The World Of Khoras - Civilization - Cities

"Sloppy, Loud, and Dumb, like a city of barking dogs."
- Zalmaer Vrage, Aukarian Freetrader

Overview

Okslad is the capital city of Magrakor, the homeland of the Magrakians. This grand city is a major seaport with constant traffic in its harbor. Cargoes from all over Aggradar and Qeshir make their way through this port. Due to the central location of Magrakor and the friendly nature of the Magrakians, Okslad is something of a cultural melting pot with dozens of races living and working together peacefully. 

History

The history of Magrakor is like its people - slow, plodding and methodical. After the devastation of the Kytohan Empire, the remnants of this region were little more than scattered villages and hill clans. Raiders and bandits prowled the region for years afterward. Fragments of the Kytohan military fought to protect what little was left of the Empire. Towns, villages and soldiers banded together for protection under the flag of Magarak, a military officer. This small collection of peoples held together during the dark years after the Cataclysm. For centuries the towns and militias stood together. By 1000 CY, they had coalesced into seven distinct counties. In 1457 CY, these seven counties united under a single banner and formed the United Counties of Magrakor. The town of the largest and most powerful county, Goloti, became the capital city.

Government

The Arch-Praelet is a hereditary position much like a King. The Arch-Praelet rules from the capital city of Okslad with input from representatives of the seven counties. Arch Praelet Ofedor is aided by a council of advisors and scholars. These provincial representatives and advisors together make up the Grand Council of Okslad. They hold court once a month with the Arch-Praelet in attendance.

The realm of Magrakor is divided up into seven counties. Each county is ruled by a Praelet (similar to a duke or baron who also serves as head town official). Each county is ruled by its largest town which protects and taxes all the villages of its region. Each Praelet answers directly to the Arch-Praelet. The largest county, Goloti, is headed by Okslad itself. The Praelet of Goloti is the Speaker of the Grand Council.

Law

The legal system of Okslad is tough, but fair. While the magrakian people are a hardy race who can endure much physical punishment, they dislike the cruelty of sheer torture and similar forms of punishment. Crimes are typically punished with stiff fines, hard labor, imprisonment and banishment. Execution is reserved for only the most heinous crimes.

Hard labor is probably the most common form of punishment. Most cases are brought before a judge and these wise authorities often mete out punishments that involve patience, hard work and persistence. Punishments usually relate to the nature of the crime in some way. For instance, a thief who steals from a jeweler might be indentured to work at a diamond mine for one year with all of his wages going to the jeweler he stole from.

Disputes between magrakians are often settled with duels which run the gamut from civilized sword play to board wrestling. In addition, every city, town and village has at least one pair of "sitting poles". Sitting poles are considered a time honored method of settling a dispute. Each contestant will climb to the top of a sitting pole and sit at the platform on top. Sitting poles are always found in pairs and they are usually placed on either side of a public street so that the two opponents face each other. While engaged in a sitting pole "argument", neither may eat or sleep or drink. It is a test of endurance. The first to climb down forfeits his claim in the dispute. Some particularly stubborn magrakians have died when engaged in such matches.

Military

The City Guard Keep, a huge circular tower near the center of the city, houses all the forces of the Okslad City Guard. Some 1,500 guards operate out of this squat seven story stronghold. The City Guard Keep houses barracks, training facilities and administrative offices. The lower levels contain the main city dungeon which has eighty dank and dreary cells.

The magrakians favor a weapon that they call a spade sword. It is a heavy, two edged blade which is wide toward the tip than at the handle. Spade swords come in a variety of styles and sizes, but all have generally the same shape. Some flare out quite dramatically. Magrakian spade swords require great strength but little dexterity to wield. It is, essentially, a hacking weapon.

Religion

The chief diety of the Magrakians is Bromat. Bromat has several small churches in the city and one huge temple complex. The great temple features a massive central dome and four towers, one at each corner of the grounds. A statue of Bromat is in the center of the temple directly beneath the dome.

Due to the racial and cultural diversity of the city's inhabitants, there are dozens of shrines around the city devoted to almost every god.

Economy

Okslad has a bustling economy and one can find goods for sale in the market plazas here from all over the continent.

Theport district has a large paved area next to the harbor where cargoes are carried off the ships and laid out on the ground in great piles. Cargoes are haggled over right there in the market. It is a buying frenzy with much shouting and bell ringing. Most of the commodities sold here are right off of the ships and involve large stockpiles of goods. Huge quantities of fresh fish and iced seafood are also sold here.

The main market square of the city is an enormous paved plaza near the heart of the city. On market day, held twice a month, it is crowded with stalls, booths, tents and other makeshift structures arranged in a laybrinth of paths that meander between them. A multitude of races mingle here, buying, selling and hagglnig. Pickpockets are especially plentiful here and it's easy to get robbed.

Guilds and Organizations

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Important People

Arch-Praelet Ofedor

A rotund magrakian known for gregarious banquets held at the palace.  Rules over a large, but informal court. Arch Praelet Ofedor rules the entire nation of Magrakor and the city of Okslad. He oversees the Grand Coucil of Okslad. He also performs all important ceremonies, makes public appearances and occasionally travels when necessary.. but he leaves most of the tedious paperwork and details to his City Administrator, Vaprak, whom he trusts implicitly.

