Thal
"The city was the biggest and the greatest of its kind; the shining jewel of the Cyrulean landscape, the Zenith."
In the southern hemisphere of the Known World, an archipelago lay at the foot of the eastern continent; here lays the extravegant city of Thal with its aquamarine rooftops and clean streets.
**MAP DISCLAIMER: I just noticed East and West Makric are reversed. West Makric should be on the left and East Makric on the right, not the way it is now. I don't know how I never realised I messed it up lol
Population
The city is comprised of a population primarily consisting of Elven blood, dotted with its share of humans and other humanoid-presenting groups; though only as of recent has the population begun to diversify.Its population contains many sub-races of elves with high elves being the densest population group, in part due to its royal leniage, which throughout the centuries had remained of high elven pure-blood. Eladrin, wood, sea elves made up the second highest population, followed closely by humans. The city's drow presence has greatly dwindled throughout the city's history, caused in part by the royal family's growing disdain for the group up until the beginning of Lord Varyleth VI's rule, the sixth royal Lord of Thal (see Rulers of Thal the true reason for this disdain has become somewhat lost to time.
There is a fair presence of other elvenkind, though the percentage is nominal against that of the high elves. Since the inauguration of Lord Varyleth VI, general discrimination against the "less humanoid" races within the city has decreased substantially, though the influential families within the city typically remained closed off from those not native to the area, with very minimal exception.
In recent years following Lyon 's change in leadership, Thal has recieved an influx of immigrant population, leading to civil dispute within the city between Lord Varyleth VI and the Families (see Thal Immigration Crisis).
Government
History
Thal is run primarily by a pre-appointed member of the royal family, house Varyleth, and is under rule of its sixth leader since the beginning of the AC Era.Rulers in Thal remain in power, depending on a variety of factors (including quality of the leader, their willingness to remain a leader, etc.) typically for about two hundred years. Should the current leader decide to resign their position as the leader of the city, the Varyleth house will seek a replacement leader from the young of their family, generally between the ages of 12 and 30. The same would apply if the leader demonstrates an incapacity to lead, or if the leader were to commit any illicit acts as seen in the eyes of the Thali law.
Only a few years following the great Cataclysm that began the AC Era. How the world came to be repopulated after the event is unclear to this day, but the island that is now Thal was discovered by a group of four elven families by the names of Varyleth, Linnor, Norran and Mirdath. These four families, helmed by House Varyleth, began to construct the city that for many years would be the capital of Helthoria, until a sudden political unrest left that title instead to the city of Lyon, where it remains the capital to this day. Regardless, Thal remains one of the great old cities of Helthoria.
The Four Families of Thal also have a fair say in the political ongoings within the city. Should the leader wish to enact a new law, the law must first be run by the heads of the noble families. Should the enactment recieve minority vote, the law will not be passed until an agreement should be reached between the debating parties, if an agreement would at all be reached. There are instances in which ordinances proclaimed by the leader would not require approval from the families, however. These instances are fairly rare, and require specific circumstances to reach validity.
The Four Families
House Norran
The Norran bloodline is the closest acquainted family to house Varyleth, many of them having been confidants and advisors for the leaders of Thal. The family originally had pure elven blood, but within the last few centuries, some Norrans had eloped with humans, and as things stand, the house mainly consists of those with half-elven blood.Out of all the families aside from house Varyleth, house Norran is the most interconnected with the city. Unlike the its neighboring families, the generations of Norran children have branched out and currently live within multiple city districts, making this house the most well-informed and alternatively the most well-liked of all the families; this may partly be the reason for their high influence next to the leader house.
Currently, a member of house Norran, Erolith Norran, acts as advisor for Lord Nerizana Varyleth.
House Linnor
Being one of the oldest families in the city, some of which took part in its inception, house Linnor is quite conservative in their views. The Linnor household resides in upper west Aconte, one of the oldest and most elaborate districts within Thal. In business dealings, the family prefers to solely deal with those of elven blood, even further, high elven blood. There are only three recorded instances of Linnor children intermingling with non-elves, and even those instances were met with strong opposal from the rest of the house.The house mainly concerns itself with its own dealings, keeping their prejudices to themselves and refraining from judging their neighbouring houses should they partake in politics that house Linnor shies away from.
