Dabos Koshi

**Dabos Koshi** is a city and territory located within the eastern Sea of Pearls off the coast of northern Bardonia. It is situated on the edge of the continental shelf, with some parts even floating in the open ocean, thus the name ‘floating city.’

The city has a storied history and culture defined by the interactions of its people, called the ‘Luroné’ with the outside world. Originally, the Luroné did not exist in the periphery of Bardonia, and maybe not even in Rathnir. A migration resulted in the settlement of the Luroné on the continental shelf, where, after a while, they established a fishing culture and the port that would become Dabos Koshi. The town initially came into conflict with neighboring empires, especially Bardonia and the Sterling Crownlands. After diplomatic failings with the Holy Chevkri Empire and the Volkyrian Commonwealth, the town settled with a position in the aforementioned Bardonia. Under the reigns of the Chancellor Uni, and the Emperor Mobius, the town would grow into what it is today.

It is notable of course for its system of canals replacing roads, and mechanisms for controlling the movement of water throughout the city. The main modes of transport are quick and nimble boats. Buildings and workplaces are constructed on top of giant platforms as well as within the platforms themselves. The architectural style of Dabos Koshi is mixed and undefined, reflecting its organic and multicultural growth.

The head of state and the government is currently the hakotank (director), Žabu Makaliné (CaptainCHreeper). Makaliné seeks to build up the Floating City after its major decline following the chaos of previous years. To do this, he plans on establishing trade links with many nations, and assisting in infrastructure projects that will help bolster further growth. Hopefully, then, Dabos Koshi will become as prominent as many of its people wish it will one day become.

## Name and Etymology

The name ‘Dabos Koshi’ is a term originating from two Luroné words in particular. The word ‘dabos’ is a word referring to a village or town, and sometimes a larger city-the latter would usually be called a ‘hluba.’ The word ‘koshi’ is an adjective describing something as floating on water. Therefore, Dabos Koshi literally means ‘floating town’ or ‘floating city.’

The name for the Luroné themselves comes from the language’s word for ‘people.’ The term ‘luro’ is used to describe a single person. The suffix ‘-né’ is one of the markers for a plural. So luro is describing one person, and luroné describes multiple people.

Since there are multiple groups of Luroné scattered across the world, the citizens of Dabos Koshi sometimes specify themselves as ‘Luronémi Dabos Koshi.’ The -mi is the genitive or possessive marker, the noun with the marker has a relationship with the noun succeeding it. In this case, it means that these Luroné belong to Dabos Koshi.

There will be more to touch upon in the language section. Luroné names and words in this article will be paraphrased with its approximate Travelers Tongue equivalent.

Ex. *Luroné* (people)

## History

The people of Dabos Koshi have a deep and rich tradition of writing down their own stories. Indeed, only the migration history and early parts of Hakotank Layag's reign are obscured. In fact, a Luroné can remember almost everything that has happened in their town, because Dabos Koshi itself is little over half a century old.

Recordkeepers and scribes have written many records of occurences and events that have happened throughout the course of weeks. Together with notable oral storytellers, we can piece together a very consistent and concise narrative of the Luroné story. However, we must resort to speculation if we are to tell the story of how the Luroné got to Rathnir in the first place, and how they got to the area Dabos Koshi is in now. Unfortunately, there are only a few people left who actually lived during the age of migrations and can remember what happened. Their recounts are helpful, but there isn't enough information to see the bigger picture. The whole story is full of contradictions and instances of conflict. While everyone today accepts that they and their parents came from somewhere else, some of them doubt that the Luroné actually came from somewhere other than Rathnir.

What follows is the story that historians have been able to establish:

### Prehistory

According to some oral accounts, the Luroné originate not from Rathnir but another world entirely. There is not a consistent name for this world or land, it is usually called 'Tekla' or 'Muhlayi' or sometimes 'Ayunan.' Some skeptical historians think that this was just another continent in the world containing Rathnir or in Rathnir itself. They cite similar everyday objects such as crops, trees, animals, and even cite similar ideas. But other historians argue that from what we know about other continents, there isn't any that completely matches what is described in the legend. Historian Dulet Kapoš argues that the Luroné indeed come from another world, as there are many other folks with similar origin stories. Most today people would agree with Kapoš, but there is a number of skeptics.

