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Derinkuyu & Kaymakli

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MATURE MATERIAL WARNING!
WARNING: This page contains material exceeding the general board rating of PG-13. It may contain very strong language, drug usage, graphic violence, or graphic sexual content. Reader discretion is advised.

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The twin cities of Derinkuyu and Kaymakli were originally inhabited by jackals hiding from wolf prejudice and hostility. The cities are ruled by an oligarchy composed of the six wealthiest and most influential jackal families. The cities tend to be very xenophobic due to the large amount of conflict they have experienced during the years of their existence. They are also renowned for their massive slave market serving as the center of the overland trade route for slaves. Wolves generally refer to the cities under the nickname Sodom and Gomorrah due to the many atrocities that occur within them.

1.  Description

Derinkuyu and Kaymakli are actually two different cities with a roughly four mile separation between the two. However, they are connected by an underground tunnel that allows citizens of the cities to travel in between them without having to risk the dangers of the surface. Kaymakli is the more populated of the two cities and contains the slave pits where slaves are trained and broken in as well as providing housing for lower class jackals. Kaymakli is also only open to citizens of the cities with special exceptions sometimes being made for foreign jackals (never wolves or dogs). A constant ambience of the torture, screams, and death of slaves permeates the city and can prove to be very unsettling for foreigners who manage to gain access to it.

Derinkuyu is the nicer of the two cities by comparison serving as the living quarters for many of the wealthier jackals. It contains the slave markets where "finished products" are sold and new slaves purchased. It is also home to the Temple of Fire; the center of both cities religious practices and the home of the Magi. Underground rivers beneath both Derinkuyu and Kaymakli also ensures a constant supply of water even when the cities are cut off from the surface for whatever reason.

Derinkuyu and Kaymakli serve as a crossroads for slavery both in Europe and the middle East. Most of their slaves are captured in the surrounding countryside or are purchased from slavers heading north from Africa. These slaves are then trained and sold to European slavers crossing through Istanbul to drop of their wares at Bucharest and other European cities. For this reason Istanbul is extremely important for the survival of the economy of the cities due to the link it provides to Europe.

A small shanty town comprised of dog slavers lies just outside of the city. It was created as a resting point for the slavers as only jackals are permitted to remain in the city during the night. Wolf slavers who are willing to risk being captured can also set up agreements with the dogs found in this camp having them sell slaves in their place. Prolonged forays within the camps are unwise however as the jackals of the cities will not hesitate to immediately enslave any wolves they find, slavers or not.

Many jackal shepherds and fruit farmers also reside outside of the cities providing food. They pledge fealty to the merchants of the cities and can be relied upon to support the cities during times of wars.

2.  Significance

If your area has a particular influence on 'Souls (e.g., a large number of immigrants come from this area, or a pack was founded on the basic beliefs of this area) write about it here! List any families that originate in your area:

• Families

3.  Culture

Jackals within the city are all blood purists refusing to mate with any other canine race besides jackals except for dogs, who they see as perfect breeding material for docile servants.

Families are typically composed of a single family patriarch who represents and commands the other jackals within his family (essentially a clan). They are responsible for addressing any grievances other patriarchs might have with their family and overseeing their families wellbeing. Patriarchs are also responsible with reaching agreements with other patriarchs to provide their children with husbands and wives. Incest is fairly common amongst families and is not generally frowned upon. Patriarchs also tend to possess a large harem of female jackals and some male jackals; non-patriarchs forbidden from doing so. Male jackals who choose to be in harems generally do so to raise their place in society or to escape the disappointment or abuse of their former patriarch. Many unmarried non-patriarch males use slaves to sate their desires. So long as any accidental children are killed (in the case of wolf slaves) the practice is not frowned upon.

The caste system plays a large part in who a patriarch will be able to marry his children to. Moving up the castes is extremely rare for a family.

3.1  Species

The Syrian Jackal subspecies makes up the majority of the population (85%). European jackals account for an additional 10% and a handful of common golden jackals comprise the last 5%. Wolves and dogs are permitted to enter the cities but are forbidden from staying the night.

Luperci

All the jackals within the city are luperci preferring to remain in optime form. Non-luperci are regarded as savages and any non-luperci slaves are forcibly infected with the virus as a "charitable act". Non-luperci who are not slaves are not permitted into the cities unless they undergo infection.

