Ti'Swaq Alliance

The northwestern coast, largely spared from the Awis, adapted quickly to its aftermath. While crops failed, the sea provided sustenance, and today, technological innovation drives prosperity. Although Ti’Swaq lacks military strength, its wealth and cultural influence are significant. Many cultural trends, from Cahokian fashion to Second Eyes entertainment, trace back to the far west. For Ti’Swaq, experiencing foreign cultures is a popular pursuit.

Government and Politics:

Ti’Swaq remains under a hereditary ruler. Sholeetsa, a courageous weaver, once unified the nation’s factions during upheaval after the Awis. Since then, the eldest daughters of her lineage have hosted ceremonial pot latches, uniting nobility and guiding the nation. Despite occasional anti-monarch sentiments, democratic reforms and economic prosperity have supported stability, allowing some local hereditary rulers to be replaced by elected autocrats. Ti’Swaq enjoys generally peaceful relations with other Makasing nations, with trade and diplomacy prioritized over conflict.

Economy and Technology:

Ti’Swaq was slow to integrate Adanadi cultivation, as their gifted children and marked plants and animals were rare. Without widespread use of the Gift, Ti’Swaq pursued technological innovation in portable technologies rather than grand machinery. They created compact batteries, synthetic materials, and the initial daso code, now essential to other nations. Despite an excellent fleet and skilled navigators, the Ti’Swaq are cautious about northern exploration, favoring preservation over expansion. Their economy is largely self-contained, and much of the nation’s farmland is nestled between eastern hills. The western cities, concentrated along Whulge Sound and mountain bases, feature towering longhouses with extensive communal spaces and apartment levels for multi-generational living. Energy sources include glimmering ribbon collectors along the waters and geothermal stations around volcanoes, while Yutsu barges travel over dense forests instead of roads.

Society and Culture:

Ti’Swaq society is structured by birth caste. Laborers, called “stick people,” tend to factories, fields, and fisheries; merchants handle trade; and aristocrats manage diplomacy and laws. However, not all adhere to birth roles—historians uphold traditions, while artists and engineers innovate for all classes. The western superstructures of emerald and glass house a vibrant arts scene and offer services from Second Eyes repairs to entertainment. In the east, a more egalitarian society prevails, though resentment grows toward the wealthier west. Increasingly, eastern traders from the Free Lands challenge these divisions. The poor, both east and west, tire of their hardships, and questions arise about whose voices shape their stories.

Recently, Ti’Swaq began exploring newly accessible islands, revealing forgotten burial grounds. The emerging field of archaeology seeks to uncover the islands' histories.

Major Cities and Locations:

Si’ahl: A major city on the sound known for its dramatic arts.
Sholeetsa: The capital, located at the foot of Ti’Swaq