The image of a hard worker is valued and promoted heavily on Vysoka. Many encourage competition in their workplaces and daily life to improve themselves or reach quota goals, with laziness being an obviously disliked trait. Besides this, the idea of one “living free as the clouds” has also engrained itself in cultures across Vysoka. The image of a free-roaming gunslinger is a popular one and similar to a knight-errant.
Gurmori have an important place in Vysoka, being among the first animals tamed and having a multitude of uses among the plains. A love for Gurmori is especially common among the pastoralists living in the north, with them often being seen in heraldry and art. It’s common among steppe-dwellers to skin a Gurmori after death as a sign of respect. This respect to animals can also extend to other species as well. Some villages on Vysoka even live vegan lifestyles and treat their livestock with high respect.
Families are a core aspect of Vysokan life. Extended families are expected to rely on each other and assist another member without expecting anything in return. An elder normally functions as a matriarch or patriarch, a respected head of the family whose advice all are expected to follow. The birth of a new child is cause for a great celebration 40 days after the child’s birth to celebrate a new generation of the family. Extended families tend to live under one roof or close together in a community. When a family member becomes a criminal the impetus is less on the state to rehabilitate them and more on the family. Individuals who go out on their own often still find themselves craving the connection that comes from having multiple people under one roof. As a side effect of this, Vysoka has one of the highest rates of polyamory in human space.
Hospitality and gift-giving for Vysokans is an art. When a guest comes to a Vysokan house they are typically offered tea and the best food available in the house. As a sign of respect, a guest is expected to partake in the offerings - to refuse implies the homeowner’s gift was not sufficient. Harming a guest invited into your house is considered a grievous offence. Dinners see the most respected or revered guest, normally an elder, placed at the head of the table and furthest from an entrance. Great care is given to make sure that these people are most comfortable. Working hard and being diligent is one of the most valued traits a person could have in Vysokan society. Laziness is hated, and Vysokans keep themselves motivated in the workplace to try and do their best.
Religion
Many religions can be found on Vysoka, particularly Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity, and are generally respected by the populace, but all pale in comparison to the dominant religion of Vysoka, Stolitism. Also known as Vysokan shamanism, it originated from the diverse series of beliefs and traditions of Vysoka’s original colonists. Because of this, Stolitism is closely tied with local folklore and the planet as a whole - the majority of Vysokans are believers, but it has spread little elsewhere.
Vysokan shamanism revolves around both the worship of one’s ancestors, who are believed to have all descended from a “Progenitor Spirit” that became the first man. After dying, the Progenitor’s soul, or Arihuin, was “sown” and split into new souls. The concept of a “spiritual bloodline” is an important part of Vysokan shamanism - after death, one’s Arihuin resides in a spirit world known as the “Sünhestvo”, which is believed to be intertwined with the corporeal world. The Arihuin itself persists in the Sünhestvo, acting as tutelary figures, residing in buildings and territories, or wandering from place to place. Families hire soothsayers to see if children retain an aspect of an ancestor in either their acts or appearance. Children are often named after their ancestors due to this, and it is expected that they choose this ancestor as a patron later in life. Unsurprisingly, the leaders of hosts often claim to be the spiritual descendants of great warriors.
Arihuin must be respected and remembered by those who are alive. Homage paid to one’s notable actions sustain and strengthen an Arihuin’s presence in the Sünhestvo, allowing them to greater influence the corporeal world. An Arihuin that is starved of homage will eventually fade away, merging with the Sünhestvo itself as a formless mass. Arihuin whose important actions have become forgotten will lash out, using their anger to cause misfortune around it. When this happens, a holy man is called upon to seal the spirit into a cask and bury it underground. Vysokans seek to do great things in life so they have something to be remembered by in death. The Xanan philosophy of Memory Collection has integrated rather well into Stolitism, particularly in the cities. The responsibility of the Writer is often taken up by the shaman, a rather controversial move since they often choose not to join the Union of Eulogy Writers.
Religious Customs and Practices
Shrines to the dead, known as “spirit houses,” are commonplace in every community. Spirit houses can vary in exact appearance, but often resemble memorials of sorts - the names of the dead are engraved on tablets, with photos, candles, and food placed around them. Spirit houses are open for anyone to visit, and it is expected that travellers passing through will stop and pay their respects by circling around the shrine. Holy men are often the caretakers of these shrines, although its maintenance is ultimately considered a joint effort by the village. During festivals, the bulk of celebrations are centred around the shrine - as it is believed that the Arihuin residing there will enjoy a reminder of their past lives.
