Mihtrea (mit-ree-ah)
The city of Mihtria was founded over the dormant Darkness. A cruel necessity by nature to some, a final rest and release for others. Darkness had turned enough to become one of the Abyssmals during The Core War thanks to the overwhelming belief that the darkness is evil, and so Darkness bent to its nature. Unlike most other Abyssmals Darkness couldn't be 'destroyed' or detained in the same way, for being a Core, Light needed Darkness in order to exist. So instead Darkness was put under the care of The Light and forced to sleep by those linked to the dream realm. That is to say, Lethvens and Qedoza working together to honour the purpose in founding a city over where Darkness rests. To this day their dedication to this city, Mihtrea keeps their condensed force of light and sleep strong in order to keep back what they only know as keeping back 'the dark.'
Now bound by purpose and loyalty to the creation of their existence and their city, only straying by the word of their dream or by divine guide through the now god of light, Pashakal, they maintain the balance to keep Darkness sleeping, as such leaving the city must be a call of duty by one’s own guide or granted by the higher-ups, less the world see Darkness stirring. Even still, the city is the only place within The Bright Ring that experiences a night cycle like that of The Shadowed Ring, a constant reminder of what they fight against.
It should be noted that all this knowledge is forbidden to be shared with outsiders. Even those residents of the city that are not of the military are not to know a word of it. Doing so is punishable by law.
Demographics
Dominant Races: Lethvens & Qedoza
Other Races: Elves, Humans, Animalians & Swivets
Absent Races: All else mostly
Exiled Races: Stygvens (All else are welcome, as long as they can prove to be good and lawful)
Beasts: Pegasus, great eagles and owls
Government
Militocracy
Military leaders run the nation under martial law, using the army and other armed forces.
There is never a single ruler, there is always one Lethven and one Qedoza. They are each other's Aequus (ay-kwee-uhs) to balance each other out.
All stations below them (except Rests) also have an Aequus assigned to them once they earn the rank Squaddie. Rests are those that have completed their mandatory service to be a baseline soldier but do not wish to climb further and be assigned an Aequus.
Ranks
1. Führers: Current- Koltan Edrent (Lethven) and Zuuarmelk (Qedoza)
2. Generals:
- Malarkharath (Qedoza)
3. Brigadiers:
4. Captains:
- Telula Edrent (Lethven)
- Visharmelk (Qedoza)
5. Lieutenants:
6. Sergeants:
7. Rests:
8. Squaddies
Military Service + Aequus
- Ingrained is the city is loyalty and purpose, the Lethvens and Qedoza train their bodies and abilities soon after they mature. This process through the system could be compared to our everyday expectancy of going through high school and then for many, university. Especially with how these new adults cannot take on another career or leave the city until they complete this training.
- However, this basic training is not intensive and doesn’t cost them anything, the entire process is much more eagerly approached than schooling is on Earth.
- As a result a vast majority of the city is militarily trained, and it is ruled by its strongest warriors.
- The rest are souls of goodness that have taken refuge over the centuries or the remaining descendants from the original founding. No military training is expected from them. However, it is freely offered as it is believed all should be able to protect themselves and is also a fight for good health.
- They take refugees with no judgment on their part, only taking questions to fend off pursuers if even that.
- However, the city is known for never dispersing its forces outside of the city even on the verge of catastrophic events, as to do so would allow for Darkness to wake and only add to the horror.
- As such it has the respect of other cities on the continent of Rutell but little in the way of allegiances, as its biggest resource is its military might and it will not share it. It is a city of hard-earned force and it has done well for itself so far. Only watching over the smaller settlements in its reach that supply resources in exchange for protection. Although even the mere promise of their backing in combat has been enough to deter any wannabe conquerors.
- And so the city does not prop up in history often as it nary gets involved with other worldly affairs. All know that to attack Mihtrea is to throw a mouse among lions, in other words, it has never been breached and most prefer it keeping to itself out of fear anyway.
