While Naxos is famous for being a cosmopolitan center, that is only one facet of the Duchy. Many live outside of Poleon's City, living a simpler life. Urban Naxian lives tend to revolve around commerce, with a majority of people working in the shipping industry. A smaller number, but still crucial, working in banking; converting foreign coins into Naxian currency, and managing the combined wealth of the Duchy. In contrast, those whole live outside the cities lead much slower lives. The prevailing industries are fishing, with limited timber and agriculture settlements. People here tend to work early in the day, then spend the rest of the afternoon engaging in leisure of small crafts. Another key difference is the religious schism between the two spheres; the Synodic Church dominates the cities, with those outside keeping to traditional animism, Naxian paganism, and the worship of Kitaigida. This, among others, has led to a de...
While the worship of Poleon dominates the cities and politics, many rural Naxians still hold to the pagan past, particularly the veneration of Kitaigida; the storm spirit of the islands. The Fylakes, or so-called "storm monks", are one of the oldest orders of anything in Naxos. Their ancient monastery is a practical fortress, and the Fylakes themselves are feared for their seemingly unpredictable nature, with stories of them attacking villagers they just saved, or single-handedly repelling pirates, then then delivering sermons to those very same pirates. The main reason for their antics is that they serve a fickle god, who has no qualms acting on their displeasure; lighting, hostile seas, earthquakes, and more-- usually directed at the Fylakes themselves. For this, it is often said that worship of Kitaigida is more out of fear than love.