Upon reaching adulthood, Vysokans choose an Arihuin as a patron spirit in a rite of passage known as the “Doresek”, which is scheduled on an auspicious or fortunate day by a soothsayer. During the Doresek a large celebration takes place in the area before the youth, dressed in silk finery, is escorted to the spirit house on gurmori-back and chooses an Arihuin. These Arihuin are usually folk heroes, notable ancestors, or more generalised familial deities. By honouring and respecting their chosen Arihuin by acting in a way that pleases them, the patron spirit will protect them - granting them luck, good health, and riches. Should one displease their Arihuin by acting in a way contrary to them, curses and misfortune follow. Arihuin are not chosen for life, though it is rare for one to change their patron more than once in a lifetime.
Anything that is considered a “body” can be inhabited by spirits. A particularly fierce dainshu may be the reincarnation of a great warrior, for example. Although this usually happens at birth, it is also believed that objects may be imbued with spirits through the use of sigils and certain rituals. IPCs were not born but created, and as such do not have spirits - however, they are still vessels, meaning that spirits can be forced into them by soothsayers. In some cases, IPCs may be deliberately used as a vessel for a family member that died alone. IPCs on Vysoka are distinguished not just by being owned or free, but by whether or not they are inhabited by an Arihuin. To determine this, soothsayers perform elaborate rituals to see if the IPC is suitable for possession or already has a presence in the Sünhestvo. Soul-possessing IPCs frequently go to great lengths to show this fact, with techniques ranging from engraving runes to mounting a skull on one’s chassis. An IPC that lacks an Arihuin will rarely leave the cities due to fear of reprisals by residents or worse - without anything to ‘prove’ they have a soul, these IPCs may find themselves dismantled for parts or sold to the highest bidder.
In Vysokan shamanism, a syhika is a geometric design, drawing, or rune associated with an Arihuin and believed to have mystic properties. Most commonly seen as tattoos, prosthetic engravings, or a good luck charm known as a votive amulet, syhika designs are incredibly popular throughout Vysoka. When worn or directly tattooed on one’s body, a syhika acts as a protective device - said to ward off evil, instill fear in one’s enemies, or even bend the path of bullets. The creation of a syhika is taken seriously on the planet - although votive amulets can be made out of several different materials, they must be blessed by a soothsayer to work. Likewise, to ensure the power of a tattoo or engraving doesn’t “wear out”, rituals must be performed to re-empower them annually.
Shamans and Soothsayers
Most villages possess soothsayers or holy men, which have an important role as spiritual advisors for its inhabitants by interacting with the spirit world and interpreting the actions of Arihuin. Other holy men prefer instead to wander from place to place, establishing spirit houses and only staying in an area for a short period of time. While these pilgrims prefer to travel light, the harsh wilderness means that all carry weapons with them.
Soothsayers frequently possess degrees or some other specialisation, with many doubling as the doctor or teacher of a village. Although Stolitist holy men are reliant on donations, some live lavishly regardless - forcing villagers to “donate” more than necessary, or charging exorbitant prices to see relics and buy souvenirs. Due to the lack of any organised church, anybody can become a soothsayer, though their legitimacy is often dependent on how they’re perceived - one must look and act like a soothsayer to become accepted in their community. IPCs that function as soothsayers are not unheard of on Vysoka, utilising their databases to issue valuable guidance to townsfolk. Although IPCs naturally lack the means to communicate with the Sünhestvo, they have the unique ability to predict the future by calculating the probability of certain events.
In order to combat the spread of con men and snake oil salesmen city-states often have their own requirements to recognize a soothsayer, with permits issued in each city. To acquire one, would-be holy men are required to go through a training course that ranges from two weeks to a year. Criticism has been levied on city-states for the exorbitant price of purchasing a permit, and lack of any central authority - this process must be repeated at every city-state a soothsayer visits.
Vysokan shamanism does not have myths - these were left behind on Earth by its original colonists. Rather, legends, tall tales, and “just-so stories” permeate the religion. Folk heroes are often twisted into legendary figures, becoming deified after their death. Storytelling is an art form for many Vysokans, with skilled orators being particularly valued throughout the planet.
Education
Education in Vysoka is poor outside of the few urban centres present due to the extreme decentralisation of Vysoka and the remote nature of many towns, resulting in a large percentage of children growing up with only the most basic of education. Classrooms are often under capacity as students feel obligated to assist with work on the farms most days, even with a schedule that already generously accommodates them. Capital flight or “brain drain” is quite prevalent among the better educated, with return migration boosting the Vysokan economy. Intellectuals often leave Vysoka to study abroad, with many returning later in life.
Clothing
Rural and Host Vysokans dress colourfully and anachronistically as a way of following tradition, with long woollen coats and baggy pants being quite prevalent. The vibrant scaled hide of gurmori is often used in more “modern” clothing, with this trend being popular among all walks of life. Other frontier clothing such as the ever-popular flannel and overalls combo are used by Vysokans as well, which is well suited to the harsh environment of the planet. Urbanites typically only wear traditional clothing like the Chokha at formal occasions and not everyday like their rural counterparts. Dull colours are universally considered quite drab. Vysokans enjoy adding fanciful designs, accessories, or patches to their clothing when they can. This sometimes results in newly wealthy Vysokans pouring credits into expanding their wardrobe, putting together flashy outfits to demonstrate their higher income.
Sports
Sporting events are wildly popular on Vysoka, providing great entertainment and a way to encourage youths to train themselves to be strong. Gun shows are, unsurprisingly, rather common events. These extend to regular target shooting and hunting competitions. Among the hosts one can find the sports of jigitova and buzkashi. Jigitova is a catch-all term for stunt riding involving a gurmori whose revered masters are referred to as Jigits. Buzkashi is based around two teams of twelve using clubs to swing and batter a ball into goals, similar to the sport of polo. Buzkashi players are frequently injured in the game, as no rules prohibit striking rival players. In the cities bare-knuckle boxing is a sport of the common people, with matches taking the form of four on four fights. Village and city dwellers alike gather to watch these matches and place bets with material goods or credits. More legitimate boxing circles also exist, with televised tournaments held in the cities and broadcasted throughout the Union. Other urban favourites include soccer and hockey.
While these two sports enjoy popularity they pale in comparison to the Vysokan favourite: wrestling. Vysokans of various hosts and urban wrestling clubs train and fight one another to win competitions for prize money and glory. Professionals can eventually ascend into the Global Vysokan League, where wrestlers compete in grand tournaments to whittle out all but the best. Those few go on to compete in the final stage: the Trial of Might. The champion of this final ring is dubbed the strongest, their name and face immortalised in a statue outside the arena of Rahe to stand as a testament to their strength.
Music
There are many genres of music present on Vysoka - even with the planet’s relative isolation, bootleg holotapes of pop music imported from Elyra, Xanu, and even Sol can be found in every market, along with the “rehzika” scene (being a less a genre in of it itself, and more a catch-all term for Vysokan pop). Rock and heavy metal are among the most popular, although rehzika music based on Eridanian “dreg punk” and Elyran boy bands have become favourites among younger urbanites.
A distinctive and long-lasting genre of music on Vysoka is “narodyn”, or folk ballads, which draw on traditional aspects of Vysokan culture in their lyrical themes - involving valour, faith, family, and nature, with tributes to the steppes or one’s mother being especially common. Narodyn is especially popular in more rural areas of Vysoka.
Throat-singing is seen as an art form on the planet, with some dedicating years of their life to learning the practice. However, it’s more commonly used by farmers to calm their livestock than as an actual genre of music, ignoring the elements used in folk ballads. Younger Vysokans are sometimes embarrassed by the common “stereotype” of throat-singing and shy away from talking about it in public.
The “usvolo” is a four-stringed instrument similar to a fiddle or komuz, with a unique sound and night-ubiquitous place in popular culture. Often finely decorated and engraved over decades of use, it’s not uncommon for Vysokan villagers to have one in their home as a family heirloom - although more modern versions made of polymer are available as well. Many learn to use this instrument in their youth, with aspiring musicians generally having some expertise with the usvolo.
The “gaiskia” is a two-headed drum bound with ohdker hide, with an important role in both music and Vysokan religion. Many shamans incorporate the gaiskia into their rituals, although the decentralised nature of shamanism on the planet means that it can vary wildly between individuals. Aside from the more conventional use in hymns, a steady drumbeat is sometimes said to represent “the heartbeat of the plains” or used in rites of passage.
