With The Last Respite on the way, it’s time to introduce a few aspects of its setting: Tarishu [טארישו].

A word of warning to start with: while any setting’s information could be tweaked or changed behind the scenes during the writing process of stories in that setting, Tarishu in particular among my settings is “under construction” or “to be discovered”. It doesn’t have an easy fallback (like Nightshade has with our own world) or a specific focus (like Kigenishi on the island itself), and it originally wasn’t even going to be the setting for its debut story. So, even more so than with Kigenishi, details provided in stories take priority over anything presented directly from my notes.

Synthesis and Syncretism

Tarishu is a setting that is built around the diversity of cultures and the way they interact. While The Last Respite takes place in a specific corner of the world, even that story includes characters from numerous foreign cultures and locations interacting. In the current era of the world, technology has reached a point nearly equivalent to the “Early Modern” period in our world. While many people may never leave their homeland, there are enough who do travel to other regions for various reasons that entire networks of roads have been built to facilitate this cultural exchange. Because of this, much of the continent is connected with its own version of our world’s “Silk Road”.

Internally, the setting itself is also a collection of different ideas. Characters and concepts I last shared publicly over a decade ago (on now-defunct websites) were combined with partially-written setting notes as well as the new worldbuilding done specifically for The Last Respite. So it can easily be said that the very concept of Tarishu is based on the synthesis of ideas, which I feel is very fitting for what it has been shaping into.

Basic Details

Tarishu is a continent with many types of inhabitants, each with their own cultures and ways of interacting with their own people and outsiders. Some notable culture groups in the current era are:

• Adan: A culture with a long history that lives in western Tarishu. The current common “trade language” is primarily made up of Adanic words, including the common name of the continent itself. (Real world inspirations: Egyptians, Hebrews)
• Sagafodt: A group of related peoples who live in northwestern Tarishu. Formerly known as raiders and pillagers led by “divine heroes” (demigods), but have become more peaceful over the centuries. (Real world inspirations: Scandinavians)
• Akiçu: A collection of tribal groups that lives in southwestern Tarishu. Many of these tribes are nomadic, still seen as uncivilized compared to the agrarian Adan they neighbor. (Real world inspirations: Turkic nomads)
• Jama: A culture group that survives in the arid southern regions of Tarishu. Known to be hardy and inventive, having devised how to survive in marginal lands. (Real world inspirations: Mande cultures)
• Hye: A people that live in the eastern regions of Tarishu. Almost as advanced as the Adan, with a strict social hierarchy in its most prosperous nation. (Real world inspirations: Koreans) Within each of these cultures there are usually a few subgroups, some of which may differ enough from the category that individuals may not consider themselves to be part of the larger group. In addition, while I continue to use the word “nation” to refer to states (like in Kigenishi stories), very few of these cultures have what we would consider modern nation-states (a state where the primary ethnicity is tied to “nationality”). Therefore, many people in Tarishu might not even think of their national identity unless they are part of the government itself.

While each culture has its own language(s), many people in Tarishu also learn the “common language” of trade, especially if they are travelers or merchants. The current common language is primarily based on the Adanic language, with simplified grammar and loanwords from many other languages along the main trade routes. Because of how common this language has become, most cultures have adapted ways to write it in their own scripts. However, more insular communities may be less familiar with the trade language, and quickly sort out foreigners that speak it rather than the local language.

The name “Tarishu” itself is part of the pidgin that became the common language. A Proto-Adanic people referred to the world as the “First Jewel” (Tachshit Roshon) of the elohim (spirits). Over time, this term was shortened and simplified until it standardized as “Tarishu” as the common term for the world. The discovery that there is likely another continent across the sea has begun to shift the meaning of the term, with the main continent becoming Tarishu while explorers debate the names that should be given to new lands.

The Spirit Realm

Tarishu has a close connection to a realm of strange and powerful entities most commonly known as spirits (with many local names). Spirits that choose to interact with the world can perform amazing feats of magic, but they are not truly native to the world. Either through choice or through expending their power, spirits will inevitably return to the spirit realm. While they can return once they regain their power, spirits may lose interest in the affairs of Tarishu by that time. After all, Tarishu is but one world that spirits can step into from their realm that touches multiple realities, and not every spirit has the same mentality as mortals from Tarishu.

Sometimes, spirits bestow some of their power to mortals, especially in exchange for worship. Other spirits may temporarily take forms similar to mortals and create offspring with them. Whatever the method, semi-divine or divinely blessed mortals gain access to magical powers. These abilities are usually referred to as blessings or sorcery, and demigods and sorcerers usually draw lots of attention for their power. When people misuse the gift of sorcery, they are named “witches” and shunned for their malicious actions. What counts as witchcraft differs from society to society, with some sorcerers being lauded for what others are punished for.

The touch of the spirit realm is not just felt when spirits choose to visit Tarishu; there is an undercurrent of magic within the world itself. Some mortals are born with a natural connection to the spirit world, even without divine ancestry. Others have a natural instinct regarding how the elements of reality are combined, making them particularly capable at “alchemy”, a form of magic that can shape reality at a base level. Particularly studious or patient sorcerers can also learn to create marks with magic itself, creating enchantments on objects. However, some cultures dislike these natural ways to acquire magic for not being divinely rewarded, and may brand such people as witches or put them under intense scrutiny.

Future Discoveries

While Tarishu doesn’t have quite as much planned out compared to Kigenishi, I do hope that the setting continues to grow with more stories and information. The world gives a sense that there is a lot to discover, and it would be really interesting to see what else exists in Tarishu beyond Hyeguk (the largest nation of the Hye) and Mameloch (the oldest Adan nation). I’m not entirely sure what the next steps are for Tarishu, but I’m really excited to see what else is out there. (Maybe I’ll revive the story of an Akiçu raised among the Adan that I began years ago, and see what parts of the world are shown from that perspective.)

Whatever happens next for Tarishu, I hope this glimpse at the world has been interesting. Once it’s out, be sure to check out The Last Respite to explore the world further!