Vaprak

Vaprak is the City Administrator. Vaprak manages the administrative offices of the city, acts as the liaison between the various political offices and generally keeps the city running. He generally frees the King from the daily worries of running the city. Any important matters are brought to the King by Vaprak himself. Vaprak is also in charge of the city magistrates who rule over the courts and take care of legal matters in the city.

Othok

Othok is the City Warden. He is in charge of the city guards, the militia and generally keeping the peace. His men patrol the streets of Okslad and the countryside around it. He dislikes court life and paperwork. He prefers to be alone, riding his horse, out in the countryside. His duties interfere with that far too often. Othok is also in charge of the prisons in Okslad.

Pagrad, Chief Scholar

An ancient magrakian who serves the King as Chief Scholar and head of the King's Library. He is also one of the king's advisors on magical matters and mystical phenomena. Pagrad speaks several languages - Magrakian, Aukarian, Eshtari, Tomarin and Vaullian. He even speaks a little bit of Rukemain.

Culture

In general, magrakians are an extremely friendly and sociable race. They love to eat, drink, socialize, dance, laugh and play games. Taverns here are always filled with laughter. Magrakians are a gregarious lot whose humor is sometimes seen as crude. 

Gift giving is an important part of social life and occurs on a daily basis. Gifts are exchanged at greetings, partings, introduction between strangers, important life events, parties and often for no reason at all. The gift is given along with a brief explanation of its history or meaning to the possessor. "I gift you with this dagger – given to me by my uncle seven years ago, made by a master smith of the north lands." The value of the gift and the nature of the "speech" is directly proportional to the significance of the event. For instance, during extremely important events, family heirlooms may be given away with a long prepared speech and open weeping. On the other hand, magrakians meeting for the first time may exchange small token gifts and a brief blessing or statement of friendship. Such items are often kept on hand for just such occasions.

Gambling is popular among the magrakians and a variety of games can be found in most taverns. The most popular form of gambling is a board game called malja which is a fast paced card game with lots of betting. 

Sports are very common in Magrakian and gambling often centers around sporting events. One popular sport in Magrakor is board wrestling. Board wrestling involves two combatants who face off in a circular fighting ring. They are stripped of armor and clothing from the waist up. Their arms are tied with large, flat pieces of boards so that their elbows cannot bend and their hands cannot grasp. The wooden boards usually have small metal studs. The two combatants then pummel each other to unconsciousness. This is a very bloody sport which is extremely popular with magrakians. Board wrestling competitions and the betting that surrounds them are fast and fierce.

Being a friendly people, the magrakians go out of their way to greet everyone, be it life long friend or complete stranger. The most common Magrakian greeting is "Stone and Strength to You!". A common blessing, quoted often, is "Be like stone" which sums up much of the Magrakian beliefs.

The most popular alcoholic beverage throughout the nation of Magrakor is something called baklath (BOK-loth). This foul concoction is made from fermented fish guts. Various kinds of fish guts are used, but true baklath is made from the guts of silver tarns, the long, bright silver fish common in the Murky River and Bay of Okslad. Magrakians love baklath, but most other races are barely able to tolerate the stench. It is typically served in bowls. A ladle is used to fill the bowls because baklath often has chunks of fish meat in it. Many magrakians like to drink their baklath warm.

Festivals are frequent and popular throughout the land. The largest festival is the Okslad Summer Games, a week long celebration centered around wrestling, races, tests of strength and endurance and an array of cooking and brewing contests. Another important festival is the Sea Fair which involves boat racing, boat building, swimming and seafood. Most of the Sea Fair activities are conducted on hundreds of boats out in the Bay.

There is a large population of hyttar here due to the influx of hyttar refugees that began when the hyttar homeland fell to the Trossoli invaders. The magrakians took pity on the pathetic hyttar and welcomed them into their city.

City Districts

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Monuments and Public Spaces

Statue of Karag

Karag is the founder of the city, a great war hero and general. His illustratious career spans decades and many great battles are attributed to his leadership. The statue of Karag shows the great magrakian general seated on a tremendous throne with an array of weapons. The statue and throne are 23 meters tall (76 ft). This statue sits at the edge of the harbor as a greeting, and warning, to all incoming ships.

The Challenging Poles

Two huge stone pillars with a small stone platform on each. Sitting contests, which are a common way of settling disputes between disgruntled commoners, are conducted here. Several pair line the street at intervals. No schedule is kept. Available poles are simply taken. Other make shift sitting poles exist scattered out throughout the city.

The Arena

A large circular building built around a gladiatorial pit. Board Wrestling matches are common here.

Architecture and Infrastructure

Magrakian architecture is predominantly stone and timber. though crude and of simple construction, Magrakian buildings are tremendously strong with thick walls and heavy doors.

Crime

The magrakian tendency to socialize has lent an odd twist to the underworld. The city of Okslad and the nation of Magrakor are home to dozens of separate thieves guilds, crime cartels and criminal organizations. Most of these groups are small with individual magrakians that may be a member of two or three different groups. This results in a rich underworld tapestry where everyone knows everyone. Some of the more powerful criminal groups include the Shadow Vipers (a general guild of thieves and fences), the Under League (a network of crime bosses that deal in smuggling, bribery, blackmail and extortion) and the Juggernauts (a network of mercenaries, soldiers, assassins, bounty hunters and other "lone" agents).

Inns and Taverns

Shops

This web site last updated Saturday, July 22, 2023 . Copyright 1990-2011 David M. Roomes.

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