Sostaera

The Sostaerani follow the same warlike path as the Gadaenes. Unlike Gadaenes though, they are very adequate sailors and disciplined soldiers. They pride themselves on the fact that their forces have never been completely routed. While the Gadene are imaginative and individualistic, the Sostas almost totally lack flexibility and adaptability. But just like their perennial enemy, mention of the country usually draws a blank with foreigners. Those who do take notice consider the Sostaerani much the same as the Gadaenes. At this the Gadaenes will never fail to point out that the Sostaerani are dour, serious, and have no sense of humor. The Sostaerani claim they are simply being practical and organized.

Sostaera lies on the coast north of Remath and the Safelands. It is situated south of the more imposing kingdom of Tuchea. Lying largely unnoticed by the rest of the world, Sostaera and Gadaene are two ferocious adversaries. Gadaene and Sostaeran are lands of marked contrasts and hidden similarities. Its people are often forced into uneasy cohabitation because of proximity, but they would rather fight than live and work side by side.

Geography

The city of Sostaeran is also built along the coast, this time halfway between Gadaene and the borders of Tuchea. Much like the more southern city, the Sostaerani have gradually pushed back the limits of the forest so that much of the land is now a sprawling plain. Sostaeran is like its people: practical, predictable and without any fancy touches. From its harbor, the streets race outwards, arrow straight, on a east-west axis. These main branches are periodically cut by north-south streets to form a linear plan. The central-most avenue, the Processional Way, is bordered by most of the public buildings and civic maintenance buildings. The sector east of the Processional Way is occupied by the homes of the nobility, the Royal palace, and the establishments reserved for visiting dignitaries. The west side is built with the homes of the populace, its waterfront area housing what buildings are dedicated to strangers and travelers.

Appearance

Sostaerani style of dress follows Gadaene customs, minus the riotous colors. They tend to prefer colors that will permit them to blend in with their surroundings and each other. A Sostaerani that sticks out of the crowd is a Gadaene, or so the saying goes. They also wear the peculiar round and flat hat with one distinction. The Sostaerani use the tassel on the headwear to identify units in the military, or families and trade organisations for the civilians.

Culture

The Sostaerani value discipline above all else. It is their very deep belief that Gadaene will fall before Sostaeran because of the former's chaotic nature and their own very precise organization. Sostaerani are polite to a fault and serious to a fault. Although they can take a remark made in jest they will seldom, if ever, respond with one in turn. Just like their neighbors they follow all arts and crafts to various degrees of success. Their work is quick and simple, completely unadorned and eminently practical. A Sostaerani workman would never for instance create an elaborate piece, for they would see no use in doing so. This lack of imagination have made others consider them and their work dull, if not outright boring at times. The Sostaerani couldn't care less about the opinions of others, to use their own words, "Giving thought to something one has no control over is wasted effort."

To contrast with Gadaene, Sostaerani youth take great pride in their legion-like fighting force. Sostaerani soldiers are drilled continuously and their ability to follow orders promptly and skillfully has made even seasoned Iridine centurions envious. The cooperation between members men and units make this army, modest by the standards of many other nations, a force to respect. The Sostaerani military has one major flaw: When faced with an unusual enemy or one that refuses to follow known common strategies, they can sometimes be caught flat-footed. To their credit however, Sostaerani will rarely, if ever panic, a reputation which is the source of no small amount of national pride.

Rumours & Word of Mouth

• "Don't mistake a Sostaerani for a Gadaene. He won't appreciate it."
• "The Sostaeran people are deadly serious. Completely the opposite of their neighbors in Gadaene."
• "The Sostaeran people tend to wear a silly hat with a tassel on it. I've heard the tassel is used to identify units in their military."
• "The Sostaeran people are quite rigid and inflexible."

History

The history of Gadaene and Sostaeran is unclear. According to the Gadaenes, the two kingdoms were once an important province of the Empire of Greater Cinera. Through subsequent wars and Cinera's declining might, the province would have gained its independence. The Sostaerani scoff at such claims; they state that they were indeed a protectorate of Tuchea in the past. Broken oaths and diverging interests caused them to rebel. Aside from this nebulous origin, they both agree on the reason this province or protectorate again separated to create Gadaene and Sostaeran. The leaders of the newly freed nation, whether it be from Cinera or Tuchea, were twins. The charisma of one and the efficiency of the other guided their people as the fledgling state took its first steps. Unfortunately, a bitter dispute, the details of which none know or will reveal, drove the two brothers apart. The conflict quickly took a life of its own and as the population took sides, civil war broke out. This war took many years and many more victims, when finally the two sides saw they were no closer to victory than on the first day. A truce was signed and one brother agreed to take the city of Gadaene, while the other twin took the not-so-far-off Sostaeran. The truce has never progressed to a peace treaty, as both kingdoms continuously fight skirmishes against one another even to this day.

Politics

Both nations are ruled by a Royal family that can one way or another tie its ancestry to the founding twins. A well-known scholar once pointed out that the Sostaerani and Gadaene people are in fact cousins. This promptly sparked another round of border skirmishes.

The Sostaeran ruling family is the Kaemon family. The head of the family, the king, is called the Holder. The current Holder of Sostaeran is Dusae Kaemon, twenty-five times king. He is also known as Dusae the Pious. In his old age, he has relied more and more on the help of one counselor in particular, a priest named Pasavius Tarnius. Dusae is well-liked and of course, respected, in all of Sostaeran. He has been widowed for a number of years now, ever since the coming of Pasavius, and has been ruling by decrees rather then presence. He has four strong sons to assure the kingship, the eldest of which, Gaed, is heir apparent.

Since the coming of father Tarnius in the Royal household as advisor, Sostaeran has been slowly transforming from a military state to something approaching a theocracy. He has convinced the Holder and other nobles to pursue strict obedience to the laws of the cult of Ereal, and regular worship is now an integral part of all Sostaerani lives. Recently, Tarnius has been appearing in public more frequently in an attempt to assure the populace that all will remain well as the Holder withers away. Gaed Kaemon seems to hold Pasavius in the same esteem as his father did.