Medieval America Mark III

I would replace the Sea raiders with mormon and scientologist raids into Cascadia. Alaska is really really far away.
My idea was that a cold speel in Alaska triggered crop failures which drove Alaskans south, in an event comparable to the Sea Peoples. Scientologists would come later (the aforementioned "Scientology Wars") essentially serving the role of the Persian Wars, and unifying the Cascadian culture. Contact with Mormons leads to Columbia.
 
So, for this timeline I was wondering what music and art might be like, any suggestions about this topic.
 
History of the Pacific Northwest
History of the Pacific Northwest

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When the New Medieval Ages dawned, the Pacific Northwest was a relative backwater. California was a quickly consolidating absolute empire, and the industrious Mormons were busy re-populating the Rockies. The Pacific Northwest just sort of sat there.

Early attempts to maintain state organization collapsed, with local interests proving strong enough to drive the states into smaller bite-size chunks. The Willamette Valley and region surrounding the Salish Sea was so lush that it was trivial for smaller regions to support themselves and have a surplus leftover. This, in conjunction with the disconnected nature of the various mountains and waterways, means that central organization is more trouble than its worth. City-states predominated.

The first major upheaval came with the Laskan Raiders. A nasty cold spell struck the Lands of Laska, forcing raiders south in search of food and booty. Like the Sea People of the ancient world, this event toppled the order of things, with most cities and confederations falling only to be replaced by new governments and regimes, most of them now converted to eco-buddhism. As many Laskans settled down along the coasts of Cascadia, they formed the nucleus of a trade route. The Cascadians found themselves trading worked goods and foodstuffs in exchange for arctic products and ivory. Isolation was broken for a second time when the Californians came knocking.

The newly formed Republic of California, fresh off unifying itself under the Etrabolta dynasty and Scientology, was eager to continue its winning streak, and return civilization to the marches of Jeffsin and beyond. Refugees fled from California and Jeffsin as armies under the bear-flag advanced. A significant portion of the population of Cascadia by this point was already descended from those who'd fled when the first of the Scientology Wars had broken out, causing an outbreak of fear among the peoples of the Pacific Northwest. The Californians were aggressive, despotic and, worst of all, without ecological conscience, regularly clear-cutting forests.

A simultaneous naval and land-based invasion from California nearly brought the city states to their knees, as it plowed up through the Willamette Valley by land and into the Salish by sea. A band of 300 warrior-monks from the Dallis, calling themselves "Jedi", managed to hold off the Californian Army long enough for reinforcements to arrive at the Battle of Portland Meanwhile, in the Straits of Wandifuke (Juan de Fuca), a fleet of Olympic, Tacoman, Seattleite, Victorian and Vancuverite ships repelled the Californian fleet. The Scientologists begrudgingly returned home, and would never again directly threaten the Cascadian homeland.

This war was extremely important from a cultural standpoint. For the first time, the Northwesterners had a shared common identity. They recognized how they were all more similar to one another then they were to the outsiders, from their maritime tradition, their eco-buddhism, their civic virtue, and their value placed freedom. Even the last of the cultural barriers that existed between the Americans and the Canadians vanished, suddenly meaningless old-world distinctions that didn't affect the modern world.

The Cascadians at this point truly blossomed into their modern state. They served as the trade capital of the west, dealing between the Californians, the Laskans (which by this point referred to all land north of Vancouver), and the Mormons who sent trade up the Snake River. The Eco-Buddhist orders diversified as the Northwestern city-states became more and more prosperous, occasionally overthrowing the merchant republics to install (short-lived) theocracies. The city-states continue to bicker among themselves, uniting only when a greater threat appears.

Just such a threat did appear 300 years ago, in the form of Deseret. The small trading town of Kenwik (Kennewick) was established to trade with the peoples of the further down the Snake River, mostly Mormon settlers from Deseret. However, a group of these settlers attempted to establish a settlement rather close to Kenwik, and conflict erupted over these settlers' environmental practices. The local Mormon populace banded together and destroyed the town of Kenwik, sending the Buddhists fleeing back to Cascadia. The Mayor of Kenwik appealed to the various City Councils and Buddhist orders across Cascadia. His tales of the brutal, intolerant and most assuredly non-recycling Mormons triggered an uproar among the city-states, as well as fear that the Mormons would invade. The cities briefly united, and launched a crusade against the Mormon invaders.

