Thellur
No other place during my travels through elven lands was as warm to heart as Thellur was. A place of wood elves, Thellur offers no taverns or bars -- only places where cooks of unimaginable prowess serve you meals you will never forget at no cost at all. The wood elves do not trade, but gift and have a genuine curiosity for strangers like myself that made them forgive the poverty of my Laeryllian tongue. What they could not forgive, however, was the time I played an elven folk song that turned out to be from Dathyll.Thellur is the capital of the Laeryllian province Qosid and the largest wood elf settlement on the Northern Arm. Thellur houses the province's Province Keeper and is the site of assemblies of the Representatives of the Communes. In contrast to other settlements in Qosid, Thellur features brick roads and structures in addition to eternally flourishing overgrowths. Its most notable feature is the ever-burning fire known as Light of the Elves.
Government
The city of Thellur is split into five different communes, corresponding to the city districts. Each of these communes, with the exception of the Bridge District, is run in roughly the same manner: a board of administrators, put in place via sortition, drafts policies at the request of the population, that are then discussed, amended and voted on in communal assemblies. Each district contributes one Representative to the Representatives of the Communes.
The Bridge District is an odd district: located at the east side of the river, it is the place where non-Qosidians were allowed to settle. The Bridge District does have a Representative, but it is elected every decade by majority vote. Similar to the other districts, the Bridge District organises communal assemblies, yet its civic participation is limited.
| District | Representative | Key political issues |
|---|---|---|
| Garden District | Duroyl Ishekarred | Desire more cultivation of green spaces, want communal mushroom garden, restaurations of temples |
| Stone District | Gameden Huutear | Desire effort to obtain more ores, gems and related resources. Strong proponent of Qosid-wide infrastructure |
| Raven's District | Tarakara | Urges collective inward look |
| Bridge District | Crucillus Varalei | Right to build in other districts, maintain good relations with Labarean Empire |
| Market District | Bron Faastear | Improvements to waste disposal, sewers, drug regulation |
Defences
Thellur is defended by a stone city wall that can be patrolled by wood elf archers. Outside of the city perimeter, Thellur makes use of a circular defense system, in which five concentric rings of trees are interconnected and patrolled by ranged militias. The intensity of the patrollling depends on the security status of the region: during a full assembly, many Qosidian communes send their own troops, which are then added to the patrol system. Besides this, ground patrols circle the area to remain aware of any activity in the vicinity of the city.
Within 1 kilometer outside the city walls, a persistent charm spell disorients non-elf humanoids and makes it impossible for them to spot the city. Once inside the city walls, this effect dissipates immediately.
Industry & Trade
Despite its size, Thellur is relatively self-sufficient. There are goods coming in from Shyfayll and there is regular traffic between Dathyll and Thellur, which brings some trade. Also, Osfynn is usually transported via the Qosidian capital, and gems from the north are often processed by its jewellers as part of a complicated barter process . However, most of the industry in the city is focused towards its internals: local hunting, gathering and crafts support each other with only remnants finding their way to the larger Qosidian gift economy or even the market economy.
In recent years, humans from Arkos Plains have been setting up small-scale trading posts in the southwest, trading goods that are transported up towards Thellur. The Labarean Empire has also created trade routes into Qosid, selling food products, technology and books to the wood elves. This trade is limited by the offerings from Thellur: since the wood elves themselves do not use a monetary system, importing goods from the gnomes is either the result of succesful bartering, or otherwise dependent on a more complex trading chain and therefore limited in scope. In addition, there are some long-distance traders that bring goods to Thellur that they could not sell elsewhere in exchange for barter and favours -- this is how spices from the[Free Cities of Man that could not be sold in Oltumur find their way into the wood elf capital.
Districts
Thellur is split into five different districts.
The Garden District
This commune consists of elves living in the area around the Thellur Garden. Waye and Ildan are the most popular goddesses in this group, with a sizable minority praying to the original Bird Gods, too. Important sites within this district are:- The High Tree Crown, a religious center of great historical importance and popular site for meditation.
