Boshaari Council

The Boshaari Council is the sovereign ruling body of the Boshaari people, and the largest Boshaari polity in Tau Elpis . It officially governs the world of Aistanar , its two moons Vala and Yanta, and various objects along the Fourth Orbit, with the exception of the Embassy Ark. In reality, beyond the continent-isle of Eldelyn, much of Aistanar is an effective no man's land, outside the government's reach, mostly consisting of marshy or alien wilderness. Citizens of the Council are called ara'balai if they live on Aistanar, or neni'balai if they live elsewhere.   The Council is led by Praetor Vulas Lufina, with the backing of six Great Houses. The Council seeks to establish trade routes with various Boshaari syndicates and colonies on other parts of Aistanar, with the hope to eventually absorb them into Council territory.  

Overview

  The Council occupies much of the forested swamplands that make up the landmass of Eldelyn. Here, from the mire, five great Arcologia rise on stable ground, separated by stretches of fields, farmlands, wetlands, and forests. On those rare clear days when the rain lets up and the storms relent their lashing, their skylines gleam under oily skies dominated by the planet's two moons, shimmerlights flickering over still-waters and drenched asphalt. The terrain is too soft, too wet; canals outnumber roads, and cities grow vertically, almost crumpled onto themselves beyond circular retaining walls. Storm activity makes airplane travel inconvenient or outright dangerous. As a result, most planetary travel is done on luxurious trains or large, slow glideships hopping from skyspire to skyspire.  

Core Colony

  As with all colonial powers in Tau Elpis, much of this civilization is centered around a small area - in this case, the small continent-isle of Eldelyn. The heart of Aistanari life is New Eldelyn, jewel of the Boshaari, the first and most populated Arcologia on Aistanar. This city, home to five million souls, towers above the misty wetlands in neon-kissed crystalline spires connected by skybridges and vine-draped towers of brass and glass that shimmer with residual arcane light. New Eldelyn is a city of cantons, each built around a Chantry yanna - majestic shrines that double as civic centres, flanked by marble plazas and guarded by corrogated copper statues of elven ancestors. At ground level, gravcars hum over rainy roads whilst gondolas glide along a maze of canals. Many larger thoroughfares are flanked by arched walkways and crossed by rainworn bridges, allowing pedestrians a respite from the near-constant rain. Above tangled streets, suspension monorails called Leylines provide the backbone of transportation and link every canton to more industrial areas, as well as towards the spaceport. In New Eldelyn and elsewhere, architects and land planners typically negociate around the land, rather than drive through it. Areas too wet to allow for strong foundations become darwah - public botanical gardens, oratory forums, and gathering plazas where large brass greenhouses allow visitors to enjoy the exotic flora of Aistanar. Many open areas also feature retractable storm canopies, whilst buildings often collect and filter rainwater for public use. Even the electric energy of storms is captured in lightning rods and used to help power cities.  

Architecture

  As per Boshaari tradition, the various strata of society are not segregated. The lavish entrances of hotels stand shoulder to shoulder with the tall facades and marbled halls of public housing. Despite this architectural mingling, the arches and spires that overlook New Eldelyn and other Arcologia are home to wealthier patrons, towering over warrens of lowborne housing. Even within the same building, higher areas, only accessible via fancy lifts operated by elevator girls, are also often home to academia, universities, art galleries and workshops. Lower areas, more prone to flooding, become the homes of less wealthy citizens. It is not entirely accidental, though, that the centres of public life and shopping alleys are usually found in the lower levels, where all walks of society mingle and interact. Most importantly, woven through every district, the city's famous manca markets stand beneath glass domes or pyramids. These bazaars are more than shopping malls; in a culture where few cook at home, numerous tiny eateries provide the urban populace with daily meals, also giving the markets their iconic smell of spices, roasted dawnfish and warm bread.  

Population

  Council population is highly urbanized, and is formed of a mix of Boshaari of different ethnicities rendered meaningless by the loss of their ancestral homes. It is estimated that 10-15 million Boshaari live within Council territory. The Council's reach frays at the seams, however. It is believed that a few million Boshaari live outside of government controlled areas, most beyond the landmass of Eldelyn, organized in smaller city-states, guilds, and syndicates.   Various dialects of Aisnaya are spoken within the Council. Pyxian Common is also taught and used when dealing with other species and polities.  