Trade
Vysokan traders can be found throughout the frontier, either independent or working on behalf of the Union. State-employed merchants are given high amounts of autonomy but are expected to fulfill the expectations of furthering influence and ensuring requests are filled. Produce is the largest export of Vysoka, with animal products closely following behind. Although Vysoka is home to a large number of minerals, Himeo’s own output results in a smaller amount of international trade - with Himean syndicates themselves setting up mining operations on the colony in order to secure raw materials for their planet's well-known industrial base. Corporate influence is mostly kept to the cities and exclusively works with Xanan companies, with the planet’s corporate sector being much smaller than other worlds like Silversun or Venus. One of the largest exports of Vysoka is manpower with many mercenaries and manual labourers leaving the colony to work.
Arms dealing is a popular venture among Vysokan merchants, with arms being bought for soldiers or sold to areas of conflict. Their presence can often be found near warzones, putting their lives on the line for the sake of profit. Vysokan-made weapons can be found across the Spur, some even going as far as Dominia and Light’s Edge. Vysokan merchants have built up a reputation around their daring nature, with only the most brave and foolhardy of stunts making their way into legend.
Technology
Technological development on Vysoka stagnated heavily since the formation of the colony. Brain drain, a lack of centralised research, and a lack of support from the Protectorate led to Vysoka struggling to progress on its own. In the modern era, the level of technology a Vysokan has in their life can vary greatly depending on their economic class and lifestyle. The only consistent trend remains that agriculture for cities and towns will never be left to stagnate so that Vysoka can continue to improve its farming output.
City-states have caught up the fastest with the rest of the galaxy. While still a century behind, the upper class can achieve a quality of life comparable to that of Xanu itself. Luxury products are available to those who can foot the bill. Corporations will still furbish their holdings such as factories or greenhouses with the best in the Union. Local companies use semi-automated factories to produce simple but reliable products. Thermal energy is still used just for its cheapness but nuclear power plants and hydroelectric dams still churn out a great deal of energy for city-states. Life for the middle and lower classes is a degree better than anywhere else even in a city slum.
Villages are where the technological gaps become most apparent. While investment goes into whatever industries it relies on, other fields such as medical facilities or weapons for its army can be centuries old, even pre-Flare in some regions. This has led to bizarre combinations such as villages using gurmori-powered carts to move uranium fuel rods or laser-rifle wielding fighters relying on half-tracks fueled by diesel. In times past, caravans and regular trade with cities is how a village usually advances itself further; in the modern day, the Vysokan Development Concern provides most equipment, as well as the bulk of infrastructure upgrades for the sake of furthering their reach. All but the most remote of settlements have at least had a serviceable power grid, connection to Vysoka’s intranet, and other utilities, even before joining the UPP.
Hosts are limited greatly because of their own ideals of self-reliance. There is only so much a gurmori can carry and the usage of trucks is only for those who need it the most. As such, hosts are almost always heavily behind in machinery or industrial equipment. Larger hosts are able to afford much more and confederacies attain a level of advancement comparable to that of the cities, albeit investing more into weaponry and survival equipment than farming tools. Payments or tributes taken by hosts are sometimes in the form of material goods.
Synthetics
The few synthetics present on Vysoka are largely owned and produced by Xanan corporations. From patrolling the streets of Rahe to assisting on a Vedamoran farm, one can see the logo of the National Robotics Group stamped on any frame. The infrastructure to support synthetics is only available in cities and the surrounding villages, leading to the planet’s low synthetic population. Hosts that do have an IPC are typically ones designed to function as advisors and charged using solar panel set-ups.
Private ownership of an IPC is usually done to function as a servant for a wealthy individual or a town as a whole. Town-owned synthetics are legally the property of whatever passes for a municipal government. They’re used for either engineering and maintenance or to assist in farming. These units may eventually be entrusted to leave to work for a megacorporation. However, the wages earned by them are inevitably sent back to support their town and they remain lawed to ensure that they could not simply flee.
Free synthetics are able to attain citizenship on Vysoka, with small communities found inside every city-state. Although the Civil Guard rarely hunts down escaped synthetics, an unofficial “open season” is present out in the wild. Citizenship alone does not guarantee good treatment - one must also show they have a “spiritual presence” one way or another to be accepted by the populace. Positronics with the means to do so can bribe soothsayers, purchase counterfeit passes or find sympathetic officials to aid them.