House Mirdath
The Mirdath house is quite reserved, not often seen outside of their estate. Residing in the lonely East Makric district, the family runs Thal's most prominent winery and has for generations. House Mirdath, unlike Varyleth and Linnor, are not of high elven descent; rather, they descend from the underground Pallid elves, as well as the oceanic sea elves, living in quite close proximity to Thal's surrounding ocean.Due to their isolation, rumours of the family inbreeding have been passed around over the years, though this has no supporting evidence to back it up, and believed to have been a rumour created by business rivals to diminish their reputation within Thal. Several descendants of house Mirdath have left the estate and the Mirdath name behind to seek their own paths, though majority of the family remains a part of the winery business.
Past and Current Rulers
Lord Theodanas Varyleth
The patriarch of house Varyleth, Theodanas Varyleth was one of the first high elves to found Thal, and the primary overseer of the project to build up the city with the ground up. Beginning with the Aconte district, he led the project to completion along with the heads of the other families. Having demonstrated his great leadership, he and his bloodline were honoured with the task of leading the city with a unanimous vote from the family patriarchs in his favour.Theodanas married three times, the last two being wedded to him at the same time. Overall, he had six children; one with his first, three with his second, and two with the third.
He ruled Thal for a total of one-hundred and eighty-nine years, being appointed leader several decades into the city's construction, which took exactly a century to complete.
Lady Auldra Varyleth
(189 AC) The second wife of Theodanas Varyleth and the second leader of Thal, acquiring the position after the death of her husband following the battle for the Hillspar Deeps. She ruled for three-hundred and nine years until passing on and leaving the position to her son.Lord Gathaalan Varyleth
(498 AC) The third leader of Thal, ruling from the end of his mother's reign until his death at the hands of his brother in his old age. Gathaalan was seen by many, even those within his family, as a tyrannical ruler.During his rule, he started the great war between Thal and Ara, causing 40,000 of his own to die and countless more from the opposing side. During this battle, the Thal palace was burned down by opposing forces, and the southern wall critically damaged. Were it not for his brother Almar, Thal would have been taken and the war lost. Following the war and the treaty enacted by Almar Varyleth and the Families, Almar led his lot into Gathaalan's keep and led a public trial, leading to the latter's execution. Following his rule, a new law was passed, limiting the years a ruler can be in power.
During his lifetime, Gathaalan only married once, and with her had three children.
Gathaalan ruled for three-hundred and twelve years.
Lord Almar Varyleth
(810 AC) The fourth leader of Thal, and the first to rule following the implementation of the rule-inhibition act. He married three times like his father, and had four children total. He ruled for the total 200 year period.Lady Lianthar Varyleth
(1010 AC) The fifth leader of Thal, and the first woman to take charge through other means than marriage. Being the oldest daughter of previous ruler Almar Varyleth, she had access to premium education and resources, and determined herself to be the next ruler of Thal rather than her brothers after her. Preceding her inauguration, she assisted her father in domestic affairs and trade relations with neighboring countries. With her efforts, she became first in line for the position after her father's term as ruler was completed.Lianthar married once, and with him had seven children, including the current leader of Thal, Nerizana Veryleth. She ruled for the full 200 year period.
Lord Nerizana Varyleth
(1210 AC) Nerizana Varyleth is the sixth and current ruler of Thal. He has been in power for fourteen years, and has been penned as the most influential leader of his bloodline, as well as the most liberal. He was the second oldest son of Lady Lianthar Varyleth and Halizan Caivyre, and came into power after his older brother gave up the position to pursue a career in the arts.(Feats to be added...)
Lord Nerizana is currently a bachelor, and with no children.
Laws and Legality
Court of Thal
Thal has in place a court of law, in which civil disputes and minor legal matters not involving the leaders or state of ruling in the city; though this court is also used on occasion by the Four Families, should a dispute arise between a member of the families and any civilians. (To be noted, disputes between the Families themselves are typically settled privately.)Law Enforcement
The laws in Thal are upheld by the Royal Guard under the charge of House Varyleth itself, referred to by the locals as Au'rr Ga'l, roughly "Gold Hats"In appearance, the Royal Guard are adorned in gold plating, accented in cyrulean blue and silver.
Culture
Due to the geography of the city, being surrounded entirely by the Morenburn ocean and a connecting strait, the culture within Thal is greatly influenced by the presence of the water, influencing everything from their primary deities of worship, to their rites and rituals, to simply their way of life on a broader scale.Religion
The primary deity worshipping in Thal is Cylarae, the god of the waters and protection.Economy
Districts
Lasmana
East Makric
West Makric
Acante
Guilds and Factions
The Four Families
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments