The Free City of Penelopia
Easily the richest of the Free Cities, Penelopia has long prospered. This has not always been the case, however. The city started as little more than a trading outpost along the Golden Road and would soon see massive wealth flow to it given its location, with both the Road and the Felserien river serving as ways in which vares could enter the city. The city would grow at an exponential rate soon overshadowing even Dorion, much to the city's dismay, in people entering it to buy anything the heart could desire. This was mainly due to its location as it was practically a necessity to travel through it if one wanted to travel to or from the Kingdom or most of the other Free Cities.
Given the nature of the city, it took little convincing from the Hierarch to get it into the League. What likely sold it in specific was undeniably the protection that the agreement granted in specific, though many other parts have also been favorable for the rich city. There are of course parts of the agreement that the city has broken, it is to this day still one of the worse actors in this regard, and including this is trade with foreign countries during conflicts. The city however has rarely been caught in this nor stod to pay for the offenses. This is partly due to its favored school of magic.
Penelopia is the city of illusions and to a minor degree, transmutation, and where others may use their magic to enhance or protect, the City of Bought and Sold uses theirs in more selfish and more numerous ways. Smells that by all rights could not exist in a large city can be found everywhere, some merchants even use magic to call out their vares instead of actual people. It is also wise to check if any item that one buys is truly what it seems.
Structure
While the city-state is ruled by an Exarch, and the Exarch does write the laws of the city, the real power of the city is known as the Peerage. This is a group of 23 individuals who are the respective matriarchs and patriarchs of the Old Families of Penelopia.
Culture
In Penelopia, money is king. This is reflected in the populace, who often have no qualm about doing whatever they have to to earn a buck. Even if it means doing some pretty shady shit.
Public Agenda
The main agenda of the City of Bought and Sold is the gathering of ever more wealth.
History
The history of Penolopia is long but fairly uncomplicated. Starting as little more than a tavern, and barely even that, it would soon grow to rather unforeseen heights due to the brilliance of Anna Demalli, among others. More and more merchants would swarm to the city in the making, and several families of particularly successful merchants stood out as the city grew. These families, all uninterrupted since the city's founding, would go on to form the Old Families and eventually the Peerage which usually included the matriarch or patriarch of the respective families.
The city has seldom been plagued by the horrors of war, preferring backroom dealings to the battlefield, but it has nevertheless been forced to see combat quite a few times. The main offender in this regard is Vasileios whenever the city is ruled by one of its more aggressive kings, and this has been the main reason for Penelopia's deep-rooted fear and distrust of the other city-state.
Military
While the core of Penelopia's army are made of the personal troops of the Old Families, the army is heavily supported by mercenaries who usually live near the city.
Religion
While the Creed does have a presence in the city-state, it is limited by worship being a deeply personal thing for Penelopians that is often only done in the home.
Foreign Relations
The city-state tends to have good relations with foreign countries especially given the large amount of trade they have with them.
Anything, for a Price
Founding Date
932 AEF
Type
Geopolitical, City-state
Capital
Alternative Names
The City of Bought and Sold
Demonym
Penelp
Leader
Leader Title
Head of State
Government System
Corporatocracy
Economic System
Market economy
Legislative Body
The Exarch writes the law though the Peerage has to approve them.
Judicial Body
A group, elected by the Peerage and usually featuring members of their family are responsible for the trials of the city-state.
Executive Body
The Exarch's men are the executive body of Penelopia.
Official State Religion
Parent Organization
Location
Official Languages
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Related Species
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