Drugs
Narcotics have been commonplace in Vysokan society for several centuries, despite efforts to stamp it out. The agriculture industry is rife with farmers relying on them for cash crops, with both local and imported drug crops grown on the planet. While Vysoka’s shamanistic faith does use grown hallucinogens for rituals, more dangerous synthetic narcotics such as Red Nightshade and Ultra (Vysoka’s brand of Nightlife) are illegal in the cities. Many hosts also detest them and only the Night Devils or similar groups engage in the drug trade. However, rural towns can become massive centres for drug growth and production. This is due to the lack of any widespread law enforcement and the remote nature of many villages. Vysoka’s most common drug crop is Caromeg, also known as “Oracle. The narcotic induces euphoria and talkativeness, with an important role as a “social drug” in many circles. It can be safely chewed but also dried and cut into a concentrated powder that is either consumed via mouth or nostrils. Opium, reishi, and ambrosia strains are less popular choices for drug crops. Most Vysokan narcotics are smuggled out of the Union and towards Zaurghis where local crime groups will proliferate them through the warp holes there.
Vysokan Names
In the past, it was a common belief among Vysokan shamanists that certain numbers, letters, or words were auspicious or ill-omened. Parents would often consult religious leaders or specific "guide books" to ensure that a lucky name was chosen on the date of birth. As a result, long and overly complex names were commonplace, especially in rural areas. While these names are considered fortuitous, in practice they are too complicated to use on a day-to-day basis. Combined with the belief that using the full name of a child could attract harmful spirits, shorter nicknames are often given during the childhood, although these are often not directly related to one's full name. A Vysokan with the name of Segerandalitu-jebke, for example, may go by the nickname of Siban, which would be used throughout their life in both social and professional situations. On some occasions, a Vysokan may not even know their full name, due to the scarcity of paperwork among more isolated villages in the steppes. While this practice is less common in the modern day, giving a child a formal name and "common name" is still quite popular in some regions.
The Velhalktai
The Velhalktai is an annual long-distance endurance race taking place on the continent of Astiqabi, which lasts between 20 and 40 days on average. Starting from the west coast in the city-state of Vedamor on the fourth Saturday of March, over 50 riders compete to reach the end destination of Czsari. Riders travel with packs of Gurmori and carry specialised lightweight saddles in order to quickly swap between their steeds in order to prevent exhaustion.
Travelling thousands of miles through farmland, rolling hills, valleys and open plains, there is no official set route - with riders expected to use their own navigation skills to reach each “checkpoint” in the city-states. At each stage of the race, specialists perform checkups on one’s gurmori to ensure that they aren’t overworked. Penalties or even disqualifications are given in the event that a rider fails a checkup. All riders are given a personal trainer prior to the start of the Velhalktai, although it is rare for one to compete without any experience in Gurmori-racing due to the strict entrance requirements.
After a race in 2495 where a jockey cheated by giving their Gurmori experimental stimulants, riders are now provided mounts to race on by the organisers. It's considered a minor award if one's farm is chosen to provide the Gurmori in question, with over 250 herders lending their steeds out for use in the Velhalkai. Riders carry bolt-action carbines and hunting knives with them for the purpose of protection, and are provided rations at each stop - although many prefer to purchase food from the many towns dotting the countryside instead.
Due to the nature of the competition, multiple methods are used to calculate the winner of the Velhalktai - including the time taken, the difficulty of the route taken, the physical status of their Gurmori, and how many Gurmori were present at any given time. As a rider is expected to have around 5 on their journey, a competitor who brings less with them will be rewarded. However, due to the difficulty of the race as a whole, simply making it to the end is considered an accomplishment. The prize for winning the race includes premium Gurmori feed, a custom saddle, and a decorated patch - no prize money is given for winning the Velhalktai, with the prestige in competing in the event considered a more fitting reward.
Vysoka has an extremely low population per square mile, although this number naturally increases near the cities. The population is largely city and settlement dwelling, with hosts making up a prominent minority. A not-insignificant number of Vysokans can be found abroad, often seeking new fortunes or trying to get a clean slate. Immigration to Vysoka is quite rare due to the planet’s low development and a weak economy.
