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Difference between revisions of "Elendel Basin"

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{{location
  
 
|map=Elendel Basin.png
  
|map=Elendel Basin.png
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|capital=Elendel{{book ref|mb6|5}}
 
|world=Scadrial
  
|world=Scadrial
 
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
  
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The '''Elendel Basin''' is a lush, fertile basin created by [[Harmony]] during the reshaping of [[Scadrial]] to allow civilization to build itself back up over just a couple of generations.{{wob ref|697}} It is named after [[Elend]].
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The '''Elendel Basin''' is a lush, fertile basin created by [[Harmony]] when he reshaped [[Scadrial]] as part of the [[Catacendre]]. It was purposefully designed to allow civilization to build itself back up over just a couple of generations.{{wob ref|697}} It is named after [[Elend]].
   
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== Geography ==
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== Geography and Ecology ==
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=== Geography ===
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Most of the population of the northern hemisphere of Scadrial was centered in this area, either in the capital [[Elendel]], or in the surrounding cities and countryside. The Basin is surrounded by mountain ranges: [[Channerel Range]] and [[Faleast Range]] to the north, and [[Seran Range]] to the south. There are passes leading out into lands the rugged frontier lands known as the [[Roughs]]. The Roughs are much less fertile than the Basin, because Harmony didn't design them to be fertile like Elendel.
  
  +
The land of the Basin is almost perfectly circular, with the exception of the western coastline on the [[Sea of Yomend]] and the [[Sea of Lennes]]. Several mountain ranges define the outer edge of the Basin: the [[Channerel Range]] to the northwest, the [[Faleast Range]] to the northeast, and the [[Seran Range]] to the southeast. There are passes leading through these mountains out into the rugged frontier lands known as the [[Roughs]].{{map ref|Elendel Basin}} The topography of the basin is generally flat and open, although some forested areas exist.{{book ref|mb5|5}}
   
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The Basin's coastline matches up with the coastline in the [[Final Empire]].{{cite}} One can see that the peninsula that contains [[Bilming]] is the same peninsula on the [[Final Empire]] map, just west of the [[Ashmount]] Doriel.
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The Basin's coastline matches up with the coastline in known maps of the [[Final Empire]]. The peninsula that contains [[Bilming]] can be seen on Final Empire maps, just west of the [[Ashmount]] Doriel.{{wob ref|13162}}
   
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=== Elendel ===
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Some of the major cities besides Elendel are [[Mycondwel]], [[Tathingdwel]] where the [[Terris]]people live, [[Alendel]], [[Wyllion]], [[Dazarlomue]], [[Drypost]], [[Rashekin]], [[Vindiel-Cameux]], [[Doxonar]], [[Doriel (city)|Doriel]], [[Tarier]], [[Elmsdel]], [[Garmet]], [[New Seran]], and [[Bilming]]. There is a small farming settlement, [[Dulsing]], which the [[Set]] is interested in. It grows excellent tomatoes {{book ref|mb6|15}}. The Basin is bordered by the [[Sea of Yomend]] and the [[Sea of Lennes]] to the west. All rivers lead to Elendel, in the center.
 
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The Basin largely revolves around the city of [[Elendel]]. The city is located near the center of the Basin and serves as a major port on the Sea of Yomend. The Basin's rivers, including the large [[Irongate River]], are laid out like spokes on a wheel such that they each run through Elendel. Similarly, railway lines loosely mirror the paths of the rivers and almost every line runs through the capital.{{map ref|Elendel Basin}} Elendel itself is roughly circular and divided into octants by large canals,{{map ref|Elendel}} with suburbs that lie outside of the urban core that blend into an agricultural area known as the [[Outer Estates]].{{book ref|mb4|11}}
   
  +
=== Outer Cities ===
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Because it is lush and fertile, few people want to move beyond the Basin. There is a whole culture living in the southern hemisphere, but there is little communication between the two civilizations.
  