Landmarks

 

The Dome

  At the heart of New Eldelyn, the government of the Boshaari Council meets inside a giant brass structure, supported by regal columns, known as the Dome. The interior is built like a library, where thousands of years of records saved from the Oberon Incursion are now stored - regrettably, much of them are legal documents bearing little weight on this new frontier. A statue of the Inheritor, made of shining golden brass, welcomes visitors to the gigantic lobby of the Dome building.  

Tar Labri

  The second-largest Arcologia is known for its greenish hues. Though smaller than New Eldelyn, it also has its own Leyline network in the form of automated trams criss-crossing the cobbled streets of the city. Tar Labri has a reputation as a refuge for other species, and boasts a strong Zaalan population. This city is more open to the forests around it, and many homes feature rounder buildings and large glass windows giving onto the untamed forest beyond the small retaining wall. Outside the city walls, the seaside town of New Aritiri is notable for being predominently populated by ara'balai Mewei (a diaspora that culturally aligned with the Council and generally out of the Mewei Domain's reach).  

The Ruby Mountain

  On the southern coast of Eldelyn's landmass, the Ruby Mountain is an active volcano, its ash drifting into the nearby sea. There is a settlement, Obsidian, ruled by the eponymous company, which operates a giant geothermic plant in the area. Obsidian City is also perhaps better known for its hot springs, and are a favourite holiday destination of the Boshaari.  

Wellabel City

  The largest Arcologia on the moons of Aistanar, the canyon-city of Wellabel is a hub for the production of spice used in Boshaari cuisine. Its ruler, Lensa Yelven, is a cunning businesswoman, known to charge exorbitant fees to first-time travellers. The well-respected Aurum Corporation has a strong presence here, as it mines gold and other minerals from underground deposits.  

Hyporia Station

  The orbital shipyard at Hyporia Station floats at Aistanar's L2 point. It is controlled by the Heavensfall Guild of Engineers, who charge a moderate fee for top-grade space repairs. One hundred thousand souls dwell within its hull, toiling on magitek, spacefaring vessels and dive-drive engines. From the Lighthouse at the top of the station, skywatchers monitor hyperspace conditions and issue travel advisories and routers for safe diving.  

Life & Customs

  Spiritual and generally lovers of tradition, the Boshaari are fashionable aesthetes who seek enlightenment and influence. They find solace in order and conformity - though this tires on the younger generation, who aspires to live free lives amongst the stars.  

Social Norms

  Even the least religious Boshaari are encouraged to live by the concept of lynna - a mix of elegance and oratory refinement to which all Boshaari, even the most lowborne, should aspire. It is a philosophy from before the Great Jump, which revolved around the idea that virtue was a matter of constant evolution and earnest self-refinement. This idea is not universally agreed upon, and many philosophical currents attempt to define their own version of lynna, often leading to grand oratory debates under rain-soaked canopies. Lynna dictates that emotion be stifled publicly, yet refined in private into great works of art, music, literature and architecture. At such, most Boshaari households have a small workshop space in which to craft and be artful. In pursuit of lynna, ritual politeness is expected, especially towards strangers. Greeting gestures vary according to a traditional system based on purpose relative age, social standing and kin. Vague observance of religious customs is expected, and most Boshaari visit yanna regularly, though most would also not consider observing particular customs as particularly religious. There is a growing divide over the practical use of lynna between Boshaari of Aistanar proper (ara'balai) and the frontier folk called neni'balai, whether Council citizens or not. Neni'balai, in particular, often eschew elegance in favour of practicality.   Boshaari life is full of unspoken social contracts; even small gestures carry weight. Countless customs are expected to be followed; as an example, inside doors are often left ajar, as it is considered rude to knock on them. To the outside world, Boshaari often come across as aloof, though that is incorrect. Self-expression and exploration is desired in Boshaari culture, all in pursuit of lynna - however, this expression must be bounded in politeness, for Boshaari culture values harmony and self-enlightenment, but without imposition.   A newer feature of Boshaari culture is the five-yearly Pilgrimage to the great yannae of New Eldelyn. Its function is mostly civic (it acts as a census) rather than religious, and gives way to a month of celebrations and homecoming, particularly for neni'balai and spacer families.  

