SUMA'A (Kingdom of) and GOMBAR (Kingdom of)
Suma'a:
Location: Western edge of the Arm of the Immortals, continent of Brun. WB
Area: 19,240 sq. mi. (49,830 sq. km.).
Population: 60,000, including 25,000 in the capital Sumag.
Languages: Ak'an (a language descended from Tanagoro and ogre).
Coinage: Pesawa (ep), cedi (gp).
Taxes: 10% export tax, 15% import tax (except on food), 5% mineral tax.
Government Type: Monarchy moderately influenced by mercantile interests. The king must be a shaman.
Industries: Mining (gold, iron, diamonds, electrum, platinum), jewellery.
Important Figures: Aw'ar (Chief Priest of Sumag).
Flora and Fauna: Unknown.
Further Reading: Previous almanacs.
Gombar:
Location: Western edge of the Arm of the Immortals, continent of Brun. WB
Area: 28,120 sq. mi. (72,830 sq. km.).
Population: 72,000, including 30,000 in the capital Emdur.
Languages: Ak'an (a language descended from Tanagoro and ogre).
Coinage: Pesawa (ep), cedi (gp).
Taxes: 10% export tax, 15% import tax (except on food), 5% mineral tax.
Government Type: Monarchy heavily influenced by mercantile interests. The king must be a shaman.
Industries: Mining (gold, rubies, diamonds, electrum, platinum), jewellery.
Important Figures: Droog (Chief Priest of Gombar), Opatuo (Head of the Mining Exchange of Emdur).
Flora and Fauna: Unknown.
Further Reading: Previous almanacs.
Description by Gnighmen Lodestar.
I travelled briefly in these two kingdoms when Serraine was passing nearby. Matazumi had piqued my interest in this area with tales of land ruled by giant civilised ogre-like beings. These beings, he informed me, rule two huge mercantile kingdoms led by shamans. These kingdoms are rich in mineral wealth with gold, electrum and iron being mined extensively from the hills and mountains of the Arm of Immortals that form the eastern extent of the two kingdoms. Numerous types of precious stones are also mined from these areas and these along with the gold are crafted by the artisans of the land. The jewellery and mineral wealth, however, is not what has made the area rich. It is the overseas trade that the people conduct with countries up and down the western shores of Brun and Davania as well as the eastern extents of Skothar that has made the kingdoms what they are. Both kingdoms possess extensive merchant and naval fleets with which they maintain their control over the water.
Once Matazumi had given me this briefing of the land that I would travel in I affected a magical disguise to help me pass unnoticed during my brief sojourn through the land. I decided to borrow a cloud-clipper for my journey and land near the city of Emdur, the capital of Gombar.
The Land
I was unable to visit any area outside the city of Emdur during my stay and therefore do not know anything about it. I hope to visit the two kingdoms again soon and describe the area with more detail on the Kingdom of Suma'a and the lands surrounding the city of Emdur.
However, in my travel from the area where I landed my plane into the city, I noted some things. Primarily the lack of people living outside the city: I passed no one on my short journey and there were no farms-not that the land seemed very arable. Why there are no people living on the land is a mystery to me and how the populace can eat is truly an enigma. During my short trip I did notice the sounds of drumbeats. From where and why these drumbeats were beating was also a bit of a source of puzzlement for me-one that I was unable to answer during my stay.
The People
The people of Gombar and Suma'a are twofold in their interests. Firstly there are the merchants and miners who are interested in furthering their mercantile aims. Then there are the religious groups who lead the populace.
The interactions between the religious and mercantile members of the people are very interesting. The mercantile members of the people seem to have control over the religious group by virtue of the money and jobs that they generate. However it is the religious groups that lead the people. It is true that the leaders are heavily influenced by mercantile interests, but a similar influence of the shamans over the merchants was evident to me, as proved by the respect that shamans visiting the Mining Exchange were given. They were not feared, as those who are religious seem to be in other areas but actually treated with respect.
Don't Miss
The Mining Exchange in Emdur is the tallest and most opulent building in the city. In fact the height of the building is astounding. Over 25 stories high, the building is truly massive, especially considering that because the inhabitants are so tall each story is fifteen feet high; why a building should have so many stories is, however, beyond me. Though seeing the building I have an idea for a weight and pulley mechanism that could be attached to the outside of the building which would move people up and down floors without the need for stairs-I think I'd call it a mechanical-levitator.
The exchange is a hive of activity during the day and throughout the night. Within the exchange miners come in and sell their goods. In the same place merchants buy the minerals to trade with other countries. Artisans also frequent the building buying gold and gemstones and selling their crafts to merchants.
The most amazing sight within the exchange
is a large room, known as the Floor, which exists over three stories, within
which the prices of the cargoes of ships as well as the standings of the
mineral finds from the mines are traded and reassessed on a continual basis. The room is very confusing, with ogre-kin
screaming prices and names at the young ogre-kin standing above them at large
boards, who write the new prices and standings in the relevant places. How anyone can hear anything in this place is
an amazement to me. I was here the day
after the platinum from a new mine was being traded in the exchange-I was
informed that on this day the Floor was more active than usual-how this can be
is beyond me.