Episode 3 - The Founding
This week, we discuss the local geography of Onaki and what makes the city so special geographically, look at the archaeological evidence dating to the founding of Onaki, and then resume our legend. In our legend, we will discuss the arrival of Osaki and Ponsaka in the Onaki Bay, the First Settlement, creation of the guilds system and the Consortium, and the major infrastructure projects of the day.
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A map of the Onaki Bay area in the time of about 1900-2100.
A map of known structures in the First Settlement era.
Episode Script
Note: This is not a direct transcript! This is the script I used to record the podcast audio. Some rephrasing or ommittance may have occured in the actual podcast, but the information remains by and large the same.
Hello, and welcome back to the History of Onaki.
Episode 3 - The Founding
Last week, we looked into the legendary origins of the Onaki people, particularly their pre-Onaki history. Specifically, we examined the rise of the city of Ona, Eleno's vision from Luminasuta and the governmental precedent he set, the impact of his successors, the neglect of the Gods by Halijon, and finally, the departure of Osaki and Ponsaka from Ona, escaping its untimely demise, enroute to the site of the city we would call Onaki.
On a quick note, I did misspeak last episode. When Osaki spoke back to Luminasuta, she did not say "Oh Luminasuta, why do you punish thee?", she said punish *me*. I misread the quote, and I am sorry. Let's just say I acquired a poor translation of Kepon's *Rise of Onaki*, and leave it at that.
This week, we will discuss the local geography of Onaki and what makes the city so special geographically, look at the archaeological evidence dating to the founding of Onaki, and then resume our legend. In our legend, we will discuss the arrival of Osaki and Ponsaka in the Onaki Bay, the First Settlement, creation of the guilds system and the Consortium, and the major infrastructure projects of the day. Remember, I provide some maps, art, and photos at https://yamasztuka.com/onaki to help illustrate what I can't say myself. Listening to the episodes with the maps pulled up seems to help many listeners and readers, and I'm inclined to agree. I promise, it will help a lot! Alright, let's not waste any more time, and let's pull out the maps.
- Geography
Onaki is positioned about halfway up the eastern coast of the Jowami Peninsula, on the Onaki Bay opening into the Aloki Sea. The city's primary center, the honeycomb-like structure that would come to be called the Lumina, was nestled in the northwest region of the Onaki Bay before its disappearance. The city would be perfectly positioned between two rivers, that of the Takeni River, a 128km long river that is fed by the snow capped Jowami Alps, and the Kasa River, a relatively short spring-fed river 17km long. Zooming out to the broader Onaki Bay area, we can see a few notable features of the terrain. The bay features two prominent peninsulas. The westernmost peninsula is named Jota, a small landmass jutting out into the centre of the bay. The easternmost peninsula is named Tulun, a large landmass between the bay and the Aloki. A small peninsula jutting from the mainland, named Point Muwe, that nearly encloses the bay is sometimes considered a third peninsula of Onaki. The entrance to the bay is quite small, a less than 1km gap bordered by rocky cliffs on either side, known as the Muwe Strait. Given these features, the bay was said by future Onaki to look like the front portion of a man riding a horse. I can't say I entirely disagree. Other notable features include several long islands within the bay and on the Aloki. On the eastern coast of Tulun there lies a large barrier island chain, a long stretch of sandy dunes, serving to protect the coast when tropical cyclones do rear their ugly head.
The climate of the region is Mediterranean, with warm and dry summers, and cold and wet winters. The seabreeze off the Aloki is quite pleasant, and keeps temperatures cooler. However, the water can get quite hot, even sometimes exceeding the air temperature. The coastline along the bay is rocky near its entrance, but further into the back towards the river deltas and the Lumina, it becomes marshy and flat. The southern regions are generally rocky, and especially in the centre of Tulun, can become very hilly. In some regions of Tulun, bedrock pokes through the soil to provide natural playgrounds for children today. However, most of the region, especially around the Kasa and Takeni Rivers, is very flat. It was said that bad storms inundated the Peninsula of Jota completely with water, and without the modern sea walls of today's Onaki, it would certainly be the same.
