#knashthra

[worldsneverfilled]

"Once a realm on the shoulders of giants

Forged with ember and gold

Now a lost land, it's fading in silence

Haunted by demons and ghosts"

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We're probably going to lose Knashthra in tonight's session, so that last verse hurts a bit lol

I worked really hard on Knashthra and it hurts to see it destroyed/erased.

Edit: Knashthra is gone and I'm sad about it. I cried a lot.

[bushelofmuses]

(super) WIP of the Blessings Tree's archives, located beneath the temple. This one is the only floor that is subterranean. That's why there are "roots" as pillars holding the above floors up. Which, you'd find pillars throughout the rest of the tree too, a shit ton of them, so the tree is able to live without any issues, I wanted the spindly splits of roots here and there since, you know, this is a tree and we're underground now.

[worldsneverfilled]

Unspecified Entry, Welcome to Knashthra, Draft 1

//A nighttime companion piece to this.

Stepping up to the archway, you see two open doors with an ornate branch pattern on them.

"They're rarely closed, but when they are, the branches can be shaped to lock the door. They'll wind together to make a strong barrier," the guide murmurs.

They step outside, and after following them, you see the thick forest in more detail. The moon lights the treetops, but below the canopy, there are soft spots of pink light emanating from blossoms in the branches and amber light filtering out through windows in the homes within the trees.

To your left, the platform you stand on stretches out to a bridge made of branches from the Blessings Tree and the nearest tree that wind together to make a stable pathway. Smaller branches rise at the edges, creating a railing and lighting the path with softly glowing leaves. The bridge leads to another platform grown from the branches of the tree, which leads to another bridge, and another, and another. A few trees into the forest is where the light begins, marking the barrier where the homes and shops start.

Rather than take those paths, your guide takes you down the stairs to the forest floor, where a path is worn into the forest floor. A few blossoms have fallen from the trees above and light the way; the whisps of magic light what the flowers cannot.

A few people are still milling about on the paths high above, murmuring quietly in the night, but most have made their way indoors. Their voices are almost reverent in their volume and tone, mindful not to disturb the ethereal peace of the forest. A stream burbles quietly a few feet away from the path, and when it crosses the road, tree roots grow into a short and stout bridge to cross over the waterway.

A gentle breeze ruffles your hair as you follow, bringing with it more of the odd assortment of fragrances, along with what one typically finds in the forest. Rotting wood and the sweet and subtle scent of pine, but also the heavy, prickly smell of a bonfire with a fruity cake woven into it.

The walk is about half an hour, and your guide turns down a left path near the journey's end. They hesitate at a stairway that wraps around a great tree before they make their way up with a cheerful smile.

You follow them up and remove your shoes when you step inside, as they ask of you, and then you have a moment to get a better look at the sitting room you've just walked into.

The room is larger than you could have imagined from the outside, the ceiling stretching high above you. A short stairway on the other side of the room leads up to a loft where you see a bed grown out of the wall of the tree. More stairs head down into the trunk, and archways separate the rooms around you; a small kitchenette is seen through one such archway.

The archways are made of solid wood, one piece of the inner tree that, like the Blessings Tree, has formed a layer of bark to protect the wood from exposure and infection. Spindly, branch-like structures wind their way around one another above you, stretching out towards the outer wall of the tree to act as supports for the rest of the plant.

It's cozy, a warm shelter for the inhabitants to feel safe and comfortable, nestled in an overstuffed chair or couch. A few branches grew out of the center, pressed close against the wall to make shelves that held books and knickknacks.

"Would you like tea?"

You nod, and they scurry into the kitchen to brew some. You wonder how they cooked or heated things inside a tree like this. A mystery for another time.

"Make yourself at home!"

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Photo from here.

[worldsneverfilled]

I had fewer ocs for Knashthra than I thought.

[worldsneverfilled]

Writing that thing about going into a Knashthran home brought up the question of how tf they cook food when they live in trees.

Idk how to solve this issue other than just saying, "magic-y stuff, that's how now shut up".

But that also brings up the question: Does Knashthra have a fire department?