The crusade was spear headed by legions of Jedi, most notably the Columbian Order which had made itself famous centuries earlier in the Battle of Portland. Since then, they had always concerned themselves with affairs up and down the Columbia River, ranging from the construction of temples and monasteries to the protection of Buddhists and local wildlife. After 50 years of fighting, first bands of local settlers and converts, and then the actual Desereti army, the Columbian Order gained a final, smashing victory against the Mormons at the Battle of Boise, leading to the creation of the District of Columbia.
 
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The Columbian Order
The Columbian Order

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"Behold, ye of little faith, ye chopper of trees, ye killer of men. Your reckoning has come- you did not learn your lesson when the Old World fell. You did not live in peace. You did not achieve Nirvana. You did not recycle. We are the future. Columbia shall inherit the earth."

The Columbian Order was founded relatively early in the history of Buddhism in the Pacific Northwest. The Prince-Mayor (he didn't call himself a prince but essentially was) was overthrown by a group of local converts, and replaced with a Buddhist city council. The insurgents who actually overthrew the mayor, however, swore off politics, instead becoming a monastic order named for the Columbia that flows through the Dallis.

They spent most of their time fighting on the frontier. The Dallis sits right on the edge of Cascadia proper, going into the wild and uncivilized Columbia Basin, inhabited by Mormon, New Israelite, and even Pagan barbarians unassosciated with any state or formal organization. The Columbian Order was the first line fo defense not only for the Dallis, but for Cascadian civilization as a whole against the barbarian hordes.

The Observants of the Columbian Order referred to themselves as "Jedi". The Jedi were known from both old world tales of valor, and from Californian refugees who knew the old tales especially well. The notion of the selfless warrior-priest, and the all encompassing life-force that binds together all things was quickly integrated into Cascadian Buddhism, with the Star-Wars being a part of the canonical works.

The warrior-priests of the Dallis applied the moniker to themselves, and even fought with their best approximation of the legendary Light-Sabres. Taking a cue from the Japanese Zen Buddhists, the Jedi of the Columbian Order employed the relatively cheap and extremely strong "katana", making it their signature weapon. Beyond this, the Jedi of the Dallis would train in a variety of martial arts, and horse riding. Horse riding was only occasionally engaged in in warfare by the Cascadian city-states, since the ubiquitous pikemen nullified their advantage, especially in the relatively narrow and forested environment of the Pacific Northwest. However, when they would make sorties against the Barbarians of Columbia, the Order found horses extremely effective.

The Columbian Order truly made a name for themselves at the Battle of Oregon City. The local militia wiped out, the only thing standing between Portland, the greatest city in the Pacific Northwest, and the Californian Army was a force of 300 monks. Using the natural chokepoint that is Oregon City, 300 men held off an overwhelming force for four days, until Portlandian and Salish reinforcements arrived to drive back the Californians. They became legends over night, and similar Jedi orders appeared across the land.

Over the next few centuries, the Columbian Order twiddled its thumbs. They escorted pilgrims to the stupas of the Cascades, launched expeditions against barbarians when they attacked or destroyed some element of nature, participated in local politics when the time called for it, and honed their craft. Generally speaking, they sought to stay out of politics, involving themselves only when they saw grave spiritual danger. The Columbians had a creed somewhat resembling Bushido, calling for detachment from worldly affairs. Provisos include "With great power comes great responsiblity", "Reduce, reuse, recycle", and "For Truth, Justice, and the Buddhist way".

The nature of the Columbians as a semi-detached order would change drastically when the Mormons attacked the colony of Kenwik.

The Columbian Order had several branches across Cascadia, competing with any number of Jedi Orders that had popped up in imitation. The order maintained itself by doing escort and minor mercenary work, as well as training secular warriors who do not wish to take the vow of chastity and poverty. The Order was headed from the so-called "Jedi Temple", a magnificent stupa in the heart of the Dallis. Here, it was ruled by the Shogun of the order, an ancient and wizened man who is elected by the most senior of the Jedi. He spends most of his time in meditation, and when he seen he is clad from head to toe in black armor.
 
