”

“…What?”

“I’m out of my depth with you, because of you, and I don’t fear it as I thought I might. “

“Lochley?..” The questions burning in her heart were far too great to be uttered aloud, his name was all her voice could manage, and even then it caught in her throat.

“You’ve made me see things. Things I never thought I would. Things I never thought I wanted.” He smiled, leaning down to press his forehead to hers, his green eyes burying deep into the gentlest parts of her soul. It was a stare so intense it made her shiver. “And it’s taken me till now, till this moment, to see it.”

“To see what?” Her heart was in her throat. She was utterly terrified.

“I don’t need the sea.”

“You are a Pirate.” Adalia had never said the word so cruelly, but it had to be done. She had to make him see. She had to make him see sense. “Of course you do.”

“I don’t. Because I do not need the sea to see the world. Not anymore.”

A different sort of fear sank its claws into her chest. “What in the High-Mother’s name are you saying?”

“The world is here. Right in front of me. And I’ll have you however you’ll let me. If it’s hating me, that is more than all right. If it’s anything else, anything ever more than that - It will be more than I have deserved in this life. But I will take whatever you are willing to give me.”

“Lochley. You need the sea.”

“No, Adalia. I need you.”

“You barely know me.”

“I do know you. I have lived with you. I have fought with you. I’ve survived with you. And that’s more than enough, more than I thought I’d ever have - And I’ve been so lucky as to kiss you on top of it all.”

“Lochley.”

“Will you let me have that chance again? Will you let me show you how much I need you? One more kiss. One last kiss, if needs be. One last chance to prove to you that I mean it all - everything I’ve said, every tender moment we’ve shared, even the ones where you’ve hated me - Please, Adalia.” His eyes glistened as he looked down at her. “Please?”

Adalia wanted to cry. She wanted to scream. She wanted nothing more than to hit him for choosing the worst possible timing, the worst possible place to tell her such things. To ask her for what she was terrified to give. Fearful, not because she was incapable of giving it, but for knowing she would have no limits, no boundaries. If she gave in, she knew she would be incapable of making herself stop. And above all else, she felt sick to her bones, because she had never expected not to be alone in her position. In her feelings. In the anguish tearing away at her heart.

Because I’ve not only fallen for him. I think I’ve given him my heart, my everything - and that is a horrifying thing. And for him to want it? For him to want me so badly that he is begging for a single kiss?

Adalia let out a breathless prayer as she grasped the lapels of his coat and closed the space left between them, answering his question with the very thing he wanted.

A kiss.

~ ~ ~

now for the tag list!

(p.s if you'd like to be included/notified too, interact with this post :) p.p.s im finally getting around to updating it, so bear with me :))

@humbly-a-doppelganger @imawholeassmood @frostedlemonwriter @yrndrgn @abditorywriting

@riveriafalll @lead-to-code @casualsuitturtle @floweryprosegarden @joeys-piano

@catwingsathena @godsmostfuckedupgoblin @nothoughtsjustmhaandotherthings @anaisbebe

@drchenquill @leahnardo-da-veggie @tiredpapergirl @pastelpinkhobbies @a-mimsy-borogove

@the-letterbox-archives @corinneglass @darkluminosity @kuebiko-writing @seastarblue

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somethingclevermahogony · 2 months ago

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Happy WBW! What are boats like in your world? Are there any boats important to your story?

Thanks for the ask! I could go on about this topic for a very very long time, but since its already late I'll keep it brief and I'll just plan on doing a much longer post in the future. This post will only focus on Kishetal, but I'll likely do similar posts for other lands in the future.

A (Very) Brief Intro to Kishite Seafaring

When it comes to seafaring technology, it is important to recognize that the sail is still a relatively new invention in many parts of Kobani. In Kishetal, the sail has only been a common aspect of seafaring for about 1,200 years. This means that Kishetal and the Kishite identity itself is actually older than the introduction of the sail to the region. Before the widespread adoption of the sail, almost all ships were entirely reliant on oars to move. This is still the case for most of these boats and ships which travel up and down the Aratshin river.

The sail was adopted from the Ikopeshi people who live to the west of Kishetal (See below). The Ikopeshi are a well-represented minority among the crews and docks of the Kishite cities, and almost all crews of a reasonable size will have at least one Ikopeshi.