  +
Other cities in the Basin are collectively referred to as the "outer cities".{{book ref|mb6|5}}{{ref|group=fn|text="Outer Cities" is capitalized in the broadsheets, including the [[Allomancer Jak]] stories, but is not capitalized elsewhere in the text.}} Each city has its own unique character, with differing types of industry depending on their location, and in some cases different clothing and accents.{{book ref|mb6|10}}{{book ref|mb6|2}}
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Notable outer Cities labeled on known maps include the following:
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{{columns|count=3|
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*[[Alendel]]
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*[[Bilming]]
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*[[Dazarlomue]]
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*[[Doxonar]]
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*[[Doriel (city)|Doriel]]
  +
*[[Dryport]]
  +
*[[Drypost]]
  +
*[[Elmsdel]]
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*[[Garmet]]
  +
*[[Mycondwel]]
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*[[New Seran]]
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*[[Rashekin]]
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*[[Steinel]]
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*[[Tarier]]
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*[[Tathingdwel]]
  +
*[[Vindiel-Cameux]]
  +
*[[Wyllion]]
  +
}}
  +
  +
Additionally, there are many other smaller settlements throughout the Basin. Many lie along railways, but there are also small, remote farming villages such as [[Dulsing]].{{book ref|mb6|5}}{{book ref|mb6|15}}
  +
  +
=== Ecology ===
  +
The Basin is incredibly lush and verdant. All types of plant life grow exceptionally quickly, without the need for irrigation, and the land always stays fertile no matter how much it is farmed.{{book ref|mb4|4}} Little to no cultivation is required, and the only struggle for farmers is harvesting crops fast enough.{{book ref|mb5|5}}{{book ref|mb6|17}} Fruit orchards are common, and other food crops include wheat, carrots, potatoes, and tomatoes.{{book ref|mb6|5}}{{book ref|mb6|17}} Harmony has a direct hand in keeping the land so bountiful; the [[mist]]s are used to refresh the land.{{book ref|mb6|5}} The mists themselves actually spread water and nutrients across the ground.{{wob ref|697}}
  +
  +
Common domesticated animals include horses, cats, and dogs. Cows, pigs, and chickens are among the animals raised for meat.{{book ref|mb5|6}}{{book ref|mb5|17}}{{book ref|mb5|prologue}} Many other wild animals roam the lands and seas such as fish, octopuses,wolves, rabbits, boar, and various species of birds.{{book ref|mb6|13}}{{book ref|mb5|10}}{{book ref|mb6|15}}
   
 
== Politics ==
  
== Politics ==
  ⚫
The Basin functions as a de facto nation; Elendel's economic hegemony has allowed it to influence policy throughout the Basin, largely through taxation. The Basin itself was created by Harmony with canals and rivers running towards Elendel like the spokes of a wheel. New cities cropped up along the canals, but the canals only run to and from Elendel. When the first railways were laid, they followed the paths of the canals. Therefore, any city that wishes to trade goods with any city other than along its own spoke has to trade through Elendel, which places tariffs on many of these goods.{{book ref|mb6|5}}
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There does not seem to be one over-arching government of the entire basin. Each individual city has its own government. Despite this, the city of Elendel maintains an economic hegemony it uses to influence policy throughout the Basin.
  
   
  +
Since Elendel remains the only city wealthy enough to create and maintain railways, the outer cities lack the resources to make themselves independent. Although Elendel is considered the capital of the Basin,{{book ref|mb6|5}} each city is administered locally and is not directly governed by Elendel. However, the city governments still feel constrained by their economic dependence on the capital. They have requested new railways to connect the main lines, but have been repeatedly denied by the seat of power in Elendel. These cities therefore believe they are being taxed twice to transport their goods: they pay levies to maintain the railways and canals, and then pay nearly unavoidable tariffs to ship their goods using these methods.{{book ref|mb6|5}}
⚫
It maintains power via taxation. The Basin itself was created by Harmony with canals running like the spokes of a wheel. New cities cropped up along the canals, but the canals only run to and from Elendel. Any city that wishes to trade good with any city other than along its own spoke has to trade through Elendel, which taxes those goods heavily, specifically to maintain its position of authority.
  