Home & Kinship

  Whilst there is a lot of variation, the typical Boshaari family lives in a small house or apartment, lit by hololanterns, of no more than five rooms. Homes are sacred, watched by ancestors, and must not be entered unless invited; accordingly, home invasion makes for a large aggravating charge in the legal system of the Council and other Boshaari factions. Families, however, stretch as constellations (and are often drawn as such), and it is considered acceptable for extended kin to let themselves in homes of the same family. Indoor hearth-gardens make for a typical room in the Boshaari home, as a place of gathering and eating. However, few homes have more than a very basic kitchen, for it is expected to bring food from street eateries. Most apartments consist of two floors, with the second floor housing workshop or meditation spaces, libraries, and sleeping areas.  

Politics

  The core legislative body of the Boshaari Council is the Senate, dominated by six Great Houses that trace their lineage to an empire before the Great Jump . Despite its oligargic overtone, the Senate is somewhat democratic; only a member of the Great Houses has a realistic chance of sitting in the Senate, but every citizen in good legal standing can vote for a Senator in their area. The Higher Council provides executive power and gives its name to the wider nation. Led by a democratically elected Praetor, who is the effective head of state, its ten handpicked Councillors draft laws for consideration by the Senate. The current Praetor is Vulas Lufina.   Many Boshaari dabble in politics - the Great Game - and oratory debates are a popular pastime, not merely as duty, but also as art; in fact, oratory salons called obragols are perhaps as common as yanna shrines or manca markets. To speak beautifully and with conviction is a highly refined form of lynna, depending on the subject matter. Debates are often a matter of performance as much as they are a matter of fact.   The six Great Houses function almost like political parties, and often sponsor smaller families or guilds (but never corporations) as part of their constellation. They are House Vulen (a majoritarily agricultural family), House Bili (a recently disgraced conservative house), House Paranel (a neutral house that seeks to restore arcane knowledge and ability to the Boshaari), House Diyanel (a house of engineers), House Keyleth (a mostly traditionalist Chantry family) and the Mewei House Daerie.  

Clothing

  Boshaari fashion was never designed for the rain, but has adapted quickly to the conditions on Aistanar. Ara'balai clothing is often multilayered; the narrow-waisted raincloak is an iconic part of the Boshaari wardrobe. Dark browns, slate greys and ethereal blues are favourite colours of the Boshaari, of course along with purple hues. Cloaks are often personalized with family sigils, particular etchings that signal alliegance to a particular family, guild, or even ancient ethnicity. Beneath the raincloaks, sharply cut jackets, blouses, trousers and long skirts are staples of Boshaari clothing - in the 150s, asymetrical cuts have begun to take the streets by storms, much to the dismay of traditionalists. Many Boshaari favour boots, ranging from equestrian styles to refined ankle boots made to click on marble tiles. Indoors, clothing might be relaxed but most Boshaari would still seek to dress in matching, proper outfits. As footwear is considered as much a part of one's presentation in life as the remainder of one's outfit, simpler but still elegant homeshoes are often worn inside. A few high-traffic areas, such as schools, also require their occupants to change into homeshoes.   Neni'balai fashion, by contrast, is far more practical and less rigidly codified. Vala style clothing is designed for cold weather, but generally conforms to ara'balai ideas of lynna. Yanta fashion, designed for life in hot deserts, revolves around silks, bright colours, loose garments, and excessive jewelry.   Along with raincoats, umbrellas are an iconic marker of social standing, and most Boshaari households own at least a score; often matched to the raincoats, umbrellas are designed to reflect one's aspirations in life, rather than their current social standing.  

Food

  The bold flavours of Boshaari cuisine seem seldom adapted for a world of constant rain, but Boshaari food remains highly appreciated across Tau Elpis. As most Boshaari do not cook at home, they instead gather beneath the crystalline domes of manca markets. Staples include rice and rootgrains (perfect for a rainy, fertile world as Aistanar), fish, algae, and various mushrooms. Spices from Yanta are also in high demand, and used in nearly every dish. A particular delicacy native to Aistanar are giant lilybulbs - starchy, sweet, and often enjoyed roasted on open fires. Meat is less common, however, and often reserved for special occasions. Boshaari drinks include the hundreds of different brands of root beer, teas, and cloudwine grown on the roofs of brass spires.   Eating is a fairly ritualized process, and most Boshaari will say a small prayer before tucking in.   As Aistanar is a key exporter of foodstuffs across Tau Elpis, Boshaari cuisine can be found in many different worlds.  

