Boyoma
Boyoma is the southern-most continent in the realm of Alleria.
Water is associated with the land of Boyoma: the continent to the far east of Alleria. With vast plains and sprawling jungles, this land has the most to offer in natural resources. In relation to our world, imagine Central Africa: the Congo Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Kenya. The climate can vary drastically and can be as unpredictable as the sea.
History
The ancient territories of Boyoma, Pre-covenant.
Geography
Boyoma has an enormous amount of variance in biomes, the most extreme of which is cut off in the southern reaches by inhospitable mountain ranges. There is a longstanding belief that the mountains are filled with snow spirits who are possessive of their domain; it is not uncommon for Boyomans who are entreupenerial to attempt to begin operations in the mountains only for mysterious circumstances to strike and curse the party.*
- Some of which are Outsiders... others, who knows what happened?
The most famous expedition is the Lost Party of 1643. A large party, blessed by their regional lord and well-funded, well-supplied, knowing full well the expectations and past losses disappeared during a bad storm that prevented communication with the team for two months. A party was sent to check up on the original party, only to find that all humans are gone, leaving behind all their equipment.
Theories state that they may have gone into the tunnel to keep warm, but no bodies were found in the collapsed mineshaft. The homing pigeons they used to deliver messages were still alive and well in the tents despite the frigid temperatures.
Northern Boyoma is in a greenery-dense region that halts at the river.
Government and politics
The Council of Crowns
- Mwene Ebale (Monarch River) - The high ruler of Boyoma is elected by the Bakambi ya Awene.
- Bapesi-toli (Advisors) are advisors selected by Mwene Ebale.
- Mwene Fololo (Flower) - The keeper of the palace, this advisor manages the palace and its grounds. They plan events for local, national, and international guests. They also assist in helping the Mwene Ebale find a spouse if they do not have one upon entering office.
- Mwene Nzete (Tree) - The right hand of the Mwene Ebale, this advisor provides council to Mwene Ebale on matters of politics be it national or international. They are the go to for the Bakambi ya Awene.
- Mwene Libanga (Stone) - The highest level of the courts, this position assists with legal matters and rules on cases that cannot be settled in lower courts. They are more often than not, focused on contract law and land ownership.
- Mwene Maïs (Maize) - The treasurer of the accounts (not including the palace). This position manages the government (similar to a comptroller). They manage the budget as well as deal with discrepancies. They work closely with Mwene Lolemo who oversees trades.
- Mwene Mopanga (Sword) - The head of law enforcement (previously the military). This position manages the defense forces, the seekers of escaped contractors, as well as investigators of forgeries.
- Bapesi-toli (Advisors) are advisors selected by Mwene Ebale.
- Bakambi ya Awene (Council of Monarchs) are monarchs elected by the people of their respective lands.
- Mwene Boyoma - The ruler of the Boyoma territory And leader of the Bakambi ya Awene. This is classically the most influential member due to Boyoma's history and wealth.
- Mwene Abira - The ruler of the Abira territory. This ruler is usually considered an emissary of Istres as they are in close proximity to the nation.
- Mwene Nduye - The ruler of the Nduye territory. This ruler is often Mwene Boyoma's greatest ally or fiercest enemy, depending on who is elected. The friendship/feud between these territories goes back thousands of years.
- Mwene Mazombe - The ruler of the Mazombe territory. This ruler is considered the chief of beasts as the Mazombe people are ranchers.
- Mwene Besako - The ruler of the Besako territory. This ruler is often considered an outsider due to the territory being separate from the mainland.
- Mwene Kamango - The ruler of the Kamango territory. This ruler is usually considered an emissary of Sippar as they are in close proximity to the nation.
- Others
- Mwene Makanisi (Mind) Parent of Mwene Ebale - This position is appointed to a single parent of Mwene Ebale's choosing. Typically, this position is filled to balance out the council. For instance, if the Mwene has a predominantly aggressive or brash council, they should select the more level-headed parent to balance them.
- Mwene Motema (Heart) Spouse of Mwene Ebale - This position is appointed to a spouse (or spouses) of the Mwene Ebale. Typically, it is only accepted by a single spouse but a few Mwene Ebele had more than one spouse that filled the roles in different ways.
- Mwene Lolemo (Tongue) - This role is not an elected role and is not appointed by the council or Mwene Ebale. Instead, this role is filled by the head of the merchant's guild. This person brings their experience in trade to the council and provides an outside perspective on decisions related to economy, budget, and trade. They may also have advice in the ways trades would affect politics.
- Mwene Elimo (Spirit) - This role is not an elected role and is not appointed by the council or Mwene Ebale. Instead, this role is filled by the Religion Name High Priest. This person is meant to bring wisdom and possibly provide foresight. This position varies greatly depending on 1, the current leaning of the religious leader, and 2, the Mwene Ebale's faith in the religion. If nothing else, they usually can agree on the sway religion has over the people.
Economy
Gold
Gold is a readily available metal in Boyoma, making them responsible for providing the gold necessary to mint gold pieces throughout Alleria.
Culture
Cattle
Central Boyoma is dedicated to cattle rearing— the cattle herding lifestyle is strictly nomadic, following the seasons. It's become a rich cultural practice with it's own dialect. Yes. They are cowboys and super cool.
The cattle they herd is a long-time domesticated species of water buffalo of enormous size. They have been bred for muscle mass but also dependence on their caretakers: they roam freely but rely directly on their herders to keep an eye out for predators. Dogs and horses are often employed as working animals in this regard in order to (1) discourage large predators and (2) keep up with the herd.
It is not uncommon for cowboys to travel in family groups and get together sporadically for shits and giggles.
