To many, total abstinence is easier than perfect moderation.
The High City of Halagh, in a jagged mountain range well to the northeast of the walled city-state of Fastheld, is home to a hardy, somewhat diminutive people known as the Halaghi.
They are effectively human, but stand four feet tall on average. All have blonde, shock white or silver hair. Every male harbors a long, thick, beard. All have names that start with the prefix Hal'.
They have an affinity for clothing made from the thick, furry hides of wild animals caught in the mountain passes around the communities of Halagh, Um-Halagh, Nu-Halagh and Lo-Halagh.
They are a tight-knit people who have managed to develop some technological marvels in the peaks of Halagh: Steam turbines, refined gas for powering of lanterns, manufacturing, and dirigibles for transportation between the summit communities.
The Halaghi care for their elders, their young, and everyone in between: If someone needs medical care, they get it. If they need work, work is found for them. If they need clothes, they're clothed.
They are governed by a panel of Halaghi known as buroks-in-answering, whose members are up for election every ninety days to ensure that a diversity of leadership is achieved with a minimum of opportunities for corruption or imbedded politics.
Their economy is based on barter, not currency: One Halaghi may provide a product or service in exchange for another product or service.
----
The Halaghi often find themselves categorized in two roles:
Factures: Laborers, both general and specialized, who work in the mines, build machines and keep the steam rolling through the pipes.
Buroks: Healers and social workers who help with medical care and employment.
----
Factures
These individuals are inclined to work with machines or to create products for use by other citizens of Halagh.
Currently, the following Facture jobs are available:
Miner: Responsible for working in Halagh's mines, excavating coal and other metals.
Farmer: Responsible for growing lichens and other agricultural crops.
Pipefitter: Responsible for maintaining the pipes that serve Halagh.
Steam Manager: Responsible for extending steam distribution networks throughout Halagh.
Distiller: Responsible for creating combustible fuel from fossil fluids for use in
lamps, dirigibles, generators and other machines.
Welder: Responsible for repairing damaged pipes and other metal structures
using a welding torch.
Steamgineer: Responsible for gearing the High City for war. Steamgineers are honoured for their ability to create projectile weapons that use back-mounted tanks to channel jets of high-pressure steam into rifles to shoot projectiles at creatures at high rates of fire.
----
Buroks
These individuals work with other people, helping them with medical, social and employment needs.
Currently, the following Burok jobs are available:
Healer: Responsible for providing quality medical care to the citizens of Halagh.
Soch: Social worker responsible for arranging the supply of food, clothing or shelter for less fortunate denizens of Halagh.
Emplo: Social worker responsible for helping fellow denizens of Halagh find jobs.
----
Halagh Calendar
The High Cities of Halagh, in the majestic mountains northeast of the walled
city-state of Fastheld, have seven days of the week and ten months of the year.
The days of the week are:
Driftery
Burokery
Chillhuggery
Ciclelickery
Windhowlery
Iceshinery
Napnatchery
The months of the year are:Snowdeep
Snowdeeper
Warmthnatcher
Garbfetching
Ciclefall
Snowshallow
Icethickery
Icethickerer
Icethickerest
Manydark
