| |
| Hashan | |
| Leader | Arcturus D'Aud'tore |
| Council | None |
| Divine Patron | Twilight, God of Darkness |
| Founder | Elentari Lokelinde, Grind, Firefox Sly, Rhenn, and Darthus |
| City Tutor | Damaris |
| City Guardian | An ancient alchemical golem |
| Heraldic Arms | Per pale Sable and Purpure, a sundered crown Argent |
| Allies | Tasur'ke |
| Enemies | Targossas and Mhaldor |
| Key Documents | The Great Canon of Hashan The Edict of Shadows |
Initially a humble village located in the heart of the Ithmia, the city-state of Hashan, Court of Shadows, is Sapience's third major city established in the year 222 AF. Due to territorial conflicts, the expansion of Hashan and its early existence endured rough beginnings, challenged by forestal organisations and their respective patrons Lord Lupus, God of the Beasts and Lady Gaia, Goddess of Nature. Nevertheless, statehood was successfully established by Darthus with the support of Twilight, God of Darkness and later Valnurana, Goddess of Sleep and Dreams and Ourania, Goddess of the Moon.
A city of secrets and sagacity, science, of the esoteric and erudite, Hashan is led by the Seneschal and council of Regents, leaders in the intricate dance of politics and power that comprises the Court of Shadows.
Hashan displays a tenacity to survive any hardship, its policies marked by supreme self-interest. It famously touted itself as a haven of political and cultural independence, where diverse characters of Sapience could live in harmony and community without fear of prejudice, oppression, or bigotry and where citizens were free to pursue their own interests without outside interference. For centuries, Hashan was home to Achaea's first Serpent organisation, the Cult of the Serpent Lords, as well as defunct Spirit Walkers and the disestablished Sect of the Black Lotus.
The year 688 AF saw the stirring of an ancient and unknown nexus of energy beneath Hashan. Surging from deep below, it tore the city from its roots, lifting its foundations to mysteriously float above the scarred woodlands, separating itself from the Ithmia. The wide chasm in the earth resulting from the displaced structure was named the Sunderlands.
The leaders of the city soon agreed that it was their responsibility to both understand and harness this power, closing its great Houses so that all resources could combine and be put toward this unified goal. To mark this revival in civic purpose, Hashan redubbed itself the Court of Shadows. In a post-Renaissance world, the Somatikos and Krymenian Academy now safeguard and advance the city-state's new aims.
During the events of the Underworld Rebellion in 718 AF, Hashan backed Ur'Vampires Asztrik and Prioska. By a slim margin, Lord Aegis declared both Ur'Vampires the winners. Hashan became the first Underworld foothold beyond their realm.
During the reemergence of the Tsol'teth in 799 AF in what is known as the Third Black Wave, Seneschal Krizal accepted a proposal of allegiance - a monumental step in being the first such alliance with surface-dwellers since before the dawn of Seleucar. In response, the Coalition of Sapience staged a full and immediate assault upon the Hashani, fighting both citizens and the Tsol'teth warriors Gattan'bahar, Nahu'an, and Trusad'an.
In 802, Tlalaiad and the Tsol'teth arranged for the access to the Wellspring beneath Hashan. Asmodron Dicondron describes it as " a Protean star, a relic of cosmic power that has nestled itself deep beneath the earth." Silon'ukia opened a gateway to the Underrealm within the Sunderlands. Once making the way through the gateway and performing specific steps, any Hashani citizen will have access to the Houses of Blood and Dark.
In the wake of the Tsol'teth occupation of Cyrene, The Cyrenian government had declared a ban on visitors from Hashan, Targossas, and Mhaldor from entering, remaining, or shopping.
When Eleusis declared formal hostilities with Hashan, Hashani leaders declared open war with the forestal village. In 804, Speaker Andraste Montenegro of Eleusis and Seneschal Krizal ended hostilities.
Hashan is actively guarded by fierce viragos, court constables, Spectres of the Shadow Court, mounted tsalmaveths, knights of the Atrament, and hooded nocturni.
Laws and Policies
- Main article: Laws of Hashan
The Court has been known for Achaea's first complex legal system, having surpassed both ancient Ashtan and Shallam in governmental politics. The Seneschal Elentari originally wrote the comprehensive city charter. The policies of Hashan are recorded in a single, albeit large, text called the Great Canon of Hashan which can be found in a bookshelf in the newsroom.
Under Elentari's leadership in Hashan's early years, her constitution was widely regarded by the intelligentsia as "the finest document of its kind yet written". It was Hashan that began the trend of formally binding guilds to cities, a trend that was later followed and formalised by each city. Hashan was also lauded by Sarapis as the best organized of the city-states.
Government and Political History
City Ranks
- Peasant
- Commoner
- Burgher
- Esquire
- Peer (Masculine)/ Peeress (Feminine)
- Lord (Masculine)/ Lady (Feminine)
City Patrons
- 222 AF - Lord Twilight becomes the first Patron of Hashan, and the Triad of the Night is born soon thereafter. From here, Patronship rotated between the Dark Father, the Lady of the Moon, and the Lady of Sleep and Dreams, depending on which planet was in ascendance.
- 332 AF - Lord Neraeos replaced the Triad of the Night's rotation, as an interim for the Triad of the Night.
- 385 AF - Lady Ourania replaced the God of the Sea, returning Hashan to its rightful Matron.
- 485 AF - Lord Thoth replaced the Lady of the Moon, after disputes between the Goddess and the leadership of Hashan.
- 554 AF - Lord Twilight replaced the God of Death, returning Hashan to its founding God.
- 591 AF - Lady Ourania replaced the Dark Father.
- 654 AF - Lord Twilight replaced Lady Ourania.
City Leaders - Seneschals
- 222 AF - First Seneschal: Darthus
- 223 AF - Grind replaced Darthus as Seneschal.
- 230 AF - Elentari replaced Grind as Seneschal.
- 249 AF - Drakul replaced Elentari as Seneschal, Elentari ascended to become Lady Ourania.
- 254 AF - Neokove replaced Drakul as Seneschal.
- 263 AF - Drazik replaced Neokove as Seneschal.
- 264 AF - Grellek replaced Drazik as Seneschal.
- 278 AF - Drakul replaced Grellek as Seneschal.
- 298 AF - Calla replaced Drakul as Seneschal.
- 324 AF - Aringar replaced Calla as Seneschal.
- 329 AF - Rianne replaced Aringar as Seneschal.
- 333 AF - Obzidian replaced Rianne as Seneschal.
- 336 AF - Merik replaced Obzidian as Seneschal.
- 342 AF - Caleth replaced Merik as Seneschal.
- 364 AF - Bambi replaced Caleth as Seneschal.
- 382 AF - Alynna replaced Bambi as Seneschal.
- 382 AF - Fendo replaced Alynna as Seneschal.
- 385 AF - Typhoon replaced Fendo as Seneschal.
- 388 AF - Alyssia replaced Typhoon as Seneschal.
- 388 AF - Bambi replaced Alyssia as Seneschal.
- 398 AF - Drazik replaced Bambi as Seneschal.
- 404 AF - Typhoon replaced Drazik as Seneschal.
- 406 AF - Hyru replaced Typhoon as Seneschal.
- 437 AF - Merik replaced Hyru as Seneschal.
- 449 AF - Xzander replaced Merik as Seneschal. (Briefly replaced by Aliath in 451 for administrative reasons)
- 451 AF - Saltaern replaced Xzander as Seneschal.
- 491 AF - Xzander replaced Saltaern as Seneschal.
- 504 AF - Sobriquet replaced Xzander as Seneschal.
- 514 AF - Laytron replaced Sobriquet as Seneschal.
- 540 AF - Aliath replaced Laytron as Seneschal.
- 553 AF - Ruth replaced Aliath as Seneschal.
- 578 AF - Vayne replaced Ruth as Seneschal.
- 635 AF - Xadzia replaced Vayne as Seneschal.
- 649 AF - Tyamat replaced Xadzia as Seneschal.
- 695 AF - Sarieno replaced Tyamat as Seneschal.
- 698 AF - Tyamat replaced Sarieno as Seneschal.
- 709 AF - Valkyn replaced Tyamat as Seneschal.
- 716 AF - Kasa replaced Valkyn as Seneschal.
- 726 AF - Regi replaced Kasa as Seneschal.
- 739 AF - Asria replaced Regi as Seneschal.
- 740 AF - Regi replaced Asria as Seneschal.
- 756 AF - Mosr replaced Regi as Seneschal.
- 762 AF - Asmodron replaced Mosr as Seneschal.
- 790 AF - Krizal replaced Asmodron as Seneschal.
- 829 AF - Mezghar replaced Krizal as Seneschal.
- 859 AF - Farrah replaced Mezghar as Seneschal.
- 872 AF - Embrelle replaced Farrah as Seneschal.
- 875 AF - Arcturus replaced Embrelle as Seneschal.