City States of the Pacific Northwest: Vancouver

tehskyman

Banned
City States of the Pacific Northwest: Vancouver

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  • Government: Enlightened Republic
  • Head of State: Mayor
  • Head of Government: The Mayor
  • Population: 350,000
    • Vancouver Townsfolk 30,000
    • Vancouver Farmers 120,000
    • Vassal Town Populations 200,000
  • Religion: Eco-Buddhism
  • Totemic Symbol: Orca

Located a few kilometers from the mouth of the Fraser River, Vancouver is most northern of the major Cascadian city states. Small towns and Cascadian colonies exist further north, but Vancouver is the last stop before Laska. As such it is the primary trading hub for many Laskans, when they're feeling peaceful. Its location just north of the mouth of the great Fraser, also makes it the primary trading hub for furs coming down the river from the interior.

Just outside the city walls, lies Stanli Park , one of the largest holy groves in the region. Pilgrims from the Fraser Delta as well as Laskan and Interior tribal converts come here to pray and contemplate Nirvana. A quarters days ride beyond the city lies the monastery-fort of Burnabi. This monastery, sitting on top of Burnaby mountain, overlooking Burrard Inlet, is the home of the Brothers of the Whitecaps, one of the largest Buddhist Holy Orders.

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Shield of the Brothers of the Whitecaps

In theory Vancouver is run by the mayor who is elected for 4 year terms by the high council. In practice however, the Brothers of the Whitecaps control the city. The merchants pay a yearly tribute to the Brothers and get to trade and wage foreign wars against other cities. Of course this is done with the permission of the Master of the Whitecaps and by his rules. The Whitecaps also operate this way in most of the other towns of the Fraser Delta like Abbotsfyrd, Richmond, Surri and Chilawak.
 
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What ever happen to the native Americans, there should probably be a state for them in this world.
They basically do in New Mexico.

Look at the map I've attached, prepared by the guy at the Medieval America blog: Arizona has an extremely high number of reservations, enough people in a small enough space that the population today is likely half native, more than that in culture and religion.
 
The Order of Starbuck
The Order of Starbuck, also known as Starbuck's Order is an Eco-Buddhist Order that resides within the city of Seattle. They have great influence with the city's merchant elite. According to legend the original Order of Starbuck was founded by a great adventurer named Starbuck who settled within the city long ago after experiencing great hardship at the hands of the Sylonnes, who are seen as an ocean-going branch of the villainous Sith of Eco-Buddhist lore. They claim that Starbuck founded a faith of great prevalence within the region, especially with the great number of temples in his name. He had sent his disciple, a man named "Tim Horton", to the north to spread Eco-Buddhist thought to the masses. The Order of Horton is still one of the minor orders in the wilds of northern Columbia. The monks of Starbuck's Order are named Baristas, and the lowest ranking members are expected to serve potential future members by enlightening them with Eco-Buddhist teachings. Only by enlightening enough people into the Order, or Eco-Buddhism in general, do members of the Order advance.
 
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City States of the Pacific Northwest: Portland

tehskyman

Banned
City States of the Pacific Northwest: Portland

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  • System of Government: Enlightened Merchant Republic
  • Head of State: Mayor, chosen from and voted by members of the City Council
  • Population: 300,000 ,
    • 75,000 townsfolk, 225,000 farmers
  • Religion: Eco-Bhuddist
  • Totemic Symbol: Red Rose

Located where the Willamette river flows into the Columbia River, Portland is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest. Its status comes from the trade that passes through it, enabling dozens of merchant families to generate wealth.

Portland is home to at least 2 major orders and countless other minor ones. Because of the abundance of holy orders and their need to record theological musings, as well as their trips into Nirvana, Portland is a center of publishing in the west. Countless Buddhist texts spread the holy word. In addition, various tales from the Californian Canon are published here and sold across the west coast. With such an abundance of books, Portland is the most literate city west of the Plains.