There exists two arguments for the placement of Onaki, one that is cultural, and one that is geographical. As we can see from a geography perspective, we have quite the compelling argument. Their capital is positioned in a well defensible bay, behind high mountains that must be crossed to reach it by land, on fertile soil rich for farming. This is not to mention the Lumina, which by chance or deliberately, provided walls that would never be breached by any outside power. Given its preexistence on the bay, we can call it a feature of the environment quite compellingly. All together, there is almost no way this city could ever be sacked, right? As for the culture argument, well, that is best for later.
- Archaeology of Arrival
Next, let's briefly touch on what we can gleam historically from the archaeological record. Millennia of buildings on top of buildings have created what can politely be called, on a good day, a mess to examine. However, we can say that human presence in the area surrounding the Onaki Bay dates to about the mid second millennia, timing just about with the other settlement of the Aloki Sea region. The oldest pottery fragments in the region again are Masutan in root, supporting the migration by sea theory that, coincidence or not, also appears in our legend. In addition, we see the same kinds of crops as Masutan, mostly cereal grains and potato, being grown at first, with nutrition clearly being highly supplemented with seafood. We would also see the development of foods uniquely fit to the region begin to spring up as we approach the third millennium. Grapes, dates, figs, pomegranates, eggplant, rhubarb, and all sorts of citrus were commonly grown as the peoples adapted to their new climate. In Onaki specifically, its quite difficult to pin down a date of first settlement by a large group. From what we can tell based on local language and art, the people who settled Onaki initially were merchants from the Takeni confederation, sticking close to the sea, as opposed to the mountains where the Takeni held most of their power. Over time, with an influx of Kanso, Nika, and various other regional cultures, Onaki would develop a personality of its own. Supporting this multicultural society are incredible amounts of wealth from the region, with coins from as far south as Elosuta, being found in strata from the era. With all this in mind, we can confidently date the founding of what would eventually become Onaki around the dates of 1900-2100, likely starting as a simple port, and slowly growing into a prosperous major center of trade in its first centuries.
Well, it seems these humble origins were a bit too boring for the Onaki. They were important, unique, beloved by the gods, and gosh darn it, everyone had to know it! So thus, let us continue our legend from where we left off, with Osaki and Ponsaka sailing north out of the now ruined city of Ona.
- Journey to and Arrival of Osaki and Ponsaka at Onaki Site
After what as said to be over two weeks of sailing in rough and unfavorable waters driven by the poor weather, Ponsaka's crew finally set their sights on land. The coastline they saw was desolate and rocky, with sheer cliff faces running along the entire coast. This was no place to build a port city, and Osaki agreed with that intuition. They continued sailing north for another two weeks, before coming upon a gap in the cliffs. Beyond this gap, the ocean opened up again, with a mostly flat sea even with the inclement weather. This had to be the place. Ponsaka directed his fleet to sail in, before they were immediately stopped by a great navy fleet. This fleet would be that of the Kanso, the first meeting between the two mortal regional rivals.
The flagships of their respective fleets would dock, a fixed plank swung down from the Kanso ship onto the deck of Ponsaka's ship to affix them. The Kanso ship's much greater maneuverability, given the seemingly hundreds of men which propelled it with oars, kept the two vessels from colliding. Osaki and Ponsaka together came to the plank to greet the Kanso emissary, who soon came into view. As he bumbled down the plank, brass instruments began to play, bringing the air alight with song. Supposedly he was a stout man, with a plump belly to contrast his muscular limbs, and a bushy mustache springing forth from his nose. Stepping aboard, the man introduced himself as General Tonsulun, simply asking why they had sailed into his waters. Osaki attempted to explain, but Tonsulun paid her no heed. Then, repeating her words, Ponsaka introduced himself and Osaki, explaining how this was really all a misunderstanding, and they meant no harm to Tonsulun or his people. They were simply refugees, migrating north to find a new place to settle. Tonsulun finally recognized them, but would have none of this. He told Ponsaka that in order to proceed north, they must pay a taxation for each head and each ship, and have all their goods accounted for. On asking what that taxation may be, Tonsulun gave him the figure of a pound of gold per head. Well, that was not going to do. Several tons of gold would have sunken their ships anyhow. Ponsaka told Tonsulun they would continue sailing west, as they had no means to pay. He seemed to put on more pressure, with veiled threats that if they didn't pay, who could ensure their safety back out beyond the the straits in which they entered? Uh oh, this isn't looking good. Osaki then took this moment to speak up, just as Ponsaka nearly began to refute these threats. Osaki would say, quote, "Luminasuta has commanded that my people sail north at whatever means possible. We will continue as previously stated. You will not be able to stop us, as we bear her visage," Osaki gesturing to the statue of Luminasuta atop the flagship's mast, "Your ships bear no such things. Do not dare stop us, as you will come to face her." With this, Tonsulun only laughed as he disembarked their flagship.