   
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When the first railways were laid, they followed the paths of the canals, denying the outer cities any avenue to trade without going through Elendel. Since Elendel remains the only city wealthy enough to create and maintain railways, the outer cities lack the resources to make themselves independent. This has led to extreme animosity from the outer cities, and talk of possible civil war.
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Additionally, many citizens of Elendel remain ignorant of life in the outer cities,{{book ref|mb6|5}} in some cases openly mocking their innovations.{{file ref|New Ascendancy broadsheet.jpg|''The New Ascendancy'' broadsheet}} The taxation and disrespect has led to extreme animosity from the outer cities, and talk of possible civil war{{book ref|mb6|13}} that could lead to a fracture nation of city-states.{{book ref|mb6|5}}
   
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== People ==
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Elendel also taxes the outer cities outright, but this specifically pays for what are considered communal services, particularly the canals and railways. This tax does not directly pay for anything like the Governor's salary. However, the taxes on goods shipped through Elendel does.
  
  +
The residents of the Basin are the direct descendants of the people who survived the Catacendre, known as the [[Originators]]. Around one fifth of the Originators were Terris, with the rest being either [[skaa]] or [[noble]].{{book ref|mb4|4}} During the Catacendre, Harmony restored human genetics to the same state it had been prior to the [[Lord Ruler]],{{book ref|mb3|82}} but people were still aware of their ancestry,{{book ref|mb3|82}} with many noble houses persisting after society was rebuilt. The residents generally have light skin, with the exception being the Terris, who naturally tend to have more skin color{{wob ref|4927}} and largely marry within their own ethnicity.{{book ref|mb4|4}}
   
  +
Relatively few people live outside of the Basin in northern Scadrial. There are a few towns in the Roughs, but they have small populations.{{book ref|mb4|4}} The residents of the Basin were not aware of the [[Southern Scadrians]] until the ''[[Brunstell]]'' crashed in Dulsing.{{book ref|mb6|21}}
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The outer cities have lobbied for years to have new rail routes set out in a loop but have been denied.
  
   
  +
==Footnotes==
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Despite the lack of a collective ruling body, constabularies throughout the Basin seem to have a degree of camaraderie.
  
  +
<references group=fn/>
   
 
== Notes ==
  
== Notes ==

Revision as of 01:39, 22 January 2022

Elendel Basin
Elendel Basin.png
by Isaac Stewart
Capital Elendel[1]
World Scadrial
Universe Cosmere

The Elendel Basin is a lush, fertile basin created by Harmony when he reshaped Scadrial as part of the Catacendre. It was purposefully designed to allow civilization to build itself back up over just a couple of generations.[2] It is named after Elend.

Geography and Ecology

Geography

The land of the Basin is almost perfectly circular, with the exception of the western coastline on the Sea of Yomend and the Sea of Lennes. Several mountain ranges define the outer edge of the Basin: the Channerel Range to the northwest, the Faleast Range to the northeast, and the Seran Range to the southeast. There are passes leading through these mountains out into the rugged frontier lands known as the Roughs.[3] The topography of the basin is generally flat and open, although some forested areas exist.[4]

The Basin's coastline matches up with the coastline in known maps of the Final Empire. The peninsula that contains Bilming can be seen on Final Empire maps, just west of the Ashmount Doriel.[5]

Elendel

The Basin largely revolves around the city of Elendel. The city is located near the center of the Basin and serves as a major port on the Sea of Yomend. The Basin's rivers, including the large Irongate River, are laid out like spokes on a wheel such that they each run through Elendel. Similarly, railway lines loosely mirror the paths of the rivers and almost every line runs through the capital.[3] Elendel itself is roughly circular and divided into octants by large canals,[6] with suburbs that lie outside of the urban core that blend into an agricultural area known as the Outer Estates.[7]

Outer Cities

Other cities in the Basin are collectively referred to as the "outer cities".[1][fn 1] Each city has its own unique character, with differing types of industry depending on their location, and in some cases different clothing and accents.[8][9]

Notable outer Cities labeled on known maps include the following:

Additionally, there are many other smaller settlements throughout the Basin. Many lie along railways, but there are also small, remote farming villages such as Dulsing.[1][10]

