Nemosa and Semtis

**Nemosa**, officially the Republic of Nemosa and Semtis (*Pledhwas a Nemosa oun Semtis*), was an island nation located in the northern sphere of Owlia. It was founded by Palowan peoples, but would later come to have a roughly equal population of Sesmikans who traced their origins to the realm of Eisarna. This small nation was historically very important in the Palowan world for its trade in smoked beef, hides, and various staple crops. In traditional Palowan style, animals were kept in communal herds which roamed freely across most of the island.

In the 9th century, Nemosa became a state of the Palowan Union alongside Eisarna, Urusahm and Suomia.

## History

Nemosa was among the first islands to be discovered by Palowan voyagers from the Swombhoudn (Mushroom Lands). The Grey Brotherhood established a primitive settlement here from at least the early 7th century, and perhaps much earlier than this. The island was originally heavily forested and without large animals; the Brotherhood transported sheep and cows form the Owisahm (eastern mainland) and began clearing some of the forest for pasture. The island proved very fertile, and allowed a level of agriculture not possible in the Swombhoudn. The trade in hides, in particular, became vitally important to the scribes of the Grey Brotherhood whose books were most often bound in Nemosān leather - thus the island was important to the early development of Pálowan culture.

After a period of stagnation in the mid-7th century, when the Grey Brotherhood began to decline in importance, there was another period of growth in the late-7th century as Eisarna emerged as a new export market for hides and smoked meat. The economy boomed, and most of the island’s buildings and infrastructure date from this time; an Iron Brotherhood forge-lodge was built in 670 CE, and new houses were built to accommodate waves of Sesmikan immigrants who arrived as farm-hands on boats from Eisarna.

With increasing population came a need to organise a government; the islanders maintained a strong sense of community spirit, and there was a natural evolution from an informal ‘council of elders’ to a formalised Island Council, with elected members in turn voting to elect a Kesrwik (‘Head Chief’) on a fixed five-year term. A dedicated council chamber was complete by 690 CE, commemorated by the raising of a traditional Enilkos stele. Nemosa was formally recognised as a sovereign state by Eisarna in the same year.

Land use was the main topic of debate; an environmentalist faction was traditionally strong in local politics, resisting pressure to cut down the remnants of the native forest.

The 8th century again saw a period of stagnation on Nemosa, with many youngsters heading out to start new lives in other places in Owlia. However, the trade in beef and leather to Eisarna remained profitable, and Eisarnan dignitaries continued to make regular visits to the island as part of trade missions; Nemosa still boasted some of the most productive farmland in the region. At least, the lack of modern development meant that Nemosa has maintained its 7th-century charm, and drew tourists for this reason.

## Semtis

Semtis, meaning ‘Small Hill’, was an islet located a short distance to the west of Nemosa. The islet features in early Palowan legends, and is said to be the first island discovered by the very first seafaring voyages from the Mushroom Lands. Semtis had no permanent population, but showed signs of being visited throughout the centuries; the mysterious ‘Semtis inscription’ baffled all those who read it, and was never positively matched to any known Owlian language.

Nemosa claimed ownership of Semtis starting in 690 CE, intending to preserve it as an archaeological site and nature reserve. Licenses to fish on and around the islet were much sought after by Nemosans.