Rava-sigu

The Rava-sigu originates in the depths of a cave in the Irato Taleon, a mountain range on the western border of Tomrak Nation.   The river has long seen human habitation along its banks. Some of the first towns were built only a few decades after the end of the Silence.    

Archeology Evidence

  Buildings clustered in circles around a public space have been located on the southern banks of much of the hill lands portion of the Rava-sigu. Most of these towns only inhabited less than a quarter of a kilomter of land. The inner circle seems to be absent of any sort of architecture. The ring outside it has larger buildings that seem to be public forums - no ornate jewelry or signs of aristocracy in these inner rings. The outer rings are smaller versions of the public forum buildings, but with kitchens and baths built into the sides of these buildings - it is widely assumed these are the residential buildings. The plumbing of the towns is rudimentary covered ditches that extend from each house toward a large well on the south-eastern edges of these towns - the well seems to be also a compost pile based on the DNA data taken from its samples.   It is unknown how long people lived in these scattered towns. However, evidence shows a mass flooding occurred that buried most of them in sediment. Some then were built over by another group of people. These towns are larger and more ornate with their outward decorations. The inner circle will often have a pagoda in these larger towns.   Not all of the later settlements were built over the old ones - some were built nearby, where the older abandoned settlement is either lost to the river or used as farmland.   These settlements extended from 90 E to around 560 E.   It is in the 500s that towns along the Rava-sigu began to be incorporated into the burgeoning Tomrak people. The towns became more standardized. Plumbing and public baths were instituted. Larger public forums and sports arenas were built, and residential circles grew in size. Some of these towns became bustling small cities, and a few still exist into the present times.  

Arcology

  An ancient alien arcology is situated just at the base of peak Duo̊thei̊dh, at the southern edge of Arubesian territory. It spans an area of 2 kilometers squared and is approximately 1.2 kilometers tall, making it one of the tallest arcologies on Elivera.   This ruined arcology was once a fully functioning Dragios base, where experiments on local fauna and on captive humans were held. During the time of the Silence, the base was abandoned, and the liberated humans traveled down the Rava-sigu (and up the river as well) to form the first settlements within the region.   Must of the arcology is in bad repair, and sections have fallen in as the fungi and plant growth reclaim the site. Its circular spires, long elevator shafts, and maze-like rooms still cut through the foliage like a dagger pointed at the moons.   Expeditions to explore the ruins are still ongoing, but the danger is high as some of the security systems are still active in the core sections. Highly skilled artisans with tech and quantum related Ability skills are in large demand by the Övúnüqöpi.   Myths surround the arcology, especially horror - warped creatures of failed experiments that still haunt its halls. The source of these myths seem to derive from the oral tellings of experiments done to captives within the arcology, before the time of the Silence.   The Arubesian people consider it a corrupted place and have often asked other city-states and nations to heed their requests to leave the arcology as is and instead create a safety border around it. Off and on through the centuries, these walls were built to keep outsiders from dying within the the tremendous building. Now, remnants of these walls show in the undergrowth of fungi and plants on the outer edges of the complex.  

Local Communities (Present Day 989 E)

 

Arubesian

  Near the source of the Rava-sigu, the Arubesian people thrive. They have built terraced cities on the mountains that surround the Rava's spring, and use irrigation and caved pipes to ferry water from the spring (and its underground lake) to their dwellings. Their cities are made predominantly of stone - many of the stones are threaded with the colorful petrified fungi, which give the cities a rainbow look.   The cities have much of their public state structures near the peak of mountains, where lifts rise the citizens up to the debate forums for public policy and conflict resolution. The cities hold no one ruler, and are loosely organized egalitarian states.  All genders are of equal status. Those lower on the mountains than upper residents are often seen as a lower caste, but when it comes time for public forums, all people - regardless of caste - can gather and debate policy. Lower castes are often farmers, stone-cutters, and pastoralists. Upper residents tend to be more specialized artisans.  

Taejïn

  Taejïn people live predominantly in the Nikuta hills just east of the Dragios arcology site. They have lived in the region for centuries are mostly foragers, hunters, and tenders of the fungi forests. Agriculture never truly entered the culture of the Taejïn, as their ways focused instead of agroforestry and hunting.   Their towns are set up in large ovals, where the center of the town is an open public space for public forums, gardening, and teaching. Inner ring tends to be artisan shops and crafting, while outer rings are residential areas.   Taejïn are renowned explorers, and many - despite the warnings of Arubesian people - entered the Dragios arcology out of curiosity and to prove their courage to their peers. Some never returned, but those that did, share harrowing stories of maze-like corridors, strange sounds, and hideous creatures. These stories are told around a bonfire at the end of every season in the central ring of the towns. The most dramatic and horrifying tales win prizes of gems and crustacean shells.    

