Altea
Altea is a coastal theocracy that is widely regarded as being part of the Archipelago despite being on the mainland
It is ruled by The Apostle, who is a female descendant of the nation's founder, Saint Altea. The Apostle is aided by the Guiding Council; a body of men who are chosen from among the upper echelons of the Church of Altea, are descended of the holy bloodline of Altea, or who have contributed notably to the wealth and prosperity of the nation.
To most of the inhabitants of the Archipelago the name Altea is synonymous with the Altean Trading Company; a powerful and wealthy organisation who's large trading galleys are a common site in virtually every prosperous port.
Assets
The Guiding Council,
The Order of Altea,
The Altean Trading Company (ATC)
History
For those of a secular mindset Altea's ancient past is little more than a collection of stories about the nation's founder-saint. This is not helped by the fact that reading and writing were only taught to members of the clergy for the first few centuries of Altea's history. As a result all writings from that period are heavily influenced by the Church's doctrines. That said, there is evidence that at least some of the events of the Church's early histories are based on true events. It is likely that the invasion and subsequent enslavement of the Altean people by a foreign power, the backdrop for the story of Saint Altea, is one of these events that actually did occur. Whether these invaders were the monstrous beings the Alteans claimed they were, and whether they were defeated, and the Alteans set free, by the miracles of one individual is another matter.
The history of Altea becomes a good deal more solid and believable after the reign of the twenty-third apostle, who's works to educate the masses triggered a much needed modernisation of the country. Now taking full advantage of the nation's fertile central plains and ore-rich northern mountains Altea began to trade widely, particularly from its coastal capital; Gadessa. Within two generations this boom in trade had been formalised into the Altean Trading Company. It is due to the powerful and wide-reaching influence of this organisation over the last three centuries that Altea is considered to be a part of the Archipelago despite not being an island.
Like most of its mainland neighbours the last century of Altean history has been dominated by war. For this reason the Altean Trading Company turned a blind eye to the isolationist policies of Neyris for almost a century. Their forbearance would certainly not have lasted so long had the Altean Trading Company's ships not been stretched to capacity selling weapons, armour and food along the Mainland coast to any nation who's war effort Altea wished to support. The Order of Altea also gained renewed fame during this time for battling tirelessly against the monsters and other threats that the warring nation's armies were too busy to deal with. The Order famously even combated threats to the civilian populations of nations that were enemies of Altea at the time, all the while abstaining from the battlefield even when other Paladin Orders fought for their country of origin.
The end of the Last War left Altea in a strong position amongst its neighbours, and the Altean Trading Company once again turned its attention to the Archipelago, forcing open the crucial port at Arcos so that trade and missionary work to Neyris and the Eastern Islands could resume.
Territories
Altea can be roughly divided into three sub-regions. The mountainous north, the fertile centre and the forested south. The centre is by far the largest and wealthiest with the northern and southern regions being akin to border regions. During the Great War Altea pushed its holdings all the way to the bank of the Dionne River in the west. It is bordered by the sea of The Archipelago to the east. While there are many towns and villages, particularly in the central region, the region's capital and largest city; Gadessa, is on the Coast. It is both the Holy City of the Church of Altea and also the home of the Altean Trading Company.
Military
Altea has a substantially powerful and well equipped Guard and Navy, but the Paladins of the Order of Altea are their best known military asset due to their philanthropic actions during The Last War.
Religion
The Church of Altea
Foreign Relations
The Alteans will ally with, and potentially actively assist any friendly Human or Human-dominated state. They will ignore, exclude, and sometimes even try to undermine any non-Human state.
The Altean Trading Company on the other hand will trade with anyone if it offers them a profit.
Agriculture & Industry
The majority of Altea is good farmland, and most of the people of Altea that live outside Gadessa are feudal farmers working this land.
Trade & Transport
On the surface the Altean Trading Company appear to be a respectable company., and plenty of its assets are tied to legitimate business. Less savoury enterprises are hidden beneath the surface of the trading empire however.
Education
While formal education is no longer the sole province of the Church in Altea it is still mostly restricted to the upper and middle classes who can afford said education. Church-run orphanages do teach their charges to read and write, but most of these children go on to serve the Church in the end.
In Altea's Name
Type
Geopolitical, Theocracy
Capital
Alternative Names
Theocracy of Altea, The Altean Empire
Demonym
Altean
Leader
Head of State
Government System
Theocracy
Power Structure
Feudal state
Currency
GP
Subsidiary Organizations
Location
Official Languages
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
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