Kastovian

“If there’s profit in it, there’s honour in it.” — Kastovian merchant

Overview

Kastovia is Aesos’s smoke-and-stone mercantile federation, a patchwork of guild cities linked by coin, contract, and rail.
Its people are pragmatic and unromantic — faith, law, even love are business arrangements first, sentiment second.

They call themselves “The Old Iron,” forged by necessity and cold winters, driven by commerce and competition.

Appearance & Physiology

Kastovians often have broad hands, compact builds, and complexions paled by smoke.
Chronic industrial exposure toughens their lungs and skin; many bear faint metallic scars or callouses where Aether fumes have brushed their flesh.

Culture & Society

Kastovia is a guild republic — each city ruled by a council of trade syndicates.
Birth means little; skill means everything. Apprenticeships start early, loyalty ends when profit fades.

Despite cynicism, they possess a cultural obsession with craftsmanship — the perfect tool, the flawless gear, the unbreakable contract.

Magic & Leyline Affinity

Kastovia mines the Elemental Leyline, tapping geothermal conduits for energy.
Their mages are technicians; their Conduits wear soot instead of robes.
The Church’s local presence is weak, tolerated only as tax collectors and auditors.

Faith & Belief

The Lifestar here is invoked through Mechanist reinterpretation — divine light seen as the spark of invention.
Temples double as factories; priests bless machines with oil and flame.

Relations with Other Peoples

Traits

Industrial Resilience — Resistance to smoke, fumes, or toxic environments.
Guild Network — Access to trade contacts or safehouses in most major cities.
Hard Bargain — Advantage on negotiation rolls involving goods, contracts, or services.