Primary among its many merchant families is the House of Gates-Bezos. Once located in Seattle, the main branch of the family was wiped out in the Californian Invasion. The family only survived because the 7th son of the head of the house, Jeffery-Paul VIII was in Portland studying to be a monk. Once he learnt of his families destruction, he petitioned to be released from his vows and became a merchant. Now the family specializes in glassware and jewelery moving these goods across the region and beyond.

Their most hostile of rivals is the House of Jobs. Originally hailing from California, this house fled north along with many other powerful Californian families at the start of the Scientology wars and settled in Portland. Their rivalry with the House of Gates-Bezos is ancient and attempts at reconciliation have been made. The most recent attempt was made 35 years ago, when Syrie Jobs, the beloved daughter of then head of the House, Stephen XI Jobs was to be married to the heir to House Gates-Bezos, William X. Everything was going fine until a week before the ceremony, when William ran off to Seattle with his distant cousin Alexa and re-established the Seattle branch of House Gates-Bezos.

Generally most smaller merchant families associate with one family or the other for fear of being attacked by both. The two sides generally keep things peaceful in Portland, but on the road and high seas, all bets are off. The two sides will attack lone ships and as such, most trading expeditions are done in groups of 3 at minimum.

The merchant families are so dominant and wealthy, that unlike other cities, the holy orders do as the merchants say. The holy orders keep their monasteries outside the city walls and do not hold any seats in local council but are allowed to maintain various temples and shrines inside the walls.
 
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Two things: firstly, the University of Oregon in Eugene has already been established as the primary college of Cascadia.

Secondly, the House of Jobs couldn't come into being. Steve Jobs had no next of kin with his last name.
 

tehskyman

Banned
Two things: firstly, the University of Oregon in Eugene has already been established as the primary college of Cascadia.

Secondly, the House of Jobs couldn't come into being. Steve Jobs had no next of kin with his last name.

University: Changed

Jobs Family: Steve Jobs did have next of kin with his name. He has 3 children by his wife Laureen Powell. Reed Jobs (His eldest and his only son) as well as his two Daugthers, Eve and Erin.

I know the Daily Mail isn't that great a source but here. Also from job's wikipedia Page

Jobs and Powell's first child, Reed, was born September 1991. Jobs and Powell had two more children, Erin, born in August 1995, and Eve, born in 1998[71]
 
The Columbian Crusade
The Columbian Crusade

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The city of Kenwik was originally established by the merchant-houses of Portland. The Snake and Columbia Rivers were the life line of the Pacific Northwest- from there, they gained access to trade with Desert and, by extension, the world. It was this trade with Desert that kept the Northwest in business, then selling it down the Pacific Coast to the Scientologists of California. Not only that, it provided a route to the furs of distant Canada, and its own wealth in timber, wheat, cows and horses. To this end, the city of Kenwik was established to take full advantage of everything the Columbia basin had to offer.

A good percentage of the populace was of the Mormon faith. Kenwik itself brushed directly up against what was then the greatest extent of the Deserti Empire, which encompassed the whole of the Snake River. In the country that Desert did not directly control, their influence was still profoundly felt- the majority of the natives to the Columbia Basin, both farmers and herdsmen, were Mormon. Or, at least, something resembling Mormon- the Deserti referred to them as "Hilljack Mormons". Nonetheless, the Chieftans would make the pilgrimage to the Great Salt Lake, and assist the Deserti when it did not run counter to their own interests.

Initially, relations were peaceful between the Buddhists and the native Columbians, but things began to deteriorate. The Buddhists did not approve of the environmental habit of the Mormons- to chop down trees without planting another, to pay no heed to the natural signs, to raise beef for the slaughter. The Mormons, on the other hand, were kind of phased by these gibbering witches who gripped tighter onto their pikes when talk of lumberjacks came up.

As the population of the Pacific Northwest went up, Columbia essentially served as a safety valve, a place to go to ensure that the ecological balance struck in Cascadia would not be overturned. Stupas and holdfasts were established, the Columbian Order threatening any audacious locals who were concerned by their increasing encroachment on their homeland.