The majority (79%) of Ikopeshi people belong to or descend from a race of forestfolk called the Iko. The Iko and those that retain their traits are naturally adapted to thrive at sea; this includes a natural proclivity for swimming (many Iko have slightly webbed hands), slightly increased lung capacities (which accounts for the stereotypical barrel-chested look of Ikopeshi), and the ability to safely drink and process saltwater. Though not necessarily tied to their semiaquatic lifestyle, the most familiar and recognizable trait of the Iko is their naturally purple hair, which can range in shade from a muted mauve or plum to vibrant shades of magenta and lilac.

The majority of the ships which are favored by the Kishites are morphologically similar to those used by neighboring lands. This is because Kishite shipbuilding techniques and those of neighboring peoples were largely inspired by and built by replicating the work of the Thalassocratic Arkodian fleets, particularly after the Kishite-Arkodic War.

Ships/boats may vary in size from the tiny one-or two-person rowboats which can be seen among the reeds of Lake Shebali to the gargantuan royal barges, the largest of which, the Brine Palace, belongs to the council of aristocrats that rule the coastal city of Chibal, the Bidani. The Brine Palace is roughly 230 ft in length, making it the largest vessel not only in Kishetal but in the Green Sea as a whole. However, in its nearly 170 years of existence and constant upkeep, it has only left the port of Chibal twice.

Most Kishite ships and shipping routes still hug the coasts or else island hop, the open sea is a daunting and dangerous place even for experienced sailors.

While compasses have not been invented, sailors are able to navigate via star maps, knowledge of currents, the movements of fauna, and by carefully observing the topography of the coast.

In rare cases, sages may be employed on ships both to consult spirits as to directions and locations and to manipulate currents and winds, though many sailors are superstitious when it comes to spirits and would rather keep them away from ships.

Important Ships from the First Book of the Ninma Cycle:

The Grand Lion Ship of Labisa aka "Hutbari's Glory"

The Grand Lion Ship is the largest ship in Kishetal, which is meant solely for traveling in freshwater, as well as the most heavily gilded ship in the world, with about 28% of its surface area being covered in pounded gold, most of it concentrated around the head of the lion. The was constructed following Hutbari's war against and subsequent ousting of his brother Kurush as a symbol of his victory. The ship is Hutbari's preferred method of travel around Lake Shebali. The ship itself is roughly 140ft in length and contains three pavilions, a shrine to the Goddess Humbalibal, a pen for livestock or horses, sleeping chambers for the king, and storage space for approximately 330 tons of cargo.

Kishite Warships aka Seabulls

Warships like this were used by Akard to fight against both his Kishite rivals and the navies of Apuna and its allies. Kishite ships are designed for ramming, necessitating the large bronze rams which appear at the front. Kishite ships can be differentiated from those of their neighbors by the inclusion of two large "horns" above the ram. It is from these horns that these ships receive their nicknames "Seabulls." These horns may be wood, or for more important or storied vessels, they can be made from ivory.

A Pirate Vessel aka The Westwind

The Westwind was once a small warship made in a small coastal village of Kishite Makora. The ship, likely made in an effort to confront the pirates stalking the northern Green Sea, would itself fall into the hands of a group of Korithian pirates, who would alter the ship somewhat, allowing it to carry more cargo. The Kishite, Istek, would come into possession of the ship after rising through the ranks of the crew to the role of pirate. He and his partners, Dati and Sihunu, would use the ship for several years, attacking merchant vessels across the eastern Green Sea before eventually giving up the mantle of pirates and instead becoming hired escorts for the Bidani of Chibal.

@illarian-rambling, @mk-writes-stuff, @kaylinalexanderbooks, @willtheweaver, @patternwelded-quill

@elsie-writes, @elizaellwrites, @the-ellia-west, @the-octic-scribe, @the-golden-comet

@finickyfelix, @theprissythumbelina, @autism-purgatory, @diabolical-blue , @tildeathiwillwrite

@katenewmanwrites, @leahnardo-da-veggie, @paeliae-occasionally, @melpomene-grey

@drchenquill, @marlowethelibrarian, , @phoenixradiant, @pluttskutt

@dyrewrites, @unrepentantcheeseaddict, @roach-pizza, @rivenantiqnerd, @pluppsauthor

@flaneurarbiter, @dezerex, @axl-ul, @surroundedbypearls

@treesandwords, @the-golden-comet

#testamentsofthegreensea #writeblr #fantasy writing #worldbuilding #writing #fantasy #fantasy world #world building #fantasy maps #drawings #fantasy ships #snuck a vacation photo in there too #good photo of the mediterranean which is the inspiration for the Green Sea #current wip #wip art #wip

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somethingclevermahogony · 3 months ago

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Excerpt

I'm working on another worldbuilding post (ships), but in the meantime, here is the most recent thing I've written. Let me know what y'all think.

“Eldest born of the Coin-Maker, Kurush Asherdul!”

The actor leapt on to the stage as his character's name was called. Or perhaps leapt is too kind a word, lurched. Intentionally plied with alcohol and wrapped in gaudy clothing at once too tight and too loose, he stumbled onto the stage, his face only saved from a meeting with the wooden planks below by the swift hands of another performer.

That was not his father- not the tall, clever, proud, idealistic, cruel, and cold man of his childhood, nor the frail, senile, rotting, pitiful, remorseful shell whose final breath Akard's merciful hands had squeezed away in that lonely room in the palace of Nashaway. This actor, this fiction, he was a clown.

#testamentsofthegreensea #writeblr #writing #fantasy writing #narul #queer fantasy #writers on tumblr #writing wip #wip exerpt

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somethingclevermahogony · 3 months ago

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Can't promise they'll be answered quickly, but I get to most of them...eventually

Re-blog if you're accepting anonymous asks from anyone about anything

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somethingclevermahogony · 3 months ago

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🍽️ - What does a traditional meal look like in one of the cultures from your world (food, way of eating, and/or table manners)?

Happy WBW!

Hello! Thank you for the ask, and sorry for taking so long to answer it! I've decided to use this question as an excuse to make a sort of guide. Each post in this guide will introduce the "traveler" to a different aspect of visiting Labisa. This post will act as the first section and will include a poll at the end to select the next topic. For those of you that are new to my blog and have no idea what is going on, Labisa is an important city within the setting of my WIP. If you'd like to know more about my WIP, I'd suggest checking out these links here (Most of these are concerned with the Land of Kishetal, but some also address places like Korithia) : Intro, Language, Phrases, Food Pt1, Food Pt2, Maps, Magic, Status Symbols, Labisa Tour, MC intro.

Chapter 1: Food Section A: The (Average) Labisian Home

So, you’ve been invited to a Labisian home for dinner!

Part 1: Meeting Your Host and Accepting the Offer

Maybe you lent a hand in the market, perhaps you’re a relation, or they could even be considering you as a potential match for their child. Whatever the reason—congratulations! The Kishites have a reputation as a reserved and at times cold people, but once their doors are open to you, their hospitality is unmatched.

Through the use of a hypothetical dinner invitation, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know at each stage of the experience. With these insights, if you ever find yourself at a Labisian table, you’ll be able to fully enjoy the evening while also ensuring you’re on your best behavior.

For this hypothetical dinner, your host is a man by the name of Karush. Karush is a potter, and as such falls somewhere in the middle of the Kishite/Labisian Hierarchy. Just by his name (a commoner's name), and lack of a familial name, you can tell that he is not a noble.

Still, as an artisan in possession of his own home and shop (they are in fact the same place), he is far from the bottom rungs of Kishite society.

The offer to dine is simple enough: "I would be honored if you would dine with my family and me."

Of course well it is very tempting to immediately say "Oh yes, I would be delighted". Labisian customs and decorum dictate that you should refuse the offer at first, to not seem overly desperate. One or two refusals, with tactfully flimsy or non-specific excuses, should be more than sufficient. Not doing so is not necessarily insulting, but may come off as naïve or otherwise unappreciative.

When you do relent make sure to say thank you/thank you very much, Olda(a)b (Ohl-dahb) or Olda(a)b Dana!

REMEMBER: Body language and tone are important! While, it may be customary and polite to initially refuse the offer. You must convey with your body language and tone, that you are flattered and accept the offer. If your host actually believes that you don't want to come, they may be insulted or else retract the invitation, thus costing you a lovely experience.

Once this particular ritual has been completed, the time and place of the dinner will be arranged, in this instance at Karush's home just before sunset. Kishites tend to time their dinners in the twilight. As such, their evening meals can be rather late in the summer months, and quite early in winter.

While you may sometimes be guided directly to the home at the time of the invitation, particularly if the invitation is made shortly before dinner, more often it is expected that the invitee will take an hour or two to prepare before coming to the visit. It's only mid-afternoon. As such, you still have four hours before dinner. Karush, however, does walk you to his shop/home in Potter's district, though only to show you where it is, before he sends you on your way, eager to finish his own work for the day and to greet you later that evening.

Karush: Please, I would be very happy if we dined with my family (Pakida, Ekbirashawas dana ek ushkishanas li dulri ikir) YOU: I can't, I am very busy. Sorry. (Ik nahiwa, Ik wa jawura dana. Akdi.) Karush: You must! Our bowls are overfull! (Zazaya! Umrunuf ikirun kani jaburu!" You: I shouldn't... (Ik nat zaza...) Karush: I insist! (Japiwa!) You: Yes, I will come! Thank you very much! (Duda, ik uwwiwad! Oldab dana!)