City-States
Vysoka is home to dozens of City-States, each ruled by a mayor and council. Contrasted to the more open villages and free life of the Hosts, Vysokan cities are often congested and filthy places. The level of technology varies wildly with modern upper-class homes right next to tent city slums. Poverty is rife in the urban population and usually alleviated through signing on as labour for foreign corporations. These cities are policed by a Civil Guard with poorer settlements using a militia or host instead. Law enforcement on Vysoka retains a “Shoot first, and ask questions later” attitude. Since the overthrowing of the colonial government, cities have warred and fought one another to expand their spheres of influence. The last formal war on Vysoka was Cszari’s 2549 war with Kopas over a resource-rich region. Now, cities rely on mercenaries or hired hosts to harass their rivals and expand their spheres of influence, usually operating in ways that don’t tip off the Xanan government to their activities.
Urbanite Vysokans are typically much more cosmopolitan than their counterparts. While cultural practices are still alive in cities they aren’t as heavily stressed as they would be elsewhere. Urbanite Vysokans are free to split off from their families, embrace a different lifestyle, and many in their youths tend to join some counter-culture scene before maturing or moving on. The family unit is not as strong but still carries weight. Urbanite families will usually be centred around a block. A community’s elders are normally involved in organising local fairs, managing community centres, or small political organisations. Easier access to these urban areas tends to mean that those in the cities make up most of Vysoka’s higher educated people if they can afford it of course.
Czsari was where the Free System of Vysoka was created, where representatives meet to vote on colony-wide matters, and is the political centre of Vysoka with a bustling tourist trade. Czsari is well known for its high number of theatres, entertainment centres, and beautiful temples. A robust administration keeps the city clean and safe for the tourists who come through it. People’s Voice holds a high degree of influence in the city, having recently constructed profitable entertainment centres with the latest technology from Xanu. VyFinancial is headquartered here and handles the day-to-day trading of the city-states, as well as “assertive debt resolution”. Those who come to Czsari from across Vysoka note that the high degree of opulence in the city is sometimes soured by the overbearing Civil Guard, tourists, and their policy of keeping the poor in out-of-sight and over-crowded villages. Czsari’s flag is a pair of black rifles atop a red sun on a field of blue and green, split horizontally in the middle.Sevaschaiv is the most developed city in Kassein, home to multiple shipyards and the industrial centre of Vysoka. Sevaschaiv is said to “shine all year round”, a tongue-in-cheek reference to the shiny black plumes of smoke and gleaming polluted rivers that the local industry produces. Several Himean syndicates have established themselves here, such as the United Mineworkers’ Alliance and the Industrial Workers of Himeo. However, the introduction of these syndicates to mine in the local mountains has added a new problem for the city’s poorly-equipped Civil Guard to handle: regular clashes between them and environmentally-minded Vysokans, often escalating into full-blown riots. The villages around Sevaschaiv are peaceful mountain towns that are far more welcoming to Himean prospectors. Sevaschaiv’s flag is a white gear on a diagonally striped yellow and black background.Turiyah was where the historic 2452 Winter March took place. Turiyah boasts a high number of Xanan-owned universities and is often where many Vysokans go to study. The graduating classes of these universities are immediately given jobs in their respective company and sent off-world to find work. Turiyah is renowned as a generally peaceful city, with little conflict and robust social welfare programs. It is also famous for the “Square of Broken Steel”, an enormous park dedicated to the martyrs and fighters of the war against piracy. It prominently displays captured wargear, including old combat robots and vehicles. No villages exist around Turiyah, having been emptied to form the hosts of the Great Serpents. Turiyah’s flag is a white Gurmori head upon a red background.Rahe was where Vysoka’s war of independence from the criminals that had grown to dominate it began. Rahe’s primary export since its founding has been firearms. It was for this reason that the Shunlin Machining Consortium moved into the city in the 26th century, dominating it and taking over the weapons industry there. Not only does Rahe produce the majority of SMC products sold in the Union of Progressive Peoples, but its local institutions are also entirely controlled by the corporation’s subsidiaries. Even the city’s police force is composed entirely of private security. Besides that, Rahe retains another draw: The Ring of Judgement. Here, The Global Vysokan League