- The Garden of Thellur, a renowned enclosed herb garden, carrying food spices, antitoxins, fruit trees and medicinal herbs.
The Stone District
This district, which grew around an ancient standing stone in the north of Thellur, includes mostly warriors, smiths and jewellers. Important sites within this district are:- The Bleeding Stone, an ancient standing stone with religious significance
- The Wood Dwarf, a Clan Kandarin store selling lockboxes, locks and other deposit technology. This store is exempted from the gift economy if trading with outsiders and therefore accepts coinage.
- Ruhu Buntayr's Arrows and Bows(landmark), a craft bowmaker
- The lapidarist and jewellery crafter Geter Gundayr
The Raven's District
The Raven's District, named after a priestly caste that no longer resides there, is the location of many temples and home to several religious cults. The Raven's District is mystical and its representatives are often incomprehensible during assemblies. Important sites here are:- Light of the Elves
- Temples and shrines embed the hill on which the fire of the Light of the Elves burns.
- The Temple of Resonance is a spiritual center offering a range of psychedelics and is run by Ceid Fyth.
The Bridge District
The only district built on the east side of the river, the Bridge District is the newest addition to the city and houses relatively many newcomers, including high elf magistrates and retired artists. Members of this commune are either not politically active or working from an agenda that is distrusted by the other communes. The Bridge District was built around a multi-tree dwelling that to this day serves as an orphanage. The Bridge District is the only district with a monetary economy. Some of its inhabitants are not embedded in the gift economy at all, and trade via barter or coinage. Others bring resources from outside of Qosid to Thellur, and are appreciated as contributors by "real" Thellurians.- Thellur Traveler Inn, one of the few inns in the city that hosts guests for a fee
- The Dorgothian, a bookstore selling manuscripts and prints that doubles as a demonologist. It is run by the gnome Ganthi Kobbelyr.
- House of Foundlings, an old, large tree dwelling where young orphans or abandoned children are raised for skilled labor. The House of Foundlings predates the establishment of the Bridge District.
The Market District
This commune is named after the central market that is frequented by wood elves from the whole city, where craftwork and produce is gifted or sold. The residents of the area are not necessarily craftsmen or food producers, but tend to be wood elves who greatly enjoy life's offerings. Important sites here are:- Thallidien, the site where assemblies are organized for the Representatives of the Communes.
- Communal Market, a square around the Thallidien where one can find stalls gifting crafts and produce. Here, the world's best Blueberry Meringue can be found.
- Bothandal's Hall, a guesthouse, restaurant and meeting place for representatives, diplomats and administrators. The Province Keeper houses here, too, if he is in the city.
Guilds and Factions
The limited monetary economy prevents the rise of typical guild structures, but still there are political groups, even beneath the coarse level of the districts. Artisans with shared resources are not just found in close proximity to each other, but also tend to unite their political beliefs. This is why for example smiths, jewellers, fletchers and armorers alike are calling for better connectivity between Qosidian communes.
One of the most salient issues in Thellur concerns the right to build. As in many communes, both the construction and the occupation of buildings is under democratic control, with the communes deciding which activities fit with the needs of the society. In Thellur, the split between the Bridge District and the other districts has led the latter to decide against letting outsiders expand into their areas, regardless of their intent. Their fear is that outsiders will ruin society by introducing monetary or barter systems in lieu of the gifting tradition.
Points of interest
The most important points of interest in the city are the Thallidien, the Light of the Elves, the High Tree Crown , the Garden of Thellur and the House of Foundlings.
Tourism
Those who visit Thellur from outside the Kingdom of Laeryll are captivated by its wondrous culture, the hospitality of its residents and the everpresent civic engagement. The city is difficult to reach, however, as most of Qosid is treacherous territory to outsiders. Tourism, then, is non-existent with only the especially adventurous finding their way to the city gate.
Type
City
Population
5000
Location under
Included Locations
Owning Organization
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