The oral account of the Luroné genesis starts with the legendary kingdom of "'Ÿri." 'Ÿri is described as a great land of forests and rivers. The land was so abundant with food and life that the people 'counted their lives in centuries.' The men and women lived in harmony; there was no seperation between the genders. The rulers of this kingdom were even greater, even considered gods in a way. The kings led their people to the heavens, and soon ruled the whole universe, conquering all of the nations of the earth, sky, and water. This prosperity lasted for millenia, but alas, nothing lasts forever.

The last god-king, named Hlosént, was corrupted, and his spirit, or beri, full of darkness. Instead of feeding the people, he let them starve. Instead of enriching them with wealth, he took all for himself and made them poor. He led armies to die in blood-soaked fields. The sky and the ocean were said to have become dark because of his treachery and destruction. He cut body parts off of man and woman, so that they were made different in appearance. The land even became desert around them, the animals and plants withering away. The people struggled to find a way to survive, but one man offered a solution.

This man, named Bula, was said to be guided by the spirit Macun, beri of light and creation, who wanted to save their people from doom. Macun told Bula that there was a plentiful land for his tribe, the Ceniké, to settle. Many people joined the Ceniké, and they traveled across difficult and barren terrain to reach the new land: Palÿti. However, the migration came at a cost. Since they were no longer in 'Ÿri, they lived significantly shorter lives and the genders remained forever seperated. There were less trees as well, and the land was drier than what they were used to. But the people would survive and eventually flourish, establishing their families and clans across the new land. They offered gifts to the great spirit Macun for saving them, and every year the people came together to celebrate them. Soon however, the single worship of Macun would not last, and more spirits would become patrons of each clan, after helping them in various ways.

The land of Palÿti and its people would fall victim to many coming storms. For one, the sands of the great desert beyond were intruding on the greenery of the land, killing the plants and animals. And then, a furious tribe coming from the east, called the Hapocé, would wreck havoc on the Palÿtians. They and their descendants would battle with the ancestors of the Luroné for many generations. With the land drying up, and the Hapocé forcing their way into the land, times seemed to get desperate again. The Šerigé, a clan descended from the Ceniké, would settle in the southern periphery of the very edge of the grasslands, trying to survive however they can against the tide, but they too would fall, and it truly seemed it was over for the Luroné. Then, the spirit ancestors of the Luroné as well as Macun contacted a young man named Katwaz, who would guide them to a third and final land called Poto. This time, they promised, they would stay.

Katwaz would form the new clan of the Katwazé and lead his people across the unimaginably large desert. Along the way, they would deal with bandits, evil spirits and monsters, and the threat of heat stroke, thirst, and starvation. Yet they survived, and would successfully find themselves in a new southern land, with stretches of grass more vast than they would've ever imagined. This was not their home, the spirits said however, and they would need to face more obstacles in order to reach the land they were promised. Also, the Hapocé would follow them to this new land, evolving into a people even more fearsome: the Malekané.

The Katwazé would go further inland, finding fresh new land, with lush forests and rivers abound. They would face the 'Olaté and Pilé, two peoples who already lived there, and went west and crossed the Cadÿg Mountains. After such a treacherous and long journey, they would finally find their home. A land of green, blue, and white, and from this they called the land Pelkora. It more expansive than they had ever dreamed, for all to live and love. As the generations passed, they would split into many tribes and settle across Pelkora. One of these tribes were the Cé'estyé, who fought great battles against the Pilé, Nabé, and Malekané, and would eventually establish a great kingdom.

But the Malekané were very strong, and they launched a deadly invasion, causing chaos across the land. During this time, a warlord named Delk of the Ciné, would launch his own invasion. This time called for heroes. One boy, named Makali, would try to turn the tide, and the stakes were set for a massive war.

A cetu (boat) full of merchants and travellers ventured along the southern coast of Poto, trying to get to the distant islands of Kozklé. Suddenly, a giant storm consumed them, and when the storm dissapated, they found themselves in unfamiliar waters. At that moment, little did they know they would never see if Makali would ever win against Delk, and they would never see the islands of Kozklé. In fact, they would never see their homes or their families again. As it turns out, they just got transported to a new world, the world of Rathnir.

### Rathnir Migrations

The sudden teleportation of these shippeople to a new world is usually called 'sé Kosuri' or 'the Drop.'