hosts its final tournament. All around the enormous arena are countless statues of the champions through the centuries and much room left for more. Fans and championship hopefuls alike flock to this holy site of Vysokan wrestling. Rahe’s flag is eight white stars on a black background, arranged in a circle.Vedamor is the largest of the Vysokan city-states and is known for being based on a high-quality soil deposit. Vedamor is less of a city and more akin to a sprawling farming town. Patches of businesses and homes exist between large fields of cattle or crops, stretching out over the land. Gurmori are less popular here as most clusters of buildings prefer diesel trucks. Due to its large size and low population spread, Vedamor’s civil guard is close to non-existent. Every citizen is expected to have a firearm and know how to use it should the need arise. Xansan Genomics has a large presence in the city to use its soil for agricultural experiments. Because of this many chemists and doctors on Vysoka have begun to use the company’s products instead of locally made ones. Vedamor’s flag is 3 golden wheat stalks on a green background.Netalem, formerly one of the most prosperous city-states of Vysoka, is now known more for its reputation as the “crime capital of the Steppes”. Originally one of the only ports present on Vysoka, the city served as a hub for all sorts of illicit activity - a role that would leave a permanent mark on the city even after those responsible were destroyed. Despite multiple attempts to restore the city-state to its former glory, none would prove successful, and the forces the Vysokans fought to eliminate still have a considerable presence here. In the present day, Netalem is commonly considered to be one of the worst places for an urban Vysokan to live in. Many of those who leave never return to the decaying city, with the city’s once-thriving ports only seeing use by the smugglers and pirates brave or foolish enough to operate on Vysoka. Entire sections of the city-state are controlled by gangs, with the local civil guard either in the pockets of the criminal underworld or too poorly funded to care. Easy access to narcotics, both natively grown and imported, has resulted in addiction being all too common among its citizens. Although hosts attempt to impose their own laws in their districts, the line between host and gang blurs inside the metropolis. Most local politicians care more about filling their pockets than trying to revitalise Netalem, clearly shown by the numerous abandoned factories and apartments littering the city. Netalem’s flag is a white star on a diagonally striped red-and-green background.
Ruralites
Used to refer to the dwellers of the countless villages, hamlets, communes, compounds, and towns on Vysoka, Ruralites live a life that exists at a cross between urban and host living. These places subside off of a core industry that provides most of their income (typically farming) and are impacted heavily by the environment they are in. Be it open steppes, beaches, the seas themselves, or deep in the mountains, towns cannot escape the changes to their culture or lives that Vysoka’s geography brings to them. Whether or not this results in respect towards the environment or a belief that it must be fully used for human betterment varies from place to place. Cities are always looking to bring towns underneath their own spheres of influence. This is done both to improve their economies through the domination of resources but also to deny other cities the chance to take control. As a result, these villages are often at the forefront of city-vs-city skirmishes. Population movement for Ruralites is dynamic. A village failing usually means that its people flee to the city or attempt life as hosts, city dwellers get paid incentives to try and settle decaying towns, and hosts can at times settle down to establish a town if they see a reason to do so. Boomtowns are a common sight and appear whenever an excavator has unearthed something of great value in the far reaches of Vysoka. As resources die out in an area, so will its villages. Few cities on Vysoka began as a village as many were established during the colonisation period pre-independence.
In the villages of Vysoka, ruralites live their lives in strict accordance with their old ways. To step outside of the culture is to be shunned by the village at large. Elders hold enormous sway and regularly convene to discuss, pass judgments on cases, and lead the town’s affairs. The families are close-knit and live together underneath the same roof. The eldest or youngest of a family is always expected to take care of their parents when they become old and sacrifice anything for the sake of the family. Neighbours are usually close to one another. A neighbour dropping by uninvited with food to share and a discussion to have is a common occurrence. Education is only marginally better here than for hostmen thanks to their connections to nearby cities. Because of the tendency for hosts to settle as villagers and vice-versa, hostmen and ruralite culture can often be similar in their outlooks and views.