Ponsaka, rightfully so, appeared quite uncomfortable with the encounter. He remained set on wanting to sail further west before turning north, but Osaki, stubborn as ever, persisted. She knew well that Luminasuta would protect them. Just as the two flagships undocked from one another, rolling thunder was heard across the bay. Gale winds then began to rise in increasing intensity, a strong gust throwing everyone to the deck. Like many others in that moment, Ponsaka hit the deck with such intensity that he lost consciousness, unable to give orders to his men. That left only one in command. Osaki, laid on her back, watched the a piece of cloth on the flagship's great mast wave in the wind. The sun, nearly setting, was barely visible through the clouds to her left. She made the realization. The wind was blowing due north. After crawling toward the centre of the vessel, she stumped to her feet, bracing herself on the great mast. "Let down the sails!" she cried, unfurling each knot holding the great flagship's sails in place. One by one, all the ships did the same. At the same moment, the Kanso fleet was in complete disarray due to the now choppy water and inhospitable winds. They were in no shape to stop the migrants from Ona. With unbelievable pace, the gale winds carried their ships nearly directly due north, straight toward their destination.
A quick note before we go on, unlike every other character we have met thus far, Tonsulun is not entirely a legendary person! Yes, that is correct. The Kanso were not very kind most of the time, but they did keep good records, especially of their military and its budget. Around the turn of the third century, this is about the time of the Onaki coming to prominence, we do see a figure by the name of Tosuluna. As the name Tonsulun does not appear anywhere in any Kanso records, we are pretty certain that this Tosuluna is our guy, just portrayed through Onaki transliteration and a solid hundred years of oral history telephone. Although the Kanso do not have surviving records of this Tosulana having served in the region of Onaki, we also do not have a complete record of the Kanso's checkbook, so who are we to say where he ended up. One thing is for certain though, we have our first historical figure! Although he may not have been knocked on his rear by Luminasuta's winds, and certainly did not meet the Ponsaka or Osaki as portrayed here, this guy lived, breathed, ate, and drank. For that, this calls for a celebration, and by that I mean more legendary nonsense.
After only three days of intense sailing, the coast, which had so far remained either just beyond or just within eyesight, began to approach their ships. At last, Osaki gave the order to let up the sails, as they had reached their destination. Ponsaka, still out of commission from what we today would likely diagnose as a severe concussion, had temporarily granted Osaki total control of their fleet. It was time for her to finish the job. Scout ships were issued to explore the land ahead, especially the strait that ever so temptingly sat just to their west. Two days later, the scout ships came back with their reports. They discovered, quote, "A very suitable and defendable enclosed bay. A large peninsula stretches into the centre of the bay, allowing a perfect position for a well defendable and siege resistant settlement to be built. Two river deltas feed the bay, hypothetically allowing for trade and future settlement inland. As for human settlements, there appears to be no sign of the sort on the coast of the bay. As for divine settlements, we believe we have come across a great fortress fit for Luminasuta. Its walls are higher than we can see at their base, and they cannot be scaled by our current means. The material of the walls is frictionless and with a jade hue, we cannot even rest a ladder against its surface to gain a better look. Its walls are also not circular, but angled, and appear to take on the shape of a honeycomb. Our only knowledge of its contents is the sight of six heavens grasping towers ascending from every other corner of the structure. To put it simply, we have found the Lumina." Lumina roughly translates to "Little Luminasuta", signifying that this is the piece of Luminasuta fabled in the legend. That was all Osaki needed to hear. Her ships then made great haste to the Jota peninsula, where they would begin construction of what would be called the "First Settlement".
