Bahija

Bahija
Country Information
Capital:	Bahija
Languages:	Southlander Common, Alesian, Bahijan Patois
Ethnic Groups:	Humans, Other humanoids
Religion:	Ellurian Pantheon
Government:	Monarchy
Current Ruler:	Council of Merchant Princes
Currency:	Livre; Escudo.

Bahija is volcanic archipelago sitting between the Southlands and Alesia. Their unseasonably warm weather comes from the warm ocean current that washes over the islands from the Road of the World. Despite enduring extreme weather in the mid-southeastern storm zone, Bahija is a flourishing economy, guided by a senate of shrewd and quarrelsome merchant princes. Politically, Bahija is a client state of the Alesian Imperium, allowed a great deal of leeway for the money they bring in. Bahijan traders are known almost everywhere in the South.

History

Bahijans were originally Tollorian colonists who settled the fertile islands. The white-skinned colonists ignored that the islands were inhabited by indigenous dark-skinned people. Many of the locals either retreated, hired themselves out to the newcomers or became their involuntary servants. During Tollor's troubles and eventual dissolution, Bahija's merchant class flexed its muscles and gained independence.

After some time, the island's native minority revolted, killing many white Bahijans and entering a prolonged struggle. Bahijans, with their ships, had eventually made contact with the Alesian Imperium, whom they called upon to assist. Alesian legionnaires helped pacify the islands. Slavery, already covering most of the islands, became even more firmly entrenched but the merchants ceded some political control to the Alesian governors, who moved there to oversee the Imperium's interests. Many governors, seduced by the balmy climate and easy corruption, are dead weights on Alesia's shoulders. Nonetheless, some minor regulations were put in place that left overly abusive masters without protection at the mercy of their slaves.

Bahijan merchants have attempted to infiltrate most ports in the world, including the Orient. An infamous company, Resque Maessen's, made contact with the Sword Daimyo of Nipangu, beginning to compete against the Berjeron empire in trading highly lucrative oriental weapons and personal goods. The Bahijan merchant marine occasionally comes up against Berjeron, Pentlander and Seccan competition.

Geography

Bahija has one large island and many smaller ones. They each have long, local names but more frequently, use the names of the predominant landowners there. Much of Bahija is plantations for a wide array of cash and food crops that grows especially well in the volcanic soil and wet climate. The largest island has a still-active volcano that had not erupted for the past few centuries. Nonetheless, magma is occasionally visible through the caldera.

Bahija sits on the border of the warm tropical stream coming from the Road of the World. The clashing temperatures generates a powerful storm zone that continually batters the islands with hurricanes and typhoons. Volcanic and tectonic activity sometimes creates tidal surges that can wipe out coastal communities. Nonetheless, Bahijan cities are artisanal marvels that are designed as much to astound visually as to withstand rough weather.

Politics

The Bahijans have a kind-of parliament for voting but there is only one body represented: the moneyed elite, many of whom are in the mercantile and trading business. There is a careful code of behavior and what is and isn't accepted in society, that's understood by most Bahijans of Quality. Failing to abide by etiquette may incur duels or the loss of guardly protection, which can be fatal in a land where almost everyone has a foe and ethnic hatreds run deep. In extreme cases, people have been thrown into the volcano for their malfeasance.

Society

Bahijans are a flamboyant lot and the constant threat of death in the storm zone and from tropical venoms and diseases makes them more inclined to decorate than prolong their life. They love duels, arena events and sharp experiences. Still, just as many enjoy the calmer pleasures of laying in a beach hammock, enjoying a minty drink. Bahijans may seem fatalistic but they are eager to get all of life's pleasures in today before an unknown death takes them tomorrow. This culture of reckless adventurousness helps explain the breadth of Bahijan exploration and mercantile ties.

Bahijan love of their country borders on obnoxious at times. There's a cultural custom to glorify the islands for being the fairest, the freest and the best. In reality, most of the opulence is built on the backs of dark-skinned slaves and the common poor and Bahija's vaunted social mobility is mostly smoke and mirrors. Only the luckiest and the most ruthless have been able to sample the archipelago's best.

Aristocrats are the owners of the largest plantations and shipping concerns. They're elected to the top tiers of the government. The gentry are small to mid-sized plantation owners, professionals, the civil service and the military. The yeomanry are the working farmers, fishermen and tradesman. The poor are often vagrants, who get rounded up and sent to involuntary workhouses and farms. Bahija is a bad place to be a vagabond.

Religion

Most Bahijans worship predominantly Ellurian Religion gods, especially the Triad of Gitaro, Ekki and Seviro. Natives have some rituals that they do not share with the white colonists.