Talora
A nation of humans, elves, beasts, and halflings, Talora is one of the more peaceful and progressive corners of Sol. Through hard work and diplomacy, Talorans have created a relatively peaceful society in a chaotic world. Talora has charming countrysides and technologically advanced cities. What they lack in raw manpower, they make up with innovative creations and skillfully decentralized administration. Due to the level of participation of citizens and merchants in the government, rebellions and unrest are quite low, especially compared to Talora's imperial neighbors.
Structure
Unlike its neighbors, Talora does not have a traditional centralized government. Rather, the nation is said to be ruled by its citizenry. Though more realistically, it is governed by the five houses, noble houses that have historically been influential in certain sectors that have now risen to prominence. Every five years, they elect a new ruler that does not belong to the house of the current ruler. Currently, Charles of House Grimbow leads the nation, using the traditional title of First Lord.
House Grimbow
This old house is steeped in a rich arcane tradition, being the original founders of the Sunstone Wizards' Academy in the 4th Era. It is led by Arthur of Grimbow, a studious man who is considered an authority on the study of alchemy. He isn't a very public figure but nonetheless, he and his house are well respected. The current First Prince, ruler of the nation, Charles, is the son of Arthur. Their patron deity is Elasarius.House Casros
Unlike the other noble houses, House Casros does not have a particular sector of dominance. Rather, they have quite a bit of influence in many areas. The current head of the household Peter is an accomplished inventor, considered the architect of the airships that now soar Talora's skies. His wife Irene is an accomplished entertainer while their daughter Elena is considered a prodigy in the arcane arts. Rumors abound of a fiendish castaway child. Their patron deity is Halo.House Bucksmith
The most militaristic of the noble houses, House Bucksmith has had a long and respectable tradition in the defense forces, serving as knights, riflemen, and the staunchest defenders of Taloran independence. They are led by Bartholomew, a veteran of the Northern Invasion, he also spent time in the navy defending the trade routes from elven pirates. His daughter Sybil runs a major manufacturing company of arms, Blast Corp, which supplies the continent with a majority of their firearms and explosives. Their patron deity is Xerxes.House Featherwood
This noble house is most well known for its participation in commerce of all kinds. Whether firearms, glassware, foodstuffs, or contraptions, they are often involved in some process of trade that takes place in the nation or on their trade missions. The house is led by a powerful merchant Felicia who invested in many successful inventions. They are the founders of Dolphin Hall, the impressive merchants' guild and docks in Galerest where trade is overseen. There, they host traders from the sea and caravans from the east. Their patron deity is Veros.House Starborne
Founders of the Temple to All, though originally advocating for only the worship of the celestials, House Starborne is a noble house focused on heavenly affairs. They have made great advances in astronomy, mapping the stars to better understand the gods themselves. They are led carefully by Sigrith, the recently widowed wife of the former head of the family Anthony. Of all the houses, Starborne is generally the least willing to embrace fully the notions of absolute freedom and flexibility treasured by most Talorans. Their patron deity is Kosmitus.Culture
The culture of Talora is dictated largely by their love of trade. Commerce and inventing fuel the culture, it informs the inventions tinkerers create, the trade routes they build ships to secure, and the way the poems read in amphitheaters tend to idealize the ambitious and innovative heroes against the fundamentalist and rigid villains. Their culture prioritizes innovation, as such, it is always changing and in flux. They are very open to influence from other cultures which is inevitable due to the rich diversity of ancestries including humans, elves, halflings, and so on.
History
Beginning as independent city-states, the nation of Talora has not been unified for very long. It began as somewhat of a refuge for those escaping persecution and strife in other lands. Hard workers, traders, laborers, and simple folk all found their way to what would become Talora. The earliest denizens would foster a culture that was not steeped in religious or cultural sectarianism, but a unifying culture of progress and safety.
It was not until the 4th Era that signs of unification began. The city-states always saw themselves as neighbors, but not anymore connected than any other cities. This was until a dual invasion of the region by the northern Kjarrans and the southern Svaelics. Finding themselves flanked by a powerful army in the north and a seasoned navy in the south, the soon-to-be Talorans knew it was time to unite or be crushed by marauders. The city-states formed the Taloran league, named after a folk hero in the region by the name of Talor that all the cities had stories about. Relying on their shared region, similar cultures, and sheer nerve, they successfully defended their homeland and after the war, agreed to unify into a single nation with high levels of freedom and autonomy for cities, so their identity could remain in tact. Now in the 5th Era, this arrangement has proven stable and prosperous.
Demography and Population
Talora has a moderate population with the capital of Galerest hosting 50,000 permanent residents. Its population is incredibly diverse with no obviously dominant or majority. The most populous of the races would be humans, especially those of Droth and Northman ancestry. Additionally, many High Elves, Desert Elves, Snow Elves, Orcs, and Half-Elves make a home here. Talora is also where the majority of the world's halflings and gnomes can be found. Less in number but still present are minorities of catfolk and other beast races. One can find any race in any profession.
Territories
The land of Talora, the western coast of the mainland, as stated in the history books, has always been a land of immigrants with ancestries elsewhere. As such, it is considered the right of all people born in Talora, or who move there, to call it home. Citizens are not regarded as better or worse based on time spent or ancestral culture.
