Jhembaz

Jhembaz (pronounced /dʒɛmˈbɑːz/) is a worlddisk in the plane of Qabede which is entirely covered with a thick layer of trees, vines, and other plants. The foliage extends even over the world's oceans, and is at its center as thick as the earth of the disk itself. There are civilized nations on Jhembaz, but they are built into and among the treetops, and have boundaries in three dimensions; nations and city-states may be layered one over the other.

Geography

Unlike many worlddisks of Qabede, Jhembaz is not rimmed by water, and does not have a giant waterfall cascading off its edge—either upward or downward. There are, however, several such spacefalls falling onto Jhembaz, from the worlds above. The water pools into a number of seas and other bodies, in several layers; aside from the bodies of water directly set into the surface of the world, there are arboreal seas above the ground held entirely by dense plant growths. The ultimate outlet for the water in Jhembaz is through the Bottomless Sea, where it mixes with the water from the other side of the disk and eventually disperses into the air of that side as a thick mist.

Jhembaz is sometimes referred to as a jungle world, and with good reason. Thick foliage covers the entire disk, even extending over the oceans. This is not to say, however, that the entire world is covered by uniform terrain. Different climates and different types and combinations of plants make for varied terrains which, while they could all be classified as "jungle", have very distinct appearances and characteristics.

Creatures

Given its profusion of plant life, it shouldn't be a surprise that Jhembaz is home to many strange and exotic varieties of plant. While there are many kinds of tree and vine that are unique to Jhembaz but otherwise fairly unremarkable, there are also many kinds that have unusual properties. One notable plant is the deertree, which grows fruit called deerfruit that mimic the shape and behavior of animals. On the Great Island grows the Dreaming Tree, a unique organism that affects the dreams of those nearby and channels powers through them.

But Jhembaz is home to a variety of animal life, as well. Humans live on Jhembaz, as well as a number of types of paque, among the most common of which are half-monkeys, half-newts, and various varieties of half-fish. Among the wildlife native to Jhembaz are numerous kinds of monkey and treefish, as well as more exotic creatures such as the burrbat, the spider lizard, and the viperbird. There are also many unusual invertebrates on Jhembaz, including the madut and the legwyrm. Jhembaz's seas teem with life as well, from the tiny sea sparks to the great warragon—in addition to amphibious creatures such as the kotrudi and many varieties of the aforementioned half-fish.

Culture

Though many large parts of Jhembaz are wilderness untenanted by civilized being, there are many other large parts that are densely populated by humans and other cultured creatures that construct their own edifices and complex cities for their dwellingplaces and workspaces. These communities exist at all altitudes, from the ground level to the uppermost treetops. The location, of course, affects the available building materials; earth and stone, for example, are practical building materials primarily at the lowest level (though there are some places where they are transported to much higher levels); up among the foliage structures are much more likely to be made of wood and of certain exotic materials made from the resources available there, such as chitin brick and bambara.

Many of the nations of Jhembaz are united into alliances, collections of nations that have banded together to support each other and share, or purport to share, certain principles or goals. The three largest alliances—sometimes collectively called the Pahain—are Gaishese, which claims to prize innovation; the Silver Coalition, which preaches equality; and the Sixty, which champions the preservation of old treasures and old ways. The only other alliance of significant size—though still much smaller than the alliances of the Pahain—is the Ntùnĭng, which propounds the cause of freedom.

Magic

The dream magic that pervades the cosmos of Ses is known and used on the world of Jhembaz. Mages are found among most of the world's cultures, and many civilizations utilize magic as vital parts of their lifestyles and economies. Aside from the widespread use of spells and of geasa, many people of Jhembaz make extensive use of the powers of names, and there are a number of métiers unique to the world, including those of the treemover and the plantwalker.