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The Columbia Basin north of the John Day Valley was the primary region of settlement

Things came to a head about 230 years ago. Some belligerent Jedi sliced some poor fool in half who had some poorly chosen words about his faith. Before you knew it, Mormon Templars had executed the city council of Kenwik, and burned the town to the ground. The refugees of Kenwik fled back to Portland, lamenting the destruction of their city, and warning of the existential threat that the Mormons posed to the Northwestern way of life.

Normally, it is likely nothing would've been done. The city-states were far too busy butting heads and pursuing their own interests. This time, however, with the incessant lobbying of the Columbian Order, a Congress of Druids and Holymen from as far north as Cold Harbour, and as far south as Eureka was convened. Agreeing that the violence and overpopulation among the city states could upset the order of things, they decided that the declaration of a Holy War would not only unite the city-states and distract them from their squabbling, the conquest of Columbia could served to house many more Buddhists. Perhaps it could be used as the stepping stone to bring Nirvanna to the whole world.

The Monks and Druids across the land put out the call, telling everyone they ran into to enlist, either joining Jedi Orders or as an infantryman, and the sage words of a druid are scarcely ignored. Those cities controlled by Monks sent their professional militias out eastwards. The non-Monkish cities likely would've taken advantage of this and attacked, were it not for the fact that much of their own populace had left of their own accord.

The army convened in The Dallis, the last of the Cascadian city-states before you entered Columbia. The army was organized and drilled for a short time by the Columbian Order, before the invasion was launched.

It would be a brutal affair. Armored Jedi Masters burned Mormon towns to the ground, and planted trees amidst the ashes. Mormons used their "Utah Fire" to light legions of faithful 18-year olds on fire. Cascadians crucified Mormon innocents in a sick parody of the Cross-God the Deserti worshiped. Mormons impaled and burned Druids as witches. It was one of the most horrific wars that either side had ever experienced.

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Though the Jedi were masters of their craft, they were not adapted to warfare on the wide-open plain of Columbia. They would learn many of the Mormons' secrets from local converts. They took quickly to horse riding and heavy infantry tactics.

Things truly turned in the favor the Buddhists when the Jaegers of Wyoming attacked the Mormon heartland, forcing them to draw back a large number of their troops. The State of Deseret was finally destroyed at the Battle of Boise, when the last Mormon-held town was captured and destroyed. Nirvanna had triumphed over the clouding influence of the Mormons.

The celebration was to be short lived, however. The question immediately came up: how was the land to be divided? An expansion of the city-states' hinterlands? That would only result in territorial conflict, and shut out the smaller states. Open it to colonization? That could only end in chaos. Give it to one of the Monastic Orders? But which one?

The answer was clear: the Columbian Order. Not only was it the most respected institution outside of the Cascadian Lama, but it was the driving force in the conquest of Columbia. Its ranks had swelled significantly over the course of the war, both from the eager young men and women who joined it to fight for their faith, and in local converts and tribes who had joined up. It was well situated to govern the whole of Columbia.
 
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I do wonder if two cities dominated by Buddhist orders is a bit much.
The original timeline had Scientology go from minor fringe religion to the dominent religion of California. This scenario's not very concerned with plausibility. I could change the Order of Starbuck to a relatively minor group that lives in Seattle instead of controlling it.
 
The original timeline had Scientology go from minor fringe religion to the dominent religion of California. This scenario's not very concerned with plausibility. I could change the Order of Starbuck to a relatively minor group that lives in Seattle instead of controlling it.
It's not the implausibility that concerns me- its loyalty to pre-established themes and canon. The Pacific Northwest is dominated by merchant republics, not cultists. Which isn't to say its not present, but its very much the exception. When I talked about Buddhist domination in my post (which I'm probably going to go back and revise anyway) it was meant to be an immediately after the fact thing, but ideology quickly gave way to economic and political reality as it so often does.
 
The District of Columbia
The District of Columbia

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-System of Government: Feudalism
-Head of State: Shogun, elected by the Masters of the Columbian Order from the ruling Lang family.
-Population: 500,000
-Around 250,000 Buddhist colonists and converts, 200,000 Mormon and Pagan serfs, and 50,000 herdsmen.
-Religion: Eco-Buddhism
-Totemic Symbol: Sasquatch


Columbia was not at all prepared to govern the whole of the Columbia basin.

