Thera
"Thera" (ðɛra), officially the "Theran Republic", is a city-state in the northern reaches of Summum. Its borders are shaped by the doab formed between the two upper forks of the Ayoric River and are bound by the Dawncrest Mountains to the east. Thera's official borders are currently in revision after the Second Founding of Crowne Point.
Thera's terrain is chiefly open low lying floodplains and grasslands, however it also possesses dense forestry in its south western region shared between Kratis and Avalin. Thera is a representative democracy controlled by a senatorial body and headed by two consuls similar to neighboring Solana. The country's sole city and main cultural and commercial center is Thera; formerly Crowne Point fell under Thera's jurisdiction however the country relented on its desire for self-representation in 521.
Thera was settled by Edoic settlers during the Resurgence Period as part of Ayoria. The Edos Civil War saw Jaya Rhodes join the forces of General Avalin in open rebellion against the Edoic Triumvirate and the founding of modern Thera began. The ultimate failure of General Avalin and the Edos Royalists saw Jaya refocus her efforts on Thera as a prime hub on the Ayoric River and modeled the city's government after the burgeoning democracy in Solon's Rest. Modern events have seen Jaya Rhodes retire from public life and the citystate left in the hands of its consuls, as well as the cessation of Crowne Point's subjection by the Theran government.
History
Widely considered to be the "youngest" of Summum's city states Thera found its true origins in the Edos Civil War as its bordering nations of Avalin and Solana threw off the chains of Edoic control. During its time as a minor city in the Edoic state of Ayoria, Thera was the "last depot" on the river stretching from Cartam to the edge of the Dawncrest mountains. Relations between Edos and the Brassic Isles saw Thera primarily act as a military town to hold the doab against a possible Brassic invasion. During the First Age of Adventuring Thera became a popular niche-adventuring destination with the discovery of the Marklas Ruins that gave the Azenmour and Ozryn ruins to the south minor competition. The Marklas Ruins dwindled in popularity over time and Thera would return to obscurity as the primary trading hub for neighboring Crowne Point's lumber, stone, and grain shipments.
With the death of Queen Ladina Vecatus of Edos the entirety of Ayoria fractured overnight, and host-general Jaya Rhodes was forced into the difficult decision of siding with the Royalists or the increasingly powerful Triumvirate. Jaya opted for the latter, though publicly attempted to remain neutral by only supplying forces to secure Solon's Rest and Marrenvale against "future bloodshed". With the death of General Avalin and the defeat of Royalist forces in Solum, Jaya was once again faced with the decision of loyalty and opted to keep Thera as an independent state, wary of being the sole Edos loyalist surrounded by Kratis, Avalin, and Solana.
Thera, practically untouched by the civil war on Summum quickly urbanized under the support of Enia as trade routes up the Ayoric River rapidly developed as the River Ordun's diminished. Under Jaya's leading hand the city-state became increasingly powerful and its famed neutrality became a pillar of "the Ayoric Alliance" as it negotiated. Jaya's eventual departure from public life in Thera in 517 was met with grand unease, but the Solanian system of democracy seemed to hold true with the election of Thera's consuls.
Modern Thera was eventually faced with the difficulty of Crowne Point and what appeared to be the start of the Second Age of Adventuring. A number of senators and policy makers resisted Crowne Points demands for independence, but the city-state eventually relented in 521 and the Second Founding of Crowne Point became a reality. To the nation's horror Crowne Point had found their new benefactor in the south Solum nation of Elyra. Things have quickly changed in Thera after it became a primary target for Elyran criminal activity based out of Crowne Point, and a growing "Pro-Brassic" movement has begun dominating its senatorial chambers under Consul Ulla Wintherdotter. The Pro-Brassic movement seeks to formally align itself with Kratis and the Brassic Isles and seek Thanedom.
