Tarabon

 

 

Tarabon lies just south of the Almoth Plain and west of the Mountains of Mist. To the west is the Aryth Ocean and to the south is the Shadow Coast.

 

Tarabon is ruled jointly by a King and a Panarch, who are both elected by the Assembly of Lords. They are both equal in authority. The Panarch collects taxes, customs and controls the Civil Watch. Her personal guard is the Panarch’s Legion. The King is responsible for spending the collected revenue properly, controlling the army and overseeing the High Court. His personal guard is the King’s Life Guard. The Assembly of Lords has only one political function - the election of the King and the Panarch (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 11).

 

 

Tarabon was once a great trading nation and a major source of fine rugs, dyes, fireworks, and other luxury goods but the nation has recently fallen on hard times.  Historically Tarabon has spent nearly 300 years squabbling with Arad Doman over the control of the Almoth Plain, but only in the last year has this conflict come to all-out war (The Great Hunt, Chapter 4). Unfortunately Tarabon has also been forced into conflict with the Dragonsworn, and the resulting dual conflict has strained resources and caused civil war (The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 8).

 

 

Tanchico

 

Tanchico is spread over the steep hills around Tanchico Bay at the mouth of the River Andahar and the great harbour is usually crowded with ships of all kinds. Three separate peninsulas jut into the harbour, the Verana to the East, the Maseta in the centre and the Calpene nearest the sea. These are guarded by a dozen fortresses that surround the harbour. Each of the peninsulas has a circle or assembly arena among its buildings. The smallest of these, the Great Circle on the Calpene peninsula, can hold thousands of people to watch horse races or the displays of illuminations. The largest arena is the King’s Circle, located on the Maseta. The Panarch’s Circle is slightly smaller and is located on the Verana, along with the Panarch’s Palace (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 11).

 

 

 

Tarabon’s capital city, Tanchico, may be of one of the oldest surviving cities on the continent. It’s historians claim that part of the Panarch’s Palace was built as far back as the Age of Legends (The World of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time). The Panarch’s Palace is seated on top of one of Tanchico’s hills. Its central hall is lined with rows of white columns and lit from tiny carvings in the wall just below the ceiling and contains a grand display of all types of ancient artefacts. The exhibit includes priceless cuendillar figures, rare sculptures and even an angreal (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 11). It is open to the public for three days each month as well as on feast days.

 

Tarabon’s Feast Days are below but you should apply to the Panarch’s Palace in writing for the exact dates.

 

- Feast of Abram – the 9th day of Jumara

- The Feast of Freia – The 21^st day of Adar,

- Bailene – The 9th day of Amadaine

- Genshai – The 3^rd day of Tammaz. (Brightly coloured ribbons are worm by both men and women)

- The Festival of Lanterns – The 1st day of Choren.

 

 

Due to the recent trouble, the area on the Calpene near the Great Circle has become a haunt for homeless refugees. All the shops in the area have permanently closed. Cutthroats and thieves have always been a part of the city, but now they nearly rule the streets. Nobles’ bodyguards have become a necessity.  Claimants to the throne are a constant threat to the fragile balance of power (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 9).

 

 

 

Banner: The Golden Tree on a field vertically striped red and white, four red three white

 

Panarch’s banner and sigil: Same but with the addition of a green staff behind the tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customs & Costumes

 

In Tarabon it is considered impolite to go with your face uncovered except when eating or drinking. As a result, both men and women wear a transparent veil across the face. When anonymity is required, they may even wear a mask to completely hide their features. Taraboner men often sport facial hair under the veil in the form of a thick moustache, and wear a dark cylindrical cap on their thick dark hair. Both lords and commoners wear baggy white trousers and coats embroidered with scrollwork on the shoulders, though the lords’ coats are usually of finer material and their much more elaborate embroidery is often gold. Loose fitting shirts with embroidered chests are worn under the coats. Occasionally the trousers are embroidered as well (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 11). Noblewomen may veil their faces, but they do not believe in hiding their figures. They wear clinging gowns of thin silk that are almost as revealing as those worn by Domani women (The World of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Manora al’Sara – Accepted to the Blue Ajah