- "First Settlement", Description of Layout
Okay, it's time to hit the fast forward button! We've got a lot of material to cover and we've gotta do it fast, so I'm going to do the best I can to summarize. To help understand this section, please see the map for this episode on our website. If you're listening while driving, I'm sorry, do your best, and if you're listening while running, print out the map to bring with you next time. People will just think you time travelled from the ancient times before satnav. Okay, let's kick it up a notch!
The First Settlement, as described in the legend, expanded from the western tip of the Jota peninsula, and grew along the shoreline northward. A primary road appeared in this area, henceforth called the Western Road, that made up the spine of the new city. Over time, a street structure would stretch east, forming a pseudo-grid of sorts across the peninsula. As one travels north on the Jota peninsula, it begins to decrease in width until you reach the delta of the Kasa river, a comparatively swampy and marshy area. Just north of the delta, the Jota and mainland meet. Thus, this chokepoint appeared like the perfect place to position a city wall. A small, incredibly well defended region both naturally and artificially, they could not have chosen a better place. These would be the confines of our city, an enclosed space about 7 to 8 square kilometers in area, bordered by sea on three sides and land by one.
On the westernmost tip of the Jota, the Temple of Luminasuta was constructed. Supposedly, it was there that Osaki first stepped foot on the land that would become the grand city. Crafted from locally sourced stone, an aberration from the period standard of wood, the temple's facade bore intricate carvings depicting the mythical tale of Osaki's arrival and the subsequent rise of the city. However, modern historians likely attribute these facades not to the original temple, but later construction after the original carvings were reduced to lime during the sacking. The entrance was adorned with ornate columns, each intricately engraved with symbolic motifs representing the great ideals of Eleno. The main hall, a cavernous domed space filled with the soft light from its oculus, was said to be the closest these early settlers could come to replicating Ona's grandeur. In fact, this temple would later gain the name that translates to "Little Temple", despite its comparatively large size. Outside the temple, a large garden would provide a common area for all Onaki to both reflect and connect to one another.
Speaking of large size, a grand port was constructed on the easternmost southern tip of the Jota, supposedly founded by Ponsaka, to establish a grand merchant's society as he had strived to create in Ona. The grand port, known as Ponsaka's Haven, dominated the landscape with its imposing architecture. The entrance was marked by colossal gates and rather rudimentary walls, separating itself from the surrounding settlement. Beyond the gates, a vast market square stretched, bustling with activity as traders, sailors, and merchants participated in thriving commerce. Although much commerce took place in the sunlight of the market square, The Bazaar, a labyrinthine market, were where the real goods were sold. Stalls and shops, constructed from a hodgepodge of scavenged materials, lined the narrow streets and alleys. A large enclosed structure ran through the spine of the Bazaar, taking the rough shape of a half cylinder, was said to be initially formed form the overturned hulls of decommissioned sailing vessels. Fragrances of spices, the sounds of haggling, and the vibrant colors of fabrics and fruits formed quite the atmosphere. Some residences for temporary housing were put up in the area, with some particularly rich suspects affording the use of opulent mansions. For the rest, it was to the great apartment complexes with them. The great wooden structures were said to house hundreds, but were equal in status as both residence and death trap. Fire code? What fire code. We have about five thousand years before we get there. Despite all this, you really couldn't beat the Haven's accommodations outside of the wealthy districts of Onaki. Paved streets, and even street lamps, were common here.
