Ringterel (RING-ta-rell)

The capital city of the Dravenforth Empire, Ringterel is the largest city on Dunaterra, and the cultural hub of the southern half of Emaul. With its position controlling the trade of any goods to the east of Emaul with the resource-rich cities of Obeavos, it has grown to a thriving size. The population is a melting pot of races and cultures, though humans are the most common.
Settlement of Ringterel began over a millenia ago. Originally a human civilization, it managed to establish itself as a very defensible location during many of the earliest wars between various groups. As time went on and different cultures began to coexist more peacefully, Ringterel's location provided a new benefit: trade. All trade going by ship across the continent stopped in the city as sailors needed to resupply. As the population in Emaul grew, so did the wealth, diversity and population of Ringterel, quickly dwarfing its surrounding cities and settlements.
Growth of this size is not without drawbacks, and never without conflict. Different guilds, companies, and individuals all attempted to gain control of the whole of Ringterel, resulting in violent clashes that often left many injured and dead. Occasionally nearby city-states attempted to use the chaos to their advantage, sending militia to subdue the thriving metropolis and make it their own vassal state. However, the threat of outside subjugation quickly brought an end to the infighting, and the resulting alliances easily rebuffed the attacks.
After one particularly large threat, a man by the name of Thane Dravenforth managed to maintain control of the thrown-together militia of Ringterel. Taking advantage of the temporary alliance, he quickly moved to solidify his power and named himself King Draven the First. While there were several attempts at coups after the initial coronation, King Draven managed to quell any resistance with ruthless efficiency. Within two years, Ringterel's ongoing territory wars between factions came to an end, and the Dravenforth Empire was fully established.
Over the next thirty years, many cities joined the Dravenforth empire, either by choice or by force. Ringterel continued to grow in size, population, and commerce. King Draven established his personal guard, growing the into the feared Iron-Faced Army -- IFA by the time of the Battle of Orcish Agression.
Nearly five years after the battle concluded, King Draven, now in his 70s, died in his sleep. His son, King Draven the Second, took his place on the throne. While he was well-liked and amicable, King Draven the Second did not have his father's strong desire to expand, nor his ruthlessness against corruption. Over his fifty-year reign Ringterel began a slow descent into mediocrity. The descent continued with his son, Emperor Alban Dravenforth, who's poor negotiating ability and abysmal foreign affairs policies saw a significant decrease in the cultural and financial juggernaut that Ringterel had been.
Alban never married, nor had children. At the end of his seventy-year rule, his nephew, Henry Maculus, assumed control of the country following a brief but bitter power struggle. Titled Grand Emperor Henry Maculus, he quickly attempted to patch what he saw as a sinking ship. Efforts were made to smooth over relations with their various vassel cities, many of whom had begun to distance themselves from Ringterel and the Empire. His policies and methods, while not hugely popular, were successful, and Ringterel began a slow climb towards the glory days it had been nearly two centuries before.
Before he died, however, Henry was surplanted by his youngest son, Erik Maculus. Erik, being a cunning and strong-willed man, quickly began to make sweeping changes. The IFA was brought back to its former glory, and military exercises began happening in earnest. By the time 20 years had passed, the corruption that had grown rampant in Ringterel nearly vanished, and the empires iron hold on it's various vassel-cities and trade networks was unquestioned.

Type

Capital