Lookshy
The foremost military power and repository of First Age technology outside of the Realm, Lookshy provides a counterbalance to the Scarlet Empire and is the primary enforcer of the overall stability that the Scavenger Lands enjoy. As one of the greatest concentrations of Dragon-Blooded and powerful Artifacts in Creation, Lookshy has successfully defied the Realm's attempts to expand into the Riverlands for 700 years. Rebuilt on the ruins of Deheleshen by Seventh Legion survivors of the Great Contagion, the Lookshyans adhere to many of the societal and military concepts of the Shogunate more closely than anyone else.
While its influence is spread throughout the Scavenger Lands, the nation-state of Lookshy proper occupies a relatively small space on a promontory at the mouth of the Yanaze River, overlooking the waves of the Inland Sea. The city is about 15 miles square, though the great Lookshy Wall stretches across the promontory along the eastern end and in between lie numerous hinterlands.
Government
The Seventh Legion of the Dragon-Blooded Shogunate is at once the society and ruling class of Lookshy. Stationed in the Wood (East) Direction during the Shogunate, they played an important part of the defence of that quarter of Creation against the forces of the Fair Folk during the aftermath of the Great Contagion. After the Scarlet Empress drove off the invading raksha using the Imperial Manse, the survivors of the Seventh Legion gathered at the ruins of Deheleshen. As one of the few remaining stable societies after the rampant destruction of the Contagion, refugees flocked to the city, which was rebuilt under the name Lookshy.
After the founding of Lookshy, the Realm under the Scarlet Empress tried on several occasions to bring the Seventh Legion and Lookshy under her rule via force. Each time she was rebuffed, until the Realm simply gave up, acknowledging Lookshy as an independent power in Creation. As such, when the Realm made its various attempts to subjugate the East, Lookshy stood first and foremost against them, protecting the entire Direction through their martial prowess and valor.
The Seventh Legion practices a heterodox form of the Immaculate Faith, granting to its people nominal freedom of worship under the stated principle "Each man's worship is his own".
As a military organization, the Seventh Legion is meritocratic and very authoritarian, and runs the nation-state of Lookshy as a large Shogunate legionnary encampment. Punishments tend to be harsh and direct, but rarely if ever excessive or draconian.
The ruling council of the Seventh Legion is called the General Staff, and includes the leaders of the five gentes of Lookshy nobility.
Class System
The layers of society in Lookshy are rigidly defined and have changed little over the centuries. As a strong military state, troops and officers form the upper strata, non-serving Lookshyans are accorded respect and any others are viewed with suspicion.
Soldiers are drawn from the whole population of Lookshy. During their tours of duty, those in the military are given preference over anyone else. Citizens, rich or poor, are simply Lookshyans who are not currently serving in the military; citizens who have served and left the military honorably are free to leave Lookshy, though few choose to do so. Citizens may attend and speak at council as they wish.
Helots are serfs, making up the majority of Lookshy's inhabitants. While treated well compared to other serf classes, they are still considered less worthy than full citizens. Helots produce virtually all the material goods in Lookshy, build the buildings and serve as the bulk of the military's infantry besides. Helots may attend council but may not speak or bring issues up, though they may form organizations led by a representative who may do so.
As long as they serve honorably and are dutiful, helots in their old age are taken care of by the state. Unlike citizens, the movement of helots is strictly regulated and they may not leave the promontory without dispensation from the General Staff. Helots may be elevated to the status of citizen for exceptional service, and a few dozen are always selected for this honor every year.
Metics are those from outside Lookshy: traders, travelers and diplomats. They are carefully kept track of and are treated with general suspicion by the natives of Lookshy, granted less legal protection than the common helot. They may rent but not own land, and though they may form contracts and partnerships, arbitration almost always goes in favor of the Lookshyan side. Metics may even marry into Lookshy's native classes, but children of the union will be considered metics.
Indentured servants are the lowest of the low in Lookshy, having mired themselves in economic or legal troubles. These people are put in service to a citizen, provided only room, board and a small amount of money in exchange for the voiding of their debts and crimes. Notarized by the Adjutant General, an indentured service contract does not exceed five years, and at the end of this service they regain whatever status they once had. It is illegal to abuse an indentured service, but they have virtually no rights otherwise.
Customs
Natives of Lookshy tend to be fit and healthy, and even the elderly exercise regularly, often outdoors where they perform gentle, stretching Katas which look graceful but are merely slowed-down versions of full martial arts moves. By performing the same moves at full speed, an elderly Lookshyan can defend himself quite well from an attacker.
Hair is normally worn short or in tight braids which can easily be clipped up under a helmet. Wearing one's hair down indicates trust or a sense of security. Normal clothing is usually practical and often looks like it has a military cut, but with civilian colours. For more formal situations beautiful Kimonos, Cheongsam's and elaborate tunics over trousers are worn, along with boots or flat soled shoes. All of these outfits are designed so they can be fought in at need.
Music is a big part of Lookshy life, and the wandering "troubadour from Lookshy" is a common enough sight in the river province that Rangers in intelligence gathering roles sometimes use it as cover. Most Lookshyans sing - maybe not well, but they are normally in rhythm and enthusiastically loud.
Lookshy cuisine is notable for being hot and spicy. Originally this came from the need to disguise the fact that what the soldier was given to eat was actually something he'd probably rather not consume, like fish guts or pond algae. Even though Lookshy now has as much choice in food as any other prosperous city, some odd dishes remain a staple of the local diet and the custom of adding chillies to just about everything remains. Many local homes have a number of pots outside or on the roof where the residents grow varieties of brightly coloured chillies which find their way into almost any dish. Traditional recipies from all over Creation have been adopted by the locals, but even these are normally "improved" by the addition of chillies. Often they are also added to replace a traditional component of the meal that is unavailable, which can result in some meals which outsiders find almost impossible to finish.
Lookshy uses the original Shogunate calendar rather than the revised one used by the Realm. Epochs are divided into five eras each 25 years in length, which are further divided into cycles of five years. The cycles are elementally associated and named after creatures associated with the element, in a sequence which ranges from "risen" to "fallen". A person's birth year is considered to be important, though even someone born in an "unauspicious" year will tend to consider this merely a burden to be overcome.
Epochs are numbered and eras are named after metals, so the Realm Year 768 is "the Year of the Mouse, Bronze Era of the 11th Epoch of the Dragon Blooded Shogunate". In casual conversation this would normally be shortened to "the Year of the Mouse".
Hinterlands
The hinterlands stretch east from Lookshy proper to the promontory wall, making up the agricultural backbone of the Seventh Legion. Each hinterland features a standardized town hall where the council elders and the examiner inferior work. These towns are laid out with military defense and support in mind, the most well-protected hinterlands being the mining communities of the farthest east.
Lookshyans of some wealth are expected to patronize one of the hinterlands outlying the city. Depending on their resources and proclivities, they may provide a hinterland with a public building, improve irrigation of the fields or even expand the size and scope of the whole province.
Client Cities
- Goodharbor: X
- Centak: X
Redoubts
- Marukan Redoubt: X
- Marin Bay Redoubt: X
- Nechara Redoubt: X
- Gunzota Redoubt: X
- Nasaru Redoubt: X
