Dominion of Tilliden

The city of Tilliden was originally the only part of the Dominion of Tilliden. It is a dwarven fortress enchanted with elven magic with the goal of enduring the cataclysms. It was successful, and has become so old that it is venerated by all other nations. It was likewise one of the few places magic did not fade from. Few have ventured to the famed city of Tilliden itself, which is said to magically repel those who would wish to do it harm. Additionally, it is said its ruling council is composed of some of the oldest mortal and immortal beings on the material plane. The dominion mostly keeps to themselves, and rarely bothers others, as much of the trade in the region is left to guilds within their borders.

History

Age of Mortals

The Dominion of Tilliden was once a wild and untamed land which few travelers would dare to enter. The natural land was beautiful and contained some remaining buildings of the Azuren Empire. Some elves also remained in the region that took refuge together during the giant's conquest of Vadovass. When the giants conquered the land, its elven inhabitants hid among the forests and valleys until the fall of the giant's empire around 1,500 A.o.M. As the years went by, more races began to slowly move into the area. The dwarves who were previously controlled by the giants were now free to take care of themselves, and settled the future area of Tilliden as well. The racial prejudice still existed between the dwarves and the elves and they would skirmish occasionally.

Around the 1,600s A.o.M., a sage simply known as Loreander, one of the wisest of the elves, peered into the future and saw a vision. He saw the cataclysms and the destruction they wrought. Not once but twice in the next two thousand years, the world would be ravaged by catastrophic events that would nearly tear it apart. He saw that magic would be lost, the gods would nearly disappear, and the material plane as they knew it would virtually stop existing. Loreander was so shook by the visions that he could not speak for days. When he composed himself, he approached the rulers of the elves and pleaded with them about what was to come. He wished to construct a fortress that could withstand these cataclysms, so that if all other lands were destroyed, at least they would survive. The elves respected Loreander and listened to him, for they feared the loss of magic and the limited territories they controlled. But when Loreander suggested that they work with the dwarves to construct the city, many began to doubt his plan. With Loreander's persistence, the rest of the elves were convinced to ask the dwarves' for help on this project. Though the dwarves were initially just as wary of working with the elves, Loreander was able to share a shred of his vision with them. The lord of the Dwarves instantly agreed and he began to ask his own people to work with the elves to make the city. Though some chose to leave the region to continue to live in isolation, most were convinced that they had to work together or perish. The plans for the city of Tilliden were laid.

The dwarves began to construct the city and designed it to be a fortress to withstand any disasters that could strike it. No expense was spared, and the dwarves' mining operations began to focus on metals such as lead, iron, and adamantine. The strongest stone was selected from quarries to serve as the walls and foundation of the city. The elves designed a mixture of elven and dwarven architecture to create a style that is still unique to this day. The walls were made to be 300 feet high all around, with no flaw that could be exploited. The city was constructed much larger than it needed to be for the inevitable growth of population. While the elves worked on laying out the foundation of the city, the dwarves used their engineering and tunneling skills to mine out subterranean regions of the city. Where they would create even more passages, vaults, and underground structures to endure the worst of what the universe could throw at them.

Even though the structure of the city was in progress and appeared to be unassailable by any army, Loreander knew it would not be enough to guarantee their survival. He proposed to his fellow elves that they make a mythal, a magical shield that could only be created by the elves. Even though none had been made in centuries, they knew it would be necessary and set out to find the secrets to create the mythal. Though the expedition would eventually return, Loreander disappeared during his exploration, which left the unfinished task to his followers. The ritual was started by the elven mages and continued for a hundred years. Exhaustion took most of the mages, some of which died in the creation process. The area overflowed with elven magic until the mythal was finally established. The power of the mythal guaranteed the safety of the inhabitants. And now that it was place, city was impossible to teleport into. Magic was inert inside the field except for those who possessed special amulets. Undead, chromatic dragons, drow, duergar, and all aberrations and fiends would feel a need to leave the mythal as soon as they entered it. With the mythal permanently in place, the union of elves and dwarves had done all that they could to guarantee their safety.

The city of Tilliden was completed in the year 2,000 A.o.M. The creators of the city moved in and awaited the end of the world. Even though they were within the safety of Tilliden, they did not stop preparing, and its citizens did everything they could think of to equip themselves for the future. Though the city was large enough to be the capital of an empire that spanned an entire continent, it was totally isolated in its corner of the world. Tales of a large city in the middle of nowhere spread as a myth among men. As the years continued to pass, many within the city began to wonder when he cataclysms would be. Others began to doubt them altogether. But then the First Cataclysm ripped the world apart.

Post-Cataclysm

The only reliable recordings of the cataclysms come from Tilliden. The ground shook and the entirety of the material plane is said to have been overrun with portals leading to other planes as reality was nearly torn asunder. Demons, devils, aberrations and celestials appeared out of nowhere and slaughtered each other and all that they encountered. Spirits of the restless dead began to wander the material plane. Storms raged for years, which froze and flooded parts of the world. Though the inhabitants of Tilliden were in the midst of chaos, their preparations were worth it and the city was almost completely untouched. Its people wrote down what they had witnessed and vowed to never forget it. After several years, all signs of the cataclysms had vanished in Tilliden. Magic could be used as normal, and the land around the city was peaceful and bountiful just as it once was. Yet they did not forget what they had seen, and they had not forgotten that a second cataclysm was yet to come.