Near the median point of the Western Road lay the most important structure of the Consortium House, the centre of governance and meeting point of the Consortium of Guilds, which we will touch on shortly. The building was massive in scope, and despite being under a single roof, was the largest building by square footage in the old city. As visitors approached the structure, they would be greeted by a grand entrance adorned with the symbols of the major guilds, a visual testament to their strength and cooperation. Upon entering the Consortium House, one would find a vast atrium, its ceiling reaching great heights. It was said that the glasswork enclosing the structure from the elements was one of the great wonders of the ancient world, and it would thankfully survive the sacking. This central space would host two large bronze globes, each rotating unperceptively from underlying clockwork, and at the center of these was a beautiful globe representing the Earth. Once could imagine how accurate that representation was. The outermost bronze globe held a symbol representing the Sun, while the innermost held one of Asaja. Together they worked to tell the time, with two large weights needed to be hoisted to the ceiling each morning to power the underlying clockworks. Even on a cloudy day, meetings would always be held on time. Surrounding this central space were a seating area for a hundred and twenty representatives, called consorts. The area served as a meeting point for consorts from each guild, together forming a body called the Consortium. Together, they would vote on laws proposed amongst themselves or by the leader of Onaki, named the Nelepa. Although the Nelepa ruled for life or retirement and was not a member of any singular guild, they did hold a final veto power over what was passed by the Consortium. We will examine their governance in depth at a later point. The interior of the Consortium House was organized into chambers and halls dedicated to each guild, adorned with artifacts showcasing their achievements, and offices dedicated to the running of their operations. The Ponsakan Syndicate's chamber, for instance, displayed intricate maps and charts illustrating their expansive trade routes and market influence. Connected by a network of corridors, the guild chambers led to a central assembly hall, beneath the atrium, where important decisions were made by the chief representative from each guild. This chamber, known as the Council Hall, featured a large round table with a seat for each guild's representative. The Consortium House also held administrative offices where scribes and diplomats worked diligently to maintain records, draft agreements, and facilitate communication between the guilds. Additionally, there were libraries and archives, managed by the Nelepa personally, where knowledge from across the region was preserved and made accessible to the city's scholars.
- Creation of the Guilds
Oh yeah, we haven't mentioned the great guilds of Onaki yet. Essentially, a guild is a semi-political entity that forms people under a certain occupation into a hierarchy. Although these guilds were thought to have first been created out of convenience and stability, they quickly became powerful and entrenched institutions of the Onaki state. Each guild was managed differently, and in the period of foundational Onaki, we have no way to know how these guilds were actually structured. There are some broad strokes we can follow, though. There was a guild leader within each called the chief representative, essentially acting like the Secretary of State or ministry of foreign affairs for their guild. Despite their high ranking, they held an equal vote in the Consortium just as any other consort. Speaking of consorts, the guilds received a proportionate number of consorts compared to their population size. The largest guilds receive the most members, the smallest the least members. Of course, the total limit of consorts is 120, so there were hardly more than thirty consorts in even the largest of guilds. It has been thought that in early Onaki, in the years before the sacking, each consort represented around 800 to 1200 men each. Within the halls of the Consortium House, consorts voted on various laws and worked to propose their own, but their main role lay outside those halls. Consorts would serve to assess the needs of their constituents, often working alongside the working class in some instances, but mostly met with powerful leaders or figures within their guilds. After all, it was the job the guild to promote the trade and economic interests of its members. For skilled workers in Onaki, a guild was your most sure path to prosperity.
Although the exact number of guilds in this time is unknown, the most major guilds around the time of the sacking all claim to have been established near the city's founding. I'll go through a couple of the most important of these, starting with the largest, and descending to the admittedly still large but not quite as large.
1. **Ponsakan Syndicate (Merchants' Guild):**
The Ponsakan Syndicate was the most influential and powerful guild, controlling the shipping and trade markets of Onaki, especially with the establishment of Ponsaka's Haven. It was said to have been founded by Ponsaka, although modern revisionist historians claim the name for the legendary figure was taken from the guild itself after its founding. With a firm grip on both domestic and international trade, the Ponsakan Syndicate held substantial economic and political influence.
2. **Alekikanale's Guild (Soldier's Guild):**
Alekikanale's Guild was the professional organization for soldiers and warriors of Onaki. Unlike most other states, Onaki's soldiers were not trained by the government of the ancient state, but were instead a private institution that was hired by the state. That could not possibly go wrong in the future. This guild focused on providing the training, discipline, and the martial skills necessary for proper defense, from large scale warfare, to personal bodyguarding, to local policing.
