Kelukhas
Government
As the capital of Thalasu, Kelukhas is the seat of the Serene Council, who govern the city directly. At present, the Council is headed by Ralien Thosh, a middle-aged human who is one of the few Thalasui merchants to have somewhat rebuilt their fortunes since the War of the Golden Wave. Day-to-day administration of the city is carried out by officials chosen on a largely ad-hoc basis.
History
Kelukhas was founded as a base for the Tethan Empire's conquest of the Archipelago in the late first century of the Tethan Era. Once the indigenous inhabitants had been pushed back from the coastline of Thalasu and into the interior, the Empire expanded the initial beach-head fortification to serve as a base both for commerce on the western seas and for the nascent Imperial Navy. Thanks to its relative isolation from the conflicts of the Wars of Sundering, much of the original Tethan-era settlement remains standing today; of particular interest are the Land Walls, with their battlements of shimmering merstone, the Cerulean Emporium, and the houses of the wealthy in the upper city, many of which are near-pristine Tethan-style townhouses.
The only real violence to occur in Kelukhas during the Wars of Sundering was one of the two original revolts of 744 YT; upon hearing of the death of his distant cousin Calkhas IX and the fall of the Servan Dynasty, the Pro-Prefect Altimius Lamianes declared himself Emperor Altimius II; having gained the support of an inner circle of naval officers and the sailors under them, he oversaw the storming of the walls of the provincial capital and the execution of the Prefect. The rest of the Archipelago rapidly pledged its support (often with the 'encouragement' of approaching warships), and the Empire lost de facto control of the western coast of Mardet. The Altimian Revolt did not last long; some three months later, an ambitious officer by the name of Laelia murdered the would-be Emperor in his sleep and tried to take control of the rebellion. Despite some initial gains, her bid for power failed, and the Imperial Navy collapsed into infighting and brigandage, a period referred as the Great Mutiny. Caught in the middle of all this, Kelukhas suffered; trade dried up, and while the city was never attacked during the Wars, the citizens were constantly on-edge.
However, the city's leadership were far from idle; as factions within the Mutineers were built or destroyed, Thalasui gold went a long way in acquiring the loyalty and service of former Navy ships. By the time of the Great Sack of Tethas in 773 YT, Kelukhas was not only secure but, contrary to almost everywhere else in the former Empire, somewhat prosperous. Over the next few centuries, Kelukhas became the heart of the Thalasui thalassocracy as the merchants of the great island secured control over the Archipelago. The ferin trade in particular poured money into the local economy; during the height of this age of prosperity, it was said that anything could be bought in Kelukhas because it was the only place where anything could be afforded.
The outbreak of the War of the Archipelago in 401 YC marked the abrupt end of the golden age. Construction of new public works ceased as all available funds were poured into ships, mercenaries, and attempts at negotiation. An abortive attempt was made by the Compact fleet to take the city in 413 YC, but they were repulsed with heavy losses by a combined armada of warships and hastily armed civilian vessels. The city remained otherwise untouched by the war itself, although many of its citizens fought and died defending the Thalasui rule over the Archipelago. When, drained of both money and will to fight, the Serene Council admitted defeat in 519 YC, it was at Kelukhas that the Treaty to end both the war and Thalasui rule over the Archipelago was signed the following year. With its public coffers drained and its rulers ruined, Kelukhas has spent the past 15 years sliding into slow, seemingly irreversible decay.
The only real violence to occur in Kelukhas during the Wars of Sundering was one of the two original revolts of 744 YT; upon hearing of the death of his distant cousin Calkhas IX and the fall of the Servan Dynasty, the Pro-Prefect Altimius Lamianes declared himself Emperor Altimius II; having gained the support of an inner circle of naval officers and the sailors under them, he oversaw the storming of the walls of the provincial capital and the execution of the Prefect. The rest of the Archipelago rapidly pledged its support (often with the 'encouragement' of approaching warships), and the Empire lost de facto control of the western coast of Mardet. The Altimian Revolt did not last long; some three months later, an ambitious officer by the name of Laelia murdered the would-be Emperor in his sleep and tried to take control of the rebellion. Despite some initial gains, her bid for power failed, and the Imperial Navy collapsed into infighting and brigandage, a period referred as the Great Mutiny. Caught in the middle of all this, Kelukhas suffered; trade dried up, and while the city was never attacked during the Wars, the citizens were constantly on-edge.
However, the city's leadership were far from idle; as factions within the Mutineers were built or destroyed, Thalasui gold went a long way in acquiring the loyalty and service of former Navy ships. By the time of the Great Sack of Tethas in 773 YT, Kelukhas was not only secure but, contrary to almost everywhere else in the former Empire, somewhat prosperous. Over the next few centuries, Kelukhas became the heart of the Thalasui thalassocracy as the merchants of the great island secured control over the Archipelago. The ferin trade in particular poured money into the local economy; during the height of this age of prosperity, it was said that anything could be bought in Kelukhas because it was the only place where anything could be afforded.
The outbreak of the War of the Archipelago in 401 YC marked the abrupt end of the golden age. Construction of new public works ceased as all available funds were poured into ships, mercenaries, and attempts at negotiation. An abortive attempt was made by the Compact fleet to take the city in 413 YC, but they were repulsed with heavy losses by a combined armada of warships and hastily armed civilian vessels. The city remained otherwise untouched by the war itself, although many of its citizens fought and died defending the Thalasui rule over the Archipelago. When, drained of both money and will to fight, the Serene Council admitted defeat in 519 YC, it was at Kelukhas that the Treaty to end both the war and Thalasui rule over the Archipelago was signed the following year. With its public coffers drained and its rulers ruined, Kelukhas has spent the past 15 years sliding into slow, seemingly irreversible decay.
Founding Date
89 YT
Type
Capital
Population
73000
Inhabitant Demonym
Kelukhan
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