Servants

Servants are jackal-dog hybrids living within the city. They are not slaves and have the same rights as any jackal citizen. Servants are required to follow the orders of the family that birthed them or took them in upon entering the city (foreign jackal dog hybrids are permitted to live in the city if they swear allegiance to a family willing to sponsor them). While technically having a place in the caste system just above foreigners servants are considered to share in the caste of their family. Servants serving upper class families may lead better lives than lower class jackals. Pureblooded jackals can choose to become servants or be demoted to the servant caste if punished although the process is seen as disgraceful. A servant can never move up in the caste system.

Slaves

Slaves are wolves, dogs, or wolf-dog hybrids who have been captured by slavers and taken to the cities. Slaves have no rights and are considered to be the equivalent of livestock. During times of famine slaves may be killed and consumed for food and are often subjected to various demeaning and painful tasks. Care is usually taken to ensure no permanent damage comes to slaves while they are being "broken in" to their new duties but if a slave is rebellious enough no hesitation will be taken to punish them in the most brutal ways imaginable. Personal slaves of jackals within the cities face the most difficult hardships as they are in the uncomfortable position of being completely expandable to their owners who can usually afford to easily purchase another slave or replace them within moments.

3.2  Lifestyle

Language

Turkish and Arabic are the two main languages of the cities. However, it is encouraged that citizens learn additional languages as easy communication helps to facilitate trade.

Residence

The closer one lives to the surface and the more ease of access one has to the outside is generally seen as an indicator of wealth within the city.

Upper class families own almost all of the available space in Derinkuyu using the plethora of rooms they possess to provided spacious living quarters, private underground stables, and other extravagances unknown to the poor. Servants and slaves constantly maintain all aspects of their households for them.

Middle class jackals live in the lower rooms of Derinkuyu or upper rooms of Kaymakli. Their rooms tend to be smaller yet still remain comfortably sizable. Middle class jackals also often can afford a few luxuries of their own but generally can't afford to be as decadent as their upper class peers.

Lower class jackals tend to live in the much more cramped residences of lower Kaymakli. Serfs don't actually own the land they live on instead working for the family who owns their rooms. Poor living conditions are not uncommon amongst such homes and drug addicts and other shady characters become increasingly prevalent as one moves downwards.

At the very bottom of Kaymakli are the slave pits. These are a collection of extremely small rooms where slaves are packed in dozens at a time. Diseases such as are not uncommon and diseased slaves may find themselves quarantined in even worse quarters if they're not careful to hide their condition. Most of the slave pits contain minimal lighting and special rooms with no light whatsoever and other horrific conditions are specially reserved for slaves who defy their captors.

Technology

The residents of Derinkuyu maintain a bronze age level of technology with occasional iron tools scavenged from ruins or recovered from traders. Most of the higher quality and more sophisticated goods are bartered for from traders. Mining and tunneling techniques have also slowly begun to develop due to their necessity.

Practices

In order to tell them apart from other jackals servants have their ears pierced as soon as they're old enough. This has also led to a stigma against foreigners with ear piercings who visit the city.

All slaves are collared and leashed in a bid to further demean and humiliate them.

3.3  Structure

The cities are ruled by an oligarchy of the the six wealthiest and influential jackal families. Jackals within the cities tend to be grouped into tightly knit family units based around some trade skill. The city also possesses a caste system:

• Oligarchs: Jackals who are directly related to the six ruling families.
• Merchants: Those jackals who own slaves and are active participants in the slave trade.
• Magi: priests of the Zoroastrian religion responsible for the maintenance and rituals of the Temple within Derinkuyu.
• Warriors: Jackals who protect the cities from their enemies, both within and without. They also are responsible for capturing and enslaving any wolves they come across.
• Serfs: Lower class jackals responsible for handling labor heavy tasks, shepherding, crafting, painting, and other trade skills unrelated to slavery.
• Wives: Female jackals. They are responsible for birthing and raising children. They are only permitted to mate with their husband. Marriages are arranged.
• Servants: Jackal-Dog hybrids. They are personal slaves owned by the family they were created from. Crimes against servants are treated much more severely than crimes against ordinary slaves.
• Foreigners/Immigrants: Those newly arrived or temporarily staying in the city for trade purposes.
• Slaves: Trained and broken in to achieve better prices when they are sold. May be used as a food source during periods of famine.

