Oksa

Physical
Oksa is an island off the coast of Vorsheeva, and the northern-most land of the island chain known as the Necklace of Plenty. Roughly 400 miles across at its widest point, it has a mountainous interior surrounded by fertile plains. The coast is mostly rocky, with steep cliffs on the eastern and western shores. Three major rivers run through Oksa - the Linell, the Byrsa and the Rauma.

Culture
The people of Oksa are of Nekuuese descent and are, for the most part, farmers and fishermen. Currently Oksa is divided into five nations - Linlin, Pelagia, Poeni, Nasholim and Uuksam, although throughout Oksan history the names, numbers and borders of the Oksan nations have changed as they have fought amongst themselves, at war or through political maneuvering

Oksan culture is close to mainstream Imperial culture, having long been vassals of the Empire of Splendour. They have many achievements of their own, including kunubara dance-poetry. Oksan cuisine favours fragrant spices, tomatoes, couscous and fruit. Clothing is not as many-layered as Imperial clothing, and tends towards robes with straight lines for both men and women. Golden jewelry is favoured by both sexes, especially worn around the neck.

Government
Oksa is nominally ruled by the Council of Kings, comprised of the five rulers of the five nations who meet in the city of Turuk. Turuk, although within the borders of Linlin, is considered neutral territory and is the de facto administrative capital of Oksa. Each nation rules an enclave of Turuk and contributes jointly to its overall upkeep.

The Council is not a source of harmony, however. Imperial rule in Oksa was particularly bloody before the Empire was finally thrown out. Originally, the Empire were called in at the behest of an alliance of Linlin and Poeni in order to settle a dispute with Uuksam, and they remained there after sorting things out. For this reason, the other nations blame Linlin for bringing the Empire to Oksa, even though that nation lost its capital, Port Linlin, in a scorched earth policy when the Empire withdrew (Poeni is normally forgotten as a co-sponsor of Imperial involvement, a situation the Poenese actively maintain). Furthermore, the presence of Turuk on Linlinese soil is a source of tension with her neighbours.

Beyond that, there is tension between Poeni and Nasholim over mining rights in the mountains. Poeni was always the richer of the two nations despite having to pay heavy taxes to Pelagia to pass through her ports. Since the recent discovery by Nasholim of the magical metal deusor, Poeni is beginning to lose out on trade, and thus are seeking ways to discomfort Nasholim.

Uuksam enjoys not only relative isolation from its neighbours, but also the fact of being the oldest nation on Oksa. Uuksam operates as a democracy of sorts and has no king. This fact is worrisome to the rulers of the other nations as they fear that their subjects will also choose to do without them, should the ideas of Uuksam spread too far.

Places of Interest The Free City of Turuk and the Democracy of Uuksam are given more detail due to their unusual nature.

Pelagia. Capital: Tantura. Products: Wine and grains.

Poeni. Capital: Agrigento. Products: Silver and iron.

Nasholim. Capital: Ralatum. Products: Silver and deusor.

Uuksam. Capital: Malentor. Products: Tobacco, medicinal herbs and plants

Shelled Ones
On the shores of Oksa, usually when the moon is full in the winter months, terrible hulking creatures rise from the sea and spread death and destruction among the coastal communities. These creatures, known locally as the Shelled Ones, or Crab-men, stand as tall as a man but almost twice as broad. They are armoured with tough carapace as strong as plate armour and have eight limbs. Four are used for walking, two arms end in hand-like appendages and wield frightening weapons, the other two arms end in fearsome pincers. Their heads are small and triangular, surmounted with tiny black eyes and topped with long antennae. The aims of these creatures seem simple - destroy.

The Shelled Ones speak no language that anyone has yet discovered and are implacable to pleas or bargaining. In their gripping hands they carry weapons made of a strange substance nicknamed "Seabone". This has the appearance of shell and the strength of steel, but becomes brittle and crumbles if not immersed in sea water regularly.

Occasionally, smaller versions of the crab folk have been spotted, lacking the bulk, armour and pincers of their larger kin. It has been conjectured that these are the females.

Rock-men Within the mountains at the heart of Oksa can be found strange creatures made from living rock, roughly humanoid in outline. The normal state of these beings seems to be one of instinct, but some have been known to show intelligence and the ability to learn languages. The "rockmen" seek out metals and gems to eat, and it is thought that they gain some of their abilities by doing so.