Sardiphadin Ideas

Traditions
+50% Chance of New Heir
+10% Morale of Armies

Silk-Capital of RahenSardiphadin means silk, and silk means Sardiphadin. This common saying in the region has been true for roughly as long as the city itself, which grew out of an encampment where multiple silk-weavers joined together their businesses. Since those early days it has flourished, even despite the various warlords of Rahen and the theft of their secrets. In the renewed Harimraj, it has become a rival to Dhenijansar itself in its magnificence, due to its nigh-monopoly on the realm's silk supply.\n\nRedglades silk might be cheaper, Bulwari silk more plentiful. But no one in Halann has a material as fine, embroidery as elegant, or colours as radiant as Sardiphadin silk. (Or at least, so they would have you believe.)
+15% Production Efficiency

Thieves From the WestFor most in Halann, the event that divides history into a before and an after is the Day of Ashen Skies. But for Sardiphadin, a different nigh-apocalypse happened five centuries prior, when in 503 BA visiting Zanbari merchants snuck into a silk facility and absconded with a few silkworms, along with the secrets of silk production. Sardiphadin's greatest secret was out, and would never be recaptured.\n\nEven centuries after, the scars still go deep: from a reflexive distrust of foreigners, to the rumored secret police that patrol the city and keep its dealings well-hidden.
+25% Foreign Spy Detection

The Temple of TowersRendered in great detail on Sardiphadin's flag, the Temple of Towers was the brainchild of a particularly wealthy silk merchant with a passion for architecture. A lavish complex composed of numerous soaring spires, silk ribbons blowing atop each, it has been the city's distinctive landmark ever since its construction. Still, for most, it is largely associated with Harimar the Great.\n\nDuring his rapid conquests after unifying the harimari living in the Jungles of Ascension, Sardiphadin was one of the first major cities to bow to his rule. It is said that, upon receiving their surrender, Harimar climbed to the Temple of Towers' highest point. There, he proclaimed that all he saw would soon bow before him — and he was right.
-1% Prestige Decay

Direct Cannorian TradeIn the 1800s, following the opening of the Jashar Canal in Jasiir Jadid, Cannorian traders flooded into Rahen. This gave Sardiphadin the opportunity to market their silks directly to these wealthy buyers, rather than having to rely on Bulwari merchants to transport them. This served two purposes: they could avoid working with those untrustworthy thieves, and also maximize their own profits. Soon, Sardiphadin silks could be seen as far away as Anbenncóst or even in Marlliande's most lavish estates.
+10% Domestic Trade Power
+10% Trade Range

Silken Slave SoldiersFor almost as long as Sardiphadin has been rich, the question of how to protect those riches has loomed. For roughly as long, most of its ruling class have chosen the same answer: rely on the ever-loyal slave soldiers of Bhuvauri. They already know the secrets of silk-production, so there are no costs to letting them into Sardiphadin's inner-most sanctums, and they are sworn to protect their charge with their lives. At its peak, the Harimraj banned such practices, treating the Bhuvauri more as foe than friend, but as the ministries grew corrupt Sardiphadin was quick to take advantage. A number of companies have been on direct retainer from Bhuvauri for decades now, and these contracts are the bedrock of Sardiphadin's defenses.\n\nSome thought to reconsider this arrangement after the "Typhoon of Broken Vases" in 1699 AA, when the Bhuvauri were bribed by Lorent with vast sums of money and exclusive Cannorian trade rights to turn on their employers in the Porcelain Cities (recompense for the execution of an elven diplomat accused of porcelain espionage). But their voices were far and few between, and the next regiment that rotated onto Sardiphadin's walls was adorned in porcelain jewellery.
+5% Mercenary Discipline

Weaving New FlagsThe 16th century saw a number of new powers rise in Rahen. From the sprawling Jadd Empire forged out of the nomadic Jaddari, to the unification of many Ghankedhen families in Rahen's west, to the resurgent harimari state of Vanrahar, never-before-seen states arose into major power players. And each, of course, needed a new flag to symbolize their new status.\n\nSardiphadin was always quick to leap at this opportunity. One of the first envoys each new monarch would receive was a silk-merchant from Sardiphadin, bearing a rendition of the new banner in finest silk. This gift would pay great dividends — Sardiphadin could expect an order for more renditions within a year, and it always ingratiated these rising powers to the City of Silk.
+1 Diplomatic Reputation

The Edict of SardiphadinOne of the many reforms that Manava, Harimar's grandson, passed was the Edict of Sardiphadin. It established the new system of castes in Rahen. While it was received with mixed enthusiasm throughout the wider region, in the south it was readily integrated into legislation and many of the native Raheni took everything decreed by their benevolent harimari overlords as gospel.
-1 National Unrest

Ambition
+1 Diplomats