3. **Luminala Celestia (Priests' and Astronomers' Guild):**
The Luminala Celestia was the guild of priests and really anyone else having to do with the maintaining of the temples. In the Consortium, it often held far more sway than its members would make you think, mostly due to the religious implications behind their voting. As astronomy would come to hold a greater religious meaning for those worshiping Luminasuta, mapmakers and astronomers would eventually coalesce into the Luminala Celestia. The guild held a revered position in society, providing both spiritual enlightenment and practical knowledge of celestial events considered essential for making informed decisions.
4. **Craftsmens' Alliance (Artisans' Guild):**
The Craftsmens' Alliance united skilled artisans, craftsmen, and artists together under one group to hold greater power in the consortium. Members excelled in various crafts, including blacksmithy, woodworking, pottery, painting, and other artistic endeavors, contributing to the aesthetic and cultural richness of Onaki.
5. **Stonewrought Syndicate (Miners' Guild):**
The Stonewrought Syndicate was the guild that oversaw Onaki's mining and quarrying activities. Although not significantly prevalent until Onaki expansion into the Jowami Alps, the guild supposedly began when the first quarries were constructed to build the Temple of Luminasuta. This guild's control over mining operations gave them significant influence in the Consortium, as they regulated the availability of vital resources for trade and craftsmanship.
6. **Harvesters' Union (Farmers' and Fishermen's Guild):**
The Harvesters' Union represented the agricultural and fishing communities of Onaki, ensuring a stable food supply for the increasingly dense city. Farmers and fishermen collaborated under the guild's guidance to manage and distribute food resources efficiently, especially considering the rice and grain allotments that would be later instated.
7. **Mason's Accord (Builders' and Architects' Guild):**
The Mason's Accord was the guild dedicated to construction and architecture. Its members included skilled builders, architects, and engineers who designed and constructed Onaki infrastructure, from temples to bridges.
8. **Academian Society (Scholars' Guild):**
Finally, the Academian Society consisted of scholars, researchers, and educators. This guild focused on the pursuit of knowledge and maintaining the vast Onaki public education system. Outside of public education, members contributed to the advancement of knowledge through research, teaching, and the preservation of written records, fostering a culture of learning and intellectual exploration in Onaki.
The creation of the guilds system is not incredibly detailed in the founding legends, but it sort of just... appears. According to the legend, as the first settlement was being risen from the Earth in the decade following Osaki's landing, the guilds naturally formed amongst the various trades that arose there. When conflict began to brew between the guilds, Ponsaka asked each of them to bring forward a singular member to sort out their differences. What they ultimately concluded was, hey, our first settlement needs a government. We can't just work under this system where there's no top boss, there's got to be somebody at the top of this food chain. And so, they decided they had to pick someone for the job of being top boss. That person would be Osaki, who from then on be known as Osaki Nelepa, essentially translating to Leader Osaki. Titles in their language came after the name of the person, if you are confused. Osaki would supposedly sort out their problem through singlehandedly creating the Consortium, where all guilds had equal hand in the construction of the Consortium House. Sounds quite legendary to me all right.
As much as I'd love to drone on about Onaki governance for the rest of time, I think we've reached a good stopping point. And, I'm also sorry for skipping so much story. Just so you know, from personal experience, you haven't missed much. The city was built, the guilds rose, and the settlement became a prosperous economic powerhouse of mercantile trade. Sounds like a done deal to me! In addition, what we hear in the legend differs quite strongly with what we see archaeologically. I'd rather not confuse you with two narratives, one that is based in history and archaeology, and the other in legend. No worries though, in a few more episodes we will move past Osaki and towards the known historical Nelepa of Onaki. Speaking of which, moving past Osaki is next on the dockett. Next week, we will get into the Revenge of Tonsulun, aka the first legendary encounters the Onaki people had with the Kanso. In the process, we will cover Onaki army formations and weaponry, detail the Alekika system of armed troops and their guilds, as well as the merchant navy system. Then, we will take a bit of a break. I'll be on vacation from the 29th to the 6th, but not to worry, I'll pre-record some episodes for us. As the Sunday after next falls on New Year's Eve, we will talk about some of the early Onaki New Year's traditions. I can't wait.