Locations
Thera is broken into six districts that are loosely divided by the highlands and lowlands of its three major hills bordering the Ayoric River. On its southern lowlands sits the River Harbor district, Thera's vein and artery for Enian goods traveling up and down the Ayoric River. To the north continues the basin in Faith Row. the second largest hub in the city possessing a number of temples, churches, and a myriad of businesses to support their needs. Further still at the center of the city sits Bell Vale, host to the city's large market district, senate, and myriad of other businesses, guilds, and administrative buildings blossoming under Thera's growing power. Flanking the low districts to the west, north, and east are Hightop, Rhodes' Rise, and Claywatch respectively. Hightop presses against the finer west side of Bell Vale and hosts a number of villas, manses, and large homes for Thera's wealthy elite and senators overlooking from the highest hill in Thera. Rhodes Rise occupies the second largest hill in Thera at the north and hosts the citystate's working population. On the low south eastern hill sits Claywatch, once a relatively meek lowlying slum that has transformed in recent years to a criminal hive of Elyran design.
River Harbor
The River Harbor is primarily made up of a number of docks, warehouses, and bulk trading hubs built against the Ayoric River and has flourished under Enian support. Most well to do businesses have set up a number of outposts in Thera's River Harbor district but have found difficulty in its eastern reaches as the criminal underlife of Claywatch have begun a number of thieving operations. If one plans to venture out from Thera or Crowne Point to Avalin, Enia, or Kratis they will certainly leave through the River Harbor's port.
Faith Row
Originally a single road called the "Boulevard of Divinity" flanked by a number of open spaces and Bell Vale's creeping sprawl, Faith Row's origins were certainly humble. Overtime the entire district has become something of a well known hub of religious discussion, safety, and well-to-do folk. Prior to the Second Founding the entire district had dedicated itself to assisting the less fortunate living in Claywatch and attempted to bring them under a number of religious wings. After the arrival of Elyran influence into the region the area has become somewhat tense, particularly with the creation of Claywatch's "Alley of Depravity" that runs along Faith Row's southeastern edge and has become a hotspot of brothels and Low Court drug dens.
Bell Vale
Thera's primary locale district sits at the center of the city and possesses all nature of things needed for a city and its people to function. On its western edge sits the stone senatorial building and its smattering of surrounding administrative buildings as well the citystate's Unbound Archive. At its center Bell Vale is an enormous market district with just about every product occupied in some storefront or stall - Thetlin food, Brassic alchemicals, Vedean mageweave, Edoic crafts, Hjalmoric guild offices, and an expansive bazaar stretching along its southern edge.
Hightop
Overlooking both the Bell Vale and the River Harbor, Hightop sits at the highest point in the city and it hosts the most well off of Thera's population. By and large Hightop is purely a residential district with more frequent guard patrols, expansive homes, and easy access to the River Harbor for quick travel in and out of the city by its safest route. However Hightop also possesses a number of fine taverns, a forum typically used for artifact auctions, and the second largest guard outpost in the city.
Rhodes' Rise
The second largest hill in the city, Rhode's Rise is Thera's primary residential district and is dominated by housing. Its only notable feature beyond its sprawl of inns is the city's central guard outpost that sees to the day to day crime stopping of the city.
Claywatch
Once Thera's often overlooked slum district, Claywatch has exploded under the influence of the Elyran criminal groups building their reputation in the surrounding area. Thera had dealt with criminal groups in the past, hosting a number of minor criminal elements that it either clashed with or overlooked for the greater good of the city - Elyra's Ivory syndicate saw to the near extermination of Thera's former underbelly and replaced it with its own Qairic influenced machinations. Brothels, drug dens, racketeering operations, and bandit groups all began materializing in the city, consuming or displacing Thera's former criminal groups and the Claywatch district now frequently clashes with its neighbors in Faith Row and the River Harbor.
Nation Info
Official Name: The Theran RepublicCapital: Thera
Population: ~185,000
Government: Representative Democracy
Leader:
- Ulla Wintherdotter
- Roland Celice
Demonym: Theran
Major Exports:
- Lumber
- Grain
- Old Empire Artifacts
Military
- 8,000 Combatants
- Warships: 5 River Monitors
Breed Distribution
Religion Distribution
- 40% - The Manifold Path
- 30% - The Highlord
- 15% - The Guardians
- 10% - The Tower
- 5% - Other
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
~ Dylan Thomas