Religion

  The vast majority of Boshaari believe in Fallanism - the belief in salvation granted to the Boshaari race by the deity they call the Inheritor of Elvenkind. As the Tenets go, their Goddess sacrificed all she had in order to save elvenkind from doom in the far future. There are a select few who believe the "far future" to have been realized when the Boshaari were saved aboard the Embassy Ark, but most continue to renew their faith in the Inheritor.   Her worship is organized by the Chantry of the Void. Alongside her, ancestor and benevolent spirits anointed by the Inheritor, called Æsimar, are often revered and worshipped. There are many Æsimar - as many as there are beautiful places, cities, rivers and forests. Traditionally, each shrine - known as Yanna will feature not just the image of the Inheritor, but also that of a local or significant Æsimar.  

Economy

  The Boshaari economy is a moderated free market, shaped by ancient hierarchy and long-term planning. Theoretically free, it is nevertheless heavily influenced by the business interests of the Six Great Houses, whose wealth and patronage quietly sheer industrial output. The Boshaari financial model is not predicated on growth, but stability; most consumers prefer longer-lived products to disposable ones. This trend has helped the Boshaari adapt to life in Tau Elpis with limited resources, and today they boast the stablest economy in Tau Elpis. Despite a diverse slate of industries, the Boshaari heavily rely on exporting agricultural goods to less fortunate planets in order to drive their economy.   Coalition banks and conglomerates operate in Council territory. However, all foreign agricultural companies are heavily tariffed, leading to a Boshaari monopoly on agricultural goods in their internal market.   Whilst credits are used as an exchange medium, the Boshaari currency is the lassæ, used in Council territory and beyond.  

Warfare

  The Boshaari military is relatively small, but well-disciplined and equipped. House Bili provided much of the military's workforce until recently; nowadays, the army relies on a mix of professional soldiers and tributes from each of the six Great Houses. The Boshaari are also known for their Templars - effectively special-ops commando forces using arcane technology and spellweaving to secure objectives before the main security forces arrive on scene to clean up the mess.   The Boshaari space navy is well-developed and projects power beyond its orbit. Ships that look like gilded submarines are a common sight on all trade lanes in Tau Elpis.  

History

  The Boshaari Council finds its roots in the government of the Pyxis Globula colony Bytha-IV, the once secret home to the Yoni Ark which enabled survivors to emigrate to the Circinus Stream.   During the ten-year journey through intergalactic space, Ambassador Naesala Adlar advocated for Boshaari interests. When the Ark arrived in the Elpis System she formed the First Council which was tasked with overseeing the Seedling of their most favourable world - Aistanar.  

Early Years

  The first exploration missions reported that the planet Aistanar would be the most favourable to the Boshaari pioneers. Exactly 600 days after arrival (and some negociations with the Domain, some of whom also wanted a colony on Aistanar), the first manned shuttle landed on the shores of the Aether Sea, on what would become New Eldelyn, the Council capital. Using some of their allotment of Programmable Matter, the Council established a dirtside base from which many of the Council settlements - mostly Boshaari, with a few Mewei villages - mushroomed.   The impact was profound on the Boshaari race, who lost an empire and longed for a new home. In the first few years, most Boshaari had mostly vacated the Embassy Ark to settle either on New Eldelyn or its two less habitable moons. The Council was focussed on developing Aistanar, however, leaving many lunar settlers to break away more or less peacefully from Council law.   The Council began a rapid period of expansion. The chief concern was the insufficient amount of Programmable Matter needed to build early modules for industrial and agricultural development. On Aistanar, Councillor Adlar pushed for a command economy that quickly burgeoned the required technological base to remain spaceborne. Much of their programmable matter was used on orbital projects, notably the construction of Hyporia Station">Hyporia Station from Ark leftovers.  

The Thaumium War

  In the 10th Cycle, explorer Alriel Vaduin discovered vast resources of Thaumium hidden beneath the crust of the faraway planet Zindra. Unfortunately, upon arrival, the Murafell Mining Company discovered that the Hiderid Coalition of Stars had decided to claim the entire world as their property.   Diplomatic tensions aboard the Embassy Ark were at their highest. Hiderid President Kjrx Frkx ordered a tiny armed merchant fleet to fire at Boshaari vessels in the vicinity. In response, the Council sent all of its ten pre-Great Jump warships. The resulting war was short and relatively bloodless, and the Mewei Domain intervened to broker an uneasy peace.   Under the terms of the treaty, much of the planet was allowed to be excavated by Coalition interests, with a third of the landmass shared between the Council, the Domain as well as the Hhrot Dominion. Nevertheless, armed skirmishes between the Council and the Coalition continued for some cycles to come.  