Never mind. It brings up a few questions, actually: Has there ever been a forest fire? Is that a problem for them? They live in a valley, in trees, so any fires would be contained within the valley, but that's also a problem because uhhhhhh residents wouldn't really have anywhere to go. There's one exit out of the valley outside of the portals, and it's through a winding cave system that's easy to get lost in.

If there's a fire, they're fucked.

They either manage to get to the caves or get to the Blessings Tree to go through one of the two portals out of Knashthra.

[worldsneverfilled]

Idr if our DM and I ever made it canon that the Blessings Tree radiates the Comprehend Languages spell or not...

Should probs ask because I've still got stuff to write about this place. Mostly about food but what specific magics are present would help shape the culture too. How diverse is this place bc of the Tree?

In canon, not very. Different on here.

[worldsneverfilled]

Country: Knashthra; Questionnaire

The questions are taken from this post.

1. Are there any foods with symbolic meanings that are eaten on special occasions (e.g. katsudon for victory, or new years oranges for luck)? How did the tradition get started?

I've already talked about how apples are important to them and eaten regularly. They're a symbol of life and prosperity for them.

2. We all know about weddings and marriage, but are there any ceremonies that symbolically / legally / magically officialize a different type of relationship in your world’s culture? (Adoption, apprenticeship, friendship, etc.)

I blame our DM for this but lilies for courtship. Can be given by any gender. It doesn't necessarily mean that it'll be all of the way to marriage, not a full commitment, but definitely a sign of interest. An offer to test things out.

I think I'll go with the priesthood for this. It's a week of communing with the god or gods you wish to dedicate yourself to. There's a back and forth like an interview for both parties to see if this is what both sides want. When that week of prayer and meditation is over, if vows are said between the priest and god(s), then they're given an amulet with their god(s) symbol on it. For example, my current PC serves a triad, so there's a balance with a sickle on one side of the scale and a scroll on the other. One symbol for each of the three goddesses. It's a very private affair initially, but the new priests all have a single celebration at the end of the year at one time rather than individually.

3. What’s a rule or social norm that is widely followed in theory, but in practice everyone knows it’s not a big deal and breaks it all the time?

Being formal vs informal. No one cares unless it's the Nyhmorarch or Archons. Being formal with royalty and the like is a difficult concept for them if they venture out of Knashthra. Not that they can't show deference, but it's not a habit back home.

4. Are there any trades or hobbies whose practitioners are stereotyped as weird or extraordinary? (E.g. the “mad hatter” trope.) Why? How true is this perception?

The Shapers. They're seen in the same light as the priests, maybe higher. They're to be revered because of their role in shaping the trees to make homes and shops, and because of their work with the Blessings Tree. They're these mythologized figures, even though they're average people, some of which have jobs outside of Shaping since it's not a skill needed regularly.

5. What are some cliches, tropes, and/or plots that commonly appear in stories written by your world’s inhabitants? What were they inspired by? Why are they popular?

Common plots in children's stories cover being wary of the tricks of fey. They're in the Feywild, so it's understandable.

A phrase similar but opposite to "don't look a gift horse in the mouth" is "always look an archfey in the hand".

6. What is a common way to subtly insult someone in your world, without crossing into overt rudeness? Gifting an item with negative connotations? Addressing them more familiarly or formally than normal? Backhanded compliments?

Everyone is fairly informal to one another. Similar to us, extra formality is used as an insult. The exception is obviously when addressing the Archons or Nyhmorarch.

7. If you pulled a random average Joe off the streets of your world and asked them to draw a house, what would they draw? (Shape, roof style, position and number of windows, etc.)

Tree. A big-ass tree with windows on it. Not too many windows because while the natural light would be nice, that opens the tree up to even more exposure to the elements than it already is and that increases its chances of getting sick.

Usually just one door, maybe two if the home is for a bigger family.

8. Is there a place in your world that nobody has ever been to - the bottom of a cave, the moon, another dimension, etc.? How do people know it exists? Why haven’t they gone there? What do they believe it’s like, and how right/wrong are they?

There's a cave system that leads in and out of Knashthra but it's largely unexplored and is the only way in and out of the country without the need of portals. It's dangerous though, so no one dares try it. It's more of an emergency, no-other-choice-because-the-portals-are-down escape route.

There are also a few springs, one of which has an underwater cave system someone spotted. They don't have the equipment or experience for anyone to go explore them, however.

