New Haven is a township established sometime between 413 to 415 officially. It is not a town known by any governing body nearby, and its location is hidden among waves and distance. Its discovery was nothing short of a godsend to those pilgrims that had initially set out for it.
In the arc of 413, a group of 31 scientists, their heritages mixed but largely Nashaki, foresaw the doom of Quacia and fled the city by boat. Their small fleet, mainly of rafts, poorly put together schooners, or stolen ships. Although it isn’t recorded how many had reached the island, those who were lucky enough to reach its shores found sanctuary. It was forgiving, but they were not a group of survivalists. They were scientists, bringing with them books and other such instruments of academia, some of which have survived even to this trial, including books written in Common and Vahanic. Yet, even the most forgiving of regions, if unassisted, meant death.
And then, finally, seven remained.
Desperate, one of the seven, whose name was lost but whose memory is revered by the name of One, was a Defiance mage. Although perhaps not the most notable, his abilities were absolutely remarkable, and the island itself, with its mountain, its caverns, and the ocean surrounding it, was a perfect setting for those imbued with the gift of Defiance to thrive. Miraculously, all six of the individuals he had gifted the spark to survived, but he, as a result of overextending his abilities, perished. However, with the gift of Defiance, the remaining six of 31 scientists were able to secure, for themselves, a home. Slowly, a village was built on the island, establishing the township of New Haven.
In the arcs following its origin, its society began reflecting its isolationist, utilitarian state. Its social structure and culture splintered from Quacia, and revolved itself around the magic which allowed it to be built - Defiance.
New Haven’s society, although with the pitiful population of only roughly 60 individuals, is culturally rich.
The inhabitants, whether or not they have been granted the gift of Defiance, revere the world around them, meditating and respecting the island around them, even going so far as to create a signed language assothat nearly perpetual silence would allow for better meditation. As well as this, every individual on the island is trained in a custom form of bo staff combat, both for self defence, and as a form of Dancing with the elements, although this is the only form of Dancing that the inhabitants of New Haven remember.
As previously mentioned, New Haven’s society is based around the gift of Defiance, although not all individuals are given the gift, as it is referred to. At age fifteen, a child is considered for Reception, the ceremony wherein six individuals are chosen by each of the six masters of The Gift, each one representing an original founder of New Haven. If it is deemed that the child has proven themselves an asset to island, a master of The Gift may choose to ready them for Reception. Reception, being the highest honor an individual from New Haven could undertake, although a decision not taken lightly (due to the high risk of death), it is an offer almost always received positively. Those initiated into an air kinship are taken to the crest of the mountain local to Outside Island and asked to leap. Those initiated into a water kinship are taken into the ocean, tied down with weights, and asked to swim back to shore. Those initiated into an earth kinship are sealed in one of the caverns, natural or manmade, and asked to return to the surface. And, finally, those initiated into a fire kinship are set aflame, and asked not to run into the sea.
The inhabitants of New Haven have all but forgotten about the world outside of their island. They haven’t dared leave, believing their safety would be compromised the moment they set foot on alien land. They have been completely secluded since the Cataclysm. Only one individual has ever left New Haven.
His name is
Quiet.
Developed by: Quiet
