Talum Sha

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Talum Sha is a fairly isolated island nation within the HCC that values defense, generosity, and above all, industry. It recently became the first nation to invent the steam engine.

Basic Statistics

## Technology

The Talum Sha pride themselves on being the inventors of the steam engine. In the contemporary era, the Talum Sha tested the world's first steam powered fishing boat. Called Odsa, or "God's Grace, " it took its maiden voyage off the coast of Odmortin.

## History

Talum Sha began as a small island nation that subsisted on fishing. Threats from more powerful nations (the words "orange" and "deaf" are still spoken with fear) led Talum Sha to quickly develop a military with the help of other island nations. The arrival of HCC ships carrying technologically advanced goods generated an entire industry reverse engineering the foreign machines brought to the major cities. This has caused a rapid shift to urban areas and the establishment of the nation's first universities. The people of Talum Sha hope to grow this flourishing business and become industrial leaders.

## Geography

The homeland of the Talum Sha is an island called Odmortin. It is temperate climate, and is heavily forested. The Talum Sha hold the island sacred for religious reasons, and defend it with their lives.

## Languages

Trade common is the most widely spoken language, though the old language of Talumshop is still occasionally used for ceremonial and naming purposes.

## Politics

Talum Sha was originally ruled by a council of 3 representatives, one from each shore of the island of Odmortin. Due to the rapid militarization of the island, this council grew an enormous amount of power with very little incentive to change. While a general council of around a hundred members was later introduced to run the day to day operations of the growing nation, the original council, now called the "High Council of Odmort" still allegedly controls much of the nation's decision making. It is unclear who is actually on the High Council, and some citizens claim it is a myth. Nonetheless, proclamations from the High Council in the form of printed materials are widely circulated and followed by the general council. These edicts should be followed without question.

## Religion and culture

### Moral values and principles

The most important moral value to the Talum Sha is hospitality. Every family is expected to be able to host travelers and other families. Even most poorer households have a designated room to entertain guests. Breaches of etiquette by either party during these visits are considered incredibly rude, and may be punished by community shaming, or in rare cases, criminal punishments. One of the most important rules is to never refuse a guest in need, whether a traveler caught in the rain, or a family whose house has been destroyed. For social visits, it is vital that the visitors bring enough food to replace what they eat, a rule that became widespread after a community leader was nearly starved to death by repeated visits.

Slavery is outlawed in Talum Sha, yet forms of indentured servitude remain widespread. Though the laws of hospitality require these servants to be well housed and fed, debtors are often required to work for years to earn their freedom. A debt market has arisen in the nation, with wealthy individuals buying the debts of dozens of people to work in their mines and workshops.

### Traditions

The biggest holiday of the year is Odrov, the anniversary of the death of Ord. It is considered the day that the worlds of life and death are closest, and as such many seances are performed to attempt to communicate with the dead, both Ord and the spirits of family members. Offerings are given, and a meal is eaten, as it is seen as “hosting” the dead. Fish is the most common dish, as fishing was one of the first skills taught by Ord to the Talum Sha. Odishni (holy people) usually oversee these visits and use a variety of methods to discern the messages of the spirits. It is thought that these messages contain portents and omens for the following year. In households who cannot afford to hire an Odishno, the ceremony is presided over by the oldest member of a household. The day following the holiday is one of rest and contemplation, both for the living and the dead.

### Religion

The religion of the Talum Sha is called Odminsha, and centers on their creation myth. They believe that in the beginning, the world was nothing but an endless expanse of ocean. Their central deity, Ord, built the world by shoveling sediment from the bottom of the ocean to create the great continents and islands. This took Ord many thousands of years, and it grew very old. Ord created one final island, Odmortin, on which to rest before death. Ord taught the very first humans of Odmortin to survive on the island and honor those who died. When Ord itself died, it continued to play a role in the lives of the Talum Sha as a spirit. The afterlife is thought of as another world, neither good nor bad. Thus, old age is seen a time of rest between life and the afterlife.

The religion is decentralized, and the being a holy person, or Odishno, is seen as a vocation or a trade. Young people are taken in as apprentices and trained to oversee rites and festivals. Becoming a respected Odishno requires one to reach a certain age, usually around 70 years old, and enter the “resting” phase of their life. Information on how to perform certain rites is usually passed on orally as per tradition, though written reference works exist. The future of the religion is uncertain as the High Council takes a greater role in dictating the lessons of Ord.

### Art

The most important form of art in Talum Sha are Oti - small carvings and trinkets. The word "oti" means "little Ord" or "pieces of Ord" because the first oti featured scenes that told the story of Ord. Originally made out of wood or bone, they have become increasingly complex and now often feature elements of metal and rare gemstones. Oti range from intricate carvings of natural and religious scenes, to small machines and oddities. Their only unifying characteristic is their small size, which makes them ideal as gifts during holidays, social occasions, and family visits. In Talum Sha, Oti are often used as an unofficial currency, alongside the pearls of the HCC.