Cytoria
The entire Empire of Cytorias stretches across the Eastern Shore of the only known major landmass in this world: Tessoras.
The Cytorian Empire is the strongest gathering of one dominant race in Tessoras, though the current Emperor had, and maintains, no desire to expand. The strongest defensive army in the known world resides within the hellishly large wall that stretches to encompass the entire Empire (and is comprised mainly of conscripted soldiers).
Geography
The entire East coast is inhabited by the Cytorian Empire, a vast expanse of magically-flattened land separated into three massive cities. Each city has a border consisting of The Curtain on three sides, with the ocean on the fourth (with the Imperial Navy acting as a fourth defensive wall).
The only raised land in all three cities is the artificial hill that seats the Imperial Palace. (This excludes the section of the Ice-Crowned Highlands that form part of the Curtain in Hellmount.)
Ecosystem Cycles
See: The Pantheon of Seasons.
Fauna & Flora
The only abundance of plants in the Empire can be found in the Temple to the Wild Mother, the Temple of Seasons and on the beach in Midlan.
The naturally occurring animals of the Empire are few and far between. Excluding the limited species' of fish found in the harbours and bays, the only other animals are rats, and a couple of species of bird.
Inhabitants are known to keep pets, but these are far from naturally occurring.
Natural Resources
In the city, it is extremely easy to find fish of all species, alongside shellfish and seaweed by the boat-load. Similarly, being a city by the sea, there is an abundance of salt water (useful to clerics and medical professionals for cleaning wounds). Some ocean-side establishments focus on separating the salt from the water, increasing its versatility.
For the more upscale and discerning clients, with an abundance of shellfish comes an abundance of Pearls. In the ocean bordering the Empire, the unique climate and concentration of salt in the water has caused the majority of Imperial Pearls to carry an amethyst shade.
From the city's farms, outside the Curtain there can be found Livestock of all forms, wood, hay, grain: all the products of farming.
There are a handful of farms that aren't affiliated with the Empire that are attempting to perfect the art of growing spices all year round, not just in Autumn. With their extensive knowledge of spice growing, they demand a higher price in all Imperial cities, though they have negotiated a lower Tithe than the other farms, which they pay to the ruler of Midlan.
History
"Midlan as it stands now has always been the Capitol of the East. Back before the war, the largest settlement in the East, known as Odonwell, found itself exactly where the Imperial Palace now stands (in the direct centre of Midlan). The first man to take the name Cytorias, Mergim, rallied the surrounding settlements together under the common banner of overthrowing the legion of bandit captains that harried and raided them so regularly. These bandits were akin to tyrants, and caused more trouble than their promises of protection were worth. The Cytorian Assembly marched forward to war, with the overwhelming benefit of having the largest concentration of arcane-inclined individuals on Tessoras. The bloodshed and dust-fall after the initial battle was immense, with the combat persisting for an entire month. Enjoying the power and wealth of his assumed station, and riding on the coattails of a momentous victory, Mergrim convinced his new army to march through the entire continent, hoping to eliminate any opposition before it could arise. During his campaign, Mergrim Cytorias led his armies North, into the constantly frozen wildlands (The Perpetual Freeze). There are none alive now who remember what he found up there, but what we do know is that it was so dangerous that nobody has ever ventured there since. On his way back home, Mergrim left most of his strongest arcane users on the border to the Northlands, with the sole mission of building defenses to keep the danger out, and keep his people in. Mergrim returned to Odonwell, naming it Midlan once he arrived, and from here began to build what would become the great Empire of Cytoria, and its three immense cities. The "final" form of Midlan, upon which the modern world is now built, was finished in 112 PI." A Brief History of the Empire by Demora Cytorius, 140 PI.The excerpt above lays a good foundation, like Odonwell for Midlan, to explain the History of the Empire. After planning and laying out the foundations for Midlan, Mergrim headed South to layout the foundation for Hellmount. Mergrim had intended for all three cities to be ruled equally from his seat in Midlan. However, after laying out the foundations of Hellmount and heading North to the site of Heavensword, he realised he may need some help. Trusting nobody other than his own blood, he instated his own brother as the first ruler of Hellmount, and continued North. Once he had established the foundations of Heavensword, Mergrim returned home, to establish his sister as the ruler of his third city. Mergrim, for the first time in 12 years, sat back to rule and enjoy the fruits of his conquest. Utilising the vast wellspring of magic granted by his arcane associates, Mergrim lived an extended life. He lived long enough to see his vision of Midlan realised, before passing gently into the afterlife in his sleep surrounded by his, now large, family. Mergrim was succeeded by his eldest son, Bryor, in 121PI through means of Abdication. As of current day, Bryor hasn't been seen by the public in 30 years, since attempting to sail past the Ceaseless Maelstrom. His family insists that he still lives, though nobody can corroborate this.
Tourism
Heavensword:
Heavensword, The Jewel of the North, the spiritual capital of the Empire. Temples dedicated to every known god (including the Pantheon of Seasons), and one Guild headquarters (The Guild of Artifice). Followers of the Gods of Seasons regularly mkae pilgrimage to Heavensword, and young indiviudals with a penchant for tinkering and learning find their way to the Artificers' Guild.
Midlan:
The discerning traveller. The gourmet. The purveyor of fine wine. The collector of antiques and jeweller. All of these individuals of varied tastes will find something to suit their needs in Midlan.
A city of style, substance and excess, Midlan is the richest city, where every traveller is an equal and a friend.
Hellmount:
Someone once said "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy."
This person has clearly never been to Hellmount.
The ruler of Hellmount cares very little for his people, and this is reflected in the quality of the city, both above and below ground.
Hellmount is the Place-Du-Jour for the purveyor of cheap booze, fast company, and a strong fist. Taverns populate every street, sewage flows freely through the streets and the guards are as bad as the thieves. However, you will struggle to find a better fighting-pit anywhere else in the Empire.
Alternative Name(s)
The Empire, The Cytorian Empire
Location under
Included Locations
Included Organizations
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
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