Military
The national military, or Taloran Defense Forces, is an efficient, quick, and defensive army divided into regiments based on a class such as wyvern riders, riflemen, and longbowmen. By their own constitution, they are forbidden from invading other lands and can only defend the homeland from invasion. As for their naval capacity, they have a quite sizable navy which only exists to patrol their trade routes and escort their trade ships on missions to protect the ever-important cargo of themselves and their trade partners. Mercenaries from Asvathas, Kjarra, and Orcish strongholds are also commonly employed in the country for purposes of import-export guarding.
Technological Level
While magic isn't terribly abundant or diverse within its borders, technologically and scientifically, Talora soars above the other nations in terms of accomplishments. They were the first to innovate many technologies such as the airship, using gunpowder for weapons, and harnessing steam power for machines, practices that are only just beginning to catch on in pockets on the continent, still harshly resisted by many of the more traditional societies. This is mostly due to their freethinking culture, generous levels of education, and relative danger, given their militaristic neighbors.
Religion
Religion is considered flexible and unorthodox in Talora. Talorans of all ethnicities exist and can become citizens, as such, the powers that be felt it would be polarizing to have a state religion. Therefore, all religions and rituals are welcomed in the nation. In the Temple to All in Galerest, there is a shrine for all gods; celestial, infernal, and primordial. Many Talorans have allegiances(or no allegiance) to many deities, even conflicting gods who don't like each other. Using their sense of practicality, it is a common phrase to hear in religious discussions in Talora, "If Tathos won't pick up, give Anathexia a try." Talorans figure every god has something to offer mortals in specific times of need, so why restrict oneself to a single god or a single group of gods? This is considered heretical by most other nations.
Foreign Relations
Talora mainly has relations based on trade with their closest neighbors as well as a few far-flung trading partners thanks to their advanced shipbuilding techniques allowing them to travel far distances.
In their home region, Kjarra and Asvathas, as well as the new nation of Vinburg, remain their closest trading partners. With the Northmen, though they have warred, there is no apparent grudge, they trade their manufactured goods for raw materials like ivory, fur, steel, and lumber. With the desert elves and orcs, they trade weapons and armor, including firearms, for goods such as incense, spices, potions, stone, and precious metals. All three of these races have provided mercenaries for Talora in the past, thanks to their martial cultures.
As far as their trading partners away from home are concerned, the Talorans enjoy good trade relations with Shanrao, the huge empire to the east. It is where they import tea from, that new craving of the curious Taloran citizens. In exchange for such foreign luxuries, the Talorans produce many new technologies to send to the eastern lands such as firearms, mechanical devices, and compasses. These technologies are generally disliked by the nobles in the east but they have a market nonetheless. Additionally, they are one of the main trading partners with Ayrith, as both of them have embraced advanced technologies. Finally, Inoshara and Svaelyn Isles both provide ancient philosophical and religious texts for the right price.
Agriculture & Industry
Though it began as an agricultural powerhouse, Talora has been shifting to industrial production in recent decades, becoming the continent's top producer of steel, oil for machinery, and machines. They are considered the most advanced when it comes to mechanical progress compared to many other nations who are mostly still reliant on agriculture and magic. Though their agricultural and fishing sectors are nothing to disregard either, they still produce plenty of food, both on land and on the coasts, where the fishing and pearling industries are thriving.
Trade & Transport
Within the nation, domestic trade is mostly done by mechanical means such as airship transportation, though national trains and even teleportation are being worked on. As far as international trade goes, it happens coastally mainly. The major cities such as Zephyr and Galerest are not only coastal but very reliant on maritime trade to fuel their economies. Both cities have impressive docks always bustling with traders and travelers bringing with them items, supplies, trade goods, and ideas.
Education
All citizens of Talora are granted a free education at the basic level, so they may learn the necessary skills in language and mathematics. However, many Talorans, especially the well-to-do, are free to pursue higher education which is more specialized in fields of economics, the heavens, fine arts, arcane arts, and the humanities. There are some universities in the nation which are funded by the merchant guilds to educate the populace.
Infrastructure
Cities in Talora have advanced infrastructures such as efficient bureaucratic systems, plumbing to help purify public baths, and aqueducts to help with water access in dryer parts of the nation.
Founding Date
3rd Era
Type
Geopolitical, Lordship
Capital
Demonym
Taloran
Government System
Plutocracy
Power Structure
Thalassocracy
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
All currencies are accepted, but they have their own as well, the Taloran Notes, which are beginning to replace their native coinage.
Major Exports
Machines, parts, metalwork, gunpowder products (rifles, bombs, etc.), ammunition, clothing, antique replicas, grain, fish, pearls, and lusterware
Major Imports
Tea, woodcuts, dyes, incense, lumber, spices, iron, steel, precious metals, and meat.
Legislative Body
Laws are dictated partly by custom and tradition and partly by new rewritings of old laws. These are done by councils of citizens of many backgrounds, especially merchants. As such, the legal codes of Talora are heavily weighted in commercial matters with relatively few laws regarding religious and military issues.
Judicial Body
Towns and cities have their own judges appointed by citizens to serve until they die or step down.