Ecology

The Basin is incredibly lush and verdant. All types of plant life grow exceptionally quickly, without the need for irrigation, and the land always stays fertile no matter how much it is farmed.[11] Little to no cultivation is required, and the only struggle for farmers is harvesting crops fast enough.[4][12] Fruit orchards are common, and other food crops include wheat, carrots, potatoes, and tomatoes.[1][12] Harmony has a direct hand in keeping the land so bountiful; the mists are used to refresh the land.[1] The mists themselves actually spread water and nutrients across the ground.[2]

Common domesticated animals include horses, cats, and dogs. Cows, pigs, and chickens are among the animals raised for meat.[13][14][15] Many other wild animals roam the lands and seas such as fish, octopuses,wolves, rabbits, boar, and various species of birds.[16][17][10]

Politics

The Basin functions as a de facto nation; Elendel's economic hegemony has allowed it to influence policy throughout the Basin, largely through taxation. The Basin itself was created by Harmony with canals and rivers running towards Elendel like the spokes of a wheel. New cities cropped up along the canals, but the canals only run to and from Elendel. When the first railways were laid, they followed the paths of the canals. Therefore, any city that wishes to trade goods with any city other than along its own spoke has to trade through Elendel, which places tariffs on many of these goods.[1]

Since Elendel remains the only city wealthy enough to create and maintain railways, the outer cities lack the resources to make themselves independent. Although Elendel is considered the capital of the Basin,[1] each city is administered locally and is not directly governed by Elendel. However, the city governments still feel constrained by their economic dependence on the capital. They have requested new railways to connect the main lines, but have been repeatedly denied by the seat of power in Elendel. These cities therefore believe they are being taxed twice to transport their goods: they pay levies to maintain the railways and canals, and then pay nearly unavoidable tariffs to ship their goods using these methods.[1]

Additionally, many citizens of Elendel remain ignorant of life in the outer cities,[1] in some cases openly mocking their innovations.[18] The taxation and disrespect has led to extreme animosity from the outer cities, and talk of possible civil war[16] that could lead to a fracture nation of city-states.[1]

People

The residents of the Basin are the direct descendants of the people who survived the Catacendre, known as the Originators. Around one fifth of the Originators were Terris, with the rest being either skaa or noble.[11] During the Catacendre, Harmony restored human genetics to the same state it had been prior to the Lord Ruler,[19] but people were still aware of their ancestry,[19] with many noble houses persisting after society was rebuilt. The residents generally have light skin, with the exception being the Terris, who naturally tend to have more skin color[20] and largely marry within their own ethnicity.[11]

Relatively few people live outside of the Basin in northern Scadrial. There are a few towns in the Roughs, but they have small populations.[11] The residents of the Basin were not aware of the Southern Scadrians until the Brunstell crashed in Dulsing.[21]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "Outer Cities" is capitalized in the broadsheets, including the Allomancer Jak stories, but is not capitalized elsewhere in the text.

Notes

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j The Bands of Mourning chapter 5#
  2. ↑ a b The Alloy of Law Annotations
    — Arcanum - 2014-03-14#
  3. ↑ a b Map of Elendel Basin
  4. ↑ a b Shadows of Self chapter 5#
  5. ↑ Isaac Stewart r/Stormlight_Archive AMA
    — Arcanum - 2019-10-01#
  6. ↑ Map of Elendel
  7. ↑ The Alloy of Law chapter 11#
  8. ↑ The Bands of Mourning chapter 10#
  9. ↑ The Bands of Mourning chapter 2#
  10. ↑ a b The Bands of Mourning chapter 15#
  11. ↑ a b c d The Alloy of Law chapter 4#
  12. ↑ a b The Bands of Mourning chapter 17#
  13. ↑ Shadows of Self chapter 6#
  14. ↑ Shadows of Self chapter 17#
  15. ↑ Shadows of Self prologue#
  16. ↑ a b The Bands of Mourning chapter 13#
  17. ↑ Shadows of Self chapter 10#
  18. ↑ The New Ascendancy broadsheet
  19. ↑ a b The Hero of Ages chapter 82#
  20. ↑ General Reddit 2015
    — Arcanum - 2015-12-17#
  21. ↑ The Bands of Mourning chapter 21#
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