Fashion
Gold trim is a top-tier fashion choice in Boyoma. Those who can't afford it make use of gold-colored thread, dyed with local plants. Those who can will thread real gold into their clothing. The practice was assumed after a regional queen donned ritual wear to welcome a foreign envoy, and from there the look took off.
Religion
For laborers/free workers: The day begins early in the morning, prior to sunrise. In cities, they are woken by the clock towers. Workers must rise early and have a simple but filling meal (usually made from cassava or plantains), then leave the indoors at the first sign of sunrise. They go about their work be it mining, farming, herding, or more urban tasks (cleaning, gardening, etc.). Work continues until the heat/humidity is too intense to continue. This is typically from 1 - 3 each day. During this time, there are usually religious services or community gatherings indoors. Lunch is usually a community affair, either provided by the religious institutions or the organizers of the community gatherings. The midday break is also a good time to work on indoor chores such as mending, cleaning, tidying, anything that might not be done if all household partners are outdoor laborers. When the sun has moved from the center of the sky and it is safe to work again, the laborers return to their work outdoors and work until sundown. When the sun sets, the laborers can attend another religious service, return home, or visit the markets. The night is typically filled with music and revelry to get people's spirits up after a long day of work. Laborers that attend religious services are able to wash up prior to the service as simple worship clothes are provided. They are given a hearty meal and a chance to connect with the community.
Religious services do not happen every day but the laborers may go to the temple to wash up and pray/worship on their own. Laborers that return home wash up and make their own dinners to feed either just their families or to share with the small farming staff they are a part of. In those instances, everyone brings something to eat and they share. There is always music or a storyteller that includes music in their story as music is sacred in Boyoman culture. It's a long-standing belief that music must be incorporated into daily life in one way or another to live a good life. Laborers that go into town to go to the market usually eat food that is made in the market (street food such as meat on a stick, cassava fritters, and steamed cassava rolls). There's always some sort of performance going on to ensure everyone experiences music in one way or another.
Artisans: For artisans, the day is fairly similar but not nearly as strict depending on their profession. Smiths, for instance, work the same (or similar) hours as laborers, but jewelers do not. Instead, jewelers typically wake after sunrise and get into their shops later in the day. Higher class artisans won't open their shops until about 10. Once a week, the shop will take a break midday to attend religious services but otherwise will remain open until a little after the laborers return to work. Shops will stay open until evening religious services begin. Some shops will reopen for the evening market but higher class shops will close as their usual clientele have returned to their homes. Lower end shops will stay open specifically for laborers and the middle class to visit.
Religious leaders/temple workers: The most common religion in Boyoma is (Karen is bad at naming things) which is the common name for an amalgamation of tribal beliefs. Each tribe worships differently but the basic rituals are the same. These often bleed into regular daily practices and even non-religious individuals may engage in some form of these practices:
1) Each day is greeted with a full body cleanse in either the rain or a nearby creek. Washing is communal and accompanied by singing the praises of the river and the rain. The upper classes have special bathrooms that are shared amongst the family and the richest will hire musicians to play while they cleanse. Bath huts are more common for the middle class and lower class that do not live near a creek.
2) Each meal begins with a prayer of thanks: "River, we thank you for feeding our crops. Land, we thank you for your bounty and for feeding our beasts. Beasts, we thank you for your spirit to nourish us. Chef, we thank you for your heart to prepare this meal." Or in most households, "Thank you River." "Natondi yo ebale."
3) When approaching a body of water, it is customary to keep your eyes low so as to respect the might of the water but also to check that the water is not rising or falling to quickly. The water is seen as powerful yet capricious. A quiet offering can be made by simply saying, "My life is yours to take, but be it not today." This has evolved into a simple plea of, "Not today, (body of water's name)." Some people will bring a morsel of food from their first meal to work as an offering to the river. Manufactured items such as jewelry, coins, or books are not welcome by the river and to offer such things is considered a slight.
4) At midday, there is a gathering of religious leaders, temple workers, and anyone that wishes to attend (laborers, typically) to participate in a daily ritual of thanksgiving and blessing. Attendees must wash and change into worship clothes prior to entering the space of worship. The religious leaders will pray to the spirits that inherit all things, thanking them for what they provide, they will then bless whatever the villagers bring, be it a new tool, a new child, or just the villager themself. While the blessings are ongoing, music plays and food is served. The food is prepared by those that do not work the fields (typically the partners of the workers who are not strong enough).
5) In the evenings, there is another gathering, this time featuring storytelling or a sermon on the beliefs of the leader. These sermons vary greatly depending on the region as there are some that preach obedience and pacifism while others are more rebellious and even violent. The speakers preach on matters that inspire them and give the same sermon each night for a week to ensure everyone has heard the message. After the sermon, food is provided again and there is music and dancing.
6) When the waters begin to retreat due to the change from wet to dry, the community gathers for a festival to bid the river farewell as it leaves to nourish the rest of the world. This festival precedes a solid month of infrastructure reinforcement. It's also usually considered a homecoming time as the communities need all hands on deck to prepare for the oncoming monsoons and upkeep any structures that may have been damaged during the wet season.
7) The dry season ends with the first monsoon and the people of Boyoma gather together in their religious or community gathering centers to keep each other safe. There is always a feast, music, dancing, and a prayer for safety. Those that observe view the monsoon as the great return of the river and set aside a space specifically for the spirit of the river. They will fill this space with prepared food and alcohol to celebrate. Everyone sings the praises of the sea and the sky for bringing the river back. Once the storm passes, the offerings to the river are tossed into it.
Dragons (Lwa)
In Boyoma, dragons are called "Lwa" or "Serpents.” They look like rivers, long and sleek with smooth scales and fin-like spines. They have no wings but are seen as flying in various paintings and tapestries.