Mulapege

  This huge city is the heart of the Tomrak Nation. City of 990,500 inhabitants. It has seven concentric circles, where the inner most one is the meeting of the two rivers and the government buildings that were built above the flood containment systems. The next ring out is the trading and banking ring, then the residential ring, then education ring, and more residential rings. The farthest ring is manufacturing and the essor train hub for the produce from nearby farms. Light-rail offer high speed access to all rings of the city. A highway connects the city to the capitol, where the highway follows the local essor train tracks. Windfarms circle the city and provide part of its power, the rest is due to a large solar field north-west of the city.   This city is the birthplace of the founder of the Tonmrak nation: Sanra Rak in approximately 530 E. Sanra Rak's would eventually move to Tuulusi later in life, where they governed Tomrak there, but the first quarter of their life was spent studying in Mulapege.   Inspired by the images in the Tomrak ancient text, that revealed what looked like diplomatic groups of various species - some not human - Sanra Rak decided to unify the continent of Ratomae under a federation of city-states. Their diplomacy corps moved outward in all directions in their questto unify with rigorous debates and diplomacy. Many a story shares of Sanra's prowess with words, and for a brief century, the city states of Ratomae worked together toward common goals. This is how the city of Zotoin was eventually built.   In-fighting would break apart this fledgling federation. The chiefs of Mulapege would try again in the 600s and 700s E to re-unite the continent like Sanra Rak had done.   Tomrak is the name derived from ancient texts found in burial mounds north of the city - the texts are written in an unknown language, the the writer seems to be a person named Tomrak. These texts are still being decoded in the present day, but the myths surrounding their origins and who built the mounds persist in the oral traditions of the city of Mulapege.   In present time of 989 E, most city-states on the continent are part of the federation of Tomrak. The continent is divided into provinces, with major city-states governing mostly autonomously. Very little policy or laws are forced upon the members of the Tomrak nation from its over-arching governing body. This over-arching government is located in Mulapege during the cold seasons. In the warm seasons, the government is moved to Zotoin further west.  

Tuulusi

  Former Capital of the Tomrak nation (capital was officially moved to Zotoin and Mulapege in 889 E). This is a major port city for the nation, where much of its trade comes through the robust ports. It sits at the mouth of the Ravasigu, and its concentric ring design -- like other Tomrak cities -- are half-moons instead due to the southern third of the rings being the levies and flood infrastructure to protect against flooding and storm surges. One of the primary Siteakin for Tomrak nation is located in the central ring of this city. Here people from all over the world come study some of the plentiful plant and fungi species that give the Ratomae it's fame.   Legends hold that Sanra Rak moved to Tuulusi in the later years of their life to rule the Tomrak nation (the head of the council states) until their death in 608 E.   Leaders of Tuulusi worked closely with Mulapege during the tumultuous years of 600s and 700s, until the Tomrak nation was reunited once more in late 780 E. Although Tuulusi was officially the capital during the early years of the second reunification, most of the governing bodies were actually located in Mulapege or Zotoin.   Being a port city, most of the major commerce passed through Tuulusi. Their impact on Tomrak's economy grew quite large, which is why the council states chose to move the "official" capital to avoid too much power congregating in one city.   Tuulusi, being at the river delta, subsides predominantly off the ocean and marsh. Much of its inner rings are industrial and crafting areas, with the residential areas more run-down and not as well kept.  

Zotoin

  Capital City of the Tomrak Nation as of the 800s E. A city build in rings. The central ring is gardens and government buildings. The next ring out is the trading center. Third ring out is Teakin and Siteakin centers. Fourth and Fifth rings are residential areas. Sixth ring is manufacturing and the space port and essor train hubs. Seventh and eighth rings are more residential areas and some Teakin centers. Gardens are in the ninth ring, and there is a tenth unofficial ring of migrants.   Zotoin started as a agriculture city-state on the Zoto lake, a large lake to the south of the Rava-sigu region. Some of the underground rivers that feed the Rava also feed Zoto lake. Over the centuries the town was rebuilt into a more mining and industrial center, with a robust trade center from the essor trains that frequent the city.