It was a simple monastic order. Prior to the Crusade, its ranks had never swelled above a few thousand. Now, it had to deal with tens of thousands, half of which were barely civilized convert barbarians. The Order was a disorganized mess, the Shogun not having the means to exercise anything regarding order across the breadth of the land under his control, from Boise to The Dallis.

Radical reforms were needed, and the fact that most of the "old guard" so to speak . In the years leading up to the final crushing victory at Boise, extreme reorganization of the Order took place. A young new Shogun, Adam Lang, was the man for the job. Lang was a local convert to Buddhism, and a fervent one at that. He'd proven himself skilled at the katana, and even more vicious than a born-and-bred Cascadian when it came to implementing carbon-neutral living, and when the old shogun died, he was quickly picked by the Masters of the order, seen as a natural fit to adapt the Order to the needs of its many new adherents.

One of his first and most radical changes was to remove the vow of chastity. The vow of chastity was a bit of an anomaly in the first place- when the Order was established, no other Buddhist monastic order allowed vows of chastity. The priestly tradition came from priests wandering from town to town playing rock and roll, for christ sakes. The reason it had been implemented by the Jedi was twofold: first, because particular to their brand was Zen Buddhism (specifically, what they gleaned from water-logged copies of "Zen in the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"), and secondly, being one of the first military orders, they didn't want to threaten the established city governments. Now, they were the government.

The structure itself was reformed as well. Now, the Jedi Masters, previously ascetic monks and occasional warriors, would be put in charge of a local "Stake", a term co-opted from the Mormons, and at his command would be Jedi Knights, sworn to the Order first and their local Master second. The new Masters would be appointed by the Shogun upon their death. The Shogun himself would be elected from the Masters. The Shogun's scope of direct control would be severely limited, with the Masters handling most of the day-to-day operations. The Shogun would be more of a "big picture" guy, focusing on expansion of Columbia, with the Masters funneling tithes up to him to help the Holy Mission, and being called on for their warriors.

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These reforms were implemented following the Battle of Boise and the Olympic Congress's declaration that the Columbian Order would be suzerain over the new territory. They had not expected Lang to be so bold, and he was denounced within a month of his announcement. In retaliation, Lang invaded and conquered the whole of Cascadia.

It was the first time anyone had ever invaded the rugged and insular country of Cascadia and won. The reasons for this were manifold: first, and most obviously, the Cascadians were not expecting it. By the time they were in the Willamette Valley, it was too late. But secondly, and more importantly, the Columbian force was one of the most experienced in the history of the region, combining centuries of cumulative martial training and philosophy with the real world knowledge gained from war with the Deserti. Most Cascadian Militiamen had never been presented with the sorts of heavy infantry tactics that the Columbians were whipping out. And the third pivotal factor was that most of the Jedi orders sided with the Columbians, turning over the cities to Lang when he and his men arrived. Creating the District of Salish and the District of Oregon, Lang commissioned a fleet, and sailed for California.

Confederations of Northwesten city-states had taken Alcatraz in the past to control trade into the Californias, but Lang wanted to go one step further, and conquer California itself, and build the greatest empire since the United States. Unfortunately for him, he and his mad dream died when a massive storm hit his fleet. He was succeeded by his son, Adam Junior. Adam II was much more pragmatic, retreated and attempted to maintain his holdings in Cascadia. He did not succeed.

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Fort Alcatraz, the most important fort in San Francisco bay

In the course of a decade, the grand "Columbian Empire", which had perhaps the best shot at re-uniting Western America before or since, was reduced to its backwater holdings. Even worse was the return of the Deserti a century later, who would push them even further up the Snake River. The Jedi Orders were disbanded in Cascadia. Some were added to secular militaries, but most were either executed, or forced into hiding. Within 30 years, the Jedi were semi-mythical in Cascadia, seen by the public as champions of the people against the burghers of the cities, occasionally emerging from their hiding when there was a great disturbance in the force...

