Tesalim
Tesalim | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Aerial view | |
| Country |  Nucilandia |
| Voivodeship | Muruna |
| County | Tesa |
| Founded on | 31 May 2021 |
| Named for | Tesa River |
| Demonym | Tesalian |
Tesalim is a small town in the Muruna Voivodeship of the Kingdom of Nucilandia. The townsfolk speak the Nucian language and practice the Ciupitist religion. They are very religious, with totems placed all around the settlement.
Geography
Tesalim is surrounded by a large forest, hills, and mountains in the distance. The Tesa River runs along the south of the town, and a sizeable flat clearing to the east.
Layout
Tesalim is carefully organized to make optimal use of its natural surroundings and resources. Its layout reflects a balance between religious reverence, practical living, and strategic defense, making it a resilient and self-sufficient community.
Town Centre
The town center is marked by a circular arrangement of megalith stones, forming a significant religious and cultural focal point reminiscent of Stonehenge. Surrounding the megalith structure are totems facing each cardinal direction, symbolizing protection and guidance. A pathway circles them and then a row of buildings is placed along that road.
Defense
The town is encircled by cobblestone walls, without battlements, offering a sturdy but simple defense. Wooden gates provide controlled access points into and out of the town, and multiple wooden towers are positioned at key points along the walls in order to enhance security and surveillance.
Cemetery
The cemetery of Tesalim occupies a revered position within the town, extending from its north-eastern boundaries with a second layer of walls around it. The cemetery's design mirrors the town's defensive architecture, ensuring it is as well protected as the bustling settlement it serves.
Ascending up a nearby hill, the cemetery unfolds across multiple terraced levels, each laid out with graves, burrows and crypts. These resting places are not merely functional but are adorned with intricately carved symbols and totems, each bearing profound meaning that speaks to the life and beliefs of those interred within. It is here, amidst the quiet dignity of these markers, that the townsfolk gather to pay homage to their ancestors and to commune with the spirits believed to watch over Tesalim.
Beyond its spiritual and commemorative functions, the cemetery serves as a hub of cultural continuity and communal identity. Regular ceremonies and rituals, conducted with solemnity and reverence, reinforce the bonds between the living and the departed. Through these rituals, the townsfolk ensure the perpetual harmony between the realms of the living and the dead.
Megalith ring
The town is encircled by a ring of megalith stones on the outside, strategically placed on hilltops and mounds to maximise visibility. Revered for their mystical properties, these stones form a protective barrier believed to shield the town from physical and supernatural threats, particularly against Îmhe.
Agricultural zone
To the east of the town lies a large, flat clearing. It is utilised in its entirety for agriculture, where the townsfolk cultivate crops to sustain the community.
Economy
Tesalim makes good use of the surrounding environment and its resources, engaging in:
- Woodcutting
- Mining
- Hunting
- Farming
The town is mostly self-sufficient but engages in trade with other settlements in the region.
History
Tesalim has experienced periods of strife, including:
- Food shortages
- Harsh winters
- Bloody raids by the Zaganians
Despite these challenges, the town has always endured and recovered, continuing to grow and develop over time.