As the world began to recover, many of the survivors who heard of Tilliden began to seek refuge there. There were now monstrosities that now patrolled the world freely and threatened ordinary people. While the creators of Tilliden had foreseen this, they had underestimated how many people would seek shelter in the city. Tilliden was full just a few hundred years after the first cataclysm. Excess refugees settled outside of the city walls, but still close enough to be protected by the mythal barrier from most extraplanar creatures that roamed freely. Humanoids were not the only ones who had learned about the city that survived the First Cataclysm. Immortals such as angels and mortals such as dragons and giants came to the city, seeking shelter from the harsh world outside. In time the wisest of these beings would be made leaders of the city, in a new governing body known as the Council of Tilliden. They sought to ensure that Tilliden would survive at any cost.

As with the First Cataclysm, the second hit the land unexpectedly, with similar strength and ferocity. Yet the city endured once more and was even less disturbed than the previous cataclysm. Despite the relative safely, people had not forgotten the horrors of the world that appeared after the First Cataclysm. One of the leaders of the Council of Tilliden, a Solar named Vilproex, began to organize efforts to clear out the surrounding regions of creatures that had invaded the material plane in order to make it livable for everyone. The other council members agreed, and they set out to ensure the safety of the land once more. Though the process would take hundreds of years, the land for miles around the city was deemed safe, and many other people came to seek refuge from the outside world. The land became mythical for its capital and rulers, and each settlement that arose was enabled to govern itself as it saw fit. Though none of the outside settlements benefitted from the mythal, they always had the watchful eyes of the council overseeing them. As more nations rose up around Tilliden, the council slowed their expansion to not involve themselves in the politics of others. While some foolish enough to trespass upon Tilliden's land or harm its people, none would make the error twice. Many respected Tilliden for its council, who were deemed wise, fair, and good.

Age of Restoration

While other nations celebrated the return of magic, the Council of Tilliden was concerned of what this would mean for their surrounding neighbors. Though Tilliden disliked involving themselves in international politics, they saw that they would have to serve as a governing force to ensure that no nations were misusing magic. Spies and inspectors were sent out to ensure that no nation or powerful group did anything that could put the material plane at risk. While most nations agreed to Tilliden's motives, others resented them for this, as they were seen as domineering and slowing down progress.

It was 8 A.o.R. when the council sensed something - a great dark power in the land of Kildranos. Even though it was their neighbor, the power had somehow evaded their detection. A cult known as the Children of the Black Sun was growing in the land, and had indeed become the dominant religion of the nation. Their leader, a man named Malik, was said to be able to perform wondrous miracles. Stories of his power and message began to spread across the land. He taught that the problems in the universe were because of the gods themselves. He advocated that a final age should be brought about, which would end the existence of all other planes and force them into a single union. This sounded as if he was talking about another cataclysm to the council. Indeed, he did not shy away from stating that another cataclysm is what it may take. He denounced the gods and openly sought for their worship to end. Malik made a poor first impression on the council, who denounced his actions. In turn he did the same to them.

In 10 A.o.R., a group of spies were sent to Kildran to scout out the true nature of Children of the Black Sun. In the process, they are believed to have worked with the worshipers of Pyromnos, the Knights of the Conflagration to burn the city. This was the beginning of the worst of the relations between Tilliden and Kildranos, who began to gather allies in case a war started between the two. While many saw the council as wise and venerable, others viewed them as domineering and controlling. Later, it was revealed that Malik had completed a magic item that granted mortals immortality by becoming true undead, and the council once again threatened them with war. The two nations each prepared for conflict, which they soon got.

In previous wars, none had ever lasted against Tilliden for more than a month. But when the War of the Warlocks started, the council was caught off guard by the armies of Kildranos and the power of Malik. Several of the council members died when the Coalition of the Black Sun put the city of Tilliden under siege - for the first time in history. Because the mythal blocked the dead from entering the city, Malik's army of true undead was unable to enter. Though the barrier was not powerful enough to nullify Malik's unprecedented magic, it was enough to slow him down. The city was under siege for almost two years, and it nearly fell on several occasions. But as Malik's allies began to dwindle, he had no choice but to retreat, leaving the city damaged but not destroyed.

After the War of the Warlocks ended, Tilliden idly licked its wounds. Most of the council had perished trying to slay Malik, leaving them with few of their original members. The council's conviction that magic could destabilize the material plane had only be reinforced by the recent war. The council doubled their efforts to police the entirety of Vadovass, much to the dismay of those who wished to pursue magic unabated. In 25 A.o.R., they put out a public decree that all members of the Children of the Black Sun that remained were to be put to death immediately, and that those who sought to use magic for black cults or magic should be met with a similar fate. Research into dark or dangerous magic was officially outlawed across Vadovass. Officially all nations have acknowledged this, though many suspect other nations are secretly building up their arsenal of magical knowledge.