Law

• Bisexuality is permitted within the cities but homosexuality is not. Exclusively or excessively entering romances with other males is frowned upon and may lead to persecution.
• The Muslim faith is not to be practiced within both cities and will result in execution to those who do.
• Unwarranted rape, murder, and torture of another jackal citizen will be punished with castration, execution, and disfigurement respectively.
• Killing and abuse of slaves is fine so long as their owner is paid for any damages. If the instigator is unable or unwilling to pay for the damages they will be forced into temporary indentured servitude working for their debtor.
• Servants receive the same protections as jackal citizens but are required to follow their family's (and only their family's) orders unquestioningly.
• Enslavement of pure blooded jackals will result in immediate execution.
• All wolves are considered to be the equivalent of livestock both within the cities and outside of them. It is perfectly fine to enslave, rape, torture, and steal from any wolves who are not already slaves.

Relations

Due to the assistance provided by the cities to the Jackals who now inhabit Jerusalem most wolves, especially those inhabiting Beirut hold a serious grudge against them. Their reputation within wolf communities was not helped when they invaded Istanbul. In addition, many canines resent their excessive use of slavery and the brutality it entails.

The cities were also involved in a particularly violent civil war between the followers of the Muslim faith and Zoroastrianism. The majority of the Muslim jackals within the cities were thrown out leading to resentment both within and outside of the city by those still loyal to the Muslim faith. Occasional infighting and invasions instigated by Muslim jackals still occur resulting in political instability within the cities.

3.4  Religion

The official religion of the cities is Zoroastrianism. Many residents of the city used to practice the Muslim faith prior to the cities civil war. However, the practice of the Muslim faith is now officially banned within the cities. Those found breaking this ban are immediately executed, although this has not stopped several jackals from practicing the faith in secret.

Wolves are considered to be followers of Angra Mainyu (creator of all evil) and producers of druj (decay, evil, chaos, ignorance). Jackals and dogs are considered to be servants of Ahura Masda (Creator of all good) and should strive to embrace asha (enlightenment, creation, order, good). However, dogs are far to tame to ever accomplish anything on their own and require the guidance of jackals.

Creation Legends

Are there any myths widely believed by the populations there regarding the creation of Luperci, the creation of wolves, the creation of that particular society? These are sometimes better to include than a detailed history—they're generally brief, fantastical, and easy to remember, and thus easy to pass from character to characters.

Deities

• Ahura Masda: The creator of all good and the force of asha.
• Angra Mainyu: The creator of all evil and the force of druj.

Symbols

Fire and water are considered extremely holy to the jackals of the cities as they are the wellsprings of all life. It is not uncommon to see paintings, jewelry, and tattoos based around these two elements within the city walls.

Religious Order

The Temple of Fire in Derinkuyu serves as the center of the Zoroastrian faith. The temple and any ceremonies conducted within it is overseen by the Magi.

Practices

Do your canines have any particular practices, rituals, or pervasive beliefs? Perhaps the canines from your area are exceptionally superstitious. Ceremonies and the like can be listed here.

Ceremonies

If your canines celebrate particular holidays or religious observances, describe them here. This space can also be used for the description of rituals and the like.

3.5  History

• 2000-2002: Wolf army lays siege to the cities for their assistance to the jackals of Jerusalem. They are eventually forced to stop the siege with attempts to starve the jackals of the cities into a surrender largely unsuccessful.
• 2005-2007: Civil war breaks out amongst the cities with the King of Derinkuyu supporting Zoroastrianism (in addition to laws allowing homosexuality and hedonism) and the King of Kaymakli supporting the Muslim faith (in addition to laws supporting Sharia Law). Kaymakli loses the war and the remaining Muslim jackals are thrown out greatly reducing the population of both cities.
• 2008-2009: Those jackals cast out from civil war return with an army provided by those outside the cities who sympathized with their plight. They lay siege to the city using thier knowledge of the territory to their advantages. However, they are ultimately defeated by the hastily created slave army utilized by the outnumbered residents of the cities.
• 2011: An unsuccessful coup against the Kings by Muslim jackals within the cities is launched.
• 2013: Istanbul closes off trade with the cities and their clients in an attempt to stop the slave trade. The cities send a small army to invade Istanbul and force them to reopen the city to slavers.

4.  References

• References are awesome!