Kristiana natt jekand!

Kristiana is a small city in the northern region of Laskland, called Gudshjälm. It is best described as being midway between suburban and rural, with a concentrated hub in the centre. Despite its small size and wealth, it has garnered an unusual reputation for its resilience and its idiosyncratic residents. Historically, it has been the birthplace of many religious iconoclasts, monks, and clergymen, leading it to earn the moniker of "the holy city".

In the 18th and 19th centuries, it functioned as a trading hub between the two larger empires of Ostmark and Fära, due to its advantageous position as a peninsula. A volcanic eruption in the late 19th century, commonly known as the 1875 Askta eruption, destroyed much of the city's infrastructure, and large sections of it were rebuilt further north and inland. This not only caused untold damage and costs, but also exacerbated the geographic isolation between it and Laskland's capital, Keilska. Kristiana has never quite recouped its losses, and many of its younger residents are choosing to move to Keilska and other larger cities. Nonetheless, Kristiana has some enclaves that continue to thrive; for example, there are many immigrant communities and active indigenous groups in Kristiana, some of which are regaining much of their agency in the wake of lax regulations and bureaucratic red tape. The most populous and well-known of these groups is the Sacha.

Despite the increasing plurality of culture, language, and religions in Kristiana, the majority faith remains to be Christianity, and ethnic Laskians make up over three-quarters of the total population. Kristiana is "sister cities" with Jeska, a town located on Laskland's largest island of the same name. Together, the two cities are known to have strange and ambiguous reputations, as represented in folktales and urban legends.

Geography

Location

Kristiana sits at the foot of the Hauvetian Mountains, in the heart of Laskland. It is bisected by the Gudshjälm River Valley, which flows out into the Ajjesar Sea. To the direct south of Gudshjälm province is the Taarimi Peninsula, where the capital, Keilska, is located. Most of Kristiana is covered in boreal and deciduous forests; approximately 70% of its area can be classified as taiga, with temperate regions becoming common as one travels further south, and along the coastline.

Climate

Kristiana's climate can be categorized with the Köppen climate category of Dfc, or a subarctic climate. The D indicates that it is a continental climate, with the coldest winters measuring below 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit). The f indicates that it is without a dry season (neither dry winter nor a dry summer), while the third letter, c, indicates that it is regular subarctic (as opposed to severely cold), where the coldest month is between -3 degrees Celsius (26.6 °F) and -38 degrees Celsius (-36.4 °F). ^[1]

Culture

Known as the "Holy City", Kristiana has functioned for centuries as a cultural and religious outpost of Laskland. Before the 1875 Askta volcanic eruption, it played a role analagous to Vatican City, housing the epicenter of the Samme Church. Although its influence today is only a shadow of its former self, the Östanbäck Monastery and accompanying cathedral, which are located at the heart of the city, are still seen as the de facto ecclesiastical backbone. According to a recent census, almost eight in ten of the city's population is actively religious; half are clergy, or involved in some level in the management of a church. Several famous theologians, writers, and artists have either lived or were born in Kristiana. Among them are Isak Hjartarson, painter, Noach Helmer, stagewright, and Naum Wrona, the founder of the Gudshjälm Divinity School. In recent years, Kristiana has suffered somewhat of a "brain drain", as the work force has left to live in larger cities, creating a vicious cycle that has led to economic and technological stagnation. As a consequence, its modern reputation has shifted towards it being backwater and bleak, though the broader opinion of Lasklanders (especially of the older generations) is still generally a positive one.

Religion

Weird and eerie gnostic/Christian amalgamation?

Folklore

Monsters and ghosts.

Language

Lashmal history, grammar, vocabulary and sample texts.

Dress

Traditional clothing.

Östanbäck Monastery

One of, if not the biggest monastery in Laskland (and the one Inge plans to go to).

References

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subarctic_climate#Description