Part 2: Preparing for Dinner

So, you have four hours to get ready, what all do you need to do?

Get some perfume! Kishites care greatly about hygiene, and particularly about how they smell. Perfumers and perfume shops are abundant. Just follow your nose and you should find a decent one. The Perfume District is a good place to start. There are certain scents/components you should avoid when picking out a perfume/scented oil for a simple dinner. 1) Peach Blossoms: Peaches are quite expensive and, as such, any perfume with peach blossoms will also cost you dearly. Save this for dinners with the nobility or royalty. Don't be a show off. 2) Fennel and/or Lotus: Both of these ingredients are associated with sex and are believed to act as aphrodisiacs. Only wear these scents if you have a very particular evening in mind. Karush does not seem to be seeking that sort of meal. 3) Jasmine and/or Myrrh: These scents are associated with death and grieving. Best to avoid these at the dinner table. Here are some scents you SHOULD wear: 1) Haasir: Always a popular choice, the floral yet somewhat citrusy scent of the haasir flower is welcome at any gathering. 2) Apple Blossoms, Violets, and/or Juniper: All of these scents are believed to stimulate the appetite and, in the case of juniper, to help with digestion. 3) "Woody Scents" : Woody scents are a welcome and pleasant choice, particularly when paired with something floral. One popular mixture consists primarily of a mixture of cedar, lavender, haasir, and rosemary. Ask for Miwi(i)r lu Dolhi (Perfume of Comfort.)

Bathe Yourself! While you're buying your perfume, ask where the nearest public bath is. There are three levels of bath, the highest of which, the royal bath (Dabiwi Lu Jakun), will be out of reach for you. The lowest rank, the common bath (Dabiwi Lu Nikun), is typically little more than a covered pool, with little sanitation and less than stellar amenities. Instead, ask for the artisan's bath (Dabiwi Lu Sikarikun), as here you will find a more pleasant and overall hygenic experience. While there, make sure that your hair is cleaned and tamed (braids are common) and that your teeth/breath have been seen too. A full rundown of the bathing experience will be covered in a different chapter of this guide. You: Excuse me, where is the nearest artisan's bath? (Akdi, lowa ga en jalittu dabiwi lu sikarikun?)

Pick an Outfit! Just as important, if not more so than a good scent, are the proper clothes (Note: These should also be perfumed. For those that are unused to Labisian preferences, this can be initially overwhelming. Smoke is a popular way to perfume clothes. Hang your clothes over a fragrant fire to pick up some of the scent. There are some stores/shops where you can pay to have this done. Just make sure they are reputable, lest you end up with signed clothes before your dinner.) Part of picking out an outfit comes with a level of tact, seasonal, and social awareness. What time of year is it? How well off is your host? What part of the city are you in? Karush is a man of moderate wealth, certainly able to afford some level of finery should the need arise. As such, your outfit should preferably match this expected level of class. Some jewelry, colorful dyes, perhaps even some body paint. These are all excellent choices. Silk and gold are best left for more extravagant company. It is spring (Labisa can get quite a bit of rain), and as such you will likely be eating indoors. As such, it is best to wear more covering clothes. It's not unheard of for both men and women to go topless in the warmer months, but that would not be particularly appropriate or sensible in this particular case. As this is a fairly casual affair, your normal street clothes should suffice, so long as they are clean. You may embellish them with some additional accessories if you so wish, though be careful not to come off as tacky. A future chapter in this guide will address clothing more fully. For this particular instance, we suggest the following: A plain besawi, or loincloth as the undergarments. Make sure your besawi is clean before attending. If necessary, the tusawi is the name given to the length of cloth used to support the chest. Unlike the besawi, the tusawi is not socially necessary, and its use will purely be based on the needs of the wearer. A tunic or sakulu. In this instance, a white or similarly lightly colored tunic, with perhaps some decorative elements or trim, should suffice. White with a yellow or blue trim is a classic choice. For a more masculine presentation, wear a sakulu ends around the knee. For more feminine presentations, instead pick a sakulu which ends around the mid-calf. For women, it is customary to also wear a scarf or shawl (lupu). Sandals (alugun) or slippers (rulugun). Simple leather footwear should suffice, so long as there are no holes and no offensive odors. Many people go barefoot. However, when treading in the potter's district, or really anywhere on the dirty streets of Labisa, it's best to have some protection on your feet. These are the basics, though you may also wear jewellery. Men and women alike adorn themselves with necklaces, bangles, rings, earrings, and other accessories. In this instance, we suggest avoiding gold. If you have it, silver may be a good choice. Northern amber and Apunian glass beads along with semi-precious stones are excellent choices. For a household of Karush's standing, five pieces of jewelry should suffice. If you have a personal seal, wear it as a necklace or ring. Karush will almost certainly have one of his own and there are few things that Kishite artisans/merchants enjoy more than comparing their seals. As with all things, when picking your accessories, ensure that you will not outshine your host. Body paint can be a welcome addition. Designs on the cheeks, necks, hands, and arms are ways of adding decorative flair to your person, without spending too much money. Geometric designs, suns, and letters (regardless of if they mean anything) are all popular choices. While you can do these yourself, it is better to have them done by a professional at one of the baths. See two examples of appropriate outfits for this particular dinner at the end of this section.

