The Country of Themeria & Theotia

Structure

The Theian government is dually operated by the houses of Cune and Phassa, the two most powerful during the wars of old. After the bloodshed between them finally ended, they split their powers and duties among the islands. Because of this co-rule, the Sister States are the only existing Diarchy in the world--currently helmed by me and my brother. They call us the Diarchy, the Q'als, the Half King and Queen, whatever name we maintain complete rule over what happens within this kingdom, though tradition requires consensus before any unprecedented actions can be taken. Before this elegant system came into being, our home and its many lords operated under a Feudalist system that maintained hundreds of independent powers. Each would answer the call of the house they were sworn to, usually either Cune or Phassa, the two most powerful. With its current system, the Theian government still considers independent authority to be useful in handling the boring and everyday considerations of rulership. The larger and sweeping changes are the responsibility of the Diarchy, but most of the daily obligations of governance can be delegated to appointed officials in each state. An example lies in Kymera's "Teal House", a building that convenes a council of 77 elected representatives who vote in the interests of their constituents. Even though this system is a textbook example of a representative republic, any decision this body makes can be overridden by the Diarchy with little to no recourse, and it has happened many times in the past.
Because of this system, it is customary for the settlements of the Sister States to send a representative to the Diarchy to request permission for passing legislation, the more substantive the proposal the more concerned representatives become with ensuring it will not be overturned. This in no way prevents us from changing our minds at a later date or determining a law to be useless, but getting permission at the outset is generally seen as a way to set legislation in stone.

History

Thousands of years ago, long before the Impetus, the states of Themeria and Theotia were completely independent. In fact, they waged endless wars against each other and stained the sea red with blood. Theian legends speak of twin brothers who were born to either side of the conflict, and raised to hunt each other without mercy. When the time came for these two to meet in battle, neither of them could raise a hand against their sibling, the power of their familial bond more powerful than any creed they could be sworn to. The brothers' names were Reldyres and Almûnis, and they began an impossible task that they hoped would end the war once and for all. For them, all of Themeria and Theotia were like them, families separated by insignificant differences. To reunite their country, first, they separated it to make the war costly beyond imagination. Beginning on either end, they each dug into the soil and carved two valleys that connected in the middle-country, creating a channel of water that is nearly 400 miles at its widest point and over 800 miles long. The Valleys are deep enough today to accommodate huge merchant vessels and even floating fortresses like The Tombstone. The two sides of these valleys came to be known as the Valley of Death and the Valley of Renewal, a single body represented by two inseparable halves.
Today, these two halves are represented by the seats of the Theian government, Q'al Cune and Q'al Phassa. Ever clinging to tradition, Q'al is an old word roughly equivalent to a coin, with both seats doing their duty to further the collective interests of the Sister States and all who live there.
Themeria and Theotia were the last of Ec'algor to be touched by the Impetus, and lost the least amount during its expansion. Ob-3 sprouted from the midst of the Terisian Channel and created chaos in the ocean, sometimes it's even referred to as the "Sphere that Swallowed the Sea". The north and northwest of the country are still tainted by foul magics and patrolled by worse creatures, but two forests have been planted over the last thousand years in order to deter their southern motion. Theotia's Swiftclaw Roots and Themeria's Nightveil Canopy are winding woodlands populated almost entirely by Daggerbarks, a species of tree that truly lives up to its name. Along with their deadly exteriors, Daggerbarks have a tendency to grow at irregular angles, making the woods a dangerous and bloody maze for mindless beasts. This defense mechanism is even more effective than Terisirae's "Last Rest" outpost and Kentricury's South End Wall.

Foreign Relations

Before The Impetus, the Sister States had a long and close relationship with its immediate neighbor, Terisirae. Thanks to the city of Kymera, that relationship has survived, or perhaps barely clung to life. Twice a year, during the moon's lowest arc in the sky, the tides are just low enough that large ships are able to brave the waves of the Restless Sea and make the journey from Terisirae to the Sister States. The Moon Tide, twice during each years' solstices, is the only opportunity for people to travel in either direction, making it a busy time for trade and travel as well as for political summits.
When a Tide cannot be relied on, cross-continental communication through magical mediums is a popular choice for many Tersian and Theian diplomats.

Mythology & Lore

As mentioned by the cosmological understanding of Gorian divinity, the Sister States are under the shelter of the Seldarine, the pantheon of gods led by Corellon Larethian. Most who call it home also pay homage to these deities, even those that immigrated from faraway places or non-elvish people. 
Because of the influence of the Diarchy, many who live along the coast also observe the traditions associated with Umberlee and a variety of lesser deities and spirits associated with her. Minor merchant gods are also popular, but such respects are only paid in addition to their primary allegiance under the Seldarine.

This entry is narrated by Laeyla Cune

Founding Date

~ 17,000s E.Y.

Alternative Names

The Sister States, the Country of Sisterhood

Demonym

Theian

Head of State

Arius Vannur

Head of Government

Laeyla Cune

Subsidiary Organizations

• The Tombstone

Controlled Territories

• Kymera
• Osa

Neighboring Nations

• The Country of Terisirae

Related Species

• Foul-Blood