Social

The land surrounding Tilliden varies greatly in culture and customs, and is mostly subject to the dominant race that make up each local settlement. Most are human, dwarven, or elven in makeup and culture. There are several settlements made up of other races, such as peaceful and quaint areas of halflings and gnomes. Each of these settlements mostly govern themselves and communicate with their surrounding communities, trading with and interacting with each other. Most remain somewhat isolated from the rest of the world, especially if they are not located along a route to the city of Tilliden.

The city itself is one of the largest in Galledall, at least 500,000 people strong. With multiple levels of the city, it is a sight to behold. The stones that make up the city are carefully cared for by the dwarves and replaced should they show any signs of wear. People born in Tilliden typically remain there for life, therefore it is common for their entire world to consist of the city and the surrounding mountains. Tilliden's makeup of races ranges from goblins to dragons, giving it a legendary reputation. The city is almost entirely self-sufficient, and interacts little with the outside world except for trade or magical services. Because of how long the city has endured, they have considerable awareness of magic and knowledge that was forgotten by most of the material plane after the cataclysms.

Political

Each settlement typically looks out for itself, with its own militia and local military should they need it. The leaders of these settlements are typically selected from their own, often being born locally. Those that establish their own local military are often on the fringes of the dominion however, since the heartlands around the capital are almost totally safe from monstrous creatures. Some communities have only the necessary guards to prosecute the occasional criminal. While this has attracted some outlaws who think they will be totally safe from reprisal, they are sorely mistaken. When caught they face the wrath of the council of Tilliden for harming its people. Each settlement is free to establish their own guilds and organize trade as they see fit. Most interact with the council only occasionally over a timespan of years.

The Council of Tilliden are the rulers of the dominion, quartered in in the Grand Spire in the center of the city. The council is legendary for its makeup. While once just elves and dwarves, it is now composed of many immortal and mythical creatures. Among them are druids who have lived for thousands of years, young and old metallic dragons, and celestial creatures from the upper planes. Together they make sure that the land is kept peaceful and safe, interacting little with the inhabitants of their land. The council sends out spies to investigate the state of the city and to surrounding nations to keep watch for any world threatening forces.

Economic

Since each settlement is free to govern itself, trade and production of goods is totally up to the inhabitants of each settlement. This used to mean that each town had its own set of shops and guilds, but the area has been mostly unified for trade under the Golden Mountain Trade Guild, which has proven to be one of its most profitable regions. With no taxes and basic services provided by the council, there are few who are truly poor in the dominion. Still there are some who suffer from poverty, and the city itself has slowly started to develop certain areas that could be considered slums.

While there is trade between all the settlements and other nations or through guilds, the prime export from the dominion comes from the city itself, which has many magical services provided by those approved by the council. Resurrections, divinations, healings and conjurations are provided if it is deemed necessary. The city also provides other services that are not magically inclined, such as access to their extensive library, museums, arts, and skilled craftsmen.

Religious

Many in the city are deeply religious, and the presence of certain celestials certainly reinforces that. Across the city lie many temples to the Seldarine, Mordinsamman, the draconic gods and the Wizgaran Pantheon. Though there are a few temples and shrines to the Galledallian gods, they are rarer and less frequented. Though the worship of gods is held in high regards, the priesthood is as decentralized as most of the other institutions run in Tilliden and have little power over the nation's affairs.

Military

Before the War of the Warlocks, the Dominion of Tilliden did not keep a standing army, relying on volunteers and levies to make up the bulk of their army. Military conflicts were rare with the Dominion of Tilliden since many knew they could not stand up against the council directly. Being made up of mythical and powerful creatures commonly intimidates foes. Also many within the council proved to be great military leaders when war did occur. Since more than half of the council was killed during the War of the Warlocks, a more professional army has been kept and trained under the leadership of the legendary Shaline Eridune.

Foreign Relations

The Dominion of Tilliden was venerated for a long time due to the perceived wisdom of the council, and few would ever dare challenge them on any decision they reached in their deliberations. Though many would say that they respect the council, in reality most obey out of fear. Earning the contempt of the almighty council or appearing arrogant to their neighbors could be disastrous. Because of this the Dominion of Tilliden has been respected by many, but in a wary way. Nations who sought closer relations with the council found them aloof and hard to contact directly, their minds focused on more important matters. While they are still respected by many surrounding nations, their domineering policy on monitoring the research and acquisition of magic of their neighbors has eared them the quiet contempt of many - even the New Elven Union which is one of their closer allies. Still many regard them as wise and with noble goals.

Magic

Magic has never been lost in the city of Tilliden, and the mythal surrounding it has been a constant ward against the effects of the cataclysms even before they happened. Though magic is common in the city for uses of divinations, healings and other magical services, only a select few in the city are allowed to cast them freely. The mythal itself suppresses magical properties except for those with special amulets forged by the the grand smiths and enchanted by the council. There are also several places to study magic scattered throughout the city, both for practical applications as well as scholarly pursuits.