Society Name Daenj World Placement
Riverlands, along the Denevrosaleza and Susurou river valleys, and areas of the western and southern Tuente Hills.
Society Concept Jalani society that has been heavily influenced by Itasu and Hssuga cultures.
Terrain Mountains and rolling forested hills make up over half of Daenj's territory.  The remainder is fertile river plains descending from the hills toward the Pelou River to the northeast. 
Climate Mostly Temperate, ranging from Warm Temperate in the southern hills, to Cool Temperate in the foothills to the northwest.  Daenj receives very little direct precipitation in the lowlands, but its rivers are fed year-round by precipitation in the mountains to the west.
Society Age Age Value 7 Society Scope 6
Years 822 Society Location Daenj
Founding Date AV -89 Geographic Size Medium Country / Region
Population 278,000
Related Narrative Environments
Major Heritage Groups Daenji (Jalani Human), Jyvelan (Jalani Human)
Minor Heritage Groups Itasu (Itasu Human), Pelosi (Haseni Human), Staka (Cheyhro Human), Drushae (Drushae), Shub'gun (Hssuga), Hsytha (Hssuga).
Background Templates Eskrime (Fencing) Instruction, Metiko (Physician) Training, Privileged Education

Orientation Equilibrium Passive Isolation Value 11
Aspects Tradition (Cultural Maturity) Daenj is not extremely difficult to reach, although only two neighboring societies have easy access routes.  Daenj is surrounded on three sides by mountains or ranges of hills, and can only reach the ocean by travelling the length of the Pelou River to Merochas (passing through Pelos, Jyvelik, and Belaquin territory in route).
Conviction (Philisophical Ideals)
Technology Value 16 Interaction Value 8
Areas of Emphasis Daenji culture emphasizes artistry over all else - technological developments must be shown to have aesthetic merit before they will be generally accepted and exploited. Daenj interacts with neighboring societies on a limited basis.  Trade is limited to necessary or overwhelmingly desired products (both for export and import), and requires lengthy diplomatic negotiations.  Few travellers pass through Daenj en route to another destination - Daenj does not lie astride any major trade routes.
Daenji culture does not favor external cultural influences, and thus is reluctant to import new products or ideas.
Rate of Advancement 6
Rate of Assimilation 8 Subsistance
Major Fully Agricultural
Innovation Minor Fully Agricultural
Dominant Material 17
Power / Manufacturing 16 Societal Mobility Sedentary
Agriculture / Environment 16 Subclassification
Building / Architecture 16
Transport / Communication 16 Kinship
Ascendant Non-dominant
Military 16
Miscellaneous 15 Lineage Determinant Omnidirectional
Cultural 15 Inheritance Pattern Partible

Political Infrastructure Advanced Absolute Economic Infrastructure
Despotism Exchange System Buying & Selling
Power 9 Economy Type Currency
Authority 9
Consent 8
Constitutional Support 8
Legal Complexity 7
Military Infrastructure Resource Value 12
Primary Force Feudal

6

 Mining (iron, copper, tin, gems)
Timber (hardwoods and specialty woods)
Agriculture (viticulture, orchards, croplands, herds)
Esoterics (enchantments and augmentants)
42,000 Feudal levies (primarily heavy infantry, supported by some light cavalry and crossbowmen).
Supplementary Forces (Standing Conscript) Exploitation 15 75%
6,000 Archers and Light Infantry from mountain provinces - used for border patrols, bandit suppression, and general duty. Daenj exploits most of its available resources.  Primarily, these resources are internal, rather than trade.
Relations 4 Trade 7
Daenj has cool relations with Jyvelik, and is worried about Mylharran intrusion to the north in Pelos, with whom Daenj has historically tense relations. Daenj trades on a limited basis with neighboring cultures, but seldom actively seeks trade.

Religion Scholastics
Tolerance 13 Tolerance 13
Prevalence 13 Prevalence 12
Diversity 13 Diversity 10
The Jalani pantheon is dominant, although the Zhaol gods are becoming more popular.  Several syncretic movements are attempting to establish philosophical links between the Jalani gods and the Zhaol gods.
Despite the difficulties inherent in such philosophical contortionism, these movements are gaining in popularity, even among the followers of the Jalani pantheon.
So far, there is little evidence of deific displeasure.		 Daenji scholars are divided between Humanists (who favor newer, Human cultural interpretations) and Classicists (who insist that traditional Hsugga interpretations and philosophies are supreme).  Daenji scholarship is pre-occupied with philosophical implications of new discoveries, and scholars often spend decades constructing elaborate defenses of the philosophical implications of a new discovery before even mentioning it to friends or colleagues.
Arts Magic
Tolerance 15 Tolerance 13
Prevalence 14 Prevalence 13
Diversity 8 Diversity 14
Although formalized, the arts flourish in Daenj.  Unlike its neighbor Jyvelik, Daenji artistic formulas promote originality within a broad range of accepted techniques.  Daenji artists continue to produce stunning works in painting, music, dance, and sculpture.  Daenji literature is highly specialized, and does not translate well into other dialects or languages.  For this reason, Daenji literature is seldom encountered outside of Daenj. Mana is the only openly approved secular Origin (Alchemy is considered a sub-Origin of Mana in Daenji culture - the two are always taught together).  Psychic powers are tacitly accepted, although public approval varies.
Spiritism especially is considered dangerous and akin to Necromancy.
Sorcery is distrusted as a foreign philosophy, and its practitioners are few.

Status
Primary Foundation Tradition Kinship Custom of Status 7
Daenji Caste structure is the primary determinant of status.  Although one can change castes, it is extremely difficult to increase one's status by changing castes (it is relatively easier to decrease it, although still not common). Rigidity of Status 7
Daenji Caste structure defines a number of customary behaviors and distinctions between castes.  Changing these behaviors is commonly regarded as being reserved as a prerogative of the ruling class or the gods.  It would be presumptuous of lesser mortals to do so.  Thus, regardless of the specific beliefs of any individual Daenji, he is likely to ascribe his status and that of others as the will of higher powers.
Secondary Foundation Tradition Cultural
Daenji cultural traditions also specify some relative status distinctions between members of the same caste.  Generally, those who serve higher caste members have slightly higher status among their own caste.  There are a few exceptions, however, especially among members of the ruling and privileged status archetypes.
Other Foundations Power Political
Among the higher castes, political power does override cultural traditions, and in some unusual cases, even the expected status differences between castes.
Capability Artistic
Artistic talent is highly regarded, and can mute caste differences or even result in de facto increase in status above one's caste, if the talent one displays is significantly higher than is typically found among one's birth caste.  This is regarded as a sign from the gods that the individual in question is of a higher caste than his parents.  In a few historical instances, this has resulted in a permanent increase in caste for members of that lineage.

Personal Freedom
Vertical Aspects Horizontal Aspects
Physical Exploitation
Slavery is a common and accepted practice in Daenj, including some forms of hereditary slavery.