Landmarks
The Crossroads is Hashan's very centre, the most common place for gathering and a useful reference point. It is also home of Gred, the Hashan humgii. Founder's Monument north of the crossroads features statues as well of the city's mortal founders. The Dome of the Triad stands tall as a tribute to the divine Triad of the Night which used to patron Hashan in its early years, and the old Coliseum may be visited where gladiators used to spar. East of the Dome is Hashan's mysterious crumbling temple where dangerous spectres once roamed free. The Disc of the Nocturne was once housed here, but was taken by Tavarius and was later used to cause the time period known as the Eternal Night.
Inhabitants
Aside from the various guards that roam the Court of Shadows, there are a few notable citizens worth mentioning:
- Alariel, the Keeper of the Menagerie
- Antimone, a stately alchemist
- Berford, the brewer
- Big Bubba Bingham
- A sour-looking cook
- Dakron, the Fence
- Damaris, the Learned
- Demius, the baker
- Carver Dryn
- Fennila, barmaid
- Geld, barman
- Harris, the publican
- Hectan, the Hashan papermaker
- Foreman Hettright
- Indira, the Snake Charmer
- Joss, the stablewoman
- Kaethryn, the Dominatrix
- Master Kai-Shen
- Kes, the roulette attendant
- Visionary Khystra, the High Ritualist
- Kriegan, the Prince of Thieves
- Liirup the Placid
- Sir Mantufalf, Knight of Hashan
- Martha, an old housewife
- Maryll
- Modron, the Blacksmith
- Moneo
- Nyirobi, Keeper of the Shrine
- Ornan the Swift
- Mistress Sadira, the Calm
- Silban, the Butcher
- Silius, a grumpy old man
- a chubby Hashani stableboy
- Sybil, the Dog-Lady of Hashan
- Ta'ya, a Tsol'aa youth
- Tithian, the Shaman
- Zaertum, the Locksmith
- Aurelius Pyrites
Facilities
Most of Hashan's facilities are located near the government buildings and the city's central Crossroads. The Postal Office of Hashan, the People's Bank of Hashan, and the Court's citizen-only stables are found off these crossroads. The Literary Archives of Hashan house the newsroom in the Seneschal's Complex. Hashan's public library The Citadel of Prosperity is a large, multi-floored tower with a deep history of ownership. Hashan's city arena, the Stadia Coronae (Crown Stadium), is located in the southeastern portion of the city.
Shopping
Hashan provides three main shopping "areas" which harbour a large variety of goods and supplies. The Bazaar is Hashan's primary market located in the northern half of the city, holding the Court's commodity shop and unique letter-making services. Running the entire width of Hashan is Serpentis Boulevard with shops that line both sides of the street, the location of one of Achaea's three major candle shops for sealing letters with a Coat of Arms. The third shopping area is Hashan's Central Plaza, which can be found in the Old Quarter near the southwest corner of the city.
The slaughterhouse and fishing shed are visited off Cibus road, and Hashan's blacksmith Modron opens his blacksmith's shop for the use of all citizens and visitors. Zaertum, the locksmith, offers a key-copying service.
=Dining
Hashan is proud to be the first brewers of Sapience's more unique drinks, provided in the Eventide Alehouse off of western Serpentis Boulevard. Home of the original absinthe and serving Sapience's harder liquors that Berford brews, the Alehouse also sports a new restaurant that serves an eclectic variety of food. Harris, a local publican, spends all his time here probably to watch Indira dance with her snake. Should bourbon, cognac, apricot brandy, or Hashan's own special Darkbrew not tickle anyone's fancy, other non-alcoholic drinks are served as well.
For the quiet, celestial-themed retreat try the The Citadel Bar and Lounge where the local bartender, Sophitia offers a range of bites and ale. For those interested in Gambling, and drinking, the Dragon's Tail Bar is as old as the city itself, run by Moneo and Kes.
Recreation
- For those looking for special entertainment, the House of Delights is a brothel off Epitine Circle,
- The southern Hashani Menagerie is a creature museum, home to creatures such as the monstrous babaji.
- The Park of Hashan which features lush, contemplative surroundings and a placid duck pond.
Famous Faces
Of the famous faces that hail from Hashan, four are remembered most: Liirup, Hashan's notable rat-eating madwoman, retired Seneschal Elentari Lokelinde-Danial who ascended to Godhood through the collective will of the Pantheon to become Ourania, Goddess of the Moon, Damaris, the Learned who teaches in Hashan's multi-roomed Academy as one of the world's most brilliant minds, and Aringar Claros, the first person to reach the 99th level of experience and become a Greater Dragon.
Altarra, the Hashan crier, kept citizens updated with all the latest news and information until her life was taken during a raid upon the city. She never returned from the Halls of Lady Maya.