- That’s not to say there is no conflict. The Lethvens and the Qedoza cannot hope to perfectly understand the other due to their creation and sources of guidance. For all the Lethvens know the ‘dream spirits’ these Qedoza talk to are plotting the eventual bringing of darkness. And to the Qedoza, perhaps the Lethven's divine guidance actually comes from cunning demons.
- However, they respect each other and trust in their mutual mistrust, the city is nothing if not dedicated. Each member of the military that climbs past the first rank of Squaddie to choose further military service in become a Sergeant are assigned a counterpart in the other race.
- This partnership is known as an Aequus. The term can also be used to refer to one’s partner in this pairing.
- All, even the ruling heads of the city have an Aequus, as such there are two Führers ruling the city, one from each race. This adds to the difficulty in rising in ranks and truly earning their place, as it requires both individuals to be of the ability to do so.
- Within an Aequus the two are to keep tabs on each other, to understand one another’s habits and personality as best they can. To be able to sense a change in a person as a first sign they may be Darkening (Lethvens) or Falling (Qedoza). You could almost describe the relationship as professional best friends.
- If one is to Darken or Fall it's up to their Aequus to deal with the issue. Whether this be reporting it to their higher-ups to be properly handled or to ‘take them out’ personally if circumstance calls for it.
Crime: Falling & Darkening
- Crime is not tolerated at all within the city. Something as little as theft is punished justly and swiftly.
- It should be noted that in fairness, citizens have very little reason to break the law here. All are given comfortable and nice lodging and spending coin on top of food etc, whether they work or not.
- Even then, if someone can say with truth in their eyes that they have not the money for an inn stay or for food, all innkeepers and so on are not obligated to, but rather are more than happy to aid where they can. And thus attempts to abuse kindness are met with harshness, so be careful where you lie.
- It’s a caring city and in being so is fierce to those that would deem this not enough. Going by the idea of: "If we are kind to those to whom we should be cruel, we will ultimately be cruel to those to whom we should be kind.”
- It is most harsh to its most powerful/those that hold the most power. Those of the military that betray the city, their guide, or otherwise think with the mind of an evildoer, they are caught one way or another. Usually by their own Aequus.
- This means stripping Lethvens of their light, and Qedoza of their tether to other planes. They are henceforth considered Darkened or Fallen.
- Lower ranks must then remain in the city as punishment but are unable to contribute to it in any way, suffering under the abundant unearned kindness of those around them. A burden shamed by genuine smiles.
- The higher up in rank they go they may be banished from the city for a time or indefinitely.
- For the Führers this means execution. For it is arguably the kindest act to one that falls so far, and equally the harshest for there is no chance of any redemption.
Industry & Trade
Level: Moderate
Common out trade: Medicines, fabrics, cuisine
Common in trade: Crops and cotton from their territories
Source of food: Trade, locally grown vegetables and herbs in greenhouses
Source of water: Purification systems
Infrastructure
- Marble and white stones and slates cut methodically
- Polished metal accents
- Love their pillars here, very towering.
- It's standard for ceilings to be at least 2 stories high
Districts
Deities & Worship
General view: As the god of light, Pashakal is considered the patron of the city. To be a local and not at least show him thanks here and there is to not say thank you to someone who has helped you. You can do it, but it's ungrateful, rude, uncouth even. He does not even need to be your primary deity, some show dedication to other lawfully good deities that align with the city's beliefs while still giving a bowed head to Light. It is damn near impossible to be high ranking in the city and not have reached a level of loyalty to a deity that grants divine magic.
Deities:
- Pashakal, god of light [Patron of the city, see history summary at top]
- Alinis, goddess of hunting
- Aelleno, god of haling
- Erena, goddess of wisdom
Restrictions: Evil, chaotic and purely neutral deities are not welcome here.
Geography
Location: Bright Ring, Rutell, Bright Lands
Terrain: Grassy to forested savanna and rivers
Climate
As it's located in The Bright Ring it sees a full day of sun and only a 6 hour semi-twilight period as the sun only dips to touch the horizon before rising once more. Experiences the conditions of Summer to Spring, with coastal breezes at least keeping the humidity low.
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