Get a Spoon! Odd as it may sound, it is customary in Kishite, and particularly in Labisian culture, to bring your own spoon when dining at someone's home. In this one instance, you can go all out. If you have a golden spoon, bring it! Regardless, find a spoon you are proud of. If you forget your spoon, that is fine, though you will almost certainly be teased about it. Some may even wear their spoon on a chain as a sort of necklace.

Pick a Gift While there is no specific law saying you must bring a gift, and not doing so will not cause great offense, it is typically considered good form to bring some sort of gift, typically one meant for either the spouse or the children of whoever invited you. What NOT to gift: As you may have noticed throughout this guide, the Labisian sense of pride is a major factor when it comes to proper etiquette. The same can be said of gift giving. DO NOT bring a gift which is out of reach financially for your host. So, in this case, do not give gifts of gold or other precious materials, or exotic materials which would be out of reach for the average potter. As a good rule of thumb, a gift should cost no more than an average day's work for your host's profession. It is thus important that you determine what your host does for their work, before you attend. In this case, as a fairly well-to-do potter, you can expect Karush to make the equivalent of 4 bronze (zubakip) in a day, which is equivalent to approximately 8 baskets of barley. This puts him far above the lowest paid laborers who may only earn the equivalent of 1/2 a zubakip each day. Do not bring prepared food items as a gift, as this may be taken as an indication that you believe your host is unable to supply enough food for the meal or that it will not be of good quality. Do not bring scrolls or books, as in all likelihood your host and his family are illiterate. What you SHOULD gift: The classic gift is alcohol. A jug (subi) of local wine or even a wine from elsewhere in Kishetal is almost always appreciated. Avoid foreign wines as these tend to be on the expensive side. The exception to this is Ikopeshi wine, which is not only renowned for its quality but also its relative affordability. Our personal suggestion is a mid-price Nalochian red wine, which should be available at any wine merchant. Alternatively and more affordably, beer is a good idea. The best in this case, would be a beer made in your own household. However, if this is not possible, go to your preferred beer hall and purchase a jug of either Wakishar: (Wawa- Sweet, Kisharu- Beer) or Olikishar/Olkishar: (Oli- Blood/Red, Kisharu- Beer.) If you do not wish to gift alcohol, other ideas include: local honey, sesame/olive oil, spices (black pepper/cinnamon/herbs), semi-precious stones (remember the price!), pottery (it might be best to avoid gifting pottery to a potter), clothing (a new shawl or tunic will be appreciated, though be careful to get the right size), clay or cloth toys, small pets (songbirds, lizards, etc.), and other small relatively affordable items. Now that you are prepared and have picked out your gift, you are ready to go!

Part 3: Domestic Etiquette aka How to Act Before Dinner is Served

Arriving

It is customary to arrive shortly before it's time to eat. We would suggest about 30–45 minutes before you believe the meal will begin. When you arrive, do not enter the house immediately, but rather knock and wait for a response. While most Labisian houses do have doors, some do not. Luckily, in this instance, Karush does have a door. Knocking on the door more than three times is considered to be obnoxious. If the door is open or there is no door, knock either on the door frame or on the nearest window still. With luck, your host will hear you and will come to welcome you in.

Coming in Before crossing the threshold, it is customary to go through the traditional greeting procedure. See below (note that while your host may use informal language during this greeting, you should always use formal language initially, unless you are already well acquainted with them): Karush: Hello friend! (Dusa Nipati!) YOU: Hello! Thank you for your hospitality! May I enter your home? (Dasuda! Uk sanipafi dar, olhab! Hiwa kipaliya en sayut dar?) Karush: Yes! Enjoy my home! (Duda! Dasupiwi en sayut ikir!) At this point, you should present your gift to the host, if you have one, and then enter. There is no need to remove your footwear upon entering the home, unlike some cultures where the need to remove your shoes is common practice. In fact, removing your shoes is seen as odd, unless you're living there.