Hosts
Hosts are semi-nomadic militaristic communities scattered across the steppes and plains of Vysoka, operating independently from city-states. Hosts live off the lands, using the winged dainshu as scouts and the gurmori as mounts. Warriors from these communities are renowned for their skill with firearms thanks to constant practice hunting or assisting city-states that hire them. Besides employment by Vysokan governments, most Hosts are content to live peacefully. Some turn to banditry, even being so ambitious as to launch raids on towns, convoys, and trains. More clever raiders stick to forcing villages to pay tributes. Hosts are small, but they often unify into larger (but short-lived) Confederacies. As Hosts elect their leader among themselves the leader of a Confederacy is chosen by the Host leaders. It’s a common joke among Hostmen that their elections are the freest in the galaxy given the high number of firearms among the people. Some of the largest hosts on Vysoka, such as the Novotso, Tog-Daichid, or Kayshak, have enough hostmen to fill a small army, while others are little more than oversized militia groups in terms of scope. Due to the hosts’ support of the Vysokan independence movement of the past and romantic portrayal in the media, a steady stream of new recruits is the norm for all but the most controversial hosts. Even though the life of a hostman is hard, Vysokans will still be drawn towards it to become free of the drudgery of the cities or find a new life.
Travel and survival among the hosts define their culture. Never sticking to one place they remain on the move as their ancestors did centuries or millennia ago. This life can result in some hosts viewing their way as inherently superior to those of any “settled” people. Life is almost entirely covered by tradition, however, the freedom that a hostman enjoys can overpower this. A family cannot look down on a member who goes against their wishes for their own sake of adventure or to find themselves. Hosts as a whole are closely linked to one another. Other hostmen know their fellow hostmen in and out. It is for this reason that marriage outside of the host is vastly preferred to marriage inside one. Typically, whichever spouse will join a different host is the one who will receive the dowry. Weddings are far more significant as it means that the one who marries into another Host will be away from their own people for months, maybe years at a time. Being of old age alone doesn’t invoke respect among the Hosts - experience and knowledge are. As elderly Hostmen tend to have plenty of both, they are referred to as teachers and oftentimes leaders of hosts. Priests in a host serve as teachers as well while also doubling as moral guidance. If a hostman needs a higher (or legally proven) education they will usually head towards a city. This is especially needed for those who intend to head off-world for a time.
The One Suns are a notable confederacy on Kassein, operating largely off of ranching and textiles. Despite their position, however, they’re known for being one of the poorest confederacies on the planet, lacking much support from city-states or corporations due to a long-standing dislike of urban support for megacorporations. However, in the recent generation, this anger shifted to a new scapegoat: foreigners. Citing the environmental damage to rural areas many foreign organisations cause and a supposed lack of respect shown for Vysokan culture, One Suns often raid foreign and corporate groups or those they suspect of “assisting” them. These Hostmen have been a particular thorn in the side of Civil Guards for riling up and participating in anti-foreigner riots, especially in Sevaschaiv, and the sabotage of any equipment with a Vysokan Development Concern logo on it. Himeans earn their ire the most, leading to Himean syndicates on Vysoka hiring local gunmen for protection. The One Sun banner is an orange field with a blue sun upon it.
The Great Serpents are one of the most prominent confederacies on Vysoka, once renowned as the dangerous fighting force of Turiyah. Many of the City’s rural population swelled the Hosts of the confederacy, signing on generations ago in order to put a stop to banditry and wars that threatened their safety in the 25th century. However, now, the Great Serpents are known for their state of decay. Their hosts bleed members, with families leaving to pursue wealth on their own terms. Many hosts have entirely packed up and left to pursue lives of banditry, resulting in their former confederacy being forced to chase after in the hopes of dispelling the shame. Hosts outside of the Great Serpents balk at the once terrifying confederacy and some are all the more happy to hasten their collapse. Turiyah’s mayoral council is deeply disturbed by the trend, and there exists an active argument around who should replace the Great Serpents when they inevitably fail. The Great Serpents’ banner is white, with a crimson snake forming a circle around a fire.
The Night Devils are a small, but powerful confederacy based in and around the city-state of Netalem. A catch-all term used for the various hosts of Netalem, it’s ironically one of the longest-lasting confederacies on Vysoka. Aside from a few core hosts, the Night Devils’ membership is in constant flux. Specialising in the production, distribution, and smuggling of various narcotics, those in the confederacy are free to compete with one another for territory, so long as these conflicts don’t escalate into a full-scale gang war. Due to the unscrupulous nature of the Night Devils, they’re highly unpopular throughout Vysoka, and have only persisted so long due to the highly decentralised nature of the confederacy. Openly admitting to being a member of this organisation is rare, even abroad. The Night Devils can trace their origins all the way back to the few remaining pirates that chose to stay behind and have migrated all across Vysoka in their history. The confederacy has been nearly destroyed but rebuilt several times. The Night Devil symbol is a grinning white skull wearing a black fur hat.