Expansion

  The Council then resumed its expansion with an inward gaze. The priority was the development of Aistanar, and beyond control of Zindra, space played a limited role in its early construction plans. One after another, most colonies on the moons of Aistanar slipped beyond Council control, as a combination of disgruntlement and government neglect. Only in the 27th Cycle did the Boshaari finally complete their orbital shipyard with the last of their programmable matter. By this point, they had assembled enough of a technological base to thrive without.   In the 29th Cycle, Councillor Adlar died, leaving behind a political mess. The Council reformed around the role of Praetor, and successive governments oversaw the continued development of the Council colony whilst gradually opening the market. By the 45th Cycle, the Council had transitionned to a merchantile economy. This also led to the creation of a middle class and to the rebirth of ancestral Great Houses which began to control significant sectors of the economy. The later part of the early period is also marked by greater religious fervour and the growth of the Chantry of the Void around revised, "universalist" tenets.   However, income disparity was on the rise, and soon gave way to tensions between different strands of politicians and citizens who all disagreed on the future their fledging colony should take.  

The Bili Praetorship

  In the 91st Cycle, Councillor Aethiel Bili was narrowly elected by the Council to the position of Praetor. Hailing from an ancestral Great House, he believed that the future of the Boshaari was not planted dirtside, but dominating every corner of space.   Bili did not tolerate dissent and sought to unite his people "by word or by sword". Soon every media outlet, the Chantry, and many Great Houses were brought to heel. In the 94th cycle, when aspiring explorer Boriel Davi discovered the present of strange alien ruins amidgst the asteroid cloud soon known as the Wayward Belt, Bili's first instinct was to round up key dissenters to work as indentured, exiled labour on the alien mines.   It transpired later that the mines were far more functional than Boriel Davi had let on, and the exiled, now called "Waywards", managed to make a thriving settlement out of their prison-home. Through subterfuge and bribery, by the last shipment of exiles, not a single warden hadn't turned coat, and the prison mines largely managed themselves. To keep appearances, small amounts of minerals were shipped to Aistanar whilst in secret, the Waywards hollowed out asteroids, carved pressurized bunkers and assembled small dinghy spaceships of their own.   Bili also sought to tighten his grip on the lunar colonies and return them to the fold. Despite relentless attempts, many of these small cities remained defiantly independant and some even banded together to foil local Council efforts. Early successes were dampened by an economic recession caused by the sudden drop in prices of key minerals once scarce but now easily sourced around the moons of Hestia, as well as overreliance on the struggling economy of the Coalition of Stars   At home, whilst Praetor Bili was initially well-regarded for bringing order back to a faltering colony, his increasingly ruthless methods of exerting power and his growing paranoia soon earned him powerful enemies. In addition, several high-profile defectors tarnished his image. His second-in-command, High-Arbiter Naladel Delphi, defected and sought refuge in the Coalition over his treatment of defectors. In one particularly egregious instance, Boriel Davi managed to steal the Council's flagship BSS Lily of the Void and recruit several smaller Houses to develop new cities on the spires of the barely hospitable world Nevael. Davi famously enraged Praetor Bili when he announced, "I now have two homes. One is a caustic, toxic hellpit where a slip sends you flying into pools of acid magma... and one is Nevael."   In the 110th Cycle, an ailing Praetor Bili spearheaded attempts to quickly build up the Council's naval forces, prompting concern from the Hiderid Coalition. The reason is unknown, but the Praetor was found dead after presumably setting his own house ablaze using piles of documents stolen from the Council Archives now unfortunately lost to time.  

Modern Council

  Following the death of Praetor Bili, High-Arbiter Naladel Delphi returned to the Boshaari world to organize his succession. Many of his decrees were revoked and the Wayward were allowed home (though very few chose to, at that point however, the privileges granted by Bili to the Chantry and several Great Houses remained, as was the title of Praetor.   Since then, the Council has focused on industrial production and greater trade integration within the Elpis system. In the 151st Cycle, the leader of the Council is the progressive Praetor Vulas Lufina, albeit he is chaperoned by Chantry leader Esta Erronis.