Columbia itself has devolved from a Monastic Order into a feudal despotism. Both the Masterships and the Shogunate have become largely hereditary, with occasional shake ups to traditional lineages being very much the exception. It is a heavily stratified society: a good percentage of the population are land-holding Jedi Knights and Jedi Masters, while another portion are free land holding peasants, converts and Cascadians, who pay taxes to their local masters. The other half of the population consists of Mormon serfs, who are essentially salves, who live in constant fear of the horse's trod. The situation is very much like that of the Helots of Ancient Sparta. A full time warrior class spends its time and makes its living killing and pillaging among the Mormons. The high numbers of Mormons make the Cascadian position on the totem pole precarious, however: were Deseret to invade, they would have thousands of oppressed peoples on their side.

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Mormon helots forced to construct one of Columbia's numerous megalithic fortifications

The primary industry of Columbia is farming. In the wide-open space of the Columbia basin, most of which is not dominated by hard-to-clear (by self imposed regulation) woodland and mountains like the rest of the Pacific Northwest, massive sprawling plantation-style farms can exist. Irrigated by the Columbia, Snake and their tributaries, Columbia is the breadbasket of Cascadia and Deseret.

A significant amount of the industry also comes from animal husbandry. The raising of cows is strictly regulated in Cascadia. Needing a tremendous amount of land for pasture, and producing harmful methane gas, milk, leather, and beef are vastly more expensive than they ought to be. Pasture is no problem in Columbia, making it the furthest west center of the cattle industry, and is the only major center outside of the Great Plains. Because of this, Deseret, California and Cascadia are able to get away without dealing with the Cowboy cattle-barons unlike the Eastrons. The finest horses in the region are also bred in Columbia, courtesy of the tradition of their mounted Jedi.

The other primary industry is trade. The Snake and Columbia are still vital in tying together Cascadia and Deseret, one of the most important arteries of trade in America outside of the Mississippi. A hefty tax is collected at Kenwik, where the representatives of the merchant companies buy up goods from Desereti traders in great markets, overlooked by armored Columbians.

There are few major cities in Columbia, none of them exceeding 25,000. There is The Dallis, traditional center of the Columbian Order, gateway to the west, and the site of the largest fort in Columbia. Built over the original Jedi Temple, these breathtaking fortifications are both designed to defend from any Portlandian treachery, and as a launching point for any future Cascadian invasion. Kenwik is the official capital, home to the Shogun's Castle, and the primary center of trade, sitting at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia. The third is Spokane, the new center of the Columbian Jedi temple. just as The Dallis was once on the precipice of a vast and unknown wilderness where Knights could wander and train, so too does Spokane, sitting on the edge of the Idahoan wilderness, where they may fight and convert the Mormon Hilljacks, and achieve something resembling enlightenment among the endless wilds of mother nature.

The bulk of the population is distributed among villages and farmsteads, with the local "centers" being the 30 Great Keeps of the 30 Masters. It is from here that local Masters command their Jedi, shelter the peasantry in bad times, and terrorize the Helots in good.

Despite its war-like ways and the abject slavery it holds half of its population in, the District of Columbia is looked upon with wonderment by the people of the Northwest. The less scrupulous guitar-priests and druids write songs of the noble Jedi, their fights with the Sasquatch, their endless defense against the Cowboy/ Mormon/ Cyclops hordes (their sense of geography is fuzzy at best). Tales of the "Masterless Jedi" are just as popular, those who dare strike out against tyrannical black-armored Shoguns (or the burghers of Cascadia). Columbia is the "Gateway to the East", a land of nobility that may one day ride all the way to fabled Washington, DC. A land of plenty, where many bright-eyed colonists trek to to this day.

The Columbian Nobility has a less positive view. The Masters grow impatient with their holdings, lusting after more and more resources, demanding more keeps to station their third and fourth sons and daughters. The Shogun of Columbia, Cobain III Lang, hears their cries, and he has a plan. Ethnically Mormon Hilljack converts slip undetected through the lands of Deseret, whispering in the ears of humiliated Wyoming chieftains. Unassuming Buddhist traders sail north to Ankrage, bringing gold to the local pirate-tribes. Katanas are being forged in The Dallis, and all across Cascadia, men and women and hiding feel something. A call to arms. A disturbance in the force...
 
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