The Free City of Alethea
When people are asked what they think of the city of Alethea, they usually give one of two answers. Some will say that it is a beacon of learning, and inspiration for those who would seek true knowledge. Others say that it is a city of idiots asking even dumber questions and never actually doing anything. No matter what, all can agree that the people of Alethea are one of, if not the most, devout worshippers of the Gods as well as being possibly the most overly emotional people on Joia. A fact which many find quite irritating.
The city of Alethea is said to have been founded by the famous warrior-priestess of the same name. It was built around what was a time a small temple where priests would gather to discuss theology, a place that would soon grow to be known as the Temple of Manifold Truths. The ultimate goal of the city and all its members is the finding of Perfect Truth. The search for Truth is accomplished by having members of the Priesthood, known as preachers, debate any and all topics amongst each other. This is typically done by one preacher stepping forward into the middle of the Temple, known as the speaker, presenting their subject and then giving their thesis on the subject. Other members of the Temple, which do not need to be part of the Priesthood, will then try to pick apart the thesis with the speaker defending their thesis. During this rhetorical battle, it is seen as shameful to change one's opinion, but after the debate, it is meant that the speaker should consider the flaws brought forth by other members so that a truer thesis can be brought forth later, usually after at least three days have passed. Using this method, the preachers of Alethea believe that they are slowly stripping away all flaws from any one truth, like one would sharpen a sword, thus giving rise to Perfect Truth.
The reason for finding Perfect Truth is to bring the people closer to the Gods which they believe are the only things that are perfect and true. With every Truth unveiled, they will be ever closer to the Gods.
To aid in their objective, the Preachers of Alethea have mastered the art of Divination. There can of course be no truer source of information than the Gods, so some members of the Priesthood will spend hours, if not days, in a deep trance where information can flow to them like water to the sea. This, of course, is a practice that only the greatest of Diviners can perform.
Structure
The city-state is ruled by a council of eleven Philosophers, who write and discuss the laws of the city. Under them sits a myriad of preachers, few of which bear actual titles, their power defined subtler things such as seniority as well as their current arguments in the Temple of Manifold Truths.
Culture
The culture of Alethea is one of strict religious fervor. The people of Alethea believe that the Gods truly control everything and that finding the truth of the will of the Gods is the only goal that is worth achieving. This has resulted in them becoming rather more inclined to emotions in debates as well as making them somewhat of a pain to talk to as they effectively are just quoting scripture at you half of the time.
Public Agenda
The finding of Perfect Truth.
History
The city that would become Alethea started out as a simple temple where a young warrior-priestess would grow up. Traveling the world and slaying a great many evils as well as supposedly making friends with a young Pontifex Sedatio I, she would eventually find her way back home and begin her final and most important quest. The discovery of Perfect Truth.
This naturally brought to it many thinkers as well as a truly staggering amount of clerics and so the city began its quick growth. There was some early confrontation with the then-fledgling city of Penelopia, but the most frequent enemies are that of Elefth who has declared their quest a Waste For The People and their reliance on the Gods as Bowing To Unworthy Tyrants as well as generally trying to make some feeble attacks, none of which have ever actually succeded.
The city was brought into the League through the only way they know-how, a rigorous and drawn-out debate, where the Hierarch to be convinced every single sitting Philosopher individually of the dangers of the other nations and the importance of the Free Cities banding together. No known record of the debate exists, with attacks from other Free Cities being to blame, but it was said to have brought all who saw it to tears. That or the Philosophers destroyed it themselves to hide what actually happened that day.
Demography and Population
While a lot of people can be found within cities, especially Alethea itself, most people of the city-state lives outside cities.
Religion
The Creed of the Major Gods rules supreme within the city, even defining their laws. The city-state's interpretation of the Creed is at times different than in other lands. There are also an amount of smaller cults dedicated to smaller Gods within the city-state which is perfectly allowed though usually ignored.
Foreign Relations
The Praying City prefers and tries to stay neutral in what they call earthly matters, only ever striking out if they conceive another organization of going against the will of the Gods. This usually means that the party in question is attacking their borders, but they have also often stood against Vasileios, both for their decadence and their warmongering ways.
Education
The education of the populace is fairly good for members who live within Alethea itself, even if it obviously has a bent towards the religious over everything else.
Only the Gods Know All
Founding Date
367 AEF
Type
Geopolitical, City-state
Capital
Alternative Names
The Praying City
Training Level
Semi-trained
Veterancy Level
Recruit
Demonym
Aleth
Leader Title
Government System
Theocracy
Economic System
Market economy
Legislative Body
The Philosophers of Alethea write the laws of the city-state.
Judicial Body
The Blind Court, which is a group of preachers who insist that their judgment comes from the Gods themselves, judge those who break the laws of Alethea.
Executive Body
The Hands of the Gods, enforce the laws written by the Philosophers in the city-state. They uniquely wear armor and carry weapons with them in the streets of the city, but prefer to use their divine magic.
Official State Religion
Parent Organization
Location
Official Languages
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Related Species
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