9. What aesthetics are considered “advanced” or “futuristic” in your world - canvas wings, shiny chrome, smooth plastic? How has this changed over time?

They're rustic and set in their ways, aesthetically. They don't have a concept of futuristic in their own designs, but visiting other nations and cities is usually a visual culture shock because of the differences. Everything feels so small compared to the trees back home, and yet buildings also feel so massive.

10. What’s a fun fact about your world that you as the worldbuilder are dying to share, but nobody ever thinks to ask?

I'm planning on developing their folklore a bit more, but I don't really have anything started to share with y'all.

[bushelofmuses]

//Enil is selfish enough that if she had to choose between saving one member of her family or hundreds of people, she would save her family and deal with the consequences later. She's already lost three of her close family members and she doesn't want to lose anyone else.

[worldsneverfilled]

Country: Knashthra - Masterpost

Tags:

Country (all posts) Aesthetic Playlist

About:

Questionnaire General Country Information How Language Shaped the Nation's Name and Their Name for the Blessings Tree The Blessings Tree Before the Elves Settled There and Created the Nation of Knashthra Food Language Headcanons Misc Headcanons

Stories:

Welcome to the Blessings Tree Welcome to Knashthra Enilasor's Journal Entries

Maps:

Knashthra Ground floor of the Blessings Tree: Archives Ground floor of the Blessings Tree: Temple 1st floor of the Blessings Tree 2nd floor of the Blessings Tree Enilasor Mistfield's Room

Characters:

Enilasor Mistfield Meadow Lithreed Lindel Fairfield Nalthia Brightleaf, Summer Archon and Polemarch to Knashthra Wanderers Tag Reywolfyam Boneshot (Enilasor's Family) Kalne Dronos Sark, Spring Archon Maddie-Kay Farfew, Scribe to the Spring Archon Hran Thithner, Winter Archon Aerdeth Mistfield (Enilasor's Family), Advisor to the Autumn Archon Joel Copper, The Other Joel Anwar Boneshot (Enilasor's Family) Zaklos Dolenar Kardlen Anonna Farsk Joel Copper

[worldsneverfilled]

Country: Knashthra; How Language Shaped the Nation's Name and Their Name for the Blessings Tree

I'm declaring that "Knashthra" is Knashthran-Sylvan for "Vale of the Blessed-Tree."

Meanwhile, "Nokt Acerg," the Knashthran name for the Blessings Tree as a location, is Knashthran-Elven for "holy place." If you're a government official and actually live in the Blessings Tree, you would say you're from "Nokt Acerg, Knashthra." Outside of the Tree, your town or district would be named after a season.

Ingpris (Spring District)

Remmsu (Summer District)

Mnutau (Autumn District)

Reti (Winter District)

Nesda/The Gardens (Graveyard, only grave clerics/morticians live here. Only a handful choose to live in the area, most live in one of the other districts.)

Sharch (Knashthran for Orchards. This encompasses farms of all kinds, whether they're an actual orchard or not.)

Shops are generally closer to the tree, while homes are further into the forest. The first few trees in the forest, those closest to the Blessings Tree, are used as a buffer and go mostly unoccupied.

While the Tree itself isn't exactly holy on its own, it is a thing/place to be revered. It's the source of their lives, their shelter, their gift from the gods. Its importance and its ties to the gods are what make it sacred.

You speak in hushed tones when inside the Tree out of respect for it and its inhabitants. Some choose to carry that outside of the Tree, however, and many of the older generations tend to speak softly.

[worldsneverfilled]

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[worldsneverfilled]

Country: Knashthra; Food

What is the main source of protein?

There's a lot of fish in their diets. Hunting also isn't allowed, so meats like venison have to be imported from the Feywild. There's not enough land for grazing animals, so beef and poultry are imported from Cormanthyr. Fish, however, can come from either the lake or the rivers. One delicacy is the cave minnow. Hard to catch and not much meat. Another source of protein is insects like grasshoppers and grubs. "You are your own best pest control when you live in a tree."

What is the main produce?

Apples. These people LOVE apples. Their apple and walnut orchards are well-known, especially the former. The Coppers have the largest apple orchard, while the Lanerish family has the largest walnut orchard. There are several smaller orchards, one of which has peaches. Apples play a large enough role in trade and their diets that it's affected their language. The main vegetable is brussels sprouts.

What does a typical meal look like?

There's not a lot of dairy in their diets because there are not enough cows there to provide for all of Knashthra, and importing dairy products is expensive. Their food is cooked slowly, either roasted or boiled. It is rich and usually smothered in a sauce of one kind or another. It's also vegetable-heavy since, again, they have to import most of their meat.

[worldsneverfilled]

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[worldsneverfilled]

Unspecified Entry; Welcome to Knashthra! Draft 2

//A nighttime companion piece to this, and the second draft.

Stepping through the archway, you see two open doors with an ornate branch pattern on them. Upon closer inspection, they appear like interlocking bars to seal the door against intruders.

"They're rarely closed, but when they are, the branches can be shaped to lock the door. They'll wind together to make a strong barrier," your guide murmurs.

They step outside, and after following them, you see the thick forest in more detail. The moon lights the treetops with a silvery caress, but below the canopy, soft pink spots emanate from the blossoms in the branches, with amber light filtering out through windows in the homes within the trees.

To your left, the platform you stand on stretches out to a bridge made of the branches from the Blessings Tree and the nearest tree that wind together to make a stable pathway. Smaller branches rise at the edges, creating a railing and lighting the path with softly glowing leaves.

The bridge leads to another platform grown from the branches of the tree, which leads to another bridge, and another, and another. A few trees into the forest is where the amber light you saw begins, marking the line where the homes and shops start.

Rather than take you through the treetops, your guide takes you down the stairs to the forest floor, where a worn path waits. A few blossoms have fallen from the branches above, still glowing their sweet, pink light in the night. Beside them in little clumps are glowing mushrooms and flowers, aiding you in seeing the dimly lit path ahead. And while the natural world lights the ground, the air is alight with more magical wisps floating about aimlessly. Each emits a faint fragrance or sound that is just out of reach of your recognition. It might be more overwhelming out here than it was within the Tree.

Above you, a few people are milling about on the paths high above, murmuring in the night, but most have made their way indoors for the night. Their voices are almost reverent in their volume and tone, mindful not to disturb the ethereal peace of the forest, or perhaps it's worshipful in this natural temple of beauty and prosperity.

Beside the path, a stream burbles and whispers playfully. You see little wisps of light dancing along the surface, playing on the petals of fallen flowers or swirling around one another on twigs carried with the flow. When the water crosses the path ahead, tree roots grow into a short and stout bridge to cross over the waterway.

As you follow, a gentle breeze ruffles your hair, bringing more of the foreign assortments of scents, along with what one typically finds in the forest. Rotting wood and the sweet and subtle scent of pine, but also the heavy, prickly smell of a bonfire with a fruity cake woven into it.

The walk is about half an hour, and your guide turns down a left path near the journey's end. They hesitate at the stairway and glance back at you with silent scrutiny. You must pass whatever test went through their mind because they offer you a cheerful smile and dance up the stairs that wind around the great tree.

You follow them up and remove your shoes when you step inside, as they ask of you, and then you have a moment to get a better look at the sitting room you've just walked into.

The room is larger than you could have imagined from the outside, the ceiling stretching maybe a story and a half above you. A short loft stairway leads up to a small space where you see a bed and dresser, the former grown into the wall of the tree. Spiral stairs lead further down the trunk, while archways separate the rooms around you; a small kitchenette is through one such archway to your right.

The archways are grown from solid wood, like supports for the rest of the tree, similar to what the pillars did for the Blessings Tree. And like the Blessings Tree, they had formed a thick bark around them for protection against exposure and disease. Spindly, branch-like structures stretch above you, providing more support for the tree as they reach out for the outer walls.

It's cozy, a warm shelter for the inhabitants to feel safe and comfortable, nestled in an overstuffed chair or couch. A few branches grew out of the center, pressed close against the wall to make shelves that held books and knickknacks.

"Would you like tea?"

You nod, and they hurry into the kitchen to brew some. You wonder how they cooked or heated things inside a tree like this; a mystery for another time.

"Make yourself at home!"

.

Photo from here.