Greeting other occupants of the house The correct way to greet someone is Ga dasu kugiwaz da(a)b (or Ga dasu kugiwaz da(a)bun if you are meeting multiple people at once. If you so choose, you can ask how they are doing, Mowa Da La? If they ask you this simply respond Wa dasi ash (I am very well). Introduce yourself. If you happen to be noble and thus have a familial name, it is best to keep it to yourself to not embarrass or else demean your hosts. "Kubit ikir wani..." is how you should introduce yourself. Shaking hands is not a custom within Kishite/Labisian culture, nor is bowing outside a noble context or to say thank you. Rather, when greeting another person, show them your palms (think of the classic shrugging pose, though without the inclusion of shoulder movement.) This shows that your hands are empty and that they are clean.

A Welcoming Drink

Upon first arriving, it is customary that you will be given something to drink. This will of course vary. Most often you will be given a small bowl (umru) of homemade beer and a reed straw or something similar to strain it. You may also receive a small bowl of wine or kisika. Thank your host or the person that gave you the drink (Olhab). After thanking them, take a small sip, and thank them again. Kisika is a drink, often enjoyed by children, composed of water, vinegar, honey, salt, and typically some sort of fruit juice. It can be found sold in markets across Kishetal. It is considered customary to finish this first drink and to hand the bowl back to whoever offered it to you before you take your seat at the table. You will typically be shown where to sit.

Part 4: The Labisian Home and Table

Most Labisian houses, or at least those of average size, have two areas meant for dining. The first is located in the home itself, typically near the hearth. The second is either outside in front of the house, or else is located on the roof and is accessible via a ladder. In warmer months, the outside is preferred. However, now, while it is still somewhat chilly, you dine inside.

The inside of a Labisian house, despite many windows and vents, can be, at times, a bit smokey. Additionally, don't be surprised to see a dog, pigs, or even horned rabbits wandering across the reed-covered floor. In this instance, as this building functions as both a pottery shop and a home, there are no animals, and it is slightly larger than the average home.

You walk through the pottery shop in to reach the house proper. You are greeted by a small and somewhat cramped room which functions as living room, kitchen, and dining room. The hearth is softly glowing, the smell of cooking food is thick in the air, drowning out any unpleasant aroma's from the outside. To one side of you is a doorway leading to the sleeping quarters and storage. Behind you is the washroom (little more than a closet with a pot, a window to dump your waste, and a basin of water to clean your hands). Karush's wife, Gelagi, introduces herself and tells you about her herb garden and the four geese and the horned rabbit which she has been tending on the roof. Most houses of this size will have such features. She also shows you her pithoi, one containing grain and another containing oil (for cooking and fuel). She notes that Karush made both of these pithoi as well as the rest of the ceramicware in the home. After this impromptu tour, you are finally shown your seat at the table. Only sit where you are told. Many customs and practices surrender sitting placement. Most important of all, the primary cook, in this case Gelagi, must sit closest to the hearth. Karush sits to your right, while the youngest child of the family, Saha, sits to your left. A chair is left empty for their second child, Gani, who is currently fighting in Makur. It is unusual that a family only has 2 children, as the average Labisian commoner household has between 3 and 8 children. It is best not to comment on this.

The table itself is made of wood, likely gathered by the family. You sit on small stools, everything is fairly low set, with the tabletop only slightly passing your knees when standing. Unlike in noble/royal settings, commoner tables can be rectangular. The exact reasoning as to why the table is never rectangular in noble settings has been lost to history. On the table you will find the following:

Two bowls, one of wood and one ceramic. The wooden bowl is meant to hold cold foods, such as olives and fruit, while the ceramic bowl is meant for holding soups and stews. Underneath these you will find a large flat disk, typically also made of ceramic (as is the case here). This is your plate. These will be decorated with various textures and paintings, typically of natural scenes. What you will not find are utensils. Within Labisian cuisine, regardless of status, it is expected that all items will either be served in bite-sized pieces or else will be easily broken apart with the hands (such as with bread), as such knives are not necessary. For liquid dishes, like soup, it is expected that you will bring your own spoon.

Alongside these you will find a drinking vessel, the exact nature of which will depend on what the primary drink of the evening is. For wine, this will most often be the double-handled olsagi. If the primary drink of the evening is beer, it is more likely that the bowl-like kishumri will be favored. There are no strict rules about what beverage goes in which vessel; this is just the most common configuration.

There are two communal basins or jamuru at the table. One is filled with a mixture of water and vinegar, typically slightly perfumed. This is meant for washing your hands and is used by all at the table. Before eating anything, make sure to give your hands a quick wash. Be careful not to let any of the washing liquid drip onto the table, and dry your hands on your sleeves/shoulders (as these are the furthest parts of your clothed person from the ground they are viewed as cleaner.) The other basin should be empty at the start of the meal. This is intended for any garbage, including spit or snot, that you or anyone else wishes to dispose of during the course of the meal. DO NOT CONFUSE THESE.

Part 5: The Meal

Finally! The moment of truth! Dinner time! Everything is placed on the table at once. Though you may feel inclined to do so, do not help with bringing food to the table or else setting the table, as this is considered to be somewhat uncouth. The meal that Gelagi and Karush have prepared is a relatively typical one for a family of their level in society.

The typical structure of a Labisian meal for a commoner is Bread, Beer, Meat/Stew, and Fruit/Cake. This is not the place to eat if you have an issue with carbs and fats. Labisians eat more meat on average than any other region in Kishetal, while simultaneously eating fewer vegetables and greens. Labisian's are famed for their love of and skill at producing fried foods. The food in Labisa is generally hearty and heavy.

In this particular instance, in addition to a small bowl of olives, the meal consists of the following:

Bread: Kipikiriki aka "Crunchy Bread" Kipikiriki is a variety of thick flatbread, primarily made from emmer wheat. It is somewhat similar to focaccia, and is partially leavened using yeast gathered during the brewing process. Flour is combined with this yeast as well as olive oil, and small amounts of honey and salt, all of which are subsequently placed into a ceramic pan which is then placed on the coals. The resultant loaf is thick and somewhat fluffy, often with a darkened or even blackened bottom. It is this overcooked bottom that gives the bread its name. Use this to mop up sauce and grease, or eat it on its own. It is not unheard of to dip the burnt parts in wine. This bread makes up the majority of the food for this meal.

Beer: Aruhakishar/Akishar aka "Dry Beer" Unadulterated, typically plain beer, this particular variety is the basis for all other kinds. This particular batch is one that Gelagi has made, and subsequently flavored herself. The brew is made from barley, wheat, water, and a small amount of honey, with the addition of black pepper, imported cardamom, and citrus peel to give it a more complex flavor. The beer is served at room temperature from a large bowl known as the kishija. Alongside the bowl you will find a pitcher of water called the bisayuli. If you so choose, you may water down your beer once you have poured it.

Meat/Stew: Olibiha aka "Hot blood water" and Abrichu You are in for a treat. The family recently slaughtered one of their rabbits, and along with some pork gifted to them by a neighbor, they have made an old Labisian comfort food, Olibiha. Olibiha is a stew consisting of meat (in this case rabbit and pork, including the livers and hearts), beets, onions, garlic, fat (in this instance a mixture of lard and olive oil), vinegar, salt, and various herbs and seasonings. The name comes from the deep red color imparted by the beets. Diverting from tradition, Gelagi has added chickpeas as well, to make the dish more hearty. In addition, Gelagi has used the remaining rabbit to make Abrichu, a variety of sausage made from minced meat, old bread, onions, mustard, rosemary, and dill. This is mashed into a patty which is subsequently fried in olive oil. In truth, this was mostly done as a way to use up the meat before it spoiled. You were a convenient excuse to make extra food.

Fruit/Cake: Figs and wine Aside from cakes like Kipisha, desserts are a relative rarity in the Labisa. Dessert tonight is a plate of figs, topped with honey and cracked black pepper. Gelagi apologizes profusely for not making some sort of cake or sweet, and instead offers you a cup of sweetened wine to go with your fruit.

Part 8: Manners

With the food laid out before you, it is tempting to immediately dig in. However, before doing so, make sure you are acquainted with Labisian traditions and table manners. While significantly less stringent than the complex rituals of noble banquets, there will be no need for hand signals or the like; the expectations of the common table are no less important.

Here is a list of the most important rules of etiquette to consider while dining at your average Labisian home:

The guest of the house must be served first. For your first helping of each item, whether it be drink or food. It is tradition that the host serves it to you before they serve themselves or anyone else. Attempting to serve yourself is seen as rude. wait to do so until after you have finished what your host has given you. Do not ask for a larger portion or anything like that; There is no taboo against serving yourself seconds. Though you may be the first served, you should not be the first to eat because...

The host takes the first bite Allow the host to take the first bite/sip of each item. This tradition stems from a show of trust, showing that the food is not poisoned. It is also a show of deference, acknowledging the host's place as the head of the household.

Never refuse food Expect the host and the cook to offer you prize morsels, even after the first initial serving. Never refuse these, as doing so is rude. If it is too much, simply place the food on your plate.

Allow all person's at the table to start eating before beginning a conversation Ensure that everyone at the table has been served and started eating before you begin to chat. Not doing so is considered obnoxious.

Wash your hands before serving yourself Before touching any ladles or picking up food from any communal tray or bowl, rinse your hands in the washing basin and dry them on your shoulders.

Never put food that has touched your mouth back on plate or table All bites should be complete. If a piece of food touches your mouth, it should never be placed back onto the plate, the table, or serving platter. If you find that you do not like a bite, or you find a piece of gristle or bone, you should spit it onto the Jamuru meant for waste. If a piece of food is too big, break it apart and eat it bit by bit, or else tear off the portion which touched your mouth and set the rest of the unsullied morsel on your plate.

Only your hands and forearms may touch the table. Never rest your head, feet, or any other body part on the table

Eat with your mouth closed, do not talk with a full mouth

Do not wash your face or anywhere besides your hands with the water in the washing basin

Finish what you have been served It is considered good manners to clear your plate of what the host has initially served you. There is no such expectation for the second serving, that which you serve yourself. However, you should explain to your host the reason why you can't/don't want to finish the remainder.

Do not suck on your fingers.

Do not bite on bones You may occasionally come across a bone in your food. Remove them and place them in the waste basin. Do not attempt to bite/crunch them and do not comment on them.

Do not pick your nose

If you need to sneeze do so into the waste basin and then apologize

Turn away from the table to cough

Burping is considered fine, even complimentary towards the cook, though only if it does not interrupt someone. The same can not be said of passing gas, if you need to do so, ask to be excused.

Do not scratch yourself Scratching, adjusting, or otherwise messing with your person is seen as rude. If you absolutely need to do so, ask to be excused and wash your hands upon returning to the table.

Do not talk about spirits or practice sagecraft at the table Labisians are deeply superstitious, and any action which may bring spirits into contact with their food is viewed as bad luck. If you are lucky enough to be a sage, save any demonstrations until after everyone is done eating.

Do not leave the table without asking for permission from the host

Slurping is fine, spilling or dribbling is not No one likes a messy guest. Speaking of which...

Drink responsibly Labisians, as you have seen, are lovers of wine and beer However, getting intoxicated during dinner, particularly as a guess, is considered quite rude.

To show that you are done eating, make a show of pushing your plate away from yourself or alternatively, place your plate on top of your bowl

Part 9: After Dinner

With the meal finished and cleared away, it becomes time for games, drinking, and more involved conversation. Expect to stay another 2–3 hours after the meal has ended.

It is usually now that your host will bring out wine, typically flavored and altered with various herbs in order to promote good digestion. Etiquette and manners become less stringent at this point and the jokes become more baudy.

A good sign that your host and family have appreciated your company, is when they begin to tease you and make somewhat raunchy or inappropriate jokes at your expense. It will almost feel like flirting, though in most cases it is not. The Labisians enjoy teasing their companions. If your host or their family makes fun of your clothing or some other minor thing, do not be insulted, but rather feel happy to be included. In these instances, they return the favor by teasing them back. As long as you are not overly offensive or crass, they will appreciate the gesture.

This after-dinner period is called Feparati, though in the case of Karush's home, this will be a far more tame experience than the raucous and often violent/sexual parties which follow royal/noble banquets.

Labisians have a love for word games, a particular favorite being "Ku Ku" aka "One man", a game of homophones or near homophones, in which two players list homophones in quick succession.

Riddles, rhyming games, insult slinging, and guessing games are similarly popular.

Part 10: Goodbyes

With the night growing late and work in the morning, Karush informs you that it is time to go home. Rather counterintuitively, Karush will offer you a bed for the night. Do not take it. Offering shelter for the night is merely a part of Labisian etiquette and tradition, and it is not expected that you will actually take him up on the offer.

As you are leaving, make sure to thank Karush for his hospitality. Now that you are no longer a stranger in his home, you may do so with informal language.

You will almost certainly be offered some sort of food or leftovers to take home with you. Do so gratefully.

Before leaving the home of your host, it is customary to kiss the door frame as this is seen as a sign of good luck and a promise of your return.

With this basic information you should have all the knowledge you need to make friends and to be a